Chapter 161: A Crack Between Worlds
The prayer, which should have been ineffective, miraculously worked.
It was a strange sensation, as if a severed connection to the Nine Gods had been restored. Abyss felt his prayer ascend, leaving the dream realm, then a powerful force surged through the rift he had created, entering this world.
The dream realm brightened, the sky turning into a blinding mirror, the light momentarily disorienting him.
Divine power flooded the realm, filling every corner, then, after a brief pause, surged towards Abyss, his body absorbing it completely.
A cool wave spread from his spine, coursing through his nerves, invigorating his mind.
The picturesque dream dissolved into darkness, and he felt an itching sensation in his eyelids. He opened his eyes.
His senses returned, his vision clearing, the familiar jostling of the carriage beneath him, the rhythmic marching chants of the Restoration Army soldiers, and Flora’s comforting scent filling the air. Her face, filled with relief, appeared before him.
“Abyss, are you alright?”
“Abyss! You’re finally awake!” Leona exclaimed from beside him. “You collapsed after sensing those followers chanting. We couldn’t wake you. Flora, in her anger, silenced all the Lord of Nightmares’ followers who were praying!”
“We tried everything, but you didn’t respond. How did you suddenly wake up? Did you succeed?” Rebecca asked, her voice filled with concern, taking his hand. “What did the Lord of Nightmares do to you?”
“How long was I asleep?” Abyss asked, rubbing his temples.
Flora leaned closer, gently massaging his head. “You were asleep for over an hour. The Restoration Army is about to force the enemy’s last remaining troops to surrender. Victory is near. We stayed with you in the carriage. Confronting the Lord of Nightmares must have been exhausting.”
Flora’s gentle touch eased his headache, but he was still unsure if he was truly awake.
“Belator.”
A gentle, melodious female voice echoed in his mind, comforting and familiar, like a mother’s call.
He looked at Flora, who returned his gaze with a questioning look. It wasn’t her.
“Belator, I am Neria, Goddess of Life and Harvest,” the voice said, seemingly aware of his confusion. “You prayed for my power. When I granted it, it passed through a conduit to another world. I require an explanation.”
The Goddess of Life and Harvest was the most widely worshipped deity in Hai-Teweru, her power invoked by healers, doctors, farmers, and all those who sought her blessings. It seemed she had contacted him directly because his prayer hadn’t been used for its intended purpose.
Abyss paused, then asked mentally, “You’re aware of my conflict with the Lord of Nightmares, aren’t you?”
“I am. You were trapped in a dream.”
“It seems you know everything,” Abyss replied. “I don’t understand the details, but I suspect the Lord of Nightmares is influencing our world from another realm—or perhaps a space between worlds. He pulled my consciousness into a dream, but he also pulled it out of this world. That’s why you couldn’t reach me—but someone created a pathway, allowing your power to reach me.”
“Are you referring to… Apos Kohler?”
“Yes, my lady,” Abyss replied respectfully. “It seems we’ve solved the mystery.”
“Good. Congratulations on defeating the Lord of Nightmares, Belator.”
“I haven’t defeated him completely, but thank you, my lady. Your voice is reassuring.”
The Goddess of Life’s voice faded. Abyss knew she had ended their conversation.
He didn’t know how many layers of dreams the Lord of Nightmares had created, nor was he certain he was truly awake.
“Flora, I’ll explain my encounter with the Lord of Nightmares later. Can you preserve my memories from after I awakened? Is there a Divine Art for that?” he asked.
“Well… no,” Flora said, shaking her head. “Human memories are complex. There’s no way to extract and preserve them.”
“Hmm…”
“But you can tell me what you want to remember,” Flora said, smiling. “I’ll tell you everything when you return. You’re planning to use the Lord of Submergence’s power, right?”
Abyss slapped his forehead. “I forgot about the simplest solution. I have you all.”
After explaining his plan, he used the Lord of Submergence’s power, transforming into light and flying towards the sun. This time, he encountered no resistance, reaching the sun’s surface instantly—a sea of fire that didn’t harm him, its warmth comforting.
Then, Flora called him back through their telepathic link. This confirmed that he wasn’t in a dream created by the Lord of Nightmares.
As for whether he was truly awake, he wasn’t concerned. He would deal with that later. Defeating the Creator God was his priority. He wouldn’t waste time on such uncertainties.
With the girls’ help, he quickly recovered the memories he had lost during his brief use of Divine Arts.
“Abyss, what’s our next move?” Flora asked. “The Restoration Army is doing well, and I’ve located all the Lord of Nightmares’ followers. They’re all bound by my Soul Chains now.”
“Excellent work, but don’t deal with them yet. I want to talk to Kohler.”
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