ã€ŠNightmare Mythosã€‹


 Chapter 1: Memory Of The Past

    "Children, what do you think Nightmares are?"

    Once in a while, I couldn''t but remember this question posed by my teacher.

    It was the time when I was still a child, oblivious about what was really happening. Although I couldn''t remember his face, name, and almost everything about him, his soothing demanding voice was all I could recognize when he posed this question.

    I tried to think hard about it when I had a chance to ponder but my efforts were futile.

    Still, even if it was very vague, I can remember pieces of it.

    It was probably because his words got stuck in my head ever since.

    I remember raising my hand to answer.

    "Teacher, isn''t that what happens when you have bad dreams?"

    The teacher standing in front of the board seems to subtly chuckle. For some reason, I felt him staring at me for a brief moment before answering.

    "Well, I guess outskirts people like us aren''t suited to be shared with what''s supposed to be general knowledge for everyone to know. You are still kids, yes. But even you people should learn what the known knowledge of what these Existences are,"

    Faintly remembering how other children appeared disinterested in such topics, I realized how engrossed I was in the iing discussion.

    "Nightmares are manifested Entities that came from somewhere I don''t even know myself. The word ''Nightmare'' itself was just invented as it fits right with the description of how harrowing these creatures are to humanity. These entities are otherworldly beings with unknown purposes in this world.

    T-their¡­ our first appearance happened a thousand years ago and only a century had to pass when humans discovered their existence,"

    The teacher halted for a brief moment.

    Squish¡ª!

    At the next second, I vaguely remember feeling a liquid sshing across the side of my face but I didn''t mind it at all. The revolting sound of flesh being torn apart, the slurping sound of an entity permeated like when drinking water through a straw, and the soothing voice of the teacher resumed.

    "Our existences corrupted humans in a way you children wouldn''t even imagine. Nightmares grew that way. We feast on you lowly humans."

    Ssh¡ª!

    "But for some reason, humans found a way to fight back. It was funny how it took three more centuries toe up with a solution that didn''t even guarantee the user''s safety when exposed to such power. Well, humanity''s greatest redeeming quality is their adaptability after all."

    Ssh¡ª!

    At this point in my memory, my vision became clouded. The appearance of the teacher who I could only faintly remember became more obscure, only their voice remained ringing all around the ce.

    "Yet you see kids, there''s another way to fight back. It''s not entirely a weakness but just a way to expose our identities if you fought one and didn''t know their power,"

    The voice paused.

    "Our names. Our True Name you guys wouldn''t even know no matter what. Wait, there''s another thing. If True Names aren''t working, our Nightmare Title was enough. However, I would prefer you use the former since exposing the Title is too weak to produce a¡­ well, a result,"

    The revolting sound of sshing sounds of flesh vanished. The voice also disappeared as well but just as I was thinking everything turned back to normal, the same eerie tone resumed.

    "Of course, talking about this wouldn''t make a difference."

    This time, the voice was directly aimed at me.

    "You''re thest child left. It''s a shame¡­ I''m still hungry. I couldn''t satiate this hunger even if I kept eating and eating¡­ Shame¡­ It''s such a shame,"

    I don''t know what forced me on that day but I knew I was foolishly engrossed in listening. The voice''s words echoed and rang inside my head that my mouth was forced to move on its own uttering a single word.

    "Hunger,"

    Suddenly, the voice was no more. The obscure and hazy surroundings that made me all alone in this tiny space also vanished into thin air.

    In front of me, the teacher was gone as well.

    Another ''being'' was standing in front with its appearance harrowing enough that it was the only thing I could picture clearly.

    The creature''s figure was severed with fangs protruding out from those open flesh. Its revolting head which only had its cranial socket was located on its abdomen with its eye sockets elongating out a long, flesh-like snake as its two ck eyes were staring at me from above as they hovered through the air.

    The creature''s flesh-like hand holding me tightly raised me up and was just like any other manifestation of its power.

    But what me realize the dire situation was directly within the vision of my eyes.

    A convoluted, huge mouth that stretched through the creature''s neck halted on reaching out to me and deep inside of it was another mouth, this time, with the lips of a human.

    The lips inside the convoluted mouth moved.

    "Oh?"

    The tone appeared to be fascinated.

    "Howe a mere child¡ª"

    My nose tingled due to the foul stench hence I merely ignored the voice and weakly turned my head around.

    Mangled bodies of children of varying sizes and ages were scattered around. The blood across the floor was new and being devoured by elongated flesh-like limbs with mouths at the end of iting from the creature on my front. The moon''s illumination that pierces through the windows heightened the terrifying image of carnage and despair.

    The memory of the past that still haunts me depicted a very clear picture that I couldn''t shake off no matter what.

    Soon, my eyes returned back to the front.

    Fear struck me.

    ''I''m going to die¡­''

    My breathing became ragged as myplexion turned for the worse. The Nightmare, Hunger, feel even more fascinated watching me finallying to a normal reaction as to how humans were supposed to react.

    "Very hungry¡­!"

    Hunger let out a low growl and tried to end my life on that very day before I got freed from my position.

    sh¡ª!

    The flesh-like hand grasping my frail body was cut in half, leaving me falling and bumping my head to the ground.

    Thud¡ª!

    Before even losing consciousness, my gaze fell on the group of people who entered the room and stopped the devil from finishing itsst feast. Draped in all ck, the group of people shed with The Nightmare, Hunger.

    I couldn''t witness the start of the fight because thest thing I knew, I closed my eyes and lost consciousness.

    ¡­

    "¡­"

    Opening his eyes, a lone man finds himself staring at the ceiling wall of his room. The side of his eye was swollen due to the endless stream of tears that came down from it. His arm ced just right above his eye returned to its rightful position on the side of his body as he remained quiet.

    "It''s the same nightmare again¡­"

    Wiping the tears on the side of his face, the man stood up from his bed to ept another day of the deste world he lived in.

    He went to the bathroom to wash himself. Once he was done, he got his school uniform into his wardrobe and attire himself before preparing some breakfast.

    Bleakly looking at the cup of rice on his front and a shrimp using chopsticks, he finished his food.

    With a polo as his inner and the ck navy blue as an outer, his ironed ck pants, and polished ck shoes, the man looked at himself in the mirror.

    Pale as ever, the man had a sharp face and features of an above-average individual. His deep, prating hazel eyes were devoid of emotion and emitted a silent menacing aura. His raven-ck hair thatplemented his pale skin appeared to share his threatening mood.

    Arranging himself, the lone man grabbed the name tag that had just been ced on the table in front of the mirror and put it right near his chest.

    /Cesar Sparrow/

    After seeing himself cleanly dressed, the man, Cesar Sparrow left his room to attend the important event for today.

    It was finally time to congratte his seniors for graduating which also marked the day when the previous year would be the next seniors.

 Chapter 2: Graduation

    Resisting Academy

    An elite academy that facilitates students from different parts of the world to train them basing their aplishments through meritocracy. Gathering and forming a cohort of humanity that protects and keeps humans from perishing under the gazes of the Nightmares. A facility that kept its students focused on doing one job; ending the Nightmares.

    -Resist as long as you can. The one who persists will continue to hold on. Stopping only results in death.

    That was the motto of this academy.

    Located in the heart of the continent, Cesar''s school epasses and of mass where every needed learning, tight protection, and varying facilities are ced under the samend. Even conventional amenities such as recreational and malls are also built.

    An academy that can almost host every possible thing an individual could even imagine.

    The academy had a four-year curriculum where students trained in various skills and learned different information rting to Nightmares. It had world-ss teachers willing to teach their expertise and share their experience of encountering harrowing Nightmares themselves.

    Now, Cesar was sitting down in front of the line of seats where third-years rests down. Along with others, seats started to be full. The first and second years sat at the back of the third years while they waited for the fourth years toe on the stage.

    The fourth years are finally graduating yet such joyous event thousand years ago spell doom to most of students at this time of age.

    Graduating from the Resisting Academy is a wonderful thing as it raises the worth of the person but in this meritocracy-based school where skills and performance matter, a student who didn''t do their job well might just be cannon fodder from an individual who wielded authority outside of this academy.

    A graduating student only has two fates; the first is to be enlisted in the army which has its perks and downsides. The second is to fight in the front lines with the army, which wielded the authority to control men and has control over the frontlines.

    Being on the frontlines is simply a way of saying being on death''s doorstep.

    In any case, both choices have the same job. It''s just a matter of position and significance that matters when being enlisted.

    Hence when the fourth years are walking through the stage to line themselves, most faces appeared fearful. Even the ones with a confident gait are nervous as well.

    Was our efforts good enough to be enlisted in the army? Is it not enough which is why we got ced on the frontlines?

    Questions ranged inside their heads.

    Cesar could only watch them quietly, knowing quite well he was going to feel the same helplessness most students had felt this day.

    Still, such an image left a bitter taste in his mouth.

    Finally, therge hall quieted down as sound of footsteps slowly diminished until nothing was left. The instructors ce themselves in front of the third-years watching their students on the stage whom they taught for years setting off to their next pages of life.

    It will be a dreadful next page of life though.

    Once all was set, a man in his middle age walked into the middle of the stage who came from the backline of the fourth-year''s students.

    Permeating a domineering aura that spoke authority, the current headmaster of the Resisting Academy came to a halt once he reached the podium. His white hair swayed along the wind as his shady brown eyes fell below.

    Looking around the hall where thousands of students gathered, the headmaster nodded once.

    "Wee, students of the Resisting Academy. This is your current headmaster, Arnold Virgo, thankfully standing in front of you all,"

    In unison, the third, second, and first years stood from their chairs and formed a salute. The fourth years on the stage also raised their hand and ced it on their forehead in a straight manner which was the salute form for the army. A custom where a person greets a person with great authority that extended for the whole millennium.

    "At ease,"

    Everyone swiftly brought their hands to the side and remained motionless on their footings. For a while, Arnold quietly observed before he continued.

    "Graduating fourth-year students, I''m very pleased with what you be. Trained under the tutge ofpetent instructors and learning from them, honing your skills to the fullest to perform and protect the people in need, andstly, strong enough to endure the harsh training given to you all, I couldn''t be prouder to watch it all from here."

    It was such a simple message. There is no sugarcoating or any kind of unimportant wording added to the message Arnold relying upon.

    He felt proud of them as if they were the sons and daughters he took care of during their four years of staying here. It was sincere and full of emotions.

    Most of the fourth years also seemed to be emotional as well as they started crying, expressing a bunch of emotions of leaving the academy where they lived for four years.

    "I''m entrusting humanity''s fate in your hands."

    Arnold ended the rites of graduation with a single sentence that brought nervousness to the rest of the students because every single individual present knew one single thing next to happen.

    They were finally starting the culmination order of the graduation.

    "Let''s start,"

    Arnold''s voice reverberated across the huge hall as he slightly bent down and searched for something from his podium stand. After reaching out to it, he tightly grasped it in his hand.

    It was a white kerchief.

    Arnold wrapped it around his head where it covered his eyes. It didn''t matter what was covered anything else as long as the eyes were shut off from visioning something through.

    The fourth years nervously grabbed something out from their pockets. The same kerchief appeared on the palm of their hands but its color was entirely ck. All of them did the same thing by wrapping it around their head to cover their eyes.

    The students and instructors on the stage also took something out of their pockets or under their seats. Once they did, the same white kerchief appeared on their hands, nothing different from Arnold who was now done covering his eyes,pletely blind.

    Fearful and nervous, most of the students hastily and tightly checked how strong the wrap around their kerchief was.

    Cesar also did the same thing but he was one of thest students to do it because he was still curious throughout the years even though he already knew what was about to happen.

    But upon remembering the warnings and heeding them was the best choice, Cesar resigned to being unable to do anything and wrapped the white kerchief around his eyes.

    Blinded by the bandana, all Cesar could see was full ck of nothingness. He could hear and feel but being unable to see made him nervous.

    After all, for him, it''s better to pry into the unknown rather than be in the unknown.

    However, only this time, he had to abide by the rules because the same rules would not protect him for what was toe.

    After a while¡­

    Silence¡­

    At this point, no one can even hear a slight breathing from their fellow students and schoolmates. Everyone stood on their post. Some were fidgeting, others were shaking as their hips couldn''t help but shake.

    Every person who attended the graduation hall appeared on the same thing; blinded by the kerchief covering their eyes.

    After a while of nothing but tranquility, Arnold finally spoke.

    "Resist all you can,"

    p¡ª!

    Suddenly, a p resonated. It was very subtle but everyone can hear it very clearly. Everyone felt it wasing from the side of their ears.

    p¡ª!

    Another p resonated, this time,ing from Arnold.

    He then continued reciting the academy''s motto.

    "The one who persists will continue to hold on."

    p¡ª!

    The third p permeated throughout the hallway as if to answer Arnold''s sp.

    Everyone held their breath.

    Arnold slowly raised his head before ceasing from ascending as if he were looking at something through the veil of his kerchief.

    "Stopping only results in death."

    Then he sped his hands twice before silence surfaced in the grand hallway once again, Arnold''s voice trailed off to the ears of the people present.

    "¡­"

    A few seconds passed and they didn''t hear Arnold''s voice. Even so, they remained standing in their position.

    "¡­"

    A little more than that, it was still the same quietness.

    "¡­"

    The minute mark already came yet Arnold''s voice that felt so strong a few moments before was absent.

    p¡ª!

    Finally, the silence that almost continued for eternity was interrupted by another two ps.

    "Wait,"

    Arnold''s voice woke those people waiting in nervousness to hold whatever they were thinking of doing.

    "Wait¡­"

    Cesar took a mouthful of saliva down his throat due to how worried he was like others. Distressed, he, like others, followed Arnold''s orders.

    In a while¡­

    "You can remove them now,"

    Cesar ced his hand on the back of his head to remove the bandana before he hesitated. Composing himself, he let his worries cast aside before removing the kerchief entirely.

    His eyes darted to the front of the stage where a lone man stood silently. The white kerchief on his hand was grasped tightly while observing the student below the stage with indifference.

    "Everyone, get back to your rooms,"

    Arnold turned around, cing both of his hands on his back as the white bandana on his hand swayed.

    Unlike a while ago when he entered the stage, he was the only one exiting the stage without saying anything else.

    The fourth years standing behind him earlier vanished without a trace.

    Thousands of those students who were only standing alongside Arnold appeared to have never existed in the first ce.

    "All of them are gone¡­"

    Even if it was his third time witnessing such a phenomenon, Cesar was still in disbelief.

    Even though he tried to shake it off, the eerie foreboding still bothered him.

    "All of those people are gone¡­"

 Chapter 3: Facet

    After the graduation ended for the fourth-year students, Cesar returned to his dormitory. Like him, there are others out there who prefer being alone rather thanmunicating and promoting camaraderie. Additionally, there are important matters to be pondering about such as their year finally bing the fourth year.

    Great changes will being.

    Being a fourth-year student is unlike being a third, second, or even first year. Those three years they had been training for were for this moment. Now, all their learning will be put to the test.

    They will be released outside to finish up missions. Of course, under the guidance of specialists, they will be forced or grouped up with the same students in their year. It was like a field trip that involved putting learning to the test.

    It will be dangerous field trips though.

    Another matter he was contemting was the iing Facet Selection for the fourth years. Others secured Facets themselves probably because their families were rich or influential enough to collect such important things but Cesar was different.

    Half of the academy students are admitted to this academy through connections and money while the other half made their way here through schrships and rmendations. Cesar was inclined toward thetter. Although there''s no prejudice, the students who had been willingly enrolled here have a prior advantage whilst thetter didn''t.

    It''s not a matter of anything. It''s just the way it is.

    Hence, the academy had given students more opportunities for themselves to grow stronger whether they were blessed of being here or lucky enough to be admitted.

    And it is through Facets; a feature the humans discovered after three centuries of researching a way to fight back Nightmares since mundane weapons and artilleries are not on par when dealing with such harrowing creatures. A potion whose main ingredients were the flesh, carcasses, and corpses of the Nightmares the humans had killed.

    There are four Facets the academy could provide but each Facets presents different kinds of ability. Like branches of a tree, the facet had twigs that connected to the main trunk. Meaning, that in one Facet, a student will definitely get one of either of its three, four, or five abilities presented.

    These abilities will be a big help for those wanting to be strong as they offer great rewards such as receiving one of the said abilities of the Nightmares being offered.

    "Looks like I''ll have to do some research for this year''s batch of Nightmares. It doesn''t matter what kind it is as long as it helps me do good,"

    With a tired sigh, Cesar removed his uniform and changed into something more casual. There were still a few days left till the normal sses resumedmencement and their year bing fourth-year students.

    Not officially yet, but they became seniors today after the previous seniors were gone, who were probably situated on their stations throughout the world right now.

    He left his room to roam around a particr spot in the academy where he could search for the things he wanted to know by simply being there.

    ¡­

    The academy is vast and might appear endless to some people but being in this city for three whole years was enough for Cesar to explore almost everything avable for students to know once they were inside. To put it in a percentage, ny percent of the entire campus was known to him.

    Hence he didn''t need any kind of help to navigate most of the ce. He easily reached the spot he intended to look for.

    "Pass?"

    Being stopped by a bouncer in front of an inconspicuous club, Cesar handed over a card meant for this ce. Briefly looking at it, the bouncer nodded once before letting him in.

    He hade to the northwest district of the academy where malls, recreational activities, and clubs are prominent.

    Entering the club, it suddenly became a bit empty. Due to the disappearance of the fourth year, the buzzing hangout became quieter. Looking around a bit more, he noticed nothing much had changed. It was still cozy, calm, and gloomy.

    Cesar walked a bit further inside and came to the counter. There were baristas and bartenders serving drinks but they mostly sold beverages that didn''t involve too much alcohol. Yes, the school allowed it to give students some leeway to party and stuff at this time and age. There was even free counseling provided by the school to check the student''s mental health.

    The academy almost had it all.

    Sitting down in one of the table seats on the counter, Cesar gestured for a familiar bartender and ordered.

    "One ck coffee, Nas,"

    A short man wearing a white polo and ck suit walked towards Cesar''s counter before greeting Cesar with a dashing smile.

    "Oh, it''s been a while Cesar! How are you doing?"

    Cesar gave a short smile as he replied, "I''m doing fine. The next semester will start in a few days and I''vee here to collect some information regarding this year''s Facets,"

    "Straightforward as ever. You just don''t waste time, huh," Nas chuckled before turning around, "We have what you wanted. Stay still and we''ll give it to you,"

    Being able to ess this kind of information without paying a single contribution point was one of the benefits he received when he reached the top of the exams in his second year.

    This particr club and dozens or so establishments worked for the academy to do its one purpose; help its students. This one, however, had its benefits as well such as essing a piece of sensitive information that usually wouldn''t appear, as long as it was within the reasonable order. Of course, these people knew what kind of things to be given or not.

    Knowing this year''s Facets in advance that will only be given till the timees gives him an advantage to study and search for what he needs. Something that suited him forbat and didn''t put much strain on his well-being.

    "Here you go. Four Facets are avable as usual and your ck coffee," Nas informed, "Knowing that you didn''t spend many contribution points, be ready to choose one that fits you,"

    Understanding what he meant through his words, Cesar nodded slightly before picking up four documents from the bartender''s hands. It was thin but the information given by it was alreadyrge. It was also very precise, and any other information one had to know regarding its Facets was also there.

    He read important texts to know.

    ¡­..

    Nightmare: Unknown

    Rank: Lesser Nightmare

    Description: A humanoid figure with protruding eyes all around its body. It is hard to catch a glimpse of the monster as its tracking abilities are top-notch as well as its hiding abilities.

    Facets: [Imprint] [Discard] [Navigation]

    Note: Changes might ur. [Probability: High]

    Warning: Corruption might ur. [Probability: Low]

    ¡­..

    Nightmare: Unknown

    Rank: Lesser Creature

    Description: A monster that resembles a fish. It had three eyes and two mouths. It is the greatest foe on water but fails to fight evenly onnd.

    Facets: [Blue], [Gush], [Torrent]

    Note: Changes might ur. [Probably: Low]

    Warning: Corruption might ur. [Probably: Low]

    ¡­..

    Nightmare: Raven

    Title Discovery: Written on a stone b, the abomination willingly revealed its name. Only found after the excavating of its territory.

    Rank: Intermediate Creature

    Description: Hideous abomination with three beaks and one singr eye. Covered with thick fur, it hunts in the sky. Itnds to harvest and feast. Once it flew, its trail grew.

    Facets: [Talon], [Scream], [Keen], [Crystal Eye], [Flock Of Ravens]

    Note: Changes might ur. [Probability: Low]

    Warning: Corruption might ur. [Probability: High]

    ¡­..

    Nightmare: Unknown

    Rank: Lesser Creature

    Description: An agile monster capable of tearing down flesh with its sharp canines that even a strong armor no less was safe from its bite.

    Facets: [Swift] [Faint] [Sink]

    Note: Changes might ur. [Probably: Low]

    Warning: Corruption might ur. [Probably: Low]

    ¡­..

    After reading the file regarding this year''s avable Facet, Cesar couldn''t help but grimly smile. The lists avable didn''t suit what he was hoping to have. Well, the third Nightmare might look alluring to have but the warning and the probability to inherit its corruption are high.

    It doesn''t matter what kind of changes he had physically and mentally but being corrupted due to inheriting one of Nightmare''s powers will be something else.

    ''Man, this sucks. I don''t see any Facet simr to what I liked. And even if I do manage to find something that might fit me from one of the Nightmare''s Facets, it is still not certain that I''ll get that one particr ability.''

    For example, the Nightmare, Raven, has five abilities. The probability of getting [Flock Of Ravens] which seemed to be the busted ability for today''s Facets, is close to only one-fifth or twenty percent over a hundred. It''s just simple math¡­ and a bit of luck to receive the abomination''s power.

    Additionally, once the potion has been decided, one will have no choice but to drink whatever was concocted. Not only the potency of the potion might waver but the ingredients used to reduce the corruption might lessen hence it''s better to drink it swiftly.

    There are methods applied once a person is corrupted but with the help of the watchful gaze of instructors, they can give immediate help. As for the result at the end of this is unknown.

    Cesar grabbed the cup of coffee that had be cold now and took a sip. Grimacing, he clicked his tongue.

    "Bitter as always,"

 Chapter 4: Class 1-A

    Cesar spent the rest of the days searching, learning, and training. He had no friends to talk to and even if he did, these people were either connections he formed throughout his journey in the academy or something he used for his benefit.

    Friends are worthless when faced with unforgivable danger. They will cower away in fear and will sacrifice a person without any second thought if they survive.

    That''s why Cesar tends to avoid talking to people. It might not happen now but he believed he just couldn''t trust people that might endanger his life.

    ''My therapist said I''m socially inept. Well, that''s good. Communicating is such a hassle. I''ve been using this card since I was in my first year. So far it was working,''

    Today was yet another of the same kind of day every day.

    Now, he was officially in his fourth year, one year away from graduating. Also today, another batch of iing first years areing to the academy. This was going to ignite a buzz throughout the academy only because some clubs were going to gather talented freshmen or influential individuals suited for their work.

    As for Cesar, he didn''t need to. He doesn''t have any clubs to attend, people to talk to, and any family member to call because he doesn''t have one unlike most of the people in the academy who do.

    He''s an orphan after all.

    "Sigh, why am I being emotional the first day in the morning?"

    With a sigh, he left his room and went towards the school grounds to wee the new semester.

    ¡­

    Amidst Cesar''s indifferent demeanor that tends his fellow students to avoid his presence, the academy wasn''t washed away by his moody aura.

    The academy is a lively ce. Removing the time for graduation and a few other things, it is a rtively lively ce meant to teach and give students the best of their lives. The instructors were another factor why the school is striving as well.

    Still, that was only the building and a few dozen individuals.

    Most third-years who are now in their fourth year already felt the intensity, torment, and misery of attending such a ce. In the school where skills dictate the status of an individual, the strong befriended the strong, and the weak prey upon them, with a sense of responsibility that held everyone to train on eliminating the threat of humanity.

    In the next few days, they have to decide what Facet suits them. Suppose they have enough contribution points to even buy one. If they do manage to get a hold of a potion, they also have to worry about being corrupted even if there are ingredients used to lessen it. Additionally, the field trips where the fourth years are tasked to venture outside of the academy are looming around the corner.

    That is what Cesar was currently remembering.

    ''I got it all worked out. I''ll just have to go through the flow,''

    Cesar reassured himself before entering his new ss which has been his ss since the end of his second year.

    The academy had a way of distinguishing who was categorized as a high-standard individual and someone with low skills. Every year, the students shuffle to sses depending on their performance for that year.

    On top of those sses, the pinnacle was ss 1-A where Cesar belongs. It is the room where exceptional individuals gather. There were even rumors that throughout the time the academy had been built, their year was the strongest one yet for a while in a century.

    Well, the rumors aren''t exactly wrong. The ss he belonged to was all capable, battle-trained, and strong individuals. There wasn''t a shuffle of students throughout the third and this time, fourth year.

    The only difference was his existence, the time when he got transferred at the end of his second year, recing the top fifty of the ss. Nothing threatened his position ever since and he didn''t have to worry about holding the top fifty since he ranked up, peaking to top twenty third as of the moment.

    Of course, such rankings will change once Facets are given around.

    Once he entered, wishing that he had gone unnoticed, various gazes were cast upon him. Contempt, wariness, and a hint of fear.

    All Cesar did to return their ufortable gazes was ignoring them. He wasn''t even interested in entertaining anyone just like he had done for the past two years. He sat at the farthest corner of the room right beside the window, receiving no invitation from his ssmates to sit beside them.

    It was to be expected. He was an outcast after all.

    Of course, if there''s a need tomunicate that needs his attention, he willingly talks. However, he found it very hassle and had to force himself to get the job done.

    Patiently waiting for their instructor toe, Cesar rests his head on his hand ced on the desk while watching the tranquil view of the academy from the window.

    ''Good weather,''

    It was the only rxing moment where he could silently appreciate the dying world''s beauty. A habit he developed for three years.

    Thud¡ª!

    Finally, their instructor arrived. With a reserved gait and authoritative demeanor, his white hair that almost reached his shoulder swayed along the wind, his shady brown eyes darted across the room. Once he recognized all of them were all familiar, he smiled cheekily.

    "Everyone remained the same,"

    Arnold Virgo, the current headmaster, chuckled. He has been the teacher for ss 1-A for four years. Under his teachings, Cesar had only but deep respect for the individual.

    "All right, there''s only one matter to discuss for today and I''m sure everyone here is aware of it. That''s right, it is rted to the uing Facet Selection that is being held when a student of this academy is starting as a fourth year. Prepped with abilities, you''ll arm yourself and be ready for the iing field trips. After all, every learning had to be put to the test,"

    ''Here ites¡­''

    Cesar saw Arnold handling files from the front student. The first line of students then passed the rest of the paper to the back until thest line where Cesar received one as well.

    There was no difference.

    The same Nightmares, Facets, descriptions, and anything one has to know about the iing selection were there.

    ''It''s the same info. Sigh, why would I even doubt the intel Nas has given me when he''s working for the academy?''

    Cesar had mistrust about the given information but he wanted those doubts toe true. s, now that it was officially been shown, there''s no denying that the iing Facets will be only his lists of choices.

    Cesar slightly envied the bigshots of the school who didn''t have to worry about a single thing, knowing they were geared up with a Facet or two. He understood those parents would not send their kids to school without arming themselves to face uncertain dangers.

    He was only jealous for a moment though.

    Arnold discussed everything about Facet with his students. Some listened with interest while most were doing their own thing but still managed to listen whenever all because this topic had been raised sincest year all to prepare the students for the uing selection.

    However, unlike them, Cesar listened. Even if he already understood everything to remember, respect for respectable old people shall be treated with regard.

    "You only have three days to decide what to choose or whether you have enough contribution points to buy them. That''s all,"

    In the end, one hour of discussion was finished.

    He learned nothing new.

    ¡­

    ss 1-A was currently going to take a physical examination in the spacious gymnasium of the whole academy. In the afternoon, there will be a psychological test. After that, an emotional test will be held.

    This will be the only schedule happening in the academy for three whole days until the selection. It is a way to check whether the students are apt to receive Facets.

    One shouldn''t lie about their condition since it will be seen. If they happen to bypass such securities and don''t give any immediate attention to such detail, it will be their own fault if they can''t handle Facet''s corruption.

    "Line up!"

    Cesar ced himself in thest line of students, knowing it was the spot where he could avoid talking to his ssmates the most.

    ''Another three boring days, huh,''

    With a tired sigh, Cesar followed up with the student at the front to take three examinations for the whole three days.

 Chapter 5: Examinations

    Cesar watched a bunch of students taking their physical examinations with stern faces. With how they rigorously showed theirpetence and were capable enough to be handled out with Nightmare Facets, the academy will still decide. It''s just a matter of performance.

    Speaking of performance, Cesar had done great for the past three days. He showed his rising potential by doing arduous tasks assigned by the people in charge. Now, he was only waiting for the results toe among others.

    ss 1-A, specifically, were all talented individuals that some had stopped examining physically and immediately went to the evaluation process which will end in a good oue for obvious reasons.

    "Cesar Sparrow,"

    Once he was called, Cesar stood from his line of seats and went to the person in charge. In front of a table, he slightly bowed his head with respect and called out.

    "Instructor Dean,"

    The person in charge was a woman in her mid-thirties. Her face was covered with macabre burnt scars that she proudly showed to everybody as if it were some sort of trophy. Even so, it didn''t hide her positive attitude and beautiful sharp features.

    With a beaming smile, Dean stood up and called out with an expectant tone, "Mr. Sparrow,"

    Dean offered a gum from her pockets which Cesar respectfully declined as he sat down on an avable chair at the front. Forming a fake disheartened face, she humped and slid over a sealed document.

    Cesar received it with his two hands before opening the document as Dean exined after chewing another gum.

    "Exceptional. Honestly,pared to how you started at the academy and today, one could find a definite difference between your physique. You followed what your instructors had given you and now you are ready to go. Yes, your body might look above average but not to me.

    It''s filled with vitality, muscles that are designed for battle and long expeditions, and a slender figuredies would die to take to bed for,"

    After skimming through the file, Cesar nced at her for a brief moment and replied, "Yourst words are unnecessary,"

    Dean chuckled, "I know. Now, get away. I expect great things from you, Sparrow. I''m sure you''ll be an excellent individual,"

    Cesar stood up and bowed once more then left.

    ¡­

    To others, the physical examination might be the hardest test to take but Cesar found it rtively easy. What worried others and him were the uing test which is the psychological or mental examination and the emotional test.

    And it is showing, at least for him since he still had to take their examination right until the very end even though his ss was top priority amongst others. In fact, he might probably be the only one left for their ss to take such tests. He wasn''t very sure.

    ''What am I doing wrong?''

    Today, however, was the moment of truth.

    He will have to know whether he passed on having a ''good'' mental state and ''stable'' emotional condition.

    Right now, there are few people lined up in this particr area, the counseling residence. There''s a whole building established meant for this ce since observing the student''s mental health took priority at this time of day.

    Theories have even proven that corruption feeds into the fragility of a person''s mentality and a bit emotionally hence a regr check for their well-being is a must.

    He sat down, waiting for his time to be called, and quietly thought for himself.

    After a while, he was called once more.

    He stood up, went to the farthest room in the hallway, and was greeted by another woman inside.

    "Oh, isn''t this the diligent patient of mine? Well, you really need to worry if you''re persistent on attending counseling sessions with me,"

    The redhead woman chuckled as if she was amused seeing a familiar face. Her red dress revealed her dignified slim body as she stood up and it made it even more alluring with herb coat. Her lips were dyed with a red gloss and her earrings hung on her ears like crimson gemstones.

    Her ck eyes, the only thing that wasn''t red at the woman''s, were smiling as she stretched her hand at Cesar.

    Receiving the handshake, Cesar slightly bowed, "Ma''am Beatrice,"

    He let go of her hand as swiftly as they shook and sat down. Stupefied and chuckling, Beatrice sat down as well.

    "All right, Cesar. I''m almost done with your results but before that, there''s something I have to talk about first,"

    ''Oh, not many questions but only one?''

    Slightly ddened that there was a difference between the tests he had from the past few days to now making his mood better. With a slight nod, Cesar waited.

    "Okay," Removing the smile on her lips, Beatrice turned cold and spoke with indifference, "Cesar, you are not eligible to take the selection,"

    Cesar''s eyes wavered for a brief moment once those words came out of Beatrice''s mouth. Feeling a sense of puzzlement, dismay, and upset, he pondered for a few seconds.

    Once those seconds passed, Cesar looked straight at Beatrice and expressed calmly, "What''s the question?"

    Beatrice acted surprised as her mouth gaped but upon seeing Cesar was unfazed, she immediately removed her act. With a mischievous smile, she replied to his statement.

    "If I told you about it, how would you react?"

    Cesar who almost showed unsightly emotions just to retort back to his psychologist, waited for a while to see if there''s any underlying tricks to the question. When he saw that she didn''t have anything to add, he answered.

    "I would definitely ask if the problem had something to do with this session. As for the judgment the academy decided, I fully trust their reasoning. The only thing I could do if that is proven true is to ept and move forward,"

    "Woah¡­"

    Beatrice pped her hands as if she was really impressed. She grabbed a sealed document from her drawer and slid it through the table.

    "Good. Your mental state is on a line where it is probable to take the selection. If you are any below that, you''ll probably not be qualified for selection. Don''t worry, my judgment is fair. So go live and strive to be someone you dreamt of. If you''re having any problems,e to me,"

    She paused, "Oh, we''ll just have our usual appointment once a week as always."

    "Thank you, ma''am,"

    Cesar stood up and was about to leave when Beatrice called him once more.

    "Oh, once you go out. Fetch one of your ssmates there. She''s already outside. As usual, you guys are top priority,"

    ''Another one of my ssmates?'' ncing sideways, Cesar nodded before he proceeded to exit through the counseling door.

    Once he did, Cesar''s eyes darted through the line of people waiting for their turn before he found the person he was looking for.

    With an awkward gait, Cesar quietly strolled in her direction before stopping right in front of the person in suspicion. The woman who was silently reading her book gazed upwards seeing a looming shadow covering the letters of the book''s pages.

    When she realized who it was, she raised a brow.

    "What?"

    Cesar awkwardly scratched the back of his head and looked at her intently before squinting his eyes. He then pointed his hand through Beatrice''s door and left.

    Raising her other brow in a questionable look, the woman tilted her head and closed her book. She stood up from her ce and entered Beatrice''s counseling room.

    "Ah, wee our top one."

    ¡­

    The checking of how stable his one''s emotion is located to another building within the school grounds. The same as thest examination, he was here to see if he had to take yet another exam or be the same as Beatrice''s earlier appointment.

    s, he was in luck.

    The instructor in charge didn''t pull off yet another devious trick like Beatrice or give a sexual verdict like Dean. She told Cesar that her appraisal of his emotional state was exceptional and nothing was wrong with his indifference to people.

    It probably has to do with his traumatic childhood experience which the instructor discreetly mentioned afraid that it might revoke hidden emotions that should remain hidden.

    In the end, he was good to go.

    "Hell yeah!"

    Suddenly, Cesar heard a loud shouting from the entrance of the academy. He was walking back to his dormitory when he noticed iing and unfamiliar peopleing inside the huge hall with fervent, thrilled, and gleeful expressions.

    These people are d to be able to attend to academy, some more than happy while others were less pleased.

    ''They must be thinking this is their time to shine in this ce, huh,''

    Cesar had seen many people like that during his first year. They were all filled with eagerness to be the academy''s top and they are right to imagine so since they''ve been very skilled to make it happen.

    Yet they got pped by the harsh reality.

    Left and right, people got expelled. Millions had attended and only a few thousand remained until the fourth year. It is a harsh environment where only the strong and desperate survive.

    What''s the use of mboyance in a battlefield?

    The academy will teach that to them.

    ''Let me see if you can shout like that after your first year, rookie,''

    He carefully watched the positive first-year made his way through the front of the group, his eyes burning with passion.

    But to his surprise, the same first-year shouted with confidence, "Hello, my name is Amon Desmond! I''ll promise to be the top student in the academy by the end of the year!"

    A deafening announcement that nobody has done once in a while brought buzzingments to the observers. Most of the new first years found it ridiculous. The second, third, and fourth years present on the other hand, merely gave him a cold shrug.

    Thest thing Cesar saw was Amon picking up a monocle in his pocket before cing it to his right eye, pinching it with a yful smile.

 Chapter 6: Potion Making

    Another morning came yet the academy didn''t stop receiving students entering its premises. Hence all the instructors busily prepared those students for their uing ss. Of course, these applicants had already been epted, evaluated, and tested and became officially the new first years for the Resisting Academy.

    The first years will be heavily introduced to the basics. Literally everything that one has to know will have to be learned less they get confused in their uing years. No one''s an exception but even so, they had to learn it.

    The second years were currently adjusting to the new curriculum since this year is mostly involved in the theoretical field of Nightmares with a tight bnce between training and learning basic fighting.

    The third years have also been introduced to their new curriculum which involves a lot of fighting fellow students, mostly one versus one official fights. This year is highly concentrated on practical learning where it''s about training and building up battle skills.

    For the fourth year, the harrowing event that had doomed some of the students ever since hade.

    Yes, their curriculum involves being transferred to bases to do tasks, working outside of the academy where it posed danger, and basically more field trips than one can ever hope for.

    There will be a lot of traveling and venturing outside the academy''s premises.

    Still, today was a very important day for some.

    Facet Selection

    An event where every fourth-year student got to choose whatever Nightmare Facet they were willing to take that spanned around a month. An asion where even choosing something poses a danger. Some might be even unlucky because they didn''t have enough contribution points to spare to their liked Facet and had no choice but to choose a lower ss one.

    Even so, the selection is both a rare opportunity and a looming doom that became real.

    "Pheww¡­"

    Letting out a nervous breath, Cesar steeled his resolve, knowing this day was the time he had been hoping for. An opportunity that would not juste all the time; something he needed to grasp no matter what.

    Thinking about the ns he had thought for himself, it was time to face another new day.

    ¡­

    The moment he discovered that this kind of selection existed, Cesar researched everything one has to know. For example, as always, ss 1-A always took priority about everything knowing the ss is the star section of each year.

    Hence Cesar slowly made his way to the top. Steadily and ardently, he climbed up, disregarding everyone on his way and destroying them by the most possible means.

    Now, he belonged to the dream ss he always sought to achieve and enjoy the benefits he had worked hard for.

    This is one of those benefits.

    "Ranked 23rd, Cesar Sparrow,"

    Right in the middle of a very unfamiliar hall where corridors led to different kinds of rooms, Cesar got called out very fast after a few minutes of waiting for his turn. He stood up, went to the person in charge, and waited for further instructions.

    The person in charge looked at him with scrutiny before assessing him.

    "Mr. Sparrow. Are you sure this is your choice? There''s noing back after this. You have enough contribution points to buy the Raven Nightmare Facet,"

    Beforeing to this Unfamiliar Room, Cesar, alongside ss 1-A, answered a survey given by Arnold which pointed out what Nightmares facets are their willing to take the risk of drinking in. Mostly choose Raven Nightmare as their first choice and second to the Nightmare rted to fish since it mostly involved attacking and battling in front.

    Cesar chose neither.

    Even though the person in charge didn''t mean any provocation, knowing how exemry Cesar had been throughout the time at his academy, settling for less would be such a waste of talent.

    Hence, with a reserved stature, Cesar tly answered, "Choosing this Nightmare isn''t very risky. Whatever facet Ind, it will not hinder my capabilities a bit. Although honestly, if there''s a better alternative to Facets, I might''ve chosen another but this year is just very unlucky for some, including me. Still, I think this is the right choice for now,"

    The person in charge contemted for a moment before sighing, "Understandable. Proceed to the right hallway and enter Room 304. They will know what to do,"

    "Thank you,"

    Proceeding with the next step, Cesar made his way through the thick corridor of the Unfamiliar Room and went exactly to the ce that the person in charge had ordered him. Eventually, he reached his destination.

    Knocking once, Cesar immediately entered inside. What soon dawned upon him made him frown.

    In the middle of the room stood a ck cauldron filled with bubbling green liquid inside. Surrounded the pot was an encircled table filled with ingredients one needed to make a potion and utensils needed to aplish the task.

    On the side, there was a man in formal academy attire, studying him. Right beside the instructor was another man, only this time, he was wearing a ck ssical robe with an insignia of a sword-piercing skull right in the middle of his chest.

    Cesar''s face cracked.

    He recognizes that insignia.

    The teacher who saw his face breaking down couldn''t help but be amused as he chuckled, "Hello, Mr. Sparrow. My name is Instructor Rizz. I''ll be handling your potion affair. I''ll be the one monitoring you as well,"

    He introduced the guy beside him, "This guy right here will be the one assisting us in case something bad happens along the way. He''s Baron, a Member of the Nightmare Corps,"

    "Good afternoon Sir Rizz. Good afternoon as well, sir Baron,"

    The reserved man wearing the ssical robe nodded once before he became one with the shadows. Only his eyes remained seen as his presence appeared to have disappeared.

    ''Cool,''

    "Aigoo, what a showoff," Rizz couldn''t help but shake his head as he walked towards Sparrow with a yful smile, "Student, by the looks of it, I don''t need to remind you every single reminder that should''ve been known. I''m d Inded on a very smart person,"

    "Sir, you tter me,"

    Rizz let out a small chuckle before strolling near the cauldron. With a contemtive look, he gestured for Cesar toe nearer.

    "Now, the academy had given the right to let the students see how Nightmare potion making is done. How about we start now?"

    As ifpelled to answer, Cesar could only nod in response. He felt assured that he was able to see how the potion was being created face to face instead of learning materials through vods and tapes.

    Rizz washed his hands first, drying them down before picking up a pair of thick gloves ced neatly on the table. Right after, he watched the boiling green water of the cauldron with dark glee before he began potion-making.

    Rizz encircled the table before picking up a wooden box. Opening it with dark fascination, he grabbed a huge metal pincer from the side and used his two hands to raise the flesh of a dead abomination as he demonstrated while speaking.

    It was grotesque to look at with an insurmountable foul of stench.

    "The potion-making always starts with putting the flesh of the Nightmare first in the cauldron within the Green Water. To achieve a great oue of the potion while receiving its most potency once drinking, this type of ingredient must be heavily guarded and safely stored. Additionally, the better the quality, the better the results!

    Luckily for you, this is part of the Nightmare''s flesh near its heart"

    ''Near its heart¡­''

    Cesar palpitated when he realized he''d be drinking part of a Nightmare''s flesh very soon but he remained vignt and watching.

    Sizzle¡ª!

    After carefully putting the flesh in the Green Water, there were subtle chemical changes as the color was shifting. Upon seeing this, Rizz encircled around the table and picked up a ck leaf filled with tiny cracks.

    "This leaf is named Dark Leaf, one of the ingredients that reduced the potency of corruption of an ingredient,"

    Throwing it onto the cauldron, Rizz drew nearer and picked up the cauldron''sdle before shaking it to mix the first two types of ingredients. Soon, the same process happened as he picked up ingredients one after another while he demonstrated.

    "Powder of Dusk to increase the rate of potency¡­ Inkwood Branch to strengthen the two main ingredients of the potion¡­ Stony Mountains Cream to smoothen the process of mixture¡­ Lemon Powder¡­ Fermented Fish Eyes¡­ Northern Jelly Extract¡­ Tree''s Wart¡­"

    Hearing those ingredients plunge into the cauldron nonstop made Cesar''s stomach churn.

    Those ingredients aren''t unfamiliar to him, knowing every single word Rizz had said was studied mostly in his first and second years. He also knew its uses and couldn''t help but take a mental note of which ingredient was suitable for the potion-making based on the Nightmare''s given ingredient.

    ''Seeing it differently in real life is¡­ something else. I''ll have to adjust it since I''ll be doing the same potion-making in the future,''

    Removing the fact that he was about to drink a portion of it made from the cauldron, Cesar remained focused.

    After a long while which was mostly done in just a minimum of three minutes, Rizz seemed to appear almost done.

    "Lastly, Green Lily''s Flower removes the entirety of the potion''s smell while still maintaining all of its potency without encountering a problem." Rizz smiled cheekily while ncing sideways, "Don''t worry, Cesar. This will be like drinking a juice. All you have to do is close your eyes in the process,"

    Staring at Rizz nkly, Cesar could only shake his head in defeat.

    Soon, his potion was finally made.

 Chapter 7: Memoir

    Soon, the Green Water inside the cauldron was reduced to a small amount of a newly formed blue liquid. Once Rizz managed to see it, he picked up a huge metal straw, cing it at the lid of a sk standing on the table.

    Right after, Rizz clicked the metallic straw''s button producing a whirring sound that guzzled the contents of the cauldron. Just a few secondster, the result of the potion was transferred into the sk which was oozing out a gurgling resonance, looking all oundishly exotic.

    Like what Rizz had promised, there was no foul stench involved.

    But the smell was the least worrisome part of the procedure.

    "Oops¡­ There,"

    Heaving a sigh of relief, Rizz managed to clutch the sk in his gloved hands and put the container onto another set of tables that Baron ced after seeing the potion-making reach its ending stage.

    "Here you go,"

    Cesar walked to the table and stared at the potion nkly. The boiling of the potion gradually decreased, and it looked like it came out normally if one just forgot all those ingredients meshed out together to form this singr brewed product.

    Rizz watched Cesar for a while and when he noticed that he was taking a bit longer, he suddenly asked suspiciously.

    "Uhm, anytime now Mr. Sparrow,"

    "Oh, yes¡­"

    Flustered that he almost short-circuited on thinking about the answer, Cesar grabbed the sk and pondered everything he needed to know which was mostly drinking it. There are no special positions required or additional equipment to prepare to make the process smoother since it all depends on the person drinking the potions.

    ''Drink all of it¡­''

    One golden rule on drinking potion is to savor everyst bit of it, not leaving a single drop behind from the sk.

    With dark resolve and sparing his nervousness at the back of his head, Cesar gulped strongly before raising the sk near his mouth and devouring every single liquid inside.

    He chugged it down to his throat, feeling the liquid falling down to his body. He tasted every drop of the potion that tasted awfully bitter yet disgustingly sweet.

    "Ugh¡­"

    Dropping the sk on the floor which magically disappeared after being submerged in the shadows with the help of Baron, afraid that its shard would spread out, Cesar momentarily stood in his ce, dormant.

    ''That''s it?''

    After digesting the potion, Cesar felt a brief of tranquility, thinking that taking an unknown substance which was a result of trial and error processing Nightmare Facets would end so peacefully.

    In the end, he was entirely wrong. Even though there was a slight chance of this kind of result where the pain was expected to rise, Cesar still hoped he wouldn''t have to go through such torture.

    s¡­

    "Gahhh!"

    Gasping out a huge breath, Cesar came to his knees. His throat felt like burning as he appeared to be itchy all over the ce which made him scratch his skin to the point of bleeding out.

    ''I considered this much¡­!''

    Instead of doing something to, probably lessen the pain he was feeling or anything at all, Rizz remained standing. Still, he wasn''t entirely idling around as he remained focused on the changes happening to Cesar.

    "Fuck!"

    There are different kinds of changes when taking potions. Everything has been considered whether it is physically, emotionally, or mentally and these types of ''considered changes'' are epted as normal in the books.

    A horn protruding out from someone''s forehead, ears bing longer, eyes changing colors, face turning into something else¡­

    These changes are all but borderline safe.

    That was the first type of change. The second one, on the other hand, is much more sinister as it involves Corruption.

    Anything that looks corrupted while distinguishing ''normal changes'' is very hard to spot but those who were assisting the students with this selection are all experienced andpetent enough to make decisions for themselves.

    "God¡­! It hurts!"

    All the mischievousness and yful expression from Rizz disappeared, recing it with the cold mentality that is enough to adhere to self-judgment in case something goes wrong.

    And what went wrong means Cesar is corrupted and bes the monster itself.

    Baron, on the side, walked out from the shadows, holding a pair of knives in his hand to be ready if Rizz ordered him to move swiftly.

    "Let''s just wait for a moment. I don''t see any signs of corruption yet,"

    Rizz ordered Baron to stand by, already seeing that this was one of the visual symptoms of being corrupted. Even so, he trusted Rizz''s decision.

    Standing, the two old men watched Cesar trash around the surface as a cacophony of screams rang in the entirety of the hearing-proof room.

    ¡­

    Cesar felt like he was dying, burning, itching, crying, drowning, and dying again. All these emotions swirled up inside him but instead of feeling restless, he knew what he had to do.

    He even knew what was going on with him, transitioning from experiencing painful psychosis to bing unable to distinguish reality and not.

    Now, he saw a different kind of view.

    In his eyes, he was swiftly running fast to the never-endingndscape of a huge forest, escaping to the encroaching darkness behind his tail. His skin was tainted with a ck, grotesque pellet that was recing his skin, tearing off its original skin apart.

    "Leave me alone!"

    His eyes remained forward, not daring to look back to whatever chasing him around. Even so with that focus and hard intention to escape, ''he'' felt his steps growing weaker. His pace slowed down and he appeared to be even struggling to move an inch.

    Eventually, he found himselfpletely stopping.

    His gaze that was looking forward turned sullen as a sense of helplessness crept upon him.His eyes became unfocused as he couldn''t help but look down out of prying why he had be sluggish.

    In there, he finds the darkness tightly hugging him, recing every inch of his body with the same ck shadow. It slowly reached out to his neck, up towards his head before the only thing left in his vision was his gaze moving forward.

    The darkness soon enveloped his vision, making Cesar unable to pry through more as the only thing he could perceive was the shrouded ck of darkness.

    What seemed to be an eternity of darkness soon vanished as his clouded vision of nothing but ckness was reced with another vision, clearly different from the vast expanse of forest earlier.

    Only this time, there was a human piercing through his heart with dozens of bodies littered across the area.

    His hideous fang with convoluted lips tried to move that the soldier on his front was left stupefied by how resilient of a monster he had be. The soldier struggled to leave to do another type of attack but he wasn''t lucky enough to do so due to his hand being stuck on the monster''s chest.

    He let out a demonic growl before cutting the head of the human.

    The head of the person was forcefully removed from his ribs, blood gushing out endlessly of his chest. His breathing soon became ragged as he slowly fell on the floor.

    Cesar thought it was the end of it, and it was supposed to be if not for the fact that he heard yet another sound, noting from the monster he was currently inhabiting through his visions.

    It didn''te from his lips nor stemmed from his mind.

    "Oh? What a fabulous coincidence! Surely, this is not some arrangement made by him, right? Darn you, Apathy¡­ You really want me dead, huh? To the point of even setting me up with a corrupted, no less!? I''ll get my¡ª"

    Soon, the voice was cut off, and the Nightmare was dead.

    Cesar, who viewed the same imprable darkness looming around his eyes, woke up and had his attention moving around his field of vision.

    The same as always, there was a ck color hanging onto the ceiling wall, making him shiver at the stark difference, knowing this kind of shadow didn''t exclude any eerie feelings for him at all.

    In fact, that''s the thing he was afraid of. He kept being exposed to the same absolute darkness that this kind of darkness he was currently viewing fell rightly short.

    "Is our prince awake now?"

    Soon, his eyes darted to the origin of the voice seeing the yful Rizz wearing a mischievous smile. Though there was a trace of nervousness surrounding him and he was excluding beads of sweat from all over his forehead, now, he looked fine.

    Partially fine¡­

    "Ugh¡­"

    Sitting up straight with a groan, Cesar touched his aching head as he questioned.

    "What the hell happened¡­?"

    Rizz bent down to look at Cesar with a worrisome expression before tapping his shoulder, "Oh, nothing very serious."

    Hinting what that meant, Cesar asked, "Nothing very serious¡­? What is nothing serious then? What about the serious one?"

    "Wow, you even hinted that I was making a joke¡ªbut anyway, I guess this kind of situation isn''t really up for stupid jests," With a sigh, Rizz finally revealed, "You just showed signs of being corrupted that''s all,"

 Chapter 8: Verge Of Corruption

    "You showed signs of being corrupted that''s all,"

    Cesar froze right in his position as he couldn''t help but shiver as a follow-up response. Adding the fact that his tone didn''t feel serious enough, it made him think furiously.

    ''D-did he just tried to make a jest of how I almost turned into a monster?''

    Cesar directed his gaze onto Rizz, his face contorting into a frown. At this moment, a seed of hatred formed in the depths of his heart and he was unable to control them. His face was turning into a rage but Rizz quickly put it to a stop.

    "An aftermath symptom of almost being corrupted is irascibility. My joke is a way to test if my suspicions are right and this is also part of a protocol given to us to make sure we''re right,"

    At this moment, Rizz didn''t appear giggity anymore, instead, a cold reserved face that almost every soldier that came and out of a battlefield stered on his face.

    For a moment, a hint of fear surfaced within Cesar''s raging emotion as the feeling of the seed of loathing formed in his heart faded. There, he looked at Rizz with a slight fear, as if it was natural for him to be like that and be cool with it.

    For a while, Rizz remained motionless as he started exining the situation by connecting the dots himself.

    "There are many reasons to think of but most of them have to be ruled out since there''s data regarding using this monster''s body as a main ingredient. Unless there''s a new data that isn''t included at all because it''s practically hidden or wasn''t known,"

    He took a moment of pause.

    "You know the Nightmare Memoir lessons students know, right? That part that adds a potential risk of being corrupted is inheriting the memories of the monster, right? Well, prying into the memories of the Nightmares is supposed to be great, which they were until they weren''t.

    "It is some sort of fuel that intensifies the corrupting process when digesting the potion. Yes, we get some, probably, just a moment of their memory but it varies from time to time, and the more unknown it is, the more dangerous it is. The more dangerous, the more susceptible to corruption.

    "Heh, after all, knowledge is the origin of power, and sometimes¡­ people hide from it as the truth bes unbearable. That''s probably what happened to you¡ª no, I''m almost certain knowing your case is the first one after many tests of taking the potion with this monster as an ingredient,"

    Hearing an exnation didn''t console him for a bit but only made his mood worsen. Though, not to the fact that he couldn''t control his emotions but just the minimum where he''s able to think straight.

    ''A memoir of the monster almost made me on the verge of corruption¡­ Unbelievable, that''s just so unfair¡­ I judged that taking the fourth Facet involves no risk. There are data¡­ a long line of statistics to base from¡­ and even capable people watching over me but still, I almost lost control.

    Right¡­ right, there''s a probability as well but¡­ I guess there''s really a big difference when certainty and being able to count the risk which is the probability are involved¡­''

    Even though the fourth given Facet had a low risk of change and low chances of corruption, it is all but a mere probability. As Rizz had said, there''s an unknown factor at y that increases the uncertainty of the result¡­ in return, increases the probability which was deemed to be only low.

    He read it from somewhere but he didn''t consider it probably because he believed the data that helped him throughout the time he was here consisted of any rted to the topic.

    His belief was about to change though.

    ''If I was about to be corrupted, does that mean I incur changes as well?''

    Cesar looked around his body trying to spot if he had grown something hideous from his body. So far, looking around and touching his face and head has been worthwhile seeing nothing had changed.

    "Mr. Sparrow,"

    Suddenly, Baron in the shadows moved forward and kneeled down. He briefly looked at Cesar and spoke solemnly.

    "I''ll ask the school for an arrangement to meet up with you and ask about what memories you acquired. I ask you wholeheartedly to cooperate. It will be really helpful." Baron paused, "I know it''s too much to ask after what you''ve been threw but this is needed. I hope you understand,"

    Cesar gave a short nod after contemting for a couple of seconds before he stood up from his position. Rizz examined him on some misceneous things before he judged he was good to go.

    He left the room, his mindpletely upied.

    "He''s the same child who was also involved regarding Nightmare''s True name, isn''t it? Without that, we wouldn''t have discovered anything rted to names at all."

    Left in the room, Baron raises up a conversation to Rizz who solemnly nods.

    "Yeah, this student is really unfortunate enough to encounter those times. But you know, I''m d as well. Not because of what happened to him but due to the fact we discovered yet another thing from them,"

    Baron chuckled, "Yeah, we thought those titles were just mere words after all. But now, we''re definitely sure it is very important to fight off Nightmares,"

    Rizz nodded once before he started cleaning up the area with Baron giving a lending hand. Cesar wasn''t the only one they were supposed to guide through as there were long lists of students to take care of.

    Soon, they were preparing for their next student to direct them through the selection.

    ¡­

    Cesar found himself idly staring at the dark clouds of the sky, alone on a bench as he sat down. Setting aside his negativity and almost falling into corruption, he focused on the positive result instead.

    ''Among the three given facets from the fourth Nightmare, I receive the [Sink] ability. This power strengthens my ability to bite things off¡­ Additionally, I can feel my five senses heightened as well. Not too great but not too bad either. Ites to the point where I''ve reached certain heights of transcending my humanity, bing a Nightmare instead.''

    Cesar closed his eyes for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.

    "I''ve really be a Shaded, huh,"

    Shaded are the ones who took the potion and were contaminated by its power. These people might''ve reached greater heights of gaining supernatural powers, but the veterans, even knowledgeable people, knew they were one step away from being corrupted.

    There are ways to lessen such things so situations like that will not ur but due to how unpredictable life is that involves anything about Nightmare, one shouldn''t be so sure.

    ''No worries, everyone who attended the academy knew its challenges. I''m fully aware of it as well. But this much is needed,''

    Having his mind reassured about the fact that gaining strength from the creatures he had loath for his entire life was one step to securing his life away from danger, Cesar finally calmed down.

    Now that he had received a Facet, he knew this was just the start of a bumpy ride.

    The past was already broken, the present even more so, but the future will be way much worse.

    ''Way, way worse.''

    Once he was done pondering about his future situation which is full of uncertainties, Cesar opened his eyes and stood up. He stretched himself, feeling his body cramped due to all sitting.

    After a while, he recollected himself and began running around to test if there was any additional improvement he had received from the Facet he was unable to earlier.

    ¡­

    Soon, changes manifested in the first batch of the selection. All ss 1-A managed to receive their desired Facets and avoid being corrupted by the potion''s risks. They received physical changes and supernatural powers they always dreamt of. Some were lucky enough while most were pretty unlucky and could only shake their heads in disappointment at the result.

    But that''s just not the only changes happened within that day.

    "Hahh¡­ Hahh¡­"

    A man draped in a ck ssical robe was breathing raggedly, his arm was drenched with blood. His face appeared to be ghastly solemnly staring at the grotesque corpse lying on the floor.

    It was the corpse of an unknown student that turned into a hideous monster. His skin was charred with ck smoke and his face didn''t look proper anymore, all of them looked wrong. His body was covered with red pus and ck feathers that fell on the floor, not vanishing.

    This boy who just devoted his life to the academy for years was lying on the ground, unmoving and dead.

    The man picked up a smallmunicator in his pocket and raised it near his mouth, "This is Vin of the Nightmare Corps located in room 903. Casualty raised. I repeat casualty raised. Need immediate detoxification."

    Just a few secondster, themunicator on his hand turned static before an answer was perceived.

    "This is Arnold Virgo in the headquarters. I could hear you, captain. Rest easy now,"

 Chapter 9: Changes

    In a blink of an eye, a week had passed.

    One might not notice the passage of time to be fast inside the Resisting Academy only because sses seldom happen on this Selection. The instructors who were assigned to watch over the students became more absent and this would continue for over a month due to the fourth years, albeit thousands of them, still needing to take the selection carefully and slowly.

    After all, even with careful consideration of managing the students, casualties still urred. These casualties didn''t scale to the point that it requires lockdown yet and the academy is determined to continue it that way.

    Hence, in the meantime, Cesar was left with free time, to do all the reading and practicing by himself.

    Right now, he managed to feel the changes that the Facet had given to him. Aside from his heightened senses and strong biting power, his speed also increased. For example, when he was running around, he noticed he was a bit faster than before.

    It''s not that great but it was still an improvement.

    Another thing he noticed was his jumping power. He can jump a few meters now as long as he has proper momentum and acts in the right motion for it to work.

    ''I''m sure the others who picked this will have the same function of power as well,''

    Right now, he was inside the library reading through research rted to his power. From reading, he realized that some Nightmares have simr distinctions to other creatures such as abilities, albeit, not exactly precise.

    For example, his [Sink] ability had a counterpart power which is [Sting], [Tear], and [Pierce]. All of them involve biting¡­ something that could nibble the flesh of a person or a monster.

    Imagining how he would fight the battle in the future if push came to shove¡­ Cesar would be biting every single thing he saw that threatened his life.

    ''I-it looked like I''ve be really a dog... No, a rabid dog to be exact¡­''

    Cesar shivered at the mere thought before bringing the book in his hands down. With a sigh, his eyes darted around the vast halls of one of the academy''s prized treasures where only the scent of books, stacks of books, and shelves filled with books were seen.

    He was in the library after all.

    But he soon stopped his nonchnt surveince after gazing into the far end of the corridor where a woman was sitting on a table alone, reading books as well. What made him turn his attention closely was because of her familiarity.

    ''Oh, it''s her,''

    He met her a week ago, right in front of Dean''s psychological office.

    Her indifferent face was focused on the thick book in her grasp. Her dry lips soon turned livid once she lightly moistened them through her tongue, revealing a glossy red lip. Due to the wind, her eyes got covered by a strand of her ck hair before seducingly putting it around the side of her ear.

    As if she noticed a gaze from somewhere, hervender eyes darted to the side and stared at Cesar from the other side of the corridor.

    ''Academy''s top, Jacqueline Casanova,''

    Jacqueline saw Cesar staring way too long but she couldn''t just back down and let him do as he wished. Who knows if that meant something important?

    Eventually, Cesar noticed that he had been staring for too long making him avoid her eyes immediately. Though the way he did it was wless and didn''t incur any malicious suspicions at all.

    ''Something changed about her,''

    As Cesar was quite observant himself and a person capable of even spotting small mistakes or differences, his stare was due to a reason.

    The demeanor she was giving¡­ It was frightening as if she became colder, fiercer, and more importantly, prettier.

    ''It probably had something to do with her newly acquired Facet,''

    Soon, upon realizing that her condition didn''t matter a single thing to him and was just aplete waste of time, Cesar stopped indulging himself in such thoughts.

    That''s why he didn''t notice Jacqueline continued to stare at him with a brow raised. For a while, she was thinking that he would stare again.

    But Cesar ultimately left.

    First, because he had finished reading the book he held, second, he felt vulnerable being watched by Jacqueline,pletely faking his actions so that he didn''t notice her gaze at all.

    It was very unsettling.

    ¡­

    Cesar nned to return to his ss to see if Arnold would find a way to discuss with them even though he was pretty busy but once he was supposed to enter the ssroom, Arnold left from its door. The two found themselves meeting each other at its doorstep.

    "Sparrow?"

    "Yes, sir?"

    Arnold''s face brightened up, "Oh, you''re here. I thought you were absent. I was about to look for you since the Nightmare Corps wanted to ask you about the memory you received. Sergeant Baron said he had your permission and they think one week was enough of rest. Looking at you now, there doesn''t seem to be a problem,"

    His words sounded very wrong for some reason, saying that a week of rest was enough for a thorough investigation, making Cesar frown. Even so, he respectfully nodded and answered.

    "Do I have to bring my things?"

    "Oh, no. There''s no need. Just follow me,"

    Without even entering the room while feeling watchful gazes permeating from the inside, Cesar quietly followed Arnold. Walking through countless corridors, the two remained shut, not wanting to raise a conversation because they didn''t need to.

    They maintained a perfect image of a student-teacher rtionship, understanding that being seen where Arnold speaking to his students was not something that he wanted as it gave an image of biases.

    It might stir up rumors which he really doesn''t give a damn about but it might destroy some of the student''s mentality and emotionally just because a rumor spread he talks ''favorably'' to someone.

    Cesar understands this matter as well, knowing these kinds of situations already happened in the past.

    After a while, Arnold brought Cesar into a consultation room. Something that he seldom came to once in a while as the instructors asked their students different kinds of questions rting to their future ns and such.

    This time, it had a different purpose.

    Entering inside, the room was kind of dark. There was a table ced right in the middle with two people draped in ck ssical robes, sitting down with an insignia of sword-piercing-skull right on their chest.

    They stopped whispering amongst themselves at some point and gazed at him.

    Baron was there with his usual reserved face but there was another person Cesar didn''t recognize. He was even worse at expressing emotions. If Baron had a reserved face, this guy was just¡­ emotionless. Full of ruthlessness? Absolute fearsomeness?

    It was in line with those words.

    Arnold then introduced, "Hello Captain Vin, this is the student that Baron spoke to a week ago, Cesar Sparrow,"

    The man with piercing, crimson eyes shifted to Cesar, who was staring back at him. After a few seconds of scrutinizing the man, Cesar bowed respectfully, knowing the title ''Captain'' amongst the Nightmare Corps shouldn''t be taken too lightly.

    After all, they were the ones fighting Nightmares much more, alongside the Army. Though they are more exposed dangerously to Nightmare creatures the most.

    ''A bunch of talented wretches hanging on a thread,''

    Cesar thought inwardly, remembering this one quote surrounding the entirety of the Corps themselves. They devoted their lives solely to eliminating Nightmares, a duty that has been upheld for the past centuries.

    Vin, a captain of the corps, nodded weakly, "Thank you for bringing him in. If you can excuse us for a moment¡­"

    "Oh, no problem at all,"

    After giving an amiable answer with a smile, Arnold left the consultation room, leaving them three alone inside. Cesar found his way to sit down once they gestured for him to do so before they didn''t beat around the bush.

    "Baron told me you are on the brink of corruption, and an instructor added that it is probably due to extra information that the previous Shadeds didn''t manage to get when taking the same potion using the same ingredient. May you tell us if we''re right?"

    Instead of answering their question, Cesar immediately demanded, seeing he could get something out of his past circumstances, "May I know first what this Nightmare''s other history first? I might give you a false hope to acquire additional intel¡­"

    As if prepared to be asked by something like that, Vin grabbed a document covered with a folder and handed it over to Cesar.

    "This is a detailed manuscript given to us by other Shaded drinking this potion. It had their names from it as well," Vin paused, "I''ll hand it over to you. It''s pretty much useless anyways. After all, it didn''t rte us to any kind of Nightmare¡­ or had given us any True Names,"

    Upon mentioning the word ''True Name'' that brought up a harrowing past at the back of his mind, Cesar''s face shook. It was barely noticeable but it was enough for the two veterans to consider it for something else.

    ''I guess there''s no need to lie,''

    Knowing he''d get nothing out of the given information even though it was supposed to be a piece of sensitive evidence, Cesar let out a low sigh.

    "Your suspicions are urate good sirs. I indeed managed to get a True Name out of my memory but it didn''t belong to a Nightmare that the soldiers killed."

    Cesar paused as his crows creased.

    "I just happened to hear it as if¡­ as if the Nightmare who was talking was just passing by? Or is escaping?"

    At that moment, Cesar began to exin his experience.

 Chapter 10: Perception Shattering

    Cesar''s description of his experiences inside of a memoir took a bit longer as he tried to delve into more urate words, exining thend he was in, giving more of his precise emotions while he was on that forestndscape, and his involvement of just running across it to escape at the encroaching darkness.

    It took a few minutes for Cesar to articte: "Then, the next thing I knew, a hand was pierced in the middle of my chest. The eyes of the monster looked straight ahead at the human who managed to instill fatal damage before¡­ the monster cut the soldier''s head.

    "However the monster is already beyond recovery and is unable to heal itself. I remember it can onlyy itself down on the ground as it waits for its death toe. But just as I was thinking the scene was about to be done, there was¡­ an irritated voice? It seemed to be dissing someone with the name ''Apathy''.

    Cesar let out a dry cough, trying to remember how the tone sounded before changing his tone after, "His exacts words were "Oh? What a fabulous coincidence! Surely, this is not some arrangement made by him, right? Darn you, Apathy¡­ You really want me dead, huh? To the point of even setting me up with a corrupted, no less!? I''ll get my¡ª".

    And it just stops,"

    Baron and Vin were slightly surprised by the sudden change in Cesar''s voice as if he wanted them to know everything until to thest detail, even if his voice had to change veryically.

    For some reason, Cesar caught a glimpse of the two gentlemen''s lips twitching before bing reserved and focused again. If not for his heightened senses, he wouldn''t have noticed it.

    "?"

    He couldn''t understand what it meant and let them be. Remaining silent, he waited for their verdict.

    As if they were really thinking about it, they pondered amongst themselves while giving facial signs like raising a brow, eye blinks, and lip movement that Cesar found interesting.

    Of course, they couldn''t understand each other just because of a few changes in a person''s face which made Cesar mused inwardly.

    ''Telepathy? They are talking through their mind¡­ Why would they even show that they can¡ªah, right... Someone insignificant didn''t matter when discovering small secrets like this. It''s nice that they somehow trust me though. Feels unfamiliar,''

    They reassessed the situation before the two came to some discreet agreement. They both look at him in unison before the first one to speak was Vin.

    "What you discovered is a name that doesn''t exist in our data books. This is my first time hearing the name Apathy from someone, honestly. Even though we thoroughly checked after knowing Nightmares had names or titles corresponding to their own, we''ll have to try and see but my memory never fails me so I''m confident,"

    ''Not existed in their data books? That''s¡­ new,''

    The image he had with Nightmare Corps is a mysteriously gifted organization that has a variety of connections and sealed information they only knew. With members that have diverse backgrounds, there will always be one or two pieces of information regarding¡­ something.

    So his surprise was evidently clear.

    Baron was the next one to speak, "I have the same answer as Captain Vin as well but we''ll get this done in no time. Answers will definitelye, we just need to trust the process,"

    Without further ado, both the gentlemen stood up and said their farewells to Cesar who immediately stopped them from exiting just before they managed to get out.

    "Good sirs, may I ask if I can get some update once you receive additional intel regarding this?"

    Baron looked at Vin, who shifted his gaze onto Cesar. He steadily stared at him in his ce before nodding once.

    "Okay,"

    Then he left with Baron on his back.

    A few secondster, the door of the consultation room opened, revealing Arnold entering inside. With a curious look on his face, he reduced the distance between them and asked.

    "Someone''s excited,"

    "Huh?"

    Arnold chuckled, "Don''t mind me. I''m just talking to myself,"

    Suspiciously staring at him, Cesar crossed his arms, "Are you not going to ask anything? Or did you already hear it from the outside?"

    "No, and no. I''m good enough. I don''t need to learn more secrets while keeping a few on my own. I mean, look at me. I''m pretty busy enough," Arnold let out an exasperated sigh as he shrugged, "Though, I''ll give you a piece of advice. Treasure those secrets yourself.

    They might be your lifeline in the future,"

    Cesar scoffed, "Thanks for the pep talk,"

    "You brat!"

    Upon remembering that he couldn''t hit a student at this age, thinking the people a millennium ago were lucky to be able to do so, Arnold began to ponder some rebuttal on his own and eventuallynded on one.

    "You know, I always see you as a reserved and cool student. Most of the time, you are very mature to look at." Arnold snickered before acting as if he was the one who did it, "Even so... "Oh? What a fabulous coincidence! Surely, this is not some arrangement made by him, right?"

    Arnol''s voice expressed very grumpily probably due to his age which didn''t look like Cesar''s action earlier at all. Hence, Cesar was about to ask a question as to why would he copy him and the stupid voice he made earlier just to match the tone he heard from the memories.

    ''Why did he just¡ª''

    Suddenly, he remembered both the lips of Vin and Baron twitching.

    "Oh¡­"

    He finally understood what that movement meant earlier making him flustered.

    "Hah!"

    Arnold could only watch him with amusement. Unable to contain it any longer, he cackled so hard that he needed the walls to assist his body to stand up.

    ¡­

    Walking back towards his room alone didn''t produce excitement or disturbance. Arnold left him alone as he would have to supervise yet again to the ongoing selection but he had left Cesar with a task while he was on it.

    And he didn''t have a leeway to reject an instructor''s orders, seeing that it doesn''t require force or anything big actions to execute.

    One just had to talk.

    ''Why is that guy torturing me? Freaking leave me alone¡­''

    Cesar let out a tired sigh. Looking forward, he saw the sign of his room that signals his ss was nearing and he would do the inevitable that Arnold had given.

    Stopping at the room''s doorsteps, Cesar clenched his fists, steeling his resolve to enter. Once he did, he pushed out all the nervousness by heaving it outside before entering inside.

    Even if it was very silent to the point that one couldn''t hear the door sliding, most of them managed to gaze at his presence before letting him be. Some stared at him for a few seconds before they came back to their business.

    While they were doing so, Cesar was already walking inside. Yet instead of returning to his usual seat, he goes through the line of seats until hees in front of the teacher''s board.

    Those he passed by instantly stopped whatever they were doing, some talking amongst their friends did the same thing. The others who noticed the silence that was permeating throughout the ssroom couldn''t help but look at one spot where everyone''s gaze fell.

    There, standing alone, Cesar looked around indifferently.

    Feeling no pressure at their gazes whatsoever, Cesar voiced out, "I''m d that everyone is paying attention. This will be easy to remind everyone then,"

    Mostly everyone who gets to know Cesar through his exemry achievement for the past few years felt nervous. He was, after all, the only person in the entire history since the academy had been built who made his way from the toping from the very bottom of the sses.

    He started small, weak, and inexperienced. He had encountered horrors that most of the students here hadn''te across yet due to his perseverance to be at the top where his life wouldn''t feel threatened, he worked hard and only thought about what would be good for him in the long run.

    He was given The Freak title amongst the academy grounds. Mostly because his endeavors consisted of freakish encounters that his opponents wouldn''t even notice what was happening until it already ended.

    Normally, people picked a fight with fellow students from time to time but they avoided Cesar the most, knowing his strength didn''t rely on his raw power but his freak mind. Of course, he can fight, and throw his hands at some, but it was his cunningness that stood out the most.

    He was goddamn smart that most people find it bothersome.

    Hence they wouldn''t be his enemies now.

    Cesar let out a small cough, "Get your Nightmare Books and go to pages 101-120. This entire chapter of lessons corresponded to basic survival necessities in case someone encountered a Nightmare they found¡­ worrisome. It just means you have a low survival rate. Still, it''s better to struggle rather than to surrender of being eaten alive, right?"

    Some studentsughed awkwardly, thinking that Cesar was making a joke but was entirely wrong when the person in charge voiced out.

    "What''s so funny?"

    The room became silent once more before Cesar added.

    "Study these because there will be a quiz tomorrow. That''s all,"

    Leaving in the front ss, Cesar made his way to his seat and grabbed the book material since he had to review it as well. Who will follow the person in charge if he wasn''t reading in the first ce?

    Besides, he did everything he could. It will be their fault if they don''t review which might result in a derank of their position.

    Understanding this, everyone got to work and did a self-study independently.

 Chapter 11: Demon Hunting Bullets

    The passing days felt very fast. It was really fast to the point that it will make an individual might''ve travelled to the future. One time, it was already a week. Then another Cesar had noticed a month had already passed.

    Shocking. Not really. Most of their time was focused on self-study, more on reading textbooks, and less onmunication with the instructors. From time to time, those teachers found a way to attend and teach students but it wasn''t enough.

    However, this is not surprising, really. Most of the students feel even d that they were able to do this kind of resting where they only get to review workbooks and manage their new power dwelling within them.

    There was a time when Cesar and the fourth-years spent a whole three months on their third year with onlybat fighting styles, warfare tactics, different ways to eliminate a Nightmare, and more harmful ways to fight back the enemies of humanity. It was put to a test a monthter when everyone was tasked to fight with their opponent.

    So this situation was kind of a relief.

    However, this false situation had to end now since there were only a couple of sses left to manage regarding the selection. Soon, the situation will turn back to normal.

    It didn''t take too long enough.

    "How is everyone holding up?"

    Arnold''splexion seemed to being back after weeks of busily managing the selection. Now, he was mostly relieved, ddened even as if he was thinking this pressuring situation finally calming down.

    Everyone gave different kinds of answers that made the ss mor noises that Arnold immediately put to a stop. After the ss quieted down, he began setting up for the next part of the ss.

    "Right, today we''ll be doing practical tests. It is a recurring assignment actually, something you''ve done already. But as always, we''ll teach you everything that has to know. Actually, I''m not a big fan of it myself but whatever we can use will be used," Arnold paused, "Let''s practice your marksmanship. Everyone gather up and move to the shooting range,"

    Once the practical test was mentioned, almost everyone present groaned. Now that they have powers that can be called on their own while just practicing a bit of their Essence to ensure that their abilities might work, it should be the one they''re focusing on.

    Even Arnold finds it tedious, except for some people, Cesar included.

    Once the marksmanship was mentioned, Cesar''s eyes glinted with delight.

    ¡­

    Humans are a very adaptable species hence they keep finding solutions to every problem they face. A millennium ago, Cesar read that the most powerful weapon in the entire world was a nuke. Something that can threaten a country by just pushing a piece of a button.

    Now, even something like that didn''t threaten Nightmares or Shaded. Well, Low-level Shaded might receive minor injuries but higher-level Shaded will be able to deflect that kind of damage, even suppress it. Worse of all, overpower something explosive.

    Nukes are still being built today but they are means for defense.

    Though it is absurd to say that they are going to practice nukes in a shooting range.

    What other weaponry they are going to practice were specialized guns made by different people who are the expertise of their job making one called, Artificers.

    "All right, listen. I''m going to brief you for a moment to refresh your mind,"

    Arnold presented a board of specialized weapons inside of a ss box. Others were interested, taking their sweet time watching those expensive guns being used for demonstration while the other half were only listening to Arnold, knowing it would be disrespectful if they appeared not concentrating.

    Cesar was the former.

    After showing his students about the specialized guns, Arnold exined, "These are a few examples of specialized weapons that are helpful inbat. Different kinds of handguns, rifles, submachineguns¡­ I''ll just point my fingers at it. M-16, Ak-47, Heckler & Koch Ump, Steyr AUG¡­ actually, screw it. it''s just guns named derived after their original weapon so that it doesn''t sound overbearing."

    He paused, "Now, I''m sure that you know how to carry a normal gun or two. You''ve been exposed and trained to it. You even get to allow to shoot. But do you know what makes mundane weapons different from specialized guns? That training was for this moment after all,"

    Arnold looked around, "Anyone? Someone?"

    Some actually didn''t know what to answer while others were trying to avoid Arnold''s question by whispering amongst themselves or looking through above the high ceilings.

    Arnold pretended to be clueless as he moved a little bit further and finally spotted someone who was engrossed in listening to such topics, evident within his eyes on listening and appeared to have an answer stored.

    Though he was not raising his hands.

    ''I sometimes wonder whether you really are socially inept or not,'' Arnold mused with a defeated chuckle before he called the person, "Cesar Sparrow. Care to tell me the difference?"

    Surprised that he was called making Arnold think it was ratherical, Cesar got all the attention he received from his ssmates, whopletely ignored them.

    Scratching the back of his head, Cesar let out a dry cough, "The difference between the two is the use of bullets. Mundane weapons can only use mundane bullets. Specialized weapons, on the other hand, can utilize both the mundane and specified bullets,"

    "Correct. Thank you for the answer, Cesar," Arnold nodded before focusing on the topic at hand, "That''s right. You might''ve known about guns such as how to use them, proper usage, or even arrange one but today, we''re tackling the use of bullets,"

    Arnold grabbed a wooden briefcase from below and put it on a stand where everyone would be able to see it. He unlocked the locks inside which were heavily sealed before showing it to his students.

    "There are already various bullets invented with the use of emerging ingredients that spawned around the world. These bullets are its products. It is tested, manufactured, and globally used. I''m lucky enough to be able to show these to you,"

    What is properly arranged in the wooden briefcase is the stacking order of intricately designed bullets. They omit an irresistible and eerie aura, presumably a result of countless experiments to perfect such a product. Each row came to have different kinds of colors, looking deadly and ready to be shot.

    "These are called Demon Hunting Bullets. The military mostly monopolized it so that they could hand it over to ordinary soldiers. You thank all the big minds who were able to create something like this. One of these bullets will definitely be helpful for you. Each color had a name with a different purpose so be mindful of what to shoot or not."

    Arnold then pointed his finger at the ck demon hunting bullets before he continued pointing to different kinds of bullets.

    "These dark bullets are called Piercing Shells. These yellow on the other hand is Sleeping Shells. Green for Poison Shells. Blue for Delirium Shells. Lastly, the red shells are called Burning Shells,"

    Arnold then shook his head, "Anyone here who hadmon sense what those bullets meant but for practical purposes, I''ll hand out materials for what they meantter. Let me see you guys shoot now."

    Arnold moves around and gets another wooden briefcase which is slightly different since it wasn''t sealed. He ced them right beside the demon-hunting bullets and showed the practice guns they were going to use which were all a real deal.

    Five sets of intricately designed specialized revolvers are shown. Arnold picked up one revolver very carefully as if his life depended on it before looking for someone to use it for practice.

    Nobody seemed interested until hended on Cesar once again whose demeanor shifted very slightly, portraying that he wanted to try it first rather than anyone else.

    He could understand his underlying excitement, knowing Cesar uses revolvers as one of his main weapons, setting his expertise in daggers aside.

    ''All right, you don''t need to give me your silent enthusiasm. I was about to pick you anyway since your marksmanship is uncanny unlike others,''

    Arnold then called out to his ss, "Cesar Sparrow, would you like to do the honors?"

    Cesar immediately stood up, surprise manifested on his clueless face once more before he let it be, knowing he had a job to do. Dashing towards Arnold, he immediately grabbed the revolver in his hand.

    ''Fascinating,''

    Upon closer look, the revolver didn''t resemble a normal gun. It was seven inches wide, and the muzzle appeared to be the mouth of a monster. Its barrel felt hard enough and can even be used to hit someone. The underlying precision of such creation used to create the weapon was phenomenal.

    "Give me the bullets,"

    Arnold chuckled, "Uhm, I have mundane bullets for you. These demon-hunting bullets¡­ I had to pull some strings just to get it and managed to¡­ you know, just show it to you guys."

    Letting it pass through his ear onto another, Cesar grabbed one Piercing shells, feeling a shiver in response as if those bullets were alive.

    nk¡ª!

    Putting it on the cylinder, he clicked the hammer down before swiftly pointing it at a target mark meters away from their position.

    Using two of his hands to assist himself, Cesar entirely put all his attention on the target for a brief moment before pulling the trigger.

    Bang¡ª!

    All the happenings didn''t take a minute before Cesar hit the bullseye mark. It was decisive, all action, less talking, showing that his skills regarding marksmanship didn''t be rusty.

    In fact, he felt it was even more powerful with this weapon and a bullet to be used for him as if he was deisgned to wield one.

    ''Can I exchange this with a few contribution points?''

    Cesar wanted to let his thoughts out but after carefully considering it, he didn''t ask Arnold.

    After all, if he were ever to get something like a revolver when he''ll about to waste resources, it''s better to get something for his own.

    ''Though I don''t mind having this for free,''

 Chapter 12: Re-Evaluation

    ''Let''s see. I have garnered a hundred contribution points in the past three years I have been here. I never wasted a single point because I knew this would be happening. Subtracting forty points to get the fourth nightmare potion, I only have sixty points left,

    ''Now that field trips areing, I''ll have to search for any daggers avable at the academy. Then buy a specialized revolver if they have one.''

    Pondering about the ns he had thought for himself that he meticulously came up with, Cesar was in denial at how fast his life was changing. One time he knew, he was struggling. The next thing, he was standing toe to toe with the strongest students in the academy.

    To be stronger, he had to gear himself up. The facet was one thing but having weapons is needed as well. Now that they are nearing the time when they had to work independently without protection from the academy, one had to adjust quickly.

    Bang¡ª!

    Right now, he was the only one who wasn''t waiting for his turn to shoot. Either others were already in the shooting range testing their shots or waiting in line for their turn.

    Bang¡ª!

    This time, they were using ordinary bullets. Surprisingly, everyone was doing very well in their shooting. Proper posture, exquisite handling, and keen eyesight were delivered by the best of the best students in the current fourth year.

    However, when ites to marksmanship, no one had beaten the person who is currently rxing on the side after getting the highest marks on this test without any trouble.

    Arnold immediately excluded him from the practice, confident in his verdict that Cesar''s skills didn''t deteriorate even a bit. In fact, his shooting appeared more deadly precise, and utterly lethal.

    ''This ss really lives up to its name. This subject will be done in just a few minutes. After that¡­ the ss rankings will be shifted again.''

    ss Rankings

    It''s not about a ss venturing even higher to be the top. What the academy judged here was the potential of the students to be ced higher than their current rankings, leading them to climb higher than ever.

    It was the time of the month when student rankings shift which can potentially rank a student to other sses or make them go lower.

    Cesar was the only freak, who managed to climb his way to the top through hard work and relentless effort, shaken the rankings that managed to disrupt when he was only a second year. These changes were bound to happen now that facets havee into y.

    And he was right.

    After a few minutes, Cesar saw Arnold returning back to his post after talking with someone who handed him a list of documents. As he returned, he skimmed through the document before closing it again.

    "Everyone gather,"

    Now that everyone was done, clearly waiting for further instructions, they all formed lines while they motionlessly stood up. Everyone quieted down. Arnold observed them for a few seconds before letting out a small sigh.

    He didn''t waste a single word from his mouth.

    "All the names I''ll be calling, please step forward,"

    He goes straightforwardly, making most of the student''s face cracked.

    "Mr. Pon, Mr. Lander, Ms. Smith, Ms. Weiner¡­"

    The surnames being called all transferred on the front right in front of Arnold, expressing their incredulity, confusion, and disheartened emotions through their faces.

    Thest thing Cesar knew was that more than half of the students were cut off, forming an invisible line between students who would remain and those who weren''t. Fortunately and rightly so, he wasn''t called.

    Though Cesar found it unbelievable, seeing that twenty-six students got transferred to the front which brought surprise not only to him but to the others as well, thinking whether they were lucky to be at their line or not.

    Cesar even got suspicions that the ones who didn''t get called would be the ones transferring sses, but with Jacqueline on their side, his doubts wither away. And those who saw her staying in her ce as they left the line that differentiates who''ll be staying became even grimmer.

    ''Still too many. What the hell¡­ Almost half of the ss got removed. Unless we''re really the ones leaving¡­''

    Cesar mused inwardly before waiting for Arnold''s judgment as to why he called those names even if there was a higher percentage every single student knew his next line of words.

    Their suspicions came true.

    "I''m sorry but all of you will be transferred to different sses starting tomorrow."

    Those words dropped like bombshells falling over their heads. To be truthful, they expect a few or a couple of students will probably change whose students'' rankings were forty-five to fifty but no one expected that exactly twenty-six people are being demoted.

    It also signifies that the iing bunch are individuals that only shined after the facet selection.

    Cesar''s interest was piqued.

    ''I have a few people in mind who will starting to our ss¡­ Though, this is very exciting.''

    Suddenly, finding that this was unfair, some of the demoted students couldn''t control their emotions and weren''t able to recollect the sudden change right away. Their dissatisfaction was nothing at first until it became whispers.

    These hushed voices became buzzingints until their raging uncertainties were raised.

    "Sir Arnold¡­"

    One of the students who got called first named Ms. Weiner, called out. The shooting range quieted down, letting her think up something nice to the sudden shifting of many students of what were once imprable and talented students of ss 1-A of this year''s fourth-grade students.

    Seeing that Arnold was unresponsive, Ms. Weiner asked with disdain in her voice, "Are the new ss 1-A students really better than any of us who are being demoted? Setting the academy''s judgment aside, we¡ªno, I want to hear your opinion, sir¡­ I-I think myself are more trained and skilled than those people¡­ And I''m sure, at least me, I''m not wrong,"

    Arnold was silent for a moment before he scratched the side of his head with his finger before slightly tilting his head.

    "I thought it was something hard."

    Arnold suddenly turned rigidly cold as any traces of being friendly to his students were gone, all left was his cold demeanor that was directed to Ms. Weiner and everyone else on her back.

    "''More skilled'', ''more trained than those people'', ''at least you''re not wrong''. All these qualities are enough to convince me that the academy didn''t judge wrong this time as well."

    Arnold paused, "The Resisting Academy is rarely wrong, you see. Yes, sometimes, these kinds of decisions are doubtful and have to be thought of very carefully. It relies on the student''s capabilities and their futures, after all.

    "Me too, at first, when the list was being handled to me but not now. Seeing all of you acting like immature brats and unable to contain this slight frustration just because you got demoted is not a quality a ss 1-A student must have,"

    Arnold pointed at his head as if he were pointing a gun as he continued, "Your position already got the way in your head. You didn''t have a chance to feel this frustration because you never felt it. Only one of this previous ss who was demoted a year before experienced such a thing and is on his way here yet again,"

    Cesarpletely understood the words of wisdom Arnold was relying but he couldn''t help to focus on thest line of his sentence which he found intriguing the most.

    ''That guy managed to pull it through? Impressive¡­''

    After a while of silence, as everyone was thinking that Arnold was finished, he continued with an unbelievable scoff, "So instead of nning on whining next, trying to prove that you''re better when there are other talents out there who could do more than you can, better think of a way to train more and wait for the next month''s ranking list,"

    Giving them time to adjust their emotional state right now, knowing they wouldn''t just break down on the spot, the demoted students finally started to be normal.

    Ms. Weiner, who was the one who bite all of Arnold''s harsh yet eye-opening words was the most resolved. Still, there was frustration on her and the students'' faces, but at least, they were returning to normal.

    Seeing that everyone was coping well, Arnold nodded, "Good, I taught most of you for over three years. You guys will not just cry on your beds and continue to be like that right?"

    Arnold grinned from ear to ear while the students let out awkwardughs, knowing crying would literally do nothing. It''s not like somebody died that needed mourning.

    Then, he turned around and looked at the ones left for his ss, "About you guys, better do your best because there are other potential kids out there almost taking your positions,"

    Instead of feeling nervous at his warning, the others remained silent,pletely bothered. Cesar as well.

    ''What a bluff.'' Cesar couldn''t help but chuckle inwardly, ''If those potential kids are really what you were saying, I could''ve been reced already. Sadly, a caliber of someone like me is definitely better,''

    With a shake of his head, Arnold began to lecture them about the iing changes then proceeded to let them go to attend for their next ss.

    With how damped the mood for everyone is, especially for the degraded students, the atmosphere around the ss was distressing.

    Only Cesar wasn''t out of his situation at all,pletely finding it normal. After all, he doesn''t have friends to worry about to say goodbye to. Besides, these kinds of changes are already inevitable.

 Chapter 13: New Class 1-A

    Yesterday''s ss ended in a very¡­ weird peaceful manner. Those people who befriended the demoted students quickly didn''t talk with them while those who didn''t care which are Jacqueline and Cesar being prime examples werepletely unaffected.

    The next day, half of the students in ss 1-A were gone. Only their empty seats remained which will now belong to the new iing ss 1-A students. Aside from Jacqueline who waste as always, Cesar, along with others, was a bit earlier than their regr time of attending.

    Others are obviously curious but it was the first time Cesar showed the same feelings on this shifting of rankings since a lot had changed and be demoted. He wanted to see what made the difference between the previous and current people.

    So far, nothing had entered yet. It had only been a few minutes till Cesar entered inside so he felt rxed.

    All of their doings were put to cease after one student entered the ss. It wasn''t their previous ssmate but someone unrted to their ss until today.

    ''Oh¡­''

    Only Cesar seemed to have noticed and recognized the woman since he always shifted sses every month until he belonged to ss 1-A. There were big leaps of transfer most of the time while he stayed at some times. Hence, once in a while, a month or a few was enough to analyze who piqued his interest and who wasn''t.

    The person who entered were part of some of the individuals.

    ''Oh? She''s¡­ someone from ss 3-C if I remember correctly. She has been good. I heard she''s slowly mustered her way up to the top. Good for her,''

    The woman had a wonderful atmosphere that one might be able to be friends with her if they justmunicated. She looked around the ssroom before her eyesnded on Cesar and her eyes sparkled with glee.

    Cesar didn''t like that.

    ''Uhm, what?''

    His calm heart wavered when she noticed the same woman started to trod in his direction. Finally, she sat beside him and offered an affectionate smile.

    "Hey, it''s been a while. You remember me?"

    The others who were only observing cast curious nces in their direction, inquisitiveness got the best of them as they determined the situation between the cute woman and Cesar.

    Cesarpletely avoided looking at the cute student and remained looking at the window outside. After a moment of pause, he answered.

    "Reyna, right?"

    Reyna let out a mischievous smile, a smile Cesar had been seeing for some time now, before chuckling.

    "Hi, freak. We''ve been once ssmates in the first year, midterm remember?" Reyna let out a small sigh, "I remember you''re very¡­ slim there. Now, you''re exactly my type. The only thing that remained is your unbreakable resilience,"

    "Huh¡­"

    Cesar remained unfamiliar with this sensation when he was talking to a ssmate or to a schoolmate even, since he wasn''t getting talked to for over a year. It''s either there''s a purpose or need to do so for him which is entirely different this time.

    They were just normally talking¡­ or is that what she wanted to show?

    Just as Reyna was about to continue, the door of the ssroom slid open, revealing two men entering inside. They looked very identical which made everyone believe they were siblings and they weren''t wrong.

    Soon, theynded gazes at the edge of the seat, directly at Cesar, who was only now observing them and couldn''t help but shiver.

    He recognized the twins as well.

    Reyna as if surprised to see another two familiar faces giggled before she greeted, "Joshua and Nike. You are here as well. Do you recognize this guy¡ª"

    Before she could even continue, Joshua interrupted, "Yes, we know who this guy is. We''re in the same ss one time on the first year as well. ss 12-E. We were¡­ used,"

    Remembering the time when he used the twins to take the fall of himself to get him promoted for the next month, Cesar shivered, thinking he''d be receiving death threats to them which he didn''t mind.

    What he does mind, however, is his peaceful time in this ss that mighte to an end right into this instant.

    But to his surprise, the twins sat right in front of him,pletely joining Reyna inflicting mental torture on Cesar.

    Three of them understood he was a guy who was usually timidly quiet and likely to be left alone just the way he wanted to, yet now they weren''t leaving him be. It''s just a small payment for everything he has done for them.

    Being used or to be used, being decimated or to be decimated, it''s just one of the qualities in the academy where the weak always get left behind. If they don''t adjust their mentality, they''re likely to fall behind.

    The only thing they have to do is learn from their experiences and use them to strengthen themselves. That''s where most of the new ss 1-A students came from.

    Soon, students came left and right. Cesar recognized them all but they also knew him. It''s just that they get to know each other due to the information they have in the academy. They weren''t ssmates one time or met each other which made them aware of each of their presences.

    Though a few of those students get to meet Cesar and say a few words to him which he finds odd. He didn''t know he was that approachable when he built a wall around him that gave the impression that he didn''t want to entertain anyone.

    Even if they do, Cesar mostly short-circuits all the time and tends to ignore them.

    Hence, he found his situation puzzling.

    Eventually, the room was beginning to be full again. There were only a few seats left to be used. The old ss 1-A was all quiet, probably looking around to see if there were any differences between the ones that had been demoted or not.

    To their surprise, it seems the academy has been right once more.

    The aura most of the people that had entered were of the same caliber as them. Unlike those who can hide it very well, the newbies who weren''t well-versed in the way things had weren''t doing a very good job.

    It is probably because they weren''t taught to be like that in the lower sses unlike Arnold who willingly taught techniques right away in their third year.

    ''There was another guy I was expecting to see. Is hete?''

    Cesar nced at the wall clock just above the teacher''s board and saw there was only a minute till Arnold came. He might be a bitte but it wouldn''t look right if the student waste on his first day being in this ss.

    ''No, that''s not the right word. He had been once in here but just got demoted because I stole his ce. Though, I wouldn''t care less whatever the methods he pulled off. Arnold gave clues in his speech yesterday that he made it. On the other hand, he had no reason to lie,''

    He never doubted hence once the door slid once more, revealing a pair of students. One was Jacqueline, confident and indifferent as always while she was walking alongside with a familiar countenance.

    There was a tint of arrogance stered on his features but unlike the time when he got reced by Cesar, there was confidence to support his usual gait.

    He was humbled by Cesar yet he returned much more revitalized.

    ''He really is back. Quentin, I guess you''ve matured a bit,''

    Cesar remained observing Quentin and soon, as if the other individual felt the gaze, he stared back. There was a glint of dangerousness once Quentin noticed him but he immediately gestured a friendly wave.

    Cesar immediately has a bad feeling about it.

    ''Yeah¡­ you must be angry. I''ll avoid you as much as possible so don''t disturb me as well,'' Cesar mused inwardly, answering the indirect threat on his gaze to him inwardly.

    However, it seems Quentin didn''t get the signs he was giving and walked beside Cesar''s seat. If only Reyna or the twins from the front already upying those spaces, he might''ve already seated down and engaged in conversation while still remaining in his ce.

    Though he started the talking still.

    "You must be the freak. I saw you once in a while. I''ve been watching,"

    Reyna on the side chuckled. The twins had their brows raised. Only Cesar remained emotionless. Thinking of something to say, seeing that he wasn''t continuing, he retorted.

    "That¡­ sounds creepy,"

    Quentin''s face cracked, all his shady thoughts showing on the outside before he calmly breathed very¡­ obviously. That only made Cesar''s suspicions of not being involved himself even further.

    "It''s¡­ not creepy actually. It''s just what everyone usually does to search for someone. After all, you are the freak. People from the lower ss started worshipping this figure due to his aplishments. Such achievements can topple over someone puny like me, "

    Sensing that this was an act of provocation and trying to get something out of him, Cesar wasn''t idiot enough to fall for it. With a tired sigh, he continued.

    "Continue yapping there. I''m all ears,"

    "Who''s yapping?"

    Suddenly, Arnold appeared right in front of the boardpletely unnoticed by everyone which made the new ss students frown. As for the old ones, they were already used to his shenanigans.

    It was some sort of show prowess to impress?

    "Sit down, Quentin. Discussions starting," Arnold then let out a cheeky smile, "Wee back as well,"

    As if it was enough to satiate his inted ego, Quentin returned the smile and cast onest look onto Cesar and seated down away from him.

    Arnold looked around the ss before he continued, "Let''s do a quick introduction first to the new students. But first, I''ll start. My name is Arnold, the current headmaster of the Resisting Academy."

    "As for why I''m starting this introduction even though I already knew some of you and your ssmates, it''s to waste time," Arnold paused as he both raised his hand with a sigh, "I''m guilty as charged so just don''t file aint to the administrators,"

 Chapter 14: Resisting Expedition

    "Hi, my name is Reyna Schmitz. Yes, your guess is right that the surname is indeed Schmitz, thergest bankpany in the world. I''m the heiress of it so if anyone''s thinking of bullying me just because I came from the lower sses, I''ll get your families bankrupt,"

    Reyna let out a dashing smile, her purple eyes glistening that felt threatening to the onlookers. She left the front as her short brown hair swayed while she made her way to her seat beside Cesar.

