Chapter 144: No Turning Back
“Apos? Why?” Persia asked, her voice filled with shock and disbelief, as she looked up at Kohler’s impassive face.
“Persia, I’ve chosen my path. I’ve done too much evil. There’s no turning back,” Kohler said, his voice devoid of emotion. “I must sever my ties to the past and continue forward, until all mortals become what they should be. Farewell, Persia. We’ll meet again in our dreams. You haven’t changed at all. You still have that faint scent of honey and oranges. Thank you for preserving those memories for me.”
After these words, he gently nudged Persia’s body with his foot. She fell backward, her body hitting the ground with a soft thud. She was dead.
Abyss watched in silence, his expression cold and unreadable.
“Our conversation is over. Now you will pay for your insolence,” Kohler said, turning to Abyss, the Dream Shear glinting in his hand.
Abyss didn’t react immediately. He tilted his head, gesturing towards Persia’s body.
Kohler frowned, noticing something amiss. Persia’s heart had been split in two by the Dream Shear, but there should be blood. Instead, a clear liquid was flowing from the wound.
As the liquid flowed, Persia’s body deflated, melting into a puddle of clear liquid, then vanishing completely, absorbed by the earth.
“She wasn’t Persia?” Kohler asked, his eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Abyss.
“Of course not. Did you think I would use Persia to try and persuade you to change your ways? I would never do that. I wouldn’t risk hurting her feelings,” Abyss said, sighing softly. “Miss Persia died two years ago during childbirth. I visited her grave in the south of the kingdom, had a pleasant chat with her soul. You just stabbed an alchemical golem under my control. But the words she spoke were truly hers, entrusted to me. Consider it fulfilling her last wish.”
“You just wanted to lure me out?” Kohler asked, his voice cold, as he flicked the Dream Shear. The world around them shifted, the garden dissolving into darkness, only a small area remaining—they were already within the dream-like realm created by the artifact. “I didn’t realize you were so eager to meet me.”
“I want that Dream Shear. Give it to me, and I promise I’ll put it to good use,” Abyss said, finally standing up. The three girls who had been beside him had vanished the moment Kohler activated the Dream Shear.
“I never thought you would be so foolish, Abyss,” Kohler said, shaking his head. “You planned to lure me out, then defeat me, is that it? You even brought your three girlfriends, hoping to overwhelm me with numbers? But you underestimated me. Within this dream realm, I control the rules. It’s a one-on-one battle. Your girlfriends are merely experiencing ordinary nightmares. Only you can face me. Your plan was reckless. I’m disappointed.”
“Oh, you might want to reconsider your assessment,” Abyss said casually. “You assumed my followers were with me, but they were also alchemical golems, merely a distraction. If my plan succeeded, they’re already carrying out their assigned tasks. I’m not as reckless as you think.”
He summoned his magical catfish, a small arm emerging from its mouth, then Leona jumped out, landing gracefully.
“Did I make it in time?” Leona asked, glancing at the surprised Kohler. “Oh, so you’re the one with the almost-identical name to ABC? You look so pathetic, clutching those shears like some kind of brooding villain. Do you think you’re the Night Slayer or something?”
Abyss patted Leona’s head, then turned to Kohler. “You see, this dream realm now belongs to the three of us. I am a necromancer, after all. Summoning a few followers is hardly a challenge.”
“You think you can defeat me with a two-on-one advantage?” Kohler asked, his composure returning after the initial surprise. “Your ability to store and summon your followers is indeed impressive, but that’s all you have. I wasn’t injured during our last encounter. In fact, I’ve grown stronger. I can simply choose not to retain my injuries when this dream realm ends, and I’ll be fully healed, but my experience fighting you will remain.”
“I know. You told me that before. But I won’t be intimidated by your threats. After all, I’m fearless, remember?” Abyss said, shrugging.
Kohler, without further ado, transformed into black mist and vanished, his intangible form moving silently towards Abyss and Leona.
“As planned,” Abyss said, lightly tapping Leona’s shoulder.
Leona nodded, her senses heightened, scanning their surroundings.
Whoosh!
Kohler materialized behind Abyss, the Dream Shear thrusting towards the back of his head!
Leona, anticipating this, moved instantly, appearing beside Kohler, her Dou Qi flames coalescing into a spear, thrusting towards his wrist with blinding speed. The ground where she had been standing exploded a moment later, the force of her departure creating a small crater.
Kohler, forced to transform back into mist before Leona’s spear could reach him, vanished again. He could recover from any injury, even death, as long as he retained the Dream Shear.
Leona’s speed was troublesome—but nothing more.
“Kohler, did the Lord of Nightmares scold you after you returned? I’m sure he heaped insults upon you. Are you angry?” Abyss asked, his voice carrying through the dream realm, his hands clasped behind his back, Leona standing guard beside him.
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