Chapter 235: The Lord of Nightmares’ Recruitment Tactics
Flora sat on a low stool, her head bent low, meticulously guiding a needle through Abyss’s tattered clothes, pulling a thin thread, creating a small floral pattern.
Abyss’s outfit, after his battle with Kohler, was in tatters. Flora couldn’t restore it to its original state, and using Divine Arts to repair it wasn’t an option—manipulating matter was beyond the scope of the powers granted by the Nine Gods. However, this hadn’t deterred Flora, who had spent the past few days diligently studying needlework, even seeking guidance from the local women. She skillfully embroidered patterns onto the torn fabric. Abyss’s clothes, originally black, now adorned with these intricate designs, looked almost brand new.
Leona, perched on an alchemy table, hummed a tune from the Western Empire, a carrot in her hand, watched them work.
Unlike Flora and Leona, who seemed to be enjoying a peaceful afternoon, Abyss and Rebecca were engaged in a rather unsettling activity. The three followers of the Lord of Nightmares they had captured from the guerrilla camp were strapped to bone dissection tables, their bodies held in place by Abyss’s magic. Rebecca, holding a smoking jar filled with a green, noxious gas, wafted it towards their faces. The three men, their eyes glazed over, their speech slurred, answered Abyss’s questions.
They looked like villains from a horror story, their expressions cruel, their actions even more so.
Interrogating their enemies was a simple task for Abyss and his companions. Flora could use her Divine Arts to relax their minds, making them vulnerable to suggestion. Rebecca could brew truth serums, forcing them to confess. Abyss, with his knowledge of anatomy and his necromantic powers, could inflict unimaginable pain. And Leona, well, she relied on brute force and intimidation.
These three unfortunate followers of the Lord of Nightmares had been subjected to all of the above. Abyss had intimidated them, Flora had relaxed their minds, and Rebecca had administered her truth serum. Their mental defenses were shattered, and they were now confessing everything they knew.
They hadn’t been falsely accused. They were indeed followers of the Lord of Nightmares, but they hadn’t joined the Restoration Army with malicious intent. They had become the Outer God’s followers later.
Before Givia’s Blood Atonement, before she had publicly declared her resolve, the people of Ossi had been consumed by fear and uncertainty. Some worried about their nation’s future, while others feared for their own lives. They didn’t know which leader to follow—Givia, although ambitious, lacked resources and experience, while Kevin, although powerful, was a cruel tyrant who didn’t care about his kingdom.
They feared both siding with Kevin and betraying him. Even some of Givia’s soldiers were plagued by doubts, their anxieties manifesting as nightmares.
Nightmares were the Lord of Nightmares’ domain. He might be arrogant, but he wasn’t stupid. He had a backup plan. His followers were his secondary weapon, deployed when his Shadowlings failed. He would infiltrate their dreams, tormenting them with their deepest fears, breaking their minds, then offer them salvation. Most agreed, and those who refused faced continued torment until they succumbed or died.
He had a powerful influence over those with weak minds. Those who had endured his nightly torments for decades (he could control the flow of time within dreams) had become his most devoted followers, abandoning the Nine Gods and worshipping him as their sole deity. These followers weren’t organized like those of the Lord of Submergence, but their loyalty was unwavering.
Humans were capable of developing a strange dependence on their tormentors, even a sense of respect. The Lord of Nightmares had perfected this manipulation, turning them into willing pawns.
These followers didn’t offer him sacrifices, but they obeyed his commands without question.
They lived with nightmares, but these terrifying dreams were like an addiction, a source of twisted pleasure.
The three captured followers had been with the Restoration Army for a long time. They hadn’t participated in the recent attack. It seemed the Lord of Nightmares was keeping them as a backup plan. But he hadn’t anticipated Rebecca’s abilities, her potion revealing his hidden agents. This would surely disrupt his plans.
Abyss couldn’t extract any further information from them. They were telling the truth, but they were ignorant of the Lord of Nightmares’ overall plan. He only issued commands, keeping them in the dark.
“It seems we’ve learned everything we can,” Abyss said, clapping his hands, looking at Rebecca.
Rebecca made a throat-slitting gesture, her eyes questioning.
“Oh, no, there’s no need to silence them. They might be traitors, but they were driven to this by the Lord of Nightmares’ torment. Most people can’t withstand his influence,” Abyss said, shaking his head.
“Heehee, I was just teasing,” Rebecca said, her smile mischievous. “I’ll use a combination of potions and hypnosis to erase their memories of the Lord of Nightmares and recent events. They can return to the army. As long as they’re courageous, they shouldn’t be susceptible to his influence again. The Restoration Army needs every able-bodied soldier. They can still serve their kingdom.”
Leave a Reply