    The others who listened to her brief yet precise introduction couldn''t help but shiver upon realizing she wasn''t just a nobody. All of them cast quick looks at her before they waited for the next person to introduce themselves.

    The introduction has been going very well for the most part. Arnold''s objective of wasting time is slowly being aplished as he is rxing on his chair, letting out a tired yawn from his mouth.

    Next who came to the front was one of the twins, Joshua. Strolling with a rxed pace, he turned the crowd and calmly spoke.

    "The name''s Joshua Fensir. I''m not really interested in anything as long as you don''t get me or Nike''s way. If you have a problem with us, say it straight in my face and we can deal it with our fists. Oh, before that, if you can see that our problems are resolved through negotiations, then we can start with that. A pleasure to meet you all,"

    ''Hah, these two¡­''

    Aside from the past introductions that already urred, the past two students have already added warnings to not mess with them less they met with unfortunate circumstances they wouldn''t want toe on their way.

    Cesar couldn''t me them. After all, he did the same thing when he got transferred in this ss. However, unlike the two who gave a few sentences, he only said four words for them.

    -Don''t even bother me.

    First and foremost, ss 1-A had a history of being arrogant and full of themselves. They were the embodiment of absolute power, utterly best, and authoritative figures that might lead humanity in the future, after all.

    Cesar wasn''t generalizing most of the students in the ss. It''s just that some of them are just getting on his nerves.

    Hence to fight arrogance, give them arrogance as well. Or give them the hardest wake-up call which is instilling fear.

    In the end, the situation turned worse and Cesar remembered that he mostly exchanged fistfights with these people. Aside from Jacqueline and a handful of students, they got a taste of the lifetime where a lower ss demolishes the strength they carefully groom.

    ''What a nice time,'' Cesar mused inwardly as he watched Nike silently trod to the front.

    The same as his twin brother, he didn''t appear normal as well. He also had strange reddish-brown hair, blue eyes, and a body figure that is no different than Joshua''s. However, there''s a stark difference between him and his brother.

    On the side of his cheek, there was a clear and visible mouth. It was small but nothing shy yet the people who were seeing him for the first time will either look at that small mouth first or second.

    "Uhh¡­"

    Nike''s real mouth moved.

    "You hurt my brother, you hurt me as well. I don''t give a fuck who you are."

    Soon, he sat down and the introduction continued. Unlike the three who provided an act of provocation while Arnold remained the silent and bored watcher, the others continued giving simple overviews of themselves.

    At the end was Quentin.

    Even though it looked like it wasn''t right, knowing he had already been forced to speak, Quentin was still forced to introduce himself after Arnold observed him for a whole minute when he remained in his seat.

    Silently cursing under his breath, Quentin let out a constrained smile, "My name is Quentin Mero. My family runs the best liquor in the whole world. Pleased to meet you guys again, I hope we could be friends,"

    Once Quentin, the only one left on the long list of new students in this month''s ranking of ss 1-A, Arnold stood up from his seat and turned to the ckboard.

    "Have you guys rxed for a bit?" Arnold suddenly turned different as he spoke with a grave dangerous tone in his voice, "Well, now that we''re done on the least significant part, let''s get onto the important part,"

    ''Finally¡­''

    Cesar had been waiting for this lecture toe, knowing there were only a couple of days left till thismenced.

    "I''m sure a month is enough for you guys to study and learn the newly acquired abilities you chose yourself. Last month, this ss was the first one to finish the selection hence you''ll be the first few to be deployed to your assigned field trips. That''s right, it was finally time for outdoor activity: Resisting Expedition to begin,"

    Resisting Expedition

    An outdoor venture in which students were tasked to transfer to a specific field to help solve a problem located there. The designated site students were supposed to be set up varies. It might be located in an industrial metropolis, hidden vige, crowded city, or quiet yet harsh surroundings such as hanging towns.

    At the end of the day, it was the academy''s choice and judgment when the student''s deployment went. Of course, the choice of a location should be ''standard'' and adhere to the rules that it wouldn''t ''endanger'' the students as they were on the expedition.

    "Actually, the n has always been dividing all the fourth years where you''ll be apanied by different sses but the lower sses had to adjust to the new profound strength they acquired, unlike you guys who had the ample amount of time to do so.

    "Now, the idea the academy suggested is to put the same people in the same ss to the same squad. The academy will decide how you are grouped and who will you be apanied by,"

    Arnold paused as he brought out a paper with a list of names that had been given to him, "Fortunately, something has already been given to me. Hence, we''ll form you into groups and practice your synergy with these people."

    The ss didn''t need to be debriefed about everything one has to know regarding the expedition. Not only have they been informed by their teachers for the past few years now, all of them have been tasked to do some research for themselves.

    This expedition will be the final hurdle for the students to test if they are capable enough to be sent to the military to perform their duties or invalid to do so.

    "Group one¡­"

    There are a total of fifty people in the ss. For the first four groups, Arnold called eight people to form themselves, leaving only eighteen people seated in their seats. Surprisingly, Cesar wasn''t picked yet so Reyna, the twins, Jacqueline, and even Quentin.

    ''Nah, there''s no way, right?''

    Cesar felt a foreboding when he wasn''t mentioned nor the people that apanied him for today. This type of situation which rarely happened was about to happen¡­ at least inside his mind.

    "Group five¡­"

    Soon, six people were called, forming the fifth squad inside the ss. Cesar''s face cracked when nothing had changed for the people he was keeping an eye on.

    "Group six,"

    Then another set of names was called, making him more perplexed, hearing and seeing right on his face that the only ones left on their table were the ones he wasn''t sure he wanted to apany.

    ''No shit¡­''

    Arnold cast a nce at thest set of people as he stated, "Seventh group. Please form a circle once I call your names. Jacqueline Casanova, Cesar Sparrow, Reyna Schmitz, Joshua Fensir, Nike Fensir, andstly, Quentin Mero,"

    On thest set of the squad, its existing members felt an avnche of emotions.

    The happiest of them was Reyna as she immediately adjusted her seat with Cesar. The twins, Joshua and Nike were at least relieved, looking dden at the fact it was a people they were familiar with rather thanplete strangers. Jacqueline, who was on the front line of seats immediately moved and went over to Cesar to form a circle since Reyna already started it for themselves.

    Quentin was a person who didn''t ept such groupings. His facepletely cracked into disbelief, slowly turned his head to Cesar, who was also in disbelief once he was surrounded by exemry people, though his reasons were different from the inside.

    ''What is this stupid method of bracketing the students?''

    He was confused at how the procedure transpired or the basis of such actions but he demanded answers. Unfortunately, Quentin wasn''t brave enough to question, making Cesar click his tongue.

    It would mean disregarding the academy''s choices after all.

    Cesar could be brave enough but he wasn''t ready enough to cause any rift between the rtionship he had with Arnold.

    Quentin reluctantly formed a circle around Cesar before all of them heard him continuing.

    "This is nice. I could see that everyone had a direction for the task being given to you, and no stupid questions being asked and all." Arnold chuckled before he continued, "You have a week to¡­ properly arrange your squad. Whatever the oue of it, you''ll be deployed anyway."

    Arnold smiled cheekily, "Good luck with that,"

 Chapter 15: Techniques

    "What a really unexpected group!"

    Reyna who felt feverish about teaming up with Cesar and Jacqueline couldn''t help but raise her tone with excitement. Her actions suggest she looked like a kid who met her television hero for the first time.

    She seemed to be extroverted enough to handle a bunch of introverts¡­ and bastards. The way she was talking made it look like she had no trouble speaking what was on her mind.

    "It really is unexpected. Ms. Casanova. I''m d to be able to join hands with the best one in the entire school,"

    Joshua, with a glib tongue, has managed to strike up a conversation with Jacqueline who responded with a short nod and words.

    "I hope to deliver the expectations you had for me. So do the same thing,"

    "Wha¡ª" Reyna seemed to have taken a pause as she couldn''t help but jest, "You sounded like Cesar for a moment,"

    Jacqueline couldn''t help but look at her with a frown as if she was offended to be distinguished the same as Cesar, who also couldn''t help but look at her with his two brows slightly creased. Looking at their familiarity with each other, she could only let out a soft sigh before she got back right on the track.

    "Look, I know Arnold asked us to be cooperative and we had to do so because we''re going to be together for a very long time." Reyna finally stopped getting all friendly and continued with the same jolly tone.

    Only this time, there wasn''t yfulness mixed around her face or her actions

    "Though let''s not get too friendly. Well, Cesar is an exception. He''s some sort of inspiration of mine that I couldn''t bring up to hate no matter what. But for others, let''s keep a distance between us. Who knows if you''ll lich to my riches using my name. Don''t worry, I''ll do the same thing,"

    ''You don''t want to get close to everyone yet you''re appearing very friendly to all. How contradictory,''

    After musing his thoughts inwardly, Cesar saw Reyna looking at him with a mischievous face, her lips curling upwards.

    "Now, Mr. Freak. Do you have any suggestions on how we are going to tackle this squad arrangement properly? Do we just have to introduce ourselves and befriend ourselves but not be too friendly, or do we do nothing and just ball?"

    Sensing that Reyna was setting him up to speak, knowing the others weren''t willing to, Cesar could only surrender considering being a leader for now. Public speaking wasn''t his specialty and neither did Jacqueline.

    Still, since he was more adept at thinking logically amongst the other things that might get in the mix such as emotional attachment or hical solutions, Cesar knew he was definitely suitable for the job. He didn''t know how Jacqueline thought or acted but he knew he could do better than her regarding these qualities that she or she might not possess.

    Besides, by the looks of it, Reyna was unwilling to put someone from the ss who had been here long enough and just get ordered around by them because they were the squad leader.

    By passing the responsibilities to another person she recognized while still withholding her position in the squad, Reyna was surely satisfied with the oue.

    ''How thoughtful of her,''

    Cesar shook his head with a sigh, "First, we should analyze the strength of each person. What positions are they suitable for when ites tobat? For example, me. I''m very adept at front battle but I can also be at the back. However, I''m very versatile and can be put in any situation or position as long as the situation demands it,"

    Reyna answered next, "Honestly, after receiving a facet, I''m more inclined to battle at the front but I mostly prefer at the backlines. My skills are designed to defend and strike you see. I really can''t put it into words since it''s a Technique that my family taught me. So yeah, a secret,"

    This time, others couldn''t hide their surprise. Even though Reyna was full of mysteries, revealing this card is very contradictory to her words earlier where they shouldn''t getfortable with each other. A student''s task is just a task after all.

    The one who remained indifferent was Jacqueline who merely stared at her.

    ''A technique¡­ I only have one in my arsenal and it is the same technique that Arnold had taught to the students of this ss. Even though she didn''t specifically tell how it works, she gave clues on it which will help in the future,''

    Before even the Nightmare Potions were made and widely spread throughout thend, Techniques were the most prominent solution to use for fending off Nightmares. If mundane weapons didn''t work for Nightmares, humanity didn''t have any choice but to keep adapting.

    Techniques are fighting styles developed and advanced to the greatest limit a human could even do but were capable of wielding. Most of these techniques gain inspiration from the times when the world was peaceful and no Nightmares had manifested in the world.

    In the current history books, most are enthused by samurais, monks, martial artists, warriors, knights, and so many people to get inspired.

    These ideas, adding the innovative minds of the people from the dark times came up with a magnificent method to at least fend off the Nightmares. These manuals had thorough steps to follow to aplish such change and eventually gain a strength to use for Nightmares.

    Sadly, these Techniques as said earlier, are only used to "fend off" Nightmares. Yes, even with these imaginative actions, humanity barely fought these harrowing creatures and survived, nearly impossible to kill. There are still more casualties to the side of the humans.

    -Unable to resist the dreadful threat of the Nightmares, humans had no choice but to adapt once more. At a breakpoint where humans are unable to eradicate the creatures, the humanity of the dark times had to execute a bold idea. Whenever they kill Nightmares, an experiment will be held to test, if possible, the powers of these creatures against them. Thus, the Era of Change started.

    Cesar couldn''t help but think inwardly about the history he read one time in his first year that made a difference when he was undergoing an examination at the end of his second year. It was the final straw that promoted him to ss 1-A.

    After all, there was a tiny margin between when the ss shifts happened between him and Quentin.

    Speaking of Quentin who remained quiet all the time¡­

    "My role on this team is probably support." Quentin spoke with confidence, his chin up before a smug smile appeared around his lips, "I garnered two facets from one selection alone. I know it''s impressive but nothing unordinary. There are cases of two facets received from a potion but I guess I''m just one of the most lucky and impressive toe by,"

    Cesar widened his eyes for a short moment before clicking his tongue and turning his head away which elevated Quentin''s mood after he saw how he reacted. It made him more confident and starting to feel more proactive in the squad.

    Unfortunately, Cesar was testing him.

    ''Inting his ego is good sometimes but it will get over his head if I continue to show him some¡­ impression? Better keep it minimal, just like this one to make him more like belonged to this squad which will be better,''

    It was really surprising for others as all except Jacqueline nced at Quentin with captivated faces.

    Quentin waspletely lucky. They were envious about it, that''s all.

    One of the twins, Joshua, came next.

    "I''m more suitable on fighting in the frontlines as well but it''s better near the water. I mean, there''s no need to hide my facet from you all. It''s the second facet that is the greatest in water but mainly weakened onnd. The same as my brother as well. Sigh, fortunately, and unfortunately, only my brother received physical changes. I didn''t,"

    This time there were no surprises but only suspicions, knowing revealing your cards early on might just disrupt your safety which the other four are unwilling to disclose yet. Though the twins aren''t bothered by it probably because they can protect themselves from harm, understanding they have each other''s back.

    The only one left who hadn''t said anything about themselves was Jacqueline who immediately received the gazes of five people from their circle.

    She stared back at them before revealing, "I have two techniques and two facets. I like and am more suitable to battle at the frontlines. Exploring and traversing through hard terrains, mysterious nes, and hidden ces are my hobbies so I guess I could be more like an adventurer,"

    She paused, "I guess I''m the best person in this academy currently and I''ll probably try to maintain it the way it is. If you get in my way¡­ then you get in my way,"

    After knowing her strength which is the most important and her hobbies and inner thinking which is the least significant, the squad continued to converse for more just to appear as if they were finally arranging their squad together.

    However, that was just a front to avoid being given minus points once the evaluation of the squad finished.

    At the end of the day, their grades are more important as long as they''re inside the academy premises.

 Chapter 16: Flow, Instinct, Natural

    Arnold and the rest of the instructors from the ss didn''t really discuss any important matter, knowing their expedition deployment would being after a few days. Hence giving them ample time to synergize with their squad was the only thing they could provide to ensure that their preparation was smooth sailing.

    In that matter, there was always vacant time sticking in their schedule. The seven squads always spend their time either in their circle or gymnasium where they practice their battle prowess.

    Cesar''s squad mostly spent practicing, with only a few meetings where they talked to each other since everything that had to be said had already been told when they first formed their cohort.

    Now, they were looking out for formation strategies and timings. They analyzed the strengths of their squad and merely ignored their weaknesses, finding out their expertiseplimented each other.

    There weren''t even any facets or glimpses of techniques shown yet. Of course, their actions weren''t on the part ofplete finesse yet, they aren''t even close. But because their group is very open-minded with mistakes and is very suggestive, their progress is top-notch amongst the other squads.

    They were learning some and most of them learned through Jacqueline who shared her views regarding their progress.

    "Not good enough,"

    She might not look like it or think that way but her actions portray that she''s a bit perfectionist. What appears good to others isn''t satisfactory to her. What seemed to be beyond the right result didn''t mean a hundred percent to the cold Jacqueline.

    "Hah¡­"

    Cesar was barely breathing, understanding that Jacqueline had done the training they were going through herself. Now it was bing more sense why she was able to do with the impossible without much sweat.

    She was a monster herself.

    Finally, the group slumped down on the ground, beads of sweat relentlessly falling under their training clothes, drenching them as if a bucket of water was thrown at them.

    They had been doing this since the day they talked to each other. Nobodyined or gave a dissing opinion that undermined Jacqueline''s training regime and battle prowess just because ''they couldn''t do it''

    "If you guys are not enduring this enough, then you''re not going tost long." Jacqueline whose tone was full of spite, started to nag the group once more, "Nightmares are creatures full of unpredictability. Hence the least you could do while garnering its power is resisting it yourself. Endurance, guys. The more you endure, the more chances appear,"

    Jacqueline picked up a box remote in her hand and pushed the turn-off button where the visual art of a lesser Nightmare creature was showing itself, fighting the squad themselves. This type of training was exclusive only to the top ten students in the academy, leaving them a spacious room for themselves.

    The harrowing horror disappeared without a trace and all that was left was the flickering light where the Nightmare once stood.

    With a sigh, she continued, having the same nagging tone, "You anticipate too much of being coherent with your team that you exert more steps than what should''ve motioned. This must appear to be natural, something that doesn''t need thinking and just goes through the flow,"

    "Through the flow¡­" Cesar muttered silently before raising his hand, "If we''re just going through the flow, we might not be able to think. Wouldn''t that mean we''re at risk of corruption?"

    Even after drinking the potion, every student in the academy who had gone through the selection knew there were post risks, which is the worst type of risk. Unable to control the power they have taken just because they indulge themselves too much in their instinct will only put them in a disadvantageous position.

    But Jacqueline wasn''t going to ept that reason as if he didn''t have a choice left. With a brow raised, she answered his inquiry.

    "Yes, but would you even think such a thing when you''re facing the danger on your front? Let me tell you now that it will not. All you will ever think about is how to survive and kill your opponent. Hence, my points still stand earlier. Go through the flow, hone your instinct, and be natural with it,"

    She shrugged her shoulders, "Well if you can''t even do that, I guess the teaching from the academy isn''t enough to mold you to do so. It is probably why this deployment was made in the first ce. After all, the better way to test out your hard-earned skills is through real-life experiences,"

    Jacqueline paused, "Remember this, a thousand practices didn''te close to a real one battle. If you don''t put everything into that battle alone, you might as well end up dead,"

    Cesar and the rest of the squad couldn''t help but stare at Jacqueline with incredulous faces. For a moment, they realized that she spoke full of emotions and very hefty long wordings. It was the first for them to see it.

    ''She''s really capable,''

    dden at the fact that Jaqueline was even providing insights for them to do, no one really rebut whatever she told. Some others might''ve known but in other words, she said was very precise that there''s no need for any additional exnation.

    "I''ll give you a demonstration,"

    Raising their eyebrows with surprise, Cesar and the rest settled down on the floors away from the sweat that they produced. It''s because they were privileged enough to peer through her battle prowess while showing them the lesson she intended to imply.

    After all, only they have been training. Jacqueline who understood that her job was to strengthen the cohort to raise the level of their effectiveness in an unforeseenbat, had only been teaching and not joining them.

    Now she was about to show why she didn''t have to.

    "I''m going to modify the strength of the virtual nightmare to fifteen percent. So that is now equivalent to fifty to its real strength when it was alive,"

    Jacqueline kept clicking the remote on her hand to make some adjustments before finally being done with it. She positioned herself in the middle of the room and threw the remote onto Cesar before picking up a wooden sword on the floor.

    "Push the start button after a few seconds. It''s the green button,"

    "I know what a start button is. Just get ready,"

    Jacqueline stared at him nkly before putting all her attention on the front. After a few seconds, a holographic image of a Nightmare manifested. However, it wasn''t all images but a technology made to mimic a Nightmare which was also made by the infamous craftsmen using different kinds of materials to make this technology possible.

    These people were really masters of their craft, knowing they were also the ones who invented the specialized guns.

    This Nightmare who appeared rather tall had onerge arm and a small one at the other. Its face appeared disoriented as its organs were all over the ce.

    Once it was fully manifested, it stared at Jacqueline for a brief moment.

    "Starting now¡­ 3, 2,1¡­"

    Right at the moment the green button started, Jacqueline''s figure swiftly made her way to the Nightmare who moved as well, albeit a bit slower than her.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The Nightmare, anticipating her actions, thrust its huge arm down, making Jacqueline swiftly avoid it by making a huge turn on the side.

    With a huge momentum to take a break, the creature swung its arm as if rotating in a circr motion but Jacqueline wasn''t on its field vision.

    It immediately looked around and felt a person lunging from the air which it immediately put its gaze onto. Once the holographic monster noticed her mid-air, it reached out itsrge arm to try and catch her.

    But as if she was anticipating all over this inside her head,pletely making the monster convince itself she was a bit toote for everything, Jacqueline made a huge twist and used the arm of the creature to use momentum to jump.

    Tak¡ª!

    With her hands clenched to the grip of the wooden sword, Jacqueline used every strength she had to cut the monster down.

    The wooden sword hit the monster''s head cleanly as ck lines were left on its trace. Yet instead ofpletely giving up, the monster tried to grab her with a little bit of strength left but Jacqueline was already swift in her movement.

    Appearing right behind the nightmare, knowing she wouldn''t let the chance slip by, Jacqueline thrust her sword forward, the tip of the wooden sword piercing through the chest of the monster.

    As if she wasn''t done, she held the grip tightly once more and used all her strength to connect the attack upwards, splitting the upper part of the nightmare into two.

    Shivering, the monster slumped down on its knees before falling lifelessly to the ground. She looked at her squad and just quietly stood there.

    Watching her all indifferent, Cesar couldn''t help but raise his hand to break the ice, "What you executed didn''t involve any ''coherency'' among the team honestly. Wasn''t that your point? I mean, we just watched you solo a nightmare half of its power. It didn''t involve any cooperation,"

    Jacqueline creased her brows as if she waspletely misunderstood but as soon as her mouth opened, there were no words left from it.

    She closed her mouth for a moment and lightly coughed, "The actual point is¡­no amount of strategies can defeat absolute power,"

    ''She''s lying¡­ Don''t tell me she forgot what she was aiming for¡­ just to fight a holographic Nightmare because the way I see it, that seems to be the case,''

    The others werepelled to ask her another set of lessons herself but Cesar could feel that she was yapping to make everyone forget the question he raised.

    Though setting that aside, everything she said and did was correct so there''s nothing bad about it.

 Chapter 17: Mission

    After increasing the strength of the nightmare to another ten percent, the squad finally gets to work their cooperation on fighting side by side. Their progress couldn''t be more stable after hearing Jacqueline''s teaching earlier.

    It provided significant hints and the flow she was trying to imply was slowly being incorporated into their movements.

    Currently, they can fight on the same level as the nightmare even if it was using one of its abilities. However, they couldn''t defeat it as small mistakes were still being made which continuously being corrected after each fight.

    Soon, as they were working on their synergy, all of them briefly paused. It was because Jacqueline suddenly diverted her attention at the door of the room, turning everyone''s concentration on the same ce as well.

    They heard a knock and a voice demanding their presence.

    "I checked the gym attendance you and your squad are in the virtual room. Let me disturb you for a moment,"

    It was no other than the headmaster of the academy, their homeroom teacher, Arnold Virgo.

    Understanding what that meant, everyone began to settle down. The holographic creature which was barely standing, disintegrated into nothingness after Jacqueline finished ending everything, leaving the room back to a normal.

    The mossyndscape they were in turned into a normal room filled with technologies and items that turned this room from what it was earlier.

    It was still as spacious as earlier, but it felt a bit crampy and overwhelming seeing through suchplicated machinery where one wouldn''t differentiate between reality and what was not if one didn''t have any knowledge about it.

    After everything was cleaned up, Jacqueline called out to him.

    "You cane in now, sir,"

    The dignified headmaster of the Resisting Academy entered the virtual room with a domineering gait with a sealed document in his hands. He then gestured for his students to sit down which they obediently did before finally engaging in a talk.

    "How are you guys doing in the past few days?"

    The six looked at their squad beforending their eyes on Cesar who was assumed to be the leader of the squad which Jacqueline didn''t even contest for, or anyone at all from their cohort with the help of Reyna.

    She was the one who pushed him to take responsibility after all.

    Looking towards Arnold with a cool demeanor, Cesar answered briefly, "We''re doing well. Small mistakes here and there but we''re correcting them since this squad is very open-minded for change. Even Quentin is obedient,"

    "Hey, why involved me?"

    Casting Quentin a nce who raised his disbelief when he was mentioned, Cesar shrugged and got back right on the topic, "We''re very confident for ourselves. This is not a baseless statement but a foolproof fact we gathered,"

    Arnold gazed upon the others to see if he was merely putting up a bluff but his expectations weren''t met. Instead, what he saw was that students were ready to be put in any battle they were about to face.

    Instead of being happy with their mindset, knowing this is what they are trained for, Arnold put a saddened face for a slightly noticeable moment before he forced a smile.

    Everyone gets to see it.

    "Not a baseless statement¡­ Foolproof fact is you gathered¡­ very nice choice of words to evaluate your team, makes me think you rehearsed this beforehand," Arnold let out a soft chuckle before he started with a serious tone, "You will be the first squad to be deployed upon careful considerationing from me and the other teachers who observed your performance,"

    He handed out the sealed documents to Cesar before continuing, "What will you see in there is a sensitive case as well as the core objectives, designated location, and the situation in an area. It''s basically a mission. Don''t worry, even I don''t know what it is. I will assist you all to your vehicles and other misceneous things but after that, you''re on your own,"

    Cesar tore the main sealed document''s cover as he listened before he nibbled the paper with his fingers and pulled it from the inside. The others gathered around his back to also see the task they were given to them.

    Mission: Furtive Disappearances

    Core Objectives: Find the people missing, dead or alive.

    Task Objectives:

    -Discover the source of disappearances.

    -Report any Heretics involved, if any.

    -Report any Corrupted involved, if any.

    -Report any Nightmares are involved. Avoid fighting as much as possible and get the nearest Shaded in charge.

    Mission Description: The City of Wheels is a manufacturing town involved in making vehicles. It started a year ago. One of the employees in a bigpany was reported missing after working his job. It was reported a dayter, but only in three days, he was dered missing. Local authorities were tasked to find its corpse yet to no avail, not even a trace was found.

    Everything continued for almost a year as the case was dered deferred.

    This case status, however, has been undone. Four months ago, two people went missing on the same day without leaving any clues in the same city. They were a tourist who only came to enjoy their time at the mourous City of Wheels. The disappearing cases didn''t just end there. Three months ago, seven people were missing. Two months ago, it was fifteen.

    One monthter, at least thirty people were vanishing, two people were still being held ountable and unable to determine their current condition.

    Unable to determine the missing cases, the Army was called upon and passed to the Nightmare Corps, hinting at a possible Nightmare case. The City of Wheels changed in a span of a few months and eventually dered a Red Zone. To avoid any more casualties, the civilians living there were tasked to evacuate.

    Mission Difficulty: Great

    Mission Rewards:

    -Spot in the high ranks of The Army.

    -Eligible to join Nightmare Corps, if willing to do so after graduating.

    -Ten Contribution Points.

    -Medal of Honor.

    -One Million Vennon Cash.

    Reading the document where every significant information one has to know was inputted left Cesar in good affirmation to whoever had given them the mission.

    After all, it was neatly arranged and not entirely boring to read. Though boring as it is or not, the mission was very serious. Others who were wearing the same frown Cesar couldn''t help but shift their gaze at Arnold.

    All of them did it in such unison that Arnold snickered.

    "Hold up, I had the script on my paper." Arnold picked up a piece of paper and read it aloud, "Ehem, hello chosen students. This extremely great mission has been handed out to students of the fourth year from ss 1-A who excelled amongst their peers. Amongst the hardest missions, I graded this as the top one.

    "I literally have no words to say but just be proud of how you six havee so far. Go forth, I''ll always be watching,"

    The others who listened half-heartedly thought it was Arnold who had done the script but Cesar found it odd, knowing he had never done any kind of rehearsal or prepared speech. After all, everything he had spoken was nothing but impromptu.

    Arnold isn''t the kind of guy who isn''t swayed by the changes of others or someone to be ordered around. Hence for him to prepare a script was an oddity.

    ''It felt like wordsing from someone high above his positions¡­ The Administrators?''

    Although the mysterious and silent Administrators of the Resisting Academy worked under the shadows, they were still very helpful to the students. In fact, even though their presence waspletely unknown to most of the people, everyone knew they were the absolute power inside the academy.

    In that case, where fear should be creeping upon everyone''s skin, each individual who attended or got to know the academy only felt reverence and respect for these mysterious people who are trying their best to train the students and equip them with skills that will help the world entirely.

    Arnold couldn''t help but feel ufortable at the gaze he was receiving from Cesar, leaving him gulping a mouthful of saliva down his throat. With a short cough, he pped his hands.

    "Anyways! I''m not inclined to know the paper behind the mission given to you. It''s probably a test to see if we teachers are tempted enough to indirectly catch a glimpse of the paper. Well! I''m not going to! Okay?!"

    His loud voice reverberated across the room making everyone shiver, knowing there wasn''t any need to do it like that. Only Cesar, the only person who was interested in the unknown Administrators, felt his suspicions bing more true making him pale.

    ''This either means Arnold respects or fears them. There''s really no exnation other than that,'' Cesar mused inwardly before shaking his head in defeat, ''So, they are always watching our actions huh. How creepy,''

    With that, Arnold added ast few words, "You''ll be leaving in three days. Until then, do whatever you need to do,"

    Arnold left the virtual gymnasium room and went to wherever he intended to go. Knowing that they only had a measly three days left till their departure, the other three continued their training and tried to fix some things.

    Instead of feeling rxed, they became more nervous; something that they shouldn''t have once they were finally deployed at their designated area.

 Chapter 18: Leaving For Deployment

    Closing the zipper that stored every belonging he was supposed to bring, Cesar readied himself. He wore the dark navy blue uniform of the academy and a dark blue dixie cup above his head.

    Looking dignified and formal in the mirror, Cesar grabs the case and strolls towards the exit of his room. Once he was outside, he went straight to the academy entrance, the same ce where countless new first-years he saw a month ago first came in.

    That''s how their squad, the first cohort to be sent from the fourth year, was also going.

    After a while, Cesar saw five more figures standing at the hall''s entrance. Four of them had each baggage they carried while the person in charge of their departure was present which is no other than Arnold, the headmaster.

    "Now we only wait for Jacqueline. Why does she always can''t take five minutes early for once, huh? She''s actually always like this¡­"

    Arnold shook his head as he watched Cesar patiently standing in his position. The rest brought their attention back to the front where they couldn''t feel disconnected, knowing this would be the first time in three or so years they''d be stepping out once more.

    They reminisced about how they started and how they were going now. All they could see was they definitely changed. As for whether it was a bad or good change, only themselves could know it.

    Suddenly, an academy van made out of smooth alloy that had the ability to camouge made its way to the front road where all six of the people present were watching. It stopped and a person d in dark green uniform greeted them.

    "Commander Arnold!"

    The man respectfully saluted to Arnold, who merely waved his hand with a chuckle, "At ease, soldier. Though let me remind you again, we''re not on a site any longer. Instead ofmander, just call me instructor, Sergeant Alms,"

    "Sir, yes, sir!"

    Sergeant Alms cast a nce at the first group of cadets and respectfully brought his hand down doing the salutation. With a light cough, he continued.

    "I was informed that there''ll be six students being deployed. Are we perhaps wrong or only waiting for thest person toe?"

    "We''re definitely waiting for someone. Don''t worry, she had every right to be. She''s the top after all." Arnold slowly let out a crooked smile, "However, that''s all she gets. If she wasn''t doing her job on the expedition, please report it directly to me. I''ll get her to renew her and straightly change her for the better,"

    Just right after he was done talking, Jacqueline walked outside the corridor holding a rectangr case in her hand. Wearing a dixie cup the same as others, she went on her group with a confident gait.

    Bringing her hat down, revealing her neatly braided hair, Jacqueline nodded once, "I think we''re ready,"

    ¡­

    Putting their baggage at the back of the van, everyone settled down on their seats. Aside from Sergeant Alms, there was another person in front of the van that seated right beside him. The only difference between Alms and the mysterious person was he was wearing the uniform for the Nightmare Corps.

    Cesar found himself ced at the very back of the seats just right in front of their baggage, sitting in between the twins, Joshua and Nike. On their front were the other three of their squad with Jacqueline sitting in the middle, Quentin on her left with Reyna on her right.

    Cesar could see the van moving steadily, traversing through therge expanse of the resisting academy. They had been moving very calmly as their ride didn''t appear to be bumpy.

    On the other hand, they thought it would take a few minutes to be out of the academy premises yet they were entirely wrong. Remembering that it would take a few hours from going to one ce from another inside its area, it''s obvious that the way outside will take that much time to do so.

    "So, I was informed the first batch of the deployed students will be you guys." Alms raised up a conversation in a friendly tone before chuckling, "I wanted to hear if you''re nervous,"

    As if this question was directed to the leader of the cohort, the heads turned in one direction, towards Cesar who nkly stared at them. Cesar even saw that the mysterious person beside Alms was also looking at him through the front windshield.

    Coming up with a reply to give, Cesar answered, "I don''t know if this is a trick question to make us say that we''re indeed nervous but honestly, we''re feeling confident. Yes, this is our first time going out as a team. Honestly, thest few days of practicing our synergy isn''t enough to make me fullypletely say we''re good to go but it''s different if we''re talking about individual performances,"

    Cesar paused, "If we can continue performing to the best of our capabilities, then there''s nothing nervous to be worried about, I guess."

    Alms was silent for a moment before the man beside him suddenly let out a chuckle as he answered.

    "Don''t worry, the question looks like a trick question that will make everyone say they''re nervous and start breaking down. We don''t have time for such antics," The man paused as he stopped chuckling, "I mean, if you''re nervous, better bring you back to Arnold, noh?"

    The mysterious man finally moved and curiously looked behind, "Hello promising students, my name is Corporal Chin. I''m one of the few Nightmare Corps that will be guiding you through the City of Wheels. You see, after I was done with my previous task, I was tasked to retrieve the batch of studentsing with me to see the case altogether since our roads intersected with each other.

    A pleasure to meet you,"

    Corporal Chin had a round face wearing small circr sses hanging on his nose. He had a very amiable face though his gaze had a glint of dangerousness within them.

    Everyone from the Nightmare Corps that Cesar had met was mysterious hence he wasn''t surprised any further nor will he get surprised in the future.

    ''These people are really talented wretches¡­ Wretches, I wonder why they are called like that. Like truthfully¡­''

    Soon, the cohorts introduced themselves one by one, expressing whatever came from their mouth in a friendly tone with a mix of respect. The van had undone its camouge for a moment to mix themselves with cars and vehicles on the road since they weren''t out yet from the academy.

    Knowing that such a valuable piece of utility had to be conserved since they''ll be riding it for most of the time until they were in their designated area, it''s better to keep it unused and keep it a hundred percent working.

    ''Though I''m confused why they had to use it when we''re exiting out from the main academy''s grounds. If we''re thinking about efficiency, wouldn''t it be better to do it right outside its walls?''

    After the group had introduced themselves, Corporal Chin suddenly raised a question of his own, making others put their attention to him.

    "So what''s the feeling of leaving the academy after being cooped up in here for over three years?"

    Jacqueline gave her opinion that she didn''t mind nor did she care.

    "I''m good,"

    Her answer had a bit of simrity to Reyna who expressed that the academy is some sort of responsibility brought down from her family which is mandatory to have.

    "I''ll be an heiress of the best bankpany in the world. My life is pretty secure at this point. If that doesn''t work, I''ll continue being in here, probably enlisting in the army where we''ll be sent from mission over and over again."

    Leaving it or being sent to mission will likely be what''s going to ur from time to time which she''s willing to adjust. She didn''t care whates next.

    Quentin solemnly felt bing ''homesick''. He grew attached to the academy that it was his ''safe zone'' where he could live freely without being worried in the world.

    "I''ve thought about it hard. When I''m old enough, I''ll be a teacher at this school,"

    When Quentin spoke about it with conviction, the cohort became surprised. Alms and Chin gave their utmost sentiment and support to his goal.

    "We''re just d to be here,"

    "Yeah,"

    The twins expressed that they''ll be ready to face the challenges and do it with extreme perfection knowing they have each other''s backs. As for their future ns, it was to return back to their hometown and live there peacefully.

    Cesar, upon careful deliberation, finally managed to answer after a few seconds of being stared at by everyone.

    "It feels unreal. Though it is to be expected. We''re not going to be always at ourfort zone. But I guess we just had to prepare for the future," Cesar paused as he cast a nce to Quentin, "By the way, it''s not called a safe zone. That''s afort zone, Quentin,"

    Quentin shifted his attention with a hateful expression before pointing his middle finger at him which made Alms giggle and everyone chuckling.

    Thest thing they knew, they were out of the academy''s safe walls.

 Chapter 19: Harden City

    Moving through the roughndscapes and tunnel roads they were unsure of, the others couldn''t help but feel in awe at their surroundings. It has been a while since they were outside but they could see that humanity continues to strive and survive, something that they always had done for the past millennium of horror and dread.

    The busy streets and roads were crowded with people as they passed through. Grey foggy smolders permeate the air as the house chimneys that make everyone warm inside their home continuously puff out smoke, making the already dark skies darker.

    Surrounded by protective walls that enclose humans from the inside, at least, everything appeared to be manageable and in control by the humans so far.

    Of course, that only appears on the outside. Nobody knew what was going on inside the very core of humanity unless you''re a person with a high degree of position from within.

    Even Alms and Chin who was below the standards of peering through the deepest secret might''ve not known anything at all as well.

    What they do know however is to do their job very perfectly.

    While riding the van through each city, they introduced each one of them with a jolly tone. So far, they had passed two cities so far, marking their next location as their third.

    "This is the Harden City, a local point where the exchange of goods is prominent. Literally, almost any goods can be bought or sold here. Though the rarer the item is, the more you''ll likely find it either already sold or not here," Alms paused after giving a brief introduction, "We''ll stop by here before going to the Langston Bridge. We''ll move after half an hour,"

    Everyone nodded before the van parked itself on an avable lot, a free vehicle parking space meant for these times. It seems the te card or sticker somewhere in the van makes one distinguish whether they were a visitor to a city or people living in it.

    If it were the former, one would''ve gone through a series of paperwork just to aplish some sort of citizenship in the city.

    Cesar and the rest wouldn''t have to be worried upon seeing that their ride had been smooth sailing until the very end when the van finally parked itself.

    "Excuse me, sir Alms, sir Chin. Do you perhaps have a map of this city?" Cesar paused, "We''re nning on sticking around but we might get ourselves lost because we really didn''t have any idea about this¡­ area,"

    "Ah, of course!"

    Alms happily grabbed something out of the sidepartments on the side of the car before giving it to Cesar.

    "This is the maps of the cities we''ll pass by or we''ve already passed en route. Harden City is in there." Alms moved closer before pointing his hand at the spot they were in, "This is where we are parked. I think you have enough time to explore the quarter of the city for half an hour so be aware of the time, okay? Also, be mindful of the rules of this city as well,"

    Heeding their advice, Cesar and the rest of the squad went outside of the van and had to decide where to stroll which part of the city while being aware of the allotted time given by them.

    ¡­

    "Howe you are the one deciding where for us to go, huh?"

    Suddenly as they were in the middle of their strolling and sightseeing around the city, Quentin raised a question that Cesar merely ignored. The others also did the same thing, all except Reyna who let out an annoyed sigh and drew nearer to him.

    "Listen here, he''s our squad leader and we''re a team now. Of course, we''re going to stick with each other and let Cesar decide the ce we''re going to." Reyna took a moment of breath, "Besides, where are you even going?"

    Quentin let out a short cough as if he were expecting to be interrogated, "I''m nning on exchanging my contribution points for Vennon Cash."

    Cesar cast a nce at him before saying, "Why? Does the contribution points of the academy doesn''t work on the outside?"

    "Uhm, of course? It''s not like we''ve been trained in the mountains for you not to know it actually," Quentin answered with a slight ridicule and mocking tone before continuing, "For obvious reasons, the currency here works differently inside the academy. In this world, Vennon Cash is wealth,"

    Not minding that he was being mocked by him, Cesar contemted for a moment and said, "Where do these exchanges happen?"

    ¡­

    Just as humanity was reforming their survivability rate to the harrowing Nightmares, greedy bastards from the history books couldn''t contain their gluttony when ites to money.

    Knowing there were different kinds of currencies in the past, these greedy businessmen came up with a solution where they came up with a currency that would benefit them and probably others they are close with as well.

    Vennon Cash

    These are the bill notes where the face of one of the businessmen, Vennon, is on it. Vennon was the leader of the greedy businessmen from the past and made the world better after aplishing one global change.

    After all, even though he was greedy, his money was what made everyone unite. At least, some part of it. Whether it was in their era, the previous epoch, or the current age, money is what unites most of the people.

    "Vennon is not really bad at least for me," Reyna exined what she knew about Vennon''s history, "He made us rich after all. His money made gave birth to the Schmitz Bank Company,"

    As the six of them went through the tough crowd, following Quentin at the front who was in possession of the map, they finally took a halt once they saw him staring at the building in front.

    Harden''s Trading Center

    Theypletely ignored sight-seeing or roaming around the ce they found interesting and immediately made their way toward the trading center which Quentin rmended.

    The trading center is a five-story building with vendors encircled around its area. It is huge and made out of pristine ck and white walls. One couldn''t even peek inside the ce even through the sses since it was obscured by some sort of special equipment.

    "The trading center is the best spot a city could have. In the map, this is the closest trading center we could go."

    Quentin tapped his fingers onto the spot they were currently standing on the map before continuing, "Thankfully, this is the biggest trading center we can go to. We''re very lucky to be able tond here, knowing we can buy a lot of things, as well as exchange goods if you guys even have one,"

    The cohort watched the building with dubious looks before they entered the ce altogether. After being checked by the guards at the entrance, their gazes soonnded in a much more bustling crowd, way worse than the outside.

    "Ingredients! We have newly acquired ingredients and their uses!"

    "A ruin of an infamous heretic! Who''s willing to try and see it for themselves?"

    "We have two ingredients avable for cleansing the irregrities of the potion! We have Clover Leaf and Brown Mushroom!"

    The trading center lived up to its name as the city''s best spot. Even though the day was already beginning to disappear, the ce was as lively as ever.

    With continuous exchange happening from all around the ce, most buyers or sellers will be able to satisfy themselves with whatever needs they need to take. In that regard, they must''ve their own pocket money.

    They''re about to receive one themselves.

    "How are you so knowledgeable when we''re cooped up inside the academy?"

    Cesar couldn''t help but raise a question that found Quentin outrageously funny that he couldn''t help but chuckle. The others, this time, couldn''t help but produce simr feelings as Quentin.

    But then again, they didn''t know much about Cesar nor did he to them.

    "Look, captain. My family loves to roam around, changing from one ce to another while having to maintain our family liquor business. In fact, right before entering the academy, we''ve already moved five times," Quentin paused and looked grimly, "It''s because we''ve always encountered Nightmares and Corrupted Humans. Well, I''m just thankful nobody died on us yet,"

    He paused, "So as we moved through cities, I''ll get to know themonalities and preferences one ce has. Harden City is something I''ve only heard since it''s near Langston Bridge, and because it is near the interconnected bridge, the trading center will always be there.

    "Merchants and traders will always be present in here. After all, that''s how economics works. A simple supply and demand. Remove one from another, a city will not strive. If a city doesn''t thrive, its neighboring ones will suffer the same thing,"

    Quentin finally halted after leading the squad to a ce where they could get their contribution points to exchange before looking toward Cesar.

    "So Squad Captain, that''s how why I''m knowledgeable," Quentin smirked, "Actually, why am I even telling you my backstory? Let''s just get onto business!"

    Setting their gazes at the store in front, they entered inside where they were weed by its owner.

    "Wee~"

 Chapter 20: Scamming The Scammer

    The bell from the door jiggled which produced a weing and soothing sound. It also gave a signal to the owner of the store that customers who enter her establishment was merely there to trade.

    ''What type of person should I scam for today¡­'' The owner mused inwardly before giggling inwardly, ''Well, didn''t matter. I will always be the one with the upper hand,''

    The businesswoman stood up from her chair and looked at the unfamiliar customers. Her acquisitive eyes gaze upon their uniforms up to their hats, quickly recognizing them to be students of the Resisting Academy.

    She instantly knew what they came here for.

    "Wee~"

    The woman went to greet them personally and couldn''t help but admire four of the students who were excluding a leakage of their power. As a knowledgeable businesswoman herself, she understood what it meant.

    ''A group of Shaded¡­ But for me to be unable to sense the two of them to have Facet as well¡­ is it some sort of Technique?''

    The woman immediately came to the conclusion after remembering andbining the set of information she had gathered regarding the students of the academy.

    They might appear docile on the outside but most of them are arrogant and proud with their egos inted that had been carved throughout the years they''ve been through that prestigious school.

    The merchant understands it.

    Finally, she introduced herself with an amiable smile, "Wee to Moren Shop, one of the best tradingpanies in the world. I''m the branch owner of this ce. By the way, the name''s Melinda."

    Quentin stepped forward and replied, "Hello ma''am Melinda, we''re here to do some exchange regarding contribution points. I hope you can help us,"

    Melinda answered, "If it''s just contribution points, then there should be no problem. Judging your clothes, you must be from the academy on deployment, right? If I remember, fourth-year students usually do it. You can''t be graduates since you''ll be sent to sites right after,"

    Quentin cast a nce to Cesar to see if he had any reply but seeing him appearing silent, he answered on his behalf.

    "You are very right and smart, ma''am. No wonder this ce is¡­ thriving. It might becking visitors but I heard Moren Shop is the best shop one can encounter when trading and exchanging goods,"

    Melinda chuckled, "Don''t worry. If you''re worried about theck of customers for our famous brand, it''s only because we''re almost at our closing time. If you look around, there are only a few items left here to be exchanged. But I don''t mind if young heroes like youe. So let''s get right in business!"

    Melinda led the group at the counter, turned towards one cab, and grabbed a heavy metal case ced on a false bottom which she struggled to put on the desk. After entering its password, she opened the case and revealed it to the cohort.

    "This is newly printed and inked twenty-five thousand Vennon cash. I''m willing to exchange it for fifty contribution points."

    Melinda didn''t waste a single second as she immediately went straight to her goal. Her atmosphere still excludes amiability but her face was nothing but serious. Under her reserved fa?ade was just the face of a scammer after all.

    ''Contribution is treated as gold mines for rich families who had their children epted or admitted from the academy. With these points as their starting point, they''ll be able to enhance themselves among their peers and fill a huge gap. The return when I managed to pull this deal will be astronomical,''

    Melinda already calcted the benefits of being able to scam the students of the academy. By exchanging the precious contribution points the students are willing to trade, she''ll be able to sell them twofold to those who are willing. It might increase much better than what it is right now.

    Suddenly, Melinda saw the speaker of the group, Quentin, look at the same person from earlier and she couldn''t help but follow his gaze.

    There, the most inconspicuous of the group was staring back which made her shiver. Unlike the other four who were excluded some sort of dangerous aura, the person she was staring at didn''t release any unnaturalness.

    He waspletely normal.

    Melinda saw this person walking towards the front and inspecting the cash with scrutiny. Touching the bills, he remained silent while the others were keeping theirposure intact. They are waiting for him to finish.

    After a while, seeing the amount of contribution points was correct, Cesar retorted with indifference.

    "It is indeed new,"

    Observing that there was no ill intent on it, Melinda finally calmed down and nodded, "Yes¡­ yes. They are all printed by the very own Schmitz Bank Company. Our Moren Shop had close ties with them, you see,"

    "Twenty-five thousand cash is plenty as well,"

    Melinda followed his response with another nod, "Very plenty enough. You''re only getting this kind of deal from our very own shop. In the future, if you''ll be able to return, we can talk about a much more great deal. Of course, with great benefits on both sides hahaha!"

    Cesar paused and calmly shifted his attention back to Melinda. He looked through the cab before moving his eyes around the shop.

    With a sigh, Cesar shook his head, "But was that it?"

    Melinda''s reserved face cracked for a moment before slightly tilting her head, "What was "but was that it"? Are you referring to the deal itself?"

    "What am I trying to refer if not for this deal? It''s not like we talked before this." Cesar lightly chuckled, "Here''s the thing. Forty contribution points are already equivalent to one Nightmare Potion. If merely twenty-five thousand Vennon cash is enough to buy almost one single potion, then that''ll be the craziest joke of the century for me.

    He paused, "I think you knew the value of these points but you aren''t willing enough to do a fair deal. Let''s see¡­ you''re a merchant so you''re going to sell these points to the highest bidder. Do I have to tell you who these bidders are? Well, definitely the rich families of the rich kids that attended the academy.

    The return on investment will be huge obviously, hence I''m asking what additional offers you are willing to give,"

    Melinda took a mouthful of saliva down to her throat due to nervousness, though her face remained stoic. She carefully closed the case full of Vennon notes and gave a reply.

    "Mr..."

    "Sparrow,"

    "Yes, Mr. Sparrow. Your points are valid. Honestly, you are a very well-spoken young man but at the end of the day, business is business. If you think this fair is not a deal, you are entirely wrong. Go to other shops.

    See if they are generous enough to offer you a great deal of mine. However if you came running back here, don''t expect me to treat you the same way,"

    Cesar appeared as calm as ever even after being pressured by a woman who was good at her job. Melinda let out a soft smirk after seeing him unresponsive until she saw him smiling the same thing, revealing his canine fangs that were slightlyrger than before.

    "Okay,"

    Cesar turned around and gave a warning, "But remember this. If I pulled off a deal with other shops, I''m going to say you''re a scam. Oh, and you''ll never get tomunicate with the Schmitz bankpany again. After all, its heiress is witnessing a dogpany like yours undermining people. Thankfully, we''re not inexperienced,"

    Melinda appeared to almost let out a chuckle when she realized that his words weren''t entirely wrong. She realized that the points she was willing to sell were going to the rich families, and an example of this family is The Schmitz.

    That''s where the oddityes from.

    ''Heiress of Schmitz Bank Company? She''s witnessing this deal?''

    Melinda gazed at the backs of the academy''s young students slowly walked away from the front desk and immediately went to refresh her memories if she missed something.

    ''Oh...''

    Finally, she remembered there was indeed news of the heiress of thepany attending the Resisting Academy, over three years ago. This news brought a shocking development to the bank but not entirely in a bad way. It only raised the value of stocks involving them.

    The Moren Shop had close ties with The Schmitz, this is not wrong. Yet Cesar''s warning continued echoing through Melinda''s head.

    In a span of a few seconds, the image of one student in the group resurfaced in her head and had a clear simrity to the picture shown in the news when the involvement of Schmitz happened.

    Her gaze fell onto Reyna''s back, who was currently whispering to Cesar about something.

    ''Not good!''

    Melinda immediately chased the group down and shouted.

    "Wait!"

    Cesar halted his steps, resulting in the group to stop as well. The tip of his lips moved sideways before turning around.

    "Yes, Melinda?"

    Melinda let out a ragged breath, curiously looked at Reyna to confirm her suspicions, and almost fainted on the spot when she realized it was the real deal.

    Still, she managed to choke out the words she strongly struggled to let out. With an awkward smile, she chuckled nervously.

    "How about we do another deal?"

 Chapter 21: Corrupted Human

    "Nope!"

    Cesar immediately rejected another deal Melinda proposed after hearing the revised deal for the first time. Basically, Melinda was willing to pay double the amount of cash she was willing to ry and a free item from the shop that he or one of his group wanted to get.

    It was a crazy deal, to be honest. Cesar''s life will turned upside down just because he held thergest contribution point everyone had in the academy, only as a student, and used it as a bargain to grasp fifty thousand cash straight up. He will immediately enter the ranks of one of the richest students to be in the sses.

    Yet Cesar was unwilling to give a single point to Melinda at this point. Right now, he was thinking of how to snatch everything from her while not garnering any losses on his side.

    He had now possessed the upper card on his hand, after all. And it was only standing right beside him.

    ''You really had the guts to scam me out of all people, huh? I''ll make you regret the choices you made this day. I swear it to my parents whom I don''t know that I''ll get the most precious items you have,''

    Melinda''splexion grew even worse. She wasn''t excluding any type of confidence as of the moment, unsure what Cesar would pull off. The only thing she wanted to do now was to appease Cesar who seems to be the leader of the group without creating a rift between herpany and the Schmitz.

    Forget about being fired, she''ll be gone for good.

    "W-what do you want to do, kid?"

    Cesar looked at the clock, seeing that there were only a few minutes left till their allotted time was up. When he finished thinking about what to say, he demanded with an authoritative tone.

    "I''ll take the fifty thousand cash right and let me and my team choose something around the room that they wish to take for free." He beamed out a cordial smile, "In exchange, you''ll get to maintain a good rtionship with The Schmitz,"

    "What kind of bull¡ª"

    Cesar immediately turned around upon sensing the answer she would give would be not what he was expecting but Melinda quickly changed her stance, afraid it would make matters worse.

    "Wait, just wait!"

    Cesar halted before seeing her continuing.

    "I was just kind¡­ shocked, haha! I mean, it''s a lost business if I just straight up give you what I want in exchange for¡ª"

    Instead of letting her continue, Cesar started to be infuriated as he demanded with a more pressing tone.

    "I don''t want any more yapping nor finding tricks just to get on your way. Tell me if it''s a yes or no," Cesar paused, "You have five seconds,"

    "Please¡­"

    "Three¡­"

    Melinda hissed, "You jumped two seconds!"

    "One¡­"

    Melinda finally surrendered, not wanting to be pressured by some kid who was a decade younger than her. With a thump on the table, she regrettably answered.

    "Deal!"

    Cesar grabbed two cases filled with twenty five thousand Vennon money and turned his attention to his squad.

    "Well, you heard her. Choose anything you want from this room." Cesar paused with a light smile, "It''s on the house,"

    ¡­

    Walking outside the Moren Shop with additional equipment on their side, they couldn''t be happier. Not only would this help them, probably something that wille to clutch in a certain situation but they also managed to get it for free.

    They entered the shop with nothing and now they areing out with a few gears with their squad leader having fifty thousand cash and carrying it in his briefcase with a gleeful face.

    "You know, your gamble wouldn''t pay off if Melinda pushed the deal to the point of contacting my parents," Reyna chuckled, "Why do you think I don''t have any Nightmare uponing here when we could afford it secretly? It''s because they wanted me to be dependent. So, my position as an heiress will not work until I really be one,"

    She paused, "That''s why I remained quiet throughout the time, and somehow ufortable with the looks she was giving me,"

    Cesar stared at her for a moment, momentarily loss for words to say before shrugging his shoulders.

    "It didn''t matter if it was misunderstood or a misy. If the end result is the same, that''s all that really matters to me,"

    In that moment of tranquility, the squad suddenly felt shivers that course through their spine. It might be because they achieved transcendence after being trained inside the academy or the sudden power-uping from the facets, but only them had felt it.

    "Hey, isn''t that¡­"

    In the next second, an rming sound of wailing speakers resonated throughout the city, breaking through the ears of everyone present.

    All of them halted.

    In just a second, everyone who heard it became crestfallen. Theirplexion changed into a much more timid, nervous, but also full of fear to the signal those wailing speakers meant.

    It just only signifies that a Nightmare Dangers was nearby, that''s all.

    If only Nightmares aren''t taken too lightly, everyone wouldn''t be reacting this way.

    Knowing what to do, probably being trained for times like this, even if fear was slowly creeping upon them, they resolved themselves to move.

    The vendors closed their shops, the bustling crowd made space as they aligned themselves to prevent an unforeseen ident, and guards moved around the ce to secure the trading center.

    "Let''s go,"

    The squad also made their way towards the exit. Right in front of it, one of the guards suddenly called out to them.

    "Hey, what are you guys doing? Stay inside!"

    Cesar approached the guard and solemnly spoke, "We have different protocols than you sir. We''re from the academy,"

    Being knowledgeable enough to know what that implies, the guard tightly holding the handle of the door released his grip and spoke grimly.

    "We know your academy brats protocol so go. And be careful," The guard paused, "If you can go back, I''ll open the doors for you,"

    Cesar nodded once before he and the others exited the Harden Training Center and made their way through the parking their van used to park. By discreetly moving through the street with a hastened yet quiet jog, they subtly noticed the changes happening in the city.

    What once crowded roads and rowdy stores turned quiet and closed real click. Any type of person present in the streets is either an authoritative person or hiding through the dark corners, unable to return to their homes which are probably far away.

    The only thing left that was here just a while ago was the wailing speakers to signal the forting of a Nightmare.

    They needed to regroup to Alms and Chin quickly.

    Unfortunately enough, just as they were nearing the parking lot, a figure stood in their way.

    "Ah¡­"

    Quentin was about to step forward but Cesar immediately grabbed his shoulder, stopping him from moving any further.

    "Are you blind or what? That isn''t human,"

    Frowning for a moment there, Quentin immediately squinted his eyes to focus more on the image standing meters away from them.

    His eyes finally widened.

    What actually stood there was a misshapen human figure that looked like had clung its way up to thends of the living. Three meters tall with two heads that belonged to a human and a monster with nothing but flesh; two burgeoning arms letting out a foul stench; and its legs didn''t appear human-like as one appeared a leg of a hairy mantis and a thin steed.

    It was a Corrupted Human.

    These are humans who have been corrupted either by being exposed to Nightmares or unable to control themselves, which is also a result of being vulnerable by them. If they are unable to check themselves through any means to make their condition stable, either physically, mentally, or emotionally, it will immediately bite them on their backs.

    This was a piece ofmon knowledge, but it was something being reminded of them every day.

    And looking at the corrupted wearing civilian clothes, one can assume he was unfortunate enough to be exposed to some Nightmare.

    "Easy now, don''t make any moves," Cesar paused, staring indifferently at the corrupted with a frown as he slowly stepped back, "We don''t have any items to distinguish the level of this corrupted. We''re lucky if it''s the lowest but I wouldn''t bet my life on it. This gamble is not worth it,"

    The rest also began stepping back as well as they remained their eyes glued onto the corrupted. Jacqueline struck up a conversation as they did.

    "ns?"

    Cesar nodded, "Let''s avoid its vision for now,"

    Thus, after this improvised n was made, they continued moving backward.

    Yet someone was following their steps. The corrupted slightly tilted its two heads before walking forward, matching the pace of their movement.

    It made Cesar realize instantly what was happening.

    They will never be able to avoid its line of vision.

    ''Is it sentient?''

    Cesar tried to stop, making another stop as well. The creature, upon seeing him halted, also paused for a brief moment.

    Only this time, two of its lips smiled, revealing hideous distorted teeth inside.

    And the monster disappeared from its ce.

 Chapter 22: Prelude

    Cesar felt every hair of his skin stand up, unable to contain anymore the surprises and the shivers he just witnessed. The corrupted appeared eerily sentient enough, clearly mocking them, and did the disappearance trick to further insult their capabilities.

    It was hunting them now.

    Cesar trusted his guts more than ever, not doubting the sense of danger he was feeling. Now that his senses were heightened, he had no choice but to do so.

    The group acted swiftly. Whatever Cesar was thinking, they understood it all too well.

    When something like this happens, they make protocols. In a situation where they needed to form a group swiftly while the person in charge was far from them, they had thought of an optimal formation at that moment.

    The squad immediately circled around Quentin, who started hoisting up a re gun ced on his back. Loading it with a shell, he raised it above and clicked the trigger.

    Phew¡ª!

    The re shot up through the sky, signaling their position to Alms and Chin, hopefully, toe to them as soon as possible.

    After all, when the document was given to them, it was heavily highlighted that they must seek help right away instead of confronting rting to a Nightmare problem, even if it was a Corrupted Human.

    ''Calm down, just think,''

    The disappearance of the corrupted took him off guard, and swiftly made him re-evaluate the threat that was just looming around the corner

    ''It looked sentient enough and its speed was insane that even Jacqueline couldn''t even follow it with her eyes. The way she also worriedly looks around proves this point. It might be a Level Three Corrupted,''

    Corrupted Humans had a ranking on their own. Unlike Nightmares which were still full of mysteries, these type of monsters had a distinct ranking on their own.

    The lowest of the corrupted is Level One while the highest recorded yet was Level Seven Corrupted.

    And the corrupted they were currently looking out for was a bit higher than they were supposed to know, understanding that such a level of the creature shouldn''t have appeared in such a region where humans are prominent.

    After all, this city has been dered a green zone.

    Cesar finally began to understand why he was surprised. It was because the situation didn''t make any sense.

    Though he didn''t have time to worry about it anymore after sensing something was looking at them from above.

    On a rooftop, the same corrupted human was staring at them with two of its head''s lips still smiling.

    Then, it splits its body apart, separating one head from another. The torso of the monster was torn, making the corrupted two. Then, it formed a new flesh, identical to its previous body to stand upright.

    There, they saw two bodies from the same creature.

    ''it''s clearly mocking us¡­''

    Cesar couldn''t help but click his tongue, and continued staring at the creature for a moment before speaking.

    "Ready¡­"

    Soon, the two corrupted lunged forward, going through the roofs as they stayed side by side.

    This time, however, their swift movement could be seen by the eyes of the cohort. Still, its speed was nothing to scoff at.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    As they were closing, everyone began to ready their weapon, surging the power inside them to channel any time they wanted.

    Suddenly, the corrupted did something outrageous again.

    As they were closing into the squad, the corrupted¡­ bounded once more, forming into one horrible monster that they''ve seen earlier.

    ''Shit!''

    The corrupted disappeared from their vision once more and thest thing they knew, it was close by.

    "!"

    It was very close to Cesar, who saw only a swinging arming right on his face, and he could not do anything about it.

    His hand to use as a cover wasn''t even fast enough nor were the abilities that the others had set up which they only did a second toote.

    sh¡ª!

    Even though he considered that he''d be dead if the fisting to him hit him, Cesar''s eyes still opened widely. That''s why he saw a de slicing through the creature''s arms, bringing Cesar to safety.

    It was agile, much faster than the corrupted itself. The only thing it could do was move away, giving a great distance to the group and itself.

    "You''re a very lucky man,"

    Standing in front of Cesar was no other than Chin, who appeared haggard and sweaty. It looked like he had run through a marathon and barely caught his breath after running here.

    Cesar continued staring at the rotting hands that almost cost his life before looking at Chin with a slightly respectable face.

    "Sir, about the Corrupted¡­"

    Chin looked at the creature which shivered upon gazing at his eyes. Then, it immediately ran away, probably trying to escape.

    It seemed to feel fear after not noticing Chining up to it and shing down its two hands. It was caught off guard, fleeing away which the Shaded didn''t had any intention to pursue.

    "Are you guys okay?"

    Cesar, who was supposed to be the most affected of all, was the calmest. He looked at the condition of everyone in their group before finally answering Chin.

    "We''re not hurt. Thank you for arriving in time,"

    Chin nodded, "I guess it''s also a timing for me but it wouldn''t have happened if you didn''t signal the re. Good work,"

    Soon, Alms finally arrived at the scene and appeared relieved that everyone was well. By the looks of it, it was he who discovered the re and informed Chin, knowing the signal belonged to the academy students.

    Alms is a scout which is why he was able to see the re while Chin looks like he battles up on front, clearly demonstrating the tip of his skills just by cutting the corrupted''s hands.

    "You guys almost had the worst day outside after being deployed from the sites," Chin chuckled, trying to lift up the mood before adding, "Before we went on our way, let''s scout for any abnormalities left. Judging how quiet this city is, looks like that is the only corrupted seen,"

    Since no physical injuries or psychological statements needed to be concerned about, the group decided to follow Chin''s orders and followed

    ¡­

    Their search came uneventfully, yet this result was what anyone wanted to expect rather than a troubling one where every single person in the city would be put in danger. Hectic situations either end with a casualty or death after all.

    Thus, their search was quick and fast.

    "Hahh¡­"

    Sitting down on his seat with a haggard expression, Cesar let out an exasperated sigh while bringing his case full of cash down.

    ''Still not enough,''

    Now that he was looking back at what actually transpired, Cesar realized that he had just been lucky. As if he had excluded every luck point he had just to survive the punch from the corrupted at that moment and now, he wasmenting at the fact that he was still powerless and unable to do anything at such a crucial situation.

    ''This was just a corrupted human. Nightmares are on a different level¡­ yet I froze at thatst moment¡­''

    Cesar covered his eyes with his arms while clenching both of his fists. The others who was looking in his direction wanted to console him but Chin gestured silently to leave him be, knowing he didn''t need any constion from anyone.

    If he had to self-reflect, he had to do it on his own.

    ''What situation suited there anyway? Should I have gone to another strategy? Instead of thinking efficiently, should I choose the risky one where I could achieve efficiency, at the same time, avoid risking the lives of my team? Man¡­''

    The van started while their supervisors remained quiet. It just moved, letting the kids rest as this was a prelude to the hell they had signed in for.

    Once they step onto the site they deployed, there will be no breaks, no second chances, and no gambling about how lucky a person is when faced with a situation.

    It will onlye down to a moment, and it will be a life or death scenario for each in the squad.

    They will make hard choices and their resilience will be tested.

    This day was a good day to reflect on the tiny mistakes they made to make sure the same mistakes couldn''t happen again.

    "Pheww¡­"

    Cesar finally calmed down before he picked up the case full of cash and counted them once more. Seeing that they were full and not a single paper was thrown when they did a formation, he asked the people in the front seat.

    "Sir Alms, Sir Chin, where can I buy a specialized gun when we get to the City of Wheels?"

 Chapter 23: City Of Wheels

    The ride through their designated post took at least a few more days as they were currently driving through the interconnected bridges, also known as Langston Bridge.

    The greatest ever-built bridge that connects to various cities all across the world. It crosses through the dark oceans, harsh nes, cold weather, and even desertedndscapes. Though, the good thing about the bridge is that it kept people safe from their travels and kept everyone secured as well.

    It is one of the wonders ever created by the humans that have been going through this day. It helped them go through the harshest and deadliest moments of time.

    And finally, they arrived at their destination.

    "Wee to the City of Wheels, and that was once preposterous, a city of engines and machinery that has been abandoned. Now, all you can see is abandoned products that workers and every personnel left behind," Alms introduced as he brought his bag up.

    After exiting the van, the cohort couldn''t help but look at the city with a doubt. Even though Alms described it as preposterous, the city looked like a version of a run-down town where a Nightmare creature rted to despair happened to pass by and made it to what it is now.

    The city lights were tweaking, barely even providing sufficient vision to the onlookers. The dark windows from the buildings and houses appeared ghastly, making someone think that a person was currently observing them. The roads and streets were imprinted with marks, signaling the city to be beyond repair, knowing a Nightmare might''ve inhabited this ce.

    It had a very depressing atmosphere.

    "The disappearance made this happen?" Jacqueline asked with a hint of curiosity.

    Chin, who was thest to leave the van after bringing out a rectangr case, nodded and joined the conversation, "Yes. The casualty of the mission has already beenrge so the Army and the Corps already brought their best people in here. Sadly, most of them are out of a mission. Hence, that''s probably the reason why they used the deployment venture of the academy to get some manpower,"

    ''Oh, that answers why the mission difficulty is great and why we got sent here. So that''s why¡­'' Cesar mused inwardly.

    Right after they prepared themselves, Alms and Chin led them deeper into the city with a location in mind. Passing through the streets where soldiers were patrolling around, their supervisors started discussing them about some matters.

    "We''re going to lead you guys to the makeshift camp that we decided to use," Chin started to brief them, "I know you guys already know most of the protocols that needed to be remembered but I can discuss it with you about the other matters,"

    Chin let out a short cough, "On this city, better distance away from the engines that''ll most likely fall. Really, those that always made a sound, be careful with that. You don''t want to go home with your arm or legs amputated. Another thing, don''t touch anything that isn''t notarized or permitted by someone. Just saying,"

    He added a few more warnings that one has to know about this city before finally concluding by adding: "Now, you rookies, always remember to avoid a fight on a Nightmare. I trust your skills, judgment, and all that crap but Nightmares are a different kind of breed. Regroup with your team or find a Shaded. You are not a specialist who can solo a Nightmare themselves,"

    At that tone of ridicule from Chin, the group couldn''t help but notice the single line of sentence he mentioned.

    ''A specialist who can solo a Nightmare?''

    Cesar was about to ask the question but Joshua and Nike beat him up to it, both asking in the same tone and voice.

    "There are people like that who can solo a Nightmare?"

    Chin chuckled, "There are many of them, and they are all either on the highest ranks of the military or Nightmare Corps. You know that Shaded is categorized by how many potions they drank and received powers from, right? For example, me. I''m Shaded of the Second Order. I have two Nightmares abilities from two different potions,"

    The cohort slowly shifted their gaze to Quentin, who somehow felt ufortable with their gazes before finally understanding what those meant.

    "Hey, I''m still on the premature level of First Order! I just happened to be lucky to have two abilities! I''m not as good as sir Chin yet,"

    Reyna scoffed, "Of course, you aren''t going to be as good as him, and you''ll never be,"

    Quentin clicked his tongue, "Wanna go?"

    Chin gestured for them to stop their banter with a chortle before continuing, "As I was saying, the Shaded who are capable of defeating Nightmares on their own are Third Order with a history of killing one themselves. That''s just qualifications on the paper that seems to be easy at first, but believe me, doing it will be the hardest achievement you can pull off,"

    Cesar, after contemting for a brief moment, asked, "Do we have someone on this base who is a specialist like that?"

    "Yes," Alms paused, "Actually, he came to the academy to assist you guys with your selection. He''s leading the investigation right now. Oh, he''s from the Corps,"

    ''Came from the academy? Is it someone we know?''

    Cesar and others started to be curious, knowing these figures from the Nightmare Corps were someone they looked upon when they were kids. There are probably what they call heroes who protect the world from corruption yet are also the most vulnerable to its presence, knowing they are the ones constantly at the front.

    Which made Cesar realize why some people are crazy enough to be part of them.

    "Here we are,"

    After a while of being led around, the group looked ahead and saw a very normal two-story house located close to the very heart of the city. There was nothing special about it aside from the guards posted from every entryway leading to it.

    Soon, they got permission to enter after seeing the uniform of Chin and confirmed his identification once they saw he was on the list of Shaded to have deployed on their current site.

    Deeper into the house¡­ nothing special as well. As if they wanted to be connected with the city''s atmosphere the most, the house was designed to be nd, lifeless, and normal. In the middle of this nd house was a group of Nightmare Corps with a figure standing in the middle of them all.

    ''That guy¡­''

    He excludes the same fearsomeness¡­ ruthlessness when Cesar met him for the first time. His reserved gait was reading a set of documents from his hands when his indifferent eyes shifted towards them.

    It was no doubt that it was Vin of the Nightmare Corps.

    Cesar instantly recognized why he had these feelings when he first met him in the consultation room Arnold led him to give an exnation regarding his situation on the verge of corruption.

    It was because he''s one of the so-called specialists that Chin mentioned.

    But there''s another thing that he remembered from this guy that started to infuriate him. Of course, this was never put in a paper but he remembered that he asked if he got any information or leads rting to his discovery regarding a True Name.

    Sadly, he didn''t receive any lettersing from him.

    ''This bastard¡­ tsk,''

    Vin put the documents down on his table and greeted the additional workforce that had been sent to them and nodded.

    "Wee to the City of Wheels. We''re just going to start the meeting for a moment. Care to join us?"

 Chapter 24: Low Whispers

    "Hello, to the neers. In case you didn''t know, my name is Vin. Just Vin, Codename: Queer. I''m the person in charge of taking responsibility for this case,"

    Vin took a moment of breathing before adding, "The people seated you are looking for is my squad. We''re not really into introduction stuff since we wanted this case to be ended fast and briefly. Doing it will be just a waste of time so how about we move to the main problem of our case?"

    Vin moved slightly backward before flipping over the board and revealing the set of leads, images, and information like a whole wide web of data had been put in a single panel.

    "You might think this is progress but we absolutely have zero clues as to how the disappearance is working. Though there''s a suspicion that this is being done by a Heretic,"

    ''Heretics¡­''

    Cesar couldn''t help but remember the word as if it was already etched at the back of his mind. After all, these are the kinds of people who had a perverse kind of thinking, to the point that they worshipped Nightmares as some sort of god.

    Heretics are a nefarious group of believers who regard Nightmares as the saving figure who will save the world¡­ from the same Nightmare. In a way, their thinking put people''s lives at stake which made them enemies of humanity. In fact, they are hardly regarded as dangerous individuals, knowing they involved themselves with Nightmares.

    There are no good Heretics, that''s what everyone was being reminded of when they met one. Either they escape from their clutches or do the deed themselves because they will always and will be hurting normal civilians.

    For whatever reason it was, one might not even know.

    From the side, Chin raised his hands up and questioned, "May I know how are we going to take the investigation? Now that we''re talking about the Heretic, will we focus on it?"

    Vin stared at Chin, his eyes cold as usual before answering, "That''s what we''re going to discuss now, Corporal Chin. To start, we''re going to do a strategy that heavily relies on tracking and searching. These people are going to work the hardest while searching every nook and end of the street."

    Cesar and his squad, including Alms and Chin, observe Quentin with his face grimly watching the board, not wanting to nce at anyone in his group.

    Vin added, "But if this strategy doesn''t work, then we''ll do a more risky approach. We''re going to turn this ce upside down. We''ll search around the ces we don''t usually search. I know this sounds confusing since we could''ve already done the preliminary search but there are certain ces that have already been gued with Corruption,"

    Cesar and the rest who was first time hearing such thing couldn''t help but widened their eyes. Alms and Chin appeared less surprised, knowing some of their mission had exposure to Corruption.

    On the other hand, this will be the first time the cohort will be experiencing real-time Corruption viewing. With careful handling of themselves, they will be able to see one of the types of how corruption works which will be vital to their learning and their future work.

    ''This is why deployment venture is good. I''ll be able to learn a few things with this,'' Cesar mused inwardly with mirth.

    "Now then, we aren''t done yet," Vin halted, "There''s a third and final piece of this n, something that can be described as an act of desperation if both the options avable aren''t working. This n relies on something that we currently possess and do not have at the same time,"

    He then revealed after a brief contemtion, "We will gamble that something will happen on the 30th day of the month when every missing person disappears. We''ll then move¡­ and see what happens,"

    ¡­

    As of now, it is the middle of month six, June 15th, of the Nightmare Calendar which is basically just twelve months derived from the normal days and months of the past.

    Hence, when the desperation n was mentioned, Cesar knew he had over two weeks to gain a lead or clue that would help them in their investigation, possibly even rescuing the missing people.

    Since judging the way Vin hinted at the third option earlier, it seems that something will likely happen on the thirtieth of June.

    He didn''t have any ounce of curiosity to wait and let it happen, obviously. The better the mission was finished, the earlier they would return to the academy and prepare for another set of deployments.

    ''''Let''s hope we don''te to that point,"

    Cesar whispered which was perceived by the person walking beside him. Reyna who returned her gaze up front while they followed the person in charge towards the corrupted area, voiced out.

    "Yeah, let''s not really hope," Reyna sarcastically repeated before chuckling, "Are you nervous captain that you started talking to yourself?"

    "I''m just talking. I didn''t notice that I blurted it outwardly," Cesar replied evenly, "How are you holding up? Are the changes making you guys feel apprehensive?"

    Hearing that the questions weren''t exactly just pointed out to Reyna alone, some merely ignored it while giving him gestures that it wasn''t really affecting them that much. The only ones who answered were Reyna and Joshua.

    "I''m good. This kind of change suited me. If you''re worried, be worried about yourself." Reyna chuckled, "Although I''m pretty nervous about the iing sight-seeing. It is a corrupted area after all!"

    Joshua, on the side, interjected while having the same opinions as Reyna, "I definitely feel the same thing. We only heard things about corruption in the books and the mouths of our teachers that we believed to be true, but it is still different when looking through the real deal. Speaking of being apprehensive, I''m actually good,"

    "Okay, here we are,"

    After finally roaming around through the guarded streets and obscured roads, the groupnded on one of the very few corrupted areas in the City of Wheels.

    Observing the surroundings where the area was heavily quarantined, their eyes set foot on the solid ground that was emitting ck smoke. The very ground itself was covered with a deep, burnt-ck floor that looked so fragile as if a mere step would break it.

    The houses inside the corrupted area were decaying at a very slow rate but instead of disappearing into thin air, they were forming powdered grains of ck sand that merely stayed in its ce, forming mounds of them from a few distance away and ever staying.

    That wasn''t the only weird thing about the corrupted area.

    The wind inside appeared to be howling¡­ low whispers that were trying to escape and stretched onto them but never appeared to reach even a single hem of their clothes. Though they were indescribable voices on them that one shouldn''t even peer through, less they get infected on whatever affecting the corrupted area is.

    However, there''s the weird attraction that captivated some of the men which their partners helped them snap back to reality.

    "This is one of the four corrupted areas. There''s no official name given yet to this area but the men here liked to call it Low Whispers. Even if you didn''t enter the area, you''ll get mesmerized by the indescribable words it speaks. Thankfully, its area of effect is quite small and whatever power it stored wasn''t strong enough to put a great distance to avoid it."

    Vin briefly informed them about what to know about Low Whispers but it all leads down to the question of never entering it no matter what the circumstances. Nobody dared or was challenged to do the darest thing in their lives just to test some stupid theory that might be exchanged for their lives.

    And they wouldn''t want to be the first ones to know.

    "Let me show you the other three areas. While we do, memorize every corner in this city since it might help you ovee challenges that might happenter on. I don''t have time to teach you nor someone will hence memorize it on your mind for a day. Because tomorrow, you''ll get assigned to your tasks,"

    Everyone respectfully saluted to the captain in charge to show some respect to his authority before they went sightseeing more of the corrupted area which Cesar and others learned a lot from them.

    Even the neer figures, Alms, and Chin, were learning as well.

 Chapter 25: Survival Is Not A Solution In This Cursed World

    At the happenings of their tour, Vin introduced them to certain things and reminders like what every person in charge should do. For example, the buildings that needed to be watched out for due to their fragility or a certain danger where it might fall any time soon due to dereliction of management.

    As they did, all of them were introduced to the other three corrupted areas. Two of them are near each other, making it the most dangerous part to be deployed hence the ones looking out for it were observing it from high rises or very far. Their given names were Snickering Bridge and Vermilion''s Painted Hand.

    The bridge, which was an entryway at some point before the city was dered a red zone, was corrupted hence other routes were used. Unfortunately, the bridge is the very main road of the city. With it being blocked, the road of transportation has be hard. However, there''s nothing to do and cry about it as one will just have to find other ways.

    Vermillion''s Painted Hand, on the other hand, looked like it had been corrupted with the shape of a hand that mostly affected the northern part of the city.

    No one was guarding it nor everyone dared to, mostly because its rednd looked like it was frozen through time from afar. As if it were a picturesque stationarity painting that someone made and left it just like that.

    Lastly, their tour came to an end after they visited thest area called, Mendeleev. This particr area was named like that because it was once a manor for the previous city mayor, Mendeleev.

    It was also his tomb as he was the only victim of that corrupted area. His family had already escaped while he, for some reason, didn''t join them and suffered such a pitiful end. No one ever retrieved his body for the same reason as they were corrupted.

    "Sir, after this case, we''ll do the operation cleansing, right?"

    Jacqueline who had been all quiet throughout the time, finally raised a question to Vin, who merely gave her a nce. With a nk expression, he replied.

    "This protocol is something we''ve been considering, knowing we already enclosed the corrupted areas as possible but the army hasn''t given much word about it. It''s probably because this city isn''t such a state anymore. In fact, it might already be used as an army base after we''re done here. Hopefully, no matter what happens, we''re alive at the end of it,"

    "Oh¡­"

    In the end, even if the city has been cleared and redeemed as yet another safe area, the bad history it contained will make other people avoid it as much as possible.

    That''s only natural to happen while there are rare instances where a ce goes back to its former glory after being surrendered to such a state. Vin wasn''t going to consider this to be a rare situation though.

    "Okay, that''s all for today. You are free to do whatever you want for the day,"

    Finally, after the mention of the day''s ending, Cesar was relieved and immediately approached Jacqueline as others left them because they needed some rest after the continuous riding to get to their deployment base.

    After all, on the incident at Harden City, their only stop was when they needed to go to thefort area to change or regte their bodies. They immediately follow Vin''s instructions to introduce them to the city after realizing that time is of the essence.

    But Cesar was different, and he realized that Jacqueline as well isn''t as tired as others.

    "Hey, can we spar?"

    Cesar asked in an appealing tone that almost sounded like an order to Jacqueline, who observed him for a moment and gave a curt nod.

    "I''m avable right now,"

    Cesar chuckled, "That''s what I''m talking about,"

    ¡­

    After being led by a group of men inside an avable training area, Cesar and Jacqueline immediately changed their academy uniform to a standard military attire where almost everyone from the base was wearing.

    It was loose yet neat uniform but stic enough for them to perform to their best once they faced a dreaded situation. And with its dark green colors, it suited well for stealth actions like hiding and moving through silently.

    "Why did you suddenly ask a spar?" Jacqueline scoffed mockingly, "Don''t tell me you realize that you''ll need to change something after what happened a few days ago? Ah, of course, it is about that. Well, if this will do something, I''ll dly apany and join this sparring session,"

    Cesar grabbed a pair of daggers from the avable weaponry cab from the side which were only hanging, ever-present. It seemed these weapons were only there for designs but it was only because there weren''t any situations where someone could use them.

    He then looked straight ahead and replied, "I don''t take you as a talkative person. Is this the kind of change you''re talking about?"

    Jacqueline chuckled and snatched a sword hanging from the wall before retorting back, "I don''t talk much because nothing in our year interests me¡­ except you, of course. But in this ce, outside of that cramped ce where I could go wild, the only one speaking here is my skills,"

    Cesar stared at her for a moment before clicking his tongue, "Weirdo,"

    Suddenly, Jacqueline lunged forward, not even saying if the battle had already started. But in such situations, enemies wouldn''t just say they are good to fight.

    After all, the moment they set foot on the battlefield, the fight already began.

    Holding the daggers in a defensive stance, Cesar shifted his footing sideways before defending himself against the iing sword that came straight to his face.

    Their weapons kissed as both of them stared at each other''s eyes.

    There were no words that came after.

    Jacqueline vanished from her position, immediately targeting Cesar''s blind spot. However he didn''t just wait around just to receive all the beatings as he also started to do his own thing.

    When Jacqueline targeted his blind spot, Cesar threw one of his daggers to Jacqueline''s figure who immediately dodged it, momentarily losing the momentum he had built up.

    Cesar counterattacked.

    Dashing forward, Cesar slightly bent down and grabbed the dagger earlier and engaged in a close quarter''s battle to Jacqueline, bombarding her in a fury ofbined dagger attacks. He kept pushing, persevering and relentlessly lunged.

    Yet in the end, everything was parried by Jacqueline who kept showing her finesse when ites to swords and honed battle techniques. As if Cesar''s hard work throughout the time he was in the academy was nothing but a mere fa?ade that only bullies the weak.

    A true powerhouse like Jacqueline wouldn''t fall for such crap.

    ''I need more¡­''

    Cesar stepped up and tried to change his game by adding elements that might disrupt any other kinds of tricks and swordy Jacqueline had stored.

    Thud¡ª!

    But once more¡­

    ng¡ª!

    He was met with the same futility.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar wanted to gain an advantage firsthand, knowing Jacqueline was in a pinch after performing various kinds of attacks but he only made a mistake. It wasn''t even a mistake but merely something that a person should normally do.

    It was just a silly mistake, but Jacqueline managed to clutch it within her hands and use it against him.

    Cesar only breathed a little longer after performing an insane amount of attacks on Jacqueline but it disrupted the insane flow he was getting at and she used it to turn things around.

    "You think too much,"

    Jacqueline vanished at his front once more and cut a bit of Cesar''s arms, inflicting slight injury which Cesar immediately moved to protect himself.

    But s, after just a second, Jacqueline was already behind his back, pointing the tip of her sword at his neck.

    "Did this distract you?" Jacqueline spoke evenly, "Do you know why you''re never going to be at my level?"

    Cesar nced back, his smile twisting upwards in the most ridiculous way possible as if he was amused by this scenario.

    "Tell me,"

    Jacqueline removed the sword from his neck and retorted, "It''s because you have no will. A desire to do something,"

    "¡­"

    Jacqueline then added, "As if you''re merely here just to survive in this cursed world we live in. You attended the academy because you wanted to survive. You study and learn new tactics and prowess just to survive. Everything about you is survival and not desire,"

    Cesar chuckled, "Isn''t that all people think about?"

    Jacqueline swiftly shook her head, denying his statements, "Most people but fortunately, I''m not part of those most people. Believe me, survival isn''t a goal in this world. You must set direction on whatever path you''re walking through. Until then, you''ll never be able to kill Nightmare on your whole life, much more a Corrupted Human. Worse, even a Heretic,"

    Jacqueline waved her hands as she started moving away, "That''s all. Take my advice to your heart,"

    Cesar watched her back away after putting the weapon she used down and left. Once he was alone in the training room, he couldn''t help but chortle in ridicule.

    "Conviction, huh? That''s one way to die early in this world, bitch,"

 Chapter 26: Surveillance Team

    The next day

    Cesar came to know that it had just been a few days since Vin hade to the City of Wheels. Before him, there were other military personnel in charge but with no results or clues regarding the supernatural disappearances, they brought a Nightmare Specialist, a capable person who juste before Cesar and his cohort came.

    Hence the only thing they did was settle down, roam around, and gather information as they waited for thest set of people transferred to their ce. And by the looks of it, thest batch was them.

    Now, they are going to work their hardest for the next two weeks.

    ''It will probably start today,''

    Cesar mused inwardly while letting out a short yawn as he covered his mouth while ncing at his group who was also doing their things at his side while waiting for orders. The six of them hade together, knowing they were a batch and something that shouldn''t leave each other.

    They are a package of some sort.

    "How long are we going to stay here, though?"

    Nike couldn''t help but ask which made everyone reply with a shrug because they didn''t know it as well. Though everyone was smart enough that it will be sooner, hence Cesar couldn''t help but ask the question in a most roundabout way.

    "Are you talking about staying here for two weeks?"

    Nike turned slightly agape before nodding slightly, "Yes, I have this feeling that these two weeks will just pass by very fast but after that¡­ hmm, let''s say that it will take much longer?"

    "A feeling?" Joshua couldn''t help but frown, "Is it one of your things again? These gut feelings?"

    The group couldn''t help but look curiously at Nike as everyone started their attention but eventually halted as they heard a loud voice from the front called out to them.

    "Resisting Academy students! Go to the surveince team!"

    Cesar let out yet another yawn as he expressed solemnly, "That''s our cue,"

    ¡­

    The group gets to know that the tasks are divided into three divisions. First is the recon division which will be the one who will handle the search at the very front.The recon division consists of very few people, probably because their task is viable when solo or a few.

    These people''s job is mainly to secure some ces in the city that have been branded yellow zones, an area where conditions are unknown due to the emergence of the same problems, known as Nightmares.

    Of course, Nightmares already have a universal meaning where that means different kinds of things; Nightmares themselves, Corruption, Red Zones, Nightmare Potions, and so on.

    Anyways, the second division is called front liners, where they are the most exposed to battle. These jobs mainly consist of the Nightmare Corps and the Army. Vin, a few of his squad, and Chin belonged to this group.

    Thest group was the surveince group, where Cesar and the rest were positioned. These people''s jobs are mainly to find a trail that the recon and front lines have left. Because of that, they are the division with a very low risk of being affected by the currents of the abnormality.

    Cesar will not bet his life yet on another ''safe'' probability that everyone had been saying when they were ced in this group, knowing what happened when he trusted even the irrefutable data from before.

    It was meant to be broken in the first ce hence there''s no real fact in this world, only uncertainty.

    That''s one of the things that scared Cesar the most.

    "Okay, surveince team, I''ll be themander of this division," A Nightmare Corpse introduced himself and came from Vin''s squad with a slight smile, "You can call me, Witz. I belonged to Vin''s squad though my abilities are well suited in this area. Hope we have a good time with each other,"

    Witz appeared very docile. He had a friendly aura that made him very approachable. However, he had a very clear distinction that made anyone decide that they were talking to the real Witz.

    He''s blind.

    His eyes were crystal clear, very white. But the way he looks at everyone makes them think that he isn''t blind at all but merely a trick to make everyone lower their guard against them.

    That''s probably why others are slightly wary of him.

    "Our job to you guys might be boring as hell but believe me, you wouldn''t want to do the exciting part. Unless you''re someone who loves the thrill, you''ll probably not enjoy this," Witz let out a soft smile, "Anyways, I''ll not give long speeches to ignite your heart and that. It''s very cringe. So can I just say something that sounds like a wish?"

    The others gave the blind man strange looks before they nodded, unsure if Witz could see it but they immediately heard him speak.

    "Let''s survive at the end of this,"

    ¡­

    City of Wheels has different kinds of names but it is mainly a city where vehicles and machinery that have wheels are made. At least, this area is prominent when ites to its finesse details.

    This is why the buildings surrounding the city were humungous and gigantic. Mainly they''re filled with expansive factories and huge infrastructures.

    Cesar''s division had their sights set in this direction.

    Making their way through a dark factory, the lights from the inside were tweaking and inconsistent. They are barely enough to produce any light yet one isn''t touching or doing anything about it, only because they had to follow protocols.

    As always, it has been like that.

    Motioning his hands where gloves are protecting his fingers, Cesar nced at Quentin and ordered, "Hey, do your job,"

    "All right. You don''t need to sound so grumbly about it,"

    Quentin grumbled as his way to rebut his authoritative tone as he began to do the part for this task.

    With everyone on his side, Quentin began to channel the powers within him. The amiable surroundings from him a moment ago turned a bit chilly that casted curious nces amongst the others towards his presence.

    There was indeed a change.

    In Quentin''s vision, everything turned ethereal. The only colors he could distinguish were ck and white. Some of the dark ces became darker while the white colors became whiter. It was pulsating as if someone''s heart was beating but in reality, it was nothing more than the ability''s doings.

    "Hey, are you okay?"

    Quentin shifted his gaze onto the voice and saw Cesar was different. His figure was fully dark in color. He also managed to observe that his face was slightly contorted and once he watched the reflection within his eyes, there was a subtle change in his appearance.

    It was his eyes. They were fully ck, devoid of any light.

    Already having full knowledge of his abilities, Quentin nodded before answering, "If you can stop just asking some stupid questions like that, I might be able to find something. When using these powers, I''m sensitive for some reason so¡­"

    "All right,"

    Knowing that this wasn''t time for joking around and unnecessary conversation, Cesar immediately cut him off. If Quentin wanted some space from them, they would willingly do it. After all, he was the only one suited for these kinds of operations.

    Quentin went to put his focus solely on the job. Whether he found something in the inconspicuous factory or not, it wouldn''t matter. He would prefer to find something though.

    ''Let''s see¡­''

    Quentin mused inwardly as he searched around the ce, looking through every nook of the rooms andpartments they passed by. They further venture deeper inside.

    His powers involved tracking. To track someone, to avoid getting tracked, to search for any track items¡­ it all involves a piece of hidden trail to see that the only user using this power can achieve. It was the gist of his first given ability [Imprint].

    For a while, nothing significant urred. His dark and white world remained pulsating, unmoving, and picturesque¡­ until he saw some changes far above the very factory.

    Once he looked up, his face warped.

    ''What''s¡­ that?''

    Quentin''s eyesnded on a piece of fabric that looked like it had been cut from reality, its color was void. It curved upwards like a smiling lip and deeper into it was another world that was very wrong to look at, pertinacious even.

    Though there was a very thick hazy cloud covering the prated reality, stopping him from veering through the wrongness deeper within.

    There were no words to exin its wrongness as if all were such a mere trick, nothing to exin its source.

    "Hey, there''s something wrong above on this ceiling,"

    The group who already stopped from their ces upon seeing Quentin''s unmoving stance, and also staring above couldn''t but frown.

    They all looked above the ceiling¡­ and couldn''t see anything.

    "It might be because it is dark which is why we couldn''t see it but¡­ let''s inform Witz for now,"

    And that''s what they did.

 Chapter 27: Penetrated Realities

    "You call it Prated Reality?"

    Witz couldn''t help but ask with a tinge of amusement but there wasn''t any underlying mockery on it. After all, it was still a kind of lead and something they hadn''t heard yet. And it came from someone in the academy that just came yesterday.

    Quentin nodded slightly, "Yes, sir. It looked like it etched itself into our world, trying to get inside but it only managed to do it to some degree. It was very eerie to look at. It is covered with a thick hazy cloud but I could sense the Void within it. Isn''t it also part of Corruption? I''ve studied it in the academy."

    Witz nodded, "We barely know anything about Corruption, much less about Void. But Prated Realities¡­ is something that appears like abilities from Nightmares. It''s worse if it''s a Bounded Nightmare that we couldn''t even see or feel,"

    "But how could I see it?"

    Quentin asked, doubtful that others weren''t on the same side as him or were merely trying to hide their powers to remain low profile. But judging how they were looking around to the same spot, clearly unable to distinguish absolutely nothing, this only proves that most of them weren''t able to sense it.

    Witz shrugged, amusedly, "Dunno, probably because you belonged to the top ss in the academy, receiving one of the academy''s best of the best options for this year''s selection. Well, the academy heavily relies upon the quality over quantity principle so that''s natural,"

    "I think we''re getting sidetracked here. Shouldn''t we inform Vin about this?" Cesar asked, trying to keep Witz doing his job right away instead of idling around.

    Yet he was surprised to hear his response next.

    "I already did," Witz chuckled, "I know the protocols more than you, kid. You need to chill. Don''t let all this mysteriousness and weirdness get inside your head. It will break you down,"

    Slightly bashful about his response, Cesar slightly bowed his head as an apology before he heard a series of footstepsing from the hallway in their front. In there, both the front liners and recon team came together, with Vin leading them.

    ''How did he inform though? I''ve been observing him since earlier yet he didn''t lift a single finger to inform Vin. Fascinating¡­'' Cesar mused inwardly before he heard the indifferent tone of themander asking some questions.

    "Are you the kid?"

    Quentin nodded once before he saw Vin looking upwards, slightly creasing his brows as he informed his takeaways.

    "I couldn''t see it as well. Whatever you''re seeing, it looks like you are the only one who can manage to peer through it for now, Good job, rookie," Vin shifted his gaze at Witz and solemnly added, "You''re considering it is a Nightmare case already and not just some wanted Shaded who enjoys killing for fun?"

    Witz smiled amiably before nodding, "Yes, I''m almost sure we''re indeed fighting a Nightmare, considering it as an Intermediate Nightmare already. We''re lucky that at least someone managed to see this abnormality that we aren''t even able to see or some people from the past,"

    ''Weird¡­ That doesn''t make sense.''

    Cesar mused inwardly as he watched Vin''s expression change, clearly having the same opinion as him.

    It was impossible to not notice something like this, especially since the disappearance had been happening for over four months. If a rookie like Quentin has been able to see it, how about the other people who are far more expert and have been in this ce for a long haven''t even been able to see the slight changes, even the tiniest detail is enough.

    ''I''ve been given yet another fucking mysterious thing that isn''t going to be answered any time soon.''

    Cesar felt slumped after being pped yet to another question before he heard Vin calling out Quentin.

    "Rookie, youe with me. We might''ve missed these prated realities you are talking about at the front so we''ll guide you and see the ces for yourself," Vin paused, "And his squad,e with us as well,"

    Havinge to a decision that they''ll being with Vin, Cesar and the rest followed, knowing Quentin isn''t someone who will just follow Vin around without his squad, understanding they were something that he can only trust and watch his back after knowing them for some time now.

    At least, on the surface, he can lean on them when he needs help.

    "Okay,"

    At this point, Vin guided them through the trails they used as they moved forward while Quentin worked himself to the bone just to provide clues and imprints that a not-so-proven Nightmare might be lurking around under their gazes.

    ¡­

    Eventually, after theborious search which was all done by Quentin himself, every important figure gathered around a singr hall which is being led by Vin himself. They only managed to survey three neighboring factories but it already provided them with hidden clues, all thanks to him.

    "So far, Student Mero has managed to spot thirteen more prated realities. I''ll give you all the locations of these realties and I will also assign people to watch over them as well and see if they will appear from time to time," Vin paused, "I have a feeling that they will show more as the thirtieth day of the monthe. It might be subtle, too obscure even, but any change must be reported,"

    Vin picked up a long piece of paper from the side and attached it to the wall, revealing an illustration of what these prated realities look like which only Quentin could distinguish himself.

    There, everyone saw a clearer sketch of the so-called prated realities.

    Drawn by a very professional artist who might''vee from a Shaded''s power, the pierced reality looks like it was a curving lip that goes upward. As if the Void managed to crack through reality, slowly making its way toward it and the only thing everyone in the city could do was watch it manifest.

    Whatever was inside the pierced reality was obscured by hazy grey fog. One might not be sure as to whether the fog was covering something from the inside or protecting the onlookers peering through whatever it was from the outside.

    ''That looks busted. You can see the trail of whatever you are looking for by merely looking through the change of colors in your vision?''

    Cesar mused inwardly, trying to shift his opinion regarding the Nightmare''s abilities that Quentin had gotten when it looked underwhelming the first time he had read it.

    ''Right, there are no weak Nightmares and their abilities. It had various uses and Quentin is just better at this situation,''

    Cesar tried to nce at Quentin who was receiving all the attention from everyone. He saw him unable to hide the smirk from his lips, probably because he liked being recognized which is exactly what was happening.

    From time to time, his lips go upward when his name is being mentioned andplimented. Eventually, it will go down but after a few seconds, the corner of his lips moved upwards once more. As he did, his gaze sometimes shifted to Cesar, trying to unt his achievement.

    Cesar understands that he actually deserves some of the praise.

    "I''ve decided that three people will watch these realities. Tomorrow, most of you will be assigned to each of these findings while we search for more. Who knows if something big has already manifested? Leaving that aside, let''s discuss another matter,"

    Quentin respectfully bowed his head before making his way through his squad''s seat. Vin grabbed yet another long piece of paper and attached it to the wall, covering the previous illustration of the pierce reality sketch.

    The topic they''re going to tackle will be much graver.

    "With this one single clue, can we rule out what kind of Nightmare are we going to face?"

 Chapter 28: Variety Of Nightmares

    Nightmare Creatures had their own varieties.

    What is known to humanity and has been researched throughout time was dedicated to the future people who will eventually end the harrowing Nightmares. And through it, four varieties of Nightmares were born.

    "Are we considering it as an Active Nightmare?"

    Active Nightmares are a variety of Nightmares that are running rampant through the world. These creatures are the most violent, dangerous, and wanted as most of them are just recurring monsters that haven''t been killed yet. It was something the Nightmare Corps and Army''s job was to eradicate them.

    These kinds of Nightmares, however, can be countered. It''s more like, there''s a history of how this monster works, acts, and thinks which is why people found a way to study its mannerism and kill it.

    "This is not an Active Nightmare, I assure you,"

    Witz softly spoke, giving away nces from all around him. Without even letting them give out opinions on their own, he continued.

