Chapter 53

Seed of Nightmare.

Kiyotaka marveled at the sight before him as he recalled what little information he had on it.

The Seed of Nightmare was a vile manifestation of the Spell that grew in the Dream Realm and eventually blossomed, opening a Nightmare gate to the real world for the Nightmare Creatures to enter. It was the thing that Awakened were supposed to seek out and destroy by challenging the Nightmare contained within. If they didn't, the Nightmare outbreak would occur, and the nightmare creatures within would appear somewhere in the waking world.

Most of the Seeds were not found in time because the Dream Realm was vast and only partially explored. That was why the Nightmare Creatures were entering the real world so often. Challenging a Seed before it bloomed was better.

After the Seed of Nightmare was destroyed, a Gateway took its place.

"This is potentially a way out from the Dream Realm for me... but can I, as a Sleeper, challenge a Second Nightmare without even Awakening?" Kiyotaka pondered.

The risk was too high, especially since he didn't know how this nightmare would unfold. There were numerous Nightmares, but not all were equal. The nature of the Nightmare one could challenge determined what knowledge one would receive, and what secrets one would glean. The lessons humans could learn from the decrepit ruins in the Dream Realm were not that profound. Most of the knowledge came from the stories people brought back from their Nightmares. For that reason, powerful Legacy Clans selected the Nightmares for their members to challenge very carefully.

Kiyotaka didn't know what to expect from this Nightmare at all. The only thing he could speculate was that it was somehow connected to war or combat. After all, the castle had many pictures depicting war and also the statue of the War Goddess right here.

Instinctively, Kiyotaka knew that this nightmare was very compatible with his aspect. But there were many unknowns shrouding its mysteries.

As he was contemplating, he felt his blood from a distance. It meant that the accursed hawk had reached Asher. Quickly unsummoning Asher, he waited patiently and dove into his soul sea.

Under the brilliance of three red suns, he saw his human echo standing still with little damage. Kiyotaka was quick to react and managed to save Asher. Returning back, he silently mused.

"I will need to explore this castle and try to unravel its secrets before I even think of challenging the Nightmare. There's also the matter of that hawk."

There were many things to be done and revised. First, he had to explore the ruins, but he couldn't risk being caught by that vile hawk. Second, he had to become a Devil.

War Fragments: [ 2992/3000 ]

There were eight fragments left for him to form a fourth core. The changes with becoming a Devil might bring him certain abilities too, just like Nightmare creatures tend to have.

As he was thinking of what needed to be done, an ear-piercing screech could be heard from the distance.

"That hawk won't let me explore the ruins peacefully... that's a problem."

The Nightmare Seed was right ahead of him. He could dive into it whenever he wanted, but that would be suicidal. He would have to gain at least some knowledge first. But to do so, he had to get rid of the bird somehow.

The hawk was of Corrupted rank. Just thinking about killing the bird was a crazy idea. How on earth could a mere Sleeper, no matter how powerful, kill a beast of Corrupted rank? That was absurd. Not even some Masters were able to kill a Corrupted Beast.

Still, Kiyotaka felt that there was a reason to believe in victory. First of all, he wasn't alone. He had two echoes, one of an Ascendant human, the other of a Fallen Demon. He himself, with all his enchantments, could rival the strength of an Awakened warrior. There was also his [Bloodborne Ascendant] attribute, which hinted that his blood in itself could be a weapon of Ascendant rank. There also seemed to be a certain connection with his other attribute, [Flame of Divinity], that enhanced his blood slightly.

All in all, he had every right to assume he could fight the Corrupted Beast.

Sighing deeply, he analyzed the surroundings and a plan began forming in his mind.

---

The icy wind whistled through the desolate landscape, ruffling the pristine feathers of the Corrupted Hawk. Its crimson eyes scanned the snowy expanse, ever vigilant for intruders. The scent of blood lingered in the air, a tantalizing promise of prey. With a powerful flap of its wings, the hawk soared towards the source of the scent.

