Category: This Necromancer Wants to Capture the Hearts of Deceased Beautiful Girls

Chapter 110: I Need Your Promise

“Mr. Belator?”

Givia, although not screaming in terror like a typical damsel, clutched the edges of her blanket tightly, her eyes fixed on Abyss, her heart pounding.

Abyss felt a surge of awkwardness. He quickly withdrew his hand, raising it in a gesture of peace. However, the Shadowlings that had been standing by her bed had been dragged away and devoured by the wraiths he had summoned. He had no evidence to support his claims.

“Would you believe me if I said there were Shadowlings attacking you?” he asked, looking at her with sincerity, hoping to gain her trust.

Givia was unsure how to respond. She did have a favorable impression of Abyss, but it wasn’t to the extent of allowing him to lift her blankets.

“Well… Mr. Belator… I was having a nightmare, but it suddenly stopped as if something disrupted it, and I woke up,” she said, trying to explain. “Does this have anything to do with you?”

“I had a dream too. I met the Lord of Nightmares, the one tormenting you,” Abyss said, chuckling wryly. “I know it sounds absurd, but I’m not lying. And I didn’t come to your room specifically to lift your blankets…”

Givia was initially skeptical, but Abyss’s sincerity and his generally non-lecherous behavior during their interactions convinced her.

Despite his youthful appearance, he seemed to harbor no romantic interest in women, behaving like a scholar devoted solely to knowledge, as if he had transcended earthly desires.

Of course, Abyss hadn’t revealed his true identity as a powerful necromancer—he had dissected more female corpses than most people had met living women. And he always sought the deceased’s consent before dissecting them, engaging in conversations with them throughout the process.

His fondness for Leona and Flora wasn’t driven by lust or ulterior motives, but simply because he enjoyed the company of trustworthy women.

Givia decided to trust him. She sat up in bed. Since they were traveling, she hadn’t brought any nightclothes. Her sleep was always troubled, so she had only removed her outer garments and a light breastplate, still wearing her shirt and trousers, a presentable attire.

“I believe you, Mr. Belator. What did you discuss with the Lord of Nightmares?” she asked, nodding.

Abyss glanced at Givia, clad only in her shirt, understanding why Leona seemed envious. Givia did have a remarkable figure, but he wasn’t interested at the moment. He recounted his encounter with the Lord of Nightmares, sharing only the details he deemed appropriate.

“That’s all I can tell you. The rest involves some of my secrets. Please forgive me,” he said, standing beside her bed.

Givia, after hearing Abyss’s account, felt a pang of disappointment. She had gained little useful information. All she knew was that the Lord of Nightmares intended to drive her mad, and she felt powerless against such a formidable foe.

“Your Highness, if you trust me, I can try to help you,” Abyss said, smiling reassuringly at her.

Givia looked at him. “What would you want in return? I’m willing to offer a generous reward.”

Abyss didn’t need material possessions. At his level of power, he could acquire anything he desired. And besides the occasional expenses for his followers and his basic needs for food and water, he required no resources. Spellcasting materials? He had an abundance stored within the belly of his magical catfish.

His current priorities were to awaken his third follower, adding her strength to his team, and to find a way to steal the Creator God’s power. His secondary goal was to acquire the power of the Lord of Nightmares, who was far more cunning and dangerous than the simple-minded Lord of Submergence.

He shook his head, smiling. “I don’t need any material possessions. All I ask for is your promise.”

“What promise?” Givia asked, curious. She knew he didn’t value fame or wealth.

“I need your promise that you will not succumb to fear, not until I uncover the Lord of Nightmares’ weakness, his secrets,” Abyss said, looking at her intently with his emerald eyes. “If you give up, everything I do for you will be meaningless.”

“…I promise,” Givia said after a moment of silence, gritting her teeth. “I will fight with all my might, I will not bow to fear.”

Abyss knew it wouldn’t be easy. The Lord of Nightmares’ nightmares were personalized, targeting the victim’s deepest fears. The monster in Givia’s dreams was likely an abstract representation of her greatest terror. The fact that she hadn’t succumbed to madness after enduring such torment for so long, and could still communicate rationally, was a testament to her mental fortitude.

“Thank you for agreeing to my request. I have another question. Could you tell me about your brother, Kevin? The Lord of Nightmares told me not to overestimate him, but I don’t quite understand what he meant.”

“Kevin?” Givia said, taken aback. “He’s ruthless and incredibly proud, his ego bordering on pathological. But he’s also cunning and opportunistic. That’s how he usurped the throne and became the new King of Ossi.”

“That’s his personality. Do you have any stories about him? He’s your brother. You must know a lot about him.”

“Stories about Kevin? No… I didn’t grow up with him, so I don’t know much. I only know that he treated his servants poorly as a child, whipping maids when he was in a bad mood, and punishing those who made mistakes… I’m not sure about anything else. Perhaps we could find someone who served him back then. They might know more…”

“I see… You and Kevin didn’t grow up together. That’s unusual. I believe in most countries, royal families live together in the palace.”

“We might be a special case. My father perhaps had a different approach to raising his children… But it seems his methods weren’t entirely successful with Kevin,” Givia said, noticing Abyss’s thoughtful expression. “Do you have any theories?”

“Oh, no, nothing concrete, just a hunch,” Abyss said, shaking his head, keeping his thoughts to himself, a mysterious glint in his eyes.

Chapter 109: Abyss and Givia’s Bedchamber

“Hmm?” The Lord of Nightmares, witnessing Abyss’s sudden outburst, sounded surprised. “Defying my will… You have guts, mortal. But you don’t think you can escape my nightmare just by throwing a tantrum, do you?”

“I wouldn’t underestimate you,” Abyss said, spreading his arms. In an instant, his body was covered in bone armor, hundreds of sharp spikes erupting from every joint. “Before weaving this dream, you must have considered the possibility of me trying to break free by destroying everything.”

“And you still want to try?” The Lord of Nightmares chuckled, as if amused by Abyss’s futile efforts. “Mortal, your persistence is quite entertaining.”

This time, Abyss ignored the Outer God’s mocking tone. The bone spikes on his body extended, growing to twice their original length. Orange Dou Qi flames surged from his body, enveloping the spikes. Tiny bolts of lightning crackled within the flames, vanishing as quickly as they appeared.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

With a thought, Abyss launched the bone spikes from his joints, filling the air with a symphony of piercing sounds. The sharp, high-velocity projectiles effortlessly pierced the inn’s walls, flying outward.

Forty seconds left…

“Hahaha, let me enjoy this farcical display of mortal foolishness!” The Lord of Nightmares roared with laughter.

The bone spikes multiplied in mid-air, one becoming three, three becoming nine. As they pierced countless walls, reaching every corner of the city, their numbers grew exponentially.