    "I''ve already read the past decade of cases that these pierced realities aren''t a recurring Nightmare''s abilities that pass through our watch. This is something new. And somehow, it has a rtion to the Void. ording to Quentin, it wouldn''t be possible if he hadn''t seen it,"

    Upon hearing his name being mentioned andplimented, another smirk appeared on Quentin''s face which was immediately reced with a stern expression, upon realizing this wasn''t such a time to take in all thepliments and be happy about it.

    "Then, new and hasn''t been recorded through our data books¡­ Fresh Nightmare?"

    Fresh Nightmares is more like a new Nightmare that hasn''t been recorded through the data books. These Nightmares are untouched, unwritten, and unrecorded. This is the first point of the variety before bing an Active Nightmare afternding a casualty on humanity.

    However, it is as dangerous as others since humanity must''ve already suffered a casualty unless it was prevented, which isn''t happening in most cases.

    From the side, Chin raised his hand and shook his head, "Don''t get confused about the Nightmare we''re facing thinking it''s a new one. Fresh Nightmares are different from existing Nightmare that was just getting into light in the world. I think this is impossible to be put into this variety,"

    "How so? I think almost everyone is inclined to think that it is to be the case,"

    Vin asked, trying to receive all opinions from anyone who''s willing to speak.

    "I might''ve thought about it too if the disappearance case isn''t involved with it," Chin paused, "It already happened four months ago, and we''re only seeing it now thanks to Quentin. In that case, wouldn''t that mean the previous soldiers just overlooked it or just isn''t enough to sense the power rting to it? Putting it in this category didn''t look right.

    In fact, we might getcent if we think it''s just a Fresh Nightmare, trying to inflict some chaos,"

    Vin stared at Chin for a moment before nodding once, "Okay, we''ll keep this option open. For now, we move next to our next variety, Bounded Nightmare,"

    Bounded Nightmares are the kind of creatures who appear to be territorial. These monsters stayed in one ce, and a ce alone. Because of this, all its power is directed into a single point where it is inhabited.

    It might be isted outside but the creature will find a way to turn the battle inside its territory. After all, it was its own domain. The one who was adept at its power was the monster itself after all.

    Everyone was silent.

    Nobody raised their hands to question nor gave their rebuttal, presumably because most of them could agree that the thing they were facing was a Bounded Nightmare with its power mostly revolving around the City of Wheels.

    Vin wanted to make sure their takeaways were true hence he added, "To confirm this, I''ll have to ask Quentin toe with me tomorrow and check the nearby cities if the prated realities also appeared in their areas,"

    Vin paused for a moment before raising his voice,stly adding, "Is anyone considering that we''re dealing a Fallen Nightmare?"

    Thest variety of Nightmares is called Fallen Nightmares. These particr Nightmares have one thing inmon and that is dealing with dead Nightmares. The thing people fighting in this variety of Nightmare is the residual power left from a monster that died due to unknown reasons.

    One would be lucky enough to encounter a Fallen Nightmare as that will immediately sell thousands of Vennon cash. Additionally, the lucky ones can use their findings as a recipe for their potions.

    The only problem one could find in this variety is the unknown power it holds. It must be checked with some famous alchemist or hidden ones that are well knowledgeable on this aspect.

    "No?" Vin asked once more before shrugging, "Well, if there aren''t any more questions, let''s end this for today. Our progress isn''t bad today. Tomorrow, we''ll work again to the best. Good job everyone,"

    Once the decision had been made to end the meeting, everyone went on their own way to rest.

    For now, everything felt stale, boring, and uneventful. Everyone wished to continue it that way until the end of their case.

    ''There should be no surprises for the uing days, right?'' Cesar mused inwardly as he walked away from the hall to rest in his room.

    ¡­

    The next three days, everyone got assigned to different posts at any ce where the prated reality appeared ording to Quentin. And during those days, it was solely he who could see such a thing.

    There are no changes regarding these pierced realisms or someone reported that they''ve affected the real world more. It remained unresponsive and mysterious as ever.

    Most of Cesar''s squad was also tasked to post at one of the realities to guard against its changes since the ones Quentin was seeing were bingrge and many. The one who hasn''t taken a post is Cesar as he is the one who sees through the condition of the group just because he was their leader.

    Even so, he didn''t dislike following Quentin and Vin around. He gets to learn a lot from them while also having to remember the ways through the city which he might need in case the whole situation blows up.

    At that moment, Cesar saw Vin and the rest behind him enter a hotel which was their next destination. He followed their footsteps but immediately halted right in front of the door when he caught something at the corner of his eye.

    He nced sideways¡­ and found nothing as he stared at the corner of the streets, trying to peer through¡­ something.

    ''A shadow?''

    Cesar contemted for a bit upon contemting that he saw a moving shadow watching them that didn''t look like anyone from their division nor any people he had met or seen when he was here.

    He probably would''ve not noticed it if his senses hadn''t been heightened.

    Frowning from this discovery, Cesar ignored it for a few seconds before swiftly running through the tough crowd and eventually reached for Vin.

    "Sir!"

    Vin shifted his gaze and slightly tilted his head once he realized someone was calling for him that sounded urgent.

    And it was.

    "Sparrow?"

    Cesar nodded, "A suspicious shadow just moved at this street from the corner. I thought I should inform this to you,"

    Vin heard him for the first time and cast a nce at his squad which immediately disappeared from their ces in the blink of an eye that surprised Cesar and the rest watching.

    ''Wha¡ª How fast!''

    He couldn''t help but gulp a mouthful of saliva down his throat, realizing he was a second toote to notice their presence leaving the hotel.

    "Let''s continue clearing this hotel. My men will handle the thing you''ve seen." Vin paused, "They''ll be back, don''t worry,"

    Fully trusting Vin''s judgment probably because his men''s capabilities are top-notch, they moved deeper into the hotel.

    Even though the strength of Vin was reduced because his men went to search for the mysterious figure Cesar had mentioned, there was still him, themander of the base.

    And at the end of their search towards the entirety of the hotel were very smooth, unbothered by any problems that might''ve just been lurking around the area.

    There, they found five more prated realities inside.

 Chapter 29: The Tourist

    "We aren''t even reaching the quarter of the city yet we''re already losing men to watch over the prated realities," A woman in her thirties with loose hair reported to Vin with a respectful tone as she continued, "We''re going tock manpower soon even though our pacing is good,"

    Vin stared at the reports on his hand with ease while hearing the wordsing from his men as if he had been put into countless situations where he had to multi-task and this was just yet another run he had to finish no matter what.

    After hearing her words, Vin addressed carefully, "I understand Maine. I''ll do something about it."

    Vin sighed, "If only Baron were here, we wouldn''t have any problem for men. He can handle hundreds of men''s responsibilities all by himself."

    Upon hearing a familiar name yet he hadn''t seen while he was here, Cesar came to understand as he mused inwardly, ''Oh, so they really do know each other. I was confused about where that guy was since he was with Vin when they interviewed me but looks like he''s just somewhere else,''

    Suddenly, Cesar felt Vin staring at him,pletely stopping himself from spacing out as he asked.

    "Do you want something, sir?"

    Vin nodded, "You heard my men''s report. They couldn''t find a single trace of the unknown figure you''ve mentioned but there are tracks left behind by whoever this is so we can be reassured that there is indeed an individual roaming around,"

    "Sir,"

    Another man moved forward who was wearing a brown beanie atop his head before adding.

    "Do we confirm it to the higher-ups that we''re fighting a Bounded Nightmare?"

    Two days ago, Quentin managed to return after using the time to observe the nearby cities to see their irregrities and observe if the same prated realities were there as well.

    There was nothing.

    The scale of these said realities was only isted in the City of Wheels and for some reason, it wasn''t causing a problem for them yet. The only problem added that they were currently facing is the whereabouts of the said Nightmare is still unknown.

    Some might even be considering it might be a Fresh Nightmare all along but those pierced realities contain Void within them continued to bug on their minds.

    "Yes, please report it to them, Sean. Use a telegraph to deliver the message at themunication tower."

    The man with the brown beanie, Sean, excused himself and left the room. Maine and the rest also bid farewell to their squad leader and followed up with Sean outside. By the looks of it, their discussion isn''t over yet.

    ''I guess that''s our cue,''

    Both Quentin and Cesar understood that they were taking a long time in Vin''s room hence it only took a single nce to form a tacit understanding with each other. They both stood up and were about to walk away when they heard Vin speaking from his chair as he arranged his paperwork.

    "You two, there''s something you should know about. Stay seated,"

    Both of them immediately froze before they retraced their steps and sat down. Unaware of what were they supposed to know, they started whispering amongst themselves.

    "Hey, did you find different when searching for those realities?"

    Having to be asked by Cesar, Quentin slightly tilted his head and retorted, "No. I''ve been honest about what my findings are. It should be something else,"

    "What do you think it is?"

    Cesar asked once more but he could only see a defeated shrug from Quentin that signaled he was also oblivious of the answer. Hence, in the end, all they could was wait for whatever was supposed toe.

    After a few minutes, the door opened. Thinking that they were Vin''s people, both the two men arranged their seats but soon made a questionable look once they saw their group, Alms, and Chining together inside the room.

    "What are you guys doing here?"

    Cesar''s question was asked by Quentin himself, seeing him rtively confused as well. Jacqueline came forward and replied.

    "We got summoned by themander. Don''t worry, if you''re worried about our post, someone was already watching over it since it was his order to be here after all,"

    "Obviously,"

    Cesar remarked, letting out a short scoff that didn''t go unnoticed by Jacqueline who returned it with a look of ridicule. Though, in the end, she grabbed a chair on the side and used it to sit down beside him.

    She nudged his elbow and spoke softly, "Isn''t this ominous? I get that we''re called as a group but Alms and Chin shouldn''t be here. Do you guys encountered something a few days ago that requires these two figures?"

    Cesar contemted for a moment before shaking his head, "You are wrong if we met each other a few days ago while I assisted this guy right here."

    He paused, "Additionally, you''re on the wrong thinking. Don''t you recognize this squad was formed when we were in Harden City? The time when we met the corrupted human?"

    Jacqueline suddenly took a pause, finallying to her senses that what Cesar told her was true.

    Probably preupied with the series of mysteriousness of the City of Wheels, with the impending doom that was about to happen if they didn''t give any rted clues from the disappearances, it made everyone on edge.

    Of course, a simple conclusion such as this didn''t juste right away. The only exception is Cesar and their supervisors which were Alms and Chin.

    Finally, their suspicions came true after the man who called them in his workce stood up and raised the matter.

    "Cesar is right. I''m here to give you something. The findings on what transpired at Harden City came back actually," Vin paused as he looked at the students and added, "Do you guys know why it is weird for a corrupted human to be located in Harden City? This is amon knowledge in the outside world, not an academy''s textbook,"

    He grabbed a sealed document from his drawer before continuing, "Think about it carefully. This is a lesson you need to learn. I''ll give you a hint. A reason why humans are mostly confident in their cities is because of it,"

    ''It? It''s not a person or ce, but it? An item of some sort? No, that doesn''t sound right. How can an item be widely spread across the world¡­'' Cesar mused inwardly, trying to think of the reason for it.

    But the most knowledgeable when ites to the outside world has spoken. It was actually two of them as both stated calmly.

    "Does it have to do with the Langston Bridge, sir?"

    Quentin and Reyna then looked at each other, giving their counterparts weird faces before shifting their gaze back at Vin who nodded solemnly.

    "Exactly. The Langston Bridge is there. The interconnected, indispensable creation of humanity is just one of the few foundations as to why humans continue to survive until this day. The supposed-to-be secured ce somehow passes a corrupted on its watch? I don''t really think so,"

    He handed out the paper to Alms and Chin after tearing the seal and gave a few wordsing out from his mouth as he formed strange expressions.

    "What¡­ are your takes on this matter?"

    Alms and Chin read the paper at the same time and soon, their faces change as well into confusion, making Cesar''s group interested.

    Soon, their papers were transferred to the rest of the group. Filled with curiosity, the twins were the first to pick the document. The rest waited for their turn while only Cesar continued to be observant of the expressions of their seniors.

    ''There''s something more in here, isn''t it?''

    As a few minutes went by in a sh, Cesar noticed the change on his group''s faces which continued until Jacqueline handed over

    Cesar received it with a brow raised before seeing the document itself.

    ''Hmm... there''s nothing weird for a moment-''

    He was intently reading in a leisure manner before his face froze. His eyes soon widened the moment he came across the sentence that made his brain to short circuit, reading

    "As you''ve known, the hands that Chin had sliced from that corrupted human that has been examined came from someone¡­ It was one of the first victims of City of Wheels disappearancesafter all,"

    Vin paused while letting out a sigh, "It was one of the two tourists that only came here just to enjoy their time, Terry Pond,"

 Chapter 30: We Meet Again

    ''The corrupted human that magically spawned at the Harden City is no other than the tourist of the City of Wheels which is the first of the few victims of the disappearances? That¡­ how the hell did it manage toe there?''

    Confusion was visible all around the ce. They finally know the reason why Vin gathered them here in his room, but to their surprise, it was actually one of the victims of the disappearances before it became much worse.

    Now anotheryer of problem appeared on their front which they couldn''t just neglect as if it was mere air.

    How does the tourist manage to slip through the Langston Bridge without altering its rms or any casualty along the way? In fact, it just started going crazy after it was on the Harden City, where Cesar and the rest of the group coincidentally took a stop.

    Another question was how the tourist became a corrupted human.

    The second problem could connect to their previous suspicions that a Nightmare was indeed hidden in this city. Meaning, any suspicions that there''s no Nightmare here was clearly out of the choices.

    The only thing they needed to consider was if the tourist was exposed to a Nightmare itself or something that involves a Nightmare, for example, an item or something.

    Finally, the long silence seemed to have stopped the moment Chin raised his take with confusion in his voice.

    "You all must''ve realized how weird this is. For now, I don''t really have any idea how that corrupted human, a victim of this city, managed to pass through various cities and the Langston Bridge itself without even causing a casualty. It only did when it reached Harden City,"

    Alms looked at the students, particrly eying for Cesar before he brought up the matter, "Cesar, you said that the corrupted is sentient enough. Not like those irrational, irascible creatures that go around, relying purely on instinct. Does that mean anything?"

    Cesar immediately gave an answer with a defeated shake of a head, "It''s just something I felt when facing the corrupted. It clearly looked like it was mocking us, probably having fun as well. That''s why I said it is sentient enough. It showed emotions aside from being¡­ crazy, I guess?"

    Vin couldn''t help but observe them with a slightly helpless face, seeing that the group that happened to meet the corrupted human, the only clue they had on the disappearances, was also in the unknown on what was really going on, immediately put the meeting into a stop.

    "Let''s end this for now. Everyone should rest for tomorrow''s search routine. If you have any findings, immediately report them to me right away,"

    ¡­

    Walking outside of Vin''s room, everything was silent. Their mind was upied with the matter regarding the disappearance, for the right reasons.

    Now, the only clue they had seemed to have vanished without a trace as Vin didn''t seem to know where it was.

    Their job was to provide clues about it.

    They just actually don''t know where to start.

    ''Will even finding a starting line matter at this point? By the looks of it, our hands are already tied with so many missions.'' Cesar mused inwardly as he couldn''t help but sigh.

    Reyna who was only watching him by chance, immediately called out to him and said, "Why do you look so defeated? Is it because our progress hasn''t been any good?"

    Cesar retorted with another sigh, "That''s one thing. I mean, I just couldn''t make my mind up regarding our mission. Our task is to find the missing person, right? Yet they didn''t leave any single clue. Suddenly, we discovered that the corrupted human discovered at Harden City was just another person we''re trying to find."

    Cesar paused as he looked around, "Would we fail because we couldn''t retrieve any of these people dead or alive?"

    Alms and Chin couldn''t help but shift their faces onto him, wearing incredulous expressions as if he couldn''t believe what he was saying before letting it be. Seeing him and Jacqueline wearing the same faces says all about their nature of being objective, it didn''t look like they were up for arguing.

    After all, everyone had different reasons for attending the academy. If they didn''t care much about the lives of the people but merely thought of them as some sort of casualty, then there''s nothing to discuss about it.

    Nike, who has been quiet all around, had a different opinion. He wasn''t as cold-hearted as the two but he at least had some morality when it came to those victims. He exined very carefully.

    "Instead of thinking about aplishing the task, why not focus on finding the victims themselves? I understand that you and Jacqueline wanted a wless run but it won''t be happening if we started thinking about such things like this."

    ''What is he even trying to say?''

    Cesar and Jacqueline had both thought inwardly as if they were one mind even though they couldn''t hear each other''s thoughts. Not wanting to make this¡­ argument longer, they nodded in silence and made each their own way.

    The rest of them decided to return to their own rooms. As for their own posts, it was just very right timing that their shift onto it wasn''t their time, and able to rest in the night and slept for about a few hours.

    For Cesar, he had a different objective at this time of the night.

    He went straight to a department store just right outside the main base of their area where usually a set of goods was being sold, it was weaponry that artificers which had close ties with the military were deployed.

    In this area, every person has the freedom to choose whatever weapon they want to have, as long as they are willing to pay for it. These artificers wouldn''t have brought their products and were willing to sell them if people were just going to get them for free.

    "Nothing interesting¡­"

    Cesar roamed around the department store, trying to spot what caught his eye yet to no avail, he was left disappointed. Not until hended on a particr name of a business from afar within his line of sight.

    -Moren Shop

    "Oh?"

    Remembering the time when he had scammed a scammer from the shop itself, Cesar took a stroll inside the store to see if the product they were selling was indeed what their reputation suggests.

    Right after they went away from Harden City, Cesar gathered intel regarding the Moren Shop and knew their business was nothing to scoff at. Their enterprises have been franchised, and various branches with different kinds of products were being sold.

    They are a contender on the business world but they weren''t the top either. And it was because some of the branch managers were greedy businessmen themselves, scamming people of their products from time to time.

    With that kind of shaky reputation, it was bound to lose some customers. Still, they were striving because their products were top-notch. That''s why Cesar''s group was very happy to receive at least one item from the shop then.

    "Hi~"

    Suddenly, a soothing voice came from the counter and started walking in his direction. Busy looking for products, Cesar''s eyes finallynded on one of the specialized weapons hanging on the walls.

    The one who called him instantly froze at the spot once she realized who it was. Cesar, who was interested in buying the revolver he had seen, shifted his gaze and wanted to ask the seller the prize when his expression froze as well.

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    Cesar stared nkly for a few seconds before his lips curled upwards, and his eyes glinted with avarice, "What a small world are we living in, right, Melinda?"

    The woman, the seller in the shop, the same businesswoman he had met at Harden City, was no other than Melinda of Moren.

    Melinda''s face cracked before letting out a crooked smile, "W-wee, customer Cesar. It''s a small world i-indeed,"

 Chapter 31: Colt 1851 Navy Revolver

    "Yes, yes, indeed¡ª"

    Just as Cesar was closing his distance towards Melinda, she immediately put it to a halt as she raised her hand to stop him.

    "Look, your threat isn''t going to work anymore." Melinda spoke with a strong tone mixed in her voice, "The one above me discovered that I lost fifty thousand in the get-go after giving out the list of expenses for the month. She came from the branch itself and asked some questions. Here I am, being sent here as a punishment for my wrongdoings,"

    Cesar frowned, "They didn''t fire you yet?"

    Melinda grumbled as she crossed her hands, "They understand my situation and were giving me a second chance to make it right. Now, I''m here to sell these products."

    Cesar studied her face for a moment before interrogating her, "When did youe here? I couldn''t see you a couple of days ago. Must be today, right?"

    "No, I''ve been here the moment my boss heard that an academy brat like you has scammed me."

    Melinda would sound so sincere if not for the fact that Cesar had already seen her lie once. With already having a history between them, it wasn''t hard for Cesar to distinguish the truth from her untruths. Her actions failed even to strengthen her words as she appeared fidgety while avoiding eye contact with him.

    Cesar chuckled, "So today it is. I don''t understand why you need to lie something for this. Your shop is literally full of equipment that I couldn''t help but be lucky again for this encounter that it started to scare me,"

    Still thinking that she wasn''t seen, Melinda tried to shrug it off with a shortugh, "Why are you such a brat? Anyway, let''s get into business. Are you perhaps looking for that specialized revolver?"

    It seems that Melinda had already caught Cesar''s interest in her shop as she already had eyes for whatever he liked even though he hadn''t asked any questions.

    "Yes. Why, are you going to scam me again?"

    Melinda snorted, "I''ve be anew so let''s forget all our grudges and bad history, yeah? I''ll honestly tell you the price."

    Cesar gave a suspicious look to Melinda before giving her a cue that she could exin the revolver in a much more detailed manner.

    Melinda trod at the walls and grabbed the revolver with care. She exined, "This is a specialized weapon derived from the Colt 1851 Navy Revolver. Coated with a special alloy, it can handle three types of demon-hunting shells and normal bullets. Good at close and mid-range, very risky at far range. Count your stars if you want to shoot someone perfectly, unless you''re a god of revolvers that is,"

    Melinda showed the revolver''s intricate design which was oozing out a dangerous atmosphere as she continued exining.

    "The grip is easy to handle, the recoil isn''t that much, and the trigger is effortless to press. It has been tried and approved, and professionals have marked this revolver as usable. It doesn''t have a name yet, you can give it yourself after you buy it,"

    Melinda handed out the revolver to Cesar and asked, "So, how is it?"

    Cesar positioned the grip of the revolver at any angle as if he were shooting targets in the air. He tried different ways to use it like holding it with his two hands, one hand, and many more.

    Satisfied with howpatible the weapon was for him, Cesar shifted his gaze at Melinda and demanded, "How much?"

    Melinda, as if her scammer senses tingled in, was about to open her mouth before leaving no voice out. Contemting how to deal with Cesar and remembering why she''s in the city, he decided to go for the honest route.

    "its forty-five thousand Vennon cash,"

    "Pricey¡ª"

    Melinda interjected, "I''m not done yet. I''m giving you a fair price for a fair package deal. This package already involves a holster, twenty normal bullets, and five demon shells. Three sleeping shells, one piercing shell, and one delirium shell,"

    Cesar wanted to retort back but upon realizing that the price was fair, he didn''t want to try taking it for free this time. At least this time, she didn''t pull any kind of crap,

    Though he could ask for the price to be lowered.

    "I only have thirty-five thousand with me."

    Melinda frowned, "Why are you bargaining as if this is some sort of deal? My price will always be forty-five. No higher and lower. And believe me, this is very generous,"

    Cesar fake pouted as he lightly chuckled, "Okay. You''re no fun. I missed the old you a few weeks ago,"

    Cesar then nodded, "All right, I''ll buy this. Can I receive it in the morning tomorrow?"

    "Of course, we''ll do the payment there then. Can you tell me the address as to where it will happen?" Melinda asked as she took a moment of pause and curiously added, "By the way, is Jacquelineing with you? The number one rookie of the academy in your year?"

    Cesar''s smile dimmed once the mention of Jacqueline resurfaced from her lips. He frowned and nkly stared at her before speaking honestly.

    "Oy, oy, if you''re going to reveal what you''re here for, it wouldn''t be fun for me, no?"

    Melinda sighed and stated calmly, "Whatever you think it is, you''ll never know. I don''t know as well after all. For some reason, my boss is very interested in her,"

    Not wanting to involve himself as to whatever ploy she was thinking regarding Jacqueline, Cesar bid farewell to Melinda after saying his goodbye. For the little time of rest he had left, all he wanted to do wasy his body on his bed and sleep.

    ¡­

    Early in the morning, Cesar met Melinda in a recreational room a building just beside where he was staying which was meant for the soldiers to run around in their free time. It''s more like a training area though rather than a ce where people should drink around since the city has been transformed into an army base already.

    At this point, their deal was already finishing with Cesar already losing almost all of his scammed money that came from Melinda itself. However, he wasn''t disheartened by the loss. In fact, it looked like he was only returning the money he had stolen from someone which he didn''t feel any guilt of.

    By the end of this, he got something away from it.

    "Hey, it''s finally yours,"

    Melinda pushed a metal case toward Cesar with an indifferent expression while her eyes roamed around as if she were searching for someone.

    Whaty upon on his front was the same specialized revolver, twenty-five bullets consisting of twenty normal bullets and five specialized bullets, and a leather holster that had been crafted with precision.

    Cesar studied the revolver with a hint of glee amongst the other things before shifting his gaze to Melinda specifically,

    "I''m sorry to disappoint you but the rookie you''re talking about is on her shift right now. She''ll be back on the night but I know her destination is on her residence anyways,"

    "Oh, no worries, I don''t really expect anything in return for this deal¡­"

    Cesar observed Melinda''s "not expecting anything in return" across the table when her actions suggested otherwise. Though he indeed wanted to try and convince Jacqueline toe with him to have an idea why Melinda was suddenly interested in her, but stopped at his thoughts.

    They are busy after all.

    "Well, you can get out now,"

    Melinda pouted, thinking that Cesar didn''t like her presence being there which holds a significant truth because he, in fact, didn''t like her staying here at all.

    Once she was out of the way, Cesar used the remaining time to practice the revolver within his grasp. There was still time left till they began their search routine once more and readied for the next step of their n in case the first option wasn''t going through well.

    Just as he was thinking the stale improvements were going to continue, something ''huge'' happened.

 Chapter 32: Changes Within

    "Sweet¡­ This revolver is really worth it,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but be satisfied with the purchase of his gun. Being stylish was just only one of its qualities. Melinda exined the revolver to him which is befitting to what she described when she was selling it. Very usable,patible, and deadly.

    He used the mundane bullets that the army provided for the soldiers who used training rooms to practice their shooting skills.

    It was great.

    "Oh, shit¡­ I''ve taken too much time,"

    Realizing that he had a great time testing the revolver the search routine almost slipped out of his mind, Cesar started running outside of the building to prepare.

    All of a sudden,motion started to arise in the nearby areas. He was running, solely focusing on returning to the building yet the little uproar he thought would subside any minute was bingrger each second.

    His pace became slow until hepletely stopped.

    Redirecting his attention to the road where personnel varying from the army and corps were running, Cesar reluctantly followed those people.

    Seeing those people rushing towards something, Cesar got curious and went ahead, not minding the sweat that was already drenched on his clothes. It will get dry anyway.

    ''What are they grouping up for¡­''

    As if there was no need to delve any deeper into the question in his mind, Cesar''s eyes widened the moment he saw the soldiers gathering around in a huge spot.

    In the middle of a particr street, a pierced reality had manifested. Hovering through the air perpendicrly, it was emanating a stinking sense of¡­ death as if a rotting corpse was left there inside these realities. The cut was curved in a strange and twisted up, curling upwardly.

    That wasn''t even the surprising part.

    ''How could we see it¡­!''

    The reality which was only drawn in the past to the blueprint has finally shown itself in their sights. It remained the same but it had one decisive difference from what Quentin provided for them and that was the fouling stench of a rotting corpse from within.

    Even with that being the case, the hazy cloud that was covering the inside was still there, hiding the contents of whatever it stored inside. Unknown and full of mysteries.

    Though they still couldn''t peer through the mysteries it contained inside. If such secrets even existed from it.

    ''So these are the infamous pierced realities Quentin kept mentioning and seeing. It looked really¡­ magical and perilous. I''m surprised he hadn''t suffered any illnesses yet especially mentally. Is it because he said he had been exposed to Nightmares five times and escaped from their clutches?''

    Cesar couldn''t help but mused inwardly, re-evaluating his opinion about Quentin. He''s special in his kind of own way, though he could easily be manipted if given the right things.

    After the area had gathered enough onlookers, the buzzing crowd calmed down once themander of the base approached himself. With a dignified and authoritative gait, Vin got closer to the pierced reality with a piqued of curiosity.

    The same as others, it was his first time encountering the real deal which only came from the mouth of one of his men and through blueprints.

    "So this is what you looked like. Very fascinating¡­"

    Gathering all the crowd''s gazes by taking a confident trod towards it, Vin remained passive.

    As everyone watched him do it, Cesar used the chance to sneak his way through beside Quentin, who was only standing beside Vin''s men. With a whisper, he asked in a slightly anxious tone.

    "Is he not afraid of triggering something? Why does he continue to move forward?"

    "Beats me. Why do you even ask a question you know I will not be able to answer?"

    Not urging himself to throw a soft punch at his cheek, Cesar remained silent at his ce and continued observing Vin.

    His footsteps continued stepping forward at the huge pierced reality without even letting anyone follow him. Looking fearless, he came to a stop right in front of the hideous prated realism.

    "What are you trying to hide here¡­?"

    Vin then suddenly stretched his hand forward as his lips moved.

    Then, only for a brief moment, he nced backward at where his group was located, probably to warn them about what was toe.

    But looking at his indifferent face from the distance made Cesar shiver. It didn''t look like he was particrly looking at him but the atmosphere surrounding his entire persona can make everyone involuntary kneel for forgiveness.

    It was sort of instinctive.

    "Hey, rookies. Don''t get surprised by what is about to happen," Maine exined briefly.

    Cesar didn''t even get to ask her what she meant when all of a sudden, his vision formed cracks, splintering into tiny pieces of shards that showed the real world, albeit a bit differently.

    All lines were cracked, leaving some spaces left unseen in some forms.

    ''What the¡ª!''

    Stepping back in disbelief, in one of the cracked shards, Cesar also saw Quentin sitting down on the ground,pletely astonished as to what he was also witnessing.

    He, Cesar, and everyone else were experiencing such an amazing disy of prowess right on their very front.

    Disregarding Quentin''s amazement, Cesar focused his attention on the front once more where Vin remained standing. At first, he was unmoving before his figure started cracking as well,pletely bing one with the shards.

    At this moment, his character seemed to have mixed in together with reality itself yet whatever he was trying to do, the job didn''t seem to be finished yet.

    Next, Vin casually rolled the sleeves of his uniform and¡­ plucked a shard of his skin that made his expression contorted before grabbing a piece of shard from the pierced reality and recing it with his shard skin.

    Watching it all didn''t even look grotesque at all for Cesar. It''s just filled with magnificence, dreamlike, and a bit of¡­ well, repulsiveness, in a way.

    ''What is he doing?'' Cesar asked himself while observing the shardscape world they were currently in.

    Suddenly, he was holding one of the shards he reced with the pierced reality before cing it near his mouth and chugging it down to his throat as if his previous doing wasn''t revolting to look at.

    Then, he stretched his hand forward again, and soon, the shardscape was reverting back to the real world. The cracks were mending, gluing together to make the shards disappear from their ces.

    In just a few seconds, the world came back to its normal nature.

    The cracks Cesar and the rest in the same area were seeing vanished right on the spot, and what was left was the amazement on their faces as they watched Vin''s figure solely standing at the huge manifested prated reality.

    However, there''s a tiny different view from the mysterious pierced realism as there was a shiny white shard that reced the bottom of it. It was Vin''s power. As to what it does, probably only he knew about it.

    "The show''s over," Vin''s voice reverberated across the area they were in as he added, "Swiftly go back to your posts, and let''s iste this thing real quick,"

    With a word from theirmander that sounded like an order, everyone began to work.

    ¡­

    Their routine of searching for prated realities has been moving as usual. The only problem is that the remaining men avable and who hadn''t been stationed were already used. Cesar, who had been with them for a couple of hours, was stationed near one of the corrupted areas, Low Whispers, which he willingly avoided at all costs.

    "Why did I have to be posted here¡­"

    Cesar grumbled in a soft tone, as his situation was much worse than the others since he didn''t have any people with him.

    No army, no person in the corps.

    With themcking men to be deployed, the ones positioned near the unseen prated realities could only look out for themselves. Of course, he will only have to stay for a few hours since Vin is currently thinking up a way to solve their predicament.

    Rustle¡ª!

    As he was being dramatic about being positioned all alone when he preferred being that way, the sound of something moving perked through his ears.

    Cesar had already sensed it a few seconds ago, but whoever it was didn''t seem to mind the noise it was making.

    His face, demeanor, and actions took aplete pause before he slowly stood up from his seat and swiftly aimed his revolver right at the target slowly lunging at his back.

    He had already slid his hand through his holster to grab his revolver the moment he felt someone was slowly creeping his way onto him. All that was left was to ce it right on the intruder whose goal is probably him.

    Thus once he did manage to get the full view of the unknown intruder, Cesar couldn''t help but put a frown on his usual indifferent face.

    There, a robed man was silently observing him with both of his hands raised.

 Chapter 33: Heretic

    A figure draped in a long ck robe that almost stretched to the ground showed himself in front of Cesar. If not for the fact that the white shoes of the unknown individual were showing, he had already mistaken that the figure he was seeing was a ghost.

    Still vignt, Cesar continued pointing his revolver at the unknown individual as he firstly demanded.

    "Drop your hood down and let me see your face,"

    The unknown figure remained silent for a brief moment before his hands, which were only raised, slowly went down¡­ not on his head but at the robe''s pockets. Rxed, the unknown figure behind the robe spoke.

    "Why are you being like this?"

    The voice of a man spoke out from the curtain hiding the person''s features before adding, "A human like you have a scent of¡­ him from the academy? Aren''t they lucky to be able to discover a supreme being like him?"

    Cesar couldn''t help but notice the way the man spoke with reverence in his voice.

    Adding the fact that it was all respectful tone towards a figure which Cesar was unsure what he was talking about, he couldn''t help but frown and immediately conclude what kind of person he was conversing with.

    ''A fucking heretic¡­''

    He also made another realization.

    ''Don''t tell me this heretic is the same person who we''re looking for? Something I caught a glimpse of a few days ago? He was looking for me because¡­ I have a scent of something?''

    Cesar wanted to shoot the heretic straight into the head but he was afraid that the figure was a powerful being, knowing he had escaped the watchful gazes of Vin''s men the time they went to search for his tracks.

    There were indeed tracks but they were unsure as to how he managed to go around the city which is heavily guarded with different kinds of people.

    ''Shit, this is getting dangerous¡­''

    Cesar was unsure if he had to move just like how everything was taught to them and eliminate the threat or wait for a rescue that might note.

    Heretics are an unpredictable bunch after all, and they were just up to no good.

    ''Let''s take it easy for now. Judging by the way he moved, he didn''t look like he came at me for harm. Of course, I''d be a fool to believe it. If I started thinking like that, this guy would use the chance to eliminate me instead. So, I''ll get some answers from him first before running away as fast as I can to report this encounter¡­''

    Having to decide on what to do, Cesar let out a short breath before nodding once and slightly lowering his revolver.

    "May I know your name?"

    "Nah,"

    "You seemed to know this city very well if you''ve escaped from the military''s clutches. You''ve left a trace but I couldn''t understand why even do it if you can just get away,"

    The heretic scoffed before replying, "So that you guys are aware of my presence. I''m not really trying to hide it. In fact, I weed you all wholeheartedly! This will be a joyous, adventurous, and deadly mission for us all,"

    ''Crazy¡­ I couldn''t even understand a thing about what he said¡­'' Cesar mused inwardly before asking yet another question, "Are you alone?"

    As if he was smiling inside the robe, the man chuckled before answering with delight, "Let''s say I''m alone and not yet alone."

    The man immediately put everything to stop as he revealed, pretty much knew what Cesar was doing as he revealed.

    "I know you wanted me to slip something from my mouth but I just have to shut up. Nobody likes spoilers anyway. Besides, it will be a treat,"

    Cesar clicked his tongue but he wasn''t a bit surprised. He had expected it since he had already taken to the ount that the heretic was aware. Hence, all he did was ask questions but that''s merely it.

    He hadn''t gotten very significant information.

    ''This bastard is aware of what I''m doing yet he hadn''t stopped me until thest moment. What is he trying to get here¡­''

    Finally, after a moment of staring at each other, the man was the first one to speak as he stated.

    "I''ve just gotten curious about you, that''s all."

    The heretic slowly raised his one hand which made Cesar also raise his revolver as well but instead of doing something, the figure just pointed his finger at him.

    The heretic continued.

    "You might not know this but we''re quite simr, in a kind of way. You and me, kid. Don''t worry, I''m not going to do anything to you right now. Every person matters at this moment so¡­ let''s help each other in check, yeah?"

    Cesar remained unmoving as he continued aiming at the heretic, trying to understand his words and intention while memorizing them in his head to give his reportster.

    Still, he still had many questions unanswered and many more that he didn''t want to know¡­ but he had to ask one thing that bugging his head.

    "Hey, are there any survivors left?"

    If the heretic answered no, then their objective ofing to the city is futile. They were naturally dead but retrieving their corpses will be much harder if they do. If the heretic said otherwise, then Cesar had to rethink if the person was lying or not. In fact, he wouldn''t even believe if the figure said the survivors survived.

    Just any kind of answer would suffice.

    "Survivors¡­ Oh, you''re talking about them," The heretic chuckled, "Of course, they are survivors left. Do you want to see them?"

    ''No, thank you That sounds very creepy,'' Cesar answered inwardly, afraid that letting out his thoughts wouldpromise everything he was nning to do.

    "¡­"

    After thatstment, the two remained staring at each other. If there''s something to stare at within the robe that protected the heretic''s face, then Cesar would likely think there''s a monster behind the ck veil.

    "What now?"

    The heretic probed as if he was amused and interested in Cesar''s next movement. He remained unmoving as he brought his hand back to his pocket.

    "What now¡­ huh,"

    Cesar asked outwardly before pulling the trigger of his revolver.

    Bang¡ª!

    The heretic brought his hand out from his pocket and in just a split second, he dodged it with ease by merely moving sideways. The heretic then saw Cesar dashing away from him,pletely leaving the things he had left from his post which were mostly misceneous.

    "How boring,"

    The heretic shifted his gaze onto the prated reality Cesar was guarding before he started walking at it. He rummaged at his pocket once more before bringing out a ghastly, dark greenish key and inserting it into the curving realism.

    The dark cloud covering the perverse reality slightly weakened as the heretic slowly walked into it, and slipped himself inside it.

    "You''ll know eventually. Just wait,"

    He left those words in the air before his figurepletely disappeared without a trace left after entering the prated reality.

    ¡­

    In just a few minutes of running through the busy streets of the city, Cesar finally managed to reach the area Vin was searching through. There, he saw that only he and Quentin were the ones left, his squad perhaps had been stationed in one of the pierced realities as well.

    Soon, the two individuals noticed his presence.

    "Sparrow?"

    Vin was the first one to call while Quentin remained a spectator. However, he realized that something had gone wrong since Cesar wasn''t on himself, after running through his post which was far from their position.

    Cesar wanted to speak right away but his ragged breathing stopped him from doing so.

    "It''s okay, just breathe,"

    Cesar nodded once before his breathing began to stabilize. He gulped a mouthful of saliva down his throat before saluting once.

    "Cesar Sparrow, reporting for a situation, sir." He paused, letting out a short breath, "A heretic engaged in a conversation with me just now before I started running towards here to reach you. I can confirm he was the suspicious person from a few days ago who was stalking us,"

    He remained in his position as he added, "Would you like to hear the detailed conversation right now?"

    Vin stared at Cesar for a moment before nodding once as he demanded, "Let''s hear it."

 Chapter 34: The Citys Curse

    "Of course, they are survivors left. Do you want to see them?" is the next thing he spoke before he asked "What now?" then I immediately just ran away after trying to shoot him in the head. My marksmanship wouldn''t even matter there since whether he''s dead or alive, something is bound to happen."

    Cesar exined the happenings in detail, not even leaving a single thing behind. He was clear on his statement and gave out his opinion as to how those sentences are explicated and interpreted so that it would give the two of them the idea as to what is being meant.

    He added, "But believe me, I''m sure that heretic survived. I had a gut feeling we''ll meet him soon. And by soon, literally sooner. So, how is it? Does this give us something? Some sort of lead?"

    Vin remained silent for a brief moment before he shook his head while giving an answer, "Everything''s too vague, too many uncertainties, and too many loose leading. In fact, let''s just say we don''t trust every word that person has said. We continued going on our own terms,"

    Cesar felt d that they were having the same ideas inside their head. Instead of overthinking every word the heretic had told him, it was better to follow a n they hade up with. Who knows if the misleading words of the heretic masked the deceit he was trying to pull off?

    It''s better this way.

    ''Yes, this is better¡­''

    Even if he convinced himself to think that way, Cesar couldn''t help but feel troubled by it. For some reason, his guts were telling him this would change something on the inside.

    And soon, this foreboding showed as Vin couldn''t help but ask.

    "Cesar, I wanted to think this objectively as possible but I couldn''t point out why the heretic said you and him are the same."

    Remaining impassive as ever, Vin added with his usual indifferent tone, "It wasn''t even rted to the disappearances at all. In fact, he wouldn''t have probably started a conversation if he said he wasn''t curious about you."

    He paused, "Theoretically speaking if his words were true, do you know what he was trying to say?"

    Cesar, as well as Quentin immediately understand the meaning behind these interrogative questions. The target of these queries, Cesar, couldn''t help but look at Vin in distrust as he voiced out with surging uprising in his tone.

    "Are you suspicious about me?"

    Vin remained silent for a while as he continued staring at Cesar, trying to gauge whatever he was scrutinizing before shaking his head with defeat, his expression bing softer.

    "Your words and the way it was spoken¡­ how do you think people will react if they heard about this? I just showed it to you just now," Vin closed the distance between him and Cesar and slightly tapped his head, "You did a great job reporting this to me first."

    Cesar slightly backed away as he asked in disbelief, "Wait, we''re not going to tell this to anyone?"

    Vin nodded curtly, "I have an inkling what the heretic is trying to say but I couldn''t say it because I just couldn''t which is why I''m able to understand you. If I were any other guy, there''d be no talk happening because I would instantly detain you,"

    Quentin, on the side, chimed in, "Yes, earlier when you were talking, I thought of you as an imposter trying to act as Cesar but seeing you acting just like him, I knew I was wrong. Though, I have to ask, you''re Cesar right?"

    "I am Cesar¡­!"

    Cesar pointed out with an incredulous expression, giving both Vin and Quentin assurance that they were indeed talking to the real deal.

    "Anyways, you''ll have toe with us as well," Vin suggested, "Although babysitting is not my forte, I''m at least capable. Someone will take your post if that''s what you''re worried about,"

    Cesar wanted to retort but as if Vin read his mind, his worry subsided. Even though he didn''t like being watched around, being with Vin, probably the strongest person avable in the City of Wheels, just heightened his survival in this mysterious city.

    Of course, he had to agree.

    ¡­

    The search continued as it was. There were no breaks nor any significant happenings yet but the manifestations of the pierced realities continued to grow more.

    Ifst time they were only visible with the use of Quentin''s power, anyone who happened to be nearby at the realities has been able to gaze it through their naked eyes. There wasn''t any need for any instrument nor essence exhausted to see it.

    It just keeps popping and spawning.

    Now, this anomaly hasn''t even appeared in the past few months. One couldn''t know if the prated realities were there but a manifested one where any person with eyes can see it wasn''t included in the data books.

    If that were the case, perhaps the disappearances would''ve been prevented. The people in the city would''ve evacuated early and no one could''ve been part of its casualty.

    s, there was nothing to do about it. People will have to adjust and find at least something about why and how these mysteries kept urring.

    That''s why they kept searching and searching.

    Eventually, days had gone by.

    It even looked like the time in the city has been disrupted due to how fast the days are changing.

    Their continuous searching, their option one, remained the same thing. There was no visible development as they remained passive about their n. Still, being passive didn''t amount to anything.

    Thest thing they knew, there was already a week left till the thirtieth of the month of June.

    "¡­"

    Waking up in his bed full of thoughts, Cesar rubbed his eyes before he remained looking into the ceiling walls of his room.

    In the past week, he had been here, at least that''s what he was feeling, Cesar always woke up staring at the same dark and cold walls as if to give him a signal about how dangerous the City of Wheels was bing.

    Of course, there wasn''t a real danger yet aside from the corrupted areas and the prated realities that all remained in the unknown but those kinds of dangers didn''t attack or threaten them.

    Even with that being the case, Cesar started to change.

    He became more conscious about his surroundings and always nitpicked on the same things when there was nothing to it.

    He was... agitated for some reason.

    But thinking about it logically, Cesar came to realize that there was no real safe zone in this area as the unresponsiveness the city was giving to everyone who currently inhabited it gave them a mental breakdown, slowly creeping upon their heads.

    At this moment, the same as Cesar, everyone wished for something big to happen.

    To remove the feeling that slowly encroached on their heads, Cesar knew something had to happen.

    Either the city gave it to them or they will force it onto the city; those were really the two choices they currently have right now.

    Of course, the impassiveness had to end eventually.

    "¡­"

    Being done to prepare himself, Cesar looked at himself in the mirror, seeing that the city was getting the best of them.

    It was still early in the morning but they had to get themselves up as today, they''d have to change something. They had plenty of rest yesterday as the search ended quickly.

    Picking up his revolver from the table. Cesar exited his room and went to group up with everyone.

    ¡­

    "I guess everyone in here already,"

    Watching soldiers lined up in the front yard with their hands on the back, Vin looked down at them at the podium before adding.

    "I''ll keep it simple," Vin paused, "We''re moving our n to the second option. Seeing that we continued to garner literally zero improvements aside from a few things, it''s time to do it. We''re going at it for three days straight and hope¡­ hope that there was something to see."

    Vin halted for a brief moment before he continued with his usual cold tone, "Now then, let''s turn this ce upside down shall we?"

 Chapter 35: Desire

    The second option of their n was rtively simple to understand and yet rather simple to execute.

    Obliteration.

    All they had to do was sweep the entire city for three days, disregarding everything they had worked hard for. Probably because no matter how careful they were or focused their attention on their job, questions such as "Did we really do it right" or "Have we really searched things through" gue their mind, questioning their whole sanity.

    Hence for these questions to disappear, they''ll have no choice but to force an oue that everyone can agree on.

    It should be enough to gather at least something by obliterating their surroundings and leveling the groundwork.

    If not, then they''ll have no choice but to move to the third option, an option that they should be avoiding since it''s just full of uncertainties and difficulties.

    ''Can I hope still hope we wouldn''te to it? By the things are going, one can hope a little for these obliteration ns to work,'' Cesar mused inwardly as he observed the surrounding area they got positioned into.

    This area was once a parking lot in the city at the east. Now, it was abandoned, ragged, and empty. Aside from them, there wasn''t a single presence felt in the area. It''s just the old parking lot that the city used to utilize.

    Now, they were going to destroy it.

    "Man, I guess Jacqueline''s power is pretty destructive enough. I''m kind of jealous of her," Quentin, on the side, couldn''t help but raised in a bitter tone as he watched her standing side to side with Vin, and another member of his squad, Maine.

    Cesar and the rest of his cohort were ced on the back. Their job is different from theirs as it involves rying information on the status of the rest of the people from the borders of the city.

    That''s right, every squad was positioned in the corners of the city and would continue to push forward until they were in the middle of the city where everyone would meet and see the results of each finding.

    Each squad has someone to report the information while there is the obliteration party whose sole job is to almost exhaust its essence and bring out a hundred percent of its power every time it is their time to do the deed.

    "Cesar," Vin called out to him while his gaze remained forward, "You know what to do,"

    Cesar nodded before picking up a solid gun re and aiming it upwards. Covering one ear, he proceeds to shoot it which marks the signal for the start of the operation.

    The abundant res that the army had given to each squad were abysmal hence one would not have to worry about emptying it right away. In this way, the operation will be smooth sailing with little to no interruption.

    The one carrying the boxes of res by using a middle-size cart was no other than Joshua since he was buffed enough to pull such road equipment with heavy contents.

    Cesar''s job was no less than easy. He had a list in his hand that would be used to monitor the situation from each squad. By gathering intel from the three people, consequently, Reyna, Nike, and Quentin, who will continue watching the res being shot upwards from the skies, everything was set in ce.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    The red re that slowly dimmed from the skypletely disappeared before a green re slowly made its way upwards to follow up the previous re''s steps.

    "On the north of the city, judging the trajectory of the re, Squad Witz had given a go signal,"

    Reyna who was watching the side of the city, called out Cesar immediately moved onto his list and checked the people from it. Putting a mark on their squad could only mean they were informed that they''d be starting to use the first person in their squad''s rotation immediately.

    Soon enough, the skies were dimmed with green res from different parts of the city as the other two people with Cesar immediately started talking.

    "In the west, Squad Sean has given the go signal,"

    "In the south, Squad Jeremiah has given the go signal,"

    "In the north, Squad us has given the go signal,"

    Rumble¡ª!

    With a barrage of abilities being used to obliterate anything on their way, the ground could be seen visibly shaking.

    "We''ll be starting as well Cesar,"

    Cesar nodded before he saw Joshua grabbing a re gun, and nocked it with a shell before covering his one ear to shoot it upwardly.

    "In the east¡­" Cesar paused, "Squad Vin has given the go signal,"

    Just because Vin''s obliteration party was going to start doesn''t mean the rying of information was going to stop. There are hundreds of squads out there and it will be a while till the next formation where switched within their party.

    "In the east¡ª"

    "In the south¡ª"

    "In the north¡ª"

    Cesar continued focusing on the list in his hand but his attention shifted to the three people at their front from time to time.

    In there, both Vin and Maine were looking at Jacqueline who would be the starting point of their rotation. After that, another re will signal and it will be Maine that came next, making Vin thest person. Once the full rotation was done, another kind of re would be shot to ry information to Cesar.

    At the front, Jacqueline was reluctant to use her facets but seeing that the two senior officers recognized what kind of Nightmare Potion she had gotten from the academy while getting lucky to receive it, she had no choice but toply.

    At least, she didn''t have to use her second facet which only a few know about.

    Channeling the essence and coursing it through her body, Jacqueline smiled crookedly before muttering solemnly.

    "I''ll be starting¡­"

    Jacqueline was done channeling her essence before a repulsive ck raven with three beaks and one singr eye appeared atop her head.

    It just spawned there when there wasn''t anything a second ago.

    Caw!

    Soon, ck ravens began spawning within their area. Some just appeared at the ground while the others were in the air. A few even spawned at Vin''s head before they all started hovering in the air, circting at one singr point, Jacqueline.

    "Hahh¡­"

    With thick feathers falling right on her trail, Jacqueline let out a tired sigh. Her figure was surrounded by nothing but ravens as she remained stuck in her position.

    Appearing like scarecrows where her only eyes remained uncovered, she struggled to stretch her hand forward before finally managing to do it with a frown on her face.

    Giving the ravens directions to go, the ravens flew even higher in the air, casting only a huge shadow on the ground. Some ravens sat or clutched at her shoulders or at the back of her uniform, particrly watching Vin and Maine as if they were her bodyguards.

    "Go¡­"

    Once the cue has been given with her fragile voice reverberating through the area, the ravens dove swiftly into the ground.

    And began obliterating the things in the parking lot in a matter of seconds.

    Rumble¡ª!

    As the quake in the ground was never-ending, the ravens only left dropping feathers in their wake.

    Thud¡ª!

    With Jacqueline as their conductor, the ravens leveled the parking lot to a considerable level, not leaving anything unturned.

    It had to be destroyed, and her destructive power delivered.

    ''How powerful,''

    Cesar mused inwardly as he couldn''t help but ponder up wishful thinking where he could be on their level.

    Right now, he was above average but he couldn''t even defeat Jacqueline in terms of battle prowess.

    Now that she is showing how capable she is in terms of facets, Cesar got pped back once more and there''s a reason why she''s the top one of the academy.

    ''Is this what she said when she had desire? A desire to take the risky approach, a desire to be the best, and a desire to be powerful,''

    Cesar couldn''t help but start to get convinced by her words when they took the spar. He was considering it, even pondering if he should follow her advice, if that was what even about.

    Jacqueline was right, after all, all Cesar had to worry about was his survival.

    But in this cursed world, survival is not the answer.

    He had to go higher, farther, and stronger.

    If Cesar was like that, survival might be the least of his worries.

    ''I guess that''s what she was trying to say but my ego was just inted like others that I took seriously my survival than any others out there¡­ God, I can be childish sometimes, I guess?''

    Cesar let out a soft chortle that only he could hear before his gaze fell into Jacqueline once more, and farther into his view, the ravens continued demolishing everything on their path with ck feathers dropping like flies.

    It was a magnificent scene.

    "I''ll be stronger as well¡­"

    Cesar managed to get a desire throughout his life where for him, only his survival matters.

 Chapter 36: Hellfire

    "Hahh¡­ Hahh¡­"

    Breathing heavily at her ce, Jacqueline appears to be running out of gas as she is on the point of exhausting her essence just to remain those crows active and ferocious. Even so, her job was pretty much done for today.

    She did exceptionally well.

    "You can stop now,"

    Upon hearing Vin''s soothing voice from the back, which sounds like an angel whispering into her ear, Jacqueline slowly loses control over the ravens.

    Though these ravens, instead of disappearing out of thin air as it was just yet another manifested power from a facet, Jacqueline''s crows continued appearing. The only thing that changed was her control over them as they started going haywire, flying wherever they wanted to go.

    Soon, only a few ravens were left roaming around the area. Some were pecking on the solid ground,nding on some debris here and there. There are still a few hovering across thend, spotting the ground as if looking around to prey upon some animals.

    At least, they weren''t the target as those ravens seemed to know they couldn''t be something to touch with their mere size alone.

    "Signal the orange re,"

    Cesar, after watching that Jacqueline was done with her shift, called out to Joshua who responded immediately, understanding that it was one of his jobs to do so.

    Loading a re gun with an orange shell, Joshua covered one of her ears before shooting it upwardly into the air.

    As the re whistled through the air, signaling that their side was done with its first rotation, Cesar immediately put a mark on his checklist at their squad. Right after, their group remained vignt of the iing barrage of information that the other squads would be rying.

    The second session is about toe unless there''s a certain finding that will cease all existing operations instantly.

    ''If I have to choose who''lle next, it''s definitely going to be her,''

    Cesar mused inwardly as his gaze shifted to the right where another person was standing amongst them.

    "I''ll go next, sir,"

    Undoubtedly so, Cesar''s thinking was correct as Maine, one of Vin''s men, volunteered herself to be the next line of rotation. Vin, who appeared aloof as ever, didn''t reject the notion as he nodded curtly.

    For the second time today, Cesar and the squad will be able to witness yet another corps revealing their power right in front of their eyes.

    Maine isn''t some stranger to them. From time to time, she would meet them and they would eventually meet her since she was one of Vin''s men. Yet, just like everybody else who had a facet on their own, they will be afraid to willingly just show it to anyone else.

    A few only knew about their powers, probably someone from the higher-ups since it is sensitive information. After all, unknown enemies might use this information to counter those people.

    Only this time, she had no choice but toply even though there was a slight aggravation around her face.

    ''She''s starting¡­''

    Cesar mused inwardly before grabbing a green shell from Joshua''s inventory box and loading it on his gun. Covering one ear to start the sequence, he pointed it upwards and shot it.

    Phew¡ª!

    As the flickering light of the green re pass made its way up towards the sky with the never-stopping quake from the ground, Maine breathed a short sigh before channeling the essence throughout her body.

    In a split second, Cesar spotted a small flicker in her surroundings. He thought it was just a mere trick that urred in his eyes before he realized he was wrong.

    The flickering lights turned a hazy red wisp hovering into the air that slowly ignited alone before it ignited to make those tiny oddballs fiercer.

    Soon, these mes attached themselves to Maine. Watching her being engulfed by the dangerous mes, Cesar and the rest of the squad would''ve be worried as it looked like she was burning, merely melting into its heat.

    Yet their worries started to subside once Maine gave a thumb to the kids who might be worried about her condition.

    She took a nce at her back, her glowing orange eyes gazing upon them for a brief moment before she started levitating through the air, and moved closer to yet another site of the parking lot that hadn''t been cleared yet.

    All thanks to Jacqueline, there are only few things left for the clean-up. Maine seemed to be the perfect candidate for such actions.

    As if a nearby star was within their sight, slightly hurting their eyes upon gazing at it, Cesar and his squad remained looking at the site. Only Vin seemed to have been unaffected by Maine''s showing of power, appearing unhurt by her radiance.

    Maine slowly raised both of her hands, leveling her shoulders.

    "In the north, Squad Siemen is rotating formation,"

    Cesar got slightly distracted, wanting to see more of what she could do but his job came first. He momentarily gazes at his checklist, marking the squad that Reyna informed.

    Yet just before he saw it, he noticed that the corner of his eyes was already red.

    "Oh my god,"

    Hearing Reyna''s shocked voice at the side where she just informed him about the rotation from the other side of the city, Cesar finally managed to see the graveness of the situation.

    Pirs of dark orange mes shot upwards towards the sky, burning everything that managed toe in its way. Engulfing everything apart, it looked like this part of the whole city was being encroached on by a red demon, hungry to leave a trail of destruction.

    "Shit..."

    It isn''t as supernatural nor mysterious as Vin''s power but Maine''s facet pir of mes makes up for its destruction. Not every facet needs to be mysterious or difficult as straightforward as this one was naturally needed.

    Simply scorching.

    Simply explosive.

    Simply cataclysmic.

    That''s what Cesar all thought as Maine disyed her power right in front of them.

    "Shit¡­"

    Because of such a disy, the only thing that Cesar could utter at the destructive image of hellfire that manifested at their very front was a cursed word.

    In just a few minutes, the parking lot has finally been cleared.

    Maine from above slowly came down to the ground as the mes that surrounded her body slowly dissipated. By the looks of it, the fire that surrounded her protected her from the same power she was using as if it were her shield.

    In the end, it wasn''t just all designed to show off.

    Wiping the ashes from her shoulder, Maine finally reported, "The parking lot has been cleared. We can begin searching,"

    As if it was a go signal to yet another set of rotations of their n, Cesar immediately went through the box of re shells before picking up a white one and loading it with his gun.

    Repeating the same process, Cesar shoots it towards the sky as he mutters silently.

    "In the east, Squad Vin willmence its search,"

    ¡­

    With nothing but dead ravens and burning solid ground from the parking lot, the squad spent an hour in their search before finding absolutely nothing new.

    There are still prated realities here and there but the parking lot was something that they''d already searched before, and realized the same count of realism remained the same.

    They checked once, twice, and thrice just to make sure they didn''t neglect even a single wreckage but there was still nothing.

    It made the squad''s emotions waver. Vin, who was supposed to be the stalwart leader who shouldn''t be fazed with such a result also couldn''t help but frown and show a bit of uncertainty.

    They were supposed to see something.

    Yet all they see is nothing to improve their situation.

    Cesar was on the edge of his seat as he tried to find clues himself since he was good at doing it yet the same as others, it remained zero developments.

    ''I''m about to crazy¡­ What the fuck is this?''

    Cursing inwardly, Cesar tried to do a consolidation thinking that something might happen. Albeit, it might be on the other sites and not them.

    But it has been a while since a white re has been shot up in the air. Each squad had already reported that they began searching on their side after three rotations but there''s no other re showed that signals new findings.

    The first set of rotations is a green re where each squad gives their go signal. The second rotation involved an orange re where it will be mixing up the rotation in the obliteration party in case the previous person was tired. The third will be the white re where the search on their site wouldmence.

    The fourth re they were expecting isn''t appearing at all.

    If that''s the case, the only thing they could do was move forward.

    "Hey gather around,"

    Vin, from the front, turned around as he called out to everyone with his usual aloof face came back.

    That sign¡­ only signifies that they couldn''t find something new in their sight and will have to move deeper into the city.

    With a sigh, Cesar trod forward full of disappointment.

    "It''s okay rookies¡­"

    Vin wanted to liven up the mood with consolidation words but something else urred that brought everyone''s fear up to the highest level.

    They froze at the spot.

    "It''s¡­"

    All because a few distance away from them, Vin suddenly started to secrete a mouthful of blood from his lips, continuously sliding down from his chin and dropping it into the ground.

 Chapter 37: Time

    Far away from the city of wheels, located deep in the most secured and fortified walls in the world, Baron hastily moved through the thick walls of a military base. Carrying stacks of papers in his hand, he eventually came to a stop in a room.

    Throughout all the running, his face was slightly disturbed. It was something that his usual reserved expression didn''t usually wear.

    He knocked once to the door.

    "Yes?"

    The domineering voice of a woman with a mix of gentleness at it called out to Baron from the outside.

    With a slightly hoarse voice, Baron replied, "I''m here to report something to you, Madam Deane. This is Sergeant Baron from Captain Vin''s squad reporting for duty."

    The woman inside the room amusedly caressed her soft cheek before she mused, "Vin? Ah, the woman''s most desirable man, the broker of a woman''s heart, Vin?"

    Baron, unable to contain her nervousness from the inside, couldn''t help but shift his respectful tone to a voice full of hastiness and uneasiness.

    "Madam, there''s no time for jokes. You''re the only personnel in this base that holds the highest position where I could report the findings of my captain in that cursed city¡­ Please, you have to see my report," Baron paused, "And¡­ and, I think I lost full contact in that ce."

    For a brief moment, there was only silence. Baron waited impatiently, his hand already clutching to the door knob so that he''ll have to barge inside as soon as possible.

    He''s only here to report his findings and give the stacks of paper containing it before dashing away outside to group up with Vin and inform the rest to leave the city immediately.

    The mission doesn''t matter, the ones alive needed to leave.

    Deane, the madam that Baron was talking to, swiftly changed her stance upon hearing the change of tone in his voice and immediately answered

    "What are you waiting for? Get inside,"

    Baron entered the door hastily and saluted once before handing over the stacks of paper that contained his report. With a bow, he exited the room just as fast as he entered.

    Deane watched Baron''s back turned to the nearest corridor, his rushed footsteps almost made him disjointed.

    "Let''s see¡­ a report huh,"

    Deane grasped the report paper in her hands as she mused evenly, "City of Wheels. A case about the mysterious disappearances of its people. He said that he lost contact with that area. It just seems impossible to happen,"

    Deane''s gaze slowly read its contents, her eyes slowly went down. As she did, a frown surfaced on her delicate face, the hazel eyes observing the contents slowly turned solemn.

    "This is not a normal case a mere captain like him could handle¡­ This¡­ How is the time there sote¡­"

    Deane felt shivers down her spine as she realized a bit of the situation happening in the cursed city. It might be because the city is far from the military base itself or something not too important but the ones handling this mission must''ve neglected how rming the case is.

    "Ah shit¡­ this is supposed to be my rest day. I just came back from the mission earlier¡­"

    Deane scratched the back of her head with annoyance before she stood up and ran outside, in the same manner as Baron.

    "Gods¡­ I hope the students who got transferred there will be safe. Ah shit, ah shit!"

    Throwing the paper of her hand away as she ran, there was a line of text that made her realize the gravity of the situation.

    /Report for City of Wheels

    Submitted by: Baron

    Date submitted: 29th of July/

    ¡­

    "Bluergh¡­"

    As he watches themander of the City of Wheels bleeding with no exnation whatsoever, Cesar remains frozen at his ce.

    It didn''t take too long, probably a few seconds, until he recollected himself and looked around to see the hidden threat that made Vin feel so vulnerable but he couldn''t see anything.

    "Commander!"

    Just as he was about to dash towards him, Maine already made her move and quickly assisted the falling Vin.

    Everyone followed up soon.

    Upon seeing a closer look, Vin appeared to be visibly weak. Hisplexion was bad to the point that he looked like he was dying as he continuously coughed out blood. He was shaking, he was tired, and his health was worsening.

    "What is happening to you, sir? Please speak!"

    Maine demanded as she tried her calm herself down, her hand ced on different kinds of ces of Vin''s body, trying to assess the situation.

    Vin momentarily stopped coughing, trying to voice out something but only the movement of his lips wasprehended. He tried very hard and finally managed to tell two words out of his mouth.

    "Time¡­ Leave¡­"

    With a clenched fist, Cesar turned around and ran towards the box of re shells before grabbing a single bullet that was much different from the rest of the re shells.

    Loading it with his gun, Cesar pointed it upwards before shooting with it his one ear covered. It whistled through the sky before it sted into splinters, forming a cascade of explosions.

    Fireworks keep popping out. On such asions, each squad has one to use on their re guns. It only signals one thing and that is something went wrong in their search.

    It was just unfortunate that it happened on their side.

    Crackle!

    As the fireworks popped into the sky, Vin lost consciousness.

    ¡­

    With the chief ofmand missing in action, Maine had taken jurisdiction as her position in Vin''s squad is third, with Baroning next. Now that the two of her superiors were gone, it was only natural for her to do it.

    Nobody interjected the notion.

    Because of this, the security surrounding Vin was very tight. It''s only been an hour since Vin''s condition was made public and right now, the doors within his room were inplete lockdown.

    The whole building waspletely guarded up to the bone.

    Instead of waiting outside the said building, Cesar and the rest of the group were in an abandoned house. Confused and tired, nobody even starts a conversation themselves, afraid that what happened to Vin will happen to them as well.

    Remembering how he bled out buckets of blood as if it were just water was a very traumatizing scene for them.

    After all, Vin was suffering from internal bleeding.

    Because of this, they had to watch out for what caused it or how it even happened in the first ce since they were with him most of the time.

    As of now, every operation has ceased to stop. It was the right time to look through the answers to Vin''s irregr situation.

    ''Just what happened to him?'' Cesar mused inwardly as he began to rake up his mind for answers.

    Most of the time they''ve been here, almost everyone hasn''t been involved in anything rting to an enemy at all, whether they were Nightmares or Shaded.

    For Cesar, it was the heretic.

    For Quentin, it was the prated reality.

    As for Vin, he involved himself in every situation that he came across, and the only time he involved himself regarding Nightmares was both the heretic and the prated reality.

    For the former, it was the time when someone was following them up through a hotel that Cesar immediately reported. The second time was when he came across the individual face-to-face.

    However, there was no physical contact happened at that time.

    As for the prated reality¡­ there was such interaction.

    ''Is it that time?''

    Cesar couldn''t help but remember the disy of prowess from Vin when encountering the one manifested prated reality in the middle of the street.

    Whatever he did that time, he was the only one who knew about it.

    If so, how are "Time" and "Leave" connected to the current predicament?

    ''Don''t tell me when he had peeled off his skin that transformed into a fragment and stuck it onto the pierced reality, there was something else he had seen that borne fruit at his situation?''

    Cesar massaged his forehead, stillpletely in the unknown but he felt he was closer to the truth as the words Vin had uttered were enough to solve the pieces together.

    "Time¡­"

    What does time involve?

    The day and night. Dates, months, years, a lifetime, or even the time concept where it is an indefinite continued progress of existence, that kind of time.

    Of course, Vin wouldn''t give suchplex details.

    For most of the time Cesar had observed him, Vin preferred to be fast and immediate in actions and not waste any time.

    "Time¡­"

    Suddenly, a cold realization hit Cesar right into his core.

    The four corrupted areas.

    The four red zones where time didn''t work properly, as if they werepletely frozen. The three former red zones Low Whispers, Mendeleev, and Snickering Bridge might not appear to be the case but Vermillion Painted Hand was different.

    There was a physical representation where the time inside indeed to have paused.

 Chapter 38: Leave

    ''Vermillion Painted Hand¡­ Low Whispers¡­ Snickering Bridge¡­ Mendeleev. They have one thing inmon and they appear to be frozen in time due to their irregrities. No one dared to approach because not only do these things have mysterious problems to deal with, but they are pretty much unknown to everyone.

    ''Now that there''s a clue and I visited it in real view, the answer might''ve been because the time worked differently from the outside¡­''

    Taking that matter into the point, the mysterious disappearances of the people as well. Howe nobody saw them vanish and only been reported to be missing once they did. Those victims aren''t even small numbers, yet not a single one was spotted?

    ''A dy? Disruption of time?''

    All the weirdness they felt throughout everything they went over was because the time in the city was disordered.

    It was the corrupted area at first, but then what if the influence creepily affected the entire city and slowly made its way until it covered the whole town itself?

    What if the time had already been affected without them knowing, and peering through the ''real'' reality made Vin to be in that worse condition?

    Cesar''s foot involuntary shook as this discovery was tooplicated to understand even further. By the looks of it, he even barely scratched the tip of its strangeness.

    But there is something.

    "Hey guys, what do you think is the date for today?"

    Cesar asked in a slightly jesting manner that was filled with nothing but a harrowing matter that needed to be taken care of.

    The squad, who noticed how weird Cesar''s question was couldn''t help but be silent since asking for the day in this situation is highly likely to be asked.

    It''s not like they were in the park, running around.

    The group stiffened and became vignt, thinking it was a sign that Cesar was seeing something they were unable to see.

    "Chill, nobody''s around. I just wanted to know the date today just because,"

    Jacqueline who usually talked out to whatever shenanigans Cesar pulled off, held back this time upon noticing the change of his tone that was slightly fearful. It was subtle but it is there.

    Hence instead of going around the circles, Jacqueline surprisingly answered, "It''s the 24th of July. A week away from the 30th. Why did you ask?"

    Cesar got up from his ce before he dashed out of the abandoned house and went straight through a nearby building and grabbed a mechanical calendar, a machined clock, and any equipment that could tell them what the day is today for them.

    The group followed up, seeing how paranoid he was, thinking he was losing his mind.

    They weren''t entirely wrong because he was about to be.

    ''No, this is not it. It''s impossible! How, how!''

    Cesar was looking through these things in his hands with wide eyes as his sight appeared cloudy and a bit apprehensive.

    His vision was betraying him.

    Because right in his hands, the time he was supposed to be seeing was the 24th of July but everything indicated the 29th, a day right before the 30th. Whenever he blinked for a few seconds, it changed from 24th to 29th to 24th to 29th once again, leaving him more in disbelief that he almost found it funny.

    As if there was a glitch in the system that only he could peer through.

    ''Ridiculous! This is absolutely nuts!''

    Cesar looked at his group with a slightly contorted expression as he ced it right in front of them and asked.

    "Let me ask you again, what day do you think it is now?"

    Reyna and the rest of the squad started to be afraid of the new Cesar they were seeing but a bit suspicious at the same time. Still, they looked at those things in his hands before answering altogether.

    "24th?"

    Cesar was about to go crazy but still, he remained sane, albeit already standing at the tip of insanity. He continued observing, shifting his attention from the group and to the clocks on his hand, and could see the same bug that kept flickering on his front.

    It was ever-changing, confusing, and supernatural.

    If he was only able to see it, Cesar knew he had to do something about it.

    He then remembered the other word that Vin had spoken before he was put in the unconscious state.

    Cesar dropped the things on his hand before stating in a slightly disorienting tone, "We need to leave. We need to escape from this forsaken city!"

    Hearing the rushed and raised tone from Cesar, the group didn''t stop him. All they did was follow him around, trying to understand the uprising emotions he was feeling. Right now, they were trying to recognize his unknown feelings.

    ''Fuck this deathtrap of the city! It''s been tricking us the whole time!''

    Cesar mused inwardly as he gradually sped up his pace, trying to reach the borders of the city, wanting to confirm something that he could only aplish at this moment.

    He kept running and running still.

    Eventually, the view of the border of the city was close. His group was with him and it would only take a few hundred meters away to leave.

    That was their current goal; Leave the city of wheels.

    See if all of this was just nothing but a pure imagination and overthinking that Cesar had developed after being in the cursed city.

    They were very close.

    But right at the heels of its borders, Cesar''s pace gently stopped until he took aplete halt once he saw a figure draped in a ck priest robe guarding the borders.

    The squad on his back also halted once they saw the same figure standing on Cesar''s way, its facepletely obscured by the veil of darkness that made onlookers unable to peer through the robe.

    Seeing the same attire, same demeanor, and same mysterious figure on his front that he hadn''t seen in a while, Cesar clicked his tongue and solemnly stated.

    "Move aside, heretic,"

    The heretic chuckled and retorted evenly, "I knew you would be the only one who will manage to peer through the astonishing power of His greatness. I mean, for some reason, you are rted to me, and to our god after all,"

    The group who had only heard this for the first time except Quentin couldn''t help but frown. Just the way they were talking to each other could only mean they''d met once or twice and were able to strike up a conversation.

    They didn''t know about it.

    "Hey, Quentin¡­"

    Just as they were about to ask him a question, they saw him warily looking at the heretic, slightly nervous at this encounter. His wary gaze was different when encountering an unknown being as it looked like he was more afraid of meeting the figure again.

    "Ahh¡­"

    Once they saw that Quentin was acting weird, the group quickly deduced that only he, Cesar, and Vin probably knew the existence of the heretic and hid from everyone else¡­ but probably for a good reason.

    Cesar didn''t know what was happening in his squad at all. His attention was solely on the heretic, trying to gauge his next n.

    In spite, Cesar replied after a long silence of watching each other, "Don''t lump me with the likes of you. Your bullshit god is a fucking trash. If you''re going to convince me toe to his church, I might as well kill myself now,"

    The heretic chortled, "Kill you? Nah, everyone here is rather useful in being alive than dead. Don''t worry, you have your own purpose and I have mine. At the end of the day, it''s a matter of who is more useful,"

    Unable to contain his confusion any longer, Cesar knew he was losing his mind.

    "Ah, I wanted to shoot you right now. Your mouth just keeps spouting bullshit that I just don''t know what to think anymore," Cesar grasped the revolver out from his holster before pointing it at the heretic.

    As usual, the heretic remained unfazed.

    Cesar strongly gripped the handle of his gun before rxing for a moment and putting it down. He then continued in a more distant tone.

    "Can I just leave alone?"

    The words that they didn''t expect toe from Cesar made them shock. The heretic, watching it all from the sidelines couldn''t help but chuckle loudly.

    "What? Hahaha! You''re going to leave your squad alone in the ditch?" The heretic paused, "Okay if you shoot to them right here and now, I might as well let you leave,"

    Cesar''s mood instantly changed once he heard the demanding from the heretic. In an instant before the squad even moved slightly, he was already raising his revolver at Jacqueline''s head.

    Clicking the barrel, Cesar solemnly spoke, "No hard feelings,"

    It was abrupt, it was sudden, and it was a high-pressure situation.

    Cesar who appeared to have lost his mind, clicked the trigger of his revolver.

 Chapter 39: No Hard Feelings

    "What the¡­ why are we having a squad talk? There''s a day left till our deployment,"

    The group gathered around the table in the canteen that Cesar usually, definitely was using most of the time, when he was alone eating. Chopping the bread loaf down on his throat, he looked around his group and they began settling down.

    It was an unannounced meeting which is why Cesar was surprised.

    "We are curious, Cesar. Honestly, I''ve asked this question through our group and you''re the only one who hasn''t answered this survey," Reyna paused as she was contemting deeply before continuing, "What if we faced a danger that you are even unsure whether we''re going to win or not? For example, if you have a chance to survive in return for us being dead, what will you choose?"

    Cesar didn''t even give a spare moment to think about such a question, and he answered it right away. With a tone as if it was obvious, he replied.

    "Of course, I''ll choose myself."

    The group let out a short groaning from their lips, and even Jacqueline joined them. Yet their grunt sounded more like what they were expectinging from him.

    But as if he wasn''t done, Cesar continued, "In some situations that should be the best answer but not this time when we''re a squad. No matter how many disagreements we have, at the end of our deployment and the area we''re assigned to, we''ll help each other no matter what. If I was going to betray you, it probably signals that I have not much idea left,"

    He paused, "So we just need to fight our way through our predicament and confront whatever it is."

    Cesar dropped the bread on his te before touching his chin after wiping down the crust.

    "Let''s see¡­ We thought of some protocols when we faced some dangers rted to them, right? So how about some signs?" Cesar''s eyes slightly shimmered "I have this one line that is so cool, an enemy wouldn''t expect that we''re coborating with each other instead of me betraying you."

    He took a pause, "Yeah, in a situation where you think I''m betraying, I think I will say "No Hard Feelings" in the most serious tone possible."

    Cesar shook his head as he sighed, "Man, why am I talking so much nowadays?"

    ¡­

    "No hard feelings,"

    The moment the group heard this single phraseing from Cesar, their doubts were instantly washed away. Especially for Jacqueline who was on the receiving end of this ploy.

    ''So, you''re out of ideas, huh,'' Jacqueline mused inwardly as she channeled her essence throughout her body with a smirk, ''Why didn''t you just say so?''

    nk¡ª!

    The revolver that Cesar used to shoot Jacqueline never came. It was just a small click from his gun and the bullet didn''te through.

    Caw¡ª!

    In that next moment, flocks of ravens emerged from their position, covering the group''s location to the heretic whose amusement turned into wariness.

    Inside the veil of secrecy that was covering his face reveals a difort watching the group being submerged into the flock of ravens.

    Caw¡ª!

    Thest thing the heretic knew, the imagery on his front was nothing but ravens with three beaks and one singr eye.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Suddenly, hurried footsteps dashed toward him, passing through the ravens that gave way to those people toe towards the heretic.

    At the heretic''s blind spot, Jacqueline emerged with her sword raised to bring down the heretic with a single strike.

    The heretic didn''t even notice she wasing as her presence was concealed with the ravens, the power she wielded.

    However, everything appeared to be futile as another robe individual emerged at the back of his clothes which made Jacqueline''s eyes turn wide.

    Grabbing both of her wrists, the mirage of the heretic jumped out from the real heretic and tried to take her down.

    As skilled as she was, Jacqueline managed to pull herself away from the mirage and distance a few meters to gaze at the new enemy at her front.

    nk¡ª!

    Just as the heretic turned his head around to look at Jacqueline, a revolver was already aiming at his head.

    Cesar pulled the trigger.

    Bang¡ª!

    Yet once more, as if the heretic just couldn''t die no matter how many tricks they pulled to finish him off, their efforts were nothing but in vain.

    A hand that sprouted out through his shoulder stopped the bullet from reaching his head. There was a hole which was left bleeding but the heretic didn''t seem to be affected by it.

    "You two are really something. Sadly, your skills still fell short,"

    In a standoff as the three of them remain in a pause, the heretic strikes up a conversation as he continues with a chuckle.

    The heretic nced at Jacqueline and added, "I guess your ravens are capable of concealing and attacking only. You can''t do both at the same time, probably because your essence control still sucks."

    The heretic then shifted his gaze at Cesar and made a statement, "And you. Do you only rely on your gun or something? Let me see your facet, just like every idiot who has shown theirs today!"

    The heretic seemed to be excited as his voice gradually increased as he talked.

    "Okay! Let''s y while we wait!"

    In the next moment, he arched his back forward, bending in the most inhumane way possible before dozen of heads, draped in a robe emerged from his back. They slowly reached out from his body until their figures fully manifested, crawling their way out.

    The next thing they knew, they were all standing up.

    Cesar swiftly left once he saw those heads popping out from the back of the heretic and regrouped with Jacqueline.

    "That looks disgusting¡­" Jacqueline muttered to herself and couldn''t help but shake her head, "What now? Killing this guy might be impossible when he''s demonstrating his skills as if it was nothing in our front,"

    Cesar clicked his tongue, "We buy time for others to escape and see if they can reach some help the outside. We deal with this heretic and¡­ his counterparts that look like him.

    Jacqueline nkly stared at him before shifting her gaze at the front where a dozen more, thrice of their numbers, of the heretic slowly walking up to them.

    "So we just buy time,"

    "Yeah,"

    "Understandable,"

    Cesar reloaded his revolver as Jacqueline adjusted the way she handled her sword. Once the two of them were done with their preparation, the two gazed over the iing mirage of the heretic which was gradually increasing their pace.

    Six of them went for Jacqueline while the rest went to Cesar.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Dodging an iing attack with a slight maneuver to the right, Cesar swiftly aimed his revolver at the mirage and pulled the trigger.

    Bang¡ª!

    Hitting the mirage, it didn''t make a sound of agony or defeat. It simply slumped to the ground, uneven and unmoving.

    But it got carried by another mirage and sucked it at the veil of darkness in its face. Right after sucking the unmoving mirage, the other one went towards Cesar with an increased speed from the apparition.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Evading through the barrage of attacks that went seamlessly, Cesar was unable to find another chance to shoot another mirage. This time, as if they had found their track and adjusted, they went full ham and continued pressuring Cesar.

    ''Buy time¡­''

    On Jacqueline''s side, it was way worse than his as she didn''t eliminate a single mirage. Adding the fact that the real heretic was on her side dealing damage by simply using primal hand-to-handbat that she couldn''t recognize made it even harder.

    It''s more like a self-taught technique rather than a precise art that she wielded which is the reason why she''s able to hold out for so long.

    "Buy time¡­"

    The heretic who seemed to be having a good time answered back after a few minutes of fighting the two rookies who were holding their position well.

    "You two really have a bright future. Unfortunately, younded in here," The heretic turned solemn as he added, "You guys might be trouble if you went inside,"

    The heretic''s aura soon changed before he dashed toward Jacqueline, not minding her absolute defense to get in his own defense.

    It threw Jacqueline off guard but she continued parrying every attack from the mirage and the real heretic himself.

    But in a sh, Jacqueline saw an iing hand reaching out to her face. In quick session, the heretic pinned her down on the ground, his palm on her face.

    She tried to defend herself by attacking the heretic with her sword but he merely shoved it aside with the use of his fist.

    Thud¡ª!

    Seeing her resisting, the heretic smacked her head on the ground once more, leaving Jacqueline screaming in agony.

    "Argh!"

    Just as the heretic was about to suppress her, the ravens surrounding them began to disappear, disintegrating into ashes. Violent red mes ate the poor ravens away, turning them into nothing but burnt corpses, most vanishing in the process.

    The ck scenery made out of ravens changed into a fiery red fire.

    Feeling the scorching heat a little bit toote, the heretic found himself wrapped in a searing red me tightly clutching his body.

 Chapter 40: Saving Grace

    "You heretic bastard,"

    Maine solemnly spoke in viciousness while being cloaked in her fiery attire with her eyes shining white. Within her clutches, she slowly strengthened the grip of her fiery arm that was holding the heretic, slowly crushing the mysterious figure.

    "You know, I wanted to interrogate you and ask something. It''s part of the protocols after all. But we''re in a tight spot right now. Whoever looks like an assant will be eliminated straight away," Maine spoke more coldly gradually squeezing the heretic within her grasp.

    In that tense moment, Maine closed the palm of the huge fiery hand.

    Ssh!

    Yet once more, instead of blood gushing out from flesh and bones, if the heretic even has one,the figure merely evaporated into thin air. Soon, he appeared in one of his mirages as he wed his way out, heaving heavily.

    "Kugh!"

    The heretic began coughing out blood before wiping the tip of his lips, the only thing he revealed to the crowd.

    After he does, the heretic''s gaze falls on the group that surrounds him, all glimmering with different kinds of abilities to confront the heretic any second.

    "Seriously?" The heretic chuckled with a light cough before adding, "Why don''t you guys wait for a few seconds now? It''s about time, you know?"

    As if he couldn''t take the toll of merely being crushed, the mirages around him disappeared and evaporated into thin air, leaving him alone with his enemies.

    With nowhere to go and run, he stayed standing in his ce, slowly moving backward until he waspletely stopped by the invisible wall encasing the entirety of the city.

    "You bastard, did you do this?" Maine threateningly asked as she moved closer to the heretic.

    The fiery hands slowly reached out to him and the heretic, who was probably exhausted from all the things he did, remained unmoving and staring. However, his demeanor didn''t involve nervousness but merely confidence and a bit of cheekiness.

    Observing Maine head to head, the heretic smiled, "If you''re talking about what happened to this city, then you''re right. But I''m merely a conductor, not the maker if that''s what you''re looking for. This thing¡­ is about to happen eventually,"

    The fiery hand was dozens of inches away from the heretic as its clothes started to take the burnt damage. Still, he remained confident and upfront.

    "A fucking heretic''s words really don''t make any sense," Maine viciously retorted with a slight chuckle before ending it with a more menacing tone, "You''re out of tricks, heretic. There''s no saving grace from you the way I see it,"

    Tick¡ª! Tock¡ª!

    "Ah¡­"

    As if he was the only one hearing the cracking noise of a clock being moved, the heretic''s dampening mood immediately shifted into an awkward one.

    "Hah¡­"

    Letting out a scoff of disbelief, he started giggling on his own until it became a maniacalughter that surprised everyone watching.

    "Hah¡­"

    The heretic leisurely gazed up at the sky, aimlessly looking at the imaginary clouds that had also been affected by the city''s curse.

    "Saving grace, huh."

    Turning his eyes towards Maine once more, the heretic delivered his word with reverence.

    "My only saving grace is my God,"

    Tick¡ª!

    Suddenly, everything came to a stop without anyone''s knowledge. All of them remained motionless.The people''s visions, bodies, even air itself, and anything else that involves movingpletely came to a standstill.

    It was what happened a second earlier.

    The next thing they knew a secondter, their whole worldview changed into something else.

    The heretic that was standing a few secondster disappeared. Even the people surrounding them were gone, their world view turning upside down.

    Instead, they found themselves in a huge vast hallway, alone and in denial. The floor was made of wood with a reddish-ck carpet atop it while the ckish curtains gently swayed from the window even if there wasn''t any air to achieve such motion. Without the torches hanging at the walls, one wouldn''t be able to observe the ce they were in.

    The ghastly sense of an unknown atmosphere enveloping the endless hallway imparted an unsettling feeling to anyone who stepped through it.

    "What in the fucking shit is this?"

    Cesar was feeling the exact same thing.

    Observing the creepy hallway that seemed endless, whether he was looking backward or forward, it continued to stretch into the darkness. Going further and farther, Cesar was in a slump as his already deteriorated mind just heightened.

    "Fuck, fuck! FUCK!"

    Shouting and irritated, Cesar turned feral as he started punching the walls and thumping his feet at the solid ground made of wood.

    "Why!"

    No matter how much force he put into it, there wasn''t a scratch instilled in these ancient walls and floors that gave him the heebie-jeebies. It remained astute and stalwart as if a mere ant like Cesar would never, not in his entire life, leave his mark inside.

    "Just why doesn''t everything go in my way!"

    As if his irritation hadn''t ended yet, Cesar started punching the air, imagining the heretic that continued ying with them until he finally achieved the desired situation that he had always envisioned.

    Eventually, his breaking down whichsted for a whole minute, quickly came to a halt as he came back with his usual reserved demeanor.

    "Okay¡­"

    Letting out a crooked smile, Cesar shouted angrily, "Fuck your stupid god, heretic! It''s just a damn Nightmare, psycho!"

    Cesar let out another breath once more to remove any negativities that filled his mind before he took one step forward and went toward the window to see the view outside.

    He wasn''t expecting anything at all but merely curious if walking through the creepy hallway wasn''t the only choice he had left.

    Once he made his way towards the curtains and slightly flipped it, Cesar''s expectations were met as he was only left with disappointment.

    In the windows, there isn''t any outside view but merely walls, the same type he was looking at earlier whilementing at the fact that he was trapped inside its area, with no way to escape and its exit out of reach still.

    There was a window, though. However, that''s just it.

    Tap¡ª!

    Cesar tested the durability of the window''s sses and was able to realize that it was much harder than hallway walls. As confusing as the situation was, Cesar had no way to exin it in logical terms.

    "Saving grace from his god, he said. I couldn''t deny that he was damn right,"

    Cesar clicked his tongue, grumbling as he left the windows to return to the same vast hallways. Looking backward, he moved his gaze forward once again beforeing to decide a decision.

    "Yeah, I''ll not move from this position,"

    Going forward no backward isn''t an option to him as merely waiting for the rescue toe is the most optimal solution he could think of currently.

    He was out of ideas and tired to even think of one. Heck, he wasn''t even considering trying to do the rescue mission himself.

    It''s full of dangers and uncertainty after all. He might end up triggering something in the hallway that might spell his death just because he wanted to be a knight and shining armor that everyone can rely upon.

    "¡­"

    Sitting on the carpet floor, Cesar continued gazing forward while remaining aware at his back. His posture, rxing in sight, is very optimal when a decision to run will be made if things break loose.

    For a while, everything was quiet.

    The same gentle swaying of the curtains¡­ the eerie atmosphere of the hallways itself¡­ the cold walls and floor¡­

    Cesar was able to sense it all too well that a mere touch in the back might spook him.

    However, it was the same stillness that was happening¡­ until it wasn''t.

    Slight away from his spot, Cesar was able to perceive iing footsteps at his back which made him turn around.

    There, a figure was heading straight at him.

 Chapter 41: Awkward Standoff

    ''Are you serious?''

    What walked through the shade of the hallway was a figure so unfamiliar to Cesar, yet so deathly as well. The disjointed proportion of its body, the malignant feelings it permeated, andstly, the wrongness surrounding the unknown individual itself.

    It wasn''t a human.

    Cesar jolted awake as he hopped away from the figure that trod its way toward him, menacingly and carefully taking its sweet time to approach him as if his mere existence was an ant ready to be squashed into oblivion any time.

    Cesar wasn''t having any of that right now.

    ''God damn it, it''s a corrupted human! Just what are the chances this thingnded on me after minutes of idling in my position?''

    As if the goddess of luck was returning back everything it lent to Cesar, he faced situations he wasn''t even expecting a few minutes after hended in the unknown hallway.

    At this instant, the corrupted human finally came to a halt and a revolting creature was standing meters away from Cesar.

    With a tall figure and a misshapen face that seemed to have been sewn together for it to stick, the corrupted human had a dark imposing aura. With three arms, one of its arms elongated at the shoulder of the other, it brought a revolting sinister image. Its skin was burnt and there was no visible chest or abdomen in this figure, making it rather revolting.

    "Well, shit¡­!"

    Cesar swiftly pivoted around and sprinted his way out from the corrupted human who started following him at the same pace.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Passing through the vast hallway, seeing the same walls, floor, and curtains from time to time, Cesar persistently dashed away from the corrupted human that was following his trail.

    "Damn it!"

    For the first few minutes, the relentless chase was the only thing that was happening between the two.

    It started to change when the human capabilities that shackled Cesar started to wear his speed off.

    He was growing tired.

    He didn''t have the endless amount of stamina the corrupted human had if they even felt tired at all. The creature that remained on the move slowly closed the distance between them which was starting to be apparent.

    ''This can''t go on forever¡­ Do I have to fight this creature with only a revolver, daggers, and a facet which I''m unsure to use at this point of the situation?''

    Cesar analyzed the capabilities and arsenal he had on his side beforeing to a hard decision.

    ''If I don''t see any change in a minute, I''ll fight it with everything I got,''

    Hoping for some change in his current predicament, Cesar believed and remained running. Yet as those seconds passed that kept pping him nothing would change, his face turned worrisome before he epted the reality he was facing.

    "Okay¡­"

    With a mutter under his breath, Cesar timed the cing of his foot very well before taking a huge turn to the side of the wall which was almost impossible to pull due to them going in a straight line for quite some time.

    Yet Cesar managed to pull it off without any hups.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    In quick session, Cesar hopped at the side wall before using the momentum to do a roundabout kick towards the corrupted human, putting all his strength around his legs.

    Pak¡ª!

    Caught by surprise and unable to respond on time, the corrupted human got hit at its sewn, misshapen head which made it fall backward.

    Seeing it out of bnce, Cesar didn''t waste a single second and rushed to the falling creature and pulled out his revolver, aiming at the creature''s knee before shooting it.

    Bang¡ª!

    Knowing the bullet that hit the corrupted creature was a sleeping shell, Cesar immediately switched his weaponry into daggers and plunged it right into its chest to deal more blow.

    Thud¡ª!

    Picking up the second dagger and wielding it at his other palm, Cesar followed up his relentless attack by pinning the creature to the floor.

    Not a second after sessfully pinning the creature down, Cesar put more strength into his dagger and sliced its way up to the side until it revealed a gory and bloody ck liquid and misced body organs inside.

    It was swift execution that was pulled to perfection.

    Cesar was about to continue until his perfect execution wasn''t so perfect anymore as the corrupted human''s arms reached out to him to snatch his head away from his body.

    ''Crap!''

    Rolling to the side to avoid being grasped, Cesar was slightly distanced but wasn''t lucky enough to do so as the creature''s other arm managed to touch his knee and dragged him back towards itself.

    "Fuck!"

    As the corrupted human dragged Cesar, its other arm which wasposed of two limbs, the one it used to try to take him earlier, aimed at his head and tried to use its tight grip to instill some damage to him.

    The corrupted human managed to stand while doing so.

    With a quick maneuver, Cesar managed to defend it by using his two daggers to defend.

    Crackle¡ª!

    Facing the two arms while thest was holding his leg that was trying to shake him off, Cesar was lying on the floor, looking at the monster he failed to execute.

    "It didn''t work?!"

    Shouting with denial in his voice, Cesar struggled to maintain his stance as the blood from the monster kept gushing out the ck blood juices from its chest continuously pouring at his face.

    Disgustingly tasting some taste of it which was the least of his concerns, Cesar couldn''t help but be shaken as he realized that his n earlier failed miserably because of one thing.

    The sleeping shell isn''t working.

    ''Melinda! You fucking bastard! I''m going to kill you once I''m outside of this shitty ce!''

    Knowing those shells came from a scammer, Cesar felt scammed at this oue. Still, those shells didn''t look fake at all which made his stance confident.

    Hence, taking this from another perspective instead of ming a person who wasn''t there, he calmed down and assessed the situation at the awkward standoff.

    But he couldn''t.

    He was struggling to maintain his position where the strength of the corrupted was pressing him on the floor to take his head. At the same time, the leg which was defenseless and being dragged by the same creature became more unbearable to hold on.

    Yet by the looks of it, the creature was trying to regain its full focus at the kick it received from Cesar which must''ve hurt as hell as the corrupted human had lost bnce when it got hit.

    Though that happened a minute earlier.

    With the sleeping shell not working as it was supposed to, Cesar became in a vulnerable position where a single mistake might end his life.

    What came next wasn''t even a mistake on his part.

    No matter how strong he persevered or struggled to maintain his current position as he thought of a way out, the corrupted human wasn''t going to idle around and wait as well.

    The weak point of Cesar, which was his leg being held on, was pulled very strongly, making him grumble due to how intense it was.

    But that was enough time for the corrupted human to pull off its sly attack.

    "Shit!"

    Cesar loses his grip on his dagger after being pulled on his leg yet immediately put on a quick stance as two of its arms are aiming at his head.

    Once more, Cesar defended one of its arms ramming at his head with hastened movement but for the other¡­ he was second toote.

    The other arm was much faster to move.

    Cesar managed to pierce his dagger right between the palm of the monster which he wasn''t able to do earlier¡­ but its two long fingers managed to poke through his left eye.

    "Argh!"

    Painfully shouting at the excruciating pain he was feeling, Cesar gritted his teeth and continued struggling but the damage was already done.

    With only his right eye working currently, Cesar''s chances of survival dimmed.

 Chapter 42: Costly

    "Argh!"

    Frustration? Agony? Resentment?

    All these negative emotions filled Cesar''s head while facing a creature that managed to hurt him.

    Right now, his opposite eye was the only thing working that made him see how dreaded the situation was and he wouldn''t even allow it to be removed now, knowing going blindly at the vast hallways spells death no matter what.

    If he goes blind now, he might as well die from the monster''s clutches which he wasn''t willing to give up yet.

    ''This shit will do it again if I don''t move now!''

    Cesar didn''t want the same thing to happen hence before the corrupted human even made a slight action, he was much faster this time.

    Rustle¡ª!

    His right dagger which was the only thing that managed to pierce the corrupted''s palm, even went further to the point of impact and goes to cut the other arm that poked his eye.

    sh¡ª!

    Managing to cut the palm even inside, Cesar immediately took a move to cut the arm of the monster with the creature also returning the favor by pulling his knee, this time, by dragging him andpletely making him lose his bnce.

    Crack¡ª!

    But with one arm down, Cesar felt more at ease as he didn''t appear as defenseless as before and went beyond to counterattack in the awkward position he found himself in.

    Being raised by the same creature in the air with his feet being dragged upwards, Cesar appeared all bloody that came from the monster''s sliced chest.

    He was ready for the iing attack the corrupted human was about to pull off since he had a n in his mind but it never came.

    Weirdly enough, the creature remained standing on its own,pletely unmoving at his ce which brought a moment of confusion on Cesar''s face.

    ''Chance!''

    But he immediately used it as an opportunity to execute his n.

    With the blood dripping down his face, Cesar clicked his tongue before pulling his body upwards to cut the hand that was grasping his knee.

    sh¡ª!

    Spinning mid-air tond on the floor safely, Cesar pivoted the way he held his dagger and dashed forward and immediately cut the head of the creature in one clean swoop.

    Thud¡ª!

    Gripping his daggers tightly, Cesar couldn''t help butugh in disbelief as he stated solemnly, "Right, I guess a monster isn''t able to sleep right away just because you shoot a fucking bullet into its knee. Hah¡­ Hahaha¡­"

    With a finger dangling from his left eye, Cesar ced his hand on his face, near the wound, gripping the corrupted finger between his own, his expression twisted with madness.

    "A Level Zero Corrupted making this costly at my first hour in this cursed ce. Man, I''m lucky to even survive that I''m about to go crazy¡­"

    Cesar''s hand slowly made its way toward his left eye where a dangling finger was motionlessly staying before grasping it tightly with his hand.

    "Man, if Level Zero Corrupted is already this problematic, how about Level One or Two? Or the assumed Level Three Corrupted that came from Harden City? Man, Oh, man¡­"

    In the next instance, Cesar pulled the finger out from his eye which made him hissed violently but didn''t scream the pain he felt.

    It was more like a reaction when someone received a sting from an injury.

    It hurt but it wasn''t very painful which was supposed to.

    "Ahh¡­"

    Holding the finger that made his one eye unusable any longer, Cesar couldn''t help but let out a deranged chuckle before turning solemn.

    He let out an unhinged snicker once more but finally couldn''t stopughing at his own, feeling almost pathetic and vulnerable.

    "I''m being too emotional¡­"

    Cesar slightly gazed upward, feelingpletely nothing as his emotions were all over the ce. He didn''t even know if his mind was bing tainted and corrupted which might happen if he wasn''t able to adjust soon.

    But at this point, his actions otherwise suggest adjustment any time soon.

    "I''ve lost an eye~ What does that matter~ For I am Captain Gin~ Born in the litter~" Cesar turned around as he couldn''t but twaddle in the most ridiculous way, "Wow, I started singing that song all of a sudden. I must''ve missed my childhood days which is full of death and disaster,"

    He continued to sing while bending down to the corrupted human''s corpse.

    "Roaming the seas, Captain Gin it is~ Please, I''m friendly, albeit, not really~ For what you have shall I steal, for what you have shall I kill~ Give up and I might consider to set you free~ Only for that matter, I might be lyinggg~"

    Cesar checked the corpse of the corrupted to see if he could use something or grab a thing or two just by merely searching when he spotted a glowing object in the middle of its chest, which made himpletely stop singing the nursery song that suddenly came right on his head.

    "Oh? What''s this?"

    Cesar''s curiosity got the best of him and he moved closer to a glowing object¡­ and could only stare nkly when the shining object was no other than a ckish-grey tooth.

    It was oozing out a faint disgusting ck aura that a single touch might endanger its user but Cesar bravely grasped it with his hand and looked at it with interest.

    But his interest turned serious once he realized that the ckish-grey tooth had a simr aura to the so-called Artifacts, an item made by the Artificers that everyone thought made them.

    ''How interesting¡­''

    The reason this notion came to his mind was because there are no records of drop artifacts from a Nightmare, much less on a corrupted human. In another sense, artifacts are a rarity on its own.