The ruined ice castle loomed ahead, its ghostly silhouette against the heavy snowfall. The hawk's eyes narrowed as it spotted movement within the castle's crumbling walls. With a graceful sweep of its wings, it glided silently through a broken window, entering the castle's eerie interior.

Inside, the hawk's wings cast vast shadows across the frozen walls. It navigated the narrow corridors with ease, its sharp talons scraping against the icy floor. The scent of blood was stronger here, drawing the hawk deeper into the heart of the castle.

Suddenly, a massive black snake lunged from the shadows, its fangs aiming for the hawk's neck. The hawk screeched in fury, its wings beating with tremendous force as it evaded the attack. It retaliated with a powerful swipe of its talons, forcing the snake to retreat momentarily.

Before the hawk could recover, a woman appeared, her form shimmering with an ethereal light. She wielded a dark sword that radiated a cursed aura. The hawk recognized the danger and braced itself for the attack.

Asher moved with incredible speed, her strikes precise and deadly. Her Abyssal Reaver sword cut through the air, each swing leaving a trail of dark energy. The hawk dodged and countered, but the combined assault of Asher and the snake was relentless.

The hawk screeched, its voice echoing through the icy halls. It summoned a gust of wind with its wings, sending a flurry of snow and ice towards its attackers. Asher shielded herself with her sword, while the snake weaved through the storm with fluid grace.

Despite the hawk's formidable power, the combined efforts of Asher and the snake began to take their toll. The hawk's movements grew more frantic, its attacks more desperate. Asher's cursed blade left dark gashes on its pristine feathers, and the snake's venom seeped into its wounds, causing searing pain.

The hawk's crimson eyes glowed with fury. It lashed out with its talons, striking Asher and sending her crashing into a wall. The snake coiled around the hawk, trying to constrict it, but the hawk's strength was immense. It broke free with a powerful flap of its wings, sending the snake sprawling across the floor.

In the midst of the chaos, the hawk noticed something strange. Drops of blood scattered across the icy floor began to glow with an eerie red light. The hawk's instincts screamed danger, but it was too late. The blood ignited, flames roaring to life and engulfing the hawk in a fiery inferno.

The hawk screeched in agony, its powerful wings flailing as it tried to escape the flames. But the fire was relentless, burning with an intensity that seemed almost unnatural. The hawk's movements grew weaker, its cries more desperate.

From his hiding place, Kiyotaka watched the scene unfold. His plan was working. The hawk was distracted and weakened, its attention focused on the immediate threats. He knew this was his moment.

Summoning all his strength, Kiyotaka manipulated his blood, sending it coursing through the air towards the hawk. The blood, imbued with his power, pierced the hawk's body, infiltrating its very essence.

The hawk screeched one final time as Kiyotaka's blood overwhelmed it from within. The crimson liquid spread through its veins, tearing through flesh and bone with brutal efficiency. The hawk's body convulsed, and then, with a final shudder, it collapsed onto the icy floor, defeated.

Kiyotaka himself was deathly pale as he not only have used the all the blood he had been accumilating in bottles through his journey, but also his own blood, dropping it to critical levels. Fortunately, his [ Bloodborne Ascendant ] attribute persisted as with even little blood he could maintain his consciousness.

Breathing heavily, Kiyotaka stepped out from his hiding place. The hawk lay still, its once-majestic form now a lifeless husk. He felt a mix of relief and exhaustion, his body aching from the strain of the battle.

Asher and Mamba returned to his side, both looking worn but victorious. Kiyotaka nodded to them in gratitude, his golden eyes reflecting the flickering flames that still burned in the icy castle, steeling himself to what was about to follow .

[ You have slain Corrupted Beast, Frostwind Valkor ]

[ You have received a memory ]

[ Your war spirit grows stronger ]

War Fragments : [ 3000/3000 ]