But every wall pierced by the spikes regenerated moments later, the holes disappearing as if nothing had happened.

Thirty-five seconds left…

The entire city was now riddled with holes, the bone spikes swirling under Abyss’s control, like a swarm of locusts, destroying everything in their path. Their speed increased exponentially, soon becoming a blur to the naked eye.

“It’s useless. I’ve sensed the power infused in your Dou Qi… Although I don’t know which god would lend their power to a lowly mortal like you, I can assure you, it’s too weak to destroy the dream I’ve crafted for you,” the Lord of Nightmares said, sounding bored.

“I want to see you struggle, to see if you’ll despair. Keep trying. You have twenty seconds left.”

The walls, despite being repeatedly destroyed by Abyss’s bone spikes, regenerated instantly. Even with the Lord of Submergence’s power infused in the spikes, it was like trying to extinguish a raging fire with a cup of water.

The city was being torn apart by the high-velocity projectiles. If this were the real world, not a single living creature would remain.

“It’s useless, useless, your persistence is futile!”

With ten seconds left before the dream reset, as the Lord of Nightmares mocked Abyss’s foolishness, the bone armor on Abyss’s body suddenly vanished.

“Oh? Giving up?” The Lord of Nightmares sounded disappointed.

“Not at all. I never intended to destroy your dream world,” Abyss said, smiling, closing his eyes, and tilting his head back, spreading his arms wide. “My target was never this city.”

“Hmm?”

Before the Lord of Nightmares could comprehend Abyss’s intentions, the bone spikes, swirling throughout the city, suddenly converged on him, their speed now terrifying after countless rotations. In an instant, they pierced his body, turning him into a human pincushion.

Riiiip!

A sound like tearing fabric echoed through the dream realm, and the world shattered into fragments.

“Hmm? Attacking yourself? Using divine power to attack yourself, because you realized your dream body is a projection of your soul, and a powerful, high-ranked stimulus could force you awake?” The Lord of Nightmares, after a moment of stunned silence, burst into laughter. “Hahaha! What a fearless mortal! You’ve truly surprised me!”

Abyss, riddled with holes, didn’t die. He chuckled softly, his voice raspy, air leaking from his punctured throat. “Yes, I’m returning to the real world now. You don’t mind, do you?”

The Lord of Nightmares’ laughter faded into the distance. “Hahahahahaha! You have my permission to leave! But remember, I will return, when you least expect it. I hope you’ll continue to surprise me then!” The voice vanished with the last word.

“Of course, Lord of Nightmares. I still intend to make you my servant,” Abyss said, his figure fading, escaping from the dream realm. It was unclear if the Outer God heard his audacious declaration…

…

Abyss opened his eyes, staring at a table illuminated by a bright oil lamp. A book about Outer Gods lay open on the table.

“Still can’t tell if I’m dreaming… But I’m betting that arrogant Outer God wouldn’t lie to a mere mortal like me,” he muttered to himself, standing up and opening the door.

There were no guards patrolling the hallway. Abyss narrowed his eyes and strode out of his room.

Givia’s room was at the other end of the hallway. He rushed towards it, ignoring any sense of decorum, and flung open the door.

Several Shadowlings were gathered around Givia’s bed, her blankets thrown aside. One of them was reaching for her hair with a skeletal hand…

They weren’t trying to kill her… They were trying to scare her. This explained why, during the first assassination attempt Leona had described, the Shadowling mage hadn’t simply blasted Givia’s wagon with a fire pillar from the hilltop. He had made the dwarves mark the wagon first—not because he couldn’t see, the Shadowling’s organs were merely for show, but to give Givia a chance to escape, to experience the lingering fear of a near-death experience!

This fear-devouring Outer God was trying to break Givia’s spirit!

Without a word, Abyss stomped his foot on the ground. Countless withered, skeletal arms erupted from beneath the Shadowlings, grabbing their legs and dragging them into the earth.

“I wonder if the wraiths will get indigestion from eating them,” Abyss muttered, walking towards Givia’s bed, intending to pull up her blankets.

He grabbed the edge of the blanket, but a soft moan escaped Givia’s lips.

A pair of moist, bewildered eyes stared up at him.

Chapter 108: A Prestigious Outer God

“Hehe, mortal, you are perceptive. I’m curious, how did you determine you were no longer in reality?” the voice chuckled, seemingly intrigued by Abyss’s deduction.

“Intuition, I suppose,” Abyss replied, clasping his hands behind his back. “I didn’t initially sense anything unusual about that mud-creature, which is strange. As a necromancer, I’m inherently sensitive to things that defy the natural order. Yet, it evaded my senses until I specifically cast a heartbeat detection spell on it.”

“That creature is called a Shadowling, a tool I created to interact with the material world. You’re confident in your perception? Interesting,” the Outer God’s voice echoed around Abyss, as if circling him.

Abyss remained calm, ignoring the Shadowlings surrounding him, their weapons glinting menacingly. He addressed the empty air before him. “May I have the honor of meeting you face to face? You are a god, after all. Hiding in the shadows seems unbecoming of your status.”

“Haha, mortal, you think I don’t want to reveal myself to you?” the voice laughed again. “The fact that you can’t see me is precisely why I find you so fascinating.”

“Please, do tell,” Abyss said, raising an eyebrow. It seemed things weren’t as he had initially assumed.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Schlezhech. You may call me by my name, but considering the limitations of your human vocal cords, you may also address me as the Lord of Nightmares. That’s what the humans of the previous world called me. Although they perished in their own conflicts, the title suits me, so I’ve kept it,” the voice said smoothly, exuding an air of confidence. This Outer God was clearly different from the simple-minded and clumsy Lord of Submergence. “I do not exist in the material world, therefore I have no fixed form. The shape I take before each individual is their deepest fear.”

Abyss smiled, his teeth gleaming white. “And since I fear nothing, you can’t manifest before me?”

“Precisely,” the Lord of Nightmares replied, his tone conversational, as if chatting with a friend. “You know, since my birth, I’ve traveled through three worlds before arriving in Hai-Teweru. You are only the second truly fearless individual I’ve encountered.”

“Who was the first?” Abyss asked, intrigued.

“The first? His name is irrelevant. He’s dead now, slain by his own kind. He was a true hero, unyielding and unburdened. But I eventually succeeded, I made him feel fear, and in the end, he succumbed to it, becoming my follower. As for how I achieved it, allow me to keep that a secret. I still intend to use that method on you,” the Lord of Nightmares said, his voice tinged with a hint of satisfaction, like a wolf who had just savored the marrow of a bone. “I still remember the taste of that fearless man’s fear… Exquisite, spicy, and so nourishing. And now, I’ve finally found another delicacy. You, Abyss, are the one I’ve been searching for. I will make you fear, I will make you my follower. Just wait, that day is not far off.”