    They were seldom seen on the outside and if they were, either they were used on something special or important.

    Now, all this thinking was destroyed once more when he just got a random tooth after killing a corrupted human that almost killed him. It''s not a special moment or important situation at all.

    He just lost an eye, and now he was partially blind.

    "I look like a dumb person who thought I knew everything that is needed to know when I''m just a clueless brat like anyone else. God, what is going on in this world? Wouldn''t it be good if dropped artifacts were announced publicly instead of hiding it if there''s any reason for hiding it in the first ce?"

    Cesar put the ckish-grey tooth in his pocket before shrugging his shoulder with a chuckle, "Or maybe I''m just a delusional person thinking this is a tooth and nothing more?"

    Aware that some of his wordings didn''t make any sense, Cesar kept some of his thoughts to himself and made his way forward to see if any kind of help wasing his way. This time, he wasn''t going to wait.

    He will be starting to chase it.

    He didn''t want the same thing to happen when he went to wait and let the dangerse towards him if he were to face them eventually,

    Walking into the vast endless hallway, Cesar studied the greyish white tooth on his head.

    Its size was normal and nothing noteworthy could be seen to it. Aside from the ck disgusting aura it was emanating which seemed to be the reason why it was faintly glowing, one wouldn''t even notice it in the first ce.

    "What does this thing even do¡­"

    While he was muttering it under his breath, an idea popped into his head that made him question it over again, this time, outwardly.

    "Do I just have to transfer some of my essence to it?"

    Looking at the tooth in the palm of his hand with difort and uncertainty, Cesar was ready to test it out since by the looks of it, he''ll have nothing to do aside fromtalk to himself and tread to the hallway that had no end to it.

 Chapter 43: Shit Came, Shit Over

    Essence

    An abstract influence that manifested after the Nightmarended in the world. Without the Nightmares, Essences might''ve not been born.

    It is a power that naturally went from the first until today''s generation of this time and age. It wasn''t widely used until the Nightmare Potions became so popr since it needed most of the abilities some sort of activation and essences were the right fit for it.

    Essences, on the other hand, have been studied and researched. Certain aspects of this topic made everyone put their focus on it, and one of them is highly usable for almost every artifact. This, however, was the onlymon knowledge that everyone who studied Nightmare knew.

    The artifacts that the artificers made needed an essence to activate. As a sort of power button, only then the artifact will be able to work and be usable because of the essence. Additionally, inputting essence into an artifact will let the holder of it be able to understand how it works.

    Cesar was about to test it out.

    ''Man, essences is not really my forte¡­''

    Cesar mused inwardly before focusing on the essence inside his body and transferring it to the tooth to see how the artifact was used.

    Remembering how these lessons were taught in the academy since having a basic knowledge of essences is one way to enter ss 1-A, Cesar did his best to do so.

    It was one of the reasons why he was stuck up in some sses; he barely even passed this thing.

    "Now then¡­"

    Cesar knew that this sort of thing was easy for Jacqueline. She had all the qualities of how a number one rank of their grade should show. Her capabilities were top-notch and all, especially with the use of her essence.

    But only because she had a family to support her and Cesar was left with nobody. He had only learned a lot of things once he got admitted to the academy.

    Now, he can finally apply it in real-time.

    ''Though the heretic told her control sucks. I''m not sure what he meant there but anyways...''

    Once a tiny amount of essence was transferred to the ckish-grey tooth, Cesar was in awe once the information regarding the ck tooth was transferred to him without any problem.

    The ck Tooth had two usages.

    One ability is called Tooth Reconstruction which can reshape its form into a sharp object, of course, of the same size. It will take a heavy amount of essence to even achieve it, however.

    The second ability is its Tooth Odor. With essence activation, it can secrete the foul stench of a rotting corpse which could disrupt someone''s senses and probably conceal a person''s presence to some degree.

    Cesar wasn''t sure how the second ability works but he understood that without proper protection for himself, he might also be affected by its power.

    Though he was unsure how the first ability worked, he wasn''t going to try it anytime soon to see the result since he would not waste a single essence in this type of terrain full of danger just to practice it.

    The only time he might''ve used it was when he was facing another opponent.

    He''ll just have to y smart about it.

    Rumble¡ª!

    Suddenly, as Cesar was ying around with the ck tooth by tossing it in the air repeatedly with nonchnce, the ground violently shook.

    It threw him off guard by losing some bnce and he immediately adjusted his footing to remain his footing. With a confused expression, Cesar looked around the hallway skeptically.

    "What was that?"

    Crack¡ª!

    As the quake continued to be roaring and ferocious, Cesar couldn''t open but open his one eye widely after seeing a slight cracking from the walls.

    This one crack that appeared unnoticeable if not for the fact Cesar had noticed it sooner, slowly grew to form a line.

    Crack¡ª!

    This one line didn''t appear frightening at first until it slowly extended further and further which made Cesar''s expression churn.

    "Motherfucker¡­"

    Cesar''s senses tingled and thest thing he knew, he was running away from the crack that extended far to the back and far to the front.

    Whatever or whoever was doing the violent shaking didn''t matter. In fact, it was his ridiculous unluckiness that made him be in this situation.

    But all of that aside, his inner feelings that have been polished throughout time told him one thing;

    Flee.

    In this vast and endless hallways that will give someone a false hope of reaching the end, one will just have to run away and avoid the iing disaster.

    It was the only thing that filled Cesar''s mind.

    Rumble¡ª!

    "Oh my god! Oh my god! Hahahaha! This is ridiculous!"

    Still, Cesar put a bit of humor on the unknown life-threatening situation he found himself in. Instead of being crestfallen, he was deadbeatughing as he found himself running with a bit of struggle to bnce himself due to the intense earthquake.

    He wasn''t heartbroken.

    He just found it absurd.

    Soon, the life-threatening situation that he couldn''t confirm yet became actual as kilometers away from his position, the vast hallways that he deemed indestructible were getting destroyed due to the crack gettingrger.

    And the Void started eating its remains away.

    The dark purplish emptiness which was vaster and a new type of world than the endless hallways ate its remnants containing the red carpet, wooden floors, and the hard walls and ceiling.

    It swiftly extended to the far back and the far front without any stop,pletely passing through the same hall that Cesar went through until it went over the corrupted human''s corpse and be with the void itself.

    Eventually, the line of cracks was finally able to extend toward Cesar but it pushed even further to the point that he couldn''t even see the end of it, just like the message of the hallway giving him involuntarily from time to time.

    Because of the strange phenomenon, he took a single nce at his back to see the situation which he immediately regretted.

    His emotions surged into nervousness.

    Peeking at his back was the dark purplish emptiness known as the Void. He didn''t remember a single point filled with dark purplish images when he was looking through the vast corridor which made him hastily push his current knee strength thrice.

    Whatever came on his back was much more dangerous than the corrupted human he met earlier.

    He shifted his gaze forward for a few seconds and once he went to see the same purplish emptiness that slowly crept his way towards him, his entertained face turned heavy.

    The single point of the void turned muchrger and bigger than before. This time, he was able to see that the Void was destroying the hallway which is probably the reason why he was in this situation.

    "Shit¡­"

    Cesar goes even further.

    Dozens of secondster in his relentless but fruitless running, he took a curious nce back, and his heart wavered as the purplish emptiness became bigger, unlike the time when it was only a single point of line.

    Cesar became full of doubts.

    What was all this running for if he''ll get eaten by the same Void? Why all the struggle if in the end, he''ll get nothing but a battered, tired, and destroyed body?

    He looked back again.

    And this time, a whole new world overshadowed the vast hallway, something it couldn''t evenpare to.

    It looked like the vast hallway was trapped in the Void. The dark purplish emptiness was keeping this vast hallway in its watch, forever guarding and lifetime looking.

    For what?

 Chapter 44: Door

    Cesar actually didn''t know what to think at this point. His mind was overloaded with thinking that he was incapable of adding more.

    He was still going at the same pace but he wasn''t sure which direction he would take when the only way to advance was forward.

    All this thinking vanished the moment however when he saw something a hundred meters away from his position.

    "Ahh..."

    What he saw up front was a wall, not on the same walls at the side, but right in the middle of the hallway he was supposed to pass.

    And right in the middle of the wall was an ancient wooden door with intricate engravings that seemed to suck his every attention right at it

    nkly staring at the ancient door, Cesar''s fire that had been extinguished a moment ago has been ignited with hope once more. This kind of hope is such a cursed yet addicting thing to have.

    Yet it was all he had.

    It was a single lining of hope left at this point.

    It was a kind of change he needed, and it didn''t matter if it was the better or worse decision yet. He was going to take it.

    ''Whatever¡­''

    With the still encroaching purplish emptiness surging toward him, Cesar prepared himself to give everything he had.

    Once he made another stop while running, Cesar put everything in his strength around his legs. It took one point to bring out the momentum by sticking his foot to the ground for a brief moment before he sprinted his way through the ancient door.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar became swift in his movement to cross that hundred-meter distance between him and the ancient door. He was dead tired, feeling that his legs were about to give out any time soon if not for the fact that a sense of purpose was driving him to survive his predicament.

    It was some sort of adrenaline rush.

    Yet the Void continuously made his way to eradicate every living being that stepped onto the hallway. The hallway remains flew through the purplish emptiness outside of it that surrounded the once indestructible hall.

    Thest thing he knew, there were only a hundred meters left for the Void to reach Cesarpletely, who was still dozens of so meters away from his position.

    Approximately a minute had passed since he saw the Void yet it was already on behind his tail, ready to eliminate him and whatever that came on its way.

    Cesar had to decide what to do swiftly, knowing in just a few seconds the Void would eventually reach him.

    "Fuck it!"

    Cesar, at one point, slightly bent his knees instead of continuing to run. Putting every ounce of strength from his legs, he somersaulted himself as if he were some sort of cannon that had fired its shell.

    On its back was the relentless chaser that was almost reaching towards Cesar without any kind of stopping.

    Cesar was closing yet the Void wasing closer. Feeling that the tip of his legs touched the purplish emptiness that was attached to the ce where the hallway was trapped gave him the chills of a lifetime.

    He immediately regained his focus and kept his head collected before his hand finally touched the knob of the ancient door with a nervous smirk on his face.

    "Please open!"

    Shouting desperately that the mysterious ancient wooden door didn''t need any keys or a special type of incantation for it to open, Cesar twisted the knob and immediately entered inside.

    "Yes!!"

    Feeling the joy swelling inside him, Cesar started falling to the ce of the door he entered while ncing at the other hallway he was in a few moments ago.

    Observing the purplish emptiness from afar, Cesar raised his hand and gave it a middle finger to show his annoyance at the Void that halted its pursuit. The ancient door seemed to be stopping the emptiness as if it were some wall to protect it from trespassers.

    "Fuck you!"

    Even though it didn''t have any visible facial features at all, Cesar felt the Void was peeking at him. Soon, this strange feeling while gazing at it slowly dwindled as the door started to close on its own.

    "What a creepy concept of the Void. That purplish emptiness feels alive for some reason that when it touched my foot, I could feel it strangling my knee¡­ Thankfully, I escaped in time,"

    Cesar couldn''t be dder at this result, feeling rejuvenated as he started to shift his attention to his current position which he hadn''t been able to focus on earlier because of the surge of joy he felt when he escaped the Void.

    That''s just when he realized he hadn''t been exactly touching the ground floor but merely levitating through the air.

    No, it wasn''t really levitating as it was more like he was dropping down.

    "What can I say¡­"

    Cesar found himself free-falling through another hallway, which had the same interior as the hall earlier. Only this time, his movement was against his own free will since he was merely sinking into the endless and vast corridor.

    "Hah¡­"

    Cesar could only feel rxation after he realized that there wasn''t an immediate threat that needed to be taken care of.

    Still, these kinds of weird urrences didn''t surprise Cesar this time since he had adjusted to the fact that normal situations were considered such as this.

    If he were to be deployed to another type of terrain or weirdndscapes in the future, nothing might surprise Cesar any longer.

    ''Is that the reason why veterans from this profession acted so indifferent most of the time because everything that involves a Nightmare is weird? Hell, when Vin started bleeding out, he didn''t even shout what was wrong, probably because he was retaining his consciousness without suffering too many injuries to inform us what was wrong. s, everything was toote.''

    Still, to remain cool-headed in that kind of situation was something that Cesar would polish for so many years.

    He can remain cool-headed most of the time but when he is in grave danger, he copes it up with either his deranged humor or self-doubts. This is the reason why there was hesitation in his actions that he noticed earlier while reflecting on now.

    "Man, I have so much to learn,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but ridicule himself but he also deserves some praise for being able to think about his mistakes from time to time rather than repeatedly doing them, which he wished not to do so for more future toe.

    Even though he lost an eye, Cesar found this deployment really as an opportunity to learn and reflect.

    "I''ll fix it once I''m out of this wretched ce,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but chuckle as he muttered before looking downward.

    "So now what?"

 Chapter 45: Descent

    The interior of the hallway he was in didn''t seem to appear much different than before aside from the fact that he was falling into it instead of forcing himself to move forward.

    It was a weird feeling but it had been exactly an hour since Cesar was dropped down in this space. Instead of thinking about what he wanted to do this time forward, he remained unmoving¡­ if that was the right word even though he was clearly moving without his own ord.

    But now, he had taken plenty of rest enough.

    Cesar had to lock in once more.

    "Should I stop my descent and hold onto one of the curtains? Should I just continue dropping down then?"

    Cesar couldn''t help but talk to himself loudly.

    It was because there was nobody there to think that he was crazy. Additionally, he can think of a solution while letting his thoughts out and do them separately, in a way that is more effective to him.

    ''It''s bad to stop to descent now since I''m not too sure if the ancient door will be able to contain the Void. I can''t let it happen once more since I''m just fortunate enough to run as soon as I noticed something was weird with the quake and the crack that it followed,''

    "Then, shall I continue going down?"

    ''It''s not an option but it was the only choice on the table. No matter what was stored at the end of this hallway wouldn''t even matter. Is there another ancient door waiting for me at the finish line or the pit of this endless corridor isnothing but an inevitable death?''

    Cesar came to a halt with his thoughts before letting out a soft chortle, "I guess it''s a bit insane to do this but it really clears my mind to not multi-task and contemte each problem one at a time,"

    As his clothes fluttered across the wind while he descended, Cesar didn''t do much in the meantime. His actions remained static while trying to have some little fun as he fell to the corridor by doing some weird actions such as rotating around the air in the most ridiculous way possible.

    This continued for another hour.

    Holding on to the fact that there was something down across the endless hallway, Cesar remained vignt and expectant.

    The same carpet, windows, curtains, lights, and walls all around the ce were never changing, always the same, and forever staying. As if untouched by any vulgarities, the vast corridor excluded its imposing aura to whoever stepped into it as always.

    "Hmm?"

    The nonstop stillness in the hallway began to change when Cesar noticed he get ahead of a figure sticking its five legs into the wall while remaining passive even though it felt the presence of Cesar.

    Obviously, Cesar already noticed the figure a few moments before he exceeded it.

    "Huh?"

    Looking upward to trace the whereabouts of the five-legged mysterious figure, Cesar noticed that its stance slightly changed.

    As if it had noticed Cesar''s presence a second toote and was only preparing to lunge off, it shifted its position in his direction.

    Cesar could only scoff at it in disbelief.

    "That''s definitely a corrupted human¡­"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    In a sh, Cesar''s eye opened wide when he saw the corrupted five-legged human was already right behind his tail right after it thrust forward.

    ''Crap!''

    This action however made him bring out his revolver and shoot the corrupted with a normal bullet.

    Bang¡ª!

    Disgustingly twisting its body just to avoid that bullet that came shooting at its horrifying head,posed of maggots and worms, the corrupted kicked Cesar right into his chest with three of its ridiculous heavy legs.

    It was terrifyingly fast.

    Thud¡ª!

    "Bleurgh!"

    After getting kicked which produced a few broken bones inside him, Cesar felt his back touching the walls of the corridor that also affected his back.

    ''It fucking hurts!''

    Cesar didn''t have time to vent his frustration as he felt the presence of the corrupted human alsond on the opposite wall he was in, before using its heavy legs to push itself to him.

    It moved in the blink of an eye, traversing a dozen distance away into milliseconds.

    Thud¡ª!

    If not for the fact that Cesar had been aware of its presence most of the time, he might''ve already been squished into tiny splinters consisting of blood and body remains.

    By merely letting himself descend, Cesar was able to avoid a fatal injurying on his way.

    ''Motherfucker! Now it has five legs!''

    Gazing upwards while dropping off, Cesar saw the same corrupted human preparing yet another attack by setting its legs as if it was going to sprint its way toward him once again, just like what it did earlier tond a blow at his chest.

    Cesar knew he was in trouble once it did another set of fatal attacks to him.

    He couldn''t let that happen.

    nk¡ª!

    Cesar immediately loaded his revolver with a demon-hunting bullet, a piercing shell, into its chamber as soon he saw the corrupted human doing the same trick, dropping down a couple of normal bullets since he was being hasty.

    But it didn''t matter if he dropped those mundane ones as long as he inputted the specialized bullet into his gun.

    He swiftly pointed it upward as he continued falling down.

    ''One chance¡­''

    Whatever he was nning to do, Cesar knew he only had a chance to make the best out of his bullet.

    Remembering the contents of the piercing shell in one of his sses and being sure that he wasn''t making another mistake like he had earlier when he was using the sleeping shell, Cesar remained on the lookout.

    "Come here, you bastard¡­"

    As if answering his call after just a few seconds had passed, the corrupted human used the force it had inputted into his legs to somersault forward.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    It went invisible for a brief moment due to how fast it pounced forward just to attack Cesar, but it was the only thing it was good at.

    He''ll have to stop at some point to make contact with Cesar.

    And Cesar knew it was the only chance he had.

    Clearly seeing the corrupted human inches away from his face, Cesar shot the revolver at its head and made a huge boom that eradicated most of its head, exploding into body pieces.

    Ssh¡ª!

    Losing anything rted to its upper body, the corrupted plummeted to the ground at the same pace as Cesar, who was coughing out a mouthful of blood from his mouth with a slight smirk.

    "Finally, apanion,"

    With a dead body on his side, Cesar didn''t feel alone anymore as his descent continued.

 Chapter 46: Still Descending

    Whoosh¡ª!

    With no direction in mind but merely trying to survive, Cesar remained at the same pace of dropping down. It had been a few minutes when he killed the corrupted human that had be hispanion on his way down to the bottomless abyss.

    "Sigh¡­"

    Cesar let out a tired sigh.

    As if losing an eye wasn''t enough, Cesar felt his entire body aching, especially at his back and front. Now, he was getting rest but he wasn''t sure whether he''d survive another barrage of attacks if he suffered another kind of damage like that.

    Curiously looking at the corrupted human, Cesar was half expectant that he''d grab something from the corpse like the ck Tooth from the previous corrupted and half not expecting anything since his thinking regarding the drop artifacts wasn''t concrete yet.

    Does any Nightmare or Corrupted constantly drop items each time?

    Hovering near the corpse, Cesar began to check the revolting creature and to see if he was lucky enough to find yet another shining object, like what the ck Tooth had given him even though it wasn''t really shining but merely calling upon someone to pick it up.

    Its shine eventually diminished when he put essence at it and merely stayed ck, its greyponents slowly dimmed.

    ''I swear if I found another ck Tooth, I''d be thinking it came from an unknown entity that somehow got in the hands of both the corrupted human,''

    Cesar mused inwardly as he continued checking the corpse with indifference. Almost puking because of how revolting these creatures were, he stretched his hand inside its dead body that felt wriggly, different, and sickening.

    "Where are you¡­?"

    Something must''ve manifested somewhere as Cesar remembered it only took a few minutes before the ck Tooth revealed itself. If that was the case, he had enough waiting, and searching its entire body, whether inside or outside, was the only choice he had.

    He was just learning this now after all, which is why he had no prior knowledge about anything else.

    Everything that felt like a filthy organ inside the body of the corrupted was felt in Cesar''s hand. Not until he felt a solid object once he touched it which made him smirk in glee.

    Ssh¡ª!

    Pulling out the object from the body, Cesar observed the object on his hand that looked like a¡­ stick made of bone.

    As usual, this Bone Stick that came from the corrupted human emanated a dangerous aura scent. It wasn''t really a sickening type of dangerousness but more like a risky type of sensation.

    ''What does it do though¡­''

    Cesar channeled his essence inside his body and transferred it to the Bone Stick to see its usage.

    The information went through his head.

    It had one ability, a weird one at that.

    It had the ability to trick an opponent by merely throwing it somewhere, like fetching a dog with a twig. Cesar wasn''t sure what that truly meant but he understood what fetching a dog meant using a stick.

    ''So it''s some sort of bait?''

    Cesar mused inwardly, feeling he was closer to the answer than it looked. With him being done specting and observing, he put the bone in its pocket, right alongside the tooth.

    Then, he continued falling down.

    The descent didn''t feel any special at all.

    By merely dropping, Cesar didn''t need to worry about almost anything aside from the fact that he had to watch any threating to him such as another corrupted human trying to take away his life.

    So far, there is no presence he considered such a thing.

    "Hey,"

    Not until he heard a voice inside his head.

    "¡­"

    Instead of answering the voice inside his head, Cesar remained unresponsive. He had to make sure that whatever or whoever was talking wasn''t just a manifestation of him being totally crazy, an alter ego that born because of his madness.

    Forget about getting out of here, he''ll lose control right on the spot if he isn''t able to control his mental state and bes deranged.

    ''I have not be crazy, aren''t I? Nah, no way¡­''

    Cesar couldn''t help but shiver due to how eerie that voice sounded. He still didn''t remove the fact that it was just him talking to himself after what he just went through.

    But only crazy people would start thinking that way.

    After a while of ignoring the detail that the voice wasn''t his and merely just ''something'', Cesar heard the voice once again. This time, he was sure that it didn''t belong to him.

    "I think you can hear me,"

    Cesar violently shifted his head from everywhere. From top to bottom, left to right, and in every direction because this eerie voice sounded more horrifying than the corrupted human he had fought himself.

    Probably much more so than the Void itself.

    Cesar nervously gulped before he answered in a hushed tone, "Who are you?"

    The eerie voice didn''t talk for a moment before finally answering, its tone had a mix of jubtion once it heard Cesar''s voice.

    "My name''s Cedeit. I''m a poor soul that was trapped in this wretched ce like you. At this point, all I could do was plea for help because I couldn''t move in the ce I was in. From time to time, I search for people to help me to get out,"

    The words ''get out'' sounded alluring to Cesar''s ears but he knew appearing excited to an unknown voice might be a downside which would result in him being used. Hence, he needed to appear not interested and tried to probe even further.

    "Your name is very unique. Cedeit, it''s my first time hearing it actually," Cesar paused, "You said you''re trapped in this ce. What does that even mean?"

    "There are no tricks or deception in those words, my friend. When I said I''m trapped, that''s really it," The voice retorted evenly, "Like you, we''re being caged inside its power. The power that you just escaped a few hours ago. The Purplish Emptiness, The Void,"

    Having already suspicions that the Void was a sentient being, Cesar was even more surprised as to why Cedeit knew about it.

    "Do you know the reason why?" Cesar asked.

    The voice which disappeared for a while, suddenly answered him in a whisper, "From what I knew, it loathed someone inside this vast hallways. And me, I was just yet another victim of its ploys,"

 Chapter 47: The Void

    ''It loathed someone? So the Void and the owner of these hallways are two different beings and we''re in the middle of these behemoths battle, for whatever reason that is?''

    That was one of the surprises. As for the other, it was the eerie voice itself.

    "Howe you knew about this? And how true is your information? Wouldn''t that mean escaping to this ce is meaningless?"

    As usual, the eerie voice remained silent for almost a minute before answering back, "You have a lot of questions. For that, I understand. For sure, you''re thinking "Howe will I trust this being?" and anything rted to that. In that regard, all I can say is that I found a library in these vast hallways while trying to find a way out,"

    ''A library?''

    As if answering his thoughts, the voice continued.

    "Yes, these vast hallways had an end to it. When you reach the library, hopefully, the Void hasn''t found it yet, go towards the middle where a book is a door towards the other side. It is swift and always moving but it always stays in the middle so you''ll have to be smart about how you''ll approach it,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but read the lines more intently and understand them better as of now before he retorted.

    "When you mean the other side, does that imply the out of this Void?"

    From another perspective, Cesar was already considering not believing a single word that the mysterious voice kept feeding his brain. Not until he was so sure that everything was a fact, he''ll have to keep his options open.

    All he was doing was receiving information that might or might not help in the future. Still, for some reason, Cesar felt reassured that there was a voice talking to him rather than being in a constant fight with his life.

    After a while, the eerie voice replied, "Believe me, kid. If it was easy getting out of here, I would''ve never needed your help. The book door is just another path and it will lead you to somece else in this vast¡­mansion,"

    Once more, Cesar couldn''t help but notice a slight detail that the voice just revealed in his ears which he questioned.

    "Mansion?"

    "Yes¡­" The voice creepily paused, "The ce you''re stepping into is just a mansion of the benevolent being that once had been used to inhabit this ce,"

    Cesar didn''t retort in the meantime. He wanted to digest the information he received from the mysterious voice and only then he asked yet another question once he did.

    "When will I be able to encounter this library? Are you there?"

    "All paths will lead to that library so you don''t have to worry about a single thing. Hence whatever you read at that ce, it will be a knowledge that only you all are privileged or fortunate enough to learn¡­ in my opinion. And as for your second question¡­ not really,"

    The voice creepily paused, "I escaped in that cursed ce a long time ago because a being really couldn''t stay at that ce for a few days."

    "Is there any particr reason why you decided to leave?"

    The eerie voice seemed to scoff in disbelief as if remembering a bitter past before answering, "There''s an enemy there, a kin of the Void. The one who observed the vast library, the Keeper of the Void. Be careful not to meet that entity. But if you do¡­ even I don''t know what might happen to you,"

    Cesar nkly stared upwards, feeling his head going crazier at these encounters before finally wrapping up this conversation.

    "Whoever you are, I guess a little bit of thanks is well deserved," Cesar paused, "Is there any additional thing you like to remind me of?"

    The eerie voice if it wasn''t really a figment of Cesar''s imagination, answered with a light chuckle, "Actually yes. Aside from the Keeper and the Void itself, there are two more things you need to watch out for while being inside The Mansion,"

    Patiently waiting for the voice to continue, the voicepletely disappeared inside Cesar''s head. Confused and believing that it was just one of its antics to reply for a long time, he gave up before letting out a smile.

    There aren''t any voices in his head left any longer.

    "I''ll remember your words at the back of my head,"

    Cesar shifted his gaze below and couldn''t help but sigh as his descent continued as it was without any kind of stopping at some point.

    The slight distraction that the voice made for him was enough to put him on guard once again, knowing for a fact that if the voice meant harm to him, it wouldn''t even have second thoughts about doing some damage to him.

    But was that really just it?

    ''Whoever that voice is sounded much more powerful than Vin. Not only was it knowledgeable enough, but the fact that it can transmit a mental message into someone''s head is mind-blowing as well. It''s like those people in the myths, The Shaded of the Sixth Order.''

    Now that he was done revering and analyzing the power capabilities of the voice, Cesar fell into deep contemtion once he put his mind back on track.

    "The Void¡­ Keeper of the Void¡­"

    Cesar was sure that these two entities were sentient enough, and it was unfortunate for someone like him tond these powerful beings.

    "Are they even Nightmares?"

    This question was even more pressing than the rest.

    If they were Nightmares of this caliber, they are considered to be the highest rank of what was most known to humans, Higher-Nightmare Creatures.

    Throughout the recorded data and what was known to all the world, there are only five traces found rting to these ranked creatures. Four out of five creatures were eradicated in exchange for the lives of thousands of people since they are in a variety of Active Nightmares.

    "Higher Creatures; Active Nightmares¡­"

    Cesar couldn''t help but shiver at the mere thought.

    What if these creatures invaded the whole world right now?

    They could only pray that it wouldn''te to that point.

    Cesar shook his head to remove such thinking as his goal right now was to leave the Mansion, and just get the hell out of the city altogether.

    He might not get out to see the invasion of these creatures once they decided toe out and wreak havoc if he continued twaddling about it.

 Chapter 48: Findings

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Slightly losing sense of what a solid floor feels like, Cesar continuously descends to the endless hallway of the Mansion.

    For thest couple of hours, all Cesar did was enjoy the breeze passing by him as he continued dropping down that it even started to bore him.

    Thoughts started to enter his mind such as being in an endless loop that came from a powerful being, but he ceased that idea when he spotted something down below the bottom of the hallway.

    There, he saw a wooden ancient door, exactly simr to the one he entered a few hours ago before his descent. His eyes glistened with happiness once he saw the door, a yearning he was least expecting to see but wasn''t hopeful to think so enough.

    Because he had no idea how the hallways worked in the first ce.

    But now that he spotted another type of ancient wooden door, Cesar was able to conclude the knowledge he had on his hands.

    First, the vast hallways have an end to it. One can know that they are on the end if they spot the same a wooden ancient door. It doesn''t matter how far it is. There will be a point of start and finish.

    Second, these ancient doors seemed to be the only thing that one could hope for in escaping through these hallways. Unless someone had the same capability as the Void which can destroy the stalwart walls of the hallway, only for them to be devoured by the purplish emptiness instead, they could only hope to find the door at the very end of their paths.

    Lastly, the hallway seemed to follow the same boring path. They either went forward or backward but Cesar preferred to move forward since there was nothing else left through the preceding pathway.

    All that aside¡­

    "A door!"

    Cesar already came up with a n once he spotted a door in the bottom of the hallway. One thing he just needed was the curtain from the windows.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Slightly hovering to the side near the curtains that remained unmoving even though there was a shift of the center of bnce from the hallway, Cesar picked up one dagger from his pocket.

    Looking down once more only to see that the bottom was closing in, Cesar swiftly stabbed his dagger at one of the iing curtains.

    Already tested how durable the curtains were, Cesar bet his life that it was enough support to withhold his weight and enough to put a stop to his ever-pacing speed.

    Rip¡ª!

    However, due to how momentous his fall is, the curtain was ripped apart by his dagger. He was slightly inurate because it only decreased his fall and did notpletely halt its movement.

    Though he wasn''t disappointed. All he ever did was go for another curtain and do the same process.

    Rip¡ª!

    A few curtains were already ripped apart in the process but eventually, Cesar managed to hold himself together and made aplete stop.

    Thud¡ª!

    Consequently, the corpse of the five-legged corrupted humannded near the door and turned into a mush of blood pasted on the solid ground.

    That would''ve him as well if he wasn''t prepared.

    "¡­"

    Looking around the ancient door to observe if any corrupted human was waiting for him down there with the dead corpse acting as a perfect bait, Cesar patiently stood by. Hanging himself in a curtain with the use of a dagger, he silently views the situation below.

    Nothing.

    It was dead silent under.

    Loading his revolver with a delirium shell since he was out of piercing shell, Cesar put it back in his holster before picking up another dagger.

    With an indifferent face, Cesar removed the dagger that got stuck in the curtain and went down.

    Thud¡ª!

    Cesar swiftly took a fighting position, ready to take action once hended on the solid floor after doing so very exponentially.

    But there was indeed nothing.

    Just because he lost an eye didn''t mean he lost sight of his surroundings. Now, he was sure that there was no threat involved in the area he was in.

    "All that left is¡­"

    Cesar started closing in towards the door which was just a meter away from his position. Vignt as ever, still expecting that a certain danger woulde lunging at himst second, he was finally in front of the door.

    "Here goes nothing¡­"

    Slightly bending his knee, Cesar held the knob with a slight fear. Wishing that he''d not met the Void waiting outside instead of another type of hallway, he bravely opened itter.

    Inside the door was the same hallway. One of the things that changed, however, is the fact there was a tilt of newly center of bnce which forced Cesar to tighten his grip on the ancient door''s knob.

    "Crap!"

    Right now, instead of falling through the door, the shift of the center of gravity made it look like the opposite. Now, he was falling to the other side, where Cesar went to travel a few hours ago, the door that Cesar escaped narrowingly from the Void.

    He just saw a few remains of the five-legged human go back into that other ce as it started dropping down once more.

    On the other hand, Cesar had no ns of following it again.

    He had enough of falling.

    "Okay¡­"

    Heaving arge amount of air through his chest, Cesar started swinging his body forward and backward making the door creak in response.

    Creak¡ª!

    Having enough momentum for his n to work, Cesar detached his hands from the knob before reaching the edge of the door to bring himself up towards the entrance of the other hallway.

    "Argh!"

    Pushing his way through the door with his tattered body that still didn''t get enough rest, Cesar managed to clinch his way up.

    Crawling and feeling miserable, Cesar only then managed to stand up and fully view the situation inside his hallway.

    "You got to be shitting me¡­"

    Already been through a hallway that could only move forward and backward, a falling hallway, this time, Cesar found himself in a hallway that only went upwards.

    There''s an addition, however.

    There was a flight of squared-shaped stairs he could use to climb upwards, ced on the side of the wall, coiling up towards who knows where.

 Chapter 49: Up

    "Whoever made this Mansion is aplete psycho! Who in their right mind would make something as hard as this?!"

    Cesar couldn''t help but shout his frustration, not liking the matter that he was put in different hallways that would test his sanity from time to time. He was dead exhausted and he''d be more so once he started climbing upstairs.

    He wanted to imagine that it would take hundreds of steps to reach the end of the flight of stairs but he didn''t like how it appeared to be superficial since the architect of the mansion was crazy enough to build a descending hallway that extends for hours till reaching the end.

    ''Does imagining something good even matter at this point?''

    Cesar shook his head before steeling his resolve to go further once more. With no other choice but to climb upstairs, Cesar took his first step upward.

    Tak¡ª!

    With no time to waste, Cesar continued climbing upstairs, already on his twentieth step as he was counting his way up. It was a way to keep his focus so that he remained vignt and avoid even acting a second of negligence just because he wascent or tired.

    Tak¡ª!

    Once it took a hundredth step for Cesar, his breathing appeared heavy, and did a moment of break by stabilizing his breathing for over a minute. The moment the minute was up, he was ready for another journey up.

    Then it took another hundred, another hundred, and another more.

    His legs started to be weary from the relentless and exhausting way upstairs with no way near the end goal. He even believed he was barely reaching a quarter of the entirety of these stairs but since there was no choice but to move upwards, he could only suck it up and grit his teeth through it.

    On his way toward the five hundred steps, Cesar heard the eerie voice once again.

    "Woah, you are in this area?"

    Cesar took a quick break once he heard the same evenly and creepy voice and couldn''t help but greet hispanion for today.

    "Where have you been? And your words¡­ you knew where am I?"

    The eerie voice happily answered, "I was just¡­ resting. Believe me, talking to you is taking too much toll even for someone like me. Not only do I have to hide from the Void, I also have to worry that I wasn''t found by them yet,"

    It paused, "As for how I''m able to know your location, let''s just say I have my ways,"

    ''I guess I''m not wrong in my judgment that this guy is a powerful being who was trapped by the Void.''

    Cesar mused inwardly before leaving the mysterious voice words as it is. He was just d that he had someone to talk to, even if it was an iing enemy.

    Cesar then raised a question, "If you know where I am, will I be able to find another door by the end of these stairs?"

    "You seemed to have thought that every hallway would lead to another door one after another. Thankfully, you are not a dumb brat so that''s a bonus for me." The eerie voice felt jubnt for some reason before it continued, "Three thousand steps, a few traps, and one corrupted human. That''s the thing you should remember while taking this hallway,"

    ''Three thousand steps¡­ If this voice was telling the truth, then that''ll take a very long time. As for the corrupted human, it''s something I was expecting to meet anyway. But traps?''

    Cesar paused while forming a frown, ''That''s something new. By the looks of it, the further one went inside the mansion, the harder the challenges,''

    Cesar contemted his new learnings from the voice even though he wasn''t believing most of them. Still, all of them are stored at the back of his mind.

    As if it had given him ample time enough for him to think, the eerie voice then added, "Anyways, did my voice stop after telling you the people you need to watch out for or before that?"

    Done considering his ns for the uing fight, knowing there''s certain danger upstairs, Cesar answered the voice after a while.

    "Before that,"

    The eerie voice then replied, "Then, I''ll tell it to you now. The people you need to watch out for are first the Heretic. This guy had a key that enabled him to enter in and out but its potential is much more than that. He''ll be someone you''ll be in trouble with when you reach the library,"

    ''Heretic¡­ That heretic?''

    Cesar only then realized that the voice was talking to was no other than the heretic that he met earlier. For the voice to warn him about the mysterious figure, showed that he was considered a person with aptitudes, something that he had already shown when they were outside.

    The eerie voice then added evenly, "Up next is the being that the heretic had stolen the key from. It goes by the name The Librarian. Erm, as for this one, you''ll have to probably avoid fighting this fellow because it has grown to the point that I''m not even sure of defeating it. Just run if you see it,"

    ''To regard this¡­ librarian, which had a funny title to it, a being that can stand toe to toe with this voice. It must be damn powerful. So how the fuck did that heretic managed to steal something from it!?''

    Even though he had only met the Void, if running away from it was considereding in contact with it, and the heretic, who still had an unknown purpose, the other two didn''t seem to be far-fetched from the previous ones in terms of being a menace.

    The one that stood all of them was the eerie voice that talked inside his head.

    "Oh, if you want to survive all of that, you really have to mind the traps that you''ll trigger,"

    As if it was well-timed and while stillpletely focused on his surroundings, Cesar came across a hidden te while making his way towards the top.

    The gears from somewhere only then started shifting which made Cesar freeze at the spot.

 Chapter 50: Mansion Traps

    Creak¡ª!

    Immediately stepping away from the te he just tapped, he identally produced a gears shifting from somewhere Cesar could hear. As if something was about to happen, Cesar didn''t waste a single time as he immediately darted upwards.

    Whatever the trap was, he didn''t want to see it in his eyes.

    "Hey! Are you there?! Howe you knew about the traps? Do you perhaps recognize some of them?"

    Imploring the eerie voice about what it knew about the traps, Cesar demanded answers weren''ting yet.

    However he wasn''t going to patiently wait this time, knowing the unnerving gears switchinging from outside the hallway which is impossible to happen, unceasingly tickled Cesar'' ears.

    It wasing for him... that''s what it was trying to imply.

    He continued climbing up.

    Creak¡ª!

    Doubts started to fill Cesar''s mind, as he was expecting something to happen, yet it never came. Still, those doubts tend to distract a person''s concentration, so he immediately removed them from his head and relentlessly ran upward.

    "What the..."

    Eventually, Cesar couldn''t help but take a breather once he realized that the sounds of gears shifting weren''t actually doing anything to him, merely tricking his mind as simply trying to pull a prank on him.

    "Hahh¡­ Hahh¡­"

    Breathing raggedly as his expression started to change into a deranged face, Cesar couldn''t help but chuckle.

    "I don''t understand anymore¡­"

    The trap he just stepped onto, clearly believing it this time, seemed to be just a way to make him agitated. It was never meant to give him harm but a means to add exhaustion to his already exhausted mind and body.

    Or was that really it?

    Instead of believing the logical solution he had thought of, Cesar didn''t just idle around as he continued climbing.

    Was the trap really a prank on whoever stepped into that te? Or was it something else that was why the gears shifting were very loud which kept ringing at his ears?

    Creak¡ª!

    Soon, Cesar was finally able to discover the reason why the sounds of gears kept reverberating through the wooden walls of the hallway.

    Further away from the top of the stairs, there was a mysterious figure that almost looked like a human falling down in the middle of the stairs,ing straight towards him. Almost human was an understatement if not for the fact that this figure appeared very, very tall.

    Its head only consisted of tiny mouths and one protruding eye atop everything else.

    It was a corrupted human.

    The tall corrupted human stretched its two small hands, pointing it directly at Cesar as it continued falling down. Once it was near him, its two small feet hung themselves at the edge of the stairs, silently watching him for a brief moment¡­ not until it let out a piercing shriek.

    "Kreee¡ª!"

    The two small hands that were already pointed at him suddenly formed a mouth and spewed out green liquid towards Cesar who immediately started avoiding the corrupted creature.

    Sizzle¡ª!

    Barely dodging the liquid as the corrupted human had an uncanny aim, Cesar couldn''t help but be distracted and looked at the boiling green liquid as it made contact with the stairs.

    ''Acid? So this is not the same Level Zero corrupted human that I kept encountering at the start of this mansion? An ability and it looked like this creature hated me for some reason¡­''

    Cesar analyzed the monster and the ability it had while running below the stairs, seeing that the corrupted human was waiting for it toe up rather than pursuing him. By the looks of it, it can think on its own.

    ''So the gears are a way to attract something, huh.'' Cesar couldn''t help but shake his head at the realization that he could onlyugh in disbelief.

    After taking a few distance away from the corrupted human, Cesar silently observed the creature from this standpoint, gazing upward while discerning what to do from now on.

    ¡­

    "Okay¡­ I''ve decided,"

    Thinking up a n has been easy for Cesar, considering he had been doing such actions back when he was in his first year. Hence, it only took a solid three minutes and this time, he was sure that there''d be no problem on his part unless the corrupt showed something ridiculous.

    But he''s confident that the corrupted isn''t some ridiculous being pretending to be weak. After all, powerful people wouldn''t reduce to the tactic of merely waiting for the prey to pass by since that was the only way to the top.

    Cesar then picked up his dagger before tearing some part of his clothes that could be used to cover his mouth. Once he put the torn cloth around his lips wearing it as some sort of mask, Cesar brought out the ck tooth from his pocket.

    "Now my gun¡­"

    Knowing his revolver was loaded, Cesar still double-checked if it was full. The moment he did so, he started stretching his arms to prepare for the takeoff.

    "I''m beat¡­"

    Letting out another tired sigh that he had been doing right at the start of his fourth year, Cesar slightly bent to the ground, not in a sprint manner but more specifically something more like a jump off.

    As if he was about to leap very high.

    It truly was for that.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Once he built up momentum around the ground, Cesar shot upwards, traversing a couple of stairs in just a second beforending on the nearby staircase as he did. In just a second, he went even further before taking another leap by relying on his improved jumping power which was a boost that came from taking a facet.

    "Kree!"

    Clearly agitated at how swiftly Cesar was able to close the distance between them, the corrupted was taken aback for a second but that was only it.

    The creature didn''t just idle around and lunged forward.

    That was what Cesar was waiting for.

    Channeling his essence onto the ck tooth he was holding with his hand, Cesar threw it to the iing corrupted human before adjusting his aim at his revolver towards the monster.

    "Die,"

 Chapter 51: Three Thousand Steps

    Scrunch¡ª!

    The tall corrupted human found itself being assisted by the hallway''s cold walls. Half of its body was blown away by a barrage of bullets while the other half was muddled with blue blood that kept oozing out from its orifices.

    "Kree!"

    It was shouting while it couldn''t bring itself up due to the injuries it suffereding from the man, who was currently staring at it a few meters away with his revolver pointed at its head.

    Though the direction of the corrupted human''s shout was at the front, imagining an unfamiliar figure that didn''t look Cesar at all.

    The man that the corrupted human was hallucinating was no other than the heretic who was draped in a priest''s robe, smirking at it as if mocking its existence.

    All the creature could do was shout in a pleading tone that probably only itself could understand whatevernguage it was screaming.

    "Kree¡ª!"

    Cesar observed everything on the sidelines, not even aware of what was transpiring in the corrupted human''s head. All he was thinking was that the delirium shell, a bullet he specifically used to put the creature down, worked perfectly well, and was receiving the end of the specialized bullet''s gift.

    "Hahh¡­"

    Bringing out a tired sigh after that relentless hour of fighting the corrupted with no rest in between them, Cesar stood up from his ce, his expression slightly contorting due to his already battered body bing even more so.

    His clothes, in particr, were so ragged one could mistake him for being a slum dweller. Thankfully, in their fight that took so much time, Cesar didn''t suffer grave injuries unlike he did from the previous two.

    It was ironic that those level zero corrupted who purely rely on their physical were able to make Cesar a run on his money while a level one corrupted, the one he just fought right now, was all about buying time without suffering major injuries.

    All he did was expose it to the ck tooth''s odor and keep shooting it.

    It would''ve been faster if his eyes weren''t decapitated but Cesar knew crying over something that would never be back was pretty useless in this situation.

    ''I was still making some pretty dumb mistakes here and there but it''s all because I only have an eye to rely on for my vision. I''ll have to adjust this soon since I''m running out of specialized bullets to use,''

    Now that both the delirium and piercing shells, and one of the sleeping shells were out of the question, Cesar was left with two sleeping shells left. Not prioritizing efficiency in this situation understanding every arsenal he had was important to be used, Cesar always brought his A game.

    But all that was left of him were mundane bullets, one sleeping shell, and two artifacts which were the biggest weapons yet for now. Aside from his revolver which is pretty much useless without a bullet, there were his daggers that were starting to lose their value to prolonged uses.

    "Anyhow, why I''m thinking about this? Right, I won. It doesn''t matter what I lose within me, as long as I don''t end up dead, that''s all that matters,"

    Already having to take a breather, Cesar stood from sitting at the staircase before taking a few steps forward and closing in towards the corrupted human that didn''t stop screaming at whatever it was that appeared at its front.

    For some reason, Cesar even took pity on it. It''s probably because it was once a human and has been contaminated with corruption, but whatever it was seeing was probably Cesar wouldn''t imagine watching when looking at their situation.

    sh¡ª!

    To end its suffering, Cesar sliced the head of the monster before cutting a few more, turning its head into bowdlerized head that fell in the cold staircases.

    "I thought there would be more surprises,"

    The only reason he was resting was because he had taken into ount that the corrupted was probably faking its condition and was hiding a trump card that could turn things around.

    s, he was disappointed but mostly satisfied that there was nothing else left for the creature to use.

    Now, he was waiting once again.

    After a few minutes, he checked the corpse of the corrupted human to see if it dropped any artifacts that the previous creatures had.

    After a while, his face became disappointed since the hour he spent fighting the tall beast resulted in nothing but weariness and exhaustion.

    Grumble¡ª!

    Feeling his tummy churning with hunger, Cesar couldn''t help but rub it with discontent before he cut the helm of the tall corrupted human''s cloth with the use of his dagger.

    He''ll have it to cover his eyes since it started to get itchy and ache due to him giving it zero care as it became pretty much useless to him now. Still, he didn''t want to hinder his performance just because of some eye that started to affect his well-being.

    After everything was done, Cesar started to go upward to reach his three thousand steps goal.

    ¡­

    "Ugh!"

    Determined to go up, Cesar found himself losing some breath while escaping the traps that he identally stepped into no matter in what manner the approach he did was.

    The weird thing about these traps is that no matter how careful a person is, these traps had some sort of concealment in them that Cesar''s heightened senses didn''t matter at all.

    On the way towards the top, he stepped at five traps that were working and didn''t pull a prank on him. He experienced avoiding arrowsing at his chest, dodging huge falling stones, escaping loose staircases that seemed to have lost their function, and false walls that tried to suck him inside.

    Thest trap that he stepped into was forcing him to go up even further as sweltering water started to rise from below at an rming rate that Cesar had no choice but to leap upwards.

    "Hot! Hot! Hot!"

    Eventually, having to desperately make his way top, feeling the heat of the boiling water creeping upon his skin, Cesar managed to spot the door by the end of his climb.

    "Don''t you dare need a key now!"

    Cesar shouted urgently before twisting the knob and hastily entered inside.

    Feeling the boiling water barely touching the tip of his toe, Cesar swiftly closed the door, not wanting a single thing to leave the

    Sizzle¡ª!

    "I''m cooked¡­ No, is it almost boiled? Fucking pathetic..."

    Cesar could only slump on the ground, feeling his legs weakened.

 Chapter 52: Edge Of The Table

    Recollecting his shaky breath, something that he had been doing for so many times the moment he entered the forsaken Mansion, Cesar remained vignt even though his actions suggested being carefree.

    He had already taken those lessons in a hard way and he will not fumble just because he was merely exhausted, even though he was indeed extremely fatigued.

    Cesar will not take second chances.

    "Hahh¡­"

    Not counting how many times he let out that tired sigh, Cesar finally brought himself to stand up. Once he did, Cesar tiredly turned around since the door on his front appeared to be rather small¡­pared to the area he was in.

    There are no solid walls, red carpet that stretches into each of the opposite sides, andstly the curtains that gently sway even with the absence of air.

    What was in his view however was a titanic, ancient grey stone table that extended across the limit of what his eyes could see. On the sides of the gargantuan table were intricately designed chairs.

    Its seat was ited cord and was supported on a sharply curved sabre-shaped legs, tapering to the feet. The horizontal back rail, curved to fit the body, was supported on four uprights.

    In each segment of the table were spiraling lights that stretched from the roof that seemed impossible to peer through which is enough to light up the owner of those seats.

    In Cesar''s eyes, all he could describe those chairs was eerily majestic, too overwhelming, and very precarious situation to be in.

    In front of such a gigantic view, Cesar found himself on the doorsteps of the unknown existences that seemed to be the ones who dwelled in the seats in the past. -here

    There were no nearby enemies in sight but one can mistake the mere ancient stone table and the lining chairs as an impossible enemy to stumble upon.

    Another mere thought passed through Cesar''s that made him shiver.

    ''H-how can I search for the door towards the next hallway¡­ This table seemed to be endless this time. Besides, this hallway is way, way, way, and way more vast than the previous ones! How the fuck did I stumble upon here! Oh my good lord! Just fucking kill me!''

    On the verge of pulling out his gun and pushing the trigger right in his mouth, Cesar didn''t let his intrusive win, afraid that it was starting to get his head rather than keeping it entirely at it.

    "A-and, there''s food¡­"

    For some impossible reason, the table that looked like been made a million years ago had an abundance of exotic food that didn''t feel grotesque at all. Might be even more so to the eyes of a hunter that hadn''t eaten for hours now, forced to fight due to circumstances, and it had been taking a toll on his health, especially now that he was damn hungry.

    These foods that looked like a death trap reached Cesar''s nostrils and captivated his entire wellbeing which he forced to bite his lip strongly for him to return his concentration.

    Tak¡ª!

    pping his cheek using both hands, Cesar then started to analyze the situation he put himself in.

    "Let''s see¡­ With the door on my back, it''s only natural that the other door was on the other side. But judging how this gigantic table was already far from my eyes, this journey might take longer than I was expecting¡­ Of course, of freaking course, it will take long!"

    Having his sanity tested once more, Cesar started walking, aiming to walk at the legs of the table before climbing onto it. Staying underground when the darkness felt eerily familiar, simr to the memoir existence from his received facet, only poses some dangerous risks.

    Hence instead of trying to traverse through the darkness itself, it''s better to move somewhere he could see.

    It''s not about the food really.

    Painstakingly managing to jog toward the table''s leg after an hour of staying attentive and dedicated, Cesar finally reached the site. Grabbing both daggers from his pocket, Cesar looked up, only to feel stunned once again at just how tall the table was.

    This time, there are no staircases to assist him upwards. If he wanted to get on the surface of the table, he''d have to crawl his way up.

    "Please don''t be something so hard¡­"

    Cesarmented before trying to stab the ancient stone table, feeling relieved when it showed that he was able to stick his weapon at it.

    "Oh thank goodness¡­"

    Assuring himself that his n was enough to get him to the table''s surface, Cesar readied himself by slightly bending to the floor. Only then when he had enough momentum he leaped very high before jabbing his dagger at the table''s legs with ease.

    After sessfully hanging himself, Cesar created another stance that would support his momentum while tightly gripping the handle of his daggers.

    Once he was sure it was enough to take leaps and bounds, Cesar released the dagger and jumped upwards.

    Tak¡ª!

    This boring repetition of getting himself tired just toy himself down on the soothing surface of the humongous table, continued as it was before he came to a quarter of the table height to take a rest.

    Having to focus his breath swiftly, not knowing when the dagger would be able to keep itself up, Cesar let out another strong breath before readying on another takeoff.

    He leaped upwards.

    Tak¡ª!

    Beads of sweat that kept drenching his blood-soaked clothes, Cesar found himself right in the heels of the table''s surface.

    He had lost track of time but because this required more hard work than the other previous challenges he encountered, he was guessing it took a few hours for him to achieve such an almost impossible ordeal with his kind of beaten body.

    But he was almost there.

    "Just¡­ a¡­ bit¡­ longer¡­"

    Cesar held his dagger a little tighter, feeling every part of his body shaking. Quivering, Cesar let out a fast breath from his lips before jumping towards the table''s edge without any trouble.

    "Ugh!"

    Groaning as he puked out a mouthful of saliva from the table''s ne, Cesar felt ecstatic. Even though his smile was more insane than usual, his actions were still an achievement to celebrate.

    He finally did it.

    He was on the table''s cold stone surface.

 Chapter 53: Frozen Delicacies

    Feeling his lips dry and his body growling hungrier, Cesar seemed determined and battle-ready to eat whatevernded on his mouth and his eye.

    If he could eat the ancient stone''s surface, he would rightfully do so without any reaction. The situation was bing demanding after all.

    ''Holy fuck, I''m so tired. I don''t like standing up now¡­''

    Lying on the surface while staring upwards at a gigantic spiralingmp hanging on the roof that could not be peered through, Cesar gazed aimlessly.

    Not going toment his ridiculous situation which he had been doing the moment he got inside the cursed mansion, Cesar had no choice but to stand up knowing merely staying would not progress on its own.

    "Ugh¡­"

    His leg was still shaking as he tried to look at his hands which were quivering in the same manner as his knees.

    Feeling kind of funny inside, Cesar moved to the edge of the table which made him shudder at how tall the table really was from his standpoint. Barely even noticing the ground floor, he wasn''t going to imagine falling there since it spelled straight death right away aside from having flying abilities like Maine had.

    Speaking of Maine¡­

    "How''s everyone holding up now, I wonder."

    Cesar was focused on himself as he should be yet he couldn''t help but worry at his poor squad being sent like him to suffer excruciating challenges. The same as him, they were only exemry students who had been put in the city probably because of negligence from whoever designed the mission for them.

    Not that it matters now anyway.

    "I''m sure they''ll make it,"

    Cesar didn''t have time to worry about others now since he had himself to take care of. Whatever challenges they face, like him, he was confident enough they''ll make it through.

    "Now then¡­"

    Turning around, Cesar watched the delicacies from the table and couldn''t help but salivate at how tasty those things were.

    But Cesar wasn''t going to be tricked.

    ''This is going to be much more painful¡­''

    Cesar braced himself as he stepped forward, starting to cross different kinds of exotic food that only remained unmoving in their ces, alluring the hungry people watching themselves.

    ¡­

    Mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted throughout the course of his stay at the perturbing mansion, Cesar had to add another kind of exhaustion to his list of already bothersome problems; Being hungry.

    The hunger he was undergoing felt so unbearable that he might just grab a bite of this alluring food which is obviously a trap for anyone that set their eyes upon them.

    ''If only that voice coulde to talk to me and confirm if this food is healthy enough for me to eat¡­ But anyway, it''s not like I trusted that mysterious voice enough. Who knows what his goal is? Is it really just to get out?''

    Rumble!

    Cesar heard his grumbling tummy for who knows how many times it had happened toe at this point but he still kept his hunger in check.

    These delicacies that looked like they had been frozen in time, untouched, and ready to be eaten were bing more delicious in Cesar''s eyes.

    "Hey!"

    pping both of his checks once more, Cesar continued thriving forward. If the exchange of satiating his hunger was his death, he might as well jump over the table and end his life himself.

    He''ll not fall to his inner desires now¡­ at least not yet.

    ''The table does seem muchrger here than when looking at the bottom rather than stepping at this floor.''

    The ancient stone table was not only long but its length was wide as well. Spread around its surface were antique tes with food atop them. The exquisite chairs that were only motionless in their position were sending dangerous messages to Cesar, saying that whoever had sat down from it wasn''t just simply nobody.

    In fact, Cesar was confused about how the gigantic beings that owed these chairs managed to enter the mansion, a caliber of their size, to sneak their way into the doors that were merely the size of a bug in their eyes.

    ''Sigh, there''s no reason to think such things when it wouldn''t even help me on my situation at all¡­''

    Cesar only then realized that he was only halfway through crossing the first two chairs, and there was still quite a distance left till he came across the other two that came next with the first two.

    By the looks of it, the chair had a pattern it followed. Each segment had two chairs opposite each other, making Cesar''s suspicions regarding the history of the table is not simply a ce where it is purely a ce to eat.

    It looked like a council where important gatherings were held.

    Cesar became even more convinced when he started seeing intricate cups beside some of the frozen delicacies. There were other utensils and silverware ced on the side as well such as different kinds of knives, varying sizes of spoons and forks, and empty small tes.

    More importantly, those cups¡­

    ''Is there any water?''

    Cesar wanted to avoid the delicacies that looked like they had been frozen from time that didn''t produce any molds or rot as well as those spoon and fork, but it was different if those cups had water on them.

    Yes, he could sustain his hunger. It was a different topic when they were talking about his thirst though, since he had been fighting nonstop and not receiving a droplet of water aside from using his saliva which continued to dwindle.

    Cesar wanted to run and try to see the contents of those cups when he suddenly heard a voice in his head, something he wanted to hear the most when he was on the journey to cross the stone table.

    "Whatever you are trying to do, I refrain you from doing so,"

    Cesar halted and couldn''t help butmented, "Do you know about this ce?"

    The eerie voice didn''t deny it as it stated, "If I remember correctly from one of the book''s contents, this ce is an assembly of higher beings. And every utensil you are seeing has been touched with their grace,"

    It paused, "Most of those tools, however, are affected by corruption,"

 Chapter 54: Tricking Time

    ''Corruption again¡­''

    Cesar immediately distanced himself away from the utensils that he could see from the table, afraid that he might get infected by the same profane concept of impureness.

    However, he also noticed a key detail that the eerie voice seemed to willingly leave out which is excluding the food on the list of corruption.

    He was bing hopeful.

    The eerie voice, Cedeit, then continued, its voice grim than usual, "You heard me right. Corruption. Something as vile as this continued to corrupt every being and all anyone could do was avoid it. Knowing fighting something powerful as this wasn''t enough to eradicate itpletely.

    Its resistance is like an annoying pest that no matter how many times people prevent it from happening, it will continue to grow and expand.

    "The utensils, as far as I''m concerned and following what I knew, are tainted by the hands that touched it, the same beings from these assembly who were more susceptible to the corruption that you knew. ording to it, those utensils had been used as a medium to transfer the corruption within them. The one who designed it was no other than the creator of this Mansion,"

    Cesar couldn''t make the most sense of the Cedeit''s words but he got the gist of it.

    This assembly isn''t just really as simple as eating the food for the visitors of the creator of the Mansion. There was a meeting that had transpired and it has been used to help those people to avoid being corrupted at the same time.

    The utensils are the medium that has been used to do so.

    Nevertheless, the fact that the creator of the mansion was able to pull off that unbelievable achievement was noteworthy to be proud of.

    "I guess the creator is a big deal. Seems like a very powerful individual,"

    Cedeit followed up, its t tone seemed to be agreeing, "You got it."

    Feeling the mysterious voice to be in a good mood, Cesar pressed even further as he added, "If so, how is this table unaffected by the utensils that seemed to be corrupted? Wouldn''t that spread around the ce?"

    The eerie voice answered after a whole minute, as always, "ording to the article, something unbelievable feat such as "tricking time" was part of the y. He isted the utensil in that space alone while deceiving the ''real'' time that continued to transpire even until today. Oh, be very careful about stepping inside the ''space'' I was talking about.

    I''m unsure what will happen to a being who was inside of it as well,"

    ''Tricking time¡­''

    For some reason, Cesar waspelled to connect these findings to the frozen delicacies he was currently seeing. If the architect of the mansion was able to pull off corruption transfer into utensils, tricking the time into food shouldn''t pose much of a problem.

    Additionally, Cesar can''t help but add and connect this idea to the corrupted areas from the City of Wheels. By the looks of it, they were also tainted by some of the "tricking time" power and it originated from this mansion, right in this table.

    But then another question appeared: how could it escape outside if it was isted in an imaginary space, The Mansion?

    It might not be imusible, but Cesar had an answer in his head that he couldn''t prove for now. At least not yet, when all he had were questions but no answers.

    Still¡­

    ''It''s the Void, isn''t it?''

    The one looking out for the hallways, destroying them even to the point that Cesar almost became one of its casualties, and probably the reason why weird urrences started to happen in the city.

    ''It had to be that purplish emptiness¡­''

    Grumble¡ª!

    While deep in thought, Cesar heard his hunger speaking to him so deeply from his tummy that he couldn''t help but be embarrassed even if no people were watching him, all except hispanion, the eerie voice, Cedeit.

    If the eerie voice was a person in the first ce.

    And as if the mysterious voice managed to ''hear'' his hunger even though Cesar wasn''t seeing anything, it replied with a jest.

    "Are you afraid that these frozen luxurious foods are also affected by the tricking of time as well? I mean, you are not eating them."

    "Well, of course I am!"

    Finally, the long-awaited query inside his head was answered by Cedeit.

    "Good, because most of them are too unbearable for the kinds of you. Even a small bite of this food will cause a surge of essence inside your body. It''s like an overdose in a kind of way,"

    The eerie voice paused, "But it''s not tainted with corruption. Unlike those utensils and silverware where you can spot a thing or two of rot or decay in their bodies, those foods didn''t have any. It didn''t haveone of the few qualities of corruption, rting to food,"

    ''Does that mean they can be eaten still!?''

    Cesar couldn''t help but feel happy instead of feeling worried after being pped with the reality that the food was unavable for the likes of them.

    Cesar could eat them however but it would be hisst supper if he did.

    "Honestly, the food should be the least of your concerns, kid," The even voice of the mysterious figure behind it couldn''t help but sigh, "After all, a Nightmare is currently staying from this table. A few are corrupted and have been controlled by it. Lastly, you will never cross the middle of the table if you can''t defeat it.

    Traveling below the table is a no-go as well since there are Dwellers of the Dark roaming relentlessly from that ce,"

    As if his dreaded situation isn''t just enough, Cesar has another type of problem to worry about.

    And it was a lot.

    Of course, he had to be. He was, after all, in the middle of the assembly that had been once used as a meeting for great beings rather than puny Nightmares as the eerie voice had mentioned.

    "But fret not," The eerie voice seemed to bring good news as he continued,

    "First, you have me. I''ll help you challenge that Nightmare. You have one advantage and it''s that I know what kind of Nightmare is staying at this ce. Second, a few of your people seemed to be stranded nearby which you can use for help. By the looks of it, they entered here using the doors that led to this table,"

 Chapter 55: Candelabra

    ''People¡­''

    Cesar felt shaken about the news but also jubnt that he was finally meeting people from the outside. He felt their longing, in a kind of way.

    The eerie voice, who appeared helpful most of the time, could only just talk but not really help him here on the battleground.

    Now that people were avable nearby, challenging the Nightmare and even eradicating it didn''t seem such a farfetched n any longer. If they can cook up some n while understanding the weaknesses of their counterpart, they should be able to see another day.

    After all, they couldn''t stay at this table far too long.

    It''s been hours since they got transferred inside the mansion but they couldn''t be too sure now, not after what happened when their eyes even deceived themselves.

    If time was being disrupted by its natural flow, Cesar couldn''t even trust it and used normal time as a concept that could be applied in this mansion, as long as they were inside the city and remained just there.

    Staying might be a bad choice itself.

    "Where are they?"

    The eerie voice replied after a while, "They are near the old, long candbra that looks like a tower in your eyes. Follow that trail and you''ll meet them,"

    Cesar was still reluctant to put his confidence in every information that the mysterious voice ryed. Hence, instead ofpletely trusting it, he was putting his life in a gamble whether the words of the voice could help him go through the challenges.

    So far, all his gamble are paying off.

    ''An old, ancient candbra that looks like a tower in my eyes.''

    Cesar soon spotted what Cedeit was trying to mention, quite in shock as the location of the said item was kilometers away from their position.

    But because of it, Cesar realizes that the mysterious voice, Cedeit, isn''t as omnipotent as he thought it would be. Yes, it was knowledgeable and probably powerful, but it was different from the likes of the mythical gods in the stories where a simple problem such as this is just a run in a mill.

    They''ll never be in trouble, unlike him, Cedeit, and everyone else who just got included because they were in this cursed ce.

    ¡­

    Cesar continued traversing through the solid ne of the table''s surface, avoiding the things he needed to avoid while escaping the things he needed to escape.

    It wasn''t easy traveling alone in the ancient stone table but Cesar''s experiences throughout time honed him into what he is now.

    He''ll be ready to bring out everything on his side if that is the only way to survive at the hellhole.

    "Hahh¡­"

    Cesar let out a tired breath jogging his way through the old candbra that slowly gotrger throughout the hours he went through.

    He had already realized beforehand that the location of the candbra was far, but he didn''t realize that a couple of hours had to be used to do so. Even so, because there were no nearby enemies to divert his attention onto, Cesar was left to reach his destination.

    Eventually, Cesar managed to arrive at his destination without getting in trouble.

    ''Holy fuck¡­''

    Now that he was near the old candbra, he was able to distinguish its humungous size in a single look.

    It was damn gigantic. Not only that, but it looked like the whole structure had a magnificent aura that could make one subconsciously think of kneeling in front of it. As for some people to feel that way, it was because it has been once used to transfer the corrupted for three beings.

    Whatever kind of corruption was stored in that candbra, Cesar wished no part of it.

    ''Where are they¡­''

    Cedeit, the mysterious voice that Cesar had talked surprisingly informed him that he would take a rest for him to talk about anything else he needed to know once he had taken the nap he desired.

    His task right now was to find those people that it mentioned.

    ''Right, keeping minimal noise is a must this time around.''

    Cedeit even mentioned to him that the Nightmare they were going to fight disliked noise that it found uneptable. As for how it was categorized didn''t even matter since keeping noise to themselves is enough.

    Cesar was good at keeping noise to himself.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar swiftly made a move by circling the candbra while trying to hide the watchful gaze of the Nightmare from somewhere.

    Midway on his journey, Cesar spotted a makeshift camp that didn''t look old, ancient, and humongous which was too much for their size. Instead, this camp was a normal one, devoid of any light from the inside and outside.

    However, he was toote to realize something.

    nk¡ª!

    "Do something funny and you''re dead. Raise both of your hands,"

    Being pointed with a spear right at the back of his head while being threatened with a nt tone, Cesar followed and raised his hands.

    For him to not notice the presence right away when he was being vignt as always, he couldn''t help but click his tongue.

    ''If I was in my top condition, I would''ve probably noticed the person behind me. Tough luck,''

    Cesar remained motionless in his position before answering, "Whatever you went through, I''ve dealt with it as well. Please, if you belonged to some squad before getting transported in the hallways, my innocent self had something to exin,"

    The spear on his back seemed to be slightly shocked as there was slight hesitation from it before the perpetrator answered.

    "Sparrow?"

    Finally, as if that was the straw to remove any suspicions, Cesar turned around to look at the individual.

    Charming as ever, his features looked like always mad from its onlookers. With both of his eyes shaded with ck circles, the spear in his hand went down with a sigh.

    "Quentin Mero¡­"

    Quentin frowned after being called that way as he retorted, "What''s with the long name? Shock to see that I''m still alive?"

    Cesar shrugged, "No reason. After all, you''re impossible to challenge the hallways without someone assisting you,"

    Quentin frowned as well before retorting as well, "At least I didn''t lose an eye to our opponents¡­ unlike what happened to yours,"

 Chapter 56: Stranded Men

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    The two could only stare silently at each other for a brief moment. Quentin started to doubt himself if he had taken his words too far and could only stay timid as Cesar remained staring at him in the eyes.

    As it continued, the surroundings around Cesar started to be dangerous threatening that Quentin started to shiver in his ce, not wanting to take a single movement that might endanger his life.

    Only then does he start avoiding Cesar''s eyes, bing afraid of him.

    "Pft! Hahaha!"

    Cesar chuckled as he shook his head, not containing the force ofughter kept inside his mouth before closing his distance on Quentin and giving him a tight hug.

    Cesar closed his lips at Quentin''s ear and whispered evenly, "That''s taking too far, knowing how sensitive it is even for me. But I''ll let it slide because we''re short on time."

    He paused, "Setting that aside, I''m d to see you,"

    Not knowing how to react to that kind of response, Quentin could only let out an awkwardugh while receiving Cesar''s hug with a bit of distaste.

    He was d to meet him as well, whether that was true or not didn''t matter.

    Grip!

    The hug took a bit longer than usual, and Quentin started to force himself out of Cesar''s clutch. However, without getting him out of his grasp, he started to get too ufortable.

    With a pained groan, Quentin begged, "Uhm, Cesar. Can you release me?"

    ¡­

    Cesar and Quentin walked side by side as they slowly approached the makeshift camp. As if nearing their campsite makes even less noise poses a certain type of danger, the two didn''t put up any idle talk.

    Setting their conversation earlier, which had nothing to do with their quietness, the two of them could only remain silent for their safety.

    Eventually, they reached the campsite without any hupsing on their way. pping the tent and entering at the same time, both of them came near to the five people that gathered around in a single point.

    ''Woah, woah¡­''

    Cesar was bbergasted when he realized that these people were not just any kind of men he was expecting to see. If they were, he wouldn''t have any choice but to sacrifice them and be on his merry way.

    But now, his way of thinking had to be changed after seeing that five of them were leaders of their own squad when moving on to their second option on their operation in the City of Wheels.

    Their strength, leadership, and overall prowess might be enough to pull off their n to eradicate the Nightmare stopping their way. Enjoy stories on m_v lem|p-yr

    "Sir, I found another one," Quentin respectfully informed as he introduced Cesar, "This is one of my ssmates, the leader of the student''s team, Cesar Sparrow. You might''ve seen him from time to time since he was with Vin thetter half part of the city,"

    A tall man with striking features went to greet Cesar with a brimming smile as he introduced himself, "Hello, Sparrow. You might''ve known me but my name is Squad Leader us. I was a squad leader from the north before we got transferred here."

    Cesar nodded once before asking in a respectful tone, "Is it okay to speak inside the camp? Are you not afraid of alerting the Nightmare outside?"

    From the side, another man approached Cesar and asked with a frown, "Howe you knew there was a Nightmare?"

    ''Shit¡­ Right, Quentin didn''t really talk to me about everything. I just realized that he just led me here and nothing more,''

    Cesar''s deranged mind and glib tongue started to work on their own and it didn''t take long before he produced an answer.

    "Judging that all of you are still here instead of moving forward, a person with a brain can instantly realize that something is wrong. Defeating a couple of Level Zero to Two Corrupted is a piece of cake to you all but it is a different matter if that isn''t your opponent. Honestly, filling up the pieces with these clues is enough to give me an answer,"

    The man from earlier with a long tattoo on his arm up to the side of his cheek, stared at Cesar for a second before letting out a cheeky smile.

    "Hey, I''m just kidding kiddo,"

    The man then introduced, "Sparrow, my name is Squad Leader Jeremiah. I''m designated at the south side of the city before being weirdly transferred to this¡­ hallway. Honestly, I''ve heard about you from Quentin. He was the only one who told me that you realize something was wrong, but we''re far toote to take action,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but nce at Quentin, who gave him a light shrug before Jeremiah continued introducing the other three.

    "You see thatrge man? That guy is a healer support and a squad leader as well. Well, everyone here is a squad leader but anyway. He''s Amar."

    Jeremiah pointed his finger before shifting it slightly to the side, "Right now, Amar is supporting that shorty who is maintaining this tent but don''t be deceived by its appearance since he exined that his power is rted to that. His name is Erin."

    Lastly, Jeremiah shifted his finger at the woman lying unconsciously on the floor. She was breathing which is apparent as her chest goes up and down. With a slightly sad expression, he informed Cesar who the woman was.

    "She''s Leah. A Squad Leader as well and the one who informed us that there''s a Nightmare forward at the candbra. She''s also the first toe to this ce, stopping me, the second one, to continue walking forward. She''s a brave fellow I''m telling you,"

    Cesar solemnly observed the woman and couldn''t help but ask, "What happened?"

    Jeremiah sighed, "Actually, with our food running out of supplies, she had no choice but to search for them. The thing she was avoiding, the delicacies on the table, was the first thing that came to her mind. I was with her at that time, with a rope in my hand ready to pull her anytime."

    He paused, "But before even closing to this food, she weirdly stood at her ce before falling down with a slight seizure. I had no choice but to pull the rope but everything. It has been a week since this happened,"

    ''What?''

    Cesar didn''t let that single detail slide from his head after Jeremiah told the story of Leah losing consciousness after trying to grab a ration from the delicacies.

    "It has been a week?"

 Chapter 57: Set In Stone

    "It has been a week?"

    As if Cesar had asked a weird question, the others couldn''t help but stare at him nkly. Only then did they realize what he was trying to imply and us, standing from the side answered his inquiry.

    "As you can see, the days we got transferred here vary." us exined briefly, "The longest one here is Leah, three days earlier than Jeremiah who has been in this hallway for a week. A dayter, Erin came. Then, me, Quentin, Amar, and you."

    He added, "Like you, well, judging the way you look now, we''ve also passed through hallways on our own. Leah said she passed through two hallways, this is her third one. We just passed through one hallway before climbing up towards one of the table''s segments and made our way up,"

    Seeing that they were normalizing the irregrity of their arrival in the hallway, Cesar didn''t get too excited anymore. By the looks of it, this mansion really had its way of putting someone in a tight spot, giving them all questions and no answers.

    Transferring every individual in the city inside of the mansion walls was one thing but to send them in different time intervals was on another level.

    Cesar discovered yet another finding that he wouldn''t be too sure if it would be helpful enough but it was there.

    With a sigh, Cesar rxed as he sat down on the floor and asked, "Hello, everyone, my name is Cesar Sparrow. Beforeing to this table, I went through three hallways that made me run forward, fall, and run upwards. Oh, I came from the opposite side of the table beforeing to this candbra."

    "Four hallways in total?"

    Quentin stated with a hint of surprise but the same could be said for the others who also gave proud and disbelief expressions.

    Only then do they start conversing on their own, reporting whatever findings they found from their journey to this table.

    Cesar, on the other hand, had to keep a handful of information to himself.

    ¡­

    "How are we going to proceed from now on?"

    Eventually, their conversation started to tit in the more pressing matters. The idle talk was just a way to release the stress that Cesar had suffered which the others understand, just judging the way he appeared.

    Quentin can vouch that it was the real Cesar they were talking to even if he had changed so much, appearance-wise or demeanor-wise.

    That''s why the adult ones wanted this kid to take a moment of breather.

    But it was Cesar who brought the conversation, knowing wasting a single second to idle talk would get them nowhere.

    Jeremiah, the one acting as the speaker for the team, didn''t idle any longer as he preferred to be talking the important questions rather than wasting ''assuring'' someone who didn''t really need it.

    He answered his question, "We''re considering going below this table and went for the other side but Leah strongly warned me not to go under in any circumstances. The Darkness creeps her out for some reason,"

    He added, "She also told me I was fortunate enough to be able to climb without encountering something in the darkness. As for her, she specifically told me that someone watched her from the darkness but it kept getting out of her sight,"

    ''That''s¡­ Is that what Cedeit was referring to? The Dwellers in the Dark?''

    Cesar mused inwardly, remembering the words of the voice when these creatures living in the dark were mentioned.

    He also noticed the shorty react, albeit barely, which he ignored right after.

    ''For Cedeit to mention it, it''s probably a big deal. I see, it makes sense now. He was implying that going through the darkness to get to the other half side of the table is not an option. However, defeating the Nightmare is something that can be manageable somehow,''

    Cesar then gave his opinion by speaking his view, "We absolutely cannot go under the table. I thought it was just me but I couldn''t see anything when I set my sight in the middle of the table while I was making my way up here. On the far edge of the table, it was already hard to see but here¡­ there was nothing but absolute darkness,"

    us couldn''t help but apud his observation, "You know, that''s exactly what Jeremiah told us about when we came here. Honestly, I don''t even know how I was able to get up here but it wasn''t very dark yet when I climbed up."

    He paused, "But then again, we also searched it ourselves to confirm our suspicions. And as you know, under this table in our position¡­ we couldn''t see anything below. Walking blindly is not an option for us if we want to move forward,"

    Jeremiah let out a sigh of disbelief before shifting his gaze at Amar and Erin, "You heard him. It looks like our movement are set in stone. We''re going to defeat that Nightmare ourselves... or escape it somehow if possible,"

    ''Here ites¡­''

    This is what Cesar had been waiting for. By the looks of it, the cohort was considering this option in the first ce. No, it was one of the two choices they had if they wanted to leave this cursed ce.

    Now that Cesar came in here, their doubts about wanting to travel under the table seemed to have been solidified.

    They are never going to cross it.

    "What do we know about the Nightmare, sir?"

    Cesar asked, wanting to know about the Nightmare beforehand and waiting for Cedeit toe and give additional information. He wanted to see the progress that the cohort managed topile while being here.

    "It''s not a lot but¡­ well, I guess it''s enough to have some prior knowledge aside from being clueless entirely," Jeremiah paused before letting out a short cough, "The Nightmare we''re going to face is very sensitive to noise. Don''t worry, this tent is soundproof and the only reason we''re able to talk even though we''re kilometers away from this fellow,"

    He added after a short pause, "Second, it seemed so obsessed with the candbra for some unknown reason. Why? Well, you can see its figure resting on the handle itself,"

    The talk went on for a while as the other shared their own discoveries regarding this Nightmare itself which couldn''t be proven right now due to it being a Fresh Nightmare, in an unknown ce.

    Even so, they started strategizing on how to take their stance regarding this creature, thinking how they''ll defeat this monster without losing a single man from their side.

    In the end of their n, Jeremiah announced that they''ll start their operation in three days.

 Chapter 58: Incoming Marathon

    "Hahh¡­"

    It''s been a while since Cesar took a good night''s rest. Well, it''s only been a day since he arrived at the Mansion yet what he crossed just to get in the table appeared to have been very long time.

    Even when he was back in the academy, Cesar never felt more exhausted than he is now. The mansion kept draining him mentally, abused him physically, and continued ying with his emotions without any kind of break most of the time.

    Now, he was able to take a certain amount of rest that reset his fatigued engine, eat some of the rations that Jeremiah willingly shared with bright smiles on their faces that came from Amar, and be able to break his mind from constant thinking and alert on enemies that mighte lunging at him any time.

    Right now, Cesar was hiding in one of the spots while using an invisible cloak artifact that belonged to Leah. It was the one that Quentin used to sneak to Cesar and was able to meet him.

    Like Quentin, Cesar is tasked on the lookout near their area and see if any other people will be joining them before they n on facing the Nightmare. He did not disagree with their decision since they weren''t just idling around either but preparing for the iing fight.

    "Hey there,"

    As if the timing was correct for it to enter, Cedeit called out with its usual uneven voice. Cesar already knew how slow its reply was from time to time since, from his words, it said it was having a hard time staying up for too long to connect with him, but didn''t mind at all.

    Up to this point in time, Cedeit was nothing but helpful throughout his whole journey.

    If he were going to receive help from this being again, Cesar would not be rejecting it.

    "What now?"

    Cedeit replied over a minute, "That Nightmare''s Title is called Dim. Its true name, however, is called Nicotara. It''s very obsessed with the candbra probably because one of the entities that had sat on one of the chairs rted to darkness touched it. It''s feeding off the corruption from this candbra that was considered, amongst you humans, as an Intermediate Nightmare,"

    ''There it is¡­ the rank of this creature is an Intermediate Nightmare Creature.''

    He was expecting the worst but still couldn''t believe that they were going to fight and kill a Nightmare of that caliber.

    Cedeit then continued, "Its influence was spread all around the candbra. And for that reason, do you realize another problem with your part?"

    Cesar shook his head while remaining on the lookout before hearing an answering from Cedeit.

    Cedeit then answered after half a minute, "The Nightmare will be the least of your problems because as soon as you are inside the territory, the candbra will be your greatest adversary. It will be an agile and fearsome monster and you all, the trespassers are just other beings meant to harm his abode,"

    Cesar remained silent. He let Cedeit continue by adding.

    "There will be a marathon you guys shave to do while being on the constant lookout for the Nightmare and its underlings. Lookout is clearly an understatement since you''ll have to fight it constantly and mostly, repeatedly."

    Cesar''s face was grim once he realized this was not just a simple eradication of a Nightmare but a battle of endurance that would take a long time.

    "I couldn''t put an exact distance how long you''ll have to travel but on your human terms, it will take a few kilometers to cross over. That is if you had the guts to do it,"

    The more he heard how problematic their desperate solution was, the more hesitation filled his head. Not only that, it was probably because of how grave the situation was that Jeremiah and the rest weren''t risking going further.

    If they did, they wouldn''t be waiting in their tent for a chance that hasn''te to their graces yet.

    Cesar would''veughed about it afternding upon yet another ridiculous situation he was put into, but this time there wasn''t any yfulness stered around his face.

    If it was below Level Three Corrupted, he might''ve just shrugged it off but this was different.

    It was Nightmare.

    Cesar continued to rack his brain for solutions, trying to think of yet another option but nothing came to mind. Find new worlds at m-vl-em-py-r

    ''Looks like there''s no other choice left to do¡­ Hahaha, this is ridiculous.''

    Cesar adjusted his thinking almost immediately, preparing his mind that they were set to fight the Nightmare in over two days.

    "Okay, Cedeit. Do you perhaps have any idea of its abilities?"

    Cedeit replied almost immediately as he ryed very briefly, "First is the ability to see in the dark. Second, to leave a dim of darkness from the ces it marked. Third, the ability to detect movements within its marked territories. Fourth, the ability to teleport at its marked territories and even the darkness itself as long as it will it.

    Lastly, as far as I knew, is the ability to manipte the darkness and make something its puppet,"

    He paused after a minute, probably talking that long had exhausted its capabilities before continuing, "I don''t know if it managed to pull a breakthrough of its capabilities but this is what I knew about the creature,"

    Cesar went silent for a while before he continued his lookout, waiting for another shift toe that would rece him for his position.

    Watching the frozen delicacies remain motionless while the spiralingmps that came from the ceiling of this ce provided a bit of light for people, Cesar muttered something from his lips.

    "Thank you, Cedeit,"

    There was no follow-up response but Cesar didn''tdidn''t pursue it any longer.

    Right long after, us came to fill up his position before running to the tent silently to give his reports that he didn''t tell everyone from yesterday when they were talking to each other regarding their findings.

    After all, he didn''t have any reason¡­ not like he needed to.

    But now, Cesar was willing to reveal most of his secrets which might be helpful for their uing fight.

    However, the existence of Cedeit¡­ he''d like to keep its being a secret, something that only he should know.

 Chapter 59: Message

    "You''ve known this much in just a span of a small amount of time?"

    Jeremiah couldn''t help but speak in astonishment as he heard the reportsing from Cesar. The other people who were merely watching couldn''t help but be curious as well and give him high praise while evaluating his capability as a rookie.

    As for what he informed them, it was all rted to the iing Nightmare they were going to face. The way he delivered his information even though it''s only been a day since he hade here didn''t sound right at all.

    In fact, aside from going on a lookout and joining the meeting from time to time, there''s no other situation where Cesar was able to move even deeper and gather this valuable intel.

    This is why Cesar was prepared to give an exnation as to how he was able to gather this important intel... even if it all sounded like a bitter lie.

    However, looking at their faces didn''t exclude any suspicion but an expression of hope that told him they needed this kind of lead, only made Cesar rxed.

    ''This is more like it. Interrogate me when we''re out of here. We focus on what''s important,'' Cesar mused inwardly while letting out a soft smile.

    "How reliable do you think this is, Sparrow?" Jeremiah asked, out of curiosity that didn''t have a tone of maliciousness about it.

    After being posed with that kind of question, Cesar remained silent for a brief while contemting the source of this information which was no other than Cedeit.

    Remembering the eerie voice of the entity that continued giving him advice that he heeded and saved his life a few times now, Cesar believed that this was solid proof of information.

    After all, Cedeit had been right all this time.

    "It''s very reliable sir. I''m sure of it,"

    As if that was everything he needed to see the value of this information and clear the doubts in his head, Jeremiah let out a chuckle before nodding once.

    "Then, I have no words left. Good job gathering this information," Jeremiah then turned solemn as he added, "Now, all that''s left is to deal with the Nightmare."

    He then shifted to Quentin and ordered amiably, "Rookie, can you call us outside? We''ll start on finalizing the strategy on what we have for the uing fight,"

    Knowing such a request isn''t hard to do, adding the fact that Jeremiah even spoke very kindly, Quentin didn''t hesitate toply and went outside.

    ¡­

    For the next two days, Cesar and the rest of the cohort rested and took their time to rejuvenate themselves from the exhaustion they received for the time they had been here. Just like what they did on the first day, they always think of a n to work with their uing fight with the Nightmare.

    With additional informationing from Cesar, it made things better for their side.

    However, Cesar was thest person that came with their group. They patiently waited for anyone or somebody new to meet to strengthen their firepower but they had to remove such idea.

    Seven of them is all they have.

    "There''s no spare clothes to use¡­"

    Cesar looked down below, only to see the same ragged and torn clothes of the military on his body. Thankfully, he had proper hygiene during his academy days hence him being smelly doesn''t entirelye from him but from the clothes itself.

    Their healer, Amar, could only do a little by lending him an artifact that could produce a bit of water, enough to wash his face.

    ''Sir Amar¡­''

    Speaking of Amar, it was he who also brought a stash of food that he willingly shared which is why they''ll be able tost longer than they should be. Cesar as well was eternally grateful to the kind-hearted healer for not being a stingy person and being able to be that kind of person in this hectic position.

    ''Everyone here didn''t seem to be afraid for what''s about toe. Are they putting up a brave face all this time or¡­ ?''

    Cesar stopped his thoughts from going further and fixed himself once more before leaving the tent with strong tenacity. Once he exited, his determination slightly wavered after being able to observe the people whom he deemed capable leaders of their squad making those kinds of expressions.

    A trace of fear.

    The feeling of dread.

    Andstly, death clutching on their neck, ready to choke them anytime.

    No matter how brave or strong they were, the opponent they were going to fight was a Nightmare, something humanity had never defeated with a millennium of history to show how unworthy were humans to stand toe-to-toe with them.

    But what choice do they have?

    They were in a mysterious ce, a bizarre territory, at the wrong time.

    Those feelings were only natural to appear.

    ''Come on now¡­ At least don''t show it to me. I was feeling confident for us, you know?'' Cesar mused inwardly, his expression appearing twisted and contorting.

    His steeled resolve from earlier slightly wavered, but he removed the doubts inside his head right after knowing it would affect his performance if all he thought was negativity.

    In this situation, positive thinking might somehow help them.

    Once all of them were prepared, Jeremiah suddenly made a weird action by cing a piece of note on the ground that he grabbed from his pocket.

    It was a message to tell the neers of the table that somebody had alreadye first, but also to tell them to move forward since that''s where their cohort is going.

    /We''re going first/

    Discover what''s next at m,vl-em,py-r

    It was such a simple message that didn''t contain any positivity or a bit of negativity. It was just there to inform someone, that''s all.

    Only those who read it can infer what the message is being implied.

    Once he was done, Jeremiah stood up before letting out a shaky breath from his mouth. After a few seconds of doing so, he gave a nce at the group before forming a weak smile.

    "Let''s go¡­"

    With an instructioning from Jeremiah, the cohort marched towards the old candbra within their sight.

 Chapter 60: Shade Of The Candelabra

    The cohort is a group of capable men who didn''t need anyone to keep instructing what they should and shouldn''t do. Aside from Cesar and Quentin whose experience only relies on the City of Wheels, the others have rich knowledge when it involves Nightmares.

    Equipped with those experiences, they should''ve felt more confident.

    ''Damn¡­''

    But the overwhelming aura that the old candbra continued to instill message to them felt eerily off.

    It was bing overbearing.

    As they got closer to this pir of corruption made out of unknown metal with candles resting at some of the points, their hearts started to waver.

    Stay connected with m|vl|e|mp|y|r

    The surge of emotion that only kept inside them felt like it was about to burst out, screaming its way out. The feeling of being in a chokehold by this nameless mystery continued to tickle them each time as if it were a reminder.

    Fuck experience, they are nothing to absolute power.

    "Always remember Cesar to never, ever touch the candbra itself. It is coated in a special space hence its corruption will only work if you touch it directly not being near it. It is different from the frozen delicacies which is why the option of crossing the table is viable enough,"

    Cedeit had to remind Cesar once again that crossing it was never a problem but touching it directly is going to be a lot of trouble. The trouble is equivalent to death hence it was an understatement for the mysterious voice in which Cesar knew himself.

    Even so, he didn''t dislike being notified once more. It''s more like Cesar will be able to keep his focus, instilling this reminder at the back of his head as if it was his second thought he''ll need to ponder each second.-

    Rustle¡ª!

    Suddenly, Cesar felt a nudge from his back that made him stop walking. Turning around to look, Cesar saw Quentin signaling him to gaze at the front which he followed without any words.

    There, he saw Jeremiah rxing.

    Prior toing here, everyone shared what kind of facet they had stored in their arsenal. It was the time when they devised a n for their uing fight. Cesar learned that all these leaders seemed to be Shaded of the Second Order, meaning they must''ve two abilities unless they received two facets which is rare on its own like Quentin.

    But they weren''t.

    The five of them all have two abilities and they functioned differently.

    Jeremiah for example, had gotten the facets [Purge] and [Nullification] which are the most busted two abilities that Cesar heard for a while. Pairing up with his Technique rting to a spear and an artifact that gave him drops of essence in a few seconds, Jeremiah willingly put himself in the far front. It''s because he''s just that capable.

    Beside him was us who had the facets of [Tether] and [iraudience]. Even though those abilities heavily rely on support, he was fighting up front because of his second facet, iraudience which could acquire information by paranormal auditory means. Additionally, his sword skills are top-notch.

    With these two at the front, they''ll be the wall that protects others in the back.

    "¡­"

    Jeremiah continued observing the gargantuan candbra within his sight before ncing at the group who immediately readied themselves.

    ''Here ites¡­''

    With Leah on Amar''s back, the shorty Erin, the two students of the academy, Cesar and Quentin¡­ all started to position themselves in a stance as if they were going to run.

    Because they were going to.

    With Jeremiahstly positioned in that kind of posture, he was also the first to dash away from the group with us on his back as they finally entered the territory of the Nightmare, Dim.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Their silence throughout the time of being near the gargantuan antique was instantly removed the moment they ran through it below.

    Tak¡ª!

    Traversing under the shade of the candbra for a hundred meters in a matter of dozens of seconds was a piece of cake to the professionals, and even Quentin and Cesar weren''t left behind by their relentless running.

    Everyone was desperate and determined enough to cross at least a couple of hundred meters under the shade of candbra.

    That''s why even the slowest ones, such as Quentin and the shorty, Erin were running the best of their abilities. As for the healer, Amar, he was their fastest runner even with that kind of body even while carrying Leah did seem effortless to him.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    They remained running forward.

    Rustle¡ª!

    However, barely two hundred meters from the starting point of their run, something began to reveal its presence, subtly hinting that they weren''t alone in the vast and ancient candbra.

    The whispers of those movements swiftly crept to them, feeling the shade of the candbra bing darker as if something was already watching them from above.

    "It''s here¡­"

    Probably came from his second facet''s ability, us informed everyone with a grave tone but surprises didn''te to them yet.

    This was within their scope of n for now.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Because of that confirmation, Erin, the shorty, slid his hand into his pocket to do his job, grabbing an orb artifact that produced a soft glow.

    "Let there be light!"

    Pouring more than half of his essence into the orb artifact that Erin introduced as the Source of Light to them, his hands began to emit a gentle glow that initially enveloped only him before gradually spreading across the entire squad, extending even further upwards.

    For a brief moment, everything lit up from the candbra.

    And there, far away from their position watching them solemnly at one of the handles was anky creature enveloped with nothing but darkness. Two of its red eyes were on the side of its head, silently staring at them.

    But they weren''t just going to watch.

    All of them breathed in the most air they could muster before shouting very loudly.

    "NICOTARA!"

    As if very surprised at what happened, the Nightmare seemed to have jolted in its position before letting out a piercing shriek that fell on the cohort''s almost bleeding ears.

 Chapter 61: Shadow Puppets

    The creature seemed to be agitated but most of all, perplexed by the turn of events.

    Its True Name, not just any kind of name that someone can mention on a whim, was just shouted from the likes of the people it was watching below its domineering abode. It didn''t even mention its title which has weak ''effects'' on them.

    It was different if it was thetter, however.

    Screeeech¡ª!

    The piercing scream of the Nightmare reverberated all across below the candbra and shook the eardrums of whoever had heard it.

    Mostly everyone had covered their ears to withstand the impact that the scream had dealt to them. It was just a pure scream that didn''t involve any power that the Nightmare wielded but just a raw power it exerted.

    But only Cesar managed to look, only to regret it instantly, feeling a cold sense of primal fear born inside of him.

    The dim,nky shadow was gone. In its ce stood a hideous creature with an open chest, exposing its grotesquely entangled ribs for all to see. The proportions of its body seemedpletely off, everything misced.

    Two of its small hands were on its back, while the bigger ones were ced above its huge head to cover both red eyes on the side. Now standing on all fours, it trembled as if it was trying to resist an influence unseen through mundane eyes. The Nightmare kept puking out ck smoke from the gaping maw located at its abdomen.

    As the artifact''s source of light was dwindling and soon extinguished light due to Erin''s running out of essence, Cesar only then put his attention forward and couldn''t help but take a nervous gulp.

    ''What the hell is even that?''

    Cesar mused inwardly, trying to make sense of something nonsense and unbelievable. But for now, all these questions went to the back of his head as they merely put their focus on running forward.

    "Screeeech!"

    The result of exposing the True Name of the Nightmare really does produce some sort of effect, and Cesar and the rest of the group couldn''t help but use this chance to make a certain distance between the creature and them.

    It was all their first time trying it and actually seeing it work in their eyes, even especially for the veteran Shadeds.

    After all the encounters with a Nightmare most of the time, they just fought it off without any kind of clue how its abilities worked, its Nightmare Title, or even the True name itself.

    It was only thanks to Cesar that they were able to have prior knowledge regarding the Nightmare. If not for that, there would''ve been a bloodbath in the first few minutes of their marathon.

    But as the Nightmare was trying to fix itself doesn''t mean it was just going toy still and let its prey escape.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The group instantly noticed two shadows flying over at their position at an rming speed. Both were shrouded with darkness aside from the eyes observing them as they closed in. Stay connected to the story on m-vl-em-py-r

    Thud¡ª!

    Somehow, the way theynded made an outrageous squelch after an unsessful arrival. Their shrouded shadow became the blood itself as it spattered all across the floor they were in before it started gathering itself which soon formed the two figures the group had seen earlier.

    Then they started following them.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    However, the legs of these shadows seemed agile, an upgrade received by the grace of the Nightmare they got controlled from. Because after a couple of seconds, they were on the backs of the group.

    ''Shit¡­''

    Cesar couldn''t help but curse inwardly as these two shadows closed in. The moment they do, there is going to be a fight that will be unavoidable.

    That wasn''t their main objective at all after the careful nning they did. Aside from having a goal of finding a door by the end of the table and exiting from the table, the n for eradicating the Nightmare was out of the options for the cohort.

    No matter how confident they were, it wasn''t just going to happen.

    ''Escape the candbra¡­''

    Leave the area where the Nightmare is the strongest, continue their marathon at the end of the table, and hopefully escape the forsaken mansion.

    But it seemed the first one wasn''t going to happen anytime soon.

    The moment the two shadow creatures of the Nightmare knew it would take one boost to attack the group, they lunged forward.

    "Iing!"

    With Cesar informing the two fronts of their group with a shout, Jeremiah and us take a huge step from all their running that was even hard to pull off which worked very seamlessly for them.

    The moment they did, both jumped backward to meet the iing shadows.

    "Null!"

    Meeting the shadow mid-air, Jeremiah used the momentum of his jump tond a kick at the shadow''s head, a puppet of the Nightmare. The shadow tried to defend itself using its power but to no avail, it didn''t work.

    Momentarily putting a cease to whatever ability it was trying to do, Jeremiah finally connected his kick to one of the puppets.

    After a sessful kick, Jeremiah was the one who dashed forward this time and used his spear to instill another array of attacks on the puppet.

    The way he gripped his spear and was able to maneuver while continuing to run was a crazy feat on its own.

    In just three seconds, Jeremiah thrust its spear forward before cutting the head, connecting it to the body, and bowdlerizing the lower part of its body to pieces.

    The instant he did, Jeremiah didn''t even give it a spare nce before running toward us to help hispanion. Yet as soon as hended his eyes, he was not surprised to see that the other squad leader was done on his part.

    Seeing the clean cut of the shadow''s head, Jeremiah nodded once before the two of them started following the group that already made quite a distance away from them.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 62: Nonstop Chase

    Jeremiah and us immediately grouped up with the rest as they continued running through the shade of the candbra.

    However, they weren''t alone.

    Halfway through approaching the group, a dozen shadow figures used the candbra''s bars and handle to swing themselves and follow the squad. At the same time, the two figures that Jeremiah and us had supposedly killed started to stand up wriggly before dashing to the escaping group.

    "Many at the top!"

    Quentin informed loudly as his breath started to get ragged due to the relentless running. Because of his voice, the group gave a slight nce above, only to see moving shadows already lining themselves up to them as the chase continued.

    The puppet''s speed wasn''t slowing down as they continued to assert their dominance to move ahead of the group, nning to eventually do the same thing as the other two leaving a couple of hundred away from their position.

    They are going to fall.

    Once they were slightly ahead of the group, one of the shadows willingly jumped to its high position without any worries.

    It was two that came next.

    Then it turned into seven.

    Until the puppet shadows left from the candbra''s handle soared through the sky and fell through the solid floor of the ancient table.

    Swooosh¡ª!

    They all descended through the air, intercepting the way the group ran into.

    "Avoid them!"

    Ssh¡ª!

    Cesar had to avoid three shadows that came to grab him along the way. Adjusting his footwork just to evade being dyed by them, he sessfully made out and continued running forward.

    The others were sessful as well.

    Ssh¡ª!

    As usual, the shadow puppets didn''t wield the ability to properlynd on the ancient table''s cold surface turning them into a mushed and pasted shadow, sttering as if they were some scattered blood due to the impact.

    If it was a normal human, they wouldn''t be able to get up and suffer from major injuries right away.

    However, they weren''t.

    The shadow puppets started to reconstruct themselves until they finally stood from their ce and started to chase the group who was near them this time.

    They were back in their top form, their speed wasn''t slowing down, and they weren''t just going to die because of some fall.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    "Hey! Cedeit! I need help!"

    Too early to be put in an all-brawn-out war with the shadow puppets that Cesar was considering to be the corrupted humans the voice had mentioned beforehand, he was desperately asking for help with Cedeit right now.

    However, Cedeit remained unresponsive.

    It was just active a moment ago but the moment they entered the space under the candbra, it was silent.

    His desperate scream from somewhere slightly ticked off the group, especially Quentin but they had no time but to try to ask what that meant as the moment they took a second of break, the shadows were going to surround them.

    "Cedeit! I thought you were going to help me!"

    s, no response was received.

    Upon seeing whoever Cesar is talking to isn''t helping them any time soon, Jeremiah has to make a hard decision and immediately signals us on his side.

    "Erin!"

    Upon being called by Jeremiah, Erin positioned himself in front of the group while Jeremiah and us had fallen back by slowing their pace.

    Cesar and Quentin on the other hand positioned themselves just right in the heels of Erin, who started doing his own thing.

    Below Erin''s neck, a kind of bug that had a mixture of a beetle and lice crawled its way out from his cloth before spawning even more little ones in the same creature. These bugs flew over the group and surrounded them.

    "Here theye!"

    The puppet shadows only then closed themselves and tried to attack the group, only to be fended off by the flying beelice, a mixture of beetle and lice. However, the range of Erin''s defense using his [Bug Wall] is only limited to the front and side.

    Its rear waspletely open.

    That''s where Jeremiah and us came to y.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    A shadow tried to leap toward Amar who was carrying Leah on his back, but us''s sword intercepted at the point of the arc where the corrupted was targeting and cut the creature in half.

    Vwoom¡ª!

    Seeing that the situation had started to get hectic, us had no choice but to use his [Tether] facet and connect it to Jeremiah from the far back.

    "Null!"

    Fighting four shadows consecutively while still running but with a decreased pace, Jeremiah was trying his hardest to defend himself. He was buying too much time for the group.

    But at one point in time, Jeremiah had no choice but to stop.

    All because running while defending isn''t going to cut it any longer.

    "Damn it!"

    Being able to pull yet another break from the speed he took from running, Jeremiah swiftly went for one of the puppets.

    "Null!"

    Jeremiah pointed his avable finger at the corrupted before trying to use his spear to thrust it at its face.

    However, he failed miserably after another corrupted blocked it with an erged ck shadow hand, but the consecutive attacking from the shadows didn''t stop.

    On one left side of his back, an ethereal ck spike was reaching at his head. On his right nk, an iing shadowy de made of its handstried to reach out his legs.

    ''Shit! I can''t be pulled yet!''

    Jeremiah cursed inwardly as his brain moved very swiftly to think of a solution.

    "Hmph!"

    Jeremiah grumpily smacks the butt of his spear on the ground, using the stick as a pole before pulling himself above to bnce himself in mid-air to avoid both the iing ethereal spike aiming to his head and the shadow de made by its arm targeting his legs.

    He was in the middle of it.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Barely dodging the attacks, Jeremiah immediately shifted his attention to the front while still in his position where an iing ck liquid wasing at his chest, the came from the same puppet he tried to attack earlier but failed.

    ''I can''t nullify it!''

    Since his facet is ''unable to channel'' to use the ability before casting and not ''vanished'' an ability being cast, Jeremiah was left in a pinch.

    "Damn it!"

 Chapter 63: Escalating Situation

    Tak¡ª!

    It felt like the time slowed down.

    For Jeremiah to pull off his ridiculous position as he used his spear as a pole to bnce himself to avoid the two attacksing at his back but to stare at the iing at his chest felt all useless by the end of it.

    He could pull of different kinds of maneuver and actions but doing it again in his position was even too hard for him. No matter how flexible he was, he was still incapable of some things.

    As his eyes were wide open, Jeremiah instantly realized that the moment the ck liquid touched him, he would instantly die.

    Even if he survived it, he would be incapacitated enough to be unable to move to the best of his ability. It will bring the cohort in more danger.

    The time remained unchanging.

    Tak¡ª!

    Just the moment the ck liquid came to his chest, Jeremiah felt a touch at his back.

    In an instant, he was pulled by an influence that felt so forceful and desperate.

    "Sir, snap back!"

    Jeremiah couldn''t help but stare nkly at the student of the academy who made an effort toe to his ce as he continued being dragged while grabbing his spear in the process.

    Cesar tightly held at his clothes and continued dragging him away from the iing shadow puppets even though he was damn heavy. Not only he''srger and heavier, Jeremiah is older as well.

    But Cesar was incapable of doing this kind of task.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar neatly evaded a ck liquiding at his face while still holding Jeremiah, who was starting toe to his senses.

    A secondter, Jeremiah stood up before getting the spear from Cesar''s clutch and immediately went his way to defend the iing attack aiming to eliminate Cesar.

    "Pull!"

    Once the steer was clear and there was nothing to block that would endanger them, both Jeremiah and Cesar felt their abdomen tightening before being reeled in from the tether that us had connected from the two.

    "Ugh!"

    Even though he heard beforehand how the tether works even at great distances from us, it was a different feeling when experiencing the action itself.

    ''Tight!''

    Cesar felt pressed at his abs but as soon as he tried to focus his attention, Jeremiah suddenly spoke to him on the side.

    "Thank you, kid,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but feel strange at that reply that made him frown, "Sir, we have no time for useless chatter. Thank me when we escape here, please?"

    Jeremiah blinked nkly at his response before chuckling, "Sure,"

    Soon, the reeling of the tether came to an end as both of them regrouped with the rest and resumed their running.

    Nearby, they saw us fending off a couple of puppets on his side while starting to suffer minor injuries he received from them. The moment he saw them, the three steered clear of their rear before sprinting.

    "You took long your time there, Jer!"

    Receiving an earful from us, Jeremiah merely shrugged and replied, "I almost got into trouble but no biggie."

    us took a moment of breath before adding, "Have you used your first facet? You know, your ability Purge?"

    Before Cesar even made a face as his tone suggested something grave, Jeremiah cleared the air by replying immediately.

    "Not yet. Hopefully, not until we are away from this ce,"

    Feeling something along with those words, Cesar couldn''t help but ask, "What does us mean by that? What will happen if you used your first facet?"

    Jeremiah scratched the back of his just as he was about to answer before the three of them heard Erin shouting in the front.

    "I''m running out of gas, Jeremiah! I may have thergest essence tank in our group but I''m dangerously running out! I need to hop on your back too, Cesar!"

    Already on that formation of the cohort, the three began to move. Jeremiah remained in his position at the back as he was the main fender of the cohort. This time, us went to rece Erin, who was backing down and matching the pace Cesar was doing.

    "Quentin!" Cesar shouted before he saw Erin jumping onto his back which made him grumble for a brief moment.

    He was already having a hard time and now he was going to piggyback someone, making his situation worse. Even so, the only thing he could do was grit his teeth and continue sprinting.

    "Am I heavy?"

    "No, sir!"

    "Good!"

    Erin then looked ahead, "Once I run out of essence to keep channeling the bug wall, the attacks that some of the shadows might, wording, might pass by us but I will be faster than them. This is just a reminder so Amar, Quentin, us, you ready?!"

    With Amar nodding, Quentin positioning himself in the middle of the cohort, and us throwing an ''ok sign'', everyone patiently waited.

    "Just go, go, go!" Jeremiah shouted in desperation as his spears were unable to do direct attack from the puppets, their pressure mounting each time.

    They have to do something about it.

    Amar stretched his hand towards Erin before muttering under his lips with a bite, "Exchange!"

    Using his first support facet [Exchange] where he had the ability to swap the thing he desired from his mind without any trouble, this time he was choosing essence exchange to Erin, who immediately received a boost of essence as if he wasn''tcking about it earlier.

    "Now!"

    Suddenly, Erin''s control over his beelice bugs vanished. The barrage of abilities that only he could perceive from earlier started to extinguish the bugs in just a couple of seconds before they got exposed.

    Yet just as they were about to get surrounded by the puppets, Erin threw a piece of camouge-like gum in the air before raising both of his hands as if trying to chant a spell.

    "Amplify Size!"

    us saw five of the puppets lunging towards them before the camouge gum covered him, leaving the shadows confused. The ones targeting Amar and Quentin also wanted to get a piece of them before they also got covered by the same disguised gum.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Grunting, Jeremiah swerved his spear perpendicrly so that no puppets would get on his back before dashing forward and letting himself conceal to the gum''s ability.

    As they ran forward, they passed through the shadows that went on their way,pletely leaving them even more confused.

    Though they never wavered. All they did was relentlessly run.

    By the time the puppets knew what was going on as they motionlessly stood in their ce, the cohort managed to cross half of the gargantuan candbra''s body.

    ¡­

    Facet''s Archive (Book''s Given Description¡­ and something that came from me. I''m the author after all :)

    Jeremiah: Had a long tattoo on his arm up to the side of his cheek. Like to pull pranks.

    -Purge: ??

    -Nullification: Has the ability to nullify abilities momentarily. ''Unable to channel'' to use the ability before casting and not ''vanished'' an ability being cast.

    us: A tall man with striking features.

    -Tether: Can connect through one or two people. The user has the ability to ''reel'' another tethered being using just a tiny amount of essence even with grade distances.

    -iraudience: could acquire information by paranormal auditory means.

 Chapter 64: Disguised Operation

    Being shrouded in the disguise of Erin''s second facet [A Gum], the group continued dashing forward under the shade of the candbra.

    Mixed with the unstoppable disguise which can pass through tangible objects as long as Erin can exert an essence that has been refilled with the use of [Exchange] facet from Amar, the group showed no signs of stopping.

    ''Sir Amar¡­''

    Cesar remembered the time when Amar tried to heal his eyes even though he didn''t specifically request it made his opinion regarding the huge man with excellent running power great.

    His healing ability [Flesh Healing] had a very grotesque name with a very outrageous description that Amar had provided for them.

    For him to heal people, he had to use his blood and flesh in exchange.

    Yet as if he didn''t care any of it a bit, he willingly treated the injuries he was capable of healing while assisting them to the best of his ability.

    Sadly, what happened to Cesar''s left eye isn''t treatable with his powers.

    Still, the respect that Cesar formed for Amar was great. All this time they had been here, he didn''t hear a singleint from the huge guy. He willingly gave himself in if that''s how the group would push themselves forward.

    ''Everyone in this cohort has been good¡­''

    Cesar gritted his teeth, couldn''t believe that he was thinking of sacrificing them if push came to shove and everything was not going to their position if they were this kind of people.

    ''I''ll pay you all back.''

    Whoosh¡ª!

    "Quentin?"

    The disguised operation had Quentin as its center. His second facet [Navigation] is very good in this kind of situation.

    Erin had a problem with his [A Gum] camouge and that is the people from the inside we''re unable to peer through the outside as well, the same as the beings who wanted to look through the inside.

    This is why Quentin was a perfect candidate to direct themselves in this moment of pinch and chance to create a certain distance between the confused shadows that started toe to their senses.

    After all, in his line of sight, the navigation had the ability to peer through anything as long as it wasn''t thick enough and not too much of a burden on his eyes.

    Him having a second facet while still being a Shaded of the First Order was being shown to the cohort right now. His rare case of being a holder of two facets is bing handy.

    "Enemies at the back have started to follow but we can continue with our usual n."

    Truth be told, this is one of thest two ns they stored they had. Whatever they did earlier, they can just repeat earlier but disguise operation was out of the option after this.

    It was because no matter how Amar insisted on using his [Exchange] facet with Erin, the team had to limit his usage to it. After all, the more demanding the exchange is, the higher the consequences he''ll receive.

    It will all be worthless if he dies at the end of this when the rest survive.

    Hence, this disguise operation will be a one-time thing.

    "On the right! East-South East!"

    Quentin shouted an iing shadow puppet that went on the eastern side of their formation.

    Upon hearing his shout while fully trusting the judgment of his vision that only he could see, us extended his Tether in the direction while Erin slightly raised the camouge gum to give way to his ability.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Reeling the shadow puppet towards their position inside, the surprised corrupted human was thrown towards the back of the position where Jeremiah was stationed.

    Slice¡ª!

    Unable to defend itself from Jeremiah, he attacked the shadow with his prowess regarding spears and merciless actions. Running at his own pace instead of being forced to fight, he was able to fend off the immortal puppets and throw them aside.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Releasing the shadow from his Tether, us went to hear another direction of shadows from Quentin and continued dragging them inside the concealed gum.

    sh¡ª!

    No matter how many times Jeremiah cut the shadows, they continuously reformed themselves and ran towards the group, only to be dragged inside one by one. Unable to use their abilities momentarily, he was having the best time on his life.

    Forcing one versus one that is within his pace, Jeremiah didn''t reject this relentless action of fighting and continued sprinting forward without falling behind the group.

    This operation continued working as the rest of the shadows were already surrounding them. Even so, with [A Gum] ability to pass through any obstacle, equivalent to Erin''s essence pool, they didn''t have to worry about a problem for now.

    For now¡­

    "Hahh¡­"

    Feeling his stamina running out while his legs started to give in to exhaustion, Cesar just had to bite his lip to put his focus back in the front.

    Everyone had ways to cope with the fatigue that slowly mounted on their well-being by pping themselves loudly, pinching their skin very hard, and flicking their foreheads. Anything was being utilized at this point.

    Because of that, everything has been well for now.

    For now¡­

    However, all this delusional thinking had been put aside once Quentin had slowed his pace down which the cohort had noticed very noticeably.

    "What?" Cesar asked Quentin beside him, the same person guiding them while being inside the camouge gum.

    His face was fear-stricken as his eyes started to shake horribly.

    "T-the Nightmare is there!"

    Unlike the grotesque image that stayed on Cesar''s mind earlier after starting the marathon, the dim shadow seemed to be back to ''normal''. It appeared meters away from them, menacingly staring down.

    Quentin isn''t just imagining it.

    As if it could see the camouge gum, unlike the puppets who were just running blind, the Nightmare started sprinting in their direction.

    ----

    Facets Archive

    Erin: A shorty but a very loud person.

    -Bug Wall: A defensive mechanism where a barrier of beelice, a mixture of bee and lice creatures forms a towering wall in the front, shielding the people within for protection. It couldn''t protect its rear, however.

    -A Gum: Can transform into a tangible object that makes anything inside of it intangible for attacks, in exchange for Erin''s essence pool. Has the ability to camouge, which works on being intangible from outside influence. Soundproof as well.

    Amar: A huge person yet his capability to run didn''t hinder his huge size. The most tenacious person in the squad.

    -Exchange: the ability to swap the thing he desired from his mind. As long as it is within his capability, any exchange is possible. Yet the consequences are higher, the higher the demand.

    -Flesh Healing: Using his blood and flesh as an exchange, Amar is an invaluable healer thates with a price for his overbearing power. The possibility of dying to his own ability is great.

 Chapter 65: Price To Pay

    ''It''sing¡­''

    Cesar felt crestfallen once he realized the iing Nightmare was dashing toward them instead of waiting as it did earlier. Once he realized they were in a pinch, he couldn''t help but shift his expression to the one he was piggybacking.

    Erin was also stupefied but not entirely surprised since saying the True Name of the Nightmare was also the first for them, and the only thing they knew about it was that a Nightmare would have a certain ''effect'' upon being mentioned from the other mouths.

    It didn''t mean this secret would make them instantly die.

    "Bring it on!" Erin gritted his teeth before informing Quentin, his voice thrilled, "You continue watching the Nightmare! We''re going to pass it with my power."

    Cesar couldn''t help but gulp since it would mean that he and the rest would have no choice but to meet the Nightmare in its way. Rerouting or changing their direction wouldn''t matter anyway.

    "Okay!"

    Jeremiah, us, and Amarpletely trusted Erin''s judgment on their situation. Quentin didn''t have any choice anyway but Cesar had his feelings mixed.

    He was doubting the shorty''s capabilities now. After all, the Nightmare dashing towards them looked like it could see the camouge, and eliminating a puny human''s power would be a piece of cake.

    ''Please go through¡­''

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The Nightmare who was back being shrouded with darkness seemed irritated as its steps brought a slight quake that was slowly being felt to the group. The shadow on the floor grew darker before it grabbed a huge de with its two elongated hands.

    "G-get ready! Twenty meters!"

    As the shadow puppets surrounded and tried to weaken the camouge unseen on their way, Erin clenched his fist to prepare for the worst attack.

    His [A Gum] works that way. Not only it is soundproof, but it could also pass through obstacles or certain objects while being unseen into the eyes of some lower beings in exchange for how much Erin was willing to expend his essence to get through.

    It had to be exactly, less some parts of the camouge might not get the same benefits as most others.

    "Ten Meters!"

    sh¡ª!

    "Five¡ªHuh!?"

    Seeing the swinging ck deing to them vertically in that long distance, the rest of the group sensed a strong lingering sensation that something had passed through their bodies but didn''t physically happen.

    It was a dreadful sensation.

    And It was the first one they passed through.

    Watching its attack fail, the Nightmare revealed a dark mouth that slowly extended into the size of a normal car before trying to eat the iing group that bravely went on its way.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Yet once again, its attack was futile.

    The cohort happened to pass by again without any problems.

    The only one who could watch the horror of almost being sliced in half and eaten alive was Quentin who almost stumbled on his running twice. Just being a mere spectator didn''t do well for his self-mentality.

    But his relief was brief before he saw the Nightmare disappear from his previous position and appear right beside the cohort''s camouge.

    "The Nightmare is attacking again!"

    sh¡ª!

    The Nightmare brought its de down once more but it only did no damage to the group, and merely passed through the de as if it were mere air.

    sh¡ª!

    "At the front¡ª"

    Right in the frontlines, the Nightmare used its teleportation ability and continued harassing the group with the use of its de even though everything seemed futile on its part.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    It didn''t seem to tire and persistently pursued the group as it continued bringing its de down.

    The lingering sensation they felt on their bodies was proof of how many times they died at the hands of the same Nightmare if not for the fact that the camouge was protecting them, evading those attacks without any trouble.

    sh¡ª!

    Touching his neck, sensing that he was just hit there, Cesar couldn''t help but be nervous throughout this whole ordeal.

    It was unbelievable that a facet was able to withstand Nightmare attacks in the first ce. What''s most surprising is they were going through unscathed by most of it.

    Plop¡ª!

    Suddenly, Cesar''s happiness was short-lived after he felt something dropping on the side of his cheek. Once his eyes shifted onto it, a feeling of dread crept upon him.

    It was blood.

    Cesar slightly nced upwards before his face turned into terror the moment he saw the situation of Erin in his view.

    He was bleeding from his holes. His eyes felt like he was crying in blood, the same as his ears and mouth which continued to relentlessly pour out blood due to the excessive amount of essence he was using while salvaging all the damages from the Nightmare.

    He was on the brink of essence burden, a case where onecking any essence to use yet continuously used them that it started to target and use its body as a catalyst. It was different from essence exhaustion where a person is merely on the brink of not having any essence.

    Erin¡­ already run out of essence to use the moment the first attack of the Nightmare came to them.

    Now he was using his body to push forward so that the cohort could at least get through themselves.

    sh¡ª!

    "Sir¡ª"

    "Kid¡­"

    Erin interrupted and looked at Cesar with a sad smile before adding, "It''s¡­ okay. Let me be¡­ selfish this time. It''s a... price to pay. I¡­ want all of you to get¡­ out of here. As for me¡­ well, nothing has been good in my life so for once¡­ I want it to be something I can be¡­ proud of,"

    Cesar''s eyes shook, "Sir, we''ll find a way to fight the Nightmare. You¡­ you don''t have to do this."

    sh¡ª!

    As those sensations intensified from the Nightmare''s attack while the rest of the group focused on their part, only the two were able to talk.

    Erin then chuckled before retorting, "We''ve only known for three days¡­ yet you''re worried about my health. I mean, I do too. But it''s toote now¡­"

    Erin revealed a sickening flesh of smoke from his neck before informing silently, "Before evening to the table, The Darkness¡­ had already corrupted me,"

 Chapter 66: Let Go

    ''What?''

    Almost tripping himself after hearing that piece of news, Cesar was genuinely shocked and agitated. He might not have believed Erin in the first ce if not for the fact that the corruption had already tainted some part of his neck.

    There was a solid proof to show.

    Even so, Cesar was feeling angry to Erin for not telling anyone about his condition. For sure, there were other ways to use to determine the right method to somehow treat it but nothing.

    He kept it for himself.

    "Why are you sad? It''s not like we''ve known each other for¡­ years. Yes, this is just¡­ a forced situation where the choice one has is to have no choice but to do this,"

    Cesar wanted to say something but his inner desire for surviving their ordeal took over. Yes, he was feeling guilty but it was Erin''s actions that led to this andno one forced him to.

    He felt bad and that''s it.

    ''Tsk, it fucking sucks though...''

    sh¨C!

    As the tingling sensation coursed through their bodies, only Quentin could see the full horror the Nightmare was inflicting. No matter how many times it happened already, grippled with fear, the only they could aplish was to run.

    Run while thinking the camouge will hold on.

    Swoosh¨C!

    Cesar felt his face being filled with blood from Erin. Removing it with his hands from time to time, he was gritting his teeth while using every ounce of his strength left.

    His other main problem now was his dwindling stamina. Carrying Erin only made it worse, as his legs grew weaker, threatening to give out from exhaustion at any moment. Even a brief stop could leave him momentarily unable to walk.

    Whoosh!

    The Nightmare''s frustration with the group began to show as its force intensified and doubled. They could feel it on their skin, the tingling sensation growing heavier, deadlier, and more terrifying like a reminder.

    Others who didn''t know the situation and health of their teammate as they continued on their way could only wish to themselves that the camouge would be able to hold on.

    This might be a selfish request to have, but for them to not die, Erin must hold on.

    Screech!

    Hearing the piercing scream of the Nightmare, which didn''t affect much of the group, the Nightmare started using more violence. Spreading its darkness while isting the group within it, ethereal hands, feet, disoriented, and convoluted weapons manifested and attacked the camouge simultaneously.

    Rustle¡ª!

    On his side, Cesar couldn''t help but shiver once one of Erin''s hands had fallen on his shoulder, soaked in his own blood. Cesar wanted to see his situation but Erin forced him not to look.

    "Eyes forward, rookie."

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity and not knowing how much it took for them to cross that great distance in a matter of a dozen minutes, the cohort finally left the shade of the candbra.

    Staying within its shadows throughout their marathon while being in the relentless pursuit of the Nightmare brought inexplicable horror within them. Because being exposed to it gave them shivers.

    "You can¡­ release me. I''ll continue controlling my power¡­ while you guys escape," Erin chuckled before adding, "The Nightmare didn''t seem to like the fact of its prey¡­ escaping. It continued to attack us still¡­"

    His words sounded like a ridiculous whisper that was mumbled in Cesar''s ears but it was true.

    The Nightmare, even though it was already a hundred meters away from its abode hadcontinued to chase them, leaving its throne exposed even though nothing was being threatened by it.

    Thinking that its ''obsession'' with the candbra would leave them aside, their n was to escape it.

    But it wasn''t working.

    "Why?! The Nightmare isn''t leaving us alone!"

    Quentin was the confirmation they needed to wake them up that this marathon would not end just by merely getting out from the candbra.

    If they have the strength to reach the end of the table, this will continue.

    And the ''If'' statement was the greatest and mostughable thing that will never happen this time.

    "Rookie¡ª"

    "Sir, please shut the fuck up¡­"

    Cesar tightened his clutches towards Erin''s legs, afraid that he''d jump to himself no matter how many times he disagreed with his ridiculous idea.

    Erin had already done enough for them. At the very least he could do was not give him an unnatural and disgusting death by baiting him to the monsters outside of his power.

    But Erin spoke once more, his voice slightly different from before.

    "Cesar Sparrow. This is an order,"

    A hoarse voice demanded to be put down that only Cesar could do was shudder in fear and nce back.

    His gaze froze.

    The one he was carrying didn''t look like Erin any longer. At his back was a hideous creature with a deformed mouth covered in ashen skin due to the ck smoke that had spread throughout his face. His eyes were ck,pletely blinded by the darkness that corrupted his well-being.

    Cesar drew a slight fearful gasp, afraid that the corruption might affect him. After all, there are some cases of corruption that are physically transmitted, while some cases that it isn''t.

    "Bring me down or you''ll get it as well," Erin spoke amiably, no fear mixed in his voice.

    As if he was ready to face whatever wasing his way, Erin seemed dead set of leaving himself at this table as the group made their way forward.

    Cesar clicked his tongue, his shoulders surrendering at the fact of not being able to do anything before extending his hand at him, "Give me your tag, sir."

    Erin stared at Cesar before letting out a chuckle, "How thoughtful of you,"

    Erin grabbed the dog tag ced around his neck and snapped it right out before handing it over to Cesar. He also gave his artifact, Source of Light that might be useful for their continuous marathon.

    "I can give you a minute or so to distance yourself from the Nightmare and its underlings. I''ll distract it as much as possible so¡­" Erin paused, "So don''t look back,"

    Cesar clenched his fist while biting his lips tightly and it started to bleed before nodding once. Once he got the affirmation from Cesar, Erin nodded once before ordering him once again.

    "Let go of me,"

    With a twisted face, Cesar''s hand was visibly shaking as he was hesitant about his actions, and guilt started taking over them.

    "I said let go!"

    But when a sudden, unfamiliar shout came from the corrupted Erin on his back, clearly different from the ones before, Cesar quickly let his arms go and dropped him to the ground.

 Chapter 67: The Guilt Of Leaving A Man Behind

    Jeremiah was the one watching everyone''s backs as they pressed forward relentlessly. He saw their struggle, their backs against the wall, enduring the constant tingling sensation of the Nightmare''s attacks. Blood and sweat poured from their efforts to continuously run, as every meter gained felt like a hard-fought victory.

    From the start of their marathon, he had been in the far rear of the group to observe the situation which started to be hisst job since he also had himself to worry about.

    That''s why he failed to see the situation Erin and Cesar were facing.

    Not like he can do anything at this point.

    "I said let go!"

    Probably the exhaustion mounting over them, only Jeremiah noticed that screaming from Erin and the scene where he was falling and thrown down from Cesar''s back.

    "What¡ª!"

    Jeremiah wanted to shout why Cesar was able to do such action when his gaze fell onto Erin.

    He was left horrified by what Erin had be and quickly judged his situation after distinguishing that Erin had shown signs of being corrupted that slowly eroded his body as they continued with their marathon.

    Being a squad leader himself and stationed from sites in his entire life, Jeremiah was no stranger to people turning into corrupted. To mundane humans, they will immediately turn to hideous monsters and any sense of reasoning will leave in their mind the instant they were exposed to any kind of Nightmare exposure.

    But Shadeds were different.

    If they turn corrupted, there''s a slight possibility that they can be saved but it was very minimal. That is if it was treated or seen early.

    After all, the dangerousness of the Nightmare Potion didn''t end just after being able to drink it. They have to assimte the power inside them into their own, and to do it, having to be physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy is needed.

    This is what the academy had taught them.

    But there are certain cases where Nightmare is involved. This type of case is where a certain exposure might trigger the hidden danger of the potion hence making the user susceptible to its corruption is bound to happen.

    Unless it was made by a Nightmare itself.

    Who knows if it was the works of the Nightmare Potion or the Nightmare itself?

    All of these thoughts went inside Jeremiah''s mind in just an instant making him grunt and face forward, as Erin rolled on the floor while his power remained active for the group to take cover.

    Only then Cesar shouted from his position.

    "There''s a minute left till the disguise is out! Please! Continue running forward!"

    His voice was filled with agony and remorse that Jeremiah seemed to be the only one who understood Cesar''s pain. After all, he was responsible for Erin since he was hispany half of their marathon.

    "Nicotara!"

    The cohort heard a shouting from their back.

    Its voice however was eerily ghastly, at the same time, recognizably familiar. Even so, a slight distraction might hinder their progress if they put a bit of their attention to it as they sprinted forward.

    However, after the shout from behind them, the tingling sensation they''d been feeling began to decrease, eventually disappearing

    The only one who could assess the situation was Quentin after seeing the Nightmare redirect its gaze from somewhere at the back and leave them. It was weird for it to do it as if really timed very well with their disguised running out of time.

    It felt like a sudden opportunity had been granted to them. Quentin, for a moment, felt a wave of relief.

    "Nicotara!"

    Suddenly the same shout was perceived by everyone in the group as they remained on this continuous route until its voice slowly dimmed from their ears.

    Thankfully, because of that bought time they received, they''ll be able to venture even deeper into the table, leaving the Nightmare behind who was clearly distracted from somewhere on their backs.

    In a minute, the disguised gum disappeared above providing a roof over their heads throughout the relentless marathon.

    Nheless, that didn''t stop the group from running forward.

    ¡­

    "Hahh¡­"

    Breathing raggedly while feeling nothing at the lower part of their body, everyone''s legs and knees were shaking violently. Their backs were drenched with sweat and they looked like they would copse any minute due to how fierce their breathing was, as if they would need to puke out blood just to make sure they''d made it out from that cursed ce.

    Cesar, on the other hand, was not satisfied with their result even though he was one of the people who were supposed to be exhausted.

    He was in need of running, hungry even. He looked like he will do whatever it takes to even take a single step and get away from the Nightmare he was loathing.

    His face was crazed.

    "We¡­need to¡­ go. Crawl if¡­ you have to¡­! Reach the end¡­ of this table¡­!"

    His voice is filled with viciousness and culpability his raging emotions were noticed by the group. However, they couldn''t make sense of what he was angry about when the distance they took was a little victory that could be celebrated and needed a break from.

    Still, Cesar might be the only one who understood that this distance wasn''t enough to put the difference between them and the Nightmare.

    However, that''s when he was wrong since the squad also gets that the candbra isn''t something that restrained the Nightmare. It wasn''t entirely limited to it hence it couldn''t be considered as a Bounded Nightmare.

    That''s why they had to run again, even if they were tired. Once they crossed the deste table, only then they''ll be able to rest¡­ only if this was the end.

    "Hey, where''s Erin?"

    Cesar couldn''t help but shudder upon mentioning the name of the person which was the sole reason why they were able to escape in the first ce.

    Feeling guilt taking over him, Cesar avoided the gaze Quentin was giving to him since he was the one who raised the question.

    That changed when all of them realized a single person missing in their cohort and all shifted in one direction, Cesar.

    The mood around them dampened real quick.

    After all, Cesar was with him for half of the marathon hence he should be able to know why Erin wasn''t on his back any longer.

    Confusion started to take over.

    These seeds of doubt started to grow as they silently observed Cesar remain unresponsive even though his face was full of remorse.

    He liked to tell them about it but it would look like he left Erin behind for his sake. After all, nobody would''ve known what transpired between the two of them. If they even believed him in the first ce, that would''ve been great.

    But he had already exposed himself that he had certain secrets that couldn''t be spoken to them. Cedeit, the person he was calling out for in their marathon, was an example of a secret he didn''t tell them about.

    "Hey¡ª"

    Suddenly, someone touched Cesar''s shoulder and tapped it gently. Looking at the group confidently, Jeremiah initiated to clear the doubts by saying.

    "I''ll tell you what happened so rx. I''ve seen it with my two eyes so clear your heads." Jeremiah paused, "Erin¡­ Erin knew it wasn''t anybody''s fault,"

 Chapter 68: Beneath The Other Edge Of The Table

    After a minute of recollecting themselves, the cohort forced themselves to run forward yet again.

    This time, their pace was stable, unlike the period when they were on the marathon and were forcing themselves to sprint.

    They do this so that they can replenish the strength they lose while being able to rest? It was Jeremiah''s words once all of them were ready to go once again.

    -I know it''s a bit insane to tell you this but we''re going to run. As we do, you used this time to rest as well. Insane? Yes, I know. But we move forward as we always did.

    Hence, they were in a situation where their breaks were literally a short stop for over a minute before running.

    In this span of a few minutes, however, the cohort felt awkward to each other. It was because Jeremiah was still not talking while Cesar remained unresponsive to the gazes of the others who demanded an exnation for Erin''s disappearance.

    Finally, being able to close their distance towards the end of the table while being far enough to be near the candbra, Jeremiah broke the silence.

    "Erin has been corrupted,"

    That phrase alone was enough to fill the gaps that confused the group but Jeremiah gave more exnation so that the me for Erin''s actions would not be directed to Cesar, who was innocent throughout the time.

    "Actually, I''ve noticed it as well but I couldn''t pinpoint the cause of his corruption¡­ well, there''s one thing he didn''t tell us about, and his travel on the way up towards here. Also, when we talked about the Darkness that dwelled under this table, you noticed that he always reacted very subtly. He couldn''t hide it from me, so you must''ve noticed it as well,"

    Suddenly, Cesar remembered the time when the Dwellers in the Dark were mentioned from the mouths of the others, he also noticed Erin reacted differently from the rest.

    As if a mere wording from it left a distaste in his mouth¡­ and it actually showed.

    Now he was gone, consumed by the same corruption he hated.

    Suddenly, Cesar felt a nudge from his side and couldn''t help but look at the side where Jeremiah was signaling him to give even further exnation while repeatedly raising his brow up and down.

    Cesar was reluctant at first since there was no need for any other additional words aside from Jeremiah but the way he was being pressured was too annoying. Hence for his trip toward the end of the table to be stable, he''ll have toe clean.

    With a cough, Cesar replied, "He told me while we''re running that he''s been corrupted by the Dwellers in the Dark. There was ck smoke on his neck as he continued to exhaust his power just to buy us a couple of minutes to avoid being at the mercy of the Nightmare. W-when it was too much, he told me to let go and the corruption had already affected most of his face,"

    He paused, "That''s why I let him go,"

    Cesar was ready to answer whatever question they threw at him. It''s not like it matters anyway.

    Erin wasn''t going to be saved.

    But the group didn''t pry Cesar any longer. There was nothing to ask anyway when the only two people who knew mostly what happened told them that it was nobody''s fault, in which, they were correct.

    "Let''s not just waste his sacrifice then¡­" us reminded, his voiceing back to his usual soothing tone before ncing at Cesar, "It must be hard for you to do it. I''m sure you were hesitating,"

    Cesar clenched his fist and didn''t respond to us, not even giving him a nce as they continued with their pace.

    Afraid that they might wake up yet another hidden danger, they stopped conversing with each other and focused their attention ahead.

    ¡­

    Their way ahead has been very eerily quiet and fortunately safe. By the looks of it, the gargantuan candbra isn''t the only monumental attraction that the table has.

    Along their way, they encountered a copsed spiralingmp that must''ve fallen from the roof of the hallway they were in. They had to cross it very carefully since shards of sses and stones are spread from the path they took.

    Additionally, they came across with a very huge rectangr te that acted as a wall for their size. Because of it, the group had to take another route by moving at the edge of the te and used the very narrow path to move forward.

    There were many more as well and all of it was crossed by the cohort.

    So far, everything has been holding up.

    Throughout their three days of venture, the group had finally reached the end of the table.

    Just as they were expecting, they haven''t seen a door protruding out from the cold surface of the table.

    "It must be at the bottom. The opposite side where Cesar must''ve taken is probably the only way out to this particr hallway," Jeremiah raised this idea, something they had been thinking about before the start of the marathon.

    But just to double-check, two groups with two people roamed around to see if they had neglected a door on their way. Jeremiah and Cesar were a team, while us and Quentin were the other.

    "Nothing on my side,"

    "Same here,"

    In a few minutes, they went back to where Amar is positioned and informed each other that the coast is clear and they were ready to venture down.

    And they did.

    After tiring hours of holding onto the segment of the table that assisted the entirety of its cold surface as they went down, they were finally on the ground floor.

    "There¡­"

    Just like the same Cesar had entered the hallway, it wasn''t really tainted by the darkness like the areas under the table. And to this confirmation, It could be said the same for the opposite side.

    Hence by squinting their eyes at the very far front, they could see an ancient wooden door¡­ however, it was being protected by a dim, shadowy wall.

    Their eyes wavered the moment when they saw something on its side.

    There, waiting for them toe, was the Nightmare they thought they outchased days ago.

 Chapter 69: Blocking Their Hope Of Escape

    The Nightmare they thought they had escaped from appeared right on the heels of their hope of escape.

    It was merely standing, gazing at them as if they were provoking the cohort to take a step forward and exit the deste ancient table.

    But to do that, they''ll have to defeat it first.

    ''This mother fucker is smart¡­!''

    Cesar couldn''t help but curse inwardly and he knew he wasn''t the only one getting this thinking.

    The Nightmare might''ve been waiting for them the entire time after their marathon. As for how it was able toe faster when they should''ve met it in the middle of their journey, everyone was rtively confused.

    ''Did it use its teleportation ability and mark the door throughout the time it had been here or was it able to outrun us and be at the door the best it could sprint while trying to avoid us¡­ just because it felt like it?''

    Cesar was unsure what to think at this point. Drawing a conclusion as to how or why the Nightmare is doing this is not even the pressing matter they need to deal with.

    The Nightmare itself is the problem.

    Jeremiah couldn''t but let out a deranged chuckle, his face twisting in disbelief, "Hahaha, this¡­ In the end, we really have no choice but to eradicate it, or we''ll be killed otherwise. Yeah¡­"

    Jeremiah and us prepared themselves while having a bitter taste in their mouth. Amar put Leah down from the floor before grouping up with the back of the group, ready to support them any time while having a defeated expression as if all these actions were pretty useless.

    Quentin went behind us and Jeremiah, feeling down at the events unfolding. His feelings were no different from the others, knowing this fight was appearing to be futile.

    It looks like they were going to fight which oue has already been decided.

    Cesar was the only one who remained motionless. However, he started to trod and reached behind Quentin.

    But even with those easy movements, all of it felt heavy. Moving his arm felt heavy, and picking up his revolver was heavy as well. Breathing in his position appeared to be quite a hassle as well.

    Everything felt so heavy.

    ''This feeling¡­''

    Gazing up front, directly staring at where the Nightmare observes them with its two red eyes¡­ It was captivatingly dangerous and a bit¡­ beautiful.

    It all brought him back when he encountered Hunger, the Nightmare that almost ate him when he was a child.

    The feeling of helplessness when one is incapable of facing absolute strength that most people can only do is bow down.

    He felt like he was being choked once again, firmer and stronger this time.

    All these thoughts muddle his mind... which is why he failed to notice something changing underneath his foot.

    ''Hahaha¡­. How pathetic,''

    Cesar tried something by muttering under his breath, "Cedeit, if you''re there, it''s time for you to say hey again,"

    After he sounded pleading, Cesar didn''t hear the voice from his head and could only let out a deranged chortle.

    He had to surrender to the thinking that they were the only ones who could help themselves.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    No idle talks or strategies were nned. The cohort already understands the strengths each one wielded. They can think of something up while they are fighting but nning something against a creature that could potentially wipe them out is just futile.

    They''ll just have to fight it¡­ and win somehow.

    "Nicotara!"

    us yelled at the top of his lungs as he and Jeremiah found themselves on the frontlines once again. Linking his tether to the leader of their cohort, they were the first to engage the Nightmare as they advanced toward it.

    Powered by m_vl_em_p_yr

    The Nightmare, who was merely standing in its ce, let out a painful scream as if it was trying to hold itself together after its name was revealed again.

    However, the shadow creature wasn''t going astray and feral as it did in the bars of the candbra. Instead, it somehow controlled itself to the ''effects'' of the name that made a Nightmare vulnerable to its enemies.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Hence the moment us and Jeremiah went near the Nightmare, attacking it all together, the Nightmare merely extended its two shadow hands.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar reached the Nightmare''s back to counterattack but he was left with futility once his attack only connected to the manifested, ethereal wall that it conjured.

    nk¡ª!

    After deflecting us and Jeremiah''s attack, the Nightmare quickly redirected its focus to Cesar, aiming a powerful punch at him. However, Cesar easily dodged the iing strike straight to his head, immediately stepping back as a frown crossed his face.

    ''What the¡­ The Nightmare didn''t seem to be holding back. If so, why we be able to attack and counterattack as if it were a normal opponent¡­?''

    Cesar instantly spots a difference between the usual absurdities of the Nightmare before the marathonpared to the Nightmare they are encountering right at the very entrance of the hopeful entrance they hoped to enter.

    ''Is it tired?''

    Yes, it was being affected by the name but Cesar''s intuition kicked and he immediately deduced one thing.

    ''Don''t tell me this Nightmare is tired? Did this monster juste here a few minutes before we dropped down, really rushing it towards here so that we wouldn''t enter the door towards the other side? Then, that could only mean we''re on the right spot!''

    For some reason, Cesar couldn''t help but be hopeful while thinking that his thoughts aligned with what the Nightmare''s situation was.

    He wasn''t as negative as he was a few seconds ago.

    He felt a surging happiness flowing through his entire well-being.

    "Jeremiah! us! That thing is tired from the marathon it did as well just to intercept us on getting inside that door!"

    Jeremiah and us were trying their best to eliminate the creature. The moment they heard Cesar''s thoughts regarding the Nightmare''s condition, they all couldn''t help but smile in a twisted yet weird way.

    ''If this is tired, we''re going to die if it manages to recuperate a bit more of its strength!''

    us nced at Jeremiah and whispered after distancing themselves from the Nightmare after that short exchange.

    "You have to use it,"

    Jeremiah clicked his tongue in a defeated sigh before raising his left hand slightly upward as he dashed forward, "Purge!"

 Chapter 70: Foreboding

    The tattoo that stretched from his body up to his neck surged forward as it tried to coil out from his arm, extending out towards his hand before it enveloped it entirely to his arm.

    That wasn''t the end.

    After the tattooed beast reced his normal arm''s skin, Cesar directed it towards the Nightmare on its front.

    "Dismiss,"

    Jeremiah motioned a very hard pull while directing his hand at the Nightmare as if he were stealing something mid-air. However, the amazingness of his first facet didn''t end there as his coated hand started to wriggle on its own.

    Then, it turned darker.

    Purge

    It could ''dismiss'' an ability out of a Nightmare or Shaded temporarily. The ability that a Purge can dismiss might vary, however, it didn''t end just there.

    The ability that has been removed will be transferred to Jeremiah through his tattooed hands which were handling the power temporarily. It can be used by him as well.

    With Jeremiah being able to snatch an ability from the Nightmare, adding the fact that he can temporarily stop the same creature from using its abilities, Jeremiah is forced to reckon.

    That''s why Cesar thought Jeremiah''s abilities were busted.

    And it appears just now.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    "Nicotara!"

    Trying to make the Nightmare as disoriented as possible by saying its name out loud for everyone to hear, us also closed his distance to the Nightmare while getting a bit away from Jeremiah.

    Only he was probably knowledgeable about how his first facet worked.

    "Screech!"

    Trying to stop Jeremiah who instantly appeared right in front of it, Nicotara let out a piercing shriek that produced zero effects from the person he was targeting.

    After all, it was already bleeding in the first ce. Jeremiah barely could even hear from this point as his mind was muddled with nothing but the power he stole from the Nightmare.

    "Here ites¡­"

    Just in case it goes haywire, us safely connected his tether to Jeremiah, whose entire demeanor changed.

    Right in the instant the Nightmare tried reaching out to him, Jeremiah vanished from his ce. Not through running or evading it but submerging himself in the shadows around him that became much darker and fiercer.

    The Nightmare, very familiar with its power, couldn''t help but let out a surprised screech, and thest thing it knew, a spear had already plunged through its shadowy chest.

    "Null¡­"

    The Nightmare tried to get away by escaping through the same darkness that it marked from somewhere but Jeremiah was one step ahead by stopping it, pointing his finger to activate his second facet.

    Then, the spear connected and went upward to slice the Nightmare in half.

    With a visible cut in the middle of its body, the Nightmare merely healed itself by reconstructing it back as if it were sticking glue which happened almost instantaneously. But because it couldn''t assess the situation fast, Jeremiah was much faster.

    In quick session, Jeremiah thrust and stabbed the Nightmare repeatedly, producing ck holes that the Nightmare let out yet another piercing shriek once again.

    ''He''s about to solo it¡­''

    Cesar was witnessing something phenomenal at his front.

    At this point, he was merely a bystander.

    He couldn''t put it into words but the domineering performance made him incapable of joining the fight since us, who was with Jeremiah side by side most of the time, decided to back away and watch the man do his own thing.

    "His Purge gets better if the level of Nightmare he was fighting is high. When you mentioned that the Nightmare is an Intermediate Grade, I wasn''t losing hope because we have him. Yes, we''re nervous but it''s only natural to be."

    us exined why he was confident that Jeremiah would be able to handle himself. Cesar, who clearly wasn''t interested in any of that, started to get more impatient as he asked.

    "Isn''t this the perfect time to escape? If not, helping him should be the right choice we have?"

    What Cesar was trying to mention in a very respectful tone is that they should work themselves on escaping through the door. If that wasn''t avable, because of what us knew about, then helping Jeremiah provide support should be sufficient.

    But us answered them with a shake of his head, "I''ve already checked the door while I was running with him and no, we couldn''t escape due to the ck, dim wall that covered the ancient door. Unless we kill that Nightmare, there''s no chance of escaping here."

    He paused, "As for why helping Jeremiah is bad news. Well¡­ he actually couldn''t tell the difference between a friend or a foe while he was in the Purge state, if that''s what he called it. Asking him to calm down will do no good either. After all, he goes to the strongest he can sense from this ce and will not stop until he is done with them,"

    us halted as he started stretching his arms and legs as if readying for the iing fight even though Jeremiah was taking care of it.

    "What are you doing?" Cesar asked, a frown forming on his face.

    "Getting ready. Do you think Jeremiah will be able to handle that Nightmare?" us asked in a disbelief tone, "You''re more na?ve than I thought. Didn''t you tell us that it''s tired from its travel all the way up here?"

    us looked ahead at the berserk Jeremiah and added, "What we''re doing is keeping it tired. We will not let it rest and give each other a chance to eliminate the Nightmare. Until it is tired enough, we will find a way to deal it with a finishing blow."

    The way us exined it in a very soothing tone¡­ feeling confident that a mere Intermediate Nightmare, was very easy to fight made Cesar feel something was off.

    ''This is very odd¡­ Just a moment ago, everyone was nervous. Now, they look like they are very enthusiastic about the result¡­ What is going on here¡­''

    Their strange mixed emotions were making Cesar confused.

    After all, he was also getting excited himself.

    "Cesar¡­"

    Cesar jolted awake as he turned his attention to us, whose voice felt eerily ethereal for a moment.

    "When it''s our turn, we go ham. Got it?"

    The heaviness he felt earlier became even more so, his started beating faster.

    ''Why am I like this? We''re winning!''

    Cesar gave him a nod as they patiently waited for their turn.

    ¡­

    Facets Archive

    Purge: The ability can ''dismiss'' an ability out of a Nightmare or Shaded temporarily. The ability that a Purge can dismiss might vary and it will temporarilynd on the user who was using it. Purge gets better the higher the ability that has been dismissed.

 Chapter 71: Emotions

    It''s been hours since the battle started between Jeremiah and the Nightmare, Nicotara. As of now, the clear winner of the bout hasn''t been decided nor any time soon as Jeremiah was pulling miracle after miracle by being able to dismiss not only the darkness but its teleportation and use it to maneuver around the confused creature.

    Their n to tire the Nightmare was working as Jeremiah was able to buy this much time for them.

    It was an ungodly scenario, and Cesar couldn''t ask for a better oue. On his side, us continued stretching while preparing, waiting for his turn to fight. His gaze moved around to observe the other three members'' condition and to see how they were holding up to the rxation they were receiving and being given by Jeremiah.

    Amar was sitting on the floor, extending his hand out to heal Leah, the mysterious member of the cohort for Cesar who was still not waking up from the risky venture she did when she was procuring food.

    On the side, Quentin remained staring at the Nightmare, his eyes ckened due to the fact he was using his ability to gaze at the same hideous¡­ no, beautiful creature.

    ''I''m feeling heavy¡­''

    Cesar couldn''t pinpoint the time when he felt heaviness all over his body. He thought he was going to get sick due to it but still, he was revitalized very instantly to ready himself for the iing fight that wille any time soon.

    He didn''t know where he was getting this kind of motivation but it was there.

    ''Where can I fight this Nightmare¡­ oh, how can this sacred thing be called something like that?''

    Cesar''s gaze fell, his eyes bing unfocused. He looked around once more, only to see the area around them was much narrower.

    The cold, ancient table on his back vanished into the darkness. Even the old door they were meant to escape through, to delve further into the deste mansion, seemed far... and changing.

    ''Escape¡­ escape from where?''

    Cesar let out a short yawn, feeling sleepy all of a sudden. Now that he thinks about it, his emotions are all over the ce.

    When they went down to the table and met the door that was absent right now¡­ all hope was lost when the Nightmare was merely waiting in its ce.

    Cesar was disheartened.

    But then Cesar saw Jeremiah standing toe to toe with the Nightmare when they even had some trouble escaping it from the marathon under the shade of candbra. He was even going solo just to provide additional time for the group¡­ just because he couldn''t distinguish allies from foes?

    Cesar was delighted.

    Now that an hour had passed since Jeremiah was able to fight off the Nightmare with ease, Cesar received nothing but rxation.

    Cesar was at ease.

    Cesar was shocked¡­ Cesar was amazed¡­ Cesar was in awe¡­ Cesar was pleased to be on the same team as Jeremiah who was doing most of the things¡­

    Cesar was¡­ Cesar is¡­ Cesar are¡­ Cesar were¡­ Cesar had¡­ Cesar have¡­ Cesar was¡­ Cesar is¡­

    Cesar''s mind was muddled.

    All these superficial emotions were so forced that Cesar felt disoriented at how unnatural everything was.

    He wasn''t the moody type in the first ce.

    -Kid.

    Suddenly, a memory appeared in his head.

    It seemed to be recent.

    -It''s ¡­okay¡­ Let me be¡­ selfish this time.

    ''Selfish? Why are you being so selfish?''

    -It''s a¡­ price to pay.

    ''Price to pay¡­''

    Cesar felt an emotion in his heart that was nothing but forced and unnatural¡­ It was his real emotions, something that had been bugging him most of the time after he left the person who he was giving piggybacking to.

    A guilt that has been eating up throughout the days they went to the end of the table.

    ''I had no choice since he was corrupted. What a load of bull crap. You did it because you wanted to save yourself from harm¡­''

    -Don''t look back.

    These words kept ringing in his ears, haunting him when he was taking a small break.

    -Let go of me.

    If only he realized it sooner.

    If only Cesar has been more observant and has been able to think of something rather than that ''person'' abusing himself just to let them escape.

    -We''ve only known each other for days.

    Again, it was a bunch of ifs.

    -How thoughtful of you.

    As the darkness gets narrower,Cesar suddenly finds himself standing alone in the light. Surrounded by nothing but darkness, it felt as though the concept itself had paused, with the light focused solely on him, holding the encroaching darkness at bay.

    "I almost forgot you, sir."

    Cesar wanted to grab the dog tag from his pocket but everything that he brought, his revolver, daggers, and even the artifact that came from that person had magically vanished.

    "How could I forget you, sir Erin? I''m not a forgetful person after all,"

    As if his mind had cleared, the darkness that halted soon vanished and Cesar found himself in the same position as earlier.

    The only difference this time¡­ everyone was staring at him.

    Jeremiah was holding his spear, his head twisted in the most convoluted way possible while giving him a weird look. Amar twisted his head backward while Leah, who wasn''t supposed to be awake, had her eyes wide open, staring at him.

    us who was stretching earlier was in a weird position but he managed to still look at Cesar. Quentin, who was the closest to him, almost made contact with his face as he stared at him with his two dark eyes.

    "Hah!"

    Cesar let out a disbelief scoff as he smiled, his face reaching from ear to ear, revealing his two fangs which is a manifested physical change he received from his facet.

    "Whatever,"

    With no physical weapons to use¡­ the only weapon he could use was himself.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Once Cesar activated his facet [Sink], he moved his two arms near him before tearing it off forcefully with the use of his fangs.

 Chapter 72 : Madness

    Cesar kept ripping off his own flesh, the pain was so intense that tears started streaming down his face while being drowned with his blood. With a deranged expression, desperate to see the end of his madness, he continued eating his own flesh, destroying the arms he had once carefully cared for.

    But if his right was thinking, the arms he had was superficial.

    Even so, it is real.

    Superficial is different from fake after all.

    These superficial emotions, the surroundings, and everything he was experiencing... Cesar thought everything originated from somewhere... somewhere within himself.

    If he was right, Cesar knew he had been attacked through his mind.

    The powerful mental attack probably came from the Nightmare, and Cesar can pinpoint that it''s the ability to manipte the darkness that Jeremiah ''superficially'' dismissed in the image he was seeing.

    It was ''superficially'' arranged by the Nightmare.

    Who knows what it''s doing to them by now?

    Cesar wouldn''t have been surprised if he were already inside the belly of the creatures he detested most, but he would still seize this chance to witness the end.

    ''I will not be giving up! I didn''t cross the vast ancient table and hallways, just to get my mind hexed and be eaten without my knowledge! A-at the very least, let it be where I know! I don''t want to be stuck in a dreamscape in the first ce!''

    What he is doing is a simple inducement of pain by tearing his own flesh apart while being inside the superficial dreamscape.

    If he was right, he might get out. If he wasn''t, then he''d merely be crazy and would die from the excessive blood loss.

    Ssh¡ª!

    In this supposed superficial dreamscape, Cesar came to know that aside from their ''real'' things that vanished, the facets of the people remained on themselves.

    Cesar knew this was the work of the Nightmare.

    ''Is the Nightmare testing the ability while under its darkness maniption¡­? It could mean we''re going to end up like those shadow puppets who showed different kinds of abilities while having the perks of the darkness itself! Then, it''s obviously going to control us!''

    Cesar kept munching down his own flesh until he came to a halt once he realized he wasn''t waking up.

    His arms had been ripped off in the most grotesque way imaginable, his insides were bleeding profusely, and it seemed as though he was spraying blood like a damn shower.

    ''Inducing pain is not clearly working¡­! What''s worse than excruciating pain, Cesar! Think about it! Just think!''

    Cesar''s mind worked immediately, and the answer came to him a secondter. It didn''t require much thought however as he had been confronting it for quite some time now.

    Thud¡ª!

    Cesar immediately knelt down on the ground and bit his tongue using the same facet [Sink] to deal with another self-torture.

    "Mhhm!"

    Feeling his heart elerating due to how he mauled his own tongue while going deeper as he continued biting his own mouth like a rabid dog, Cesar was barely hanging on himself.

    ''Still!''

    He was barely holding on to himself.

    ''Still not fucking dead!''

    At this point, unable to speak and appearing half-dead from his posture alone, a flicker of rity crossed Cesar''s gaze as he looked upward.

    He gritted his mangled teeth together and then mmed his head forcefully against the ground.

    Thud¡ª!

    ''It hurts¡­''

    Thud¡ª!

    Seeing that he was pretty much alive, albeit barely, Cesar once more raised his head upwards before relentlessly battering his head to the ground without stopping.

    ''Die! Die! Die!''

    Finally, after the struggle of suicide to evict himself from the superficial dreamscape, Cesar died.

    "!"

    However just the next instant, Cesar found himself being shrouded in the darkness.

    ''This¡­''

    Barely able to see his surroundings with only one eye, shrouded in darkness, Cesar quickly began to assess the situation he was in.

    From his perspective, the cohort was circled around the Nightmare as they slightly hovered through the air. Cesar could see that he was the lowest height of the bunch while Jeremiah and us were close to the top as if they were experiencing something phenomenal.

    The Nightmare was in the middle of the squad, its hands slightly extending forward while its head moved in a strange, unsteady, weird way.

    Shivering, two of its eyes were closed as if savoring its progress on devouring Jeremiah and us, who the Nightmare considered the hardest opponents to control since they were the two strongest in the group.

    The Nightmare wasn''t wrong which is why the two had bought time and made Cesar realize that he was being in the process of being a puppet.

    ''That makes sense. The Nightmare would''ve done it right away if the process of puppeteering someone was easy¡­ Still, when did we get controlled by its power? Judging that we''re still near the door, it happened in this ce¡­ So when?''

    Cesar pondered very carefully, not forgetting this time since he was out of the superficial dreamscape. Because of it, he remembered one moment before¡­ presumably, he was affected by its power.

    ''The time I look at its eyes¡­ That''s how we got controlled?''

    It was totally nuts to think how he got curbed by its power with its two red eyes but at least there was a reason. It isplicated but he can use it to his advantage.

    ''God damn it, Cedeit! He did tell me he wasn''t sure if the Nightmare had any other additional abilities but still¡­ damn it!''

    Cesar gritted his teeth at his normal and fixed mouth in frustration as he painfully reached into his pocket, where the orb artifact was stored.

    Rustle¡ª!

    But the Nightmare slowly opened its eyes, two bloodshot eyes moving towards where Cesar was struggling to reach out his item.

    It sensed that someone was out of its control before trying to take over once more and Cesar felt his vision wavering again.

    ''Shit¡­ I''m losing consciousness¡­''

    Almost instantly, Cesar grasped the orb artifact that had once belonged to Erin and clenched it tightly in his fist.

    "Let there be light!"

    As Cesar poured half of his essence into the orb, the darkness surrounding him began to create gaps that allowed light to seep through. Gradually, the darkness started to break down as the light expelled the darkness away.

    "Let there be light!"

    Adding a bit more essence to boost the intensity of the artifact''s lethality, Cesar''s surroundings were more showered with light.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    And he escaped.

    Tak¡ª!

    Landing sessfully on the ground, Cesar smirked and screamed loudly, "Nicotara!"

 Chapter 73 : Annoying Cockroach

    Screech¡ª!

    As if the ritual for taking over the cohort has been interrupted, the rest of the squad has been dropped down from the air, the shadows shrouding them expelled.

    "Nicotara!"

    Cesar shouted the name of the Nightmare once more, trying to keep it as disoriented as he swiftly approached the group.

    Just as he was about to group Quentin who was near him, a puppet shadow tried to crawl its way out. But before it could fully emerge its head, Cesar didn''t wait and pounded his foot into the emerging shadow.

    It failed to crawl upwards.

    But it wasn''t the same for other puppets as dozens or so shadows emerged from the ground and targeted Cesar.

    "Nicotara!"

    Sensing that the Nightmare had almost managed to wake up from the effects of its name, Cesar gave yet another taste of one disadvantage it wielded and used it against the monster by shouting.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Recollecting his breath in an instant, Cesar had to evade an attacking from his head by merely nting on the side

    Consequently in that position, Cesar grabbed both of his already-dull-knife and used it to cut the monster''s head.

    sh¡ª!

    The shadow puppet''s head rolled over the floor but Cesar had to put his attention on his surroundings immediately as four of the shadows already closed their distance and started attacking him.

    One of the shadows extended a ck root towards Cesar and tried to wrap him around to corner him but Cesar cut them very cleanly.

    While the root approached him, one of the shadows suddenly grew big and swiftly went behind Cesar to give him a huge blow by connecting to its palm together and knocking him from above.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Cutting yet another root that extended him for an instant, Cesar twisted his body while forced to aim at the shadow''s eyes by throwing his dagger to disorient the attack.

    And he was sessful with the draw.

    However, two more of the shadows almost hit his head while using ck des on their hands with the ability to slightly predict his movement.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Avoiding those shadow des, Cesar bent down on the floor before splitting and rotating in one quick manner that hit the legs of the two shadows that went for his blind spot.

    Forcing them to fall, Cesar dashed forward and shouted, "Nicotara!"

    "Screech!"

    As if it was too annoyed to even deal with the pesky cockroach that continued to say its name, the two bloodshot eyes of the Nightmare slightly nced at Cesar and shouted in a more manner that he could understand.

    "Kill¡­! Bastard¡­!"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The shadows were in haste as they swiftly made their way to eliminate Cesar, an order received from the Nightmare itself.

    Cesar nced at the unconscious group for a brief moment before he got pounced by the shadow puppets altogether.

    "Tsk¡­"

    Being covered with nothing but the shadow puppets, the area went silent for a moment¡­ not until a few secondster, Cesar emerged from one of the holes he made for himself to avoid being ganged up inside the dozens of shadow puppets.

    Even so, he didn''t get out unscathed.

    His arms, legs, body, and back were full of injuries but he didn''t appear fazed at all.

    He had his whole attention to tilt the situation to his advantage.

    ''I''ve almost been had¡­! That can''t happen again!''

    Afraid that being ganged up together again would not produce the same result where he escaped, Cesar took a distance as he controlled his breathing.

    ''Round 2!''

    Whoosh¡ª!

    One of the shadow puppets emerged from the ground and tried to reach his legs to trip his legs but Cesar merely avoided it with a hop. However, the shadow wasn''t done yet as it made a shadow dome of a appear that expanded a small area and slowly closed in.

    Not letting him escape, the other shadow that was able to keep up their pace, dashed towards him while not letting the chance slip by.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    One of the shadows extended its shadowy hand and transformed it into sharp des that targeted Cesar while the other was throwing tiny needles made out of shadow that excreted a stench of ck poison.

    Both the projectiles went toward him and most of it was avoided by Cesar with disciplined footwork.

    "Nicotaraaa!"

    However, just as Cesar continued ying around with the shadow puppets, every y time would eventually end. Not only is he learning to his opponents making his every attack steadier, tougher, and deadlier, but the shadow puppets began to study his mannerisms and movements.

    "Nicotaraa¡ª"

    Just as he was about to scream its name once more, Cesar felt a sneaky hand make its way toward his mouth, covering any kind of voice from leaking out.

    Clink¡ª!

    Cesar, since he was missing a dagger after throwing it from the puppet earlier, was wielding the revolver on the other and immediately adjusted it to point shadow that managed to grab his lips.

    Pak¡ª!

    However, even though he managed to pull the trigger, the hand''s grip suddenly became tight and slightly missed the target.

    ''Oh no! The Nightmare!''

    With nothing to distract it, the Nightmare started to assemble itself and get out from the constant nagging of Cesar of its name being called.

    ''Damn it!''

    Bang¡ª!

    Cesar pushed all the bullets left of his revolver and tried to take down the puppet holding his mouth.

    Thud¡ª!

    Briefly, he was free from all the constraints he received as the hands covering his mouth loosened, not until he was hit in his foot.

    sh¡ª!

    A spike erupted right in the middle of his left foot, opening out into multiple lines like a flower unfurling. Then it struck the ground, locking Cesar in ce and preventing him from moving.

    "Ni¡ª!"

    Cesar struggled to remove his feet from the spike before a shadow puppet lunged towards him and pped him with a shadow object that finally covered his mouth without any puppets stopping him from doing it.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Those shadow puppets, right after seeing that the cornered Cesar was all fatigued and out of chance, all jumped at him once again, this time not letting the chance slip for him to escape.

    "Mmmh!"

    Cursing as only death awaited once he was squished with the shadow puppets, Cesar''s gaze ignored them as it shifted past them to the front, and realized that one of the squad''s bodies had vanished.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    And right in the timing and bought a lot of time, the shadow puppets that almost covered Cesar were sliced apart with a single stroke of a spear.

    Just in the right timing and buying some precious moments, the shadow puppets that had nearly enclosed Cesar were sliced apart with a single stroke of a spear, demonstrating a disy of experience when ites to his weapon.

    ''Yes!''

    Him being an annoying cockroach has been paid off.

    But will it be enough?

 Chapter 74: Willing To Gamble

    "Gahh¡­"

    As blood dripped from his feet, C¨¦sar spat out a mouthful of blood, then wiped it away with a smirk before forcing himself out from the grip of the crooked spike.

    He then looked at the side and called lowly, "Jeremiah¡­"

    Jeremiah appeared different from the superficial dreamscape Cesar was in earlier. One thing about his purge ability was that he didn''t have any dismissed ability from the Nightmare. Still, it was activated which was confusing enough.

    "What were we doing¡­?"

    Cesar used the bandage he used to cover his eyes to knot his injured foot, revealing a grotesque hole in his eye before answering.

    "If you remember looking at its eyes after meeting it in this ce, then it only meant we had almost be one of its puppets,"

    Jeremiah pondered his words before replying, "I did look at its eyes. But something changes a secondter. Everything felt heavy after or was it before? I couldn''t tell. And before I knew it, I was in a strange¡­ domain. Well, it''s even stranger since it is a ce back in my hometown, with my wife and kid having fun."

    He paused, "I was so happy at that ce that I refused to believe any heaviness I was feeling to be real. That¡­ abruptly stopped however and my body moved on its own to help you,"

    Cesar stared at Jeremiah nkly and retorted, "That came out of nowhere,"

    "Hey¡­!"

    Jeremiah wanted to argue at how arrogant his tone sounded before letting out a chuckle and moving his gaze forward, not directly looking at the two red eyes of the Nightmare.

    Not going to test if Cesar''s theory was true by looking at it by mistake, Jeremiah questioned.

    "Okay, so all you had to do is not look it directly in the eyes?"

    Cesar nodded once before adding, "You''re going to use your first facet now? Don''t worry, I''ll keep my distance and strike when I need to so¡­ go wild,"

    ''Howe you knew my facet¡ªyou know what, it doesn''t matter,''

    Jeremiah mused inwardly, letting out a sigh before he vanished from his ce. He sprinted his way toward the Nightmare while holding the spear in his hand.

    "Nicotara!"

    After hearing and shouting that name time and time again, Cesar started to get annoyed hearing the true name of the Nightmare. He might be better off sticking with their Nightmare Titles rather than continuously shouting their name nonstop.

    But at this point in time, anything that can be used will be used.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    "Agh!"

    Cesar tried to exert a movement but his injured foot made it hard to do so. As of now, the puppets had already left his side and went near the Nightmare to protect it from Jeremiah.

    "Purge¡­ Dismiss!"

    But those puppets plopped down on the ground right in the instant as the dismiss ability that Jeremiah had gotten was no other than the ability to manipte the darkness. It was the same thing that is used to control somebody.

    Because of it momentarily being stolen, the puppets being shrouded with shadows slowly vanished and Cesar was able to see through what those shadows are made of.

    And as he already spected, they were corrupted humans that came under the Nightmare. Cedeit didn''t really straight away say that these shadows are made from corrupted humans but just mentioned he and his cohort are going to have to fight the Nightmare and corrupted humans together.

    ''I guess it''s all the same in the end¡­''

    "Hey,"

    Jolting after hearing the voice that went missing in action throughout the time he needed the most, Cesar immediatelyposed himself while remaining unresponsive.

    He didn''t like to involve himself any further with Cedeit.

    Well, that isn''t entirely true.

    The voice might be a key to getting out of the mansion after all.

    "The one fighting that Nightmare is going to lose and die,"

    Cesar was very aware of this matter which is why he wasn''t sure why Jeremiah was pushing himself.

    That Nightmare isn''t just going to be defeated after one of its powers was stolen. They are very unpredictable creatures that as long as it is breathing theirst breath, will continue to fight.

    Besides, the path towards the ancient door was still being blocked by a dim wall. For them to pass to the other side, they had to eliminate it no matter what.

    That''s why Cesar was thinking of solutions.

    Up to the start until this moment, Cesar never stopped thinking.

    But everything seemed to be futile. The battle of attrition is going to make the Nightmare win after Jeremiah loses his purge, Cesar gets killed, and the rest get controlled.

    What a very anticlimactic ending.

    But what can he do at this point? The opportunity that Jeremiah will make might probably note.

    Heck, Cesar already imagined this scenario in the first ce. Funny enough, he was about to suggest earlier that they just kept shouting its True Name¡­ until it got annoyed somehow and let them exit through the ancient door.

    It was such ridiculous thinking that Cesar discovered he had be a moody person. Something had formed while he was inside this ce.

    However, the voice didn''t seem done talking to Cesar.

    "I will defeat that Nightmare for you,"

    Even though Cesar appeared to have be crazy at this point, he willingly still chose to survive. Hence whatever possible, whether disgraceful or spiteful, he was willing to gamble on it again.

    ''The voice will defeat the Nightmare?''

    Cesar''s muddled eyes became clear for a brief moment before retorting, "For sure this is not for free. What''s in it for you?"

    The even voice replied after a whole minute, "When all of this ends, your little adventures inside this mansion, you''re going to let me take your body."

    The battle between Jeremiah and Nightmare with shadow puppets seems to be in itsst act.

    "Nicotara!"

    And no matter how many times Jeremiah called for the Nightmare''s name, he wasn''t really winning. All of his efforts were nothing but in vain.

    Watching the helplessness on his front while pretty much tired from all these happenings, Cesar couldn''t help but let out a surrendered sigh and smiled cheekily.

    "Okay, sure. You can try to take my body away from me,"

    The eerie voice was silent for a brief moment, pondering why that single statement sounded eerie even for a being like him before disregarding itpletely.

    "You are very cooperative,"

    "And, you''re slowly showing your true colors Cedeit. I was getting worried that you''re a very friendly fellow who''s here to guide me to get out,"

    Cesar paused briefly after seeing there was no other thing that Cedeit to add or retort, "What do I do now?"

    Cedeit answered evenly, "Don''t worry, all you have to do is open your Subconsciousness, and vi. I can get a bit of myself to control you and do the rest,"

    Cesar frowned, "Subconsciousness¡ªanyway, how?"

    Cesar wanted to ask what those words meant but immediately halted from getting curious since he knew Cedeit might not entertain his questions.

    And he was right as the voice remained silent for a while before answering.

    "Opening the subconsciousness is easy. All you have to do is¡­ well, un-conscious yourself, I guess? Then, I''ll handle the rest"

    "¡­"

    Cesar was left speechless by the requirement.

 Chapter 75: Selling Oneâ€™s Soul For The Devil

    ''Are you serious?''

    The serious situation just turned somewhat kind of funny leaving Cesar with no words to utter. He was nkly blinking his eyes, having no idea how to un-conscious himself¨Cafter just getting out from the unconscious state¨Cafter being under the power of the Nightmare.

    ''H-how do I do it though? Seriously. I really wanted to help Jeremiah. The puppets have stood up again after the Nightmare achieved a bit of control once more. Still... This¡­ How do I force myself to lose consciousness without actually resulting in my death?''

    Cesar couldn''t help but touch his face ridiculously, feeling the absurdness of the task. It was something pathetic but wild, and the more time wasted the more he endangered Jeremiah''s state where he was slowly being pushed back.

    Shouting the Nightmare''s name isn''t cutting out as well.

    That''s why Cesar wanted to rely on this gamble.

    He knew his weaknesses more than his strengths which is why he was sure that no one, not even Jeremiah, nor with a team effort from the cohort could be able to scratch the Nightmare that resulted in the death of one of their squad members.

    That''s why he will risk it, in a more calctive way.

    Even if it is selling his soul to the devil.

    ''Come,e, think fast! You don''t have to lose another person because you chicken out! Just do what Cedeit is saying and fucking think of a way to make yourself unconscious!''

    Cesar racked his brain swiftly, trying to flip the pages of his knowledge to see if there was another torture or unalive textbook he could use.

    Finally, he stopped doing it¡­ and trusted his instincts that he would be able to do the only job for that moment.

    Cesar swiftly dropped his revolver and dagger from the ground before immediately starting to choke himself with the use of his avable hands.

    Within moments, C¨¦sar''s battered and blood-soaked face grew pale as he struggled to ''un-conscious'' himself. His survival instincts were kicking in, even as he attempted to choke himself with his own hands. The hesitation in his movements showed his internal struggle, torn between the drive to survive and the desperation of his acts.

    ''Don''t hesitate, you fucking shit!''

    Feeding his mind with a sense of malice to do this crazy requirement, Cesar continued to choke himself. For a minute or so, he struggles to breathe while his vision slowly fades and wavers.

    ''God¡­''

    After adding yet another minute for another self-torture he had put himself through, Cesar''s face appeared pale blue before he slowly fell backward, his head hitting the solid ground.

    He achieved losing consciousness.

    ¡­

    ''No, no, no! What is that brat doing!?''

    Jeremiah couldn''t help but want to punch Cesar right in the face after taking a nce at his situation where he was merely¡­ trying to kill himself. It appears to him that fighting the Nightmare was thest thing he''ll ever do, hence he just had to kill himself.

    It''s better than being killed by the Nightmare by witnessing how it tore their own flesh and skin apart.

    Still, it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

    ''Fucking kid! You''re the reason why I''m still standing and fighting the Nightmare. Now, you''re backing away and leaving me alone? I better drop dead then!''

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Unable to continue thinking any further, Jeremiah had to quickly dash away after a puppet tried to stab him in his heart. With quick reflexes, he was able to pull off something that most people wouldn''t be able to.

    But that didn''t mean he could do it repeatedly.

    Just as he escaped from his position, another one went to hit him right in his chest sessfully connected, and blew him aside.

    "Guh!"

    Before he could evennd on the ground, another puppet dashed away to his point of impact and kicked him right in the same ce once again, doubling the damage he had already received.

    Coughing out a mouthful of blood, Jeremiah finally dropped down after being thrown out just like that.

    ''God damn it¡­ I''ve purged his maniption to darkness yet it''s still able to use it like it is nothing! Fucking Nightmares and their unpredictability!''

    Though barely, Jeremiah could see that the Nightmare had gone back to controlling its puppets, realizing that it wasn''t enough to put a stop to the pressure he was exerting on it.

    His Null, with the use of his Purge, was a perfect counter for the smart Nightmare.

    However, the Nightmare still managed to do it.

    ''How? Is it because it is leveling up as well?''

    Just as humans learn, Nightmares are the same. If that was the case, then he was in a really deep shit.

    Crack¡ª!

    Jeremiah tried to stand up but the bones on his chest felt so revolting he was about to scream due to pain.

    He pretty much held on to himself while fighting the disorientated Nightmare and half-controlled puppets but that was the best thing he could do.

    "Hahaha¡­ I guess this is it,"

    Jeremiah could only hold out a chuckle before ncing on the side, to see Cesar had already been dead as well. It seems his suicide had worked.

    "Man, you could''ve just sliced your throat or something,"

    The puppets were closing on as the Nightmare stayed in its position, trying to gauge if there was another trick right under his sleeves.

    But there was clearly nothing. Jeremiah knew he was spent.

    "Hahh¡­"

    As if he had finally given up, thest thing Jeremiah did was nced upward, trying to catch a glimpse of the roof that none of their cohort had ever seen.

    ''How terrible.''

    His thoughts drifted, wondering what it would be like to gaze at the open skies of the outside world instead of the dark, cold, and obscured ceiling above him.

    ''Well, I''ve tried my best¡­''

    Jeremiah just closed his eyes, prepared to meet the rushed and anticlimactic ending of his life. After all, even moving his finger was a hassle.

    Giving up is for the best.

    "¡­"

    Suddenly, a few seconds had passed.

    Nothing happened to him.

    "¡­"

    A minuteter, he was still in the same position, not getting his inside forcibly gauged out or bitten to death.

    He was still alive.

    Opening his eyes to see the weird situation, Jeremiah was able to witness something weird.

    Right on his front, standing between the puppets and Nightmare... was Cesar.

    However, he felt different. The puppets, even the Nightmare, especially the damn Nightmare were observing Cesar with its bloodshot eyes wide open are all feeling the same thing.

    "You sure are having fun,"

    Cesar''s voice is even, with a little bit of mockery added in the mix.

    "Killing your kind has been fun for me too, Nicotara. Do you remember?"

 Chapter 76: Misdirection

    The Nightmare was astounded. Its own underlings even understand the emotion their puppeteer is feeling as they observe a man all together who was wearing a slight smirk on his face.

    It was still Cesar.

    However, his demeanor and everything around him didn''t tell that it was the real Cesar.

    Jeremiah noticed it too instantaneously.

    ''A different manner of speech, his tone fully of mockery to his opponent as if merely speaking to it was beneath for someone excluding a higher authority as him...'' Jeremiah couldn''t help but gulp in nervousness, ''Cesar¡­! Just what have you brought here with you!?''

    ''Cesar'' scratched the back of its head before straightening his body and giving a derided reply to the Nightmare, which appears to be a small fry for the likes of him.

    "Do you want to y, Nicotara?"

    The Nightmare seemed to have shuddered and took a step back but momentarily stopped. It was thinking that it wasn''t the same creature before that watched its kind ughter by whoever was inside of Cesar.

    It had gotten pretty strong.

    "How readable,"

    Screech¡ª!

    As if telling ''Cesar'' to shut up, the Nightmare extended the shadow from himself after the purge from Jeremiah had ceased. Now that he had run out of essence to keep it running, he had no choice but to release it and recuperate fast.

    But the turn of events made him stay in his position.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    In an instant, the floor became dark and stretched hundreds of meters away.

    The Nightmare seemed determined to end this fast, bringing out its best powers to the battlefield. It wouldn''t have dared to control the squad and study the useful facets to be a puppeteer if one of them were being controlled by yet another creature.

    As if the Nightmare and the shadow had be limbs for it to use, developed to be one singr being, all of them started lunging towards ''Cesar'', who appeared rather bored.

    "Rubbish, hollow, and puny. You have never changed Nicotara."

    Just as the shadow and the Nightmare all made contact with their target, ''Cesar'' flicked his fingers.

    Pwoosh¡ª!

    But in the end, he was hit right in the chest.

    "Screech¡ª!"

    As if it wasn''t done, the Nightmare tore ''Cesar'' into two which made Jeremiah shiver just by being a bystander. It was brutal and fast execution.

    ''If we were fighting without any disadvantages such as shouting its name¡­ I might''ve been torn like that instantly¡ªwait, Cesar!''

    Jeremiah worriedly looked at the front, knowing he was next before he spotted something strange on ''Cesar''s body that only the Nightmare had started to notice.

    There wasn''t any blood or organs gushing out continuously from its body. The moment his body was torn in half, the ''Cesar'' Jeremiah was observing turned into a paper figurine and merely melted.

    "The basic step of deception. Do you know what it is, Nicotara?"

    ''Cesar'' appeared at Nicotara''s back, teaching him a lesson for some reason. Even so, he let out a smirk and continued.

    "It is misdirection,"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Nicotara shed its hand in a circr motion and tried to kill ''Cesar'' who remained unmoving yet once more, his body was cut in half vertically, and the same result happened.

    ''Cesar'' would just turn into a paper and let himself get attacked, turning yet into a paper once more.

    Now, he appeared above the Nicotara''s shadowy head, using its head as some sort of stand to support himself.

    "A pretty low trick, I would say."

    Nicotara grabbed a hold of ''Cesar'' and crushed him into pieces. Once again, the Nightmare didn''t kill him but merely vanished from its sight by turning into a piece of paper.

    "Why use it on someone like you? So you''ll remember how I wiped out your kind using the same trick once again."

    Cesar''s voice echoed throughout the area.

    "Turning you against one another, ming the innocent, and driving your mindless kind tomit murder among yourselves. Ah, what a very fascinating scene."

    The Nightmare tried to pinpoint the location where ''Cesar'' had gone through before his attention slowly went down to the shadow and clearly saw the image of the man it loathed the most.

    "So? Do you remember or the corruption had gotten over your little head since then?"

    Thud¡ª!

    The Nightmare pounded its foot on the ground, mercilessly forming cracks where the image of Cesar had appeared a momentter, was gone.

    Soon, ''Cesar'' reappeared in the real world, dozens of meters away from the Nightmare and the squad itself.

    "Poor fellow. All I did to spare your life¡­ only to fall into ridiculously low."

    Cesar''s uneven voice seemed to start to bore him as the development wasn''t developing to what he envisioned.

    Cesar then began to rx.

    "¡­"

    After briefly ncing at Nicotara, he brought his hands together, not sping them, but in a gentle way of resting one hand on the other.

    But then he opened it, revealing a six-sided dice for him to show the Nightmare.

    He closed it again, but only this time, the dice were gone after he opened his hand, as if he were performing some kind of magic trick.

    Cesar then flicked his finger with a mocking grin as he added, "Be happy to witness something beautiful,"

    The Nightmare worriedly looked around, trying to see what the dice meant for Cesar''s ploy. But then he noticed something at the ground just right on his very front.

    The dice were peacefully lying on the floor.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The Nightmare instantly disappeared from where it stood and reappeared just outside the boundary of its shadow floor. Aware that remaining within it posed a risk even to its own creation, Nicotara kept a cautious distance to observe a situation that had already spiraled beyond its imagination.

    Nicotara couldn''t keep up with the mysteriousness of the being controlling Cesar''s ploy for a moment.

    That''s why¡­

    "Very unfortunate for you,"

    It failed to notice someone already touching his back.

    "Anyst words?"

    The Nightmare refused to respond and attempted to use the other marked teleports it had prepared in advance, but none of them triggered.

    All around the shadow floor¡­ those marked teleports were just burning.

    All that was left was the position it was currently standing. Discover hidden stories at m,v l''e-NovelBin

    From start to finish, ''Cesar'' used ''paper figurines'' that acted as the real Cesar inside the shadow floor to disrupt the monster''s thinking. The real ''Cesar'' was right outside, destroying the mark teleports that the Nightmare prepared beforehand and left one teleport and used a ''concealment trick'' to hide himself.

    The Nightmare even tried to activate the other teleports it had marked from the table, but it was as if an invisible ''wall'' had been erected around the area, severing whatever n the Nightmare had been preparing from the very beginning if it tried to escape.

    All the talks ''Cesar'' uttered and even the dice that one of his ''paper figurines'' demonstrated are nothing but a way to buy time for the real ''Cesar'' to pull off one ultimate trick.

    "Screech¡ª!"

    Even if the Nightmare was already cornered throughout the side, it tried to attempt onest struggle to see if all of his words were untrue.

    Yet it could only bear witness that everything has been true.

    Before it could touch Cesar, the Nightmare bursts into a tiny, bloodied piece of paper. Spreading across the area, the red-painted papers slowly withered away the moment he willed it.

    Watching the disappearing bloodied papers fading away from the real world, ''Cesar'' muttered in his ce as he reminded along in the air.

    "There''s nothing beautiful about deception."

 Chapter 77: Conversation With The Devil

    With the Nightmare being singlehandedly defeated by ''Cesar'', the chaotic situation slowly turns stale. The shadow floor started to vanish from the outside before closing into the inside. The puppets that the Nightmare controlled slowly revealed themselves as corrupted humans also faded.

    Even the door that was being covered with a dim shadow was gone.

    "Groar¡­"

    However, one slight problem appeared as the corrupted started toe to their senses.

    This problem, however, was easily solved by ''Cesar'' as paper figurines spawned and tightly hugged these creatures before all melting away through the passage of time.

    "All done,"

    ''Cesar''s eyes finallynded at one particr spot and were all aware that a person was able to witness all the deception he had done to execute the n as if it was in the back of his head.

    ''Hmm, others will need every strength they''ll have to achieve the next challenge. Does this¡­ Jeremiah guy will shut up to what he witnessed now?''

    Jeremiah was left shaking at his position as his surprise was apparent due to how he continued moving backward just to get away from the ''Cesar'' who didn''t act or talk like Cesar at all. Even though it was a struggle, he kept moving backward.

    ''What in the fucking world was that!? Did the Nightmare just go blind or what? The ''Cesar'' was clearly outside of its shadow floor and swiftly burnt something since there was a fire while I was following him. The weird thing about it is that ''Cesar'' was not that fast. I could follow him! Yet the Nightmare appeared all blind and was focused on killing the fake Cesars when the real one was outside!''

    Jeremiah was left speechless as he concluded, ''It got deceived and tricked!''

    Jeremiah still continued sliding back while keeping an eye on ''Cesar'' who remained looking in his direction without even moving before someone whispered right beside his ear.

    "Where you goin''?"

    "!"

    Jeremiah knew he was intently looking over Cesar from afar, which is why it was impossible for him to be on his back now, intercepting his fruitless escape.

    But then while he was continuing to focus on ''Cesar'' in the front, he immediately melted like the paper figurines he saw. He trembled even more as if he was on the verge of having a seizure.

    "Don''t be afraid, I have no interest in you. Nor, this boy, really," ''Cesar'' spoke very unevenly without any malice before continuing, "I just want to get out of here, honestly. Will you help me?"

    Jeremiah took a gulp, sensing that it wouldn''t matter if he answered him in a good or bad way. Exposed to a great being like him, it looked like the machinations that were already moving weren''t stopping any time soon.

    With a nervous breath, Jeremiah tried to put on a strong face and replied, "Will you start possessing this boy?"

    ''Cesar'' pondered for a moment before shaking his head, "If I can, I would. That is, after all, the most optimal option to have. However, I''m running out of gas, you see. I''m merely using the ''connection'' we have and haven''t fully controlled Cesar yet. But again, that''s the deal we made with each other.

    But if it is too underwhelming, well, I treated one of your members who experienced the surge of essence entering their body,"

    Jeremiah ignored thest sentence as he was focused on the former. His eyes widened before he replied, "A deal?"

    "Yea. Let''s say he took pity on you lots and sold his soul to the devil. Am I right with the saying?" ''Cesar'' replied with a chuckle before he turned serious.

    "If you want to get out of here alive, don''t waste this boy''s sacrifice. Let''s just get all out of here, all right?" Cesar touched his head, slightly aching, "Ah¡­ I guess this is it. Nice meeting you, Jeremiah,"

    ''Cesar'' suddenly started to shake on his own before he also fell to the ground, losing consciousness.

    "What a load of crap¡­"

    Jeremiah couldn''t help but curse as he slumped down on the ground, also dead tired just to reach their desired destination.

    He finally got some rest after going through all of that.

    ¡­

    "Ugh¡­"

    Cesar couldn''t help but groan, feeling a phantom pain that his head was being drilled by something even though it hadn''t apparently happened.

    Or it did happen but it wasn''t him that experienced it.

    "Ugh¡­"

    "Okay, we heard you for the second time,"

    Hearing a familiar voice nearby, Cesar''s eyelids quivered before he opened them, only to see the group surrounding him in a circle. He looked around and quickly realized that nobody disappeared or died.

    Cedeit held the end of his deal very well.

    Being bathed with relief that everyone was safe, a tired set escaped Cesar''s lips. He tried to stand up and Quentin was about to assist him when Jeremiah beat him up to it and did it instead.

    "Oh, thank you¡­"

    Once all of them were seated down, a question was raised amongst them. He was getting antsy to get an answer.

    "How the hell are we alive?"

    Cesar and the rest were confused since all of them weren''t aware of how they survived. Cesar had the gist of it but he is not sure what Cedeit did or how the voice managed to pull it off.

    But again, it''s not like he will share it with them. Feigning ignorance might be good right now.

    "Actually, I was the one who first woke up from the lots of you. As the first, all I saw was dropped artifacts and you guys. Even I don''t know what happened,"

    "Ah, I see. Well, thank you¡ª"

    After seeing the person who answered it, Cesar was astonished when the woman he thought would stay unconscious, replied to him.

    "Huh!? Leah!?"

    The cyan bob cut woman-haired, let out a cheeky smile and answered back, "Surprised that I survived rookie? Well, me too, I guess. You know, I''m actually thankful to you guys for not leaving me behind. Being near those frozen delicacies¡­ I would not like to experience the same sensation again. Anyways, let me properly introduce myself."

    Leah stood up from her ce and made herself known since only Jeremiah was aware of her existence.

    "My name''s Leah, a squad captain before being transferred in here. I have two facets called [Suppress] and [Hex] that heavily target the minds of my opponent. I also have great vision, a technique, and two avable artifacts. Whatever happened to me, I''m going to pay you guys back. So, how about getting out of here now?"

 Chapter 78: Spoils

    Cesar couldn''t help but shake his head before repeating the question that had kept bugging him earlier till now.

    "No one really knew how we survived? It''s kind of making me think we''ve managed to get to this point with luck," Cesar paused as he mused inwardly, ''Hahaha, seriously. I just want to know how Cedeit does it and what kind of prowess he showed that needed me to lose consciousness,''

    Jeremiah gave him a short nce before answering, "What about you? Do you remember something before you fainted?"

    Cesar had to ponder the question given to him even though he already had an answer to it.

    But telling him that he was choking himself to give the hidden existence of his body to solve their problem, wouldn''t just sound right.

    In the end, Cesar had to lie with a glib tongue, "Honestly, I just lost consciousness at some point while watching you fight. It''s probably to exhaustion,"

    "Hmm¡­"

    Jeremiah stared at Cesar, only giving that low hum as a retort to his answer. Obviously, he got weirded out by the antics that their leader was showing but he thought it was just yet another after-effect of being able to stand his guard with the Nightmare.

    "Hey, you two. Time to gear up,"

    Find your next read on m_v l|e-NovelBin

    Since the rest of the cohort hadn''t really done anything else to help, they let Jeremiah and Cesar, the two people who managed to stay awake recuperate their strength while the rest gathered the spoils.

    "Sir, have you been aware all this time that Nightmares and Corrupted Humans can drop artifacts?"

    Jeremiah nkly pondered for a brief moment before nodding, "Yes, this is a slightly secret military knowledge that isn''t widely known to the world. And hear me, aside from you and Quentin, the rest shouldn''t be able to say it since we''re put in a ''contract'' but here am I, being able to express it. It''s probably because of the mansion''s influence,"

    ''Contract¡­''

    After already having a suspicion that there''s involvement as to why some of the knowledge he was now discovering isn''t widely known because of some maniption by higher powers, Cesar was about to question another question.

    "Right sir, do you have any idea what Subconsciousness is¡ª"

    "Hey, we have no time to dilly dally!"

    Leah gathered all the dropped artifacts around with glee but she and the rest understood that these spoils didn''t belong to them. She dropped it all down and presented it to the two with a slightly distressed face.

    "Everyone here can agree that you two are the greatest contributor to our survival. As painful as it sounds to me, you also deserve this bunch. Like, really, I do!" Leah chuckled, her lolly words didn''t match the unsettled actions she was doing.

    She then smiled crookedly as she added, "But anyways, you two will split it amongst yourself,"

    ''This much!?''

    Cesar immediately started counting the artifacts on the floor that would give him a lifetime of money. If he could sell it from outside, he wouldn''t have to worry about going to school or experiencing hunger again.

    He will be set in life.

    -You''re going to let me take your body.

    Cesar then remembered that phrase that brought him back to reality, subtly dampening his mood.

    "¡­"

    Jeremiah gave Cesar a brief nce before standing up and joining the others, leaving Cesar alone on the ground.

    "Eh?"

    Even the group was surprised at his actions.

    "Cesar can have all the spoils. I''m good on my own," Jeremiah abruptly replied before crossing his hands and going silently through the door.

    ''What''s wrong with him?'' Cesar mused inwardly before his eyes glistened with greediness, ''Well, time to dig in. What should I pick¡­ Wait, screw it! This is all mine¡ª''

    Just as he was having fun at the fact that he''ll hog everything, Cesar saw a slipping Leah shamelessly making faces at him as she dropped on the ground.

    "Wow, so many artifacts. Surely, one person wouldn''t be able to use it all alone, right?"

    "¡­"

    "Imagine if those artifacts are given to a rightful owner thatpliments it with their skill. We''ll increase the rate of our survivability as we cross another hallway, right?"

    This time, Cesar was making faces while trying to keep his cool down. What Leah was doing was exactly what any greedy person, including himself, would have done. Adding a hint of logic to her words only masked the true intent behind her goal.

    To acquire an artifact for free.

    ''Though she is right. I will not be able to use all of these artifacts. If that''s the case, I''ll have to choose something that suits me right. Still, already receiving these for free just to handle them for free as well¡­ My heart will not take it. Hmm, so what should I do¡ª''

    Thinking about the most optimal way to use this one advantage that he held, an idea struck Cesar''s head.

    He was thinking about his future with this.

    Finalizing the notion in his head, Cesar pushed it forward, "All right, you can borrow these artifacts,"

    Leah''s eyes were full of delight, "Yes! We''re going to borrow¡­ borrow. Borrow?"

    Cesar then exined carefully, "Of course, this is not free. You can say I''m investing my properties in you and the value will only rise exponentially when we''re outside. Say, you borrow two of my artifacts, then I''ll have two favors to get from you,"

    Leah was stricken at first before she became disheartened. As for the rest of the group, they actually liked the idea. Only Leah seemed indignant about getting one for free.

    "All right, kid. Whatever you say." us shrugged his shoulders, "I mean, pulling a business right in this ce is kind of crazy but what can we do?"

    Cesar chuckled before he signaled everyone to close and ordered amiably, "Everyone, there are fifteen artifacts in here. Since we are five here, at least pick three artifacts to test, and please, honestly tell me what their abilities are. Then, I can pick whatever I liked first then we''ll proceed on letting you guys pick,"

    One by one, the group picked up three artifacts to test and see the ability they contained that they''d inform Cesar aboutter on. Leah was unable to retort as the majority had already won, even though her face was saying otherwise in the end but she still reluctantly inspected the artifacts thatnded on her.

    After that, hopefully, something willnd on them that they''ll like to use to improve their overall prowess.

    That something to improve them didn''t take long however as they were finally done with their inspection after half an hour of inspection.

 Chapter 79: Right Behind Their Tails

    "This is nice,"

    The cohort, which consists of six active members, is all geared up and has recuperated the strength they needed by staying a few more hours in their position. Equipped with Cesar''s investment, Jeremiah who had gone quiet included, was ready to go any time.

    They have been very patient all this time, but they couldn''t waste a single second idling around any longer when the only way to exit was to move forward.

    "Right after we open the door, we''ll use the Living Doll artifact that Leah is currently holding. Since we don''t want tond in a trap right away or be food to a Nightmare, it''s better to sacrifice an artifact than a life," Cesar spoke solemnly.

    "Kek! You just want it to be destroyed since it will double up the interest!" Leahined like a little kid, an uncharacteristic behavior for a squad leader to have.

    Even though she appeared to be like that, she was willing to do it. It just seemed like she had the type of demeanor to get under someone''s skin just by her condescending words alone which is kind of annoying at the very least.

    But Jeremiah told them that it''s one of her qualities.

    As for the other¡­ well, she''s pretty strong herself.

    That''s why the group was willing to ignore her antics as long as she kept it to a minimum and didn''t go below the belt of panionship''.

    "Ready?"

    Jeremiah asked everyone while ncing at Cesar for a bit longer before he saw everyone giving him a nod. Once he did, us started to connect his Tether to Quentin and Amar. Leah began to channel her essence at the Root Wand on her hand, the second artifact that she was wielding, and started connecting it to the rest of the group not including the Tethered people.

    Once there was the signal, Jeremiah held the knob in his hand tightly before opening it. Leah, clenching the Living Doll artifact with her other hand, immediately threw the item inside that took a glimpse of the other side.

    Everyone prepared for the worst.

    They thought there would be a sudden shift of central gravity like what Cesar had experienced and any possible situation that they thought could endanger them.

    Yet clearly nothing.

    "This¡­!"

    However, there was something that made one member of the cohort to be in his wits end.

    Cesar waspletely shaken.

    ''This!''

    Every hair on Cesar''s body stood on end as he took in the full view beyond the door. A wave of dread washed over him, and he instinctively took a step back.

    "We''re here¡­"

    Cesar observed a different kind of scenery where instead of the same curtains, carpet floor, and walls or the exit out from the mansion, what appeared on their front was an endless amount of tall, wooden shelves that would lead to countless pathways.

    ced inside these shelves were countless, stacked books that were properly arranged. There were no spiralingmps that provided lights but some books, as bizarre as it looks, were the ones glowing providing the neers the vision they needed.

    "The books¡­"

    One peculiar image they can particrly deduce is the books that these shelves store. One book looked like a sword while the other was a mirror. There was another book that looked like melting while the other ones appeared to be frozen in ice.

    However, the shelves they rested on remained unaffected by their irregrities. They showed no signs of being affected in the slightest.

    "It''s the library!"

    Cesar gasped, and the group, having heard the same information from him, grew nervous after remembering bits of information about the bizarre location.

    All paths lead to this library and an enemy that Cesar heavily highlighted to them.

    The Keeper of the Void.

    ording to Cedeit, excluding the Heretic and Librarian for a moment, the entity, the Keeper of the Void, was the one who observed the vast library. Heck, its name didn''t even coincide with its job since it was supposed to be the Librarian, another entity that should hold that title from here.

    Something must''ve happened that gave the reason for the Librarian and Keeper of the Void to somehow snatch the job of the other.

    Only Cedeit must''ve been aware of the real situation.

    "The doll isn''t triggering any traps yet. Should we go inside now?"

    Cesar hesitated for a moment before something urred that rattled his decision.

    Rumble¡ª!

    ''This¡­''

    The sensation of the earthquake was so disgustingly familiar that Cesar''s memories regarding it started to go through his head.

    Rumble¡ª!

    Only this time, he wasn''t the only one feeling it. The entire group instinctively nced up toward the source of the tremor. The unreachable ceiling above the table, which they couldn''t make out no matter how much they squinted, had undergone a small but noticeable change.

    ''Are you serious...''

    There when they were supposed to only see a darkness, a purplish emptiness was peeking through inside, revealing itself in the shadows.

    Rumble¡ª!

    As if the thunderous roar of the Void seeping through the table signaled its arrival, the massive walls of the hallway began to crack.

    Rumble¡ª!

    A much louder quake reverberated through the hallway as the crack spread halfway around it. The event happened in an instant, and what followed was truly ridiculous Cesar almost wanted to stay at his ce and shiver at its magnificence and show of power.

    The hallway was torn in half, revealing the Purplish Emptiness that was eating away the remains it destroyed.

    The long and humungous ancient table itself was snapped in half, the exquisite spiralingmps on the other half of the table slowly floated away and away, and the old chairs on the other half were devoured and eaten away by the Void.

    Rumble¡ª!

    Watching the scenery of the Purplish Emptiness that Cesar only described in words of how threatening its existence was, all of them were left terrified.

    The scene they just witnessed happened in a span of a few seconds after all.

    "Argh, damn it, guys! I''ve narrowingly escaped that thing once! I will not let ite to that point!" Cesar shouted to them, bringing them back to their own realities, "Fucking enter!"

    They all quickly snapped back and hurried through the door leading to the library, with Cesar being thest to enter, closing the door behind him and leaving the mixed and terrifying memories of the hallway they had just crossed behind.

 Chapter 80: The Library

    Once all of them entered the spacious bookshelf that they just walked through, the squad immediately went to the formation. Even though the doll already made its way to the intersection point where the group could see the different pathways those shelves led to, they weren''t taking chances of keeping a moment of negligence.

    But it was quiet.

    ''D-don''t tell me this library is bigger than the previous one?''

    Cesar''s gaze fell upwards as an astonished look resurfaced appeared on his face. On the avable space alone above, the walls instead of their usual coldness were reced with wooden shelves that acted as the wall itself with different kinds of books being stationary in their ces.

    On the floor wasn''t a carpet that covered the surface but seemed to be nk pages of paper that didn''t tear, fold, or crumple no matter how a person stepped at it.

    It was an unusual kind of paper that seemed like a very hard type of parchment that would not tear apart, even with the use of powerful abilities from the cohort.

    This was one view alone as they were still cramped in this particr pathway but the impression of deep mystery, undiscovered secrets, and the overwhelming presence of the library was so cosmic, limitless, and abysmal that one might bepelled to just hide in their ces.

    It seemed to be watching.

    If the ancient, cold stone table were already a terrible ce to be in, the library was much more since there was a clear difference between the two.