“Fear is your sustenance? You only consume that?” Abyss asked, ignoring the threat, his curiosity overriding any fear.

“Of course. I exist only in the mental realm, so my sustenance is mental as well. What, as a material being, you can’t comprehend such a concept?”

“Oh, I understand. I’m just curious if you ever get tired of it,” Abyss said, spreading his hands. He had encountered beings who didn’t require physical sustenance before. Before meeting Flora and Leona, he spent most of his time with ghosts, and he had even met the gods, who didn’t need to use the restroom.

“Hehe, of course not. Every individual’s fear is unique, with a distinct flavor. However, the fear of ordinary individuals is too bland, and most people are ordinary. That’s why I seek out those with strong minds, those with unique flavors.”

“You sound like a gourmet,” Abyss chuckled.

“Hmm… You could say that,” the Lord of Nightmares said, seemingly pleased with the comparison.

“By the way, tell me, why would a powerful being like you be hired by Prince Kevin to eliminate Princess Givia?” Abyss asked, voicing a question that had been nagging at him.

The Lord of Nightmares burst into laughter, as if he were doubled over in amusement.

“Hahaha! You pitiful mortal, you think I would be hired by anyone? You think I’m a babysitter? A mercenary? I am a god, I stand above all mortals. No one has the right to bargain with me, no one has the right to make deals with me. Your petty interests, your desires, your joys and sorrows mean nothing to me. I’m not a fool who can be commanded by mortals!”

He wondered if the Lord of Submergence would feel offended if he heard that.

“You weren’t hired?” Abyss asked, surprised. “You’re doing this of your own volition?”

“Prince Kevin, what a joke, hahaha! I’m warning you, mortal, don’t overestimate him. I won’t tell you why I’m tormenting Princess Givia, but I will let you witness her mental breakdown, her descent into a whimpering coward, leading her followers to their doom. Everything is going according to my plan. Your appearance hasn’t changed her fate, not even by a single day. You’ve changed nothing, and you can change nothing.”

“Fine, keep your secrets. I’ll figure it out myself. I’m actually quite excited about that,” Abyss said, not bothered by his incorrect assumption, but rather intrigued by the unexpected answer.

“I’m going to preheat my new meal now. Your name is Abyss, right? Abyss, I will trap you in this nightmare for a month. Soon, your dream will reset, you’ll forget everything, and you’ll believe you’re protecting Princess Givia, commanding your followers. But she will die every time. I will torment you with frustration, marinating you in despair,” the Lord of Nightmares said, his voice low and menacing.

“And if I endure this month?” Abyss shrugged. “Will you let me go?”

“Of course. And only a few hours will have passed in the real world. You can continue your life. I will release you temporarily.”

“So, if I perform well, you’ll let me do as I please?”

“Hahaha, you’re bargaining with me? You have no right to bargain with me. But I appreciate your spirit, so I’ll grant you some freedom if you perform well.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Hmph, your dream will reset in one minute. Prepare to face endless enemies…”

“Oh, I’m not finished yet—but I refuse.”

Abyss suddenly spread his arms, making a gesture of refusal.

A blinding burst of Dou Qi flames erupted from his body, a powerful shockwave obliterating the Shadowlings surrounding him!

Chapter 107: Something’s Off About This Guard

Something was definitely wrong with the guard.

Without hesitation, Abyss chanted a spell. A faint pulse of magic, imperceptible to ordinary senses, emanated from him, spreading outward before returning a few moments later.

Heartbeat detection. This spell wasn’t part of the Necromancy school. It was developed by Healing mages to check if their patients were still alive. It could detect any beating heart within a certain radius and relay the information back to the caster.

However, heartbeat detection was an essential skill for any mid-level necromancer. It allowed them to confirm whether their targets were truly dead, with high accuracy and efficiency, a more elegant approach than simply stabbing a corpse to make sure. Using necromancy on a living or partially alive person was ineffective, wasting precious materials.

Thus, this life-saving spell was widely adopted by necromancers for their own purposes, much to the chagrin of Healing mages.

The returning magic pulse delivered its verdict: The guard had no heartbeat.

A smile played on Abyss’s lips. Good thing he noticed early, otherwise, he might have discovered this only after the assassination attempt.

He stopped peering through the doorway and stepped out of his room, walking straight towards the guard. He tapped him on the shoulder.

“Hey, buddy, I’m quite interested in what’s under your shirt. Would you mind taking it off for a moment?”

He asked with a friendly smile, observing the guard closely.

The guard froze, his eyes slowly swiveling in their sockets. “No,” he said.

His voice was faint, almost a whisper, as if air were leaking from his mouth. The shirt beneath his leather armor visibly deflated.

Abyss didn’t wait for his consent. The necromancer’s creed demanded respect for the living and the dead, but this creature was neither. He had no qualms about disrespecting what was likely a mass-produced monster.

He grabbed the guard’s leather armor, his arm transforming into a sharp, bony claw. With a gentle tug, the thick leather armor, the chainmail beneath it, and the shirt disintegrated like a spiderweb sliced by a hot knife, revealing the guard’s body.

Or rather, what was supposed to be a body. The guard’s entire abdomen and back were gaping holes, devoid of any internal organs. All that remained were pale, bloodless muscles and a layer of glistening fat.

Abyss frowned, looking at him with a puzzled expression. “Tell me, how can you stand upright without a spine?”

The guard, of course, didn’t answer his nonsensical question. Realizing he had been discovered, he drew his sword, twisting his body and slashing at Abyss’s neck in one fluid motion.

A burst of Dou Qi flames erupted around him, and runes flickered on his blade—he had enchanted his attack.

Clang!

The blade struck Abyss’s neck, a shower of sparks erupting from the point of impact. A layer of bone armor protected him.

But the attack wasn’t over. The magic imbued in the blade activated, pushing downwards with immense force, but Abyss’s bone armor held firm.

“A Magic Warrior?” Abyss said, smiling faintly. This creature was strong. If Abyss were an ordinary mage, he would be dead—the attack had magic-piercing properties, capable of bypassing most magical defenses.

Since this creature had no internal organs, Abyss saw no reason to keep it alive. He chanted a rapid, tongue-twisting spell, channeling powerful magic towards the fake guard.

Crack! Crack!

The fake guard didn’t even scream. His remaining bones deformed and grew rapidly under Abyss’s spell, transforming into sharp spikes that erupted from his body, piercing his skin and muscles, shattering his armor.

Within a breath, the fake guard was dissected by his own bones, his body a mangled mess, collapsing at Abyss’s feet.

A pungent, fishy odor emanated from the corpse. Abyss crouched down, examining it closely.