    If the previous table seemed to be dead figuratively, this one seemed to be functioning or alive in a kind of way.

    ''The books are¡­ weird after all. Can we even read the contents inside?''

    Cesar mused inwardly as he observed the books that were different kinds of varieties and had something new to show the group.

    "Let''s continue. We shouldn''t stay here for too long,"

    Jeremiah suggested which the group agreed to. For now, they decided to move forward while stopping themselves from touching any book they saw on the shelves. If something weird happens, they should speak it outwardly without any worries.

    It might be the only way for them to act upon it rather than being seconds toote.

    Eventually stopping to the series of shelves they passed by, Cesar and the cohort were in some sort of dilemma after their way was intercepted by three different paths at the intersection point right off the bat.

    Three paths branched off to the left, middle, and right. The middle path extended directly ahead, while the left and right paths required crossing on a nted shelf road before they even trod forward. Its design was pretty much normal.

    "Cedeit¡­"

    Cesar whispered under his breath, trying to take advice from the voice that had been absent throughout the time he had woken up until this time. After their deal, the voice seemed to still be recuperating the strength it wasted to defeat the Nightmare.

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    Aside from that fact, Cesar could feel himself brimming with essence and an indescribable feeling where a piece of knowledge was inserted into his head that he couldn''t put into words.

    ''There''s these abilities that are soplex to use and if I can understand it a bit more, I might be able to show it that can help in any situation. Is this what Cedeit uses to defeat the Nightmare ?''

    Aplicated andplex concept was in Cesar''s mind and there were three of them. It was to use superficial fire to burn, a concealment wall that had the ability to disrupt a vision of a person, andstly, the mostplicated of them all, is the use of paper figurines.

    ''Maybe¡­''

    Cesar began to ponder quietly as the group waited for him to add something to his whisper from earlier, but there was no additional response to that.

    Cesar felt isted from his own thoughts.

    After a minute of waiting if there was something that Cesar would suggest since he was the only one who informed them that the library was in this mansion, the group was left with no choice but to rely on Jeremiah, their real leader.

    Jeremiah stared at the silent Cesar for a moment and spoke solemnly, "We''re not going to put men on different paths. We''ll continue treading ahead without stopping and somehow find something,"

    Leah picked up her doll on the ground and channeled her essence once more, "So the usual n then. We bait this item?"

    Jeremiah nodded and the group decided to follow this n for now. Since there was no better alternative unless someone knowledgeable like Cesar was going to say something, making a big and hasty decision would do no good for now.

    They went even further in the library.

    ¡­

    Their path towards the library was¡­ uneventful. Thankfully and hopefully thedy of luck will continue to bless them with easy paths as there was no obstacle or a force that would make them stop.

    Their destination to move even deeper into the library has been well.

    Because of this, Cesar was able to take time to consider the new concepts of unbelievable power that he was able to think somehow if his mind were put to it, perform if he believed it.

    Heck, he was busily conceptualizing and putting these notions inside his head in coherent words that he could understand.

    Of course, for now, there were no results. Something confusing and mysterious concept is not something he could learn on a whim.

    He''ll be a god if he manages to do it right away.

    Even so, Cesar knew was almost there. A bit more understanding and he''ll be able to perform it himself.

    For him, it felt as though his body could performed the action, as he sensed a familiar sensation, almost as if he had done it before.

    ''Hmm, I wonder why¡­''

    It''s been an hour or so that their progress has been monotonous and Cesar able to put his trust in his squad that they are doing their job.

    Thud¡ª!

    Until he bumped his head at Leah''s back jolted up and aggressively turned her head around.

    "I''m sorry¡ª"

    "Shh¡­"

    Just as Cesar was about to speak, Leah covered his mouth as the group remained frozen at their ce while shifting their eyes at the devastating scene on their front.

    Just meters away from their standpoint, a whole lot of shelves were turned into splinters. Books were scattered around due to the point of impact as the floor made out of paper was torn apart.

    Worse of all, a huge crater had taken shape in the middle as if telling the onlookers a huge battle between two powerhouses had just happened that gives the reason why those wooden shelves, indestructible in Cesar and the rest''s opinion have turned into a sorry state.

    That wasn''t the only thing that appeared in this crater. In the middle of the demolished site was a human figure draped in a priest robe sitting down with corpses, varying from people of the Army and a few from the Nightmare Corps.

    Cesar''s face immediately transformed twistingly as he realized who that person was,something that he hadn''t met in a while being here in the mansion.

    ''Heretic!''

 Chapter 81: Fluctuating

    ''This guy''s here!? And what happened to the surroundings? It looked like it had been destroyed by some sort of anomaly, a wake after a battle of¡­ two entities?'' Cesar''s mind raised the moment as veins popped out in his head.

    The others, especially Quentin appeared rather agitated as they were all currently staring at the heretic using the corpses of the humans as if it were some sort of chair to sit down.

    It was more like he was flexing.

    Cesar grabbed his revolver but Leah merely shook her head with a sigh, "Quite an attitude you got there, kid. I know how frustrated you''re feeling but we should approach him carefully. In fact, I wouldn''t even be surprised if the bloodlust you and Quentin are leaking has already reached that guy,"

    Suddenly, the group shuddered as the heretic called out of the blue, seemingly agreeing to Leah''s words.

    "Whoever''s hiding themselves there, care to show yourself? Really tired of waiting around, expecting someone to attack me in ''surprise''" The Heretic voiced out with an even tone as he patiently waited for a few seconds before chuckling, "Okay, you''re not some Nightmare or Corrupted Human. Judging by the way you are still waiting and observing me, you are humans!"

    The heretic stood up, ddened that he found some lost people while roaming around the library.

    Suddenly, he spoke with an amiable tone.

    "It''s okay, I''m a good person."

    Jeremiah shook his head strongly, stopping his group from moving further toward the heretic. He seemed not to believe every word the figure had spoken, and he was right to think so.

    "Uhh¡­"

    Awkwardly shifting his gaze to the corpses on the floor and the path that leads to Cesar''s group, the heretic shrugged his shoulder and added.

    "My hands just forced to move that''s all. This bunch¡­ wanted to kill me when I clearly stepped into a fucking trap that wouldn''t leave me alone¡­!" The heretic seemed to have emotional issues as his tone rose up very slightly before it died down.

    The heretic took a calm breath before saying, "But anyways, I dealt with the trap and came to this battlefield sight to eliminate these people who pursued me. Oh, how I wished they would willingly cooperate with me since that''s a deal I strike with them. They just wouldn''t fucking listen!"

    The raising of tone became apparent once more, his anger was visibly outwardly showing. Upon seeing that he was losing the facade of a cool person, he took a moment of breath to rx before adding.

    "You guys are not the same, right?"

    The tone was cold this time.

    "Nobody wanted bloodbath after all. I''m just here for an objective and I will not being out without it,"

    "!"

    The word "out" escaped from the heretic''s mouth, and the group, despite iting from an enemy, was instantly entranced at how alluring that sound is.

    Of course, there were doubts. Heck, there''s no way in hell they are going to get out of here.

    But¡­ if the heretic knew that they were going to be transferred to this mansion, something that he had been teasing most of the time when they were out, ording to Cesar and Quentin''s description, the group couldn''t help but think he had his ways.

    Jeremiah was silent for a while before conversing with the heretic, "What kind of deal have you struck with the people you killed in the back?"

    Creak¡ª!

    The heretic remained motionless for a moment, trying to contemte the question raised to him before answering, in a slightly different answer from the demanded inquiry.

    Creak¡ª!

    "You guys are newbie¡­" The heretic couldn''t help but pull a tantrum, "Don''t tell me you''ve arrived just now!? Oh,e on!"

    Cesar was bing more confused, at the same time, questioning if the heretic had finally lost its mind.

    Creak¡ª!

    Finally, after realizing the creak wasn''t just a fly buzzing near his ear, something impossible inside the library, Cesar''s heart began to race. He understood then that the sound wasing from somewhere¡­ somewhere that surrounded the library itself.

    ''Don''t tell me the Void caught up!?''

    Creeeeeeak¡ª!

    The heretic let out a sigh as he muttered, "It''s the fluctuating period,"

    ''A what¡ª''

    Suddenly, the whole library shifted.

    Their worlds turned upside down¡­ in a literal way.

    "Ahhhhh!"

    Cesar screamed in his lungs once he realized that he and the rest of the group had their center of gravity changing as they started falling to the other side of the library downward.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The floor they were merely stepping onto earlier started to be the ceiling while the ceiling from earlier is where they are dropping into, bing the floor they are supposed to step into.

    However, that wasn''t the only thing that was changing.

    The whole library was moving.

    It expanded and became bigger which made their fall longer.

    The shelves were transitioning into different kinds of positions, rearranging and shuffling. The bizarre mechanism of the whole library was being shown right in their mundane eyes, giving them a sense of feeling that this kind of power would not be able to replicate with human hands.

    Not in many years toe, not in eternity.

    ''Crap! Crap! This is insane!''

    However, because of their ''falling state'' while in the fluctuating period, Cesar was able to peer through the entirety of the library and able to spot hundreds of shadows all over the ce.

    Large ones, smaller ones, even smaller ones, and even bigger ones... All of them were scattered in different parts of the library. Cesar even found out that some of these shadows being in the same ''falling state'' are near them.

    ''Vin!? Maine!? Reyna? Jacqueline!? Anyone!?''

    Cesar hoped his eyes were able to see his squad in this state as the library arranged itself but his own eye failed him.

    With no hope of finding his squad, Cesar couldn''t help but take note of the other figures who were in the same situation as him. This knowledge intake, however, soon takes a halt as soon as he spots two humongous figures somewhere in the middle of the library, far from their position.

    Cesar felt relieved washed over him as he saw these gargantuan figures were kilometers away from their position, located near the very heart of the library.

    As of now, they were nothing but shadows in Cesar''s eyes due to how far he was from them. But, he instantly deduced who those Nightmares were while seeing them afar was already making him at his wits end.

    ''it''s Keeper of the Void and the Librarian¡­ isn''t it?''

    Suddenly, Cesar had to force himself to look down, feeling his senses tingling. As he did, knowing it wasn''t just a hallucination, down below him. Someone is indeed observing him.

    There were Jeremiah, us, Leah, or any part of the cohort to look from and be wary of but the heretic continued looking at one person amongst them.

    The heretic''s robe had been left open, exposed by the natural forces within the library. The intensity of their fall sent their clothes fluttering in the wind.

    And there, two of them observed each other.

    Cesar was frowning his eyes while the heretic was smirking.

    Thetter couldn''t help but called the former.

    "Cesar Sparrow!"

 Chapter 82: Periods

    ''This bastard...''

    The heretic had a very average face. He had a brown beard that was left unkept, ck circles that went around his eyes, and a scar that lined up to both of his eyes in a horizontal way.

    "Hey, man! I didn''t know you were part of that group! Where have you been all this time?"

    As the library was changing while they were on their ''falling state'', Cesar began to be ufortable at how chummy the heretic was bing to him.

    How the heretic was getting all friendly with Cesar produced looks from the squad. Some might not even show it but having this kind of rtionship with a heretic was questionable itself.

    After all, aside from Cesar, Quentin, and Vin, the rest didn''t know they had prior meetings before seeing the heretic being cornered at the far side of the city, the time before they got transferred to the mansion.

    They are right to be suspicious.

    Cesar didn''t entertain their gazes as he aimed his revolver at the heretic and shot him.

    Bang!

    The heretic merely used his power by emerging as an apparition of himself and covering himself from the attack. The way he conjured so fast was shocking as well.

    "Aggressive as ever!"

    "Fuck off!"

    Cesar, already having no more bullets to use, emptied the chamber of his revolver by shooting the heretic, leaving only one sleeping shell to use. Unfortunately, all of his shots were wasted after the heretic merely used the same power he showed, something that he already once did while they were outside.

    "it''s futile, little guy. I mean you no harm since we''re the same but if your squad did the same thing as these corpses beside me, I might have no choice but to retaliate, no?" The heretic chuckled, "Anyway, let''s just bygones be bygones. In this ce, every cooperation must be utilized to the best of its ability. If we''re going to fight, we might as well use it to the real enemies,"

    Cesar clenched the revolver in his hand as he retorted in spite, "The only enemy I could see right now is you! Fucking drop dead already!"

    The heretic was slightly disheartened after hearing those words from Cesar, somewhat he considered a kin of his, but he didn''t give up on convincing him as he answered with words that sounded alluring, not only to him but to the rest as well.

    "Okay, since you are abundant of really killing me, how about I strike you a deal? Wait, before youin, hear me out first. To others as well, just listen. I''m not going to do anything to you. I mean, I would''ve done it ages ago if I showed you hostility. Don''t worry, this deal will be a benefit for us all,"

    Cesar will not take any chances of hearing shiting from a heretic''s mouth as he remembered the time that the crazy believer asked to kill his friends just to let him be alive. Of course, he was the one who struck the deal but his squad didn''t mind it anyway. Find your next read on m_v l|e-NovelBin

    It was part of a n after all.

    The point is, the heretic''s words will be all bullshit. Even if some of it is true, Cesar was ready to consider that all of it was insignificant.

    But surprisingly, both Leah and Jeremiah signaled him to stop speaking and let the heretic continue.

    The heretic might be crazy but he can also speak some logical statements that make those confused people believe in him.

    It''s no trickery but merely showing facts and reasoning.

    Seeing that the leader of the group was trying to let him speak, the hereticughed and said, "Very well, here''s the deal. Let''s just forget that we ever became enemies. I did everything for the sake of my goal. You shouldn''t be angry about it. In exchange, I''ll give you information on how the library works and how will you survive from this fluctuation,"

    Cesar was astounded and was ready to take action as he always believed from the start that they were being tricked but the cohort remained indignant about listening. Only Quentin seemed to be considering Cesar''s actions since he also held a grudge against the heretic.

    "Deal,"

    Jeremiah answered on behalf of the whole cohort as the heretic believed him and nodded.

    "Okay, for now, I''ll tell you how these fluctuations worked." The heretic pointed to the state of their falling that continued to expand andpress,"It is easy to understand, honestly. One just needs to be attentive,"

    The heretic''s first statement started with this as he observed the cohort''s reactions one by one before he continued.

    "The Fluctuations have three periods. First is the Float Period which is what we''re doing right now. I named it ''Float Period'' since there''s no real name for it since as the library is changing, we remained on this stagnant in the air. You might think we''re falling but the bottom part we were going tondter on is merely expanding while the roof above is just closing to us. Fascinating? I know,"

    The heretic paused, "For how a person will know that they are entering this period, one has to be attentive to a sounding outside the walls of this ce. It''s just a noise but if you hear a creak in this library, you better be prepared for what''s toe. In conclusion, there''s no pattern or time interval to use to base how this period will start. Just a creak, that''s all,"

    The heretic gulped a mouthful of saliva down his throat before adding, "The second period is the Dive Period. As easy as its words are telling you, we''re just going to fall at a really fast rate. Fret not, the solution fornding at this long height is to step into the paper floors. It''s like a cushion for a brief moment so that anyone normal cannd on it.

    You must''ve seen it when you are entering this ce. The same as the Float Period, the Dive Period didn''t have an indication that you were going to fall. You''ll only realize it once it already happened,"

    Finally, the heretic drew a long breath after all that talking beforeing to thest part, "Now, the third andst period, the Fixed Period. Let me tell you now. Ignore everything you need to know about the first two but don''t ever forget this period. After all, this period is the most dangerous of them all,"

    The heretic then revealed, "The Library will be your enemy, after all,"

 Chapter 83: Dive

    Cesar couldn''t help but notice the change of tone from the heretic that must''ve probably been perceived by others who were solely focusing their attention on him. By the looks of it, thest period, The Fixed, is the most dangerous period the group will probably encounter.

    The heretic soon exined why it was the case as he informed with a sigh, "I like to call it a Fixed Period since afternding the paper floor, one will have to force themselves to remain fixed on their position as the Library isn''t done yet with its modifications. Oh right, why did I say the library will be your enemy? Very simple too honestly,"

    The heretic gave aparison, "For example, you are finishing an important work and an annoying fellow decided to be a pain in the ass, that''s how I described how it works. As long as the library isn''t finished, remain in your position. An indication of how this period will end is the ''closing roof'' on the ''current above'' of the library."

    He observed each of the members and nodded, "Let''s say you moved, consider yourself dead now. Because the Library will not allow its work to be disturbed, even a measly existence like ours is no different. It will send you surprised attacks. The most normal of them all is the shelves breaking character and sandwiching you in its middle.

    Believe me, I''ve seen worse oues and it can and will be much worse,"

    The heretic then sighed as he shook his head, "This is all I can give you, ording to the deal we have. Are we all good now?"

    ''Hah! Is this guy for real? As if I will do something like that! I''ll kill you the moment I get the chance!'' Cesar cursed the heretic inwardly, not trying to shake his opinion about the damn psychopath.

    Leah, whose persona became different,steals a few nces down below at how magnificent the whole library is before asking a question.

    "What if you are the first one to break the rule? What then?" Leah asked in a roundabout way while slowly slipping her hands through her pocket.

    The heretic ced both of his hands on the back of his head as if he were trying to rx before smiling cheekily, "Come on, I''m never doing that,"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    After she received the answer from the heretic which really didn''t sound very wrong at any angle, Leah still threw a hand-sized shuriken in a circuitous path. As if there was a string connected to it, she pulled with great force and the shuriken swiftly went to the Heretic

    us, on the other hand, let go of his previous Tether at Amar and aimed it toward the heretic to reel him in. It swerved to make the heretic keep guessing where the tether is going.

    To provide even a bit of help for the two, Quentin used an artifact that he borrowed from Cesar, ck Arrow, and threw it towards the heretic. The strength of the

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The group instantly came to a tacit agreement that they, for obvious reasons, not going to believe any of the heretic''s words even if all of them sounded true.

    Hence while they were still not on the ground and didn''t hold much equal footing, they would attack him.

    "Sigh¡­"

    However, after watching those slow attacks, the heretic seemed to be bored as a tired yawn escaped from his lips. He looked at the group for a moment before three apparitions spawned at different parts of his body and deflected those iing attacks with ease while holding the one artifact in his hand.

    "Okay, it''s all on you guys then,"

    With a smirk, the apparition suddenly tightened its grasp on us Tether and Leah''s shuriken and forced their power and weapon to be drawn towards the heretic waiting for them.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    "Break! Break!"

    Amar shouted in a hoarse tone as their bnce fell off even though they were only in a float period, but because of how hard the pull of the heretic''s apparition had be, they couldn''t react fast and let go of their items and power.

    ''Shit¡ª!''

    Just as they were about to make contact with the heretic, all of them including the crazy believer got instantly pulled down as if a huge maic force made them follow it.

    "Ugh!"

    Even the heretic screamed in fright and agony as he couldn''t help but release the cohort since he had to worry about himself in the second stage of the fluctuations, The Dive.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Unlike the time when Cesar experienced a stable fall in one part of the hallway, this one where his group was going to experience an entirely different type of fall which is much harder and frightening.

    And it was showing.

    "God¡­ damn it!"

    Everything floating in the library fell into a dive with an unstable speed that made everyone react fast. Their faces formed different kinds of funny expressions as everyone pushed themselves to focus on the bottom of their floor.

    Setting their gazes on it, Cesar directed his eyes at the iing shelves that were only had kilometer or so away. Soon, these fast dives and they seemed too long distance wouldn''t matter due to how fast they were going down.

    ''Pinpoint yourself to the paper floor!''

    Cesar and the rest knew what they had to do and, as heartening as it sounds, they started to follow the heretic''s words from earlier. Directing themselves slightly to the side, all of them positioned where they thought they were seeing the same paper floor and waited for the dive to end.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar, on the other hand, didn''t just idle around. Even if his face had be weird and formed a funny expression, his eyes were still set at the eyes on the price.

    With only a sleeping shell left from all the bullets he had used on his journey at the mansion, Cesar aimed his revolver directly at the heretic''s head.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Before he and the rest of the group couldnd on the floor, Cesar strongly forced himself to pull the trigger, something even easy as that became hard on his situation.

    Bang¡ª!

    ''Fuck!''

    Cesar realized that he managed to hit the heretic, the only problem was that not on the prime target he was aiming for.

    ''Not in the fucking head!''

    The only thing he knew, Cesar and the rest of the group had fallen on the paper floor.

 Chapter 84: Conceptualization

    Landing on the paper floor that really felt like a cushion tond for a brief moment, Cesar bounced back up after being propelled by the same floor and immediately froze at his position when he realized his group was missing.

    "Agh!"

    Swiftly bncing himself mid-air, Cesar immediately took an immediate forced halt, adhering to another yet of heretic''s words from earlier, knowing he had been right once of their dive.

    Without even his warnings regarding the dive, he and his group wouldn''t have been able tond safely and would''ve ttened blood on the ground that turned mushed due to the harsh conditions.

    Or there was already one?

    Because as of the moment, it seemed the paper floor theynded on had been different. Probably because others were wrong in their judgment that resulted in a change, they had to make minute modifications to slightly force themselves to hover on the side.

    Not Cesar though. Even if he only had one eye left to him, he was able to judge and pinpoint the rightnding.

    ''I guess they''re near. There''s no need to worry about anything. Amar and Quentin who didn''t do well with fighting can survive on their own just like what they did before. We just got separated now,''

    Cesar rest assured himself in this thinking as he remained in his motionless position, still unsure what to expect in this scenario. Even so, he trusted his guts more than ever and it was telling him to stop.

    The library wasn''t finished with its work after all.

    Above everyone else in the library, the roof which is just yet another amazingly designed bookshelves that was once everyone had stepped onto before the fluctuations, was being reworked yet again.

    No one knew when it would be finished.

    ''Tsk, next time I''ll look up to see if the roof has been finished. I''ll trust my heightened senses to give me when to move or if I spot someone already moving¡­'' Cesar paused, ''Meanwhile, if I was on the Fixed Period, I might as well use it as a time to study what I currently have.''

    Suddenly, something that he had been pushing to do until now was to study the power, a concept that appeared in his head for whatever reason he wasn''t aware of.

    It''s like he had been finally blessed throughout all the shit he had gone through and the goddess of luck gave him another good reward for it.

    ''First is the superficial fire¡­''

    Based on Cesar''s acquired knowledge regarding this concept, superficial fire is entirely different from natural fire. The confusing knowledge that was all muddled in his mind exined that to ''conceptualize'' the superficial fire, there should be a fuse that will trigger this superficial fire to burn.

    Unlike natural fire which will burn just a bit of essence use, superficial fire is a created fire that will only burn with a fuse as a trigger. The fire isn''t even the focus point but the ''fuse'' itself. One can create a fire with a bit of essence.

    The fuse, on the other hand, added the firepower of the fire. Even if it isn''t shy or explosive, the content of the fire with the fuse will be greater. It''s like a safety device that can keep the fire at ease until it is triggered.

    ''It''s like a grand performance that ends with a huge explosion¡­ But again superficial fire didn''t heavily rely on the fire but on the fuse that assisted it to make it explosive.''

    Cesar nodded once before proceeding to the next acquired knowledge he had.

    ''Second, the concealment that can disrupt a being''s vision to an extent.''

    This knowledge had an borate concept that if not careful, the user will be also affected as well. After all, it focuses on how a person envisions someone with their eyes. It mainly targeted the person''s vision, tricking them with their sense of sight.

    The concealment works like a wall that can be ced manually or automatically. However, thetter is harder and impossible to ce unless they master the manual way of concealment wall.

    For the manualbor of the concealment wall to work, one had to use their hands. It will manifest on their hand like a curtain that can be ced literally anywhere. Yet treat it with extra care as one mistake can lead toplete concealment, and their eyes can be affected because of it. One had to consider how their enemies would see them as well.

    ''Misdirection. Somehow, thest two heavily rely upon misdirecting or deceiving someone. The first is like a show to produce a grand act, and then the user can just run away. As for the concealment, it looks like a performer hiding his movement from the crowd and only then they will strike with their best tricks.''

    Cesar wanted to scratch the back of his head, thinking his head was about to burst out from the crazy conclusion he ended up to before proceeding to thest one, the mostplicated ''trick'' in his opinion.

    ''Paper figurines¡­''

    Using this concept, one can produce a figurine of themselves made out of paper, control, and appear like the real person that isn''t much of a difference, strength-wise and thinking-wise, or conceptualize a piece of object. Lastly, a deadly attack made their enemies turn into figurines that would just melt away upon making contact.

    The great thing about this concept is that it uses a bit of essence. There was little to no consumption.

    Anything else is a downside, however.

    The third concept involved a very deep knowledge that isn''t just exinable to humannguage unless Cesar acquired more that is coherent on his terms. It doesn''t matter if it''s vague or impossible to understand, he can analyze it and he was very good at it.

    ''These three¡­ if I can learn them somehow, it will exponentially increase my survival rate. Thank you whoever had given me this!''

    Cesar mused inwardly before he heard a loud creak that reverberated throughout the library and swiftly came to a stop.

    For whatever reason, Cesar considered it as the library finishing its work. The moment he did, his gaze went upward, and he could see the other half of the library that became its roof was done.

    They can move now.

    Rumble¡ª!

    But as if it wasn''t done yet, Cesar heard and felt a tremor at his back which he couldn''t help but turn around to look at it.

    There, hundreds of meters away from him was a huge Nightmare running towards him.

    Rumble¡ª!

    And at its back, a muchrger entity was chasing down this Nightmare as if hungry to devour every being of this Nightmare.

    "Huh!?"

    The only problem is that this Nightmare isn''t being chased by a higher-level Corrupted human or a Nightmare that is much stronger than itself if the Nightmare can even determine its strength it in the first ce.

    The one chasing it was a freaking huge shelf.

    Two of its wooden panels were nted and seemed to act as its brows. It seemed to be frowning while sprinting towards Nightmare.

    "I''ll be damned!"

    After getting out of the Fixed Period, Cesar encountered an absurd scene.

    He also started running away from the Large Frowning Shelf.

 Chapter 85: Guardian Shelves

    "AHHHH! Motherfucker!"

    After just escaping through the relentless running in the previous hallway, Cesar finds himself sprinting in the same situation as he screams his lungs out.

    Right behind his tail was a Nightmare, who was also running very hard to escape another being right behind its tail.

    The one chasing the Nightmare and soon-to-be Cesar was a Frowning looking Shelf. Just judging the way it thumps its feet on the ground sending loud tremors nearby was heart-wrenching for both the human and the monster.

    "Hmph!"

    "Damn It!"

    Not knowing if he had to worry about the Nightmare first or the Frowning Shelf, Cesar decided to turn sideways at the next intersection point, trying to shake away the two behemoths in his back.

    There are three more other ways aside from the direction he ran onto and he strongly wished the Nightmare had ignored him and gone forward.

    Thud¡ª!

    s as if the Nightmare had set its eyes on Cesar and not trying to lose its gaze at him, the creature took a huge turn in the side, running the corridor that Cesar went onto. Following its back was the same shelf that isn''t ignoring the Nightmare anytime soon.

    ''Come on!''

    Passing through hundreds of wooden bookshelves while pivoting into different kinds of corridors at every intersection point in a span of a minute, Cesar turned to another side of the corridor once more and continued running forward.

    For now, he didn''t have any n yet aside from shaking off the pursuers on his back.

    ''I''ll just continue running forward!''

    Cesar saw another intersection point where five corridors led to different parts of the library but he decided to go to the middle part, relentlessly trying to test the pursuer''s endurance.

    Yet halfway through moving forward as he was crossing the intersection point, Cesar felt a presence on both his left and right side.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar had no choice but to use his jumping power as he leaped through the air just to avoid those attacks that came from the sides.

    ''Fuck!''

    Aggressively looking left and right, Cesar spotted two corrupted humans using their abilities to entrap and kill him. One attack made out of a wooden sphere went to the other side where an attack made of steeled spear came from.

    Both corrupted humans screamed at each other as they lunged towards the middle to finish the fight between them before immediately looking to the side where huge tremors were emanating from.

    They saw a Nightmareing at them¡­ but they shivered once they spotted the Frowning Shelf.

    They also started running away from it.

    Cesar, who immediately ignored the corrupted humans and continued running forward, was in disbelief once he realized their group of a human and a nightmare had two corrupted humans in the mix.

    They were all escaping from the towering frowning shelf right behind their backs.

    "That thing doesn''t tire, you know?"

    Suddenly, the even voice of Cedeit reverberated through Cesar''s head as a wave of relief and wariness had taken over him. Relief because the voice was here that could help him but apprehensiveness for the same reason.

    After all, Cesar didn''t forget the deal they had.

    Still, it was all something he had to worry about in the future. For now, after hearing that the shelf isn''t something that knows exhaustion, he at least had to do something about it.

    "Is there a way to defeat it somehow?"

    Discover more content at m,v l''e-NovelBin

    Cedeit seemed to have snorted at that idea as he replied with his usual voice, "No, someone like you can''t even damage it a little bit. Those shelves are called Guardian Shelves, you know? They are all made by the same architect as this mansion. These Shelves are responsible for maintaining the peace and quietness in the library¡­ which you know, hasn''t been quiet ever since then,"

    Cesar''s exhaustion wasn''t reaching yet as the marathon they did from the table was the worst one so far. Though in this library where different kinds of urrences are happening and danger just lurking around the corner, it was better to finish as tedious as this one.

    "Does it have weaknesses?"

    "Are you kidding me? It has no weaknesses,"

    Cesar was silent for a moment before letting out a tired sigh, "It can''t be killed and had a very strong structure for something of its size."

    Cesar had to forcibly stop thinking once he saw almost a very unnoticeable web string a few meters away from his position that he needed to pass through no matter what. Seeing that one had to jump from it, he prepared himself to take action.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    As wless and easy as he did, Cesar avoided the web string that looked like a trap from his eyes before ncing backward.

    "Oh,e on¡ª"

    However, the corrupted humans, whether they were idiots,pletely unbothered, or didn''t just see the string, they went to cross it. Without knowing what it contained or what it signified, something started to shift at the walls of the shelves.

    Before even one of the corrupted humans had time to react, a shelf moved away from its position and smashed the corrupted in a single punch to the ground.

    Thud¡ª!

    The other corrupted barely even survived it as it jolted and doubled up its speed to catch behind Cesar.

    As for the Nightmare, seeing yet another Guardian Shelf on its way, it barricaded itself using its hand while forming a power that looked like a shield before charging forward.

    The Guardian Shelf which looked like an angry one, stand ground at its position and waited for the Nightmare toe to intercept its way.

    "Hmph!"

    With a grunt, the Nightmare slightly hastened its speed before bamboozling its way through the Angry Shelf.

    Boom¡ª!

    With an enormous impact such as that, the Angry Shelf was thrown aside by the sheer power alone of the Nightmare before it continued running forward. Its eyes darted towards Cesar who watched it all in a slight fearful eyes.

    ''I ain''t having any of that,''

    Cesar then turned to the left to try to use the slight dy the Nightmare received from the Guardian Shelves but it wasn''t enough. The corrupted human, followed up, unsure what it was actually doing on its life.

    The Nightmare, having a petty attitude as it is, used the same way as Cesar and turned sideways.

    However this time, two Guardian Shelves were chasing their backs.

 Chapter 86: Bottomless Cone

    "Ugh¡­"

    So far, as if the marathon he did from the table had increased his stamina exponentially, Cesar felt he could run for a mile or two on his own. However, his expression turned sour as they continued running without even taking a second break.

    Behind him stood three corrupted humans, along with the same Nightmare from before.

    However, behind each and everyone that was towering over them were three massive Guardian Shelves that seemed to be just focusing on them.

    Cesar didn''t know why there were another two corrupted humans right behind his back or why the goddamn Nightmare continued to be a spiteful creature as it seemed to be strong-willed to putting pressure on Cesar, hoping for him to get killed by the Gurdian Shelves, who somehow got another one beside them to chase them around.

    "Oh, you''re almost there¡­"

    Suddenly growing anxious at Cedeit''s unexpected words that came out of nowhere, Cesar''s eyes widened in shock as he spotted a massive, erging dark hole in front of him, gradually expanding in his view as he continued to run directly at it.

    This chasm continued to grow before his eyes, and a wave of nervousness washed over him as he found himself standing at the very edge, just one step away from plunging into the abyss.

    He reached the destination very fast but because of the enormous size of the hole itself and the threatening aura it gives off to someone else, Cesar became hesitant.

    There''s no way he''ll jump on it now... at least, not yet.

    But he managed to force himself to look for more things about this dreadful hole.

    Cesar spotted that this enormous hole seemed to be nting downwards, forming a bottomless cone-shaped pit. He was able to conclude that it was an inverse cone where its tip, not that he could see it, was at the very bottom of this pit.

    There are no shelves to block him if he wanted to slide at it but instead, the shelves and the paper floor are in one ce but put in a very disorganized way.

    It was so big that he was able to see the other side of this cone from the other side of his position.

    However, he knew he wasn''t wrong when the hole was shaped like a cone. After all, the paper floor with mixed wooden shelves is nted towards the middle where the supposed tip should be resting.

    Unfortunately for him, the enemies are already right behind his tails while there''s no intersection path for him to use to escape his current predicament.

    "What the hell is this ce!?"

    "Just jump and slide through the paper floor,"

    Slightly hesitant at this idea while unable to hide his nervousness due to how fast the situation was happening, Cesar clenched his fist and slid through the edge of the bottomless cone.

    He clearly had no choice aside from the choice he hadn''t considered earlier; to slide this enormous abyss.

    ''Oh god¡­''

    As if the goddess of luck was asking for her return of power, Cesar was the one who would pay for it by going through countless challenges himself.

    "Listen here, Cesar. I''m going to guide you through various ces in the library. This Bottomless Cone is one of them," Cedeit paused, "This is one of the solutions to getting out of here, you hear me?"

    Cesar gritted his teeth before ncing backward only to see the three confused corrupted humans jump as well, afraid that the Nightmare and Guardian Shelves were following them turning their bodies into mushed ponds of blood.

    Soon, the Nightmare followed suit with the three shelves mainly, Frowning Shelf, Angry Shelf, and the Droopy Shelf as their new addition.

    "Okay! Just get on with it! I don''t have any choice anyway!"

    Cedeit took a moment of pause as he started to exin, "All you have to do is reach the bottom of this cone,"

    Cesar paused, his heart aching and in disbelief at how easy that sounded but after knowing that false belief of safety endangered their group one time when they were trying to exit at the table, he knew there was something more about his words.

    "Enemies?"

    "You''re quick to catch up,"

    "Just fucking tell me!"

    Realizing that Cesar was slightly impatient by his tone alone, Cedeit finally exined, "On the first stage of the cone, you''ll meet the Paper Mannequins. They came from the papers like the one you are sliding to or stepping on earlier. Halfway through the bottom and pretty much until you reach it¡­ Dwellers of the Dark are waiting for you,"

    ''Dwellers¡­ of the Dark,''

    Remembering Erin, the person who suffered the curse of the dwellers in the dark, a person Cesar thought was a strong person, has been suffering from its attack ever since he was corrupted by it.

    Wouldn''t that mean it would happen the same way as him?

    "Fret not, these Dwellers in the Dark aren''t as strong as the one yourpanions seen, felt, or met under the table. Yes, that thing, is a Higher Nightmare Creature, a caliber that can even threaten my existence, must''ve survived even with the Void destroying the table. It somehow resembles a power of¡­ anyways, we''re darting away from the main topic,"

    Cesar became interested in the one that killed Erin but couldn''t help but be slightly angry at Cedeit for abruptly stopping it.

    Cedeit, unbothered or just didn''t know what Cesar was thinking, paused and came back to matters at hand, "But don''t worry, the one you''ll sense in this cone is much on the lower level. Most of them are Lesser Nightmares while a bit of them are Intermediate Creatures,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but be confused, "How do I fight them? Since they are Dwellers in the Dark, do I just put some light? I have one artifact that can do so,"

    "What do you mean going to fight Dwellers in the Dark?"

    Cesar frowned upon hearing that before his attention got distracted as at the far front, countlessmannequins made out of paper started emerging from the floor and waited for Cesar and the rest toe on their way.

    Cedeit then continued after a long pause, "Unlike the mannequins you are currently seeing, you''ll have to avoid the Dwellers and run past them. Yes, anything rted to light might be a weakness but that''s just it. They will overpower you with their sheer numbers alone,"

    Cesar let Cedeit speak to him in his mind as he watched the mannequins emerging out from the papers nonstop. His face turned into surprise before into dismay until it became an expression of disbelief.

    "Shit¡­"

    Countless paper mannequins have already spawned and Cesar seemed to be the first one making contact with them.

    "Right, I guess my warnings in the Dwellers will not matter if you don''t pass these mannequins that can also overpower you with their numbers," Cedeit paused, "Best of luck,"

    Clicking his tongue as he readies his one chipped dagger and an stic de, an artifact that he grabbed from his treasures of artifacts, Cesar prepared to meet the mannequins.

    Each of these paper figures stood in their ce, merely watching Cesar and the rest fall into the cone until they seemed to get bored of waiting as they started running upward which surprised Cesar.

    "Oh, for fuck''s sake,"

    With only a meter away from the mannequins, Cesar made first contact with these figures.

 Chapter 87: Paper Mannequins

    Cesar forced himself to stand up instead of continuing his way to fall as just sliding through them is a sure way to get killed.

    The situation was kind of new to him but every action he did somehow resembled the training he did when he was only an academy student. He was still now but it is different when he''s going to apply them in the real world.

    This was the real deal after all.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar dashed forward and deflected an iing attack from a paper mannequin that tried to slit its throat while using its thin hand to do so. Yet blocking it wasn''t enough to put an end to the mannequin as it tried to fight back.

    ''Slow...''

    Cesar with quick maneuver and fast judgment to able to put effort into the skill needed in any situation, used the stic dagger artifact known as Flexible Dagger.

    Appearing wavy into the eyes of his enemies, like a snake, it slithered its way through the neck of the mannequin to cut it off.

    The paper mannequin tore itself apart before melting away.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Taking point as he dashed forward, three other mannequins near him lunged forward, motioningplex hand-to-handbat techniques and exquisite style of fighting that Cesar had never seen or fought with his life.

    This, however, didn''t stop Cesar''s drive to eliminate his enemies as he mercilessly took down two of the paper mannequins while struggling for the third paper figurine which used an ability to cut through his cheek, which was aimed towards his head.

    It whistled through the air and identally aimed the corrupted human on the back who, the same as other corrupted humans, started to feel the pressure of these paper mannequins.

    ''An arrow?!''

    But Cesar didn''t heed the lives of others as he had himself to worry about. Completely unbothered where the paper arrow went, Cesar decided that he''d have to eliminate the mannequin on his front to take a second breather.

    There are countless of them who areing to him, anyway. It is better to eliminate a threat right away by taking a moment of rest rather than continuously running without any rest at all.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Dodging a barrage of arrows by a hairbreadth, Cesar lunged forward and used his chipped dagger and stic de to deflect five more arrows that came his way.

    Pwoosh¡ª!

    Once he closed his distance, however, spelled the death of the mannequin. In quick handling of his daggers, something he was proficient in, he used it to cut the head from its neck, its limbs, andstly its legs.

    sh¡ª!

    For the final strike, Cesar stabbed the mannequin right in its chest and tore itself on its own before melting away.

    "Hahh¡­"

    Letting out a ragged breathing from his mouth, Cesar dashed forward while maintaining the bnce he was in.

    Looking at the iing paper mannequin that started to surround him as he was closing in halfway through the bottomless pit, he gritted his teeth and forcefully grabbed something out from his pocket.

    It was a funny-looking ck glove and he wore it on his hand. With his acheing from his head slightly aching from the side effects of the artifact, Cesar clenched his fist and channeled a bit of his mana to it.

    Soon, his hand started to get bigger and bigger still until it became so big it almost became the size of the Nightmare following his back.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Shifting his gaze momentarily to the paper mannequins that were already inside his circle of awareness, Cesar swiped them all to the side with a wave of his gigantic hand.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Paper mannequins that came from this left were blown away, and when the right became the direction where the paper figurines went, the same thing happened to them.

    They got pushed all to the side, some melted away due to the intensity of the crash while the others persistently chased him around.

    After doing repeated actions for a few seconds, Cesar was able to see that the area around him had been cleared.

    And he wasn''t willing to be cornered by them yet.

    ''Not yet¡­! It''s not time to use it yet!''

    Aside from the Flexible Dagger and Largening Gloves, he still had three other artifacts in his hand to use, something carefully chosen that suited his capability as a fighter that could move through the front and back. This wasn''t even included in the Source of Light that came from Erin, ck Tooth, andstly the Bone Stick.

    If he were meant to go back to the real world, he''d be a powerhouse himself who is able to wield this abundance of artifacts, an item that is supposed to be and considered a rare thing in the world.

    ''Fuck the outside world! Why are you so hooked up with it when you have little chance to escape if you can''t do this little thing!'' Cesar almost got hung up on this reverie, probably the effect of the flexible dagger tarnishing his mind to be ''flexible''

    It somehow made him irrational.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Suddenly, the number of paper mannequinsing his way quadrupled as the burden of therge hand started to take over his arm. Afraid that he''ll have an injured arm if he continues to run with this, he undid the glove''s enchantment and put it back in his pocket.

    His mind instantly raised as the mannequins dashed towards him.

    ''Should I go with the floor now? No, this isn''t the time. Then, I have no choice but to use the Dark Spike or Mouthpiece¡­''

    Cesar felt the creatures made of paper closing in as he couldn''t decide what to use, knowing one was taxing to use just like the other. But having no choice on what to do at the other, he came to a decisive choice.

    "Fuck it!"

    Cesar grabbed a tube-like mouthpiece that goes around to his ear and inserted it into his mouth with ease like some sort of mask before grabbing a small ck spike that almost resembled a very small spear.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Suddenly, dozens of paper mannequins jumped toward Cesar who was a second toote to realize it. But he didn''t give up as he swerved the Dark Spike upward before channeling his essence into it.

    Activating the enchantment for the spike, the weapon itself seemed to have extended and became alive as it stretched toward the mannequins and struck them in the chest.

    sh¡ª!

    The spike itself looked like ck roots as it snaked through the mannequins, disregarding any defenses they had stored for themselves.

    Motionless in the air while being at the mercy of the spike that became so long while the spike acted as its root, Cesar didn''t have time to look revered at the artifact as another couple of mannequins came to the other side of his attack.

    But the mouthpiece of his mouth suddenly emanated an eerie aura before he spitted out a vicious goo of ck liquid that melted the mannequin.

    As if the harbinger of death had descended to strike the mannequins right into their chests while spewing out ck liquid, Cesar dashed forward the wave of mannequins that didn''t stop spawning from the paper ground.

    However, the situation was far from over.

    It didn''t take too long before even Cesar realized it himself.

    "What the hell?!"

 Chapter 88: Nonstop Action

    Halfway through the shadowy depths of the bottomless cone, Cesar''s gaze shifted to the front, where countless paper mannequins began to swarm together, relentlessly advancing toward him and the rest of the group. It continued and still continuously reaching onto Cesar, trying to get a hold of him.

    The mannequins moved like a brewing storm, but it quickly became clear what they were doing. It began at the lower part, where a pair of legs emerged, followed by the formation of a torso. They continued to assemble, merging into somethingrger, until they had formed two pairs of long arms and two elongated heads.

    In just a span of a dozen seconds, a muchrger, fiercer, and deadlier version of the paper mannequin transformed right before Cesar''s eyes.

    It was evenrger than the Guardian Shelves who were also struggling with the mini paper mannequins surrounding them.

    The image of this abomination that created itself slightly shook his mental fortitude.

    Right after, Cesar sprinted forward and eliminated five paper mannequins before he shuddered as the Big Paper Mannequin was nearing right in front of him.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    It suddenly leaped through the air swiftly, something supposed to be unbelievable from its normal size before it jumped down, aiming at Cesar with its raw power alone.

    Thud¡ª!

    Narrowingly escaping from the mannequin that tried to use its foot to squish him into the floor, Cesar was toote to react as a secondter, two mannequins stabbed their paper des that were almost as durable as normal des right in the shoulder and knee.

    Not reacting at how painful their attack was, Cesar channeled a bit of essence to the Mouthpiece on his mouth and spewed it towards the two random mannequins that immediately melted into the air. Discover stories with m,v l''e-NovelBin

    Whoosh¡ª!

    This time, Cesar was able to sense the iing danger from the side as the two huge elongated hands of the Big Paper Mannequin targeted him.

    But because evading was deemed impossible, Cesar decided to meet it and used his Dark Spike as a way to stop it froming to him directly.

    Crack¡ª!

    The main spike blocked one hand while the roots itself blocked the other.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Strongly clenching the handle of the spike as he continued to get pushed back resulted in the other paper mannequins to unable stop the force, Cesar gritted his teeth while watching the Big Mannequin having no mercy for a small bug like him.

    ''Fight someone of your own size for fuck''s sake!''

    Cesar''s eyes dangerously took a nce above, only to see another iing one hand darting its way towards him. It seemed pushing its enemies to oblivion wasn''t enough as it wanted to destroy a small bug first before moving to the next one.

    Unless the bug is squashed, it will never move to the next target.

    However, the bug was no other than Cesar. He had always found ways no matter what.

    ''Okay, if that''s what you want!''

    Cesar had to make a painful choice as he loosened the grip of the spike and pushed himself away from the hands that continued to press him, at the same time, evading the handing from above.

    However, he loses possession of the Dark Spike.

    Thud¡ª!

    With a grimace, while losing his bnce since the desperate measure he took was to remove himself from that tight spot, Cesar found himself on his way to plunging towards the countless paper mannequins, at the same time, thest hand of the Big Mannequin went in his way to crush him while in that mid-air position.

    If he wanted to regain his bnce, he''d have to drop down on the floor but there were already a lot of paper mannequins intercepting his way. If he stayed mid-course, it wouldn''t be too soon to be caught by the same hand and get crushed with it.

    He looked like he was spinning mid-air after all.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    "Damn it¡­! Damn it all!"

    Cesar swiftly went into his pocket and went to grab a disgustingly looking tiara with a red bloodshot eye in the middle of it.

    Wearing it above his head while staying afloat mid-air, negative thoughts entered his mind, and he almost went crazy just by how forceful these bad emotions got through his head. He wasn''t even channeling its mana yet.

    It was, after all, an artifact that came from the Nightmare Dim, Nicotara.

    Bearing the effects of what once belonged to the Nightmare, Cesar gritted his teeth as he started to channel half of his essence to it.

    The elongated hand started to get close. The mannequins waiting and the position he was about tond, throwing whatever they had in their arsenal just to produce a bit of damage had some sessful hits while mostly fruitless ones as Cesar continued spinning mid-air.

    "Hahh¡­"

    Before Cesar could evennd on the paper floor where mannequins were waiting for him and the hand almost grasping his well-being, something started to appear beneath his feet that immediately extended almost twenty meters from his position.

    It was a floor made out of shadow.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The moment Cesarnded, the shadow floor followed his way. The mannequins that were waiting for him to the ground to overpower him with numbers melted once they touched the floor.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The hand that almost made contact with Cesar was instantly blocked by a huge shadow hand that sprung out from the Floor of Darkness.

    It got easily deflected beforepletely ignoring it to continue his way forward.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    In an instant the smaller paper mannequins vanished from sight once the shadow floor appeared, hundreds more of them instantly lunged towards him, not giving him a single break.

    But merely activating the power of the artifact, Cesar willed the Floor of Darkness to kill anyone who stepped on his domain.

    The bloodshot eyes in the middle of the tiara reddened even further before dark lines protruded out from the floor, striking the paper mannequins right into their hearts without any mercy.

    Swash¡ª!

    The ones that continued to step at the Floor of Darkness were being devoured, destroyed, andstly, vanished from the library. Thest thing they knew was a man controlling it looking left and right to see the situation around him.

    The picturesque pure carnage continues as the paper mannequins are torn to pieces before their presence starts to disappear once they step into the lower half of the bottomless pit.

    It was Cesar who went through first before the Paper Mannequins came next. Next, unable to ept the fact to squashed the little bug so easily, the Big Paper Mannequin followed through the darkness.

    The Nightmare who was observing and struggling on its own as it appeared all bloody around its body followed suit as there was nothing to stop them from entering the darkness. Instead of struggling, it let itself fall into the abyss.

    Finally, the Three Guardian Shelves appeared healthy on the outside and even though they didn''t tire, appeared to have gone through countless battles and had no way but to push through.

    They appeared almost broken but also had no choice but to chase the perpetrators, they followed them as well.

    Soon, their presence disappeared as they entered the darkness that took the lower part floor of the bottomless cone.

 Chapter 89: Darkness

    "Cedeit! Don''t you fucking dare disappear on me now!"

    Cesar spoke in spite as the vision he could perceive from his one eye alone started to dwindle while making their way deeper into the cone. He still hadn''t forgotten that Cedeit had additional something to say which he cut off earlier since the paper mannequins had already made their way towards him.

    However, he could really use the time to warn him about certain things inside the darkness where the Dwellers of the Dark inhabited.

    Finally, Cedeit replied to him after a couple of seconds had passed.

    "I''ve told you everything you need to know while being in here aside from one other thing,"

    Cedeit took a moment of pause as Cesar patiently waited since it looked like it would take another damn minute, an antic that this voice developed or probably something he had to do because of his condition.

    But he''s been a fast replier in recent times. Today, he also replied right away.

    "That one thing, however, is you have to close your eyes no matter what circumstances happened to you while being in here," Cedeit paused, "Open them and somehow you gaze at something that you can''t even fathom, you''ll be the same as thing as your one friend,"

    Taking a huge gulp down to his throat, Cesar became nervous. The light on his back started to be more so far as his vision started to get narrower and narrower. In just a few seconds, he would be no different than a blind person even if his one eye is open.

    "You said there would be Nightmares, Lesser and Intermediate-ranked creatures in here¡­ How would I be able to fight them?"

    "That''s your problem. Besides, didn''t I tell you it''s not about fighting but avoiding them?"

    Cedeit then added after seemingly sighing, "What happened to those Nightmares will be of you if you gaze at something that you shouldn''t be supposed to see. Hence no matter how frightening the Dwellers are, the Darkness will be your biggest threat," Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin

    Seemingly finished with his exnation, Cesar didn''t hear a follow-up response which signaled him to resume his earlier actions.

    Cesar felt the darkness getting darker as the light behind him became too unnoticeable to even produce a light to him. Once thest bit of light disappeared, Cesar tried to calm his beating heart.

    Then Cesar closed his eyes.

    Heightening his senses as he continued the Floor of Darkness activating, Cesar couldn''t help but feel as if he was being watched somewhere. Fully trusting the artifact to do its job, he was at ease while running forward through the darkness.

    Completely blinded by his own actions, Cesar aggressively shifted his gaze to the side and sensed an iing shadow passing through the floor, something that had reacted a bit toote to attack the elusive shadow.

    ''Crap!''

    Feeling that whatever wasing to him was indeed a Nightmare, Cesar motioned the floor of darkness to intercept the dashing shadow that almost came toote again.

    sh¡ª!

    If not for the fast decision to intercept the iing Nightmare instead of letting the floor of darkness do its thing, Cesar sensed that he''d be in real trouble and be killed right in that ce.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Soon, Cesar shivered once he noticed countless shadows moving through the area of effect of his floor as they relentlessly got attacked by it.

    Their feet were struck by the floor, their bodies and heads impaled by ck spears, and every part of them touched by the same darkness didn''t stop, even when something tried to hinder their progress. Relentlessly, they advanced toward Cesar.

    They weed it even.

    All of it, however, was making Cesar doubtful as he was incapable of actually seeing their real reaction as these Dwellers tried to reach him. With his one eye closed, the only he could do was feel their intense ways to reach towards him.

    Ssh¡ª!

    But the Nightmares that tried to get him just got their bodies torn apart, injured, or merely impaled by the power that the Floor of Darkness contained. They never get killed since even though the Darkness has been controlling them, they retained the same body structure before.

    No matter how much Cesar willed it, a mere artifact can''t singlehandedly wipe out these abominations.

    He started to understand why Cedeit highly insisted on avoiding them.

    ''Man, I was at least trying¡­''

    Cesar had finally given up on eliminating even one of those creatures that continued to swarm him, the Nightmare Behind, the Guardian Shelves, and the Paper Mannequins.

    Rushing through the darkness as they went deeper, Cesar felt his mind erratic but he had the choice of keeping the floor of darkness aside. Afraid that it would cause him to lose control just because he kept insisting on using it, he had to make a hard decision.

    Cesar will have to remove the crown from his head.

    Ssh¡ª!

    Narrowingly avoiding an attack that aimed at his head and feet, Cesar thought he would be making himself vulnerable to these swift attacks that he might not be able to dodge on time. He was already having a hard time when the floor of darkness was activated.

    Thankfully, after acquiring an abundance of essence which Cesar was unsure where it actually came from, became the least of his concerns.

    The reason he was even considering keeping the crown back in his pocket was because there was another alternative to his situation.

    Grabbing the orb, Source of Light, an artifact from his pocket, Cesar clicked his tongue and forcefully removed the crown from his head.

    Immediately putting the crown back in his pocket, afraid of losing yet another important artifact which he was starting to regret, Cesar channeled a huge amount of essence to the orb artifact and shouted.

    "Let¡ª"

    Not letting Cesar do his own thing if they could even understand him, different creatures crawled, lunged, and dashed toward him at a swift rate after seeing the most problematic weapon he wielded was gone.

    He waspletely defenseless at the moment.

    However, these creatures were now the ones a second toote.

    "¡ªthere be light!"

    Clenching the orb in his hand, Cesar''s light enveloped the entire area of effect of his artifact and soon blinded the creatures that hit it.

    All of them have been toofortable in the darkness. This darkness muddled their minds, tearing away their own sanity, andstly, removing a bit of their real self that feeds off to the same thing.

    For the same reason, the moment the orb artifact brimmed its light to the Dwellers, these creatures regained a small sense of rity within their unfocused eyes.

 Chapter 90: Final Push

    "Eek¡ª!"

    In an instant, the creatures that were allfortable in the darkness appeared to have been exposed by their own house because someone decided to barge in and disturb them. They allid bare to the only light that manifested in darkness.

    However, a moment of rity appeared on their front.

    They all started to regain their moment of consciousness. They seemed to have liked the light that somehow appeared in the depths of the abyss.

    However, there are some, well, one creature that didn''t just idle around once they regained a moment of lucidity.

    The moment it saw Cesar dashing away through the dazed creatures that still hadn''t realized what was happening, it didn''t just idle around like the rest and swiftly made their way towards him.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Even if they were under the influence of some powerful force or not, Nightmares are still Nightmare Creatures that feast and feed on humans.

    Cesar began to notice it too as well.

    One creature seemed to be more agile and fiercer just after them being freed momentarily from the darkness. It seemed they returned to their normal state before being controlled by the Darkness.

    One Nightmare, the same creature as earlier closed the distance and motioned a throwing wave as its ws extended out. Connected with the hideous ckish bone, they were trying to reach Cesar and eliminate him.

    ''What the¡­!''

    Sensing that something swift wasing to him, Cesar had to forcibly put a stop to his slide, dodging one of the ws that targeted him.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar once again had to run as he spun all around to dodge the remaining ws before using the creatures he couldn''t momentarily see with his eyes closed, as a way to jump since he could feel that they were briefly bbergasted at their situation.

    Every time he passed by the creatures of the dark with the Source of Light brimming its graceful artificial brightness towards them, Cesar''s road became hard as he had to exert double the amount of effort he was doing.

    With the creatures of the dark bing his obstacle as the light seemed to ''stun'' them, Cesar had to trust his instinct whether he''d have to jump, slide, dash sideways, or roll around.

    However, that wasn''t the only thing he had to worry about.

    The creatures who were quick to react to the situation didn''t want anything to do with the Darkness anymore as they stayed within the circle of the area of effect of the Source of Light.

    They continued running through while putting pressure on Cesar, who was the source of their temporary lucidity.

    It was one creature at first before it became almost the count of his own finger. The ones that Cesar passed through without thinking ahead right away were shrouded with Darkness once more, snatching the long-lost freedom they felt for a couple of seconds.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    "Damn it¡­!"

    Knowing the barrage of abilities targeting him was bing intense, Cesar knew he was pretty lucky that nothing had made contact with him. Barely, even almost, he survived countless times to attacks because these creatures had to worry about the others that were trying to enter the circle of the Source of Light''s area.

    Even so, that couldn''t go on.

    He had to do something.

    Knowing these Nightmares had gone back to their same mind of not being controlled by some bizarre phenomenon, Cesar had to think very quickly about how to stop them without losing the Source of Light''s light.

    If he undid it, Cesar knew the Dwellers of the Dark would instantly close the distance and kill him.

    And finally, the answer whispered something in his air.

    "You are almost at the bottom,"

    Cesar felt jubnt at the news before posing a question, "Tell me what to do when I''m there!"

    Cedeit replied after a few seconds, "Nothing. You just have to let yourself fall. Then, only after that, you open your eyes and be ready to catch something,"

    That was the only thing Cesar needed as an idea came to his mind.

    Soon, he hastened his speed, tripling up his movement. The creature who saw him moving like that couldn''t just stay in its ce, afraid that the light would disappear, started to chase Cesar while still continuing to kill the very source of their rity.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Knowing this run would be thest one while being inside the darkness, Cesar sprinted as he avoided countless Nightmares and creatures that tried to block or hurt him. He didn''t mind the one chasing him nor the things that followed him at the bottomless cone.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    As the way road gets narrower and smaller, Cesar hears the voice inside his head.

    "Just a few more,"

    Once the warning from Cedeit reverberated in his mind, Cesar swiftly stopped funneling the orb with his essence.

    Screech¡ª!

    Seeing that the light slowly closed by starting from the outside, the creatures that remained at that certain distance were a second toote to react before they all became shrouded by the Darkness once again.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    One after another, the creatures who were once creatures of the dark became them again as the darkness had taken control over their bodies once more.

    Screech¡ª!

    The Nightmare who had thrown its ws earlier sprinted its way towards Cesar, trying to kill and plead that he emit the light again by trying to snatch him with its hand.

    But before it could touch him, Cesar was already gone, and he disappeared from his ce by falling at the very tip of the cone. The light that ensued over him also disappeared again, bringing the lower half of the cone into the same situation as it was before.

    The moment of rity that appeared in its eyes shook before it came back as it was before. It then redirected its gaze toward the Paper Mannequin, Guardian Shelves, and the Nightmare by nning on tearing it apart without seeding Cesar who was the first one to escape.

    Aside from Cesar, no one has been able to go across the darkness, unable to reach the very bottom of the cone.

    Soon, silence ensued over the cone.

 Chapter 91: Dots Connecting

    Swoosh¡ª!

    "Open your eyes now!"

    Right after he had fallen from the very bottom of the cone while beingpletely blind, Cesar finally got to open his eyes.

    Once again, probably because it has been a couple of times since he was put in the situation, Cesar didn''t seem surprised as he found himself falling once more.

    However, he couldn''t help but frown as he found himself in the library where he was falling from the ''current roof'' of the entirety of the whole ce. Turning around mid-air, Cesar is able to spot the whole he went through.

    There, a creeping humungous ck shadow seemed to be leaking out from the paper floor''s surface. It appears to be dripping out of ck water that went below slightly away from its ce beforeing back to the same ck floor.

    Unfortunately, as he continued to fall down, Cesar wasn''t able to see another entity that went down with him there. He was all alone, and that shows that even the same Nightmare, the tenacity of the Guardian Shelves, and the army of Paper Mannequins have fallen short when ites to battling the Dwellers of the Dark.

    He, the sole survivor of the whole ordeal was pretty lucky. A fucked up one, at the very least.

    "Focus!"

    Cesar finally snapped back to reality after thinking how uncanny and sudden the deaths of those creatures that merely followed him because they just did. Now, only himself is moving forward while the rest are left behind.

    Not that it worries him anyway. In fact, he was smiling ear to ear now that he only had to worry about himself.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Putting his gaze at the fall, Cesar heard Cedeit started informing him about how he''d take this at this point onwards.

    "Do you see that tall shelf tower? You couldn''t see it earlier since the shelves are covering it which is why most of the time, you''ll only see the current roof while being on the current floor."

    Cesar shifted his gaze at the tall shelf that stood amongst the rest of the shelves on the current floor. Looking like a cone tower with its tip at the top, he knew he wasn''t mistaking the same building that Cedeit was trying to mention.

    And he was falling to it.

    "You might not see it now but there''s a book at its very tip. All you have to do is grab it," Cedeit paused, "Your ticket on the way down heavily relies on you grabbing that book. Only one chance, Cesar. That''s it,"

    Fully determined and feeling nervous about how eerie that sounded, Cesar could conclude some of the things that bugged his head. One of them is that the paper floor where it would transform into a cushion only worked if they were in the Dive Period.

    If Cedeit was telling the truth which for most of the time, the voice had been very faithful to his words, Cesar had no choice but to grab the book that was somewhere in the tip of the cone.

    Another thing that bugged his head for some time was the voice that talked to his head, Cedeit.

    If the voice was this strong that defeating the dreadful Dim Nightmare, Nicotara without even Cesar knowing, adding the fact that it was knowledgeable enough to tell some information that others wouldn''t just know, howe Cedeit was still in the same position where he needed help to a puny human like him.

    Only one reason came to Cesar''s mind which he couldn''t help but mused inwardly.

    ''It''s not like he''s not weak. In fact, I believe he''s the strongest I met even though I don''t have any idea how his power worked. It''s just that he''s trapped in this Mansion, the same as others who were here,'' Cesar paused, ''He needed someone to use to escape from something. And the only reason I could think of ''something'' was the Purplish Emptiness, The Void,''

    Yet another question entered Cesar''s mind.

    ''If that was the case, he could''ve used other people aside from me. That was one thing that confused me and the only thing I could think of must be because it didn''t work. Then, it must be because there are certain ''restrictions'' or ''shackles'' that made him unable to move freely. That was why, me, apletely amateur of anything rted outside, have been picked as a scapegoat,''

    Cesar''s eyes became unfocused for a second as another notion entered his head.

    ''Are all of this rted to the book located in the middle of the library? The one that Cedeit mentioned which keeps moving? Is that the key to everything? No, wait. I''m still confused. I still couldn''t pinpoint where the Prated Realities came from or how the Heretic could use them as a way to go in and out with the use of a key he''d stolen from the Librarian¡­''

    Cesar was able to conclude that the key that Cedeit also mentioned one time in the table which the heretic had stolen from the Librarian, was the same item he had used to get in and out of the city to somewhere.

    And that somewhere is the Mansion itself.

    That''s why when Vin''s men searched for his whereabouts, the heretic left traces willingly but not be able to follow through because they would never get him while being inside the Mansion.

    "Cesar!"

    First time hearing Cedeit''s even voice changing into a scream, Cesar couldn''t help but shudder as he put his attention back to the cone tower. The moment he did, he was able to see that he was close to the tower and finally able to spot the book that Cedeit had strongly mentioned getting, lest he wouldn''t survive the fall.

    ''All these dots connecting wouldn''t matter if I don''t survive this.''

    Ridiculing himself for the mistake he was about to make which has been fixed, Cesar puts his attention at the front and skillfully does as to what he was told.

    Probably because he had gone through many ridiculous situations while being inside the mansion, this fall seemed to be slightly underwhelming.

    The moment he got near the cone tip, Cesar snatched the eerie ck book from the cone''s tip and grabbed it as he spun around in the air.

    "Open to the first page and read the first line,"

    Gradually falling to the floor with no hope ofnding aside from the book he wielded, Cesar followed Cedeit''s words and opened the book to the first page. At first, it was empty until it started to show something towards Cesar which slightly spooked a bit of him.

    Reading the first line, Cesar spoke each word without any hesitation.

    "In the name of the Ancient Time of the Past, you are incorruptible, indestructible, and unceasing; let the world freeze,"

    As if half of his attained essence he got from somewhere got sucked, Cesar felt the book instantly received it. The aura that the tome surrounded emitted out a very hideous aura that almost made him puke due to how disgusting the stench was.

    ''Ugh, it stinks!''

    Just as the moment his face was about tond on the floor, Cesar found himself frozen in time.

 Chapter 92: Ceased World

    Looking at the paper floor that almost kissed his face which could''ve either resulted in him being mushed in a pool of blood or flesh and bones scattered in the same area he was supposed to or was about tond, Cesar didn''t even blink and remained with a calm eyes.

    If not for the fact that the time had momentarily stopped¡­ well, so many ifs had questioned Cesar while being in here in the Mansion that he had to stop this kind of habit of his just for the sake of his mind being at peace.

    ''Just because I survived through ifs, shouldn''t mean I continue thinking about them. Right, I have to fix this mindset of mine. I shouldn''t doubt my capabilities because I was pretty weak back then. Now, I will carve my way out of here on my own¡­''

    Cesar stayed in his position, momentarily shaking his head around to observe before finally widening his eyes after realizing something unbelievable right within his sight.

    ''Holy shit! I can move through a frozen time!''

    Feeling a surge of surreal emotion at how impossible this moment is to him, thinking that his knowledge regarding the world has been so minimal right before transferring into the Mansion, Cesar couldn''t help but almost eradicate the beliefs that weren''t proven or untrue at first.

    This was absolutely revolutionary.

    His tiny knowledge continued to grow. It was breaking a wall of data he knew from outside which Cesar willingly hugged them, knowing opportunity like this rarelyes.

    The outside world is indeed vast.

    ''Can I walk through it?''

    Musing that thought inwardly, Cesar started to walk his leg in a walking motion after getting out in a frozen state before using his hand to assist himself in standing up.

    Once he did, another gasp escaped from his mouth as he was bbergasted, he was shivering in excitement that was apparent in his fists.

    ''Crap this is so fucking groundbreaking.''

    ncing at the eerie ck book in his hand with a very intricate cover and a censored title in the middle which is something like a glitch, Cesar began to take ount of how precious the item is.

    It is easilyway, way, and way better than anything he had acquired in his hand on his whole life.

    If mere recitation of words and essence to suck from a person was enough to do something unbelievable as this one, Cesar knew that using it in a way that was efficient enough, he''ll be more unstoppable in any situation.

    If put in a scenario, he wouldn''t have never lost an eye if he ever got the book beforehand.

    "Fascinating? I guess maybe for a person of your caliber,"

    Of course, Cedeit, the voice inside his head, seemed to be unaffected by the frozen time as he brought harsh words to Cesar, undermining his surprise that seemed natural thing to see the mysterious voice.

    "Can''t I have fun?"

    Cedeit seemed to snort as he retorted with the same uneven voice.

    "Nothing goodes from being too much in the Time Domain, kid. Besides, you are merely borrowing the power that came from the book. It''s not yours hence it will immediately run out," Cedeit paused, "Let''s see. The amount of essence you''ve given only amounts to a half minute of the frozen time. Hmm, in 3,2¡ª"

    Cesar frowned as he raised the question, "Why are you counting down? Don''t I will where I want to stop or not¡ª"

    "1, and 0."

    Finally, the frozen world reverted back to a normal passage flow of time as Cesar was able to spot the difference between being in ''cease'' and the ''moving world. When it was truly frozen, everything was perfectly still. However, there''s a slight difference between the two.

    "Bluergh!"

    And that was the sensation of being inside of the Time Domain or not.

    "Bluerghh!"

    Cesar was on his knees as he started coughing out whatever there was to cough aside from blood. Feeling nauseous, immensely hazy even, he didn''t stop from puking out a variety of indescribable remains.

    "Be careful of using this power, there''s¡­ someone I knew that has been lost through time and has never been the same since." Cedeit''s voice seemed distant as his voice changed before he came back to reality very instantly, "Anyways, there''s another thing you''ll have to get before you face them,"

    Hinting that he was talking about something else, Cesar probed even further to confirm his suspicions.

    "I''m almost there on fighting the Keeper and the Librarian?"

    Cedeit replied fast, "You are certainly right. It wouldn''t be too soon to fight the two behemoths of the library so better be prepared. Aside from the Book of Contents, you''ll have to grab a Fabric of Prison Domain''s power,"

    Fullymitted to doing his bidding, Cesar was all set and ready to finish any mission given to him as he replied.

    "If that''s the way to get out of here, I''ll take it no matter what it takes,"

    Cedeit who was unusually chatty at this point, with his reply back became a bit fast, was silent for a whole minute before liking that he was being proactive.

    "I like how you are being enthusiastic. Unfortunately, a Fabric of Prison Domain is on the ''current roof'' of the library. Meaning, you''ll have to wait for the Fluctuations to happen before getting it,"

    Cesar frowned but Cedeit continued with a slightly jubnt tone.

    "Fret not, this is a very good opportunity. Because we''re on the ''current floor'', no one is guarding that ce yet. Usually, either the Librarian or the Keeper is looking out for it," Cedeit paused, "In the meantime, you''ll have to position yourself near thending point where the Fabric is being safely stored,"

    Cesar''s frown went even deeper. Now that the Librarian and the Keeper were being mentioned in their conversation could only mean one thing about their progress.

    It was finally time to move deeper into the middle of the library.

    "You''re going to guide me, right? You might just disappear out of nowhere like you always did,"

    Cesar was suspicious about Cedeit leaving him once more when he was in a pinch but by the looks of it, the voice wasn''t nning any of that.

    "I only left you because I don''t have anything to spare to continue my connection to you. That''s all there is,"

    Cedeit then changed the topic, "Anyways, this is a good opportunity for you. The deeper we go to the middle, the more vast the knowledge we''ll acquire in the books. The ones you''re seeing now are a very low-level type kind of book where it just shows you different kinds of power and how most of them are impossible to learn for humans like you. This and that, h h,"

    Cesar''s eyes widened at that information, "They can be used to read?"

    "Duh, what''s the purpose of those books if you can''t read them? That, however, is just one of its functions. Have the Time Domain got into your head already?"

    Ridiculing Cesar as hisst remark, Cedeit began to lead him deeper into the library with a certain direction in mind.

    It was finally time to venture to the middle of the heart of the library.

 Chapter 93: Heart Of The Library

    After hours of being led around by Cedeit, if Cesar was basing the time he was experiencing in the Mansion on the same time from outside, it was over six to seven hours before he finally reached what seemed to be the heart of the library.

    ¡­well, two hearts if he was considering the ''current floor'' and the ''current roof''.

    During those hours of being careful of suddenly facing a behemoth in the likes of the Keeper and the Librarian, Guardian Shelves, and Nightmares while handling a few Corrupted Humans on his own, Cesar''s little adventures have been very eventful at least for him.

    ''I''m so full¡­''

    One eventful moment of his little adventures is the weird-looking books across the entirety of the shelves he went through the time. The things he thought were weird were in fact a very important asset for his survivability.

    Cedeit was right that these books had one of many functions aside from being able to read them.

    His hunger and thirst were satiated.

    He picked up a book that appeared to be liquid at one point and he was able to use it as some sort of drink to avoid thirst. Cedeit, someone on his back who became active has been giving him opinions regarding everything that Cesar touched, felt, or seen to give him any prior knowledge.

    He told Cesar that the bookse in different sizes and appearances, and while some are meaningful and usable for the rest, most are very dangerous and can harm the person itself, and even Cedeit was wary of them.

    If not for the fact that he had rich knowledge about the existence of these books, Cesar might''veined about food and water since he wouldn''t do his bidding with an empty stomach when there''s a solution for it not to be like that.

    One thing he liked was the knowledge he got from Cedeit that one can know a book''s expiration date if they based it on the pages the book had inside. Every tear of the book that Cesar managed to get is equivalent to minus a day regarding the library''s day, which is so far, the same as the time when being outside.

    Even so, their value is lost from time to time, hence Cedeit heavily rmended that he should not pick a book he didn''t need to.

    The only thing a book can survive in these harsh environments where there are constant battles happening is the bookshelves, as there are ways to keep them on potency while, if the books are eventually returned to their rightful ces, they can replenish what they had before.

    It''s like a charger for any technology that needs it in case it was drained or exhausted through much use. If they got used too much, one can expect a devastating result as the books, whether they are bad or good, had bad results most of the time.

    As for how the shelves are doing it, it''s like they have a ''magic'' where they can freeze the time that contains these books. However, it doesn''t harm the user if they ever touch the shelves as the architect of the Mansion had done its research.

    It''s more like the hallways Cesar, the squad, and anyone that has to cross them, are merely a test to put the end yet good results to the library.

    The Fluctuations, The whole mechanism of the Library, The Shelves and the Books¡­ everything seemed to be connected.

    That''s why Cedeit said ''everything in the mansion leads to the library.''

    And how does that affect Cesar? Absolutely nothing.

    He got bored hearing the story about the bits of history of the library, and the reply he gave to the voice was a ridiculous sentence.

    -If you can stop feeding me useless sentences that contain nothing to help me defeat the Librarian and the Keeper, that would be really appreciated.

    Now, he was done rejoicing the taste of some of the books he had passed by and was full. All that was left was to ready himself to do the job that Cedeit had asked for him to aplish.

    For that to happen, he had to position himself in the heart of the library.

    ''Shit¡­''

    The walls Cesar was currently observing were twice asrge as the typical shelves he had seen before. These particr walls, located in the heart of the library, were encased in a circr or crescent-shaped line, giving the impression that they encircled the interior of this specific area, which resembled a maze from the inside.

    "Whatever book yound upon, you should read it. We don''t know how many hours, minutes, or seconds even before you go the Float Period starts. This is the heart of the library. You will end up discovering a thing or two here that likes of you would be lucky enough to read,"

    Cesar carefully trod into the road avable at therger shelves in the heart of the library before finally entering.

    Continue your saga on m|v-l''e -NovelBin

    "Woah¡­"

    The feeling of magnificence and grandness surrounding the walls was making Cesar overwhelmed. The paper ground was more durable. And because the structure inside had a maze-like design, it was impossible for him to peer through the other side of the maze unless he climbed onto those shelves.

    But Cedeit firmly reminded him that ''climbing'' the shelves was a definite no-go.

    First, he would be easily exposed from above, making him vulnerable if they were indeed enemies, though it was better not to find out once he was already in their grasp.

    Second, the Library held more traps on top of the shelves than below, making it far more dangerous to ascend.

    Basically, one might get their hand chopped off if they were ever to touch a false bottom or pull a lever identally.

    Cesar already had enough of losing an eye.

    "Huh¡­"

    As he roamed his eyes around the library walls, Cesar was able to easily spot the difference between the heart of the library and the rest outside.

    The shelves here are empty. In the exterior part of the heart, Cesar couldn''tnd a single book to read.

    The thing he did was roam a bit deeper while still keeping vignt until finally, he went further and spotted a book.

    Cesar felt ddened and immediately closed by until he stopped halfway through and stared at the book menacingly.

    "Hmm¡­"

    Cesar grabbed his chipped dagger from his arsenal of weapons and threw it toward the book to test if that was just a mouse trap to bait him.

    The chipped dagger hit the book, though it was left unscathed. Seeing that it didn''t change into a hideous creature nor triggered a trap from somewhere that will cause to endanger his life, Cesar was half a hundred percent sure it was safe.

    Walking a bit more, Cesar hesitantly reached out to the book that had no title on its front cover nor words encrypted at its book. It was a in ck book that almost resembled the Book Of Contents in his pocket.

    "Oh, you got a nice book,"

    Cedeitmented on the book he managed to get which Cesar found creepy. He knew he couldn''tprehend the same ''nice'' Cedeit has to the ''nice'' to human terms.

    If it was ''nice'' to him, Cesar knew it was bad.

    But instead of running away or acting surprised like he always did, Cesar toughened up and opened the contents of the book.

    He had to man up some times and not be a pussy.

    The moment he opened the content, thest thing he knew was that he wasn''t reading whatever content he saw inside but an entirely different view.

    ''What the¡­ This is¡ª!?''

    Cesar shuddered as he found himself staring at the long, ancient stone table with chairs lining up on the side to at the far end of the opposite sides.

    And what once empty chairs were filled with figures sitting on them.

 Chapter 94: Immersive Reading

    ''Wait, wait, wait. How is this happening?! I was supposed to read! I am capable of reading! God damn it!''

    Cesar started to be nervous about how this turned into the worst case he had ever imagined.

    He had already seen books that came in various sizes, contents where they could be eaten, a ground-breaking power that he could use with a bit of channeling of his essence, and heard how dangerous some were.

    Now he was experiencing something phenomenon again, a bit different and new.

    The book gave life to the contents inside of it and showed Cesar what an ''immersive reading'' is and being inside of the book''s world to the next literal level!

    Cesar transferred his gaze to the side where the individuals were present and merely waiting in their ce, upwards where the spiraling lights are illuminating the table, before ending it in the middle where the delicacies, different variety of utensils, and items were all offered to every individual present at the table.

    Seated at the other end of the table, Cesar was now a hundred percent sure the image he was seeing was no other than the previous hallway he had gone through, the cold ancient stone table.

    ''I couldn''t see any of their faces. How fascinating¡­''

    Cesar mused inwardly as no matter how much he tried to squint his eyes to gaze at them, they remained obscured to whatever actions they were doing to hide their identities.

    "When are we going to wait¡­ huh?"

    Cesar heard an authoritative voice from nearby before he finally noticed something unusual about their appearances.

    The voice on his side for example was unsteady, but when he shifted his gaze to the speaker''s hands, his eyes slightly widened as he noticed cracks forming on them.

    Cesar couldn''t help but shiver the moment he felt everyone''s gazes fell onto him at the table. It was also at that instant that he realized the uneven voice question was directed at him.

    But the owner Cesar was currently inhabiting was calm and unbothered. Looking at each one of them by returning their gazes, a yful smile stered on his lips as he spoke.

    "I want information first."

    Out of the twenty-two seats avable on the table, the fifth chair located on his left seemed to be struggling before a hoarse voice answered his query after raising a hand.

    Cesar saw signaling the person to proceed to talk with a mere nod.

    "Time has been corrupted. We won''t know what will happen at this point if something of that caliber isn''t even safe from corruption." The hoarse voice let out a short cough that went down on his lips before adding, "Decaying Luck was there. As well as Twisted Fate. Some small fries within their outer circle as well. They all ganged up just to defeat Time."

    The one Cesar was inhabiting muttered silently as a sigh escaped from his lips, "So Time has been defeated. That''s unfortunate. All right, you can proceed, Rash."

    Suddenly, everyone watched the obscured figure named Rash picking up a spoon and fork and momentarily stopping at his ce. At that moment, the figure surrounding him appears to be weary as his posture alone is all saying about it.

    He touched the cup on his side making him all weary before he proceeded to eat the delicacies on his front, still maintaining a dignified mannerism.

    He then muttered, his demeanor shifting as he returned to peak condition, "It''s true¡­ It can absorb most of your corruption at it." Find your next adventure on m_v l|e-NovelBin

    This time, everyone''s gaze fell on Cesar once more before almost everyone started to desperately raise their hands and wanted to get his attention.

    "I told you guys that nurturing yourself isn''t just enough. Control is needed to produce certainty. Corruption is not just a small fry, after all,"

    Cesar''s gaze fell to the side as he demanded, "What do you have, Scorn?"

    Finally, the guy who almost seemed to be breaking down finally had the chance to speak as he didn''t waste his opportunity to appease Cesar.

    "I''ve found the item that writes the past, present, and future events, The Akashic Records!"

    Cesar''s eyes seemed to have slightly broadened even more at that information before his yful lips grew wider. The guy, Scorn, then continued.

    "I¡­ didn''t actually possess it but I caught a glimpse of a future event that rtes to you, Deceit! It said¡­ It said that a lowly creature would take over you and the tricks you pulled off wouldn''t matter!"

    Slightly agitated at that derationing from Scorn, the one Cesar was inhabiting, Deceit, seemed to not like that information as if his ego was hurt. He taps his fingertip menacingly at the edges of his seat before answering.

    "That''s very informative. I liked it. We''ll discuss thister on and where these Records are located. Go on, you can proceed,"

    Scorn, the same as what Rash had done, grabbed a pair of utensils he could use. Cesar noticed that the cracks appearing on his hands slowly rendering themselves before he proceeded to eat the delicacies on his front.

    ''So my previous thoughts that this hallway is some sort of assembly or meeting is slightly true. I was even thinking it was some sort of war council but I guess I was wrong. This is just where this body can gather information from the other twenty-one figures,''

    Cesar paused, ''so the name of the Architect of this Mansion, the creator of the library, and what that heretic was worshipping was no other than this benevolent being, Deceit. Huh,''

    Discovering a clue regarding the entire Mansion itself, Cesar couldn''t help but frown as the rest of everything he was hearing waspletely huge for someone as lowly as him to understand for now.

    Somehow, Cesar considered it as a major clue.

    ''Man, I guess it is just a title. So, this is a Nightmare Creature. Is it a Higher Nightmare Creature ranked then?''

    Cesar''s thoughts darted across the room before Deceit''s gaze fell on the other side of the table where aposed figure was sitting and also looking at him.

    Amongst all the desperate figures that tried to get his attention, this was the only figure that remained calm as it appeared that she didn''t need any help from Deceit at all. She was solely there to listen and observe.

    "Hypocrisy,"

    The obscured figure answered back with a slight nod.

    "Deceit,"

    Deceit''s smile lowered as the tip barely stood up before questioning, "I want to ask what kind of information you have on you even though you appeared to be¡­ okay. Or are you not interested in giving in anything?"

    The obscured figure which seemed to be ady entity, Hypocrisy, answered with a soothing voice, "I''m indeed okay and I''m indeed not interested in anything. Actually, I''m just here to share something with all of you,"

    Rash and Scorn appeared toe back to their position ready to hear it while the rest continued to struggle to stop the corruption from getting over them. Eventually, Hypocrisy shared with a delight on her voice.

    "Everyone is banding up together after the defeat of Time," Hypocrisy took a moment of break, "They will begin hunting us Origin Entities. I wouldn''t be surprised if they started it a few years ago already,"

 Chapter 95: Past-Present Connection

    ''Origin Entities? Deceit, Hypocrisy, Scorn, Rash, and the rest of these benevolent creatures have another term for them. And Entities? Is that another term for Nightmares? Entities¡­ wait a moment¡ª''

    While he was digesting the information he received from Hypocrisy, Cesar couldn''t help but think of one time when he heard the term Entity associated with Nightmares.

    ''Hunger¡­ That Nightmare that almost killed me when I was a child¡­ He told me that they were manifested Entities, which were otherworldly beings. Ugh, so many things are being said that most of them are indecipherable for somebody like me now even if I could only scratch their surface for now!''

    Cesar couldn''t help but frown as Deceit seemed to be also frowning the moment he heard those wordsing from someone''s mouth.

    "They are ganging up on us, huh? How funny," Unbothered by those words that came from Hypocrisy herself, Deceit then posed a question, "I just don''t get why a reserved and calmdy like you are telling us this, which you could''ve remained quiet since it will be good for yourself,"

    Hypocrisy, at the end of the table, calmly rebut with a slight smirk on her face, "Wouldn''t it be better if we all teamed up rather than remaining solitary? You can start this, Deceit. You are someone capable enough to pull this gathering us all together which didn''t happen from the time we''ve been existing,"

    She paused, "I thought it was a fascinating idea hence I go along with it. Honestly, I wasn''t expecting anyone toe but I guess you can guess what their condition was based on knowing their situation alone,"

    Deceit was slightly taken aback at how meticulous Hypocrisy had be before his smile widened. He nodded once before answering.

    "I just have good eyes, that''s all." Cesar then extended his hand forward as he offered the delicacies at the table, "Anyway, you can proceed to enjoy the meal your front. If you''re having trouble, you can touch any utensils avable at the table."

    "Okay,"

    Hypocrisy reached out for a spoon and fork before she started eating the delicacies at the front with her delicate hands.

    "¡­"

    Watching her fill with the abundance of food he rightfully prepared for anyone, Cedeit seemed energized enough to entertain the questions of the struggling Entities within the table who were begging at this point.

    "Okay, right before I continue, I just wanted to address one thing,"

    Deceit raised a piece of silverware before staring at it directly, revealing his own reflection in it. Two pairs of eyes glowered dangerously as he did, and with a cheeky smile, he raised in amusement.

    "I don''t know how you are doing it but get away from me or I''lle get you once I''m done with my business here,"

    At first, Cesar didn''t understand where that wasing from while using silverware as some sort of mirror.

    But then Cesar shuddered when he realized the gaze of that predator seemed to reach even the depths of his soul.

    Cesar''s eyes trembled, and fear crept over him as the situation became so surreal that he could rank it among the top three strangest encounters he''d ever had while being inside the Mansion.

    This time, he can confirm it.

    Judging the situation, Deceit looked like he was trying to start a conversation between him andCesar, which is supposed to be neigh impossible, considering the fact that everything should''ve contained anything rted to the book but not some influence outside of it.

    ''So how fuckinge!?''

    Cesar was sure of it.

    Deceit was indeed talking to him.

    ''This is getting more nuts! I didn''t even ask for this in the first ce and now the Architect of the Mansion is already aware of me¡­ even though it shouldn''t be happening! Fuck, how do I take this from now on!?''

    Completely losing his shit at how the situation is bing, Cesar had taken notice of the bewildered expression of every gaze around the table that was directed at Deceit.

    They were all weirded out by his sudden doings.

    However, because of that, it confirmed Cesar''s confirmation that somehow, for some weird ground breaking phenomena, the two had be connected with each other.

    The problem is that this problem shouldn''t have existed in the first ce.

    For whatever reason it is, Cesar didn''t like any single of it.

    ''Shit, shit, shit!''

    As the obscured reflection with only a glowing pair of eyes trying to gaze at his soul, Cesar felt vulnerable. The being that remained cool and calm throughout the time of the table while showing a bit of irrationality, was baring its fangs to the creature that dared to enter his mind and peer through them.

    ''It doesn''t make any sense at all!''

    Cesar still wanted to think by trying to see if the mere wordsing from Deceit was nothing but a mere trick, but he had to remove that idea as the Nightmare seemed deadset of someone being on its mind.

    That someone or something might be sneaking and might interrupt their meetingter on.

    Deceit wasn''t having it.

    "Hmm, it seemed you don''t like to talk or are you unable to?"

    ''Goodness, it is getting creepier! Please stop this reading immersion to the next level! Let me read this book normally!''

    Bing afraid that this will result in nothing but bad when Cesar just wanted to read a book, he wanted to eject himself from this book. Yet again, he was incapable of doing it as he was only moving if the Deceit, the real body, made it.

    Or was that really it?

    ''Wait, don''t tell me I''ve been moving around my head in the most inconspicuous way possible yet Deceit noticed there were slight irregrities in his movements and began to act upon it since he wasn''t ''himself?'' How observant!''

    Nothing less than he could expect from the architect and the owner of the Mansion, Cesar knew he was in deep shit if Deceit somehow managed to intercept anything rted to him.

    If he breaks a connection from the outside world just because Deceit did try something, Cesar knows he has to do something.

    He might be one of the contents of the book if he was toote.

    But he couldn''t do anything.

    ''What?!''

    As if he lost all control over Deceit''s body¡ªcontrol he once possessed¡ªCesar could only watch as a hand started reaching toward his own face, directed by Deceit''smand over his own body.

    ''Oh no! Oh no!''

    It seemed Deceit was bent on finding out who was trying to peer through their meetings by gauging out its own two eyes as his hands were all telling what was about to happen.

    ''Fuck!!''

    Just as the two fingers nearly brushed his eyes, Cesar felt a powerful force pulling him upward.

    Thest thing he knew the moment he blinked once, he was floating through the air, moving continuously upward.

    "Cesar! It''s starting!" Cedeit paused, "What happened to you while being in that book!? I didn''t get a hold of you!"

    Cesar''s mind was inplete chaos while feeling the pounding of his heart due to how weird that situation was earlier.

    He assessed himself for a moment, took a mouthful of saliva down to his throat and was about to answer Cedeit''s query after a careful contemtion... when he felt a huge shadow floating just right behind his back.

 Chapter 96: Keeper Of The Void

    Cesar was immediately alerted to the creature on his back, feeling its overwhelming presence¡ªa force that would bring any low-level individual to their knees. Reluctant as he might be, he knows he has to confront this presence, one far greater than the Nightmare Nicotara.

    Cesar then looked back.

    And was astonished at how humungous this creature was.

    Easily towering the Guardian Shelves thrice their size, the creature behind Cesar had three vertical purplish eyes at its hideous face. Draped in a silk ankle-length garment with long sleeves and a mixture of dark purple and dark bluish colors, the creature had a colossal purplish ne ced around his neck and beads of purplish stones with stone engravings on them.

    In each of its two hands, with ten fingers apiece, it held an intricate wand. In its left hand was a dark, elongated staff topped with a sphere, a purplish eye set at its center. In its right was an ordinary-looking wand, yet it seemed to glitch and distort in the eyes of anyone who dared to look at it.

    Cesar felt shivers as his eyes widened at the sudden realization of who the enemy was on his back.

    "Keeper Of The¡ª"

    "Void!"

    Both Cedeit and Cesar shouted at the same time, both weren''t expecting this behemoth was just right behind their backs.

    "Hmph..."

    Seeing a puny creature right in front, the Keeper of the Void gazed at it for a moment, trying to analyze its strength before ending it by pointing its left wand at Cesar.

    "Shit!"

    Cesar swiftly donned the bloodshot eye tiara atop his head as the Floor of Darkness materialized beneath him and the Keeper of the Void. He steadied his Source of Light, gripping it firmly between his hands in preparation.

    Chatter¡ª!

    Enchanting iprehensiblenguage that instantly bled Cesar''s ears by merely hearing it, The Keeper was charging its attack while the orb of the wand intensified.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    As they continued their way up, Cesar willed up the darkness to form a wall, making it durable and steadfast at the point of impact where he would receive the attack.

    He was merely guessing where it woulde but he had no guarantee that he would be able to defend himself.

    ''I couldn''t avoid it fuck!''

    Cesar cursed in desperation as he continued to build up walls to cover himself while the Keeper continued to energize its attack.

    The two just met for the first yet one side was already trying to defend against an iing attacking from the other that would surely bring harm if he wasn''t ready.

    ''Not enough!''

    Cesar knew he wasn''t stacking enough walls to defend an attack from what seemed to be a spellcaster Nightmare.

    However, the Keeper wasn''t just going to wait for him to finish plotting up to defend an attack, even if he did it. The moment it came to realize the attack was enough to put the puny Cesar down, the Nightmare heavily grumbled.

    The Keeper of the Void uttered its spell.

    "Reality Rejection"

    The area of effect they were in at that part of the Float Period seemed to have illuminated with a glow as a blindingpurplish wave tried to swallow the entirety of the zone with one single attack.

    Crash¡ª!

    The first line of defenseing from Cesar instantly broke down as the walls that protected him and trusted him easily crashed down, recing the floor of darkness with purplish emptiness.

    "Ahhh¡­"

    It was so blinding, so beautiful, and so dreadful, that the only thing Cesar could do was gasp as he awaited the impending dooming at him as it continued to swallow hisst-second defense.

    ''Damn it¡­!''

    Crack¡ª!

    He had been so careful not to let this happen, and so determined to defeat these behemoths but if this just showed the difference between Nightmares of this caliber versus the humans who barely use their facets with risks of being corrupted, Cesar knew he had no chance.

    There was no chance, to begin with.

    Crack¡ª!

    As the walls continuously broke down, Cesar didn''t notice that the reality around him started to crack into shards of mirrors. His eyes were so glued at the blinding purplish emptiness that minding his surrounding was thest thing he could do.

    Crack¡ª!

    Cesar''s life shed before his eyes before he got dragged by someone behind him, his gaze slowly returning back to normal instead of the clear view of the purplish emptiness.

    "What the hell are you doing near that creature?!"

    Hearing a familiar voice just behind him, Cesar slowly turned, only to be met by a face he recognized instantly.

    "What...!"

    Astonishment was stered on his face when the one who grabbed him was no other than themander of the current City of Wheels, Vin.

    "Sir!?" Cesar set aside his surprise for a brief moment before answering his question, "I''m here for personal matters. I have something to do beforending!"

    Vin kept his word in mind before his gaze shifted to the side.

    Still, in the floating state, Vin continued grabbing Cesar''s helm while he continued to observe the Keeper who shifted their gaze at them. Still not on the Dive Period, the two had to worry about the Nightmare''s attack.

    The Nightmare began to wave its hand, and as it did, reality itself started to tear, revealing a swirling, purplish void that manifested before Cesar and everyone around, casting an ominous glow.

    "Can your power take it down?"

    Cesar asked as he watched the impending doom that wasing his way, this time he wasn''t alone to witness it.

    "God damn it¡­! I knew it was too early to face it," Vin muttered in distaste, not really directing to Cesar before he sighed and clicked his tongue.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The Keeper drifted through the air in a rhythmic dance, waving its hand as if performing a ritual for the impending attack aimed at the two of them. When Cesar caught a glimpse of Vin''s reaction to his remark, his heart sank.

    Suddenly, after a few seconds of pause, Vin spoke through the air.

    "I''m not confident of defeating that abomination even if we trained for many years¡­" Vin paused as he slowly raised his hand up, doing a flicking position, "But it''s better now or never!"

    With a flick of his hand, Vin caused the purplish void surrounding them to fracture, forming cracks that soon shatteredpletely, revealing neers who stepped forward to join the fray.

    They all entered, releasing all of their powers that had been readied beforehand.

    "Hellfire!"

    One side of the Purplish Emptiness was reced with fiery red fire.

    "Sky Piercer!"

    On the other side of the slowly cascading cheap copy of Void, one giant greenish sword appeared threatening enough to the Keeper shot towards the same Nightmare.

    "Flock of Ravens!"

    On the back of the Nightmare, an arrowhead of ravens flew and dived towards the Keeper, aiming to end all of it with one shot.

    "Suppress!"

    Above the Nightmare where one of the cracked realities was opened, an imaginary hand closed towards the Keeper which was also targeting him.

    "Dissimtion!"

    And underneath the part of the Nightmare, words contained in a circle went their way toward the Keeper to entrap him.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Everyone who entered the cracked realities unleashed their own attacks, all aimed in a single direction¡ªstraight at the Keeper of the Void.

    "Die!"

 Chapter 97: The Might Of The Keeper

    "Die!"

    Watching the oing abilities that were eventually going toe in slow motion, the Keeper of the Void''s vertical eyes darted around, tracking every detail. Then, its eyes began to shift¡ªreced by aplex, indescribable array of numbers and letters, swirling and rolling within its gaze.

    The Keeper of the Void stopped dancing through the air before the normal wand on his other hand, flickered. Its glitchy appearance quivered before transforming into somethingprehensible to the naked eye.

    All the Nightmare''s actions happened in an instant due to how it perceived the normal to be so slow.

    The wand, which had initially appeared glitchy, transformed into a sleek purplish staff. Suddenly, one of the Keeper''s bracelets sent shards flying as the staff in its hand began to glow even brighter.

    "Void¡ª"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The attacks were all about to make contact with its body. Just a meter left and it might''ve suffered damage also insufferable for even a being like it.

    Still, on its sight, everything felt so slow.

    "¡ªErasure,"

    Everything that went on its way vanished without a trace. Like erasing in writing, the void that momentarily appeared swallowed the entirety of that power and left a shocking image to the onlookers.

    However, since any kind of powers from any facet were targeted by the purple stick, the void that slowly cascaded the whole area vanished in the same manner as well.

    That didn''t mean everyone was safe from the attack.

    Half of the entirety of men who were near their abilities or only just starting to throw whatever they had to support the stacking barrage of attacks were a secondte to realize that everything had been extinguished and they were only just a casualty for such effects.

    Amidst the instant massacre that transpired in no more than a couple of seconds was the Nightmare staying afloat.

    Cesar stood in shock, unable to move as everyone around him gasped in disbelief. He remained frozen in ce, shivering, while the others watched the shocking oue of their barrage of attacks transform into aplete failure.

    "You need to focus,"

    Cedeit woke up Cesar from his reverie, his voice slightly heavy.

    "From what I observed, this Nightmare might be a spell caster but it didn''t just rely on that. It had other strong points too such as battling in any type of surface or situation. That''s why you need to be ready. Even I don''t know any move it might make."

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Just right after Cedeit had warned Cesar, a floor of the void appeared right underneath the Keeper.

    In a blink of an eye, Cesar watched the Void disappear from its ce as if it were unaffected by the Floating State and appeared right behind the two nearest military men.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Raising its left borate wand, the Keeper crushed them down with only a single strike.

    Ssh¡ª!

    Turning into blood remains in just a second, The Keeper manifested yet another void floor underneath him and teleported right behind another pair of corps and an army man that merely evaporated due to a single swing of its right wand.

    There wasn''t even a single bone or blood left in the aftermath of the one-sided massacre. The Keeper didn''t care any about it.

    "It''s running too fast!"

    Quentin shouted, informing the group that remained alive as the Void continued to hunt them one by one. His voice was shaking as he continued to ry a bit of help which was the only thing he could do at this point, wishing dearly they weren''t next to the Nightmare''s hunt.

    "It is running in through the void floors twenty-fifths in a second and it does it very, very quickly! I-I-I don''t know how this is possible at all! B-but I''m sure the key thing about its speed is the void it used to break through the Float Period!"

    Ssh¡ª!

    Every second they wasted, lives continued to umte. In just over fifteen seconds, twenty people had already disappeared.

    "Avoid it, Cesar!"

    Being warned three seconds earlier, Cesar removed Vin''s hand from the hem of his clothes and forcefully repelled himself to him by kicking right in his chest.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    After doing such action, the swinging wand came plunging in their direction where they were a couple of seconds earlier.

    Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelBin

    Grumble¡ª!

    Surprised that its swift attack got countered, three of the Keeper''s vertical eyes shifted towards Cesar, and another void floor appeared underneath its feet.

    "Shit!"

    The moment he propelled himself away from Vin, Cesar already activated Floor of Darkness and was ready to defend himself, his ears fully perked up to listen to whatever Cedeit threw at him.

    "To your right!"

    The Keeper disappeared in his sight.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    However, having been warned in advance by Cedeit about the trajectory of the attack, Cesar summoned all his willpower to conjure a wall of darkness to his right, directly in the path of the swinging wand.

    Crash¡ª!

    "Above you!"

    The Nightmare, seeing that its attack failed once more, used its other wand to hit Cesar from the top.

    Thud¡ª!

    The impact regardless wasn''t met by flesh and bones but instead by yet another stacking wall of darkness that protected Cesar, who was fuming and struggling due to the force that weighed him down like ten huge whales mounting.

    The Nightmare was only using raw strength and a bit of its power to y around with any of them. If not for Cesar buying a bit of time, it would''ve doomed them the moment the carnage continued.

    "You need to find Jeremiah fast!" Cesar shouted in desperation before clicking his tongue, "I''ll buy all of you time so go!"

    Vin, Leah, Jacqueline, Maine, and anyone who was left in the scene are quietly looking at Cesar who slowly trapped him and the Nightmare in a ck dome.

    Slightly hesitant at what they were about to do, they all put on regretful faces before they entered through the crack sses that Vin motioned with a flick of his hands once more.

    Cesar judged that they knew Jeremiah either through because they had prior knowledge about him or through Leah. Whatever they needed to do, they had to get him fast because Cesar needed it.

    But he had another reason for evicting them from the same area.

    "I advise you against it. Your current essence will not be able to handle it," Cedeit directed calmly, "But if that''s what you want, I can only abide since my words will not affect your actions anyway,"

    "Shut up!"

    Cesar picked up the intricately designed ck book, the Book of Contents, and opened it, the pages inside emitting an unsettling aura that made the Keeper shriek in disgust.

    "You know about this, Keeper?" Cesar smirked, "Heh, you better be prepared,"

    Book of Contents

    The power of the book depends on every piece of knowledge that Cesar has acquired throughout his whole life. This included Cedeit, who somehow is currently resting in his subconsciousness, meaning they are connected in some way.

    Everything they had encountered or witnessed¡ªeven dreams¡ªwould be transferred to the book with just a thought, allowing them to ess its contents effortlessly.

    This is why Cedeit advised him to use the ability that appeared in the first line of the sentence in the book.

    It was all fascinating stuff that Cesar began to prefer to be called the Book Of Imagination.

    This time, Cesar was the one sending what he needed to ''imagine'' in the book by remembering the entity that had managed to peer through his infiltration.

    It was the Architect of the Mansion, Deceit.

    ''Its eyes¡­''

    Everything happened so fast that the next thing that happened, Cesar''s eyes, even the empty socket, were glowing as he continued to stare at the Nightmare.

    Thud!

    Cedeit, who was merely observing from a distance away, couldn''t contain his astonishment as a shout escaped his lips.

    "How?!"

 Chapter 98: Voidâ€™s Evoked Memories

    The Keeper of the Void was momentarily stunned as memories involving those faintly glowing eyes evoked a deeper sensation that didn''t belong to itself.

    It stirred inside his mind, jumbling its way of thinking as the images that entered werepletely unrted to anything it had encountered in its whole life of existence.

    It let out a confused grumble and slowly realized that the emotions through the deeper parts of the soul didn''t actuallye to itself but from its creator, The Void.

    To someone like Keeper of the Void, apleteckey like him being able to do their own benevolent being''s bidding was the greatest thing it could achieve and receive in its entire life.

    In their eyes, their creator was the most fearless, ruthless, and merciless. They stood at the pinnacle of strength while their existence was only to serve them until they were out of use. Especially, since they were their God.

    And God is strong.

    Yet gazing into those seemingly ordinary glowing eyes was enough to bring it to its knees without any struggle. All it could do was bow down to the shadowed floor, terrified to look back at the word ''God'' standing just a few meters away.

    At first, The Keeper couldn''t actually tell that they were memories as everything was cloudy and mostly obscured. It slowly gets clearer, and as it did, they flooded into the Keeper''s head.

    These memories and images that didn''t belong to itself were being reced like a scene continuously.

    This time, the memory it found itself in seemed to be cowering in fear, unwilling to look straight ahead¡ªjust as it was now.

    -You never understand, aren''t you? You can''t deceive me nor will petty tricks you have on your side work. In the end, you''ll always grovel on your feet staring at the ground while I look down on you. Remember this, Void.

    Another memory appeared like a movie scene, this time, the Void was able to look at the obscured figure on its front.

    -Howe you''re so weak? The Void is a destructive matter that can even disrupt Ancient Time, Ancient Luck, and Ancient Fate. Heck, The Great Void is someone to be fearful about yet you''re nowhere near that level. Of course, setting those things aside, if I met that old hag, I''d defeat her too. Everyone is below my level.

    Then another scene entered like a passing carrier.

    -Weak, weak, weak. Come back next time a lot stronger. I''ll never entertain you if you show me an unsightly progress. I''ll kill you.

    And another,

    -You''d better stop doing this now, I see no progress in what you''re doing. Besides, being stronger in this whole universe isn''t even the point, protecting yourself is. The more you can''t handle the power that has been bestowed by you, the more you are susceptible to Corruption.

    Hundreds more memories shed through the Keeper''s mind, its head full of knowledge that overloaded with rich information¡ªyet it absorbed them all. Scene after scene filled with ridicule, harsh judgment, and dismissal of the Void''s abilities gradually faded as the obscured figure with glowing eyes finally spoke.

    -I''m going out for an unknown amount of time.

    The Void was silent. It didn''t know how to react to his words, which felt so empty and cold.

    However, it was curious.

    But just as it was about to raise a question, the obscure figure, Deceit, added back swiftly.

    -Don''t look for me. The ce where I''m going to venture is very dangerous. The moment I meet you again, I might not be the same.

    The Void''s eyes shook.

    -You can''te with me.

    The Void begged.

    -No, you will be dead before you even know it.

    The Void demanded an exnation as to where he was going or how he was going to do it but Deceit strongly replied with an arrogant tone.

    -No, no, no. I kept telling you, you can''t.

    The Void seemed so determined and persistent that it was just about to reach out toward Deceit when he moved first, extending a hand to gently caress the head of what seemed to be the purplish emptiness.

    -It''s okay.

    The Void felt it sounded a goodbye.

    She looked into the eyes of Deceit once again and his next words sent a chill deep into her very core.

    -I might or might not get back. But if I do, I want you to do something for me.

    The Void waited.

    -Crush me.

    The Void was shivered.

    -Defeat me.

    The Void is stunned.

    -Kill me.

    She slowly looked upwards and watched the cold eyes of Deceit staring down at her with its uneven deration to follow up.

    -Annihte every single thing about me, an Embodiment of Destruction. That''s all I''m going to ask you.

    The Void was stunned by his demand, and she nearly reached for his hand¡ªbut the hands resting above her unnatural head slowly dissolved, until Deceit''s entire figure was gone right before her eyes.

    He left her staring at nothing.

    After a long silence of merely staring into thin air,the fiery purplish eyes observing the vanished Deceit turned to something else.

    The Void''s gaze grew sharper as throughout her conversation with Deceit, she hadn''t heard a single word about the things she truly wanted to hear about him towards her.

    "Annihte¡­"

    The Void took aplete change.

    "Kill¡­!"

    Thud¡ª!

    The Keeper of the Void, unable to contain the overwhelming memories or the deeper emotions of its creator, began convulsing violently on the floor of darkness, startling Cesar in the process.

    "Hey! How do you have that eyes!?"

    However, Cesar had another thing he had to settle once he heard the demanding tone from Cedeit.

    "I''m merely borrowing it," Cesar answered

    He paused, "Honestly, I was hoping to invoke some power rting to these eyes but I can''t do shit. But I didn''t expect this reaction from the Keeper. Honestly, I don''t even know what''s going on but I guess a mere replication from someone like that on caliber can''t just be simply inputted into some book,"

    He exined that the powers he thought he imagined that contained those eyes couldn''t just be replicated through a book.

    However, the Keeper of the Void became pretty scared just by staring at it.

    After hearing Cesar''s logical exnation, which nearly gave him a heart attack based on how he had spoken earlier, Cedeit regained hisposure. A calm sigh escaped his lips as he began to exin the situation to him once more.

    "I guess that makes sense." Cedeit paused, "But just so you know, something is wrong with that Keeper. Is it me or are you seeing that it is bing bigger?"

    Cesar who didn''t really pay much notice of his enemy''s condition was halfway through removing the dome of darkness to immediately hover away from his enemies when he noticed that Cedeit was right.

    The Keeper of the Void was growing.

    Then it stopped convulsing through the floor which made Cesar hastily undo the dome that he did.

    The Keeper appeared to be undergoing a transformation as it gradually rose from its position. Three of its vertical eyes were reced by a purplish emptiness, while armor forged from the Void began to envelop and shield the abomination.

    "Uhh¡­"

    Cesar nervously gulped as he couldn''t help but mutter in a painful tone.

    "Why is the goddamn Dive so fucking slow!"

    The next thing he knew, the Keeper of the Void began attacking him.

 Chapter 99: Failed Conceptualization

    Whoosh!

    An iing wand that aimed towards his head, the Floor of Darkness was doing its job by protecting him from it. The Keeper wielded the same brutal force it had earlier, its eyes now brimming with malice as it relentlessly continued its assault.

    However, the strength of the Nightmare had grown to the point where it could effortlessly crush the walls of darkness that Cesar had built. As a result, the effort of exerting out and wasting essence continued to dwindle Cesar''s reserves, sucking them dry.

    The replicated eyes that Cesar had gathered from the book still took out a substantial reserve from his tank. Still, it wasn''t enough to take arge amount like it did by freezing the time earlier.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    "Fuck!"

    Hovering through the air, desperately wishing that the Dive Period wouldmence right away, Cesar started dodging those attacks.

    After all, that was the real goal.

    The moment he mentioned buying time for the group to retrieve Jeremiah was an impulsive decision, driven by the urgency of their dwindling time. It wasn''t really a foolproof n but just spoken out of a whim.

    Besides, Cesar wanted to test if the Null and Purge facets of Jeremiah were enough to stop the Keeper from doing its actions.

    Spell caster creatures are much worse than brute force attacks but if someone can render their attacks using these spells, their chances will be heightened exponentially.

    But it seemed help wasn''ting yet.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Hovering through the air to avoid the iing hit, Cesar mainly lowers the consumption of his Floor of Darkness by limiting the area of effect.

    His actions weren''t deemed progressive, nheless. He was already struggling when blocking the attack earlier before the new appearance of the Keeper, but now that changed, even the smash of its wand was enough to crush every wall he had built to protect himself.

    Now he was merely waiting for a chance to pass by or another opening he could exploit that could possibly turn the tables.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    But the relentless swinging of the bat was enough to destroy them and put his n b to the test which is to run mid-air while using the floor of darkness to eithernd or hop into.

    "I got it now¡­"

    Amidst the chaos, Cesar noticed something about the Keeper that pressed him to voice his thoughts audibly, searching for any possible weaknesses he could exploit.

    "Is it me or does the Keeper seem so exhausted from thest time he cast three spells altogether in dozens of seconds? It was using its raw strength for now because it was trying to recuperate its void powers to eliminate?"

    Cedeitmented with a snarky remark, "I thought you already knew but I can only agree to that as well, not certainly, however. Your words are the only logical thing you made up to this situation without rejecting anything which is why I''m agreeing to it,"

    Cedeit watched the iing abomination that walked through the floor and swiftly appeared right behind him as Cedeit finally gave one final reminder.

    "You better be fast and whatever you can to keep the Nightmare at bay to unable cast a spell."

    "I know that!"

    Cesar clicked his tongue as he used another set of stacking walls to defend himself but eventually, the Keeper seemed to have enough of his antics that at the end of its purplish stick that belonged to his right hand, something shot out towards him.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Evading the deafening st that resembled a purplish void, Cesar sensed the same thrown object from earlier returning like a locked missile, now aimed directly at him.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    It became twice then thrice, until it became ten as these purplish rockets that came from the purplish stick.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Yet as if he was standing through the floating period while keeping tabs on the changes in the library, Cesar was able to pull off the movement of dodging these nonstop missiles that went on his way.

    Using the floor of darkness as and while being in the air, Cesar swiftly directed its gaze at the Keeper and sprinted forward at it.

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    He had enough of running around from this Nightmare.

    ''Think about it!''

    Cesar began to visualize the three concepts inside his head, currently undertaking or hoping for some sort of breakthrough as he faced the danger at his front.

    If there''s ever the time to do it now, Cesar knew it should be the right time.

    Having a breakthrough at his rapid progression with Cedeit helping him will exponentially increase the chances of defeating The Keeper.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    ''Don''t think about the essence of consumption or not aplishing it! Focus on conceptualizing!''

    Seeing an iing wand lunging in its way, Cesar heavily dodged it by leaping before concentrating his essence in the palm of his right hand.

    ''Create a fuse at this fire that will serve as a trigger¡­ Imagine it¡­ ponder about it!''

    Feeling his hand shaking due to the intense breakthrough he was willing, more like forcing at this point, Cesar finally saw the results in his palm.

    There, a tiny ghastly greyish ember was burning through the palm of his hand. It was flickering and burning, even noticeable but the fire isn''t able to sustain enough to stay alive any longer.

    "Ahh¡­"

    His efforts were fruitless.

    The artificial fire disappeared.

    "You are doing it wrong,"

    The phrase echoing in Cesar''s mind resonated through his entire body,pelling him to halt as two of the Nightmare''s wands approached, aiming to constrict him in their grasp.

    Thud¡ª!

    "Argh!"

    Struggling to keep up with the wand that continued plowing him in the middle, Cesar let out an angry scream.

    ''Have I been wrong!? I thought I was on the right track! Damn it!''

    Feeling the pressure mounting on both of his sides, Cesar''s walls of darkness kept breaking down due to the pressure mounting nonstop.

    Crash¡ª!

    No matter how many times he reced the broken walls, The Keeper was fast on pounding its wand to it relentlessly, giving Cesar no time to breathe.

    "Fucking¡ª"

    Crack¡ª!

    Cesar started to visualize the paper figurines but somethingplicated like when the artificial fire was much easier didn''te by easily.

    Crack¡ª!

    Suddenly, Cesar heard a familiar sound from somewhere, but he couldn''t divert his attention from it while his focus remained solely on protecting himself.

    Only then did he notice that a glowing rope had been tethered, clinging onto his abdomen before he was strongly pulled backward by the reeling that came from his back.

    "Purge!"

    Leaping down from above, the tattooed Jeremiah aimed his spear at the Keeper and extended his other avable hand to activate his first facet.

    Pointing two of his fingers at the Nightmare, Jeremiah then muttered silently,

    "Null,"

 Chapter 100 : Cohorts Changes

    The machinations inside the library continued inexorably,pletely unbothered by the beings it took in mid-air. The changes were apparent as the whole thing was shifting, with the library job never-ending updating the entire design as it should be.

    The current roof was gradually transforming into what would soon be the current floor, while, conversely, the current floor was bing the ceiling for the temporary upants of the library. Under the watchful gaze of the grand structure of the library, each being remained to linger in their Float Period.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar felt himself being pulled back by the tethered rope, a sensation he knew so well, as people started to gather and began to follow Jeremiah, closing in on the Nightmare, Keeper of the Void in hopes ofpletely defeating it.

    As he drifted further from the Nightmare''s presence, Cesar felt an unfilled emptiness settle within him. He clicked his tongue in frustration, dissatisfied with an oue that brought him no closer to aplishing his goals.

    Eventually, he stopped the moment the tethered rope had aplished its goal to relieve him from his position earlier.

    "Why do you look annoyed, huh?"

    us tapped Cesar''s head as if he didn''t like the way he was acting before he jested with a cheeky smile.

    "We''rete for the news but you really dare battle that¡­ abomination one versus one. If you''re not the sanest out of all of us, then where are we going to put ourselves?"

    Cesar nced at us, slightly dissatisfied about himself as he retorted, "If that was meant to console me, it failed by the way."

    Cesar then darted his attention to the side and gazed at the familiar people that he hadn''t met for a long time, which didn''t seem very long.

    Still, Cesar was slightly sentimental about being able to see them again face to face.

    There was Reyna who stood nearby, her expression appeared depressed mixed with a somber determination. Meanwhile, Nike''s entire demeanor had shifted. He seemed transformed, nothing like he was before. His once meek personality now reced by an outgoing energy tinged with danger.

    Then there was Jacqueline.

    She looked disheveled and raggedy, yet the aura around her was nothing like before. In the academy, she had been a graceful, unbreakable wall, but now it appears that this graceful wall has be just an image that masked the true terror lurking beneath.

    It had been honed, likely from countless encounters within the library, and now the results were beginning to show.

    However, one person was missing from the group.

    "Joshua?"

    Expecting that he was merely lost and was far away from being retrieved in this state of Float Period, Cesar couldn''t believe it in his ears when Nike, the brother of the guy, gave him the answer.

    "He''s dead,"

    Cesar noticed Reyna''s subtle reaction as the topic came up, her expression shifted ever so slightly, revealing something he wasn''t aware of. Nike, meanwhile, cast her a slightly disgusted look before continuing with his statement.

    "You don''t need to feel sorry or anything. He chose what he needed to do. I just don''t want it to happen to me since my goal is to get out of here," Nike directed his gaze at Cesar, "You''ve grown so much, Squad Leader. It looks like you have undergone some major changes like Jacqueline here,"

    Seeing the hopelessness in Nike''s eyes, which scream everything was hopeless no matter what actions they did, Cesar paused, reconsidering his words. He shifted from offering constion to providing an answer to Nile''s question.

    He might appear strong now but Cesar knew he was hurting inside. But that kind of conviction is needed while being inside the space of a being that created the entire library.

    If someone is just going to whine, it''s better to do it outside.

    "It''s no big deal. I''m going to take a moment of rest before joining the rest in attacking the Nightmare before we even move to the Dive Period,"

    Nike nodded before putting his gaze back at the Nightmare who was battling dozens of men mid-air on its own, even empowering them which produced more backups to the ones avable.

    He then asked out of curiosity since the situation wasn''t making any sense on his side. With a pause, he raised a question.

    "How long have you been here in this library, Cesar? It''s impossible that nobody has met you except for this guy who reeled you in and the fatty that pretty much healed some of the worst wounds I''ve seen in my life. But by the looks of it, you guys knew each other beforehand. It doesn''t make any sense because we also never met these people after a few hours ago,"

    Cesar paused as he scratched the back of his head, "We just came here just this day. A little bit over twenty-four hours, if we follow the normal time. But if you''re curious about the time I went to this Mansion, it''s been over a week,"

    Jacquline, Reyna, and even Nike seemed to be surprised at that statement as they couldn''t help but inform Cesar of their situation.

    "Are you aware, Cesar? We''ve been in this library for a little over a month already. We gathered people around the library through the help of some guys and we''ve been devising a n to defeat that Nightmare and the other Nightmare it was battling as well."

    Nike paused, "However, even though our n had rough sketches all around, we''re on our point of discovery of how the two behemoths of the library moved, their powers, and counterattack them. You''re just in a way to ruin all of it,"

    Cesar frowned as he retorted, "You aren''t even aware of its name and you''re telling me that you''re on some point of discovery? Believe me, I don''t need any rescues from any of you. Well, Vin saving me from being cornered is a valid one."

    This time, us was the one who interjected and couldn''t help but raise his tone slightly, "Wait, you already knew the titles of those creatures? How¡ª wait, you know what, you''ve already shown us your quirks while we crossed that table, I shouldn''t be surprised."

    Jacqueline was the one who interjected this time as she raised the matter, "What do you think their titles were?"

    Cesar shrugged, preparing to retort, when a massive explosion erupted just above their heads.

    Immediately afterward, a deep rumble echoed from above, reverberating through every corner of the library.

 Chapter 101 : Libraryâ€™s Intruder

    "Oh no¡­"

    Amar muttered in a slightly fearful voice as everything that had been moving came to an abrupt halt. They stood frozen, witnessing the library tremble right before their eyes, the very walls shaking with the force of the rumbling.

    Even the Keeper of the Void, who was willing to continue fighting the small fries, immediately stepped back a few meters away from its initial position to gaze upwards.

    Rumbleeee¡ª!

    The familiar shaking and the grumble of a being behind the thunderous roar echoed through the library, screaming with an urgency that could no longer be prevented. It felt as if the very walls were struggling to hold back the force trying to break in as it was unable to contain itself from barging its way inside.

    Those who experienced it couldn''t help but remember the image of the cold stone table being eaten away by the purplish emptiness after simply breaking apart in half.

    While those who understood the situation remained tense, the rest were bewildered by the sudden shaking of the library, questioning how such a thing could happen at all. They likely felt a sense of security while being inside the library, viewing it as a safe haven,  aside from worrying about the Nightmares and the library''s own mysteries.

    Jacqueline, however, swiftly noticed the change of emotions from the three as she couldn''t help but ask in a roundabout way.

    "Oh no? Oh no¡­ what?"

    Jacqueline couldn''t help but ask Amar, who was tending to another soldier''s wound, but her attention was swiftly drawn elsewhere, just like any others floating in the library.

    Above within their sight the ever-changing and never-ending machinations of the library, a web of cracks formed at a singr point which so big, it was enough for anyone gazing at it to notice immediately.

    Crash¡ª!

    The paper floor and the wooden shelves began to vanish into a purplish emptiness that started to emerge from within the library, swallowing everything in its path.

    It started peeking through inside.

    "The Void¡­"

    Rumbleeee¡ª!

    As if announcing its presence to the library''s upants, The Void let out a louder deafening roar. The same crack earlier began to widen, stretching across the floor as the library itself continued to shift and rearrange, seemingly unresponsive to the encroaching darkness for a brief moment.

    "What the fuck is happening!?"

    Quite taken aback by the sudden quake and the purplish emptiness peeking through the library, Maine hovered beside them to regroup, observing that the Keeper of the Void wasn''t interested in fighting anymore as she demanded an exnation.

    "It''s okay, we can handle whatever that is,"

    Jacqueline spoke with confidence, her tone serious, but augh escaped Cesar''s lips in response. A frown settled on her face as she turned to re at the chuckling man behind them, waiting for him to answer.

    "Are you serious? No one can handle that abomination. That thing is alive and is able to think on its own. It''s the Void, in the flesh,"

    Upon hearing that name which isn''t widely known as there isn''t much information on that entity, the rest who didn''t know how threatening that existence was remained passive at how things were, confident that the library would be able to handle it.

    But Amar and us immediately warned the group.

    "We need to get out of this ce right away!" us then hastily demanded, "During everyone''s stay here, do you know the exit of this library?"

    "Exit? Every hallway led to this library¡ª"

    "We know!" Amar shouted as he nced at Cesar for a brief moment before looking at the peeking purplish emptiness right above their head, "Cesar already told us that a while ago. What we want to know is how much progress we are talking about!? There''s absolutely no way we''re going to fight that thing!"

    Meanwhile at the other part of the Floating Period, Jeremiah was also warning everyone about the Void inching closer to the library. Leah and Quentin, who were together, began pressing for answers about the library''s exit, insisting that there must be a way out after spending so much time in here.

    But Vin, Maine, Sean, and anyone couldn''t answer that question since they just didn''t have the answer they wanted.

    "We''re fucked¡­"

    After hearing no responses that satisfied their needs, us was disheartened, mostly disappointed. With no cluesing from anyone, it seemed the little time they had left was to wait for The Void to swallow them whole.

    If that was a Nightmare, then it could be ced as something they were never going to defeat no matter what.

    Rumbleee¡ª!

    As the Purplish Emptiness relentlessly forced its way inside, widening the crack in the library''s floor, something unexpected urred. A sudden surge of energy pulsed through the air, causing the very atmosphere to crackle with tension.

    Every machinations happening in the library seemed to have ceased before it answered the call of the threat that disrespectfully made its way inside its abode.

    Rumble¡ª!

    The entire library shook violently as it began to shift, desperately trying to cover the hole that continued to erge due to the intrusion. Wooden shelves, the paper floor, Paper Mannequins, and other residents of the library that even made the Guardian Shelves move rushed toward that singr point.

    It appeared like it was going to be the solution to the current problem.

    Yet deep down, someone sensed with certainty that their efforts would be in vain and that it wasn''t going to work.

    It''s not a solution but just merely dying the inevitable that was about toe.

    "You need to move fast. The library isn''t going to hold on much longer," Cedeit reminded before adding, "Get ready to dive and grab that Fabric,"

    Cesar who was the only one who heard the news, already expected that the beautiful machinations and structure of the library would not be able to stop the intrusion of The Void inside.

    Throughout the time his encounter with The Void, everything that felt possible to ovee will be impossible.

    That''s why he have to work fast.

    "I have an idea."

    Everyone''s attention fell on him.

    "I was waiting for you to say that,"

    us felt ddened since Cesar was the one who always appeared at the right and in the right ce in whatever situation they encountered. Probably the people who crossed the table were expecting Cesar to say something, and now, he did.

    "Lend me your strength. I will get you all out of here,"

    Just as he finished speaking, Cesar and the others, who had been floating moments before, felt a sudden shift in weigh and gravity.

    In an instant, TheFloat Period had ended, and the Dive Period came next.

 Chapter 102: Nearing The Climax

    Whoosh¡ª!

    While the library was keeping the intruder under control, the residents who were merely under the influence of its abode dived into the second period of the fluctuations. Cesar, Jacqueline, Vin, Jeremiah, The Nightmares, and even the Keeper of the Void weren''t exempted from the phase of the diving.

    "What¡­now?"

    Gritting his teeth since the dive seemed much more intense than thest one, Cesar asked in a painful tone as the pressure of his fall mounted and continuously persisted.

    The painful dive as he gauged hisnding spot while staying alert to any threat that might be stupid enough to make a move on him all muddled his mind until Cedeit''s voice cut through all the noise.

    "You''re still in the area at the heart of the library. Just find a way tond a good spot on the ground. The Fabric of the Prison Domain is nestled on this current floor and it isn''t the same as a door that will lead you to the other side that had to join the fluctuations. The one thing I mentioned you''re going to capture since it is very elusive and had to be very smart about how I''ll approach¡ª"

    Cesar interjected as he jokingly replied, "No need for lengthy replies for this and that. I remember it like it was yesterday. Just¡­ tell me what that goddamn Fabric is."

    Cedeit was dead silent for a brief moment before exining concisely, "The Fabric is a flesh-made cube item with maws surrounding its wall. It is red and ck mixed in color. This piece from the Prison Domain is located just right outside where the Elusive Door has thergest influence in the heart of the library,"

    He paused, "You need to be fast. It''s a race against the Keeper of the Void and the Librarian, who for some reason, has an unknown location and isn''t showing its presence to you yet,"

    Cesar gritted his teeth before he shouted painfully, trying to inform the group about what they would have to do once theynded with a struggle. "Find a¡­ flesh-made cube item¡­ with maws surrounding its wall! Bring it to¡­ me after!"

    Cesar didn''t know if they heard his shout nor was he betting that they did. Whatever the case theynded, he was determined to put this to an end, even if he''d be one of thest ones standing among the rest.

    As everyone closes in the library ground, the rest brace for impact.

    They sessfullynded on its floor.

    Soon, the dive phase ended as Cesarnded roughly on the paper floor, which didn''t feel as smooth or cushioned as before. Probably because all of the influence that the library once had is being diverted toward the hole which is why the quality of the floor is lessening.

    Who knows what might happen at the next dive?

    Cesar disregarded it entirely as he quickly shifted into a standing position. Rather than waiting for the library toplete its machinations, which seemed to have no way of stopping due to the hole the Void made, he surged forward, sprinting deeper further in the heart of the library.

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    The changes happening in the library wouldn''t matter at this point. If he became its enemy, arger threat was running rampant just outside of its wall that needed immediate attention.

    That''s why he wasn''t even a bit worried that the library would take care of him. Either it had to choose The Void or him, and if he was the library, he''d obviously choose the former.

    ''Find it!''

    Cesar sprinted his way through the center, passing through Maine, Quentin, Leah, and a few soldiers along the way who gave him suspicious looks since he was the only one moving through thest period of the fluctuations, the Fixed Period.

    Cesar ignored them.

    Finallying across the border where the Elusive Door was supposedly shifting and moving, Cesar shifted his stance as he started roaming around the area to find the Fabric of the Prison Domain lying somewhere as Cedeit described.

    ''A cube-like item made of flesh¡­''

    Passing through the countless shelves that contained a few books that all allured Cesar''s eyes for a brief moment, he violently shook his head focused on his mission to find the cube.

    "Ahh, Cesar,"

    Hearing someone calling out his name from somewhere, Cesar gave it a quick nce and noticed the heretic waving its hand at him from the side.

    "Where are you running off to? What''s with the haste¡ª"

    Cesarpletely ignored whatever the heretic was yapping about as he had zero interest inmunicating with him. Other than finding the cube which is his very objective at this moment, everything else was just a distraction.

    Drenched in blood at the side of his shoulder, the heretic let out a derangedugh before saying, "After you shot me¡­ you''re now ignoring me!? Even you¡­ had the guts to ignore me!?"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The heretic pursued Cesar, attempting to seize him with his apparitions, but his efforts failed instantly as Cesar dodged each attempt with ease.

    Cesar didn''t even break a sweat as he continuously made his way towards finding the cube.

    "Why¡­ why¡­ why! Why are you ignoring me?!" The heretic shouted as he chased Cesar behind his back, "You are even close to someone like him! Your scent had be stronger than mine! This is impossible! This is heresy!"

    At first, he didn''t want to even waste a breath on him yet he couldn''t help but find his words funny as he nced sideways

    Cesar nced sideways and chuckled, "Do you even know the name of your God?"

    The heretic seemed to have stiffened up when he realized that Cesar, the supposed kin of his and should be someone just under him, seemed to have be more knowledgeable than him when it came to ''their god''

    It was sphemous for someone like the heretic who considered himself as the first devotee.

    ''He... knew? Howe he knew when I don''t!?''

    The heretic''s face became crazed when he realized he was getting left behind. All the work he put for himself, and everything that he needed to sacrifice to reach the end of the library where every answer pertains.

    Will Cesar be the first to reach it?

    "Impossible! Impossible! God is god! They had no names!"

    Cesar seemed to have be amused at that notion but with no time to entertain the heretic, he continued his way forward.

    That''s when the heretic decided to finally interfere with whatever he was doing.

    He brought up a normal-looking key from his pocket and started inserting something mid-air as if there was a door on his side.

    Then it seemed he was grabbing something from the inside as he inserted his hand from the different ''space'' unrted to the library.

    Cesar''s eyes shook.

    "I''m not ying games anymore."

    Bringing out from the pocket dimension wasn''t an artifact, a bizarre object, or a weapon that the heretic might''ve probably picked out from somewhere throughout the time he was inside the library.

    Instead, what he brought out was a hideous-looking creature carrying a small-sized book in its hand while wearing a pair of sses resting on the long bridge of its deformed nose.

    The one he brought out was no other than what seemed to be another Nightmare. Even though Cesar had never met it once, a sense of familiarity washed over him since Cedeit kept describing this creature again and again.

    It was the Librarian.

 Chapter 103: Hereticâ€™s Identity

    ''What in the fucking story progression is this¡ª''

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar saw the Librarian vanish from its original position and move to strike, halting his sprint abruptly.

    Thud¡ª!

    At the point of impact where the Librarian intercepted his path stood the same Nightmare currently looking at him.

    Full of malice from its cross eyes, the librarian who was three times Cesar''s height flipped the pages of his book before reaching something inside of it.

    Once it did, the Librarian released a humungous sword that towered over the five-meter Nightmare. But the surprise didn''t just end there. The librarian released more books inside and started bringing out the same humungous sword in the same fashion and the same manner.

    Cesar didn''t even get to intervene because there was the heretic watching his movement with amusement. Completely facing a two-versus-one situation, Cesar had to be careful with his future actions, afraid that he''d be more in danger instead of helping himself.

    He slowly reached into his pocket but hadn''t released anything yet. He was waiting as he observed both the heretic''s movement and the Librarian.

    The librarian didn''t strike as much dreadful as The Keeper of the Void but it didn''t look weak either. Its legs were exaggeratedly long while its body and arms appeared to be in a ''normal'' size in that kind of stature.

    It had a hideous purplish wound at its right side and left knee that continued to burn and Cesar was able to spot easily that it was bleeding relentlessly.

    "How¡­" The heretic was slightly a bit surprised for a moment before chuckling in disbelief, "I think you know who this Nightmare is. First the Keeper of the Void, now the Librarian? Howe you kept knowing these things and seemed to excel far better than me!? Just how!?"

    As if angry that someone is atop of him in terms of their history regarding their god that seemed to question his faith, the heretic seemed to have finally flipped a switch as his amiable attitude turned the opposite.

    He started to hold his hair in an erratic way, his nails started to leave marks as he scratched his face in annoyance.

    Cesar observed the heretic going haywire with the reason of some non-believer knowing much more about his own religion than the devotee.

    It''s not like Cesar had liked it in the first ce. But if this is the way to get under the heretic''s skin by giving him distressful things for someone like him, it wouldn''t be too long till a chancends at his front and kills the faithful believer of Deceit.

    It was just a matter of timing until then.

    But just as he continued observing the heretic''s face thaty bare for him to see, Cesar began to ponder something that hadn''t been making any sense since before the start, and how they all got transferred to the Mansion.

    Who was even The Heretic?

    Yes, these believers of the Nightmare that make these creatures their gods are one and many of their kind. The guy at Cesar''s front was the same.

    He was only able to ponder it deeply at this moment since he was attention was divided solely between The Librarian and The Heretic, setting aside on finding the cube for a short while.

    At that moment, Cesar squinted his eyes, scrutinizing the Heretic closely. There, an image formed in his mind, and he couldn''t resistparing it to the crazed figure before him.

    Without the scars or the beard, there''s one particr image that matches exactly what this crazy believer looks like.

    Then Cesar went back even further, the time Arnold, their headmaster of the Resisting Academy, had given them the mission to find and search for the furtive disappearances happening in the city.

    -It started a year ago. One of the employees in a bigpany was reported missing after his job. It was reported a dayter, but only in three days, he was dered missing. Local authorities were tasked to find its corpse yet to no avail, not even a trace was found.

    Of course, Cesar had read it very carefully from start to finish and he even found some articles and newsletters rting to the mission by thoroughly looking to make their journey as smooth sailing as possible, which is far from to say at this point, to be honest.

    That didn''t stop Cesar from researching.

    That''s when he found out something.

    And remembering the description rting to the disappearances of the City of Wheels, Cesar was left quite shaken at this mere discovery.

    He wouldn''t be able to think this through without evening to having a normal conversation with The Heretic in the first ce with his face to show to all the onlookers.

    "Hey Heretic¡­ Is your name Caster Field, by any chance?"

    The very first one that went missing in the City of Wheels whose corpse couldn''t be found since there was no trail to track¡­ was no other than Caster Field, a mere employee of the previous mayor Mendeleev.

    As, if his name had disappeared through the books, the Heretic whose supposed name was Caster Field, wasn''t known. He was aplete nobody. Nothing. Just a regr guy who worked for minimum wages with an overload of time.

    Then he was gone.

    ''It''s starting to make sense¡­ This guy who disappeared a year ago probably came across the Mansion, the very first one to encounter it for himself. Then, whatever his goal is, it involves moving through deeper the library since he needed the strength of all of us whom he managed to somehow stay in the influence of the City of Wheels¡­''

    Cesar paused, his mind raising.

    ''The missing people are probably bait to keep more people, much stronger than mundane ones, to keeping to the City. This is just a way to further his goals. His words really aligned with his actions and anything that seemed so funny at first was nothing but the hard truth¡­ Then there''s the missing people¡­''

    Cesar remembered the answer he received from the heretic when he asked about the missing people who disappeared into the city.

    -Survivors? Oh, you''re talking about them? Of course, there are survivors left. Do you want to see them?

    The people who disappeared have only one ce to go, and the way Caster had spoken about them seemed to appear that he was the one who kidnapped them and forced them inside the library.

    There were no traces of their disappearances, and just like Heretic yed like everyone, he did the same thing to the people that he abducted.

    But then the people.

    ''I see¡­''

    Cesar already has suspicions that the corrupted humans he had seen throughout his journey are probably the same people that Caster had abducted. He was the one who made them corrupted humans, something as a way to help him further his goals.

    "It all made sense now¡­"

    Cesar coldly shifted his gaze to the front where the heretic had stopped its antics and merely started to stare back at him.

    Caster whose identity just had been revealed, couldn''t help but shudder as he shouted, "How!? Fuck, attack him!"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    In the blink of an eye, Cesar was able to notice that the Librarian was swift to his movement. All the swords that it brought out move at the same pace as him as well.

    "Shit!"

    But it was damn fast.

    Cesar managed to grab the artifact Largening Hand from his pocket and used it to defend himself simultaneously.

    That only covers his front.

    With nothing to defend his back, the Librarian went for his blind spot and tried to kill him but Cesar had already worn his tiara then. However, the casting time for the floor of darkness was a bit slower, leaving him an option of making a thinner wall which might not be enough.

    And he was right.

    Thud¡ª!

    The humungous sword crashed into his floor of darkness which was easily broken upon impact and right before he could even defend himself, a figure stopped the way of the sword that went flying straight to Cesar''s face.

    Holding down the sword with one hand, Cesar''s gaze fell onto the figure that just saved his life, only to be surprised when he noticed it wasn''t just someone he was expecting it to be.

    "Kid¡­ Are¡­You¡­All¡­Right?"

    The one standing in the way of the sword between him and the Librarian was a Corrupted Human.

    This Corrupted Human isn''t just any other. Actually, they had met each other in one particr city, named Harden City near the Langston Bridge.

    They met yet again in this godforsaken ce.

    "Tourist¡­?"

 Chapter 104: Heretic Versus Tourist

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The Librarian, who waspletely unbothered by its attack was blocked and immediately went for another angle. As it did, the ss staying at the bridge of its deformed nose shimmered for a moment before the sword that was hovering near him all tried to attack Cesar, and only him.

    Spluch¡ª!

    The Tourist, who asked Cesar if his condition wasn''t life-threatening, wiggled before its body split into three.

    One was still holding the sword that continued to pull the Tourist down to the ground, while the other grabbed Cesar away from the fight to try to shake the Librarian''s attention.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    As for the third one, it went to Caster to try and take him down.

    "You!"

    The Heretic shouted in spite as he bent down in the most exaggerated way possible before spawning dozens of his apparitions with ease. His gaze fell onto the Tourist once again and screamed in glee.

    "My prized trophy! Where have you been all this time!?"

    The Tourist, Terry Pond, clicked his tongue as a de manifested at his flesh and tried to hit Caster, who defended in the same manner by picking up a small sword through his pocket dimension with the use of his key.

    "I''m¡­ not¡­ your¡­ prized¡­ trophy!"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Terry continued his way forward, trying to cut Caster into pieces. However, in the mere eyes of the heretic, his attacks were nothing but a clumsy way to fight blindlessly without knowing what to do. It''s not structured, much more it wasn''t developed.

    That''s why Caster was able to avoid it with ease.

    "Good! Show what you got, my trophy!" Caster didn''t know what he was feeling as if he was just going through the flow, his emotions were in disarray, "You''re something that can even reach greater heights if you just surrender yourself to me! How about we do that now, as well!?"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    This time, versing against thirteen Caster, was hard enough as Terry was the one backing down, changing his aggressiveness into passiveness.

    Dodging a kick to his head, Terry had to twist his body to avoid three Casters, which rendered his movement useless. Yet with a swift maneuver at his corrupted body that wasn''t normal by any means, he dropped to one of the apparitions back and hit it with the use of his flesh-made sword.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Yet that moment of aplishment was short-sighted as three more Caster reached him, even one of them was sessful in holding onto his legs.

    The other two of Caster''s apparitions tried to remove hand motions by locking one of his arms while trying to steal the sword at his hand.

    It waspletely anticipated by Terry.

    Both were unsessful.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Swiftly breaking through being cornered by using his raw strength to shake off those apparitions, Terry manifested flesh-like short swords around his arm and hand that hurt the apparition.

    Theypletely back away which resulted in Terry having room to breathe in and being able to move back.

    Schunk¡ª!

    Sadly, the anticipated scenario around his head waspletely anticipated and read as a de hit his chest that came from the back.

    Shlunk¡ª!

    ncing back, only to see Caster with a crazed smile after a sessful attempt, Terry swerved its hand sidewards that reached backward to try take the heretic out away from his body.

    But Caster, knowing he had the advantage, didn''t back down and pressed even further and kept twisting the sword inside the body of the corrupted human.

    After being able to hit the corrupted human right in its chest, it willed its apparitions to jump on him.

    One by one, they started gaining the upper hand.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Terry kept looking around, hitting everything that came running at him that was mostly unsessful.

    Because of those failed attempts, the numerical advantage that Caster had on him was widening.

    In that moment of desperation upon realizing he couldn''t get it, Terry forcefully shifted its attention to Caster violently, striking him with a flesh-made sword.

    However, his other attempt failed as one of the apparitions used force to forcefully propell himself backwards. When that went through, three other more apparitions mounted at his back.

    "Ugh!"

    Caster persistently stabbed Terry as he twisted his inside, resulting in more holes opening up.

    Plop¡ª!

    Bleeding left and right as his arms and legs were locked up by the apparition, Terry fearfully watched Caster moved around from back to the front and used the same dagger to cleanly slice his neck.

    sh¡ª!

    Terry''s head gradually dropped to the ground, with Caster''s nk expression being thest thing he saw before his gaze turned lifeless.

    However, it simply vanished into thin air, eliciting a frustrated grunt from Caster.

    "A fake,"

    Caster grabbed the Librarian''s Key from his pocket before opening the reality.

    Pushing himself to his absolute limit, he peered through the window, used the key to unlock reality, and saw Cesar and Terry sprinting toward him.

    Chasing after them was the Librarian, momentarily distracted by yet another Terry. However, they weren''t truly escaping, instead, they seemed to be going around in circles close to the edge of the very core of the library.

    "He''s here!"

    Cesar, who decided to team up with the corrupted human after they had talked with each other, shouted in desperation before he got out from Terry''s back as he avoided being intervened by Caster.

    "Hah!"

    Caster yanked the key out from the reality gap, and together with the apparitions, stepped inside, determined to stop Cesar from whatever he was attempting to do.

    But Terry was there to protect Cesar at all costs.

    "You''re... my... opponent¡­"

    Dering in the most spiteful yet calmest tone possible, Terry who was wearing the Mouthpiece artifact from Cesar, spewed out greenish-looking goo that soon hit two of the Caster''s apparitions as he closed by.

    Then he unleashed a rough hand-to-handbat to Caster,pletely stopping him from pursuing Cesar, who was getting out of their sight while merely searching for something.

    Discover hidden tales at m,v l''e-NovelBin

    ''What are you looking for!?''

    Caster angrily seethed inwardly before ncing to the other side, where the other Terry was keeping the Librarian distracted. However, it appeared the battle, which was drawn out for so long, was finally approaching its end.

    Another clone of Terry was being torn apart by the Librarian after all. The clone only survived for this long because of his elusiveness and quick judgment to do the best possible action in that single moment.

    "Heh, you''re going to die today,"

    Terry stared at Caster for a brief moment as he chuckled.

    "I was dead the moment I entered this godforsaken ce,"

    In the circr shelves, Terry and Caster engaged in another heated fight for the second time.

    This time, with the real Terry fighting him, Caster realized he was struggling more than before. Even with the apparitions at his side, it was far more challenging to take on the corrupted human.

    But Terry whose mind is only dedicated to buying time for Cesar to finish what he had nned while he was in search of an item.

    Until it became impossible to do so.

    As not even a minute passed, Terry was able to feel something painful inside of him, like his head was splitting into pieces as another one of its clones had been killed by their opponent again.

    Now he was the only one left.

    "Cesar¡ª"

    Just as he began to turn his head, Terry''s face was abruptly forced to look forward again.

    "No can do! You focus on me!"

    Caster smiled and reached from ear to ear, his eyes full of malice.

    "Go, follow Cesar!"

    The Librarian halted for a moment, thinking of helping Caster but with an ordering from him, it started to sprint to where Cesar had gone off to.

 Chapter 105: Give Up And Die

    After Terry managed to grab Cesar away from both the Librarian and Caster, he started to run away from both of them while carrying Cesar at his back. But after a few seconds of being carried, Cesar strongly denied his actions.

    "What are you doing!?"

    Terry halted for a brief moment and replied to him.

    "I know you recognized me. But you have to get out of here. Well, I''m not really talking about the exit of this ce. You just need to be away from that Nightmare with sses and the Heretic,"

    Cesar clicked his tongue, "I know who you are! You''re the corrupted human from Harden City! But you need to bring me back there! I need to search for something!"

    "Do you mean the key for the exit? Doesn''t the Heretic have a way to get inside and out of this ce? Is that it?"

    Cesar strongly shook his head as he had already considered this matter beforehand, "No, that key might''ve worked before everyone got transferred here but the Heretic isn''t an idiot to not use it when he encountered dangerous problems."

    Terry appeared confused but Cesar exined it, "You experienced the Fluctuations, right? Where you''ll float up, and dive into the library before you have to remain fixed since the library will be your enemy if you don''t. The Heretic¡ªno, Caster. I met him right after we entered the library."

    Cesar nodded once, fully agreeing at the idea that was just entering his head, "If he was going to encounter the fluctuations, he should''ve been able to use the key to enter the library in and out, but he was with us all the time. I even managed to shoot that fucker,"

    Cesar thenpiled all his findings and concluded, "If that wasn''t working, then it could only mean there was a problem. Not like I want to know it anyway. I have my ways,"

    Cesar stared at the corrupted human before speaking out in a demanding tone, "Piggyback me. Let me use you to my advantage. I''m finding something and you will help me achieve it,"

    Cesar checked the conditions of his artifacts as he added, just to give Terry a reality check, "Just so you know, your situation is only temporary. You''re different from others ''who were about to be corrupted'' from ''already being corrupted''. Obviously, you fall for thetter part."

    Terry remained gazing at Cesar, understanding that his situation wasn''t actually good. It brought more dangers instead of opportunities as there are simr cases of his situation all around the world, albeit some are known very discreetly.

    A corrupted being will remain corrupted.

    This is a fact known to everybody.

    Throughout the time the Nightmares has been studied, not a single article pointed towards being able to treat the corruption. Even higher entities such as the beings from the meeting that was held at the table by Deceit weren''t safe either.

    A mere nobody, a human, like Terry will be no different.

    "Give up on your dreams and die,"

    Terry knew everything made sense from start to finish. Cesar didn''t hide that he wanted to use him to further his goal but it was either he would follow the heretic or him.

    Terry let out a sigh before slightly bending on the ground to give way to Cesar and replied with a cold tone, "Hop in,"

    The moment Cesar got at his back, Terry got in the position and sprinted his way back toward the middle but avoided the site where they met both Caster and the Librarian.

    "When have you gained consciousness?" Cesar asked while still maintaining most of his focus on the task before handling one of his artifacts, Mouthpiece.

    Terry replied shortly after wearing the Mouthpiece to his mouth, "Just after my hand got sliced. Right then, I went back to this city but thest thing I knew, I got transferred to the library. Since from that moment, I''ve been following Caster the moment I found him inside,"

    Cesar remained silent for a while and retorted, "Talking about those things at this point will not matter anyway, but let me assure you this, I will personally kill Caster for you,"

    Terry wanted to respond to his kind words, but he felt something within him died, a sign that one of his clones had just disappeared.

    Cesar noticed a change of demeanoring from Terry until both of them got distracted that came from the far front. In there, they saw the reality being pierced and forced to be destroyed.

    The moment it did, Terry''s pace gradually died down. The two had their eyes sticking the reality before they saw a head popped out from it, revealing the crazed Caster looking at them.

    Just after that, the sh between the other clone of Terry and Librarian went near them as the Nightmare indeed followed the heretic behind.

    Cesar had to made a decision.

    "You buy time,"

    Cesar tapped Terry''s shoulder before bringing himself down from his back and immediately rushed away.

    Seeing Caster and his apparitions begin to enter the fractured rift, something likely created by Caster himself, Terry rushed forward, determined to stop the heretic from pursuing Cesar.

    "¡­"

    Cesar merely cast him a cold nce before continuing on, leaving Terry alone to face the two opponents.

    Cesar heard sounds of shes from his back until they became nothing but noises he needed to avoid. He sprinted his way around the middle and after almost circling around the center area, he came across a lone wooden shelf just meters away from him.

    Resting on one of the wooden boards was not a collection of books, but a singr cube with maws surrounding its walls. Completely steady and calling out specifically to Cesar, the cube made out of flesh had allured him enough for him to pursue.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Without a moment''s hesitation, Cesar lunged forward to seize the cube. Just as he was about to reach for it, a sword suddenly flew toward his face, blocking the path between him and the item.

    "Tsk,"

    Cesar was forced toe to a sudden stop to evade another great sword heading his way. ncing to the side, he saw the Librarian lunging at him, wielding two swords tightly in his grasp.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Wearing the tiara above his head, the bloodshot eyes in the middle got redder as the floor of darkness manifested right underneath him.

    ng¡ª!

    The Librarian and Cesar shed again, their battle a fierce exchange of strikes as darkness and destroyer carrying two swords met inbat. Each sought to best the other, attacking from every angle to gain the upper hand.

    The Librarian, who somehow got controlled by Caster relentlessly pursued Cesar, whose form began to fade as he melded with the darkness of the floor, bing one with the shadows.

    Then he vanished.

    The Librarian effortlessly shattered whatever Cesar had conjured, but it overlooked the fact that its target had already disappeared from view.

    In just a quick interaction between the two of them that probablysted half a minute of fighting, Cesar who was never interested in fighting the Librarian finally managed to get at his goal.

    "Finally¡­"

    Cesar reached towards the Fabric of the Prison Domain that appeared like a cube and clenched it with his hand.

    The final piece for a ticket to way out is there.

    "What now?"

 Chapter 106: Climax

    Upon hearing Cesar''s hasty request, Cedeit didn''t waste a single moment as he spoke right away at his demand.

    "The Fabric of the Prison Domain is a piece of a domain from that realm that has been chipped away from its original source. It''s a gift for the Architect of the Mansion had gotten from one of the beings that attended the meeting at the table."

    He gave a brief background of the fabric before exining its uses, "Additionally, this piece of prison domain is just as the word suggests. It had the ability to imprison any being it caught. But you have to keep that same being contained or stop for a whole minute.

    If it somehow moved like taking even a single step or just a motion of their arms, it will keep resetting until the whole minute is aplished,"

    Cesar paused for a while as he started running away from the side while keeping the Librarian distracted with his floor of darkness. He was doubtful that something like this powerful could imprison literally anything as long as they weren''t moving.

    He brought up a crucial topic he knew he needed to understand, as it was linked to the previous idea.

    "How long will the imprisonment willst?"

    Cedeit replied after contemting a couple of seconds, "It varies depending on how strong the imprisoned being is. Since this is only a Fabric, figures on my level will not be imprisoned no matter how much it takes you to do or how much you aplish in a minute. But don''t be discouraged.

    Anything else that isn''t as strong as me will not be able to stop this even if it is only a little part of that real thing."

    Cesar then finally came to an understanding as he raised the question, "Then the reason you strongly suggest that I get this is to imprison either the Keeper or the Librarian? Caster is not that kind of a big problem so he''s out. This leaves the two behemoths of the library,"

    "Quick to spot on," Cedeit paused, "But I will not be telling you who will you imprison or not. You need to think carefully about who you''ll want to avoid fighting and be willing to face head-on."

    Cedeit then added, "In the meantime, you should start going for the Elusive Door first. You have to wait for them toe instead of youing at them. Only then you can decide what you think you should do. I''ll tell you the opening sequence of using that cube while you run,"

    Cesar grew silent as he pondered whom to choose between the two figures, each capable of bringing him a lot of trouble. Realizing that he needed to decide soon since it was clear he''d encounter them the moment he began his search for the Elusive Door, acting quickly would lessen a whole lot of problem itself.

    And just as he predicted, the moment his search for the Elusive Door started, Cesar found himself on a humungous path where a clear wide road and stacks of wooden shelves were scattered around.

    In the middle of his path, hundreds of meters away from his position was the Keeper of the Void standing still, its domineering presence was showing while continuing to guard something in that area.

    By the looks of it, the Nightmare had given up on guarding the Prison Fabric and merely guarding the only thing important in that site, the Elusive Door.

    At Cesar''s back that just followed him this time was an agile creature wielding two swords in both hands while the rest hovered in the air.

    With a ss hanging at the bridge of its deformed nose and the book being held by one of the great swords, The Librarian momentarily stared at Cesar''s back for a moment before shifting his gaze to the far front where the Keeper of the Void was motionlessly standing.

    The Librarian had struggled to keep up with Cesar earlier, which allowed him to seize the Fabric of the Prison Domain from its watch, intent on using it for himself. However, after encountering the Keeper of the Void this time as well, a memory suddenly snapped in the Librarian''s mind, breaking whatever control Caster had inputted on it.

    The countless battles it went against, the pressure of fighting such being, andstly, losing each battle had awoken the true Librarian that Caster just wasn''t able to keep contained.

    ''Tsk¡­''

    The lone human standing between the two monsters wasn''t fazed by their overbearing influence on the battlefield. With the tiara worn above his head, Cesar wore the Largening Hand in his left hand while clenching the Fabric Cube at his right.

    But Cesar wasn''t the only one that started appearing in that particr area.

    Vin was standing motionlessly in one corridor, his hands were enveloped with wind while a mirror sword was sped at his fist. With him was Quentin and Maine, who were at his back, observing the unfolding situation.

    Quentin was wearing asso, an artifact that he received from Cesar while Maine was enveloped with her fiery red cloak, embers of fire hovering beside her.

    On the other shelf was the cyan bob cut hair Leah carrying the artifact Root Wand, the tattooed Jeremiah clenching the spear in his hand, and us whose sword was drawn out and clearly pointing it at the Keeper.

    At the other particr part of the library were Alms, and Chin, who just showed themselves just now to Cesar. The two appeared exhausted, their eyes were covered with ck circles and full of injuries.

    But their Facets are activated, and most importantly they are alive and ready to go as well. Soldiers are also lined up behind them.

    On the other part of that particr site, Amar, Jacqueline, Nike, Sean, and Reyna were standing, also bringing out their Facets activated at the battle that was about to erupt at any moment.

    "Don''t get caught in the chaos. Focus on finding the Elusive Door after you''re sessfully imprisoning the being you desired to confine." Cedeit paused as he gave Cesar constion words, "This is getting likely to be the final showdown most of everyone present here going to experience. Get ready,"

    Cesar didn''t really need any of that final statement from Cedeit as constion wasn''t going to make their situation easy.

    ''Calm down¡­''

    Cesar let out a short calming breath from his mouth before focusing his gaze at the front, where the Keeper of the Void remained standing.

    He knew who he was about to target.

    Tak¡ª!

    Then he sprinted forward.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Everyone sprang into action, either targeting the Keeper or the Librarian, moving toward the nearest opponent they needed to confront, while others headed in the direction where their help was most needed.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    But two of the behemoths are faster.

    And in those two behemoths, the Keeper of the Void was much quicker.

    The Keeper of the Void aimed the wand at its left hand, pointing its tip forward as it quickly charged the item, resolved to avoid being cornered as it had beenst time.

    "Void Banishment"

    A blinding, purplish light red up around the Keeper before a powerful st surged outward, demolishing all who dared to meet it. Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin

    Baaaaang¡ª!

    That one attack alone signaled the start of the Library''s Final Showdown.

 Chapter 107: Final Showdown (1)

    Rumble¡ª!

    A low rumbling echoed through the library, reverberating beneath the feet of all who stepped onto its floor. The Void, forcing its way inside, was held back by the Library itself, determined to protect its sanctuary from any intruder that dared to enter.

    The Library continuously reconstructed its floor with the same paper and rebuilt its wooden shelves to their original quality, persistently obstructing the Void''s entry. This constant interference and pestering clearly aggravated the Void, as it seemed to be hurt that a mere mechanism of a machination was not letting it enter inside.

    That however onlymade the Void angrier and fiercer.

    Rumbleeeeeee¡ª!

    The intense shaking within the library initially started to the ''current roof'' where the Void''s influence was the strongest, began to spread toward the center. The tremors grew stronger, reaching and connecting to the point where even the upants of the ''current floor'' could feel the vibrations underfoot.

    Baaaaaang¡ª!

    The purplish st that has been used by the Keeper isn''t as destructive as the spell it did when they were at the Float Period but the sheer spell and power infused of that explosion alone weren''t entirely different.

    It was fierce and banished anything it passed into the void.

    The paper floor was wiped away, leaving only the very wall of the library''s vast interior. The wooden shelves that the purplish st demolished were also consumed, sucking everything in its path that some people barely avoided.

    The paper floor was wiped away, leaving only the walls that enclosed the library''s vast interior. Wooden shelves that the Void managed to pass were also consumed, drawing everything in its path into a swirling void¡ªnarrowly missed by those quick enough to evade it.

    Most of the soldiers that were sprinting towards the Keeper hesitated to even take a step as their pace died down.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Only Cesar and a handful of people such as Vin, Jeremiah, and Maine continued behind his back.

    Crack¡ª!

    Reality started to snap into mirror shards as pirs of fire started to arise right on their path. The tattoo on Jeremiah''s arm started coiling around him as he prepared for another bout with the Keeper of the Void, who awaited for them.

    Cesar spread the influence he had with the Floor of Darkness as he continued channeling his mana onto it. At the same time, his mind continued to be tainted by the bad effects of the artifact.

    Only gritting his way through it, Cesar shouted in spite.

    "I have a n in mind!"

    The three people who followed his back could only nod once, fully trusting Cesar at this point since even they didn''t know how they could get out of their predicament.

    With Cesar leading charge on fully risking being wiped out by the same Nightmare, they knew it wasn''t just merely a fa?ade he was showing just to keep others motivated.

    From the time they knew Cesar until today, if he says he had a n, he really does have one in mind.

    Cesar, who kept observing the Keeper of the Void within his sight which started to cast yet another spell, shouted once more which was enough for everyone whogged behind to hear it.

    "I want everyone to help me stop that Nightmare for a minute! That thing shouldn''t be allowed to move, not even a single motion, you hear me!? Do that and we''ll get out of here!"

    The others who had initially hesitated began to view the student from the Resisting Academy in a new light as they watched him braving his way through the abomination.

    However, it didn''t change the fact that what they are facing is a Nightmare.

    It might be the veryst thing they would see in their life the moment they tread forward, even take a step forward.

    Yet, with a mere student leading the charge, could the adults only cower in fear to the terror that had haunted humanity for a millennium?

    Something has to change.

    And it might be Cesar who will bring it to them.

    Leah, who was slightly fearful at the disy of power that the Keeper continuously showed the moment their surprise attack failed, hesitated for a brief moment as her legs were shaking. She gazes at the side, only to see us feeling the same thing, also looking at her.

    They were ashamed.

    They tried to put a brave front but they also got carried away by the terror Nightmares had brought up to the world, and in this situation well.

    This might be the only happening in their whole lives where they are exposed to a bunch of frightening involvement most soldiers either from the Army or the Corps could experience in their lives.

    "Damn it¡­"

    All the mixed emotions swelling inside them wavered before both Leah and us took a step forward.

    Then their pace fastened and the next thing they knew, they were running in the same manner as the ones who were already at the far front.

    "Damn it!"

    The others who were merely watching the two soldiers running behind the others had their hearts stirred. Reluctantly and almost seemed regretting on what they were about to do, they trod one step at a time.

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    Their facets started to activate the moment they willed it inside them before they followed the others who were at the front.

    But just as they were dilly-dallying about in their indecision instead of putting pressure on their opponent, The Keeper of the Void used this ample moment of time to charge up its next attack up to the maximum output.

    "Avoid! Avoid!"

    Cesar watched as the Keeper stretched both hands high, fully immersed in the spell it was preparing to unleash.

    "Showers of Impending Destruction"

    Above, what seemed to be purplish meteors forming, Cesar''s heart pounded as he took in the sight of the countless drops of void ready to rain down upon them.

    ''Crap!''

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The meteors resembled a gathering of stars, aligned across the sky and growingrger as they drew closer¡­ and closer still.

    These drops of void that were inching swiftly towards them finally made contact.

    "Iing!"

    Boom¡ª!

    The instant they struck the ground, each descent exploded into smithereens. The sound was hideous¡ªa deafening st, close simrities to cannon fire dropped down solely to bring destruction.

    Boom¡ª!

    But that wasn''t all¡ªthe remains of the void showers ricocheted wildly and randomly upon impact, striking several soldiers who had managed to dodge the initial purplish meteors but not after.

    The showers were already a huge problem on their own, but the impact where its shards of void can potentially ricochet randomly in any direction is far even deadlier.

    "No!"

    Those caught in the destruction melted away, vanished from their positions, or were simply erased from existence as the miniature manifestations of the void swallowed them whole.

    Boom¡ª!

    "Fucker!"

    Cesar shouted in spite as instantly closed by towards the Keeper who relentlessly threw the showers persistently.

    Avoiding the showersing right in their path while having to mind the ricochet voids that might randomlynd on them, Cesar, Vin, Jeremiah, and Maine finally drew closer to the Nightmare.

    "Null!"

    It was time for a counterattack.

 Chapter 108: Final Showdown (2)

    Rumble¡ª!

    As the library began to tremble intensely, its tremor could be slightly felt by the upants, the situation was escting, turning to a point of no return. With everyone bringing out all their cards, there was no time to waste on lingering doubts that clouded their heads.

    If they got to attack, they''ll have to do it that way.

    "Null!"

    Completely rendering the Nightmare incapable of using its ability, The Keeper of the Void slightly moved its head below to gaze at the same human that tried to annoy him earlier up above the air.

    "Purge!"

    But before it could even move, The Keeper felt something within itself had been taken away without its consent. As it tried to use its ability, even though already knew that it couldn''t use an ability for a brief moment, the creature''s gaze remained focused on Jeremiah and witnessed something that produced a flicker in its eyes.

    Underneath Jeremiah was a ted void. Seamless and as if he had already trained enough to be able to use something the powers of his enemies just after watching them how they were doing it, Jeremiah stared eye to eye with the Keeper of the Void before he vanished at his spot.

    Being able to use the twenty-fifth in a second, an ability called [Astral Step], Jeremiah right reappeared near beside the Keeper''s vertical eyes.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Attempting to strike one of the Keeper''s eyes with the use of his spear, Jeremiah used his new but temporary strength in a profound way that exceeded even Cesar and the rest expectations.

    sh¡ª!

    But what they were facing was a Nightmare, an entity that is far stronger than the Nightmares found outside.

    Merely avoiding the strike with a movement of its neck, the Keeper was able to avoid its eyes by jerking backward.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Yet instead of simply avoiding it, The Keeper rotated the motion of its neck with the intent to kill Jeremiah who was currently staying in his position.

    The problem was that he was staying mid-air and he wasn''t like the Nightmare who could do the astral steps as they hover without anding spot to gain momentum from the speedy sprinting that looked like teleportation in the outsider''s eyes.

    "Shit¡ª!"

    The cheek of the Keeper wasing to hit Jeremiah when the view of his front cracked, breaking into a cluster of mirror shards.

    Instead of hitting the real Jeremiah, the head of the Keeper passed through the mirror shard as its one eye peeked through the mirror window.

    There, she met a woman cloaked in a red suit made of mes.

    "Hellfire,"

    Waiting for it on the other side was Maine whose eyes burned fiery red and used her scorching mes to hurt the cheek of the Nightmare.

    Fizzle¡ª!

    Feeling the burn of those mes at its face, The Keeper of the Void tried to forcefully make its way out but the hole consisting of mirror shards closed, looking like bing to strangle the Keeper at his neck.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    At its body, Jeremiahnded on the ground with difficulty but still manageable before swiftly making its way around the Keeper''s body. He struck the Nightmare''s nerves and weak points while avoiding the wands that tried to keep him away.

    Teleporting from various ces just to exert the insane movement was very hard to pull off.

    Feeling dizzy and ufortable about using the Keeper''s powers, Jeremiah felt like he was about to puke due to how taxing it was.

    Still, the only thing he could do was to keep cutting and proceed persistently.

    Swoosh¡ª!

    Sprinkling the cheek of the Nightmare with fire, Maine intensified the output of her mes as she tripled the force that started piercing through the blood-wrenching flesh of the monster.

    Seeing that the Keeper of the Void could only remain motionless in its ce while being cornered so easily by the people he considered the best, Cesar assisted them with Floor of Darkness.

    The lunging shadow envelops the whole body of the Nightmare and makes it incapable of moving until hepletely stops due to them.

    Without any dy, Cesar began to recite the activation sequence of the Fabric of the Prison Domain that Cedeit had given to him as they made their way here.

    Stretching his one hand at the front where the cube is being held, Cesar recited, "Hear me. By the ancient bindingws and the forbidden realm of the forgotten chains, I call forth the shackles that can bind even the unknown! Let none escape!"

    Cesar quickly smeared a drop of his own blood onto the cube during the final incantation. The maws along the walls emitted slurping sounds, eagerly drooling and savoring the blood that had been offered to them.

    Then the cube started convulsing.

    "Ah¡­!"

    Due to the aggressiveness of those maws and the continuous mounting of the weight of the cube, Cesar had no choice but to release it from his hand.

    The moment it touched the ground, the floor dented due to how heavy it became right in just an instant.

    Then those maws shifted their focus to the motionless Keeper. The cube''s violent shaking abruptly ceased, reced by a chilling phenomenon that drew everyone''s attention and sent shivers down their spines.

    Vin, Maine, and Jeremiah got distracted by it. The Librarian, and even the people trying to fend off the same Nightmare, got all their attention captivated by the same phenomenon that was happening in the cube.

    Even the Keeper who appears to be in a tight spot, had its eyes wavered when it witnessed the cube changing.

    The maws surrounding the cube''s walls started to tighten their lips. In just an instant, one might even make the wrong observation when they realize the lips are gone, leaving only the flesh-made cube in its position.

    Creak¡ª!

    Then it began to twist, the upper half of the cube goes left while the lower half goes right. The moment it stopped rotating in both ways, it wriggled before metallic, ck chains stretched forward trying to bind the Keeper at its ce to get ready.

    Just as they were thinking that everything was supposed to be that easy, only Jeremiah who was doing his best to prevent the Nightmare to continue being useless was the only one to see the situation in his spot.

    There he saw the right wand, the sleek purplish staff glimmered. One of the many Keeper''s bracelets kept at its wrist exploded, making the same wand shimmer even brighter.

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    "It''s going to do that again!"

    Leah, who was already at the back, and the rest of the group managed toe swiftly and came in handy in their situation, all stretched their hands wide to stop the Keeper''s attempt to escape.

    "Suppress!"

    "Invalidate!"

    "Subdue!"

    Anything to help the chains from enveloping Keeper was there to assist but upon witnessing the staff getting brighter each time, Cesar had no choice but to back down.

    "Damn it!"

    He knew what was going to happen.

    "Get away from any abilities thrown!"

    Even though his warning was faster, it wasn''t wide enough to produce a huge gap between him and the Keeper.

    The moment the purplish staff had brightened enough, to the point that it almost appeared white, the Keeper finally decided to move.

    "Void Erasure¡­!"

 Chapter 109: Final Showdown (3)

    Since the glitchy wand at the Keeper''s right hand appeared to be an artifact, a high-level one at that, something that couldn''t even be made or replicated crafted by a human hand, it wasn''t affected by Jeremiah''s Null Facet to momentarily stopped the being from using its ability.

    What does Cesar even know about an Artifact? Does it also have a grade as well?

    He didn''t know.

    "Void Erasure¡­!"

    Because of all the mysteries and still uing mysteries that will not be solved any time soon, they could only ept the blinding void to wash them over its illumination, a guaranteed sure-hit effect that can wiped out all the ability that has been activated.

    And those who weren''t fast enough either got swallowed whole by the void or gravely grazed by the ability.

    Maine was one of those people.

    "Ughh!"

    Screaming in a painful tone as traces of purplish burnt marks appeared around her neck while she coughed up fresh blood. Vin was about to approach her while Cesar used the Floor of Darkness to will and protect her when Maine screamed, her attention still on the battlefield alone.

    "Watch out, Jeremiah!"

    Jeremiah''s every hair stood as he felt an iing presence lunging at him at a fast rate. He noticed that he was falling to the ground once more as hisnding spot disappeared.

    Something huge and gigantic just vanished into thin air.

    But in just an instant right before Jeremiah was about to use his facet, a fist came at him right on his face.

    The only thing he could do in that split second was defend himself from the punch if that could even help. Involuntarily cing both of his hands at the front, Jeremiah made contact with the fist that almost felt like three dumb trucks punching him right in the body altogether.

    Bang¡ª!

    He got thrashed away by the impact, passing through countless wooden shelves which was supposed to be strong but got destroyed due to the same bearing. Doubts even formed, making anyone have no idea how Jeremiah might even survive that attack.

    Worse still, the cube on the ground had stopped reaching out for the Nightmare. Now that it was moving, the chains, which had once seemed to grow longer as they stretched outward, appeared diminutive, fluttering like a g in the wind.

    However, Cesar noticed something.

    ''So this is just yet another artifact?''

    The cube wasn''t affected by the wave of the Void Rejectioning from the Keeper. It remained at the dented spot, waiting for the Nightmare to stop at its position and start binding it whenever avable. It looked like a kid waiting for its toy toe at him instead ofing towards them.

    "Are we going to continue fighting that?"

    With two of the four main people at the front¡ªMaine had issues around her neck that seemed improbable for her to continue even further with Jeremiahpletely out of action as us started to run in the direction where he got sted away¡ªLeah asked a question.

    Cesar who was merely waiting for the side, nodded once as he suggested, "Vin, that thing didn''t seem much more fun on fighting face to face. It was originally a spell caster and will continue to be so since maintaining a good distance to continue showering us with its attacks is one way to secure victory,"

    Vin frowned, not getting where he was leading the conversation, "I don''t get it. What are you trying to say?"

    "Are you willing to approach it?"

    The Keeper destroyed one of its bracelets, exploding into tiny shards before receiving an abundance amount of essence that seemed to restore half of its reserved back. Right after, The Keeper stepped backward as the wand from its left hand shimmered and glowed.

    It was about tounch its attack once again.

    Cesar stared at the attack the Keeper was about to do and clicked his tongue, "Can you try and hold down that Nightmare alone? Whatever it pulls off, stop it. Show me the real strength of a Third Order, Sir Vin. We need to bind that Nightmare fast or we''ll all get wiped out,"

    Vin contemted the daring wordsing from Cesar and chuckled, "You are getting more feisty, kid. Sure, I''ll do what I can with my utmost best so whatever are you nning, deal with it right away,"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar and Vin rushed forward to the Keeper while Leah and us were on their back. Those who weren''t able to treat Maine also followed suit as they rushed towards the Nightmare standing motionlessly and about to finish up its spell.

    Chatter¡ª!

    "¡­Just let me steal that. I''ll¡­ handle the rest,"

    As they did, Cesar whispered something to them while the three closest listened intently. They all made weird expressions, not knowing why Cesar was interested in stealing that from the Nightmare''s possession even though it was deemed possible.

    But they are willing to follow him.

    Whoosh¡ª! Your next chapter is on m v|l-e''-NovelBin

    Cesar willed the Floor of Darkness underneath him to expand as Vin was preparing to activate his Facet. Both Leah and us who were only there to support the two have also activated their powers and unleashed them outside.

    "Suppress!"

    "Tether!"

    All those futile actions became true once the Keeper had finished up its preparation. In quick session of the continuous bout, the Nightmare, a devotee of the Void uttered its spell.

    "Reality Rejection,"

    The blindingly, beautiful, and dreadful attack from the Keeper which it already been done once before manifested on their front.

    The fierce area of effect strike, Reality Rejection, had the purplish wave push the entirety of the area, swallowing everything on its path with just one horrible spell from the Nightmare.

    The Suppress and Tether from Leah and us that tried to reach the Keeper just outright got extinguished into oblivion.

    Crack¡ª!

    Cesar watching the impossible happening on their sight could only trust the very person that might get them out of their predicament.

    Craaack¡ª!

    Vin''s vision splintered, allowing him to witness the iing wave of purplish emptiness through the countless shards.

    The people around him had surrendered to despair, convinced there was no escaping the impending devastation. Yet, he and a few others held onto a glimmer of hope, trusting that something unexpected was about to unfold due to someone''s influence.

    Craaack¡ª!

    "Shattered¡­"

    And it showed.

    "¡­Reality,"

    Anyone who was gazing at the purplish wave of emptiness was all soon taken aback when that attack¡­ vanished in their line of sight.

    Craaack¡ª!

    In the shattered reality that Vin had created, he snatched all the shards that contained every view of that attack to any sight to form a single gigantic mirror shard on his hand.

    "Bluergh!"

    Coughing out a mouthful of blood which didn''t stop at any moment, Vin strongly clenched the mirror shard and ced it onto his mouth to swallow it whole.

    Gulped¡ª!

    As if he wasn''t done, Vin created another shattered reality where Cesar, who was watching him, ran off to and made a shattered passage connected right to the palm of the Keeper of the Void, who was half surprised, wondering at the oue.

    "Go¡­"

    Completely stopping the oue that might''ve wiped out any person who was targeting the Keeper of the Void, Vin dropped to his knees while continuing to activate his facet with a shaking hand.

    He at least did his job decisively to give Cesar a way to seize what he desired to do.

    "Well done,"

    Right on the palm of the abomination, Cesar was touching one of the Keeper''s bracelets.

 Chapter 110: Final Showdown (4)

    "You will not be able to handle it,"

    While he was telling the n to others on what he was about to do, Cesar thought the one who would notice his n seemed to be aware of what he was trying to pull off.

    Now that he hade to one of the Keeper''s Bracelets, he heard Cedeit warning him.

    But desperate moments call for desperate solutions. This time, Cesar wasn''t just going to stay still when they were about to be wiped out just because they kept giving the Keeper a distance to y around them.

    Now, taking both of its wands seemed impossible to do. Cesar had already considered but he scraped that idea due to how unlikely the chances of that happening.

    Killing the Nightmare is another thing he had to ignore just because that is something far from Cesar or everyone could aplish.

    Cesar''s kept racking his brains for solutions and finally, he had one in mind.

    Rustle¡ª!

    Touching one of the beads of the bracelets which Cesar was sure that it was an item that stored essence for the Void to use, and probably avable for the likes of them, albeit a bit too much for his breed.

    Just as he deduced, he watched them explode into smithereens as shards scattered around while Floor of Darkness was there to shield him from any direct contact.

    That wasn''t the only thing that happened.

    "Ugh¡­!"

    The essence he absorbed from the Keeper''s bracelet flowed into him, with the amount he received directly influencing his reserve''s capacity. Simply put in a simple sense, the influx of essence was overwhelming for him to handle.

    "Ahhh!"

    It was way too much.

    In that split second, another realization struck his mind which is something that had been nagging at him ever since he sensed the vast reserve of essence stored in his body, ready to be used.

    It was just as they were about to leave the table in this situation bugged him that finally, the question can be finally answered.

    Cedeit owns the reserves of the essence.

    Obviously, it should belonged to him but what makes it confusing is how Cesar, he himself, can share it with Cedeit without suffering from Essence Overload.

    Well, there was the answer, Cedeit.

    But because he kept using and using these reserves of essence every single time since he wasn''t afraid of losing too much which he might suffer from Essence Deviation, Cesar felt confident.

    Nheless, all those things until leading to this moment, Cesar heavily needed the essence he wasted throughout the time to aplish the n that stirred in his head.

    That''s why Cesar lunged forward, managing to touch three more of the Keeper''s bracelets before the Nightmare finally noticed him as he reached for the fourth.

    And acted upon it.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The Keeper shook Cesar off its wrist, watching him plummet before raising its hand. Gripping the wand tightly, the Nightmare mercilessly strike it down towards him.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    But with the struggle of receiving the amount of essence that is being transferred to him, Cesar isn''t able to lift a finger no matter how desperate he is to defend himself.

    The Essence Overload symptoms started to appear as his skin had hideous veins popping out and he appeared all red.

    The only one who was able to distinguish Cesar''s situation, someone who experienced it herself, was Leah who was able to act swift upon judging the situation instantly.

    "Hex!"

    "Suppress!"

    Leah stretched her hand towards the Keeper, her hands visibly shaking, and was able to prevent the Nightmare from hitting Cesar with its wand.

    It stopped halfway, as she attempted to cloud the Nightmare''s mind, only to be hit with the intense bacsh of attempting such a feat on a being of that caliber.

    "Bleurgh!"

    Leah''s mouth, eyes, and ears all bled. In a couple of seconds she brought time for Cesar, she was already bleeding all around, rupturing some parts of her body such as her arms, hands, and shoulder.

    But Cesar was safe from harm.

    us who could barely assess the situation that was transpiring, went ahead and tethered both Leah and the falling Cesar from the air.

    ''Catch him!''

    Finally, the tether that he desperately kept moving managed to wrap itself around him and us reeled him back with the help of the other people who couldn''t even do something while the three were attacking.

    Something of that caliber was beyond their pay grade, most of all, a height that they wouldn''t be able to touch no matter what.

    That''s why the only thing they could do was help us reel Cesar and keep him on the safe path as they provided anything that could help it smooth sailing. A barrage of abilities was thrown out to make that happen.

    Rustle¡ª!

    "Showers of¡­"

    But all those things of Vin keeping his shattered reality at bay, Leah trying to suppress and hex the mind of the Nightmare, us continuing to reel Cesar in while the rest of the soldiers help that, all of it ended when the Keeper of the Void decided to not entertain them any longer.

    "¡­Impending Destruction"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Rains of purplish meteorites manifested above the air that was daring toe down at any moment, but just as it was about tond at them, the Keeper made yet another spell that doubled the amount of destruction it might bring to anyone.

    Pop¡ª!

    All of the bracelets around its wrist exploded as Keeper of the Void did another spell simultaneously while continuing to create the purplish meteorites in the air.

    Just as it finished, another volley of meteorites rained down upon them.

    At the same time, The Keeper of the Void unleashed its second attack.

    "Reality Rejection"

    A blinding light began to engulf the entire area, manifesting just as the meteor showers were about to descend towards them.

    "Oh my god¡­"

    us could only stare helplessly at the flickering light of purplish emptiness approaching them, unsure of what to do next. Continue your saga on mvl

    Whoosh¡ª!

    It wasing for them.

    The only time who didn''t waver at the sight of that purplish emptiness was the person who flipped a page of the book with a struggle.

    Seething in spitefulness, Cesar muttered underneath his breath, "In the name of the Ancient Time of the Past¡ª"

 Chapter 111: Final Showdown (5)

    "In the name of the Ancient Time of the Past." Cesar coughed out a mouthful of blood from his mouth as he clenched his teeth then continued, "You are incorruptible, indestructible, and unceasing¡­"

    The showers and the blinding purplish emptiness barreling toward them, were about to swallow them whole when Cesar finally uttered the final phrase of the activation sequence.

    "Let¡­ the world¡­ freeze,"

    The instant he uttered thest word of the spell, mostly everything and everyone stopped.

    The purplish showers that were about to fall, the void wave which was about to swallow them whole, everyone''s defeated reaction as those attacks wereing to them, even the people on their back who were fighting the Librarian, the Nightmare included, had alle to halt. Stay tuned to mvl

    The Keeper of the Void, which continuously remained stalwart in its position, had also been affected under the spell of the Ceased World.

    The only one who was able to move in this absence of time was Cesar who was struggling with himself as he convulsed around the ce, the Book of Contents at his hand¡­ and the Fabric of Prison Domain that didn''t seem to be at least affected by the spell.

    nk¡ª!

    "Akhhh¡­! Khhh¡­!"

    Cesar kept rolling around in desperation while trying to hold the Book of Contents in his hand. Still suffering from Essence Overload, the book greedily sucked the essence out of him that isn''t stopping at any moment in time.

    Divulging himself into self-torture that was necessary to pull off, Cesar''s one of the desperate gamble seemed to be paying off.

    After all, the cube seemed to understand the assignment and began targeting the Keeper of the Void.

    However, Cesar was on the receiving end of everything, willingly feeding his essence, including the overloaded reserve, into the book.

    "Kuhh! Ahkk!"

    Unlike Leah who was stale when she was suffering from the overload, Cesar''s case was different since he was forcibly epting the abundance of essence transferring towards him.

    He wasn''t resisting and just letting it be.

    There was another factor at y in why he, even if his situation hade at this point, was confident that this would seed.

    The ceased worlding at y, the cube surviving even the void erasure from what Keeper of the Void did to extinguish any ability at y, and the abundance of essence he was receiving from breaking three of the bracelets from the Nightmare¡­

    It was because there was Cedeit.

    Since Cesar was able to receive Cedeit''s reserve after using his body to fight Nicotara with the connection they shared probably due to the Subconsciousness that opened up at that time, wouldn''t that mean from that point, Cesar was able to share everything he had to him?

    An example was the idea of using the incantation of the Ancient Time for the first time. Another sample was when where he received the data of the three conceptualized powers that probably came from Cedeit, which still wasn''t confirmed but he can be sure now.

    Wouldn''t that mean the overload of essence that he received could be willingly shared with Cedeit, someone he had a connection with?

    That''s why even though he was undergoing Essence Overload, too much amount of essence he was receiving, it could be somehow manageable if Cedeit would help him ''manage'' it since they are connected?

    Again, it was all about gambling.

    But there was certainty at y on this idea.

    It was Cedeit himself yet again.

    ''You want to¡­ take my body, right!?''

    Cesar who was still struggling to keep himself from bringing the book down while he was convulsing had a deranged smile formed on his lips.

    He screamed in anguish on the outside while simultaneously experiencing a blissful turmoil within.

    ''You will never¡­ get out of here if I die now!''

    Cesar wanted to chuckle to distract himself from the pain coursing through his body, but he needed to focus on channeling the abundant essence while awaiting the verdict from the being behind the voice in his head as well that he set aside on doing it.

    ''Choose now!''

    Cedeit, who was watching the cube stretch its chains towards the Keeper through Cesar''s eyes while actually knowing it even without the help of his sight, was bbergasted.

    Cesar''s thinking process couldn''t even be considered human at this point due to the surprises that he kept showing towards him, at least for someone with the status of a human.

    Cedeit had only been with Cesar for almost two weeks yet he knew he was the craziest human he had ever met or seen yet.

    The ability to judge the situation quickly and act upon it simultaneously to pull off desperate yet calcted gambles that even Cedeit would not even do since he wasn''t that kind of person, was very fascinating in his eyes.

    "Fascinating, Cesar. You never cease to surprise and entertain me each time,"

    Since Cedeit knew he still needed Cesar to get out of the Mansion, he knew what he had to do.

    Opening up the way of sharing the abundance of essence that kept surging inside Cesar, Cedeit began to do his own wonders as he was managing the essence Cesar kept receiving non-stop and epted it towards him.

    There, the Book of Contents that greedily takes the abundance of essence from Cesar became hungrier the moment another line of source was connected to it.

    It was like trying to continuously drink water without a stop; that was the experience of the Book of Content.

    It devoured and kept devouring¡­ and the in-looking book started to change as well because of it.

    nk¡ª!

    The cube continued extending its chains towards the Keeper, who tried to ascertain what was happening as it was able to notice something bad from the outside. The vertical eyes of the creature swerved asplicated yet indescribable numbers and letters were rolling around, recing its normal eyes.

    However, the Keeper''s action was broken by the continuous siphoning of essence that the Book of Content was receiving from Cesar which resulted for the Ceased World bing stronger.

    In the Ceased World, where the cube had been diligently at work, it finallypleted its task. Fully binding the Nightmare, the cube snapped and transformed into a leviathan, towering easily over the Keeper right in an instant.

    It shattered into pieces as maws emerged, devouring the Nightmare. Then the leviathan-sized cube shrank gradually back to its original size, just as it had been before it consumed the Keeper.

    Once the absurdness of how the Nightmare was imprisoned, Cesar noticed the Ceased World silence continued to ensue.

 Chapter 112: Final Showdown (6)

    Barely holding himself to the clutches of the situation, Cesar found himself being able to control the essence that he had that seemed to be fully back in charge. The essence he wasted throughout the time seemed to have gone back to a hundred percent reserve, assumably thanks to Cedeit managing the essence overload happening inside of him.

    Cesar knew he had to force himself to the limits with the ideas inside his head shing together to produce the ultimate result.

    He came up with this, executed it, and now the Keeper of the Void has been imprisoned from the Prison Domain, right at the very cube.

    Because the Keeper has been sessfully imprisoned, the attacks it unleashed also began to fade away from its existence, simrly being imprisoned the same as he did.

    Since Cesar knew the Nightmare had been sealed off from the Prison Domain, whatever that ce is, its existence and anything that is rted to it had been cut off, it was natural that its attacks were gone.

    With all that done, Cesar can consider that he had won the fight against the Keeper of the Void. He wasn''t able to kill it but the goal here isn''t to decimate every Nightmare he saw. It was to get out of the Mansion.

    Anything to stop this goal was just another being he needed to finish off.

    All that aside, Cesar found himself in the Cease World, which he likes to call it, yet again. It seemed it wasn''t stopping any time soon due to the fact he had given the Book of Contents a lot of essences to devour

    Still, to be able to execute it, Cesar knew the book needed a lot of essence to aplish such a feat.

    If before the book took half of the reserve that he and Cedeit shared which only amounted to half a minute from the Cease Word, he calcted that even with that amount of essence given, he only had about two to three minutes left in this world.

    As the clock inside the ceased world tickling, Cesar knew he had to decide fast as to how he would take advantage of it.

    ''Running to that cube and taking it to the other side to imprison the Librarian might not work. The moment I grabbed that cube from that ce where the Keeper had been standing, the time was already up and everything would return back to normal,''

    Cesar halted his thinking as his gaze fell onto the gap reality, a window that had been destroyed where a hand was peeking outside carrying a de. This gap reality, however, is ced towards the site where he was convulsing, and a single strike might''ve ended him right there and then.

    ''This guy almost assassinated me using a sneaky approach as the Keeper''s attack wasing to me?''

    Cesar felt annoyed for some reason as if he was even toote to trigger the activation sequence of the incantation for the cease world, he might already be choking to death because his neck was sliced clean.

    ''I have a score to settle with this guy,''

    Cesar slowly walked towards the gap reality before entering inside as the clock in the ceased world continued to tickle down.

    As soon as he did, Cesar spotted Caster, his expression frenzied as he peered down at the other side of the reality gap, ready to strike if he were in normal time.

    Cesar''s gaze then fell upon the corrupted human lying lifelessly on the ground, his neck cleanly sliced and his chest torn open."

    Terry had met a cruel fate at Caster''s hands, left alone in the spot where Cesar had abandoned him to rush toward the center.

    Probably only he witnessed the existence of this guy bing aware of himself and dying at the same time but on the other''s perspective, he was a corrupted human that almost threatened to wreak havoc at the Harden City.

    Cesar felt nothing but sorry to Terry who was just a normal civilian that got caught by the unruly twist of fate.

    Then he switched his attention back to Caster.

    Cesar remembered the time right before he got transferred to the Mansion. If only he had been able to notice the weirdness of the city beforehand, he might''ve note to this godforsaken ce.

    If only he was found after his disappearance a year ago, Terry, Erin, and any soldiers that had died in the Mansion might''ve been prevented.

    s, that wasn''t happening any time soon nor will it change the result.

    That was the thing in the past.

    And the thing in the past has gone by.

    Seething with rage, Cesar''s heavy step dragged towards the front of Caster. His emotions were all over the ce but there was one thing in mind that he was almost certain.

    He wanted to kill him.

    He wanted to kill the very first human, not a corrupted human or a Nightmare, he was about to take with his own hands.

    ''Conceptualize it,''

    Cesar extended his hand towards Caster''s head as he began conceptualizing the Artificial Fire, a knowledge imprinted in his thoughts.

    Again, he failed.

    Another try, and another failure.

    ''Conceptualize it¡­''

    He kept making the fire until it withered away like it was nothing. In this ceased world where it was the perfect ce to execute it, Cesar kept failing.

    At that moment, he couldn''t help but remember the short mutter Cedeit had whispered to him when he was trying to do it.

    -You''re doing it all wrong.

    Once he contemted it deeply within his thoughts, Cesar started to reconstruct everything he knew from the Artificial Fire and started to change.

    Instead of inventing the ''fire'' first, he went on his way to create the ''fuse'' that triggers the fire.

    It became the shell of the fire he was about to input.

    And he was sessful. This shell isn''t different from a normal fire as it wasn''t withering away. Finally, to make this shell or fuse more robust and powerful, he then started creating the fire and was able to keep it contained inside.

    The key point of the artificial fire is to be able to contain the fire inside the ''shell'' that signifies as the trigger.

    The final output of the fire was dogshit but Cesar knew he had a lot of work he had to do to do it wlessly.

    Still, he had done it.

    He created the Artificial Fire.

    Finally, the Ceased World seemed to lose its value as everything returned back to normal.

    Caster whose attention was solely focused on the front to attempt an assassination at Cesar who was about to be engulfed by the purplish emptiness, found himself in a different situation a secondter.

    He wasn''t peeking through the gap reality that he had made for himself nor he was going to assassinate his prey.

    Instead, he saw his forehead being touched with someone''s palm.

    Upon redirecting his attention upward while he was on his knees, Caster found himself staring at Cesar''s expressionless eyes.

    "Ah¡­"

    He had no idea what had happened or what was currently unfolding, but thest thing he felt was his entire body engulfed in mes.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Being incinerated with the harsh artificial fire that Cesar created, Caster began burning as a huge scream emanated from his mouth.

    "Ahhhhhhh!"

    Cesar watched his opponent with nothing but a deadpan expression as he muttered, "As promised, I killed him for you. If you can hear me there, you can rest in peace,"

 Chapter 113: Final Showdown (7)

    "¡­"

    Burnt and incinerated to death, Cesar gazes at the lifeless and motionless Caster on the ground. His mouth was opened after the scream that almoststed half a minute before it died down. The eyes of the heretic that were all telling how confused he was couldn''t believe anything that had transpired right between his sight.

    And it was toote to ponder everything at this point.

    Caster has been defeated.

    "Eat shit¡­"

    Just to be sure that Caster would not just jerk up all of a sudden because of some twist that he prepared, Cesar battered his head with any mercy, scattering all of its blood juices away that made the heretic a headless burnt corpse.

    After letting out a huge tired sigh from his mouth, Cesar rxed before he knelt down and checked the corpse around to see if Caster had any other things he had stored aside from an item that he had taken interest which was the Librarian''s Key.

    There was nothing aside from a flimsy, chipped de, a diamond ring, and of course, the Librarian''s Key.

    It was an old silver key with a circr bow and a very particr key ward. It appears to be emanating some kind of deadly aura but it isn''t hazardous when a person isn''t able to touch it just because they weren''t qualified to hold them.

    He seized all of them.

    Then he moved to the other side where the corpse of Terry lifelessly lingered around before spotting a manifested artifact sessfully formed in the middle of its chest. Walking close to it, he grasped it in his hand and observed.

    It was a weird-looking cross.

    Not going to experiment on them any time soon, Cesar tried to look back and get inside the same gap reality that Caster had formed earlier, only for it to disappear right in his sight.

    "Of course¡­"

    Cesar tightly grasped the key in his hand before trying to find out what he knew about its uses. He would be wasting a lot of time if he went back there on foot.

    "Now then¡­"

    Cesar inserted the key mid-air, trying to imagine the view of the City of Wheels outside before twisting it around.

    Nothing opened up.

    "I guess it makes sense,"

    Letting out a sigh, Cesar brought down the key before doing the same action as earlier by inserting it in the air but he imagined differently this time. He created the view of the library shelf where the Keeper had once stood inside his head.

    Then, the result shows that the gap in reality formed and Cesar could peer through inside, even enter it.

    "It is the same ce¡­"

    Cesar lingered on the two corpses on the ground for a brief moment before hopping inside the gapped reality. The moment hended, he grabbed onto the cube that didn''t feel as heavy as before.

    The maws had returned to their rightful ce and the colossal form they had taken earlier now felt like a mere figment of imagination, if not for the fact that Cesar had witnessed it himself.

    ncing at the back, Cesar saw everyone''s gaze fell on him.

    After all, they couldn''t believe it in their eyes.

    Just a moment ago, they had seen a clustering amount of attacking from the Keeper of the Void, and the second thing they knew, the same dreadful Nightmare standing was gone, the same as the abilities it threw at them.

    Just as they were not following through with the situation, they saw Cesar hopping inside on what seemed to be a passage in the reality gap, his back against them.

    The Nightmare was gone.

    Cesar was the one standing there now.

    "Cesar¡ª"

    Just as they were about to reach him, they saw Cesar suddenly copsing to his knees, a raw, agonized wail escaping his lips.

    "Ahhhhhh!"

    Leah, us, and Vin''s steps halted when they realized that Cesar threw his tiara down on the ground before signing them to step back and stop their approach at him.

    With Maine being treated on the side while still worried and Jeremiah, who somehow only received broken bones, and a leg, and was able to survive that impact, all worriedly stared at the kid that was coughing out blood from his ce.

    "I already told you. You will not be able to handle it,"

    Cedeit paused as if a sigh escaped from his lips, "You are now on the borderline of the living and the death, Cesar. You used different powers, were exposed to different situations, andstly, abused the capability that only you humans could achieve. You are treading that harsh path all by yourself and you somehow survived most of them but nothing will save you now,"

    Cesar tried to cover his mouth, which kept spilling blood, leaving him isted in the pool of red fluid he''d created. To the onlookers, the sight was horrifying; to him, feeling it was even more revolting.

    That''s what Cesar was feeling now.

    Bleurgh¡ª!

    On the brink of losing too much blood, Cesar shouted in a warning tone, "Help them¡­ defeat the Librarian! I have¡­ I have something to do here! Trust¡­ me! I''ll get you all of here today!"

    Painfully tearful, almost not containing themselves, Vin, Leah, and us bit their lips in regret before agreeing to him and started darting towards the other side where the other half was fighting off the Librarian.

    It wasn''t ending anytime soon, as the Nightmare had fully regained its rity after getting out Caster''s ruses. It struggled to break free from their hold to block Cesar''s path, but they kept it firmly contained.

    Rumble¡ª!

    Having managed to temporarily halt the internal bleeding, Cesar clenched his fist so tightly that his nails dug into his skin, causing his hand to bleed.

    Then he rose to his feet and began his solitary journey toward the center, determined to find the Elusive Door hiding in the shadows. With no one to aid him and a clear goal in mind, his search for the Elusive Door had begun.

 Chapter 114: Final Showdown (8)

    The Library was losing.

    It looked like it holding firm, even resisting the fierce and lethal Void that kept forcing its way in, but this was only an outward appearance. The image it instilled of being able to defend such an abomination slowly crumbled, revealing that it had never truly been holding back the Void at all.

    Rumbleeeee¡ª!

    The hole above was widening as more fissures and cracks kept manifesting throughout the whole library, connecting to the ends of reaches it could link to.

    The paper floor to rece the library''s interior was dwindling while the wooden shelves were gone, countless Guardian Shelves that tried to rece it as a second option have already been swallowed by the Purplish Emptiness as well.

    Thest line of defense the library could exert isn''t going tost.

    With the result dampening, worsening at each time, the first result of the Library''s defeat started to be apparent.

    Shelves from the ''current roof'' started falling down.

    Thud¡ª!

    While in search of the Elusive Door, Cesar''s steps were weak. He wasn''t able to run or jog to increase the pace of his running.

    He was merely walking as he tried to control his body from suffering, afraid that he would break apart if he exerted himself once more.

    ''Calm down¡­''

    Tak¡ª!

    ddened at the fact that the shelves falling down and the interior of the Library wasn''t falling towards them, Cesar tried to search for each shelf he could see.

    Aside from the clue that it is continuously being elusive that he received from Cedeit, Cesar didn''t know anything else about it.

    But whatever it was, he knew his time was running out.

    Rumble¡ª!

    Feeling the intensity of the quake getting much stronger each second, Cesar walked through the pain and pursuit what he thinks that looks like an ''Elusive Door''.

    He walked between the shelves, rows of books neatly lined up as his trail of blood marked the floor behind him.

    Just as he was beginning to think it was futile to search for something as obscure as an ''Elusive Door,'' something caught his attention at the corner of his eyes.

    As he did, Cesar observed the same stacks of books lining up however in one part of the board, something was moving.

    No, it looked like it was quivering in fear.

    This ''thing'' that was shaking isn''t a book which is why Cesar was able to see it even with one eye. It wasn''t even trying to conceal itself if this thing could do it in the first ce.

    This thing looked like a door, a miniature version of the previous doors he had gone through the hallways.

    "Is that it?"

    Cesar voiced outwardly, trying to have Cedeit''s attention towards him to give some sort of confirmation that they were looking at the same Elusive Door, that didn''t suggest its name at all.

    But nothing.

    It seemed Cedeit had gone back to his usual ''ignoring session'' where he would just straight up disappear. He might be there, really ignoring Cesar or he might not be after something where the voice likes to put ''lost connection'' between him.

    Not that he cared anyway.

    Among the countless shelves he had passed, this was the only Door he''d encountered during his entire journey through the Library. Aside from the door he''d originally entered through, this one might indeed be the path that led to everything once inside the Library.

    Cesar stepped forward.

    And he continued to tread weakly as he observed the Elusive Door continuously quiver at its ce while gazing upwards.

    After a minute of walking even though the distance between them wasn''t quiterge, Cesar was able to reach the Elusive Door with ease. Stricken in fear and absolutely not knowing what to do, Cesar twists the knob of the door.

    Unfortunately, it couldn''t be opened.

    Seeing the knob''s shape perfectly match the key he held, Cesar retrieved the Librarian''s Key from his pocket and inserted it into the Elusive Door¡­ that exactly fit in.

    nk¡ª!

    Twisting it and hearing a noise that sounded right, Cesar twisted the knob and found himself in a new ce.

    He hadn''t entered through the Elusive Door in the usual way. Instead, it was as if he had simply materialized, appearing suddenly at the middle of the strange new ce.

    "!"

    Cesar was instantly on guard as he found himself in a dark room thick with malice, its atmosphere oppressive and filled with corruption that seemed to seep into anyone daring enough to enter inside.

    The ominous sensation was strongest to his left, making Cesar snap his gaze in that direction.

    There, he saw a rotting corpse lying on its back against the wall surrounded by worms and maggots trying to eat the decayed body. This particr body had seven fingers and two arms. A very long leg and neck.

    Cesar stepped back.

    As he did, he felt his foot press onto something, causing him to turn swiftly. Looking down, he noticed an exaggerated scratch etched into the floor, one that looked eerily familiar, resembling a mark he''d seen before, visible only to someone he knew better than anyone else.

    ''Prated reality?''

    This prated reality isn''t clouded, instead, just a scratch with an imageing from the inside that seemed like a live view of what was happening on the outside.

    However, it was dark already as if the connection it had had been disrupted by something.

    Rustle¡ª!

    Cesar immediately picked up the Source of Light artifact and channeled his mana into it before muttering under his breath.

    "Let there be light¡­"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Soon, the dimly lit room brightened, allowing Cesar to take in the full view of his surroundings with his own two eyes.

    Apart from the rotting corpse, the room was filled with countless prated realities, as if scratched open by someone, most of them now showing only nothing.

    Yet, Cesar managed to spot a few that still disyed live scenes¡ªeach one revealing parts of the library.

    There was Vin, Maine, his squad, and any soldier from that particr angle and view, could be seen through these scratches.

    Just as he was assessing the connections of these prated realities from the ones outside, his gaze fell on the floor where found an enigmatic, dying eyeball¡­ that lunged andtched itself to him.

    It crawled very swiftly before entering his left eye.

    "Hehehe, what a great fellow you are,"

    Cesar''s eyes wavered when this particr eye sounded so clear inside his mind.