Definitely not a living organism. Abyss’s eyes narrowed. The exposed flesh and muscles were a facade. The creature did have bones and skin, but its muscle tissue was unlike any biological organism’s. It was just a sack of black goo that was now corroding… No, assimilating its own bones and skin, turning them into goo as well.

So that’s how the enemy’s corpses turned into black goo. Abyss nodded, understanding dawning on him.

Dissection was pointless. These creatures sent by the Lord of Nightmares weren’t biological entities. Dissecting them wouldn’t reveal anything of value, just more sacks of black goo.

Disappointed, Abyss stood up, looking around.

While he had been preoccupied with the fake guard’s transformation, several other guards had surrounded him.

Abyss calmly scanned their faces, quickly recognizing a familiar one—Burke, the bearded soldier who had been killed by a dwarf crossbow bolt in the dream he had observed earlier.

“I see. You’ve infiltrated our ranks while we were unaware, using some method to remain undetected,” Abyss said, nodding approvingly. “Replacing deceased soldiers, blending in seamlessly. No one noticed anything amiss, not even me. I was fooled like a fool… Lord of Nightmares, your methods are impressive indeed.”

“You flatter me.”

A voice echoed from in front of Abyss, its gender indistinguishable, its tone playful, laced with a hint of excitement.

“You were here all along. Tell me, when did you target us?” Abyss asked calmly.

“Initially, I was just looking for a little fear, helping Prince Kevin eliminate that princess. But then I discovered you while following your caravan,” the voice said slowly. “I’m very interested in you now. I’ve been wanting to taste your fear ever since.”

“You feed on fear?” Abyss nodded. “By the way, if I’m not mistaken, I’m not in the real world right now, am I?”

Chapter 106: A Small Border Town in the Eastern Empire

The caravan passed through the Tami Kingdom checkpoint without a hitch and crossed the bridge, entering the Eastern Empire.

The Eastern Empire’s checkpoint soldiers were noticeably more professional than their Tami counterparts. Without a word, they meticulously inspected the caravan’s cargo and the “mercenaries’” weapons, then swiftly granted them passage.

Although the Eastern Empire’s nobles were known for their corruption and even their ties to criminal gangs, the army remained highly disciplined. This was a testament to the current Emperor, Camper the Great. While he turned a blind eye to most of the nobles’ transgressions, he maintained a firm grip on the military. Even the most audacious generals wouldn’t dare allow their soldiers to slack off on training or withhold a single copper coin from their pay.

As a result, the Eastern Empire’s army was well-trained, disciplined, and highly effective. Coupled with their unique Magic Warrior units, no nation, not even the Western Empire, dared challenge their authority.

Leaving the checkpoint, they followed a well-worn road eastward, reaching the nearest city to the bridge they had crossed. It was a small border town called Farien, meaning “farewell to the setting sun” in the ancient language, marking the westernmost edge of the Eastern Empire.

As they entered the city gates, a cultural atmosphere distinct from the Western Empire’s greeted them.

Despite the late hour, the border town was bustling with activity. Many shops along the streets were just opening for the night, offering food, entertainment, and even red-light districts. Signs adorned with glowing potions flickered, attracting attention, and the streets were crowded with commoners, organized thieves, and gangs of thugs. Mages were a common sight, some hurrying through the crowds, others mingling with gang members.

The Western Empire, known as the “Land of Knights,” prized chivalry and cultivated a large number of skilled Dou Warriors. The Eastern Empire, however, had taken a different path. Alchemy and magic flourished among the common folk, even ordinary citizens knowing a few basic spells. Professional mages were abundant, and it was said that sixty percent of the continent’s ninth-tier mages resided in the Eastern Empire, earning it the title of “Land of Mages.”

It was said that Rebecca, the one Abyss planned to resurrect, had graduated from the Eastern Empire’s most prestigious institution, the “Eastern Empire Royal Academy of Magic,” specializing in alchemy. Although the program typically took six years, she completed all the courses in two years, graduating with skills that surpassed even her teachers.

The city’s lax security was evident from the numerous gang members roaming the streets and the guards’ deferential treatment of certain gang leaders.

After navigating the bustling streets and generously donating to a few beggars, the caravan found a reputable inn. It was rumored to be owned by the leader of a powerful local gang, ensuring a peaceful stay.

“How would you like to rest?” Givia asked Abyss and his companions, standing at the inn’s counter, after instructing Santos to secure the wagons. “I can arrange a large room for the three of you, or two rooms, or three.”

Leona and Flora looked at Abyss, unsure of his preference.

“Please arrange two rooms for us,” Abyss said. “They’re close, so they can share a room. I’ll take a separate room—I don’t actually need to sleep. I’ve already had plenty of rest.”

Leona was touched by Abyss’s rare display of gentlemanly behavior, but also felt a twinge of disappointment. Flora also seemed slightly disheartened. She had planned to take care of him while he slept.

“You two get some rest. I know you’re not used to long journeys in a wagon. Now you can stretch your legs and relax,” Abyss said to the girls, his voice gentle.

“What if the enemy…” Flora asked hesitantly.

Abyss winked at her without answering, and she understood. He wanted Leona and Flora, who had been taking care of him, to rest easy. He would handle everything else.

Flora nodded silently, trusting his abilities. She would take this opportunity to relax with Leona and put aside her worries.

…

The entire caravan settled in. Givia’s soldiers rented several cheap rooms near hers, sharing accommodations, with two or three taking turns to guard her room.

Abyss sat alone in his room, a small, affordable space with a single bed. He hadn’t planned to sleep and hadn’t even bothered to lie down.

When would that Prince Kevin send his assassin? The anticipation of facing a new enemy kept his mind active.

He sat there, reading Leona’s ancestor’s notes on Outer Gods, occasionally opening the door to peek into the hallway. His room and Givia’s were at opposite ends of the hallway. A quick glance would reveal any suspicious activity.

A soldier, pretending to be a restless guest, strolled down the hallway. Seeing Abyss, he bowed slightly in respect, then continued his patrol.

Time passed quickly. Three hours later, well past midnight, Abyss finished reading the notes and closed the book.

He had discreetly set up a simple magical defense mechanism outside his room. Nothing could enter the inn without triggering it.

“Maybe they’re not coming. That’s a bit disappointing,” Abyss muttered to himself.

He opened the door again, peering into the hallway.

The hallway was empty except for the soldier guarding Givia’s room, still pretending to be a guest, occasionally glancing towards her door.

Just as Abyss was about to express his disappointment and close the door, he noticed something odd about the patrolling guard.

His gait was different from a typical soldier’s, too light, as if he were walking in low gravity. And his body, clad in leather armor, seemed too thin.

“Wait… Does the enemy’s assassin need to physically ‘enter’ the inn?” A thought struck Abyss.

Chapter 105: Bombs, Supersized

Unfortunately, Princess Givia hadn’t seen the mysterious fortune teller since their encounter and had no further information about him. He had concealed his entire face with a wide-brimmed hood, leaving no clues about his appearance, build, or even his voice, which sounded like any ordinary middle-aged man.

Abyss decided to wait and see. If Givia could learn something from Lannis about countering the Outer God she called the Lord of Nightmares, he would investigate the fortune teller. If the fortune teller was just a con artist who happened to notice Givia’s troubled sleep, he wouldn’t waste his time.

The caravan continued their journey, and this time, the road was peaceful. Givia had ordered them to take a different route, slightly longer but safer, avoiding any potential ambushes.

Abyss enjoyed the peaceful journey, spending much of his time conversing with Givia. He wasn’t particularly talkative, but his calm and respectful demeanor, coupled with his sharp wit, made him a pleasant companion. And truthfully, Givia was also drawn to his gentle features, his perpetually serene expression, and his captivating emerald eyes that seemed to soothe her anxieties, momentarily allowing her to forget the nightly nightmares.

They crossed the border into the Kingdom of Tami without incident. After two more days of travel, as evening approached, they finally caught sight of an Eastern Empire border city.

“We’ll reach the Eastern Empire after crossing that river. We can finally rest in a city tonight. I’ll treat you three to a good meal and a comfortable night’s sleep,” Givia said cheerfully, pointing towards a cluster of lights in the distance, as she lifted the wagon’s curtain.

Abyss nodded. He didn’t mind sleeping anywhere. He was accustomed to resting in graveyards, tombs, and ruins. As long as Leona and Flora were with him, any place was comfortable—but judging by their expressions, they were looking forward to a proper bed.

He couldn’t help but think: Was this what people meant by “easy to go from frugality to luxury, difficult to go from luxury to frugality”?

If Leona knew his thoughts, she would indignantly remind him that they were a princess and a Saint, not accustomed to roughing it.

“Finally, some comfort,” Leona said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, as she looked in the direction Givia was pointing. “The enemy can’t possibly follow us into the city, right? Maybe we can skip guard duty tonight?”

“We still need guards,” Givia said, chuckling. “But perhaps they can relax a bit. It won’t be as tense as these past few nights, when we had to camp in the wilderness to avoid detection.”

Flora, hearing their conversation, felt a sense of foreboding. She had a feeling their optimism would be short-lived.

She glanced at Abyss, who smiled wryly and winked at her, silently agreeing that something felt amiss.

But they wouldn’t worry about it. If the enemy didn’t show up, it was a good thing. Leona and Flora had been cooped up in the wagon for days. Although their undead bodies didn’t tire, as high-ranking undead with preserved emotions, they needed a break from the monotony. And if the enemy did appear, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Abyss was eager to capture one of those goo-transforming creatures for closer examination.

As long as Abyss wanted Givia safe, no harm would befall her—unless she was caught by that monster in her dreams.

The caravan reached the border between the Eastern Empire and the Kingdom of Tami, a wide, flowing river. A thirty-meter-long stone bridge spanned the river, with pavilions on either side. In the pavilion on their side, a few soldiers were yawning and packing their belongings, illuminated by the light of a brazier.

“Please wait! We’re heading to the Eastern Empire!” Santos said, riding ahead and dismounting, approaching the soldiers with a smile. “Would you gentlemen please inspect us so we can enter? We’re a merchant caravan from the Western Empire.”

“Huh?” The soldier who appeared to be the captain glanced at Santos with an annoyed expression. “From the Western Empire? What business do you have in the Eastern Empire?”

“Sir, we’re here to purchase some legal potions for import to the Western Empire,” Santos replied quickly.

“Buying potions? Then it’s not urgent, is it? Camp here for the night. We’ll be back in the morning. We’re off duty now,” the captain said.

“But…” Santos was in a bind. As a general, he couldn’t subject the princess to another night of camping just because of a few lazy soldiers. “Gentlemen, please make an exception for us. We’re only carrying money. The inspection will be quick. See, these are standard imperial coins. Please, have a look.”

He pulled out a handful of gleaming coins from his pouch, offering them to the captain with a flattering smile.

The captain instantly recognized the bribe. He glanced around, making sure no one was watching, before accepting the coins. He counted them quickly. There were dozens of imperial coins, a decent sum. He pocketed half, then distributed a few to the other soldiers.

“Alright, we’ll make an exception for you. But I’m warning you, if you’re here to buy potions, legal or illegal, you won’t make any profit. It’s a wasted trip.”

“May I ask why?” Santos asked, puzzled.

“Hehe, you’re from afar, so you haven’t heard the news. I’ll be kind enough to inform you. There have been explosions in several Eastern Empire border cities these past few days. Several warehouses belonging to the ‘Goat Eyes Gang,’ a group that made their fortune selling potions, were blown to smithereens. Apparently, their rivals hired a crazy alchemist. The explosions have doubled the price of potions for hundreds of kilometers. Your costs will double as well.”

“Sigh, we might have to buy less then. Our funds are limited…” Givia said, sighing from inside the wagon. It seemed that despite her royal status, leading a guerrilla army had strained her finances.

“Abyss, make them return the money,” Leona whispered to Abyss. “I remember it’s still an hour before their shift ends. These lazy bums are taking bribes and shirking their duties.”

Abyss raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. He chanted a prayer silently, his fingertips glowing briefly, as he discreetly cast a Repentance spell on the soldiers.

The soldiers froze, their faces filled with guilt, as they pulled out the coins they had pocketed.

“Sorry, we’re not actually off duty yet. We were just trying to slack off,” the captain said, collecting the coins from the other soldiers and returning them to a bewildered Santos. “We’ll inspect you now—free of charge.”

“Uh… Thank you…”

The soldiers quickly began the inspection. During the process, Abyss overheard one soldier whisper to another, “Sorry, Ricky, I’ve been sleeping with your wife for a month. I had to tell you.”

“What?!”

“I’m sorry. I suddenly felt so guilty that I couldn’t keep it a secret anymore.”

“It’s alright, I forgive you. I’ve been sleeping with your mother for two weeks. I also feel very guilty, Larry.”

“What?!”

Chapter 104: Lannis, the Explosives Prodigy

Hearing the name, a smile spread across Abyss’s face. “I know that person too.”

Lannis was indeed a renowned alchemist, known as “The Most Dangerous Halfling in the Eastern Empire.” Not because she was evil, but because her mind was both brilliant and somewhat unhinged.

Halflings were a sub-race of humans, similar in height to dwarves, adults averaging between 1.2 and 1.3 meters tall. However, they were much lighter, weighing only a third of a dwarf of the same height. They resembled human children in appearance, but their minds were sharp and agile.