    "How are you talking¡ªJust what are you¡­?"

    The dying eye thattched itself into his empty bleeding eye socket chuckled, its voice groggy as it answered.

    "What do you think am I? I''m just an old and weak Nightmare, Sparrow. Though, you can call me Eyes of Deceit. And I''ll borrow your body for a moment if you won''t mind. Hehe,"

    Cesar''s heart rose while trying to remove the eyeball thattched itself into his empty eye socket as he shouted in desperation, "No, why would I give you my body?! Get the fuck out!"

    As though the decaying eyeball had finally fused with the empty socket in his skull, something snapped within Cesar.

    "Ahhhhh!"

    And he let out a wailing sound that came from the depths of his heart.

 Chapter 115: Final Showdown (9)

    "Ahhhh!"

    His body and strength aren''t even evolving or being enhanced. It was more like his very soul was being crushed and turning something anew. It was being reconstructed by something that tried to invade his whole being, and might even rece the real ''Cesar''.

    His name, mind, and even identity were at risk.

    Cesar couldn''t do a single thing since he was enduring the pain that coursed through his body.

    "Guhhhh!"

    Trying to stop it as much as possible, Cesar heard the eye''s clear voice speaking in his mind.

    "Hey, now. Why are you struggling? Give in! Give in!"

    "Are you¡ª Are you fucking kidding me?!" Cesar''s saliva spread all around the ce as he struggled even to give an answer before he replied, his thoughts incoherent, "My body, my rules! Get the hell out of me, you parasite!"

    "P-p-p¡ª"

    The eye thattched itself into his left seemed to snap in anger as well and repeatedly shouted at Cesar''s mind.

    "Parasite?!"

    The eye seemed to have gone feral.

    "You lowly piece of shit! I''ve kept up with you this whole time only because you are the only thing I could use! Don''t overvalue yourself too much, Cesar. What about the deal we made, huh?! Did you already forget what we just talked about a few days ago?"

    ''Talk? I don''t know shit about some eye whom I talked to a few days ago. There''s only one being that talked inside my head throughout almost the entirety of my journey here and it is¡­''

    Suddenly, just as he was about to continue his thoughts, a sense of understanding entered Cesar that made him ignore half of the pain while simultaneously think for himself.

    It was probably because this new voice was oddly familiar¡­ or was it any new at all?

    This voice, even if it sounded energetic and hyper, its manner of speech is no different from the previous voice that dwell in his head that sounds cool and even. Besides, the Eyes of Deceit was something he had seen before¡­ even got to use it for himself.

    It came from the Architect of the Mansion, Deceit, an Origin Entity amongst the other Nightmares that were on that meeting table.

    It was no-brainer that the Eyes of Deceit had to be Deceit himself. The voice saying it was a weak and old Nightmare might be a prank he pulled off to lower Cesar''s guard. However, when talking about a Nightmare, a creature he loathed, there''s no way it was some weak being, considering that it was part of a species of Entity any human knowledge has no awareness of.

    Besides, now that he had thought about this very intently, Cesar who wanted tough couldn''t help but find a striking simrity between Deceit and Cedeit.

    ''They almost fucking the same!''

    One just had to rece the ''D'' in Deceit with the ''C'' of Cedeit and even a dumb person can tell that they are pretty much the same if put into context.

    Cesar almost wanted to let out a derangedugh at this realization as he shouted, "Cedeit?! Don''t tell me this is you?!"

    "Well, took you long enough, little punk!" Deceit, who is exactly Cedeit, answered in an irritated tone, "What, after all the goodwill I gave you, this is what you returned to me? What about the deal we made two agreed with, huh?!"

    Cesar who is exactly talking about the deal they made when they were facing being wiped out by Nicotara, ignored it all together as he replied meekly, "D-deal? I don''t remember such a thing¡­"

    "You punk¡­! You are acting as if we didn''t do it! Stop messing around with me!" Deceit shouted in a more irritated tone, "The Void ising to all of us, don''t you understand? There''s no way you got a change of heart after all the things I did for you, right? How¡ª"

    "It''s because you''re a Nightmare,"

    The moment Deceit heard of that reasoning from Cesar''s mouth, he grew silent.

    Cesar was the type of person who didn''t hide his hate for these creatures each time he had any chance to express them. Deceit can even understand where he wasing from after what their species did to this world which basically destroyed anything that has been once from humanity.

    But then he had to rethink again.

    Who was really Cesar?

    He was a human who took risks with few certainties here and there and didn''t mind using any arsenal he possessed.

    He''s a calctive, objective-oriented person, andstly, a very cunning person such as him.

    That''s why Cesar''s tone which sounded sad at first was nothing but a mere deception to hide his true intention.

    "Punk! Stop resisting!" Experience new tales on mvl

    And as if Deceit was right with his judgment of Cesar, the human suddenly shouted in an irritated tone.

    "Hello no! Did you really think I would willingly give my body to someone even if you showed me some goodwill? Nah, you stoop too low, Deceit. You aren''t the same benevolent being that screamed authority at that table. If you were, you wouldn''t have been in this pathetic state!"

    Deceit this time grew silent.

    Cesar who seemed to be saying all these things intentionally was trying to hurt Deceit''s ego which was working as the pain that was happening throughout his body lessened. Thinking that he''d get out of his clutches, he suddenly heard him speaking in a cold tone.

    "Sparrow,"

    Cesar suddenly felt every hair on his body stand on end, feeling heavy pressure that didn''t amount to anything he''d ever experienced. It was as if an invisible hand tightened around his throat, leaving him no way to escape.

    "Just who do you think you''re talking to?"

    Cesar shivered.

    "I''ve been considerate of a lowly human like you but enough. If you can''t hold a deal of someone that has given so many chances, then I''ll force myself into you even if you''ll agonize over insufferable damage that might affect your entire being,"

    Deceit paused, "I''ll count to three. If you still haven''t surrendered your body, we will both die. Anyone else in the library will die as well. No one will ever get out of here alive,"

    Cesar was about to speak when Deceit finally started counting.

    "One,"

    Cesar wanted to open his mouth but Deceit was a second faster.

    "Two,"

    Finally, worried that he might reach thest count, Cesar voiced out loudly.

    "W-wait! Just wait!"

    Deceit took a pause before Cesar retorted back with a counteroffer.

    "I want to strike another deal with you,"

 Chapter 116: Final Showdown (10)

    "A deal¡­ again?" Deceit seemed to chuckle as he added, "What could u possibly give me now? I''ve seen anything you have from your pockets. Artifact? Information? Yourself? Come on, entertain me again, Cesar. Just so you know, The Void is right behind our tails. The more you waited, the nearer ourmon enemy to us is,"

    "¡­"

    Cesar had this one solid n inside his head. This n, something he had been thinking right at the start the moment he heard this voice, continued to develop as he continuously scratched any idea he came up with if it wasn''t probable right at the end of his journey, here in this particr room.

    All thingse into y such as questions ''what is Cedeit'', ''where is Cedeit'', ''how is Cedeit'', and ''Who is Cedeit''?

    What is Cedeit?

    He''s the voice that met up when he was going through the hallway. At first, he thought he was a literal figure that appears to be a human but he''s just a Nightmare that became the Eyes of Deceit, a literal eyeball.

    Where is Cedeit?

    He''s the same eyeball that was trapped in the heart of the library, the ce where every hallway ends up if they continuously and persistently made their way out of the hallways. Because of The Void that held the Mansion hostage, he was finding someone to use at his bidding which made Cesar perfect candidate.

    How is Cedeit?

    Cedeit, who turns out to be, Deceit himself seems to be very unstable. More like he was desperate to find a host since he was an eye himself. He found him almost dying after all.

    Cesar, who appears at the right time and in the right ce, who somehow got a connection with Deceit, was the perfect guy to possess.

    In fact, that was the weirdest thing of all. Without the connection that brought these two together, Deceit and Cesar wouldn''t have met each other.

    That''s why Cesar rewinds back his thinking, prior to even entering the City of Wheels itself, even way before he entered Harden City.

    He came back from the start where he received memories from his Facet after drinking his Nightmare Potion.

    If he was searching for something that connected him to Deceit, this was the only link he had, even though there was no any type of mention of the Nightmare there.

    That''s when he realized he was referring to that moment, the memory where he was talking about an unrecorded name Apathy.

    That was the connection and ''how'' Cesar and Cedeit were able tomunicate with each other since he literally heard him speak from that time.

    Finally, who is Cedeit?

    He''s a Nightmare.

    An Origin Entity, a different ss from the normal species such as Lesser, Intermediate, and Higher Nightmare Creatures. A creature that can trick and deceive, just as his name suggests.

    Cedeit is also the Architect of the Mansion, the one who designed the hallways and the library itself.

    For what?

    The only thing Cesar could think of was for his protection.

    Cesar knew he and Cedeit thought alike. He''s the type of person who would carefully think up a n if there''s any chance to. That''s what Cesar would do if he was in his position.

    The library is probably designed if everything goes haywire, it will be ast resort solution toe hide and recuperate his strength which didn''t go as nned and made him be a dying eyeball.

    All this realization knew he was being deceived right from the very start¡­ and he just concluded this at this instant right now.

    Stay connected via mvl

    Cedeit deliberately saved, taught, and controlled Cesar to make hime to the Elusive Door. The Nightmare used emotions and chances to get what he wanted and now he was on the verge of doing it.

    All this thinking happened in just a couple of seconds inside Cesar''s mind. Not really half a minute passed in the current time in the Library and he was just connecting the dots up to this point.

    "Deceit, I know that if you can, you would''ve already done something to take over me. I''m certain it is rted topletely controlling my whole being¡­ and the eyeball seems to be thest key to do it but didn''t work. All of this happened because of that ''connection''"

    "¡­"

    "Remember when you said you are resting because the ''connection'' you had with me is minimal? I think that''s almost the exact wording or not¡­? Oh god, the pain I''m enduring is probably not making my thinking straight but¡­ I think is simr in a kind of way and are just telling the truth there,"

    Cesar paused, "Why do that? Because you are waiting for the right time to do it. The right time where you could slowly make your way towards me and that was the time when I had no option but to rely on you to defeat Nicotara."

    Cesar struggled to let out the words before sessfully doing so, "Do you remember what happened next there? Your minute reply interval became fast that you can almost reply any time after. Me giving away my Subconsciousness to you probably strengthened the ''connection'' you had with me,"

    Cesar chuckled, "But that still didn''t work. And, probably the single thing, I cane up with is because¡­ I''m a damn persistent brat. The pain I''m feeling is probably you forcing yourself in towards me and gaining some control but not the entirety of it. Let''s say, in a ratio, I still hold the 6 over your 4 control over this body."

    Cesar stood proudly at his position beforeughing loudly as if it was the funniest conclusion he coulde up with in this godforsaken scenario.

    "Which is why I think your threats earlier are nothing but mere words to scare off a kid who didn''t know anything. Sadly, I''m not one of those kids."

    Deceit seemed to be stricken in surprise as he was speechless and didn''tment for nearly a whole minute before he brought back hisposure.

    "I wasn''t wrong when I said The Void will kill everyone and no one getting out of here,"

    Cesar heard it once and nodded, "At least I''m correct at everything else¡­ which is why I''m proposing yet another deal. I''ve just given you my conclusion at everything I''ve gathered myself so that you wouldn''t call it a bluff,"

    Deceit, who seemed to have been seen through, chuckled and seemed to give up convincing Cesar who was dead set on performing a deal.

    "Look, I''ll give you half of control with my body as an advance payment. I''ll give you whole control¡­ when you get everyone here alive," Cesar paused, "When I make sure that you hold your part of the deal, you can do whatever you want,"

    Deceit contemted for a brief moment before retorting, "I never thought of you as a sacrificial figure but your choices are yours. I''m just here to benefit from what you offer to me and by the looks of it, you are very persistent about this deal,"

    Deceit then added, "But I want a 6:4 ratio instead of 5:5. You do this, you have a deal,"

    Cesar clicked his tongue at the counteroffer, though it wasn''t part of his n. In the end, however, he had no choice but to agree. Realizing he had no other leeway, he gave in and muttered.

    "You have a deal,"

    Cesar who was resisting anything he could to avoid Deceit taking control of the entirety of his being seemed to slightly stop defending and gave off a percentage of his control of his body.

    "Ahhh¡­! Fuck!"

    But ites with the price of a really painful sensation.

 Chapter 117: Final Showdown (11)

    Rumbleeee¡ª!

    "Avoid the shelves!"

    The never-ending shaking of the Library has been finally felt by the upants of the Library, finally being able to think the graveness of the situation.

    All the survivors left from their fight with both the Keeper of the Void and the Librarian ended in a stalemate with the former being contained from somewhere that only Cesar knew while the former escaped from the squadron''s grasp.

    These people have gathered in one ce as they awaited for their doom as a result.

    After all, they have no idea how they would get out of this ce.

    However, even with those doubts lingering in their mind, some people who still believed they could get out of this destructing ce are clinging to the hope that Cesar, the person who disappeared earlier has already found a solution.

    Thud¡ª!

    Those who have any spare essences left to use are tasked of doing the job of clearing the shelves that went on their way while paving a path they can use if the site they were using has be unavable.

    Those who were spent and nearly to the point of exhausting their essence are merely recuperating and readying themselves in case the others who were working have be tired and on the verge of Essence Deviation.

    Rumbleeee¡ª!

    The thunderous rumbling became even more apparent as seconds tickled by making everyone''s attention befall at the ''current roof'' where The Void had already damaged the Library and was able to seed in attempting to get inside.

    The hole that appeared small earlier had grown considerably big. The Library whose job was to keep The Void from trespassing had its progression slowed down due to the fact that its resources were only limited.

    Heck, it was already a miracle that it was able to hold on with such an abomination that is solely made for obstructing everything on its path.

    The Purplish Emptiness that swallowed everything whole.

    "And you''re telling me Cesar met it twice and got away from it?"

    Jacqueline spoke in surprise as the main people who knew about him all gathered in the middle. Stay connected via mvl

    "Isn''t the Nightmare with Two Wands had a very uncanny simrity to this abomination, The Void? And right before everything else, Cesar seemed to know about this Nightmare''s title but had to stop because this thing entered,"

    us brought up the topic rting to it which Jacqueline, Reyna, Nike, and Amar could agree with.

    "Just so you know, Cesar also seemed to be the reason why the Nightmare we are fighting disappeared,"

    Vin then brought up what he knew about Cesar then added, "I don''t know what happened but when we are facing being wiped after that thing attacked us with two spells that we barely even contained, I really thought we were goners. But then, I blinked and¡­ it was gone,"

    Leah, us, and Jeremiah who were at that time also shivered just by hearing about it and couldn''t help but nod at his statement.

    He was exactly right.

    The next thing they knew, they saw Cesar appearing in a gap reality by hopping inside and grabbing the cube in his hand before he started coughing out blood, dropping into the pool of blood he created himself.

    It was still fresh on their memory how Cesar was able to move in his circumstances but they knew he was one tenacious bastard.

    "Uhm, I don''t really know if I should tell you but since he was gone and I don''t want to surprise him, and how we''re talking about him then I have to tell you guys something,"

    All their attention was shifted to Jeremiah who let out a short sigh in his mouth and then calmly stated,

    "Cesar soloed a Nightmare on his own. I wasn''t even talking about some Nightmare. We calcted it as some sort of Intermediate Nightmare Creature. But in my opinion, it is on the verge of bing a Higher Nightmare Creature,"

    That one big piece of news produced a surprise reaction to all, Vin wasn''t even exempted.

    Defeating a Nightmare while being in the First Order of the Shaded hasn''t been heard of. Heck, if that was possible, humanity might''ve been already free from the influence of the Nightmare.

    Mostly, people who can solo a Nightmare have be a Third Order. Only a handful of people achieved such a phenomenon while being on the Second Order and came back alive. Now this already includes Techniques to mix up their survival and prowess rate.

    But a rookie who just achieved initial control of his potion without techniques to use?

    Cesar was the only one who achieved such a phenomenon throughout the history of Nightmares.

    "Amazing¡­"

    Nike couldn''t help but draw a grasp.

    His group didn''t even doubt it, nor did anyone at this point.

    The more they went to learn and hear more about Cesar, the more amazing he became in their eyes.

    Rumbleeeee¡ª!

    But just as they revered Cesar''s phenomenal and out-of-the-world achievements that probably most people wouldn''t be able to achieve in their whole lives, everyone felt a change in their central gravity that made them all surprised.

    "What?!"

    All of them shouted in disbelief when they realized that they were undergoing fluctuations, initializing to its first period, The Float Period.

    "Fuck, hold tight!"

    Nike shouted as everyone underwent a shift in their center of gravity.

    "Ahhh! No, shit! Howe?!"

    "Really, at this very moment as well?!"

    "Dear Lord, I''m ready to ept you in my life! Take me with you into the light!"

    Yet the Library which usually extended itself to make it appear that they were literally floating while undergoing its mechanism throughout the whole thing didn''t do so.

    Instead, the appearance of The Void beneath their feet continued to erge.

    Hence it appeared that they came to the second stage of the period of the fluctuations, the Dive.

    "Oh shit!"

    Jacqueline who had a very disgruntled look on her face clicked her tongue as she shouted in desperation, something she didn''t like to do, just to get a little bit of help from the particr someone.

    "Cesar!"

    As their gazes fell below, they saw a rift opening up that almost looked strikingly simr to a hideous cut they''d all seen on the outside.

    "Prated reality?" Quentin voiced out before seeing a human figure get out of it.

    There, they saw Cesar whose demeanor appeared different, had a ridiculous smile on his face.

    "I told you I would get you all out of here, didn''t I?"

    Just as he said it, another rift opened up, this time, arger one from the rift where Cesar was currently standing.

    He made it to the point where everyone was falling into it.

 Chapter 118: Final Showdown (12)

    "Cesar!"

    Everyone has been washed with relief the moment they realized they weren''t going to be swallowed by the Purplish Emptiness. Instead, they saw arge rift on theirnding point, something that Cesar had made for them.

    And that Prated Reality seemed like their way out of here.

    "us! Hurry and grab him!"

    Vin demanded with a relieved tone as us, who exactly knew what his job was, was about to use his Facet tether at Cesar when he was stricken in fear, which halted this process.

    His other Facet, iraudience, repeatedly whispered one word in his ears.

    Terrible.

    The Cesar waiting for them at the entrance isn''t the same Cesar they knew. His entire difference conflicted from the one they once interacted with which screams intelligence, cunningness, and persistence.

    This guy they were seeing¡­ it was just ugly and terrible.

    "Sir us?"

    Quentin tried to voice out what was wrong upon seeing the clear hesitation us was showing. He saw him sweating buckets while his hands and legs were visibly shaking.

    Feeling something was wrong with the situation, his gaze shifted to Cesar while activating his [Imprint] Facet.

    Soon, he had to forcibly turn it off as a scream escaped his lips which made the others worry.

    "Ahhhhh!"

    The instant they tried to protect Quentin from danger, everyone who was falling from the right instantly became aware that it was Cesar that caused him to wail and instantly readied themselves. Whatever Cesar had be, they had to be vignt and be ready.

    Everyone who had an attack-type of Facet that could deal with direct damage to Cesar by only using projectile spells has been activated. The Facets rting to defending have also been triggered to protect those who were about to attack and those who were too weak to do anything.

    The choice of slightly hovering away from Cesar didn''t seem to be an option as well as they were already close to the rift that he had made. Either they have to cross it now with doubts or cross it with fighting Cesar in the process.

    Slowly as they remained with the same pace of free falling, anyone was expecting what was about to happen. The closer they were to the rift, the more doubts entered their minds as they hesitated to unleash all their prepared attack on Cesar who might be the first one to draw blood.

    However, the moment their feet touched their feet with the rift, nothing happened between them and Cesar.

    They entered the rift as they remained staring at the eyes of the man who might or might not be the key to them getting out of this ce.

    Full of doubts, they never exchanged a single word with Cesar before they were all engulfed by the same rift.

    The people were gone.

    "As we''ve discussed, I let your people go,"

    Cedeit''s mixed-in uneven yet thrilled voice reverberated inside Cesar''s head before the Nightmare added as if he almost forgot about it.

    "Oh right, you wanted proof that they''re alive. Move your head to the side and watch this,"

    Feeling that he wasn''t the real him anymore after giving away the most percentage of control within his body, Cesar''s head slightly shifted to the side in the most static way as if he were a robot.

    Then, a live scene was feeding him in real time as those who survived continued to exit from it. At the same time, he saw thousands of soldiers running towards them to rescue the people that made out from the City of Wheels purplish dome.

    The video was cut afterward, at the same time, the rift underneath him and the one from outside vanished.

    "Feeling better now? Can we go as well?" Cedeit mildly asked while minding the fact that the library was almost done for and beyond repairable now.

    "We could''ve used the same exit as them. Why are we separating?"

    Cesar asked in a roundabout way which Cedeit hastily exined.

    "Those people, even if they are very low level, will notice that something is wrong with you right away. Likee on, two people who were plummeting earlier were able to recognize that you are different from what they knew about you. It will be not much different when you''re outside,"

    Cedeit paused, "Besides, exining it to you is a hassle, and not that it would matter to you after this anyway,"

    Cesar observed all around the library that continued crumbling down and being destroyed by the Purplish Emptiness. He was silent while just feeling pain all over their body.

    But his face didn''t seem like giving up yet.

    There''s just no way he will willingly give up his body to a Nightmare after all that and will get out just to wreak havoc on humanity. Merely thinking about it was very pathetic even for himself.

    That''s why he came up with this n, something that he had been doing from the very start of his life when he was almost eaten by the Nightmare from the past.

    He will gamble.

    Only this time, it will be the ultimate gamble he is willing to make for the sake of reiming control over his own body but also getting out of this ce with the Nightmare under his control.

    "Cesar, you can give in now,"

    Cesar didn''t reply to Cedeit, instead, he remained motionless.

    "Hey¡ª"

    "Deceit,"

    Too fed up with being controlled around and yed by its bidding, Cesar finally retorted as a smile slowly formed on his lips.

    It was very twisted kind of smile.

    "The same as humans don''t trust Nightmares¡­ How can a being such as you trust me?"

    Cesar''s lips grew wider and reached almost to his ear as augh erupted and escaped from within him, something that he had contained so hard enough which finally bursts out.

    "Hahahahahaha! You fool! We will stay here, forever. You and me. And we''ll get eaten by the Void together as well."

    Cesar momentarily stopped as he couldn''t help but thought up the cheesy line and added,

    "Till death do us apart,"

    "Cesaaaaaaaar!"

    Cesar''s arm tried to move and make a prated reality that Cedeit was controlling but Cesar''s other hand tried to stop him by not letting him do what he wanted.

    Cedeit continued trying to take control of Cesar''s body but he kept resisting and persisting no matter what. Even with the pain coursing through his body that became much worse, he wasn''t giving in to his influence.

    They flew all around the ce to try to stop one thing from another from doing something as they wouldn''t give a budge to make the other person sessful.

    It looked like a person was fighting his inner demon, which is somewhat happening to Cesar. Continue reading at mvl

    However, someone isn''t going to wait for them.

    The Void which has been crawling its way inside the Library exerted the highest strength it could wield up to the maximum and forced its powers to destroy the entire Library that had been once indestructible.

    Rumbleeeeee¡ª!

    "Noooooooo!"

    Baaaaaaaaaang¡ª!

    Soon, the whole library crumbled. The hallways it contained and anything that is around have been obliterated as well.

    The Mansion that started appearing as Cesar floated away was also being swallowed by The Purplish Emptiness.

    Andstly, Cesar found himself being exposed to the Void.

 Chapter 119: Final Showdown (13)

    In the end, no matter how much Cesar avoided this entity that continued to loom at his back, the twisted strings of fate seemed destined that these two meet directly.

    He saw The Mansion at his back finally crashing into the influence of the Void, swallowing everything it passed by, obliterating everything on its path.

    He could''ve gotten out of its influence with Cedeit beside him. They wouldn''t have been able to risk themselves and y for the safety measures. Heck, they shouldn''t be staring face to face with that abomination that was there to kill them.

    But Cesar didn''t do anything of it.

    He rightfully believed that if just continued following Cedeit forever with his bidding, there would be a time when he might get discarded and find a suitable being to use.

    But when that happened, Cesar knew he would be right on death''s doorstep.

    He didn''t want that to happen.

    If he wanted to get out of here, Cesar wanted to be himself. Someone who can be considered as him and who managed to pass through the trials of the Mansion. A persistent brat who continued to cling to his way in life while being surrounded by nothing but death.

    But if those things weren''t happening¡­

    ¡­so be it.

    He''ll drag Deceit down to hell if that''s all it takes to bring down a Nightmare that he considers powerful.

    It was just a simple gamble, in exchange for their life that is.

    ''How¡­ beautiful.''

    Your next chapter awaits on mvl

    Now that he managed to take a full view of the Void instead of merely taking a peek at its dreadful appearance, Cesar''s eyes were glistening while witnessing such a picturesque image.

    The vast, purplish space itself stretched endlessly across all directions, bathed in an otherworldly hue that seemed to pulse with the rhythm of the cosmos. Stars so far his gaze could see, like prickles of silver andvender light, were shimmering and casting faint glows that danced and swerved with the purplish expanse.

    Cesar couldn''t understand how this abomination can be so destructive and breathtaking at the same time.

    Of course, someone had to break this moment for him.

    "Cesaaaaaar! Stop this ridiculousness at this instant! We''re going to die at this rate!"

    Floating in the middle of the purplish expanse, Cesar couldn''t help but feel that this was freedom.

    Surrendering to the currents beneath the watchful gaze of The Void, Cesar remained floating while Cedeit focused intently, resisting the pull of its influence. Hepletely ignored creating a prated reality way out for them.

    Instead, Cedeit was covering Cesar with his power, afraid that even if it seeped through him, both of them would instantly die.

    If Cedeit wanted to get out, Cesar had to cooperate with him which had a fat chance of not happening at all.

    "Cesaaaaar!"

    Cesar slowly opened his mouth before he started humming, "I''ve lost an eye~ What does that matter~ For I am Captain Gin~ Born in the litter~"

    He started singing the only childhood song he remembered, annoying the hell out of Cedeit who seemed to snap at his ce.

    "You brat! Listen here, if you insist on being uncooperative, then that''s it! You''re on your own! Don''t regret it if I didn''t give you a chance, okay?! Cesar Sparrow, you hear me?! I''m going to kill you once we''re out of here! Damn it, Sparrow!"

    Cesar remained letting himself free as he ignored Cedeit altogether, observing and feeling the beauty of the indestructible Void.

    "I can''t hold on much longer!"

    "Roaming the seas, Captain Gin it is~"

    Cesar let Cedeit''s words pass through one ear after another.

    "This is very stupid which is unlike you, Sparrow! Cooperate now, you hear me?!"

    "Please, I''m friendly, albeit, not really~ For what you have shall I steal, for what you have shall I kill~"

    Cesar outright ignored Cedeit as he hummed his favorite childhood song that stemmed from a dark past full of death and disaster.

    "Give up and I might consider to set you free~ Only for that matter, I might be lyinggg~"

    Crack¡ª!

    For some reason, the defenses that Cedeit had formed himself have slowly corroded with the influence of the Void. The imaginary shield that has enveloped him was slowly being destroyed but Cesar didn''t care at all.

    It wasn''t time yet.

    Cedeit, the proud owner of Mansion of Deceit, isn''t begging enough for attention.

    Craaack¡ª!

    Cedeit who was trying hard to reconstruct the shield seemed to solely focus it at this point as his voice became absent. However, even if he had an abysmal amount of essence, even with Cesar''s reserves that have been managed by himself when he was experiencing an overload, would not be able to help since The Void probably has more of thembined.

    Cedeit was just an eyeball and Cesar was a human.

    Contending with an entity that has a sole reason for obliterating its enemy, Cesar didn''t have enough strength to do so far now.

    Maybe in the far future¡­ but not now.

    ''Come on, Cedeit. Beg for me¡­''

    And it seemed Cedeit to be reaching that point of realization. No, he had already realized but he continued to neglect this matter, thinking that Cesar would give in at the end to save himself from The Void.

    But as Cesar quoted, if it was others, they might''ve already surrendered to it. He wasn''t part of ''they'', however.

    "Fuck you, stupid brat! This will be the end of the two of us, you hear me?! I''ll be cutting you off, there will be no us the moment we get out of here! Listen here, if you won''t give up, we''re fucked! Human! You hear me, we''re fucked!"

    ''Keep whining¡­''

    "Sparrow¡­! We''re going to die!"

    ''Keep screaming¡­''

    "Cesar¡­ we will be gone in existence if you don''t give in now¡­"

    ''As long as you aren''t begging, I will never give in,''

    Seeing that he was on the verge of losing everything he had worked hard for and after relentless convincing for Cesar, Cedeit finally gave in and spoke in a regretful tone.

    "Fuck this shit, kid. All right, I''ll do whatever you want to do. W-we just need to get out of here, please¡­"

    Cesar loved to hear it.

    ''That''s it, you piece of shitty Nightmare. When you''re on my body, you don''t get to order me around.'' Cesar smirked while musing inwardly before he let himself be silent for a moment.

    When he saw that Cedeit''s defenses were on the verge of destructing, Cesar then asked.

    "I just couldn''t get this outside of my head at all. Why does The Void want to kill you? So persistent on even entering inside? Answer this and I''ll give you a condition to get out of here. That condition, however, is that you give me ny-nine percent control over my body. You can have that one percent and stay within my left eye socket,"

    Cesar paused, "If you lie through about doing this deal, I don''t mind dying honestly. You should be afraid of the man who had nothing to lose at all¡­ except some pretty good artifact that I currently possessed I guess,"

    Cedeit who didn''t really have time to mingle around and chit-chat, began to give Cesar the control he wanted, leaving a percentage for himself from his left eye socket.

    He was done with it,pletely telling Cesar that he didn''t want to die yet.

    While doing so, Cedeit exined hastily, "To really answer your question¡­ I really don''t know,"

    "All right, the deal''s off¡ª"

    Afraid that it woulde to that point, Cedeit hurriedly added, "No, no! God damn you! When I said that I really don''t know, I don''t!"

    Cedeit then revealed something that he knew he shouldn''t be telling, much more to Cesar since it would be part of his weakness. But if he wanted to give a more detailed statement, he had to do so.

    He then described, "I-I''m¡­ only part of the real Deceit''s consciousness, Sparrow. Anything important or useful information that he stored has been sealed away in various ces. The Lineage of the Great Deceitful Origin is scattered around the whole universe. Because of that reason, the amount of power I can only use isn''t like The Void who isplete and a real deal,"

    ''Are you kidding with me? If you aren''t powerful enough and merely a part of the real Deceit''s consciousness, then we''re screwed if one Origin Nightmare Creaturended on Earth. Half of the world might be gone in a day¡­''

    Cesar couldn''t help but be enlightened at the strength of these Origin Creatures, especially if the one that was resting at his left eye socket was just part of it.

    It could already do wonders just by being a dying eyeball¡­ what if he went to retrieve all of its memories?

    ''What happened to Deceit though? Is it rted to that one thing, about the Akashic Records? Or entirely something else? A being like that dying and disappearing seems impossible to happen¡­''

    Cesar wanted to ponder about his discovery a bit more but his attention couldn''t help but be directed at something from the far front.

    Slowly, his gaze slowly fell there.

    Crack¡ª!

    A purplish hand was reaching out to him¡­ and a pair of purplish eyes were staring back at him. As it did, it seemed the whole purplish expanse were following her around.

    "Cesar, listen to me! You need to make a prated reality fast! Here''s how you do it¡ª"

    Slowly, it reached him... but Cesar continued his focus on Cedeit''s guidance on creating a prated reality out of nervousness when that hand didn''t stop from creeping forward and how the space itself was bending at her will.

    Craaack¡ª!

    Atst, with Cedeit to assist him, a prated reality has manifested at his front at the edge of his reach. He tensed, posied himself up and ready to leap through it when a voice echoed from behind, freezing him in ce.

    "Master Deceit¡­"

    Cesar shivered.

    "It''s so lonely in here¡­"

    Every hair on his body stood up.

    "Help me¡­"

    Cesar didn''t let the temptation of staring back get the best of him and decided what he knew best.

    He didn''t look back.

    ''I''m out of here¡­''

    Cesar plunged down inside the prated reality, leaving behind the Purplish Emptiness, The Void that seemed to be weirdly pleading for his attention and help.

    It was a very terrifying experience.

    [End of Volume 1 ¨C Mansion Of Deceit]

    Author''s Note: I don''t really have any idea what to say but I''ll just write whatever my mind wanted to put here. Please, help me encourage on continuing this. I''m really enjoying this so far and hope to give more of you readers a good reading experience with this masterpiece in the making *cough

    That''s all and enjoy the treat.

    Raaaaaaaah! Let''s move to volume 2!

 Chapter 120: Time Dilation

    "Uh¡­"

    I don''t really remember anything after I entered the prated reality.

    It seemed my mind had been too chaotic while the pain coursing through my body was crushing enough that it made me lose consciousness.

    Did Cedeit already take control over me while I''ve been out?

    I don''t really know.

    Do I have to stay awake most of the time to avoid losing consciousness to avoid him having control over me?

    I don''t really know.

    But as soon as I woke up, this is what dawned upon me¡­

    "What am I doing in a hospital bed?"

    It''s been a while since I saw a normal ceiling wall made out of marble. A normal-looking light that isn''t a torch, a spiralingmp, or a glowing book is enough to produce a vision for whoever might need such a sighting.

    I should''ve been thrilled to see such a thing but I remained motionless in my ce.

    It was because I still don''t know what''s going on.

    But one thing''s for certain.

    ''Something isn''t right¡­''

    There are guards on the side of my bed. More guards were stationed all around such as the location of the door of my room while another was located outside. Additionally, there seems to be a hidden security using his Facet observing me through the wall¡­ how funny for it to hide from me¡ª wait, how could I see him?

    If they''re guards in my room when I''m only an academy student, it could only mean that I''ve done something bad to put me in custody or because of what happened to City of Wheels.

    The survivors from the City of Wheels ident must''ve been interrogated already while probably finding simrities in their statements upon hearing and gathering one single intel altogether.

    Who is Cesar Sparrow?

    Or did they just find out I was hosting a Nightmare right behind the whole fa?ade I was showing? Speaking of a Nightmare¡­ Cedeit has been really quiet in my mind.

    I''m going nuts just by merely thinking...

    Creak¡ª!

    Soon enough, the entrance of the room slid open, revealing a pair of adults entering inside. One was Arnold, the current headmaster of the Resisting Academy, who was still stoic yet heartwarming like he is.

    As for the other¡­ I didn''t really expect this person to show up at all.

    Shouldn''t the academy send someone in a much higher position instead of someone who is only an informant?

    "Sir Arnold¡­"

    I shifted my gaze to the man beside Arnold, who, for some reason, seemed to be putting a great distance between the two of them out of respect.

    "Sir Nas," Explore new worlds at §Þ??

    Thest time I saw Nas, this informant, if my memory is correct was the time when I asked information regarding the Facet. I was able to do this since it is one of the rewards I received through hard work.

    "Sparrow, it''s been a while,"

    Nas spoke in an amiable tone as he took down his hat above his head.

    I nodded since it really had been a while.

    "Look, please don''t get surprised. Everyone said that you were thest person that they had seen on this¡­ Library, inside this Mansion. And you are the same person who created an exit for them¡­ this so-called Prated Reality. Am I following? Do you remember this?"

    I don''t know what they are trying to get in here for but¡­ shouldn''t they at least wait for a day to make me recuperate my strength? I just woke up a few minutes ago, for goodness sake. I will willingly answer their questions then¡­ but wouldn''t that mean they would use some sort of truth machine to figure out if I was lying or not, right?

    I guess this is better.

    "Yes, I can remember,"

    Nas with a dashing smile, continued, "I want you to tell me honestly when you created this?"

    What kind of stupid question is that? When did I create the prated reality? Isn''t that yesterday?

    With a light cough while pondering very deeply, I retorted, "Sir, if we''re on the same thinking, I created this prated reality for them to exit¡­ just yesterday. Then I came back here soon but I lost consciousness along the way. How long was I out, sir?"

    Nas seemed to notice that detail as his face looked like he figured everything itself out while Arnold had his mood dampened. Nas shifted his gaze to the side and saw Arnold nodding once before he put his gaze back at me.

    "Cesar, listen to me."

    "I''m listening¡­"

    Why does your tone sound so¡­ creepy?

    Nas nodded once before he continued, "Cesar, you lost consciousness the moment younded here, to another Prated Reality you made yourself. This was three days ago and you have been out of consciousness since then,"

    It¡­ sounded very normal. Why the hell is your tone so different, though?! Seriously, it is giving me heebie-jeebies¡ª wait just a moment.

    I was out for three days ago¡­ but for me, the interval where I¡­ no, not exactly me, but Cedeit who created the prated reality made it yesterday¡­ though?

    I''m confused¡­

    As if to answer this question in my head, Nas then continued, "But you see Cesar, your words didn''t align with what actually happened. When you said that you created the prated reality, it seems you are thinking about it now¡­ you''re wrong about it and probably confused. Do you know why?"

    I couldn''t answer because he was right.

    Nas then continued after a long pause.

    "Cesar, the fifty-three survivors amongst the thousand soldiers that went through the library already came back a little bit over a year ago. Those fifty-three lives that are indebted to you are only here thanks to your heroism. You have be a hero¡ª"

    Nas''s statement continued to pass through my ear to another as my mind was in its own world.

    My mind was already stuck at the moment Nas said ''a year ago''

    After all, that doesn''t make any sense at all.

    I knew that Cedeit who created the prated reality had been yesterday. It also happened yesterday when I came face to face with the Void¡­ and you''re telling me that not only have I been out for three days, which is something I can take myself¡­ but it has been already almost a year since I helped those people leave the Mansion?

    Wouldn''t that mean¡­.

    ''Wait, wait, wait¡­ that''s fucked up. The time has already been disrupted like that? Wouldn''t that mean¡­ I was traveling through the prated reality for almost a year?''

    As if he could guess what I was thinking, Nas rified his words as he stated, "Cesar, what you experienced in the Mansion might be a little over a month or two but it actually isn''t."

    Nas took a dramatic pause as he stated once again.

    "Kid, you''ve been trapped at that ce for a year,"

 Chapter 121: That Piece Of Advice

    Cesar was left speechless at the news, thinking it was the most absurd thing he had heard. Even after he had woken up, this seemed to be the stupidest, at the same time, an unbelievable statement that had shaken his beliefs of ''normality''.

    It sounded absurd but¡­ he isn''t really surprised to hear it.

    After experiencing the Mansion, Cesar realized there is much more than what this world contained. If he doesn''t want to be yed or moved around by the currents of a phenomenon that he knows will continue to happen, he has to gear himself up and continue training.

    Cesar looked at Arnold and retorted with a slight smirk, "Does that mean I already graduated from the Academy''s Curriculum? I''ll get to be deployed to different sites to retake somends here and there?"

    Arnold and Nas stared at Cesar with a nk expression, thinking that he was just throwing a fa?ade to hide his nervousness but upon seeing that he was excluding confidence and willingness to adjust to the situation, they didn''t dwell on his well-being any longer, and the two both smiled.

    "I didn''t know you have this type of humor, Cesar," Nas responded in an amused tone as if he liked where this was going before turning his back against the two, "Arnold, whatever he asked you, just answer it. You can also tell him ''that''. I don''t mind at all,"

    Nas nced at Cesar, "I''ll leave now, Sparrow. The rest will be exined by Arnold. It was nice meeting you again and I hope we can talkter in the future,"

    Cesar silently stared at Nas before nodding once, "It was nice seeing you as well, Nas,"

    Nas nodded back before slowly making his way out. As he did, the guards around the ce did a respectful bow, making Cesar change his impression about Nas, appearing like he wasn''t just a normal informant at all.

    "You must be surprised that Nas is being respected like that, well because he deserved to be so. Don''t think too negatively about it, instead, you really should be d that he was the one who is tasked to handle you,"

    Cesar pondered Arnold''s words in his head before asking, "Who is sir Nas though?"

    "Since he told me that he wouldn''t mind telling you ''that'', I guess it''s fine," Arnold massaged the bridge of his nose before revealing his superior''s identity with a tired sigh, "Nas¡­ just Nas, is one of the Administrators of the Academy. Amongst the other Administrators that I met throughout my whole life, Nas is the most amiable, caring, and ambitious but in a good way,"

    Arnold halted, "But I heard all around that¡­ he is also the strongest amongst the rest of the Administrators and a person that really cared about his students. Believe me, if other Administrators were to discover you first, you wouldn''t be lyingfortably in a bed. Of course, Administrators aren''t really bad people. It''s just¡­ some of them are really rough when showing care for their students,"

    ''Strongest amongst the Administrators? Wouldn''t that mean he''s their leader? And¡­ you''re telling me I''m getting intel from a really authoritative person?''

    Cesar shook, ''I didn''t do something disrespectful to him right? Yeah, as far as I can remember, we maintained a really good rtionship. That''s good¡­''

    Watching Cesar deep in thought, Arnold remained silent for a while before continuing, "Anyway, enough of Nas. He would''ve stayed a bit longer if he wasn''t busy so I''m here to do his bidding,"

    Arnold was about to ask, thinking of doing anything that had been asked for him to do when he clicked his tongue.

    Scratching any of that while convincing himself not doing it on someone who just went back, he spoke outrightly without minding if the guards were to hear it.

    "Actually, screw that. I was about to ask you a lot of questions but I changed my mind. I don''t want to interrogate you the same way as those survivors have been interrogated by the higher-ups."

    Arnold massaged the back of his head before adding, "Do you remember the piece of advice I gave you when you received your memories from your Facet?"

    Cesar pondered for a couple of seconds before replying, "The thing about ''treasure those secrets yourself. They might be your lifeline in the future''? Is that it?"

    "Yes, that''s it," Arnold smiled, "That''s what I tell everyone throughout my whole life, you see. It really sounded cool,"

    Cesar nkly stared at Arnold for a brief moment before a chuckle escaped his lips. Arnold did as well, keeping the conversation carefree and ted.

    But then again, another issue pressed Cesar''s mind as he couldn''t help but ask, "If you''re not going to interrogate me, wouldn''t that mean you''ll get a lot of trouble from your superiors?"

    Arnold let out an arrogant smile and replied, "That''s for sure but I''m me. I can handle my old ass in front of some people. Besides, even Nas will be there to back you up. Those words he said earlier are only a formality in case one of these guards, who were loyal to him, were spies for other Administrators. Who knows if we''re going to catch some strayster on,"

    Cesar nced toward the guards that were guarding the room and couldn''t help but be wary of them.

    What if they are all spies and not a single one of them can be trusted to hear Arnold''s words that seemed to undermine the other Administrators power?

    Nheless, Cesar felt they were bold enough to confront some of them.

    "Anyways, since you are the one who disappeared for a year, you can ask me questions that you are interested in knowing. I will answer them to the best of my ability,"

    For some reason, with Arnold here and Nas to back both of them in case there was a problem, Cesar couldn''t help but feel at ease. Even though his situation is very weird, he has clues as to how it happened.

    But he didn''t want to talk about them for now.

    He had another thing he was curious about. Discover stories at §Þ??

    "About the fifty-three survivors¡­ how are they holding up?"

    "Oh¡­"

    Upon remembering their situation almost a year after the City of Wheels ident, Arnold chuckled and informed with a string tone.

    "They''ve be a powerhouse on their own, you see,"

 Chapter 122: Werenâ€™t Supposed To Happen

    "Are you for real?"

    The year that Cesar been gone in the Earth''s time seemed to bring good results from the survivors of the ones he let himself free. It''s not like he felt bragging about but it was an achievement itself.

    Now, those people have be a powerhouse on their own. Not only that, their skills appeared to have been sharpened, heightened, and apparent.

    The others who were merely soldiers before they entered the Mansion have be something new. Because of that, some of them who weren''t a Squad Leader such as Chin now hold a significant influence on their peers and have been promoted ever since.

    They are doing well right now.

    Aside from them, Jeremiah has been on a break ever since his leg got chopped off from the injuries he received from the Keeper. However, a prosthetic leg where he could exert movement as he did before was given to him. Because of that, he wasn''t really out of the job.

    us, Leah, and Amar have be one big group and has promoted to a Major Rank in the Army Rankings. After all, three of them didn''t belonged to the Nightmare Corps. However, they weren''t just cking off and continued training. They continued to be deployed through various sites and have been able to achieve sess thrice with their influence there.

    Aside from the rest of the Army men, the Nightmare Corps that entered the Mansion which amounted to almost a hundred, only a handful came back.

    Vin, for sure. Maine, Sean, and Alms as well. Surprisingly enough, Witz, the blind dude, came back to them even though he really didn''t see him throughout the time when they were battling the Keeper of the Void.

    But he was the one who attacked the Keeper of the Void through Vin''s shattered reality when they were in the Float Period, the guy who brought down the ability called Sky Piercer.

    Cesar didn''t know that he was that powerful before but he firmly believed that he was one of the best there was whening to that Library.

    He might''ve been fighting the Librarian but Cesar didn''t hear a single thing about Witz fighting together with Alms and the rest who were on the other side of the time.

    Thest thing Arnold knew was that he was out of the Library after surviving it.

    However, the rest that wasn''t mentioned didn''t survive from the Library or just have been swallowed whole by the Void.

    Hence, most soldiers from the Army had survived the ordeal but it couldn''t be said to be good at all as at the same time, they were also thergest casualty among the rest of the category that went inside.

    There was The Corps, The Army, andstly, the students of the Resisting Academy.

    "You got to be kidding me¡­"

    Arnold shook his head, "No, I''m not kidding. Jacqueline, Nike, Reyna, and Quentin graduated together justst month with the other fourth years as well. And not only one has been the Academy''s Top but these four were. They are now called the Four Horsemen, you know? After all, in the history of the Academy, only this year has been announced that they are Four Academy''s Top,"

    Hearing them having a title on their own which sounded slightly cringe, Cesar almost couldn''t contain hisugh but he still managed to keep it controlled.

    Who knows if they are really that important figure now? He might use them as connections to get some leeway from others.

    It was such a fantastic idea.

    Arnold continued exining their situation.

    The group broke up after returning to the City of Wheels when Cesar continued to be trapped in the Mansion, from Arnold''s words. It seems they weren''t on speaking terms and continued training while undergoing different expeditions with different groups. Experience tales with §Þ??

    However, the results were expected of them. They pulled it off with flying colors but the highest achievement on their list of feats in their academy records was still their expedition in the City of Wheels.

    That''s right.

    Their mission, even though it deviated and was far from aplished if they followed the given instructions since no survivors had been brought out dead or alive, has been branded as sessful.

    It has been widely recognized by the Academy, The Administrators, and even the Army.

    All because the mission was deemed impossible from the start. The difficulty given to them, albeit high, isn''t high enough to put students in the academy right in that very ce.

    It has been widely spread that it was a miracle they were alive.

    That''s where the problem starts.

    Because their mission wasn''t supposed to be that in the first ce.

    After careful investigation from Arnold and some of the Administrators, it has been found their given paper has been sabotaged by someone''s machinations.

    They found out who had done it.

    However, they were a little bit toote as this particr person had already been corrupted. They had to take this figure out from their own house because the city would be affected if they weren''t taken care of.

    By the looks of it, someone intended Cesar''s group to go to the City of Wheel''s situation.

    The purpose of it still remained unknown but it seemed it has been achieved to some point of degree.

    Now, Arnold was keeping close tabs on everyone who might know this information, as well as the Administrators, since it could only mean someone got under their gazes without being able to find out.

    This was a very important news to Cesar.

    ''What the hell? So I wasn''t supposed to go through that hell if not for someone''s schemes? Not again, why am I always getting yed on and on? Fucking irritating,''

    Seeing the piece of news that is ssified for him, his group, and very important figures, Arnold became observant of the guards and tried to peer through their reactions. Unfortunately and fortunately, no one has reacted to it negatively or excitedly.

    Then he gazed at Cesar and finally came back right into the topic, "Cesar, I know that this sounded early but you knew what I was talking about when someone is just doing schemes under our noses, right? It means this opponent is strong. Now, what will you do about it?"

    Cesar who exactly knew what he was talking about, nodded and replied, "When am I getting back to the Academy?"

 Chapter 123: Change Of Plans

    "Good, good. Talking with you is really easy," Arnold repeatedly nodded as if knowing Cesar hadn''t changed at all throughout the time he was trapped before continuing, "It said that you''ll be discharged in a week but if you want, I''ll arrange for your return in three days. That is if your condition is good for the venture,"

    Arnold paused, "Of course, I''ll be with you to escort us to the Academy to avoid some trouble that might befall on our journey."

    Cesar didn''t hesitate to reply right away, exactly found the exact wordsing from Arnold''s mouth.

    "We''ll go with that n, sir. I don''t want to be cooped up in a hospital bed anyway,"

    Arnold chuckled at hearing that reply before he stood at his ce as if something had juste to his mind before he expressed it to Cesar warmly.

    "Oh, just so you know, you''ll be undergoing a different curriculum than others. Yes, you''re still a student of the academy but a group of professionals will personally train you. Of course, you can also attend normal sses like any other but the special training you''ll be receiving will take priority,"

    Cesar was bbergasted at receiving such treatment before a smirk formed on his lips, "Did you already n this beforehand, or have you just thought of this now?"

    Arnold is poised to answer a question contemted briefly as he caresses his beard that hasn''t been trimmed down yet before replying abruptly.

    "Nas has given me the verdict to let you decide this for a week but not right now, you see. But I know you aren''t the type of person who wants toze around, am I right?" Arnold chuckled, "As for the private training, it''s something I thought up while we were talking just now. I mean, it''s the only thing I could do to pay you for what you did to anyone. It must be a horror to be trapped in that ce for over a year,"

    Cesar let out an awkwardugh.

    ''Hahaha¡­ you won''t believe it if I said that literally, a day passed since I escaped The Void. I guess I returned three days ago but still¡­ it didn''t take a year for me to exit out of that purplish emptiness. Man remembering that thing calling out to me still gave me chills¡­''

    Understanding that this would benefit him which he strongly needed, Cesar didn''t give time to give his answer and agreed.

    "I''ll ept it, sir. Thank you,"

    Arnold stood up from his position before tapping Cesar''s head gently, "What are you thanking for? It''s just the responsibility of this old man to give his students the best treatment to everyone. In fact, I should be thanking you instead,"

    Arnold then turned around and ordered the guards solemnly, "You don''t need him to guard anymore. Just surround his perimeter but don''t ever disturb his privacy. If I caught any single one of you peeping, not only you''ll face me but Nas as well,"

    Arnold shifted his gaze at the wall where one guard was staying put and camouged before adding, "That includes you as well,"

    Soon, the guards who were motionless for a few seconds started to leave the room. Once all of them exited, Arnold left a message to him, conveying.

    "Enjoy your three days here. I''ll be back here to fetch you," Arnold paused, "Oh by the way, your artifacts are safely stored. Don''t worry, no one is daring enough to look at what they are. It belonged to you, after all,"

    Cesar almost forgot about his artifact for a brief moment but he was d that Arnold fully respected his rights and as a student himself. He didn''t doubt his words and stood up to see him off.

    But just as he did, he felt something dripping out from his nose that made Arnold open his eyes wide.

    "Cesar¡ª"

    Cesar immediately stopped Arnold from moving by stretching his hand towards him to assess the situation himself. It all happened so fast that the headmaster of the academy couldn''t react quickly as Cesar continuously had his nose bleed.

    ''What''s happening¡­?''

    Cesar felt nothing on his body as the pain he felt when he was entering the prated reality to escape seemed to just vanish. Perturbed at how this was turning out and almost reaching out for Arnold to help who seemed to be looking around to see the problem, a voice talked through his head.

    "I tried everything I could to keep your physical, mental, and emotional damages in check and they are barely relieving themselves but one thing I couldn''t control is your Soul."

    Cedeit had finally talked after all those silent treatment he was giving to Cesar when he woke up.

    "Hahaha¡­ very funny though. After all the things you''ve been through, you''re going to die in the most painless yet ruthless way possible,"

    Cesar covered his nose as he replied outwardly, not minding if Arnold heard it himself.

    "W-what do you mean¡­ I''m going to die without me knowing?"

    Cedeit further exined, "Look, I''m only doing this because if you die, I die as well. But looking at the situation, it will not be a long time till you drop dead. Good job staying alive until now though,"

    Feeling that he was outright being mocked, Cesar tried to control himself, feeling the imaginary concept inside him such as the Soul. It sounded important which is why he was able to know how grave it is if not maintained properly.

    Cedeit even had a defeated tone while he exined it.

    "I-is there a way to fix this?" Discover more stories at §Þ??

    Cesar nervously asked as Arnold remained standing and confused at his situation.

    It didn''t look like they were being attacked as Cesar himself was talking through someone in the air. As for what it is, Arnold will not open up this conversation unless he states it himself or needs to know if it is already too pressing.

    But looking at the weird situation, it was turning into something that he needed to know if he wanted to help him.

    But Cesar remained calm amidst the relentless amount of blood gushing out from his holes.

    "This will be thest thing I''ll be helping you but I want something in return. This information is very crucial for you, after all,"

    "Just tell me!"

    Not wanting to y around any longer while going for lengthy conversations, Cedeit replied with a bored tone.

    "Find a Spirit Schr in this world. It''s not just any type of specialist that you''ll see if you will it to, though," Cedeit paused, "If you''re thinking it is some human, I''m not talking about that kind of specialist. You''repletely delusional if you can find someone that capable."

    Cesar contemted for a few seconds to structure his sentence properly before adding, "The one you''ll have to find is a Nightmare. Someone you can make a deal with by forming a contract with each other,"

    After hearing that piece of information, Cesar''s mind stirred for a quick solution and refreshed his thinking to see if he had heard or read anything about a Nightmare which can be categorized as a Spirit Schr.

    There was nothing.

    Realizing that he waspletely clueless at what that meant, Cesar shifted his gaze at Arnold and clicked his tongue.

    It seemed his three days vacation here... he''ll have to do it early on while they were travelling now.

    "Sir, changed of ns. I want to leave here now,"

 Chapter 124: Reflecting Upon

    After that night on seeing Cesar continuously pouring out blood from his holes which continued to happen for a few minutes, Arnold changed his stance when dealing with The Freak of the Academy.

    What happened to him there wasn''t normal after all.

    Besides, some of the reports that those interrogated from the Library saw him doing the same thing after battling away a Nightmare that had disappeared.

    Arnold didn''t know that Cesar had suffered like that. After all, the results of the examination of the condition while he was unconscious all told him that he was all right.

    There weren''t any major injuries suffered from him nor was his mental or emotional state in disarray.

    But it didn''t look like he was suffering from any illness yet Arnold knew Cesar was keeping his condition to himself while feeling crap on the inside.

    Well, Arnold was right when Cesar was hiding his condition to himself. Probably he and Cedeit knew what kind of situation are they undergoing since they were in the same body.

    However, Cesar hadn''t felt a single bit of pain in himself. He didn''t know how to react to such a case when he was unsure if it was a good thing or not.

    But it was definitely a bad thing after experiencing something like that while having zero pain whatsoever.

    It looked like he had acquired absolute pain tolerance which is impossible to receive. There''s no way he would believe such a thing just because he experienced terrible things.

    There''s the Nightmare as well. If not for Cedeit, Cesar wouldn''t be aware of it. He would''ve been left standing if he remained quiet which he was d that he didn''t.

    ''I''m very calm though¡­''

    It''s probably because he encountered situations that were deemed impossible, something that caused him physical, mental, or emotional damage that he didn''t appear hectic to this condition.

    When he had lost his eye on one of the corrupted humans, that was the time when his emotions were all high and fervor.

    Cesar knew that if that hadn''t happened, his understanding of regarding ''dangerous risks'' and ''life-threatening situations'' couldn''t have been deepened. Nheless, it didn''t change him for the worse. He made use of that learning and continued pulling off ridiculous actions per action.

    ''Reflecting this now is very fulfilling¡­ I might do this sometime in the future to analyze what I learned¡­''

    Cesar rests his arm at the window as he gazes at the world that didn''t change even if he was gone for a year in their eyes.

    Yes, after Cesar told Arnold that he had changed his ns to wait for three days, they immediately began their venture back toward the Academy.

    For Arnold, it looked like Cesar hurriedly wanted to return since he would feel safe from the walls of the Academy but he wasn''t entirely right.

    He indeed felt safe right in the walls of the Academy but he also wanted to go back to see if would find information in the Academy data books about Nightmares that can be considered a Soul Schr.

    Finding information about it is his top priority right now.

    His second top priority right now is to determine what caused him to return a yearter in Earth''s Time.

    The only difference between this category to the previous one is that he had a clue how he could''ve happened.

    ''It''s the Void isn''t it?''

    Cesar first encountered the Time Dtion when they were about to be transferred to the Mansion. That was the time when he asked his group what the date was as for him, it appeared glitchy and said something different.

    As for how he was able to discern that there was a time dtion, it was only because he had an inkling of connection with Deceit, this stemmed right at the start when the mysterious voice in the memory of his Facet was actually the same Nightmare Deceit.

    A simr thing could be said for Caster, the Heretic, as he tried to keep them from escaping the Void''s influence. Yet, he couldn''t quite identify his connection to the Nightmare creature beyond the Library itself. That should be enough information how Caster was also able to distinguished the real time instead of being under the Time Dtion.

    However, that didn''t make so much sense. After all, Deceit and Void are two different beings.

    The question is, Howe beings rted to Deceit were able to peer through The Void''s Time Dtion?

    This is where the realization of Cesar kicks in.

    After all, when he met the Void''s figure reaching out to him while the purplish expanse bent on its will, it didn''t look like they were being attacked. Well, they did but not in a way that can squash them into pieces right away.

    That should be just the nature of being ''The Void''.

    Nheless, from that time, it wasn''t full of malice nor a force to reckon with.

    It was more like asking for help from Deceit, her master, from afar.

    What if The Void is just actually pleading for help?

    What if the only time she traced Deceit''s trails was at that Mansion?

    Thus right after finding it, The Void began isting it within her grasp and tried to barge inside for who knows how long. Because of her relentless infiltration, the Mansion''s protection continued to weaken hence the Prated Realities that seemed from the room where Cedeit was staying, continued to leak out.

    It was invisible to most eyes at first before finally seeing the real deal which resulted in Vin at that time to lose consciousness. Not only because he was seeing the Mansion but also tried to stick his influence to the Void which caused his severe condition.

    ''So that was the reason why he uttered ''Time'' at that time. It was because he was able to peer through that something was wrong in the City. He was the first one to discover it after me. I see¡­ it all started to make sense¡­''

    Cesar whose opinion on this matter was bing true, unbelievable or not, couldn''t help but muse inwardly.

    ''If so, why does the Void need help from Deceit? And howe Cedeit isn''t telling me about it? Is it because his memory hasn''t reached the point where he can know about it? Does the part where his only part of the real deal''s consciousnesses into y? Actually, that''s probably it¡­''

    Cedeit wasn''t telling him anything regarding the Void because there was nothing to tell.

    This piece of memory that Cedeit had didn''t contain any information regarding that entity, The Void, even if through Cesar''s eyes, the Nightmare dwelling inside him was already knowledgeable enough.

    ''Thinking about rtionships between great beings is too much for a puny human like me at the moment. Maybe when I''m strong as them?''

    Cesar couldn''t help but chuckle at that notion, thinking that if that time when he had the same stenghth as those ever came, it would be a very long time.

    "Cesar,"

    Bringing him out from his reverie, Arnold saw Cesar''s attention shift at him as he suggested with a slight smile.

    "We''ve been riding for a few hours. Wanna grab a bite somewhere?"

    Cesar paused for a brief moment before replying right away, "I will never reject an offer thates with food. Your treat, right?"

    Feeling that he liked this version of Cesar more, Arnold nodded and replied with a disbelieving tone, "What kind of stupid question is that? If you want, I''ll rent that restaurant just so you can eat peacefully,"

 Chapter 125: Powerhouses

    At first, Cesar thought Arnold was merely joking when he told him that he''d rent the restaurant they''re supposed to eat. But he wasn''t kidding at all.

    He rented a whole damn restaurant.

    It wasn''t just a simple diner but a very famous ce.

    When both of them entered, Cesar saw the ce was packed with people. But Arnold''s presence shook the owner of the restaurant, instantly recognizing that he was no other than the current Headmaster of the Academy.

    However, there''s a reason why the owner was very respectful and mindful toward him. He had two kids attending the Academy was the reason.

    That''s why when Arnold told the owner that he''d pay for the fee for the night, in exchange for the whole ce being cleared up, the owner didn''t hesitate to follow his demands and cleared up the ce in just fifteen minutes.

    It was being paid after all. He wasn''t being threatened or forced to do his bidding or abusing his power to get what he wanted.

    Now, the restaurant was all cleared up, and the owner only waiting for the two to give their food request.

    "What would you like to order?" The owner, who had a tag named Jerry, politely asked Cesar, "Look at the menu and see if you liked any dishes there. If nothing, try to give what kind of dish you crave and my best chefs will cook it for you,"

    Cesar felt weird being able to receive that kind of treatment as he mused inwardly, ''Woah¡­ someone speaking respectfully to a hoodlum and orphan like me. Well, I don''t dislike it.''

    Cesar gazed at the menu on his hand, looking at the dishes one by one. As he went deeper, his eyes gradually glistened. Each of them was delicious enough that his eyes were already screaming in delight and hungriness.

    Upon noticing that Cesar couldn''t choose which one he liked after being silent for a whole, Arnold decided to take matters into his own hands and expressed calmly.

    "Whatever you have, bring it all."

    Not disliking the authoritative and demanding tone of Arnold at all, Jerry nodded repeatedly as if he were a broken robot and darted away to the kitchen to give his demands at the chefs.

    "Reputation is really everything," Cesarmented while bringing the menu down at the table before adding, "I also have that kind of reputation in the Academy but you''re different. Your position from the Academy isn''t different when you''re outside. You can use it and will people to do your bidding,"

    Hearing that from Cesar, Arnold let out a soft chuckle as he replied, "Well, you might not be aware of it but I guess it''s time for you to learn that your current position in the Academy will fade away once you are out here in this world. Unless you are really good at the academy, that is.

    Arnold then paused as he came back to the topic, "You''re right by the way. Your reputation matters but where do they stem from?"

    Arnold started exining, "They came from the system that everyone created called the World''s Powerhouses. And there are three of them as of the moment with a very rich history,"

    Arnold paused as he raised his thumb to demonstrate, "As you know, the first powerhouse is The Academy. We have a ranking as well. At the very bottom of the list are you, students. Showing your credentials that you belonged to the Academy will help you at certain times,"

    He took a halt while raising another finger, "Next to that list are Staff Members. This includes the ones who prepare your meals, the servers. Watching the walls which were guards,"

    Arnold made a long list of staff members at the academy before ending it with, "...Even the janitors have a certain amount of reputation. After all, everyone who has been hired by the academy is capable and someone who will not just be handicapped when the Academy is in danger."

    He raised the third finger, fourth, and fifth finger, "Up next is Teachers. There''s no need to tell you their capabilities since they wouldn''t have been teaching you all if they didn''t know what they were doing. Following that are the Principals for each grade hence there are four principals in total. And the next one is me, The Headmaster,"

    Arnold pushed more knowledge onto Cesar regarding what he didn''t know much about the Academy before he proceeded to the next one.

    He closed his fingers and stated calmly, "Next that came is the Army. This thing¡­ is very tooplicated to exin since there are¡­ when I said that, it means a lot of positions and rankings to pursue for you to be at the top. Eventually, most people choose this career because they want to change their lives. Everyone who graduated from the Academy had no choice but to choose this, however,"

    Arnold paused, "But it will be a different scenario if you didn''t graduate from the academy though, or have been expelled. Not only you be discriminated around but also have to take orders from someone who has higher a position just because they attended the academy. Your old age or experience doesn''t matter when one''s ranking is the basis of position and power,"

    Arnold continued to exin more about the Army before he contemted for a brief moment before adding.

    "There''s another side of the military as well and you''ve already met some of them," Arnold paused, "They are the Nightmare Corps."

    Arnold then became stoic, "You might already know their description of being a bunch of miserable wretches hanging on a thread, only because they are. These people are the most exposed to Nightmares but also the hardest ones to be killed as well. Not only that, your life will solely be devoted to ending Nightmares until you die. Yet do you know why some of them still choose to apply for these corps?"

    Cesar shook his head. He knew some of the information regarding this legion of specialists but not really why most of them were very driven when they could choose the Army.

    Arnold then revealed with a heavy tone, "It''s because the Corps is mad. They might appear to be able tomunicate with but they are just in disguise to hide the madness, the anger, they hold from their dark past that drives them to continue hunting down Nightmares. The members of the Corps haven''t been forced to join but they epted it themselves,"

    nk¡ª!

    Finally, the food was brought to their table one by one. It tingled to Cesar''s nose as he gulped down a mouthful of saliva before picking up a te for himself. Arnold did the same thing as they halted their talk before beginning to eat.

    After feeling amazing at how some of the dishes tasted, Cesar voiced out with delight in his tone, "There''s the third one, right? What is it?"

    Arnold elegantly brought up a piece of meat from his mouth, chewing it slowly before digging it in. The moment he was finished, he revealed it for Cesar to know.

    "The Third Powerhouse of the World''s System is the Hunter''s Association." Arnold paused, "This organization had the longest history amongst the other two. They are very prominent at the early stages of the Nightmare''s invasion on our world,"

    Poised to hear more about an association that already came from the very start of the era of Nightmares, Cesar waited for Arnold to exin more about this so-called Hunter''s Association.

 Chapter 126: Hunterâ€™s Association

    After savoring the fillet that tasted very good on his te, Arnold grabbed a napkin before wiping his lips. Removing any grain of stain from his mouth, he grabbed the wine on the side and drank it.

    Fully satisfied with the food and willing to eat more, he started picking more food from the table before exining regarding the Association.

    "The Hunter''s Association was established way, way before the Academy or the Army solidified their position. At that time, the Association was the one handling the matters that exposed them to Nightmares. Remember, this was the time when Nightmare Potion hadn''t been invented yet but fully used Techniques.

    "Now, you already know that Techniques are only used to fend off these Nightmares. Most of the Techniques known from that time haven''t been developed in a way that is very advanced now. Techniques today can be used to kill, at least, some of them can deal damage to us people. It can inflict mild damage to Nightmares but that''s just it. "

    Arnold contemted deeply at what knew more about the Association before revealing his sentiment after picking up his food.

    "They had it pretty rough you know. Nightmares at that time, even Lesser Nightmares, are considered as a dangerous threat. Today too as well, Lesser Nightmares are dangerous but they can be defeated if one has a proper n and uses their Facets that can potentially harm a Nightmare.

    "The struggle those people felt at that time was immense, a person can just wish to themselves to just die. Thus, what did you think they did when fighting Nightmares was just wishful thinking from that time? "

    Being asked a question that he didn''t have any answer to, Cesar could only shrug his shoulders and push Arnold to continue exining without these stupid questions raised up to make their conversation longer.

    Eating a mouthful, Cesar respectfully told him, "Sir, just give me the details. Don''t raise this kind of questions,"

    Arnold blinked in an erratic way before shaking his head with a sigh. After recollecting himself, he then continued after grabbing another bite.

    "They formed up a solution that prolonged the lives of humanity while trying to avoid extinction. They decided to defend and hide from them. This is where the Langston Bridgees in,"

    Cesar listened more intently even if he was already aware of some of the things rting to the Langston Bridge. Though since he was being given free information from the Headmaster himself, he didn''t speak and let him continue.

    "In the Association at that time, there were three families that are widely known to the world and these three still exist today. First is the Langston Family, a family adept at craftsmanship and building infrastructures. This family was widely respected as their blood runs were solely driven by constructing a building that is the best thing you can get. They are not called Pioneers for no reason,"

    ''Langston Family¡­ Pioneers¡­ Wow, this is my first hearing it. This wasn''t put in the history of the Academy data books¡­''

    Cesar took a pause in his thinking ''Well, other students might''ve essed it when they were outside. I might be different just because I''m unqualified to see those things. I''m a hoodlum and orphan at the same time, after all¡­''

    Arnold saw Cesar fully concentrating before introducing, "Following that was the Yarrow Family. They are slightly different from the previous family as Yarrow''s blood is adept at defending. No, I''m not talking about withstanding an attacking from a Nightmare using their skills or body. Instead, they are also builders that can make a building withstand even the worst of damages. If they can build that, they can also repair it as well. They are very well known as Guardians,"

    ''Very interesting¡­''

    Arnold then paused to digest his food before adding, "Lastly, is a Family that you already have an interaction with. The very family that created this Association, something that can be called the leader of this Association. They are the Family of Hunters, the Casanova Family,"

    Cesar''s spoon stoppeding at his mouth when he heard the name of thest family as he couldn''t help but voice out.

    "Casanova¡­?"

    "Yes, Casanova," Arnold exined further, "Their blood runs like that of a hunter. Their family had the highest chance to kill Nightmares at that time. Throughout their long and rich history, ten Nightmares were killed with their involvement in that particr situation."

    Arnold halted then added, his tone full of respect, "Can you even imagine the casualties they had to pull off just to kill that kind of small numbers at that time? It took thousands of lives of innocent lives, even reaching the points of casualties up to hundreds of thousands to take those heights. Now, the average killings of Nightmares are much higher than that with fewer casualties because of the Potions,"

    Arnold took a breather, "These three families are the great figures in the past. And because of these three, the Langston Bridge is formed."

    Arnold massaged his chin, slightly tired from all that talking and eating before continuing, "It was called Bridge Project at first which has been suggested by the Langston Family. There are disagreements at first, even fights since making it will not only put lives at stake but also can be wasteful of resources that can be put to different sources. However, this notion continued to change as the threat of the Nightmares signified. Thus, everyone, even the Yarrow and Casanova, had to agree and partake."

    Arnold paused, "Do you know what the initial building n does this impossible thing to make? At first, it was 50 years. But as they continuously worked on this project until the very end of it just to connect it to various parts of the world, it actually took another two centuries to finish it,"

    Cesar almost choked the food he was gobbling up before Arnold continued.

    "Approximately 250 years happened before it happened. Then, Langston Bridge is formed,"

    Arnold paused as he exined further more about this project in a precise and concise manner. Cesar seemed to be lost in time listening to this rich history before the Headmaster himself ended it with the statement:

    "That''s why Hunter''s Association is a highly respected Association. However, there''s a reason for their decline that continued to happen until today,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but frown once he heard before replying, "Decline? The Hunter''s Association is declining? What the hell was that supposed to mean?"

    "I thought no asking question?" Arnold jested back before revealing the piece of information to Cesar, "It was only a few years after the Langston Bridge was created that this particr event made this powerhouse look like crap in the face of it,"

    Arnold took a pause, "And that event was when the world became so unfair to us kind. As if our struggles weren''t enough, a true Higher Nightmare Creature had befallen thisnd. It isn''t bing one or a new Higher Nightmare creature. Instead, it was a real deal."

    Cesar awaited for Arnold.

    "We didn''t know much about this particr Nightmare instead it just brings destruction in its wake. We don''t even know its title as well. However, we called it Atrocity," Arnold paused, "Until to this day, this Nightmare remains alive and habited that part of thend, and probably had be a Bounded Nightmare."

 Chapter 127: Cemetery Of The Deceased

    ''Higher Nightmare Creature!''

    If that was already enough to understand how the situation unfolded, Cesar realized right away that their decline was rted to the Nightmare. For it to remain alive until now, means it is a Higher Nightmare Creature that is widely known to all.

    Cesar hadn''t even met such a creature of that caliber yet but he came to know one of them. It was the creature under the table that became Dwellers of the Dark, the very same Nightmare that corrupted Erin.

    He remembered it was Cedeit who informed him of the creature hiding under the table, and that Cesar was lucky to not be able to meet it or he would''ve suffered the same oue as Erin.

    ''Sir Erin¡­''

    Now that he was thinking about the soldier who sacrificed himself for others at the table, Cesar wanted to see the burial they did for him and the others whose lives vanished the moment they started exploring the Mansion.

    It was just a basic courtesy to do, and rightfully so.

    "Hey, do you want to hear more about this Nightmare?"

    Suddenly, Cesar grew tired of listening to more additional information Arnold can give to him rting to Atrocity.

    Not like it would change the oue that already transpired. And Cesar can fill the holes for himself and read articles rting to the Nightmare since it seems to be general knowledge that everyone is supposed to know.

    Now, he wanted to rest his mind and eat his fill.

    Cesar then shifted his gaze to Arnold, "What you told me is probably enough. I just wanted to enjoy my food and let these thoughts happen after I came back to the Academy. Unless you are really willing to share a very dark and deep secret with me, I would change my mind,"

    Arnold smiled arrogantly before pointing the tip of his spook at Cesar andmented, "Cheeky brat,"

    Right after, both of them just indulged themselves in the food that continued pouring at their table before eventually, they stopped picking at the dishes, satisfied and full. Arnold gave up first, with Cesar following a few minutester, having managed to eat a bit more after Arnold had finished.

    When they were done eating their food, Arnold paid for anything else as they slowly exited the restaurant while avoiding the people''s gazes at them. Wearing a hat above him, Arnold continued making his way towards their car before he was stopped by Cesar.

    "Sir, may I request something?"

    Arnold nced back.

    "Anything at all,"

    Cesar then answered after pondering carefully for a few seconds, "If it''s avable and can be done, I want to give my respects to the soldiers that died in the Mansion. I know their real ashes and bodies were forever gone in the Mansion but it shouldn''t matter if the burial is real or fake, right? I just want to see it for myself."

    Arnold heard his tone that sounded very determined to go while observing Cesar''s actions. The moment he realized that he was serious and was not just doing this to do something crazy at the cemetery, he replied back.

    "If that''s what you wanted, then we''re going to take a little bit of detour at the Langston Bridge to reach that ce. This particr area is solely dedicated to the soldiers who died at their missions, you know. I think you already heard it,"

    Cesar tried to ponder what he was talking about before opening his eyes slightly wide, "The Cemetery for the Deceased?"

    Arnold was about to answer but he just couldn''t help but let his intrusive thoughts win as he answered back, "Yes, that''s it. And just so you know, you have your own burial there as well. I''m saying this so that you will not be surprised,"

    Cesar nkly stared at Arnold but he just couldn''t stop.

    "Who knows if the real one is getting in there soon,"

    ¡­

    Taking a little detour inside the Langston Bridge, Cesar and Arnold had to cross thousands of kilometers as they got escorted by the guards who were loyal to Nas. Crossing rough and mostly soft terrains, they eventually came to their destination.

    Their car stopped at the very field that belonged to the Cemetery of the Deceased.

    Wearing a hat atop his head, Cesar went down to his car before finally viewing the real thing in his line of sight. And he couldn''t help but be bbergasted due to how beautiful and flowery the field was.

    Cemetery of the Deceased. It is the cemetery that exclusively belonged only to the people who died while serving in the Army. That already included both the Corps and the Army itself.

    In this cemetery, Cesar felt slightly strange.

    In this humungous expanse, countless tombstones were spread around as far as the eyes could see. The pasture was very green with a few different kinds of flowers blooming from here to there that danced along the wind.

    "Let''s go. The man you are looking for is probably there,"

    With the grasnds giving a sense of mncholy and peace in the same space, Cesar treaded forward as he looked around the ce while following Arnold on his back who went first to lead him. The guards remained positioned at their ces.

    As the two of them continued moving forward, Cesar was able to discern the tombstone had a name for the deceased but some of them didn''t have any. Some even have epitaphs for them while candles and some food are ced at some ces, probably have been visited by some people before them.

    There are still some people here, however. Probably the only ce in the world where a human will not disappear since many of the people who lost their loved ones mostly came from the Army to do their duty.

    After walking for nearly an hour, Arnold finally halted at his ce which made Cesar get closer to see if they were in the right location.

    They indeed are.

    At the tombstone, Cesar saw the name of Erin in the tombstone.

    [Erin Venzo]

    "I remember this guy,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but give Arnold a slightly surprising look at his eyes the moment he mentioned it.

    "Look around and see if the date of the other deceased beside him is the same,"

    Cesar walks around and is able to realize that the people beside Erin didn''t die on the same date as him. Instead, they already did a few years back.

    "I remember that amongst the people that survived in their mission, only one person lived. They are retrieving a group of stranded people from a location and Erin''s squad has been wiped out by a horde of Nightmares."

    Arnold paused, "The only reason he survived this ordeal was because his squad willingly sacrificed themselves just to help Erin and the stranded people leave that unsafe area. His Facet is really interesting as it was able to conceal, not only himself but others as well. That was probably why no casualties appeared on the side of people. However, Erin still believed that his squad survived somehow,"

    "¡­"

    Arnold saw Cesar staying quiet before adding, "But when he came to help them, his delusions blinded him. The only thing he found was their mangled remains and blood scattering around the site where he went to see them. Hence, in order to bring those stranded people back safely, he had to leave his men behind."

    Arnold took a halt, "It was a price he had to pay,"

 Chapter 128: One Of A Kind

    ''A price to pay, huh? Is that why you willingly hid your condition, continued running with us, and felt that what was happening at that time was no different from that?''

    Cesar couldn''t help but muse inwardly as he felt this was the exact answer to why Erin was very determined for us to cross the table, in exchange for his life.

    His squad sacrificed themselves, and upon seeing the same situation shing through his eyes, Erin felt that he needed to return the favor.

    There was probably lingering guilt inside of him for leaving his men behind.

    Cesar couldn''t help but sigh as he voiced out, "It is very stupid of him to do it. Why would he feel guilty about his squad''s death when they were the ones who were very eager? It''s not like he forced them to abide by his orders,"

    Arnold who could understand Cesar''s side of the story, knew he was forgetting something. Thinking about the reply he had to answer, he then retorted with an even tone.

    "It''s because you haven''t felt the graveness of losing one of your very own men. When you graduate from the Academy, I''m sure you will be in a position where a squad will form around you. Being a good leader is a responsible leader, Cesar,"

    Arnold paused," When Joshua died, what did you feel? Nothing, right? Yes, he might be part of your squad but what, you just knew each other for a couple of weeks. That''s the difference between the Army as your squad will be always at your side. Bond is very important for a squad to seed. And for it to form, you''ll get to know each and every one of your men,"

    Cesar shifted his gaze to the side before responding back, "I guess you''ve been in the Army as well before serving as the Administrator of the Academy?"

    Arnold chuckled and nodded, "Yeah, but my squad is still alive today. I took care of them very well and they are thriving in the Army now, you see. Nheless, I could understand the pain of the other squad leaders who had their members wiped out in their missions,"

    Cesar who was now able to understand his words silently stared at Erin''s tombstones and what seemed to be his deceased gravestone.

    When Arnold said he felt nothing after Joshua''s loss, Cesar felt very responsible for them. After all, he was the squad leader that they had chosen yet he couldn''t even rescue them when they needed.

    It was eating him on the inside, the same as Erin''s death.

    Because he was an orphan, he couldn''t understand the meaning of ''care'' from anyone. Cesar even made a rule to himself to never make friends since it would be something that would betray him in times of need.

    But it seemed he was the one doing it at them.

    Cesar might''ve never considered everyone a friend but for others, they already did at him. Yet he couldn''t do something to help them.

    He didn''t want to feel shit again.

    "Then¡­"

    Arnold heard Cesar stop himself from speaking, waiting for him to continue.

    As if he finally decided what to do, Cesar continued.

    "Then what if I don''t get squad members? What if I wanted to be alone since I''m capable enough to handle Nightmares with my strength? I don''t want to feel responsible for others again aside from myself."

    Cesar directly gazes at Arnold''s eyes with an indifferent expression, "Your training. I want to be taught by the best of the best people. Not a third-rate or a second-rate. Bring me someone that can be considered good in your opinion that can increase my strength tenfold if they decide to teach me,"

    ''Ah¡­''

    Arnold couldn''t help but remember himself in Cesar''s position when he was a kid. It felt like reminiscing to himself as he talked his way out of the previous Headmaster to train himself with the sole mission of eradicating the Nightmares.

    ''There''s really no choice other than trusting another one of my students, I guess,''

    Arnold also remembered at the time that he interviewed Jeremiah, a squad leader from the Army who was taking a break, after a series of interrogations from other men.

    -Cesar, a student of yours who managed us to get out of here, killed an Intermediate Nightmare Creature alone. It''s something we are struggling to avoid as we crossed the table which I exined many times to them. He must''ve reasons why he wasn''t able to do so fast but I''ve seen it with my own eyes.

    -Others might''ve given up on him returning but believe me when I say this. When Cesar came back, the ones who really were taking care of this student should get a hold of him. Other people will be greedy for his capability and will want to handle him but themselves but I want others to nurture his talent and make it bloom.

    -Can you do that, Headmaster of the Academy?

    Arnold didn''t believe Jeremiah''s words at first since he was the only one who had this kind of story but the ones that knew Cesar agreed to his statement without hesitation.

    Still, a kid who brought down an Intermediate Nightmare while being a First Order who hasn''t fully digested his potion?

    That''s absolutely unheard of.

    But there''s always a first on everything.

    "Hey, Arnold. Are you listening to me?"

    Waking up from his reverie after being called by him, Arnold then put his attention on Cesar before finally answering.

    "You arrogant brat. Don''t you order me around. I''ll provide you with the best facilities you can use and heavily rated teachers. I''ll start making contacts along the way so the moment youe back to the Academy, the very thing you''ll do is train,"

    Cesar felt delighted upon hearing that piece of information before grabbing something from his pocket.

    It was Erin''s Artifact, Source of Light.

    He bent his knee and ced it right beside Erin''s tombstone while looking around to see if anyone was daring to steal it.

    It was the only thing that anyone could remember about Erin after all.

    "Let''s go,"

    Cesar stood up from the pasture and turned around with Arnold at his back. As they made their way towards their vehicle, Arnold suddenly raised a matter.

    "It will be stolen, you know?"

    Cesar pondered for a bit before answering with hesitation, "Should''ve I just dug it right under his coffin? Wouldn''t that be disrespectful?"

    Arnold shook his head, "It''s all right. I''ll handle it,"

    After reassuring Cesar that it would be all right, both of them went to their transportation vehicle and were finally ready to be back at the Academy.

 Chapter 129: Homecoming

    Particrly moving through the vastnds, bridges, and people isn''t exactly hard. It was. In fact, very uneventful. Though Cesar clearly liked the peaceful atmosphere that he missed so much. If he put the context of being in the prated reality''s influence and the Earth''s time, then he had been battling unending chaos for about a year now.

    Funnily enough, Cesar found it unbelievable still. However, he was up to the point of fully adjusting to epting the fact that he was indeed gone for a year.

    "Cesar remember what we talked about, all right?"

    Cesar heard Arnold''s voice on the side which he replied with a curt nod.

    Throughout their journey toward the Academy in sight, Arnold informed him more about the changes which will about toe, especially those pieces of news and evidence that involved him.

    Hiseback will raise a ruckus... as well as lurking dangers that will appear sooner thanter. Arnold didn''t specifically tell him what kind of ''dangers'' were there, and only because he didn''t know as well.

    But there will be if it was the involvement of a mysterious case that has been nagging the whole world for a whole year which is the incident at the City of Wheels.

    There isn''t really solid proof that the media can manipte since all of their mouths were talking about Cesar.

    He was, after all, the most exposed to the ident aside from others. He didn''t feel proud about it but he ought to take it since he deserve some things to it.

    "Yes,"

    Knowing he was good at doing what he was told to do so, Cesar is aware that he will be in the spotlight for at least a couple of weeks or months. He would be the talk in people''s mouths while they were eating or while watching the news that contained about him.

    All in all, he was ready to face all of it and answer their questions. He will rightfully share what he learned from the time they were in the Mansion while hiding a few secrets here and there.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Soon the steady pace of the vehicle''s riding gradually taken slow as the driver saw that they were about to hit a solid concrete wall. Almost thinking that they were about to be hit because of their stupidity, Cesar removed such thoughts before finally seeing the results of such action.

    The moment they were about to make contact with the concrete walls, at least what he thought at first, Cesar was half bbergasted and half expecting the view.

    Now, they were moving through a dark tunnel with only a few lights here and there. The vehicle then began to pick up its pace before moving through the tunnel with ease. After a few minutes of being under the belly of the tunnel, the vehicle left its mouth but there wasn''t any tunnel at all.

    It was just yet another concrete wall that someone had to go through to get inside.

    Cesar then was able to perceive the Academy from afar. It was a tiny dart at first while being conjoined with other buildings all around it. The more they went deeper into it, the more it became crowded and exposed the Academy.

    "Is it okay for me to learn about the ways in and outs of the Academy?"

    Arnold shook his head, "No, you''re a student after all. But being able to distinguish this is very important to the likes of you, I guess. It could even help you if needed. But if someone tried to irritate you because of it... just tell me. I''ll handle them,"

    ''How reliable...''

    Soon, the vehicle moved passed through the streets of the Academy. Then, after almost over a year of being absent from its ce, Cesar finally went back to the start, at the entrance which he once left after being given a mission for his squad.

    Screech¡ª!

    The vehicle gradually slowed down before finally stopping. Once it did, Arnold and the guards were the ones who went down.

    A couple of dozens of students caught nces at the bulky guards that positioned themselves right at the very entrance of the door. Soon, all their heads shifted to Arnold who indifferently made his way forward.

    Just as they were thinking the Headmaster was just going back to one of its travels, the door on the side slid open, revealing a raven-ck hair student walking out from it.

    The female students were easily head over heels at the figure that looked like they were near on the same age with each other. Due to his now good-looking features, probably because he burnt enough calories that made his jawline straight and indifferent eyes that could kill with a single gaze, everyone couldn''t help but notice him.

    He was just that alluring.

    It was probably because they were enchanted at how his eyes became so normal looking that Arnold couldn''t even believe that he was feeling it as well.

    There was just something about his eyes that felt different. And is probably because Arnold remembered that the reports he received contained about Cesar that he only had an eye at the start of his travel at the Mansion, and only received one when it was about to end.

    ''Eh, not that I care,'' Arnold mused inwardly with a shrug.

    Soon, both Cesar and Arnold walked through the crowd that continued observing them. For Arnold to highly regarded the new student as a very important figure as they walked side-by-side, they began to ponder the mysterious figure.

    "Who was that guy? He''s so pretty,"

    "Do you have any idea who that guy is? Is it someone talented from the outside who has been recruited privately by Headmaster Arnold?"

    "Hey... isn''t that guy familiar? I saw his face air on TV for like over a year ago..."

    Thest guy who managed to remember that piece of news began to ponder even deeper before a huge gasp escaped from his mouth as soon as he realized it.

    "Cesar Sparrow?!"

 Chapter 130: Ruckus

    Chatter¡ª!

    Even though there are no televisions in the Academy since some of the Nightmares and curious outsiders might use them to infiltrate inside, there are still newspapers and articles that are officially published while being overviewed and written by the staff members as a way to spread around the news.

    It isn''t like the newspapers of the old where some of the newspapers are barely even readable or the ones outside that aren''t colored.

    The Academy''s Daily News is not only clear and informative but also appealing to the eyes as well. Even the pictures of the people that are involved in the newspapers are very crystal clear.

    This was the case for the current second, third, and fourth years. However, the first year who enrolled in the Academy just a month ago were able to see the particr news right on the television and happened to see that news over a year ago.

    There, a particr face was spread around for over a few weeks. A raven ck hair and deep prating eyes devoid of any emotions that emitted a silent menacing aura. However, his face greatly changed that it be one of the most handsome man that the girls swoon over for.

    It was Cesar Sparrow.

    Chatter¡ª!

    The unending amount of whispers and talks that sounded like more bees flying around never ceased as Cesar and Arnold walked through the Academy walls.

    Nobody dared to get close to them, afraid that it would make the guards around would be there to stop their actions. It''s not like they need to run at them anyway as this is the Academy, not just any ce you can run to someone with sheer numbers alone.

    But there was one thing inmon about those people''s expression and it was their astonishment upon seeing the supposed dead man walking through the floor they were stepping onto.

    "The sses are very hectic right now since the current fourth years are undergoing the Examinations, just like what you didst year,"

    Cesar asked, "This is what happenedst year and in previous years as well?"

    "I guess so," Arnold paused, "The Academy recruits whoever Nightmare Corps and Army men are avable in their long lists of names. However, the Teachers have to take care of thousands of students while also being mindful of the sses they need to teach. It might look like we are many, which we did, but the students that we needed to watch out for are far greater in numbers,"

    Cesar nodded, "Understandable. So what do I do now?"

    Arnold looked around for a brief moment and replied, "After I lead you to your room that I''ve prepared beforehand, your ''belongings'' will be delivered to you shortly afterward. Then, when you''re done settling in, you can do whatever you want."

    Arnold signaled the guard up front to clear their way as a group of students gathered up before adding, "I''ve almost finished my arrangements with the teachers that are going to pay the Academy a visit. You have at least three days till some of theme here to personally teach you. After that¡­ we''ll see,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but tilt his head as he mused, ''We''ll see?''

    Soon, Arnold and Cesar with the few guards on their backs were finally out from the crowd of students surrounding them. It didn''t take long before Cesar was led to a building which he was very familiar and not familiar with.

    It''s because no student was allowed to enter this ce.

    After all, it was the dorm of the teachers.

    If something needs to be passed down, they have to go through the teachers themselves, and probably the teachers gave each other some packages in case other teachers weren''t avable.

    "Wait, here?"

    Arnold nodded, "Don''t worry, you''ll have one corridor for yourself. Nobody will even try to hear what you are doing alone on your own nor will someone dare to spy on you. You have my word, brat,"

    After leading Cesar to the top floor, Arnold then pointed his finger at the room that Cesar would be availing himself. He tossed the keys to him which Cesar caught perfectly.

    "Wee, Cesar Sparrow," Arnold paused with a smile, "From now on, you''re going to face a lot of things. I''m sure you''ll really get tired of most of them,"

    Cesar saw Arnold''s back leaving through the corridor he left him to before focusing on his side of things as he turned around and stared at the door in front of him.

    -Room 1203

    "I will not be seeing a hallway in here or wooden shelves filled with bizarre books, right?"

    The question seemed to be a jest to mock himself but Cesar suddenly heard a nagging voice inside his head replying to his question.

    "No, it will not. We''re not in the library any longer, Cesar,"

    Cesar didn''t think that Cedeit was this quite boring and dull before he heard the Nightmare inside his head continuing as if he wasn''t done yet.

    "You''re forgetting something by asking me, brat."

    Cesar inserted the key into the keyhole before opening it. Completely feigning ignorance about Cedeit''s demands, his gaze observed the spacious room that has been given to him which is three times more spacious than his own dormst time.

    It has arge size bed, covered in a mattress and cushion. A kitchen that almost took up the side of his room with a huge table right beside it. There was even a balcony for him to watch the gaze from outside at the very end of the door.

    It wasn''t that bad nor was it that good. By the looks of it, it waspletely average, a well-deserved room for someone like him. Though it is an upgrade for his previous one.

    "Hey!!"

    The voice that almost shook his ears made Cesar violently shake his head. Grunting, he answered them in his head.

    "I know you''re impatient but is there a way for us tomunicate without me talking outwardly?" Cesar paused, "I wanted to be careful of our actions. I can''t let others think that I''ve be crazy since I kept talking to myself. Besides, these walls might''ve ears no matter what Arnold promised to me,"

    Cedeit seemed to bing more impatient before saying, "I will tell you a method I know which might not be the most effective but we can use it for some time being so you will not appear suspicious. But for now, we have a deal to aplish, remember?"

    Cesar let out a soft groan before asking, "Okay, all right. I remember. It is the time when you want something in return for you to reveal my bad condition,"

    "Good, good. This is more like it," Cedeit paused to ponder for a brief moment before revealing, "Now what I want is very easy to remember. You''ll just have to retrieve Deceit''s consciousness spread around from¡­ somewhere, I guess."

 Chapter 131: Delivery Man

    Cesar didn''t reply for a while.

    His gaze then soon fell on the balcony before slowly walking towards it. Sliding the door open, he went forward and then rested his arm on the heavy railing before letting out a sigh.

    "You make it look like an easy task when a mere consciousness like you is trapped at the Mansion that had its own mechanisms." Cesar shook his head, "Why do you think The Void directly targeted you? Not because you''re an easy thing to seize but because you are the only thing it found after all through that trouble."

    Cedeit as if trying to analyze what Cesar had talked about voiced out in a low tone, "It''s because the rest of the consciousness like me is very hard enough to find?"

    "Spot on¡­" Cesarmented while enjoying the view from outside, "But a deal is a deal. I don''t go back on my word. I''ll do what you asked me to do."

    "Yeah, yeah¡­"

    Cedeit replied reluctantly before turning quiet. Seeing that he didn''t want to add any other arrangements, Cesar began to appreciate thendscape from his standpoint before hearing a knocking from outside of his room.

    Tap¡ª!

    He heard it once more to realize what those knocks meant.

    ''That must be the package,''

    Cesar walked out of the balcony before slowly making his way towards the door of his room. Grabbing the knob, he hesitated. He gradually approached the peephole of the door and peeked through the sender of his package outside.

    There, he saw a man wearing a cap delivering a huge box at him. He couldn''t see the face quite clearly due to the hat covering its face and his face slightly bent down but there was a name tag on his clothes that said ''Spencer''

    That gives him much of this delivery man''s identity.

    "Package to deliver in this room."

    Cesar watched the mouth of the man named Spencer before saying.

    "On whose orders?"

    Spencer replied, "Arnold''s orders, sir. He said that a person named Cesar Sparrow needed this. I don''t know much aside from the fact that to deliver this package safe and sound to you,"

    Cesar continued gazing at the delivery man, Spencer, silently and opened the door. There, he saw the fine metallic box that contained all of his artifacts inside. He couldn''t see it but he knew Arnold wouldn''t cheat his way in, used the help he had gotten from his as a bargain, and just stole it.

    However, Spencer, the delivery man, is different. He isn''t Arnold that kept us his word. He''s just a stranger who had the literal key to probably open up the package.

    "Just dropped a package on the ground and stepped a few steps back. Bring the key down as well. Don''t make rming steps that will make you look suspicious, got it?" Cesar stared at the Spencer''s blue ocean-like eyes before repeating, "Got it?"

    Spencer who appears to be a middle-aged man let out a mncholy smile and did as Cesar told him to do. He brought the package down with the key came next and retraced back his steps, far enough for Cesar to make a move if Spencer did something funny.

    Cesar watched the delivery man do all of his orders silently and finally had the time to check for his belongings. Inserting the key of the metallic box, he watched the lid open and saw all his artifacts inside.

    There were his first two trophies, ck Tooth and Bone Stick. Next up were the artifacts that he managed to harvest from Nicotara and the Corrupted Humans it controlled which all was in by Cedeit.

    However, half of them were missing. It was still either possessed by the previous cohort that crossed the table or he lost along the way.

    The only things that were left in his case were the Flexible Dagger, Largening Hand, and Floor of Darkness. He lost the Longing Spike while traversing through the bottomless cone while having no knowledge of where Terry had lost Mouthpiece when he battled Caster, the Heretic. It doesn''t matter now anyway.

    Besides that matter, he got other artifacts that he still possessed that he could see inside.

    There was the Book of Contents, Fabric of the Prison Realm, the cross from Terry himself which he didn''t any yet andstly, the Librarian''s Key. Excluding the Source of Light that he had delivered from Erin''s grave and the borrowers of his artifacts, he had exactly nine artifacts in his possession.

    That number alone in the hands of a mere student was already shocking enough. And by the looks of it, nothing seemed to be stolen or lost.

    "All safely delivered,"

    Spencer who heard that reply smiled even more and was about to reply when Cesar was faster, his eyes gazing at him with indifference.

    "However, I had a problem. Why are you here?"

    Spencer''s face froze as this middle-aged man''s smile got stuck on his lips. Slightly tilting his head, he was about to raise the matter of his ridiculous question before he started to get pped with one mere fact.

    "Only a teacher is allowed to get in this building. This is heavily thew around here that probably the Administrators aren''t even allowed to enter. Yet a simple delivery man like you got his way inside? Really suspicious mister,"

    Spencer''s face which seemed stuck at the same smile at first gradually changed into something craze, bing twisted.

    "Well, that was easy. You''re very perceptive. I like it,"

    Cesar didn''t entertain the suspicious delivery man and dragged his package back to his room. Doing so for just two seconds, he was about to shut the door when a de neatly got stuck in the middle of the door which made it impossible to close.

    Cesar instantly dashed backward while carrying the heavy metallic box in his hands. The moment he did, another blood went through the door that swiftly targeted him.

    "Crap!"

    Dodging it sideways to position himself at a far better angle was the easiest part of the job. However, in just a second, a de was already aiming at his throat.

    "Easy now,"

    Cesar immediately stopped at his ce before standing upright, bringing down the metallic box on the ground.

    "I''m rest easy,"

    Spencer chuckled, "I could see that¡ª"

    Just as he was about to end hisment, Spencer saw Cesar turning while grabbing a ck bone stick at his hands.

    Then just as he was about to attack him, uncontrobly, his attention got divided probably to the effects of the artifact.

    It was two seconds of having his attention distracted before thest thing he knew, a dagger already made its way to his throat.

    Cesar who thought it was some sort of assassin who was sent to kill him, didn''t see the struggle behind Spencer''s ocean-like eyes. Instead, it seemed very impressive to act upon being in that kind of surprise attack.

    Cesar saw Spencer''s body slowly falling behind as he saw him mouth a word with a smirk on his face.

    "Impressive¡­"

    The moment Spencer''s smirk and lifeless corpse touched the ground, Cesar saw his vision waver before his face turned for the worse the moment he realized he was back on the same view from earlier.

    The time when he was simply peeking through the peephole to gaze at the delivery man, Spencer standing on the outside while carrying the same metallic box in his hands.

    ''What the¡­?''

    However, the difference this time is that he was gazing at the delivery man''s ocean-like eyes.

 Chapter 132: Interrogation

    "What a surprise¡ª"

    Spencer from the outside slightly backed away as if his movements became erratic because his Facet got undone by Cesar.

    As the delivery man whispered something through the air to talk about his surprise at the oue, Cesar''s expression didn''t much differ from the confusion stered on Spencer''s face.

    However, Cesar was very astonished.

    ''This guy''s dangerous!''

    Whatever happened that made all the images that ran through his head so real that it almost seemed like a joke, was unbelievable to start with. Now, he didn''t even know when was he attacked.

    His memory didn''t even serve him right as the moment he gazed at Spencer''s ocean-like eyes, it was the time when he opened the door and warned him to drop his package down along with the key.

    Not when he was peeking through the peephole.

    Creating a rough outline of the artificial fire on his hand, Cesar locked the entrance and immediately hopped backward, creating a distance between him and the door.

    Not fully understanding what was happening, he heightened his guard, standing ready and waiting for whoever was outside toe in.

    Then he''