Halflings loved to travel, and most of them pursued careers in commerce. They were shrewd, silver-tongued, and possessed exceptional business acumen. Even those who didn’t become merchants preferred professions that involved travel and exploration. It was rare for a halfling to choose the solitary life of an alchemist, spending their days cooped up in a laboratory, surrounded by beakers and flasks.

Lannis, however, was a halfling alchemist, and a highly skilled one at that. At seventy years old, she was considered one of the most accomplished alchemists on the continent. Yet, instead of pursuing lucrative ventures, she dedicated her talents to waging war against criminal gangs.

The Eastern Empire, despite its military strength and economic prosperity, suffered from rampant gang activity in its outlying cities, far from the capital. These cities were plagued by numerous gangs, some with histories spanning centuries. They fought amongst themselves for power and wealth, operating outside the law, with their own set of rules.

The Eastern Empire tolerated these gangs for three main reasons: First, although they weren’t law-abiding citizens, they generally avoided harming innocent civilians and respected the authority of the city lords. Second, their income wasn’t solely derived from theft or extortion. They also ran legitimate businesses, contributing to the Empire’s tax revenue (or perhaps, bribes). Third, some of the larger gangs had financial backing from Eastern Empire nobles, providing them with powerful connections.

However, gangs were still a menace to society. Their activities often involved violence, brutality, and cruelty. Law-abiding citizens avoided any association with them, leading to a strained relationship between the common folk and the nobles in these outlying cities.

Lannis was often hired by various gangs to create specialized explosives, using her skills to blow up their rivals.

With her talent, she could have easily aligned herself with a powerful gang, becoming their ace weapon and enjoying a life of luxury and influence. The larger the gang, the greater her rewards would be. However, one of the reasons she was considered eccentric was her refusal to pledge allegiance to anyone. Today, she might accept payment to blow up someone’s enemies, and tomorrow, she might accept payment from those enemies to blow up her previous clients.

She had two principles when accepting jobs: First, she only targeted gang members, never harming civilians or animals. Second, she never worked for the same organization twice. After completing a job, she would immediately move on to a new client, regardless of how much her previous clients offered.

This made her both a valuable asset and a hated enemy among the Eastern Empire’s gangs. City officials, constantly dealing with the aftermath of her explosions, despised her, arresting her multiple times. But she always managed to buy her freedom with hefty fines, rarely spending more than a week in prison.

This notoriety made her a household name. To the gangs, she was a powerful mercenary. To the common folk, she was an amusing eccentric—after all, she never harmed innocent people, and there had never been any collateral damage from her explosions.

Abyss’s knowledge of her wasn’t due to her legendary status, but because of her past.

Forty years ago, she had been the assistant to Rebecca, the Adult Entertainment Queen of the Eastern Empire.

She was the one who announced Rebecca’s death and the one who burned all her blueprints and formulas. Therefore, she was the most likely person to know where Rebecca’s body was buried.

“That’s quite a coincidence. We’re also heading to the Eastern Empire to visit Miss Lannis. We have some questions about alchemy we’d like to ask her,” Abyss said to Givia with a smile. “As for her ability to help you with your Outer God problem, could you elaborate?”

Abyss wasn’t lying. He did have questions for an alchemist, specifically about the location and preservation status of a certain alchemist’s remains. If Rebecca hadn’t been properly preserved, he might have to find a way to reconstruct her flesh and skin.

“You have questions for her too?” Givia asked, surprised. “This is… quite a coincidence. Perhaps we can continue traveling together after we reach the Eastern Empire.”

“I would be delighted. We’ll offer any assistance we can, as a token of gratitude for your hospitality and the comfortable wagon,” Abyss said, not mentioning his other motive for accompanying Givia: to capture one of those strange creatures Leona had encountered and dissect it.

He wanted to examine its insides—its organs, bones, nerves, blood vessels, and muscles—before it could turn into goo.

How exciting!

“It’s a bit embarrassing, but I learned about Lannis’s ability to help me from a fortune teller…” Givia continued. “I was desperate, so I decided to try anything. After being plagued by nightmares for a while, I went to a nearby city in disguise to purchase some supplies. A mysterious fortune teller stopped me on the street. He easily guessed that I was having nightmares. After I paid him, he told me that meeting Lannis Consten would solve my problem. I didn’t take his words seriously at first, but since I’m heading to the Eastern Empire to acquire potions for my soldiers, I thought I might as well visit her…”

“I see… A mysterious fortune teller?” Abyss asked, intrigued. “He could make such a specific prediction?”

Fortune tellers did exist in Hai-Teweru(Haitville), but most of them only predicted general fortunes for a short period, and they were either con artists or amateur psychologists. They didn’t actually see the future, but simply deduced their clients’ personalities through observation and then made educated guesses.

“It does sound suspicious… But I was wearing a veil and had taken a stimulating potion. He still guessed that I was having nightmares, so I believed him… It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? The leader of the Restoration Army, believing in such things…”

“Not at all, Your Highness,” Abyss said, shaking his head seriously. “I must visit this fortune teller myself. He’s as intriguing as an ancient giant’s heart.”

***

海·特维尔: (Hǎi.Tèwéiěr)

I’ll use ‘Hai-Teweru’ from now on instead of ‘Haitville’.

Chapter 103: Curious Abyss

As dawn broke, Princess Givia, who had spent the entire night tormented by nightmares, emerged from her tent to find Leona and Flora, along with the young man accompanying them, questioning the soldiers about their sleep.

The boy was awake? This was the first time Givia had seen Abyss conscious. He was slender, his movements lacking vigor, a faint smile perpetually playing on his lips. His pale complexion suggested he was indeed unwell.

She approached them, overhearing Abyss’s conversation with a soldier.

“…Are you sure you slept soundly? You didn’t dream about anything strange or unusual?”

“What’s with all these questions so early in the morning? I told you, I didn’t dream. I closed my eyes, and then it was morning. What more do you want?”

“It seems you have no memory of your dreams.”

“If I had dreamed about something strange, I wouldn’t forget it so completely. Don’t you even have basic common sense? Just because you’re Miss Flora’s brother doesn’t mean I’ll humor your nonsense. I have important duties to attend to.”

Abyss was speaking Ossi, allowing the soldier to converse with him easily. His pronunciation was flawless, lacking any accent, piquing Givia’s curiosity.

The boy was short, even for his age, with a face that resembled the Southern people, the predominant race in the Eastern Empire. His hair suggested some elven ancestry. He clearly had no Ossi blood. Yet, his Ossi was fluent, as if he were a native speaker.

“Hello, you must be Leona and Flora’s brother. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Is your head feeling better now?”

Givia approached them with a smile. She had grown accustomed to the nightmares and could still muster a cheerful facade, even after a night of torment. It wasn’t about vanity, but about maintaining morale as a leader.

Abyss turned to face her, confused by her question about his head.

Leona, beside him, whistled awkwardly, though no sound came out.

“Greetings, Your Highness Givia. Abyss Belator, at your service,” Abyss said, bowing to her, also speaking Ossi.

“Mr. Abyss, you’ve been asleep for a long time. You must be famished. Please don’t mind our simple soldier’s fare. We only brought essential rations for this journey. I eat the same food as my soldiers,” Givia said. “We’ll continue our journey after breakfast.”

“Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness,” Abyss said politely, then added, “Your Highness, I’ve heard from my ‘sisters’ about your nightmares. Could we discuss it over breakfast? I’m quite curious. My apologies if I overstep any boundaries.”

Givia raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t expected this boy to inquire about her nightmares the moment he woke up. But considering Leona’s ability to effortlessly defeat the powerful mage sent by their enemy and Flora’s impressive healing magic (she, too, had been affected by Flora’s Divine Arts, mistaking them for magic), Abyss’s curiosity about her nightmares didn’t seem so strange.

Perhaps this boy was more than he appeared. Judging by his eloquence, his flawless Ossi, and his thirst for knowledge, he might be a scholar, his youthful appearance attributed to elven ancestry and their longer lifespans. The powerful Dou Warrior and the skilled healer were likely his friends or companions.

Givia constructed a mental image of Abyss’s background but quickly stopped herself. As a leader, she couldn’t rely solely on intuition.

“Of course, but my nightmares are probably quite boring… Even I don’t find them interesting enough to talk about…” she said, agreeing readily. It wasn’t a secret she couldn’t share.

…

“Your Highness, we know about your nightmares. I’m just curious about some of the details,” Abyss said, munching on a piece of water-soaked bread, as he sat across from Givia. He didn’t mention that the details he craved were the ones he hadn’t witnessed during his third-person observation the previous night.

“Details? There aren’t many. My nightmares plague me every night, always the same writhing monster chasing me. But strangely, it doesn’t roar. It screams like a woman. The sound terrifies me, but I don’t know why.”

Abyss immediately recalled the scream he had heard in the dream. It was indeed a woman’s scream. If he closed his eyes and ignored the monster’s appearance, he might have mistaken it for a young woman crying out in agony.

“That’s definitely unsettling,” Leona said. “If there’s a sinister motive behind this monster, it’s using that dissonance to induce fear.”

Abyss stroked his chin thoughtfully. Leona had a point. A giant monster roaring wasn’t unusual, but a giant monster screaming like a woman in pain would trigger an instinctive fear of the unnatural and evoke empathy, making it truly chilling.

“Perhaps this Lord of Nightmares feeds on fear?” Abyss muttered to himself.

“You mean the Outer God?” Givia asked, realization dawning on her. “You’re researching Outer Gods!”

“Yes, that’s why I’m asking about your nightmares. I’m hoping to gather more information about the Lord of Nightmares.”

“Well… I can only tell you about my own nightmares. I don’t know much about Outer Gods. I only learned about them recently. That’s why I’m going to the Eastern Empire, to seek help, to see if I can break free from these nightmares and regain my focus to lead the army.”

Abyss had heard this from Leona and Flora, but something clicked in his mind. “Right, I almost forgot something important. Your Highness, whose help are you seeking in the Eastern Empire?”

Givia hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Lannis Consten. She’s a notorious alchemist in the Eastern Empire, also a known criminal who’s been arrested multiple times but always manages to buy her freedom.”

Chapter 102: “The Dream Seer”

After the runes completed three rotations, Abyss felt the world around him collapsing. He plummeted through a void, and as the sensation of falling intensified, he opened his eyes.

“Whoa!” Leona’s startled cry echoed in his ears.

“Huh… Why is my pillow forked… Ah… Leona, why is my head between your thighs?” Abyss asked, realizing his head was resting on Leona’s soft abdomen.

“I-I-I… I didn’t! I wasn’t! You-You-You! Why did you wake up so suddenly?!” Leona stammered, her face crimson, pushing him away frantically.

Flora couldn’t help but giggle. “Abyss, don’t misunderstand. Leona wasn’t trying to trick you. She was just shifting positions, moving your head from one thigh to the other, and you woke up in the middle of it.”

“Oh, that’s what happened. I knew Leona wouldn’t play a prank on me,” Abyss said, chuckling, sitting up. “How long was I asleep?”

“About twenty minutes. What did you do? Did it work?” Flora asked, curious. She had expected him to sleep until morning.

Leona had finally calmed down, sitting with her knees drawn to her chest, peeking at Abyss with one eye.

“It seems to have worked,” Abyss said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “I used a rather nasty trick on the one observing us through nightmares. It seems to have been effective, which is why I could break free from the dream so easily.”

“What did you do? You can break free from a nightmare’s grasp?” Flora asked, intrigued. Abyss wouldn’t have mentioned it unless he was willing to explain.

“Hehe, I was initially trying to figure out how to escape the nightmare and find some clue to track down the observer, but I gave up. It’s an Outer God’s Divine Art, after all. I don’t understand its principles or its nature. Thinking about it wouldn’t get me anywhere,” Abyss said, cracking his knuckles, a hint of frustration in his voice. “Do you know what my nightmare was? I’m not afraid of anything, so it wasn’t as terrifying as the others. In my dream, both of you were rotting, begging me for help.”

“Pfft,” Flora chuckled. “Not to brag, but my body really can’t rot. Don’t worry about that, Abyss. I have permanent Divine Arts protection.”

“Of course I know your body can’t rot, and neither can Leona’s. Her Dou Qi is so powerful that her body has transcended ordinary limitations. Although her rank hasn’t increased, she’s immune to the usual decomposition processes,” Abyss said, nodding. “So I quickly realized it was a dream. And it made me a bit angry. I don’t like people making fun of you, especially not by making you look ugly.”

“Then what did you do?” Leona asked softly.

“Then? I used a nasty trick,” Abyss said. “I condensed a powerful mental shock spell into runes using magic and spun them around for the observer to see. As expected, she mentally recited the spell when she saw it. That’s when she fell for my trap. Anyone with insufficient mental resistance—dragon-level or higher, I’d estimate—would suffer severe mental trauma. Her mind will be consumed by the phrase ‘vampire intestines’ for months. She’ll become a fanatic obsessed with vampire intestines, and she’ll forget everything she saw tonight.”

“You used an illusion spell within your own nightmare to target the observer?” Leona asked, her head tilted in thought, finally understanding the logic. “Only you would come up with such a bizarre method. And it actually worked?”

“I was right. The one observing us through nightmares is still human,” Abyss said. “I just got lucky this time. But it’s been a while since I used such a nasty trick. It’s almost a violation of the necromancer’s creed.”

“So we’re safe now?” Flora didn’t seem to care about how Abyss had dealt with the observer. After all, she had just tended to the bodies of the young soldiers who had died in the ambush. She knew their deaths were a direct result of the observer’s actions. Even someone as compassionate as her couldn’t feel sympathy for him.

“Yes, we should be safe. We’ll ask Princess Givia to change our route tomorrow, and we should be fine. But I’m not sure if the enemy can replace the observer. If they can, I’ll have to come up with another plan,” Abyss said, nodding, his demeanor relaxed now that he had accomplished his task.

…

While Abyss and his companions were at ease, the atmosphere in a basement hundreds of kilometers away was far from comfortable.

King Kevin stood there, holding a blood-soaked axe. The body of an old woman lay at his feet, her throat half-severed, her eyes lifeless. Blood splattered the floor, slowly pooling around her.

“Your Majesty, shall I prepare a new Dream Seer?” the eunuch asked, bowing respectfully.

Kevin stared coldly at the corpse. “Prepare a new one immediately, but do not attempt to observe anyone in Givia’s caravan for the next few days. That cunning vixen must have found a way to influence the Dream Seer’s mind.”

“This is the first time I’ve encountered such a situation… I always thought the Lord of Nightmares’ power was flawless…”

“Silence! How dare you question the Lord of Nightmares’ power? If you don’t want to join that corpse on the floor, go and carry out my orders. Stop babbling.”

“My deepest apologies, Your Majesty!”

“Hmph. And dispatch the Shadow Demons I’ve stationed along Givia’s likely routes. Even though I can’t send my army into the Western Empire’s territory, I will seize every opportunity to eliminate her!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The eunuch scurried away, leaving Kevin alone in the basement.

Although it was the middle of the night, Kevin showed no signs of fatigue. He kicked the old woman’s corpse, the one who had just defied him, calling him “vampire intestines.”

“Hmph, pathetic humans,” he said coldly.

Chapter 101: Time to Get Nasty

How beautiful were Flora’s collarbones? When she was alive, many yearned for a glimpse. However, as a Saint of the Church, her attire was strictly regulated. Regardless of the season, she was always adorned in elaborate gowns that concealed her figure, leaving little to the imagination. The only ones who regularly saw her were her personal maids, but they were strictly forbidden from discussing the Saint’s physical attributes.

Now, Abyss, gazing directly at Flora, was arguably the luckiest man alive. If her former admirers knew, they would drown him in their collective spit.

Although Flora belonged to the Northern human race, the predominant race in the Western Empire, lacking any elven ancestry, her skin was as smooth and delicate as the highest-ranking Gray Elf’s, fair and translucent, the faint blue lines of her veins adding a touch of allure.

Her collarbones were delicately sculpted, her perfectly maintained physique, a result of the Church’s meticulous care, making her slender yet healthy. Even Abyss, who harbored no untoward thoughts towards women, couldn’t help but admire her perfection.

But Flora’s hands didn’t stop. She slowly unfastened her undergarments, her face flushed, revealing…

A fist-sized hole in her flat abdomen, exposing her pink intestines.

“Abyss, my body is rotting… Can you help me?” she pleaded, her voice filled with anguish.

Abyss stared at her, his expression unreadable.

“My body is rotting, Abyss. Can you fix it? I don’t want to be like this… It’s so ugly… Abyss… Abyss…”

Leona, beside her, rolled up her pant leg, revealing a skeletal leg. “ABC, help me, I’m rotting too…”

“Tsk…”

A surge of anger welled up within Abyss.

This wasn’t the real world! It was a seamless, meticulously crafted nightmare! He had to admit, he had been fooled for a moment!

Being tricked was one thing. Abyss wasn’t a sore loser. He could accept defeat and seek revenge later. But this nightmare dared to mock his beloved, kind, and trustworthy followers, and that truly angered him.

The last time he had felt this angry was when he encountered that arrogant fool of a necromancer who was being manipulated yet remained oblivious.

Abyss stood up, ignoring the pleas for help from the fake Flora and Leona behind him, and walked out of the tent.

As expected, the location was the same as in the other soldiers’ dreams, their campsite.

The voices followed him, the fake Flora and Leona emerging from the tent.

If he started running, the unseen observer, monitoring the dream, could easily pinpoint his location based on his movements and those of the others. The wider his range of movement, the more accurate their tracking would be.

But Abyss didn’t run. He turned to face the approaching figures, their expressions vacant and mournful.

The fake Flora’s face twisted into a grotesque snarl, and she lunged at him, her hand reaching for his face.

Abyss swatted her hand away, but a searing pain shot through his palm. He looked down to see a burn mark on his skin. Fortunately, this was just a dream. His real body was unharmed.

“Abyss… Why won’t you help me… Why are you abandoning me? Didn’t you trust me the most? Didn’t you say you would entrust yourself to me? Why…”

“How long are you going to pretend to be my Flora and Leona?” Abyss asked, sighing in exasperation.

He dodged the fake Leona’s clumsy lunge and started jogging away, maintaining a slow pace. The dream figures were slow, he didn’t need to sprint. His mind raced, searching for a way to escape this dream, to trace it back to its source.

“Hmm… This dream is based on my memories, a manifestation of my fears… Not much to work with there…” he muttered, glancing back at the shambling figures, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “The observer… How are they observing… Hmm… Wait, I might have an idea… Since you’ve angered me, let’s get nasty…”

He stopped abruptly, his lips moving as he chanted a series of arcane words.

Magic swirled around him, coalescing into glowing runes that flowed across his body.

Then, the runes detached from his body, forming a rotating ring around him.

The runes were large, as if intentionally designed to be legible…

…

“Aah!”

A wrinkled old woman with a large growth on her nose sat up in bed, screaming, in a sparsely furnished basement. There were several chairs beside the bed.

Her sudden outburst startled the people sitting on the chairs.

“How dare you, Otia! You dare scream in the presence of His Majesty, King Kevin?!” a pale, beardless eunuch shrieked.

“Patience, Appos,” a burly man with a golden crown on his head and expensive leather armor said, smiling faintly at the old woman, who was still gasping for breath, her eyes wide with terror. “Otia, tell me what you saw in your nightmares. Report the location of the Restoration Army.”

The old woman stared at the crowned man, speechless.

“Otia, His Majesty is speaking to you!” the eunuch scolded.

The old woman, Otia, seemed to snap out of her daze. She looked at King Kevin with vacant eyes, her lips moving silently before she finally managed to speak.

“I saw runes… Runes that said… Vampire intestines! Vampire intestines!”

She suddenly screamed, her voice laced with madness.

“Vampire intestines! Vampire intestines! Hahaha! I am vampire intestines! You are all vampire intestines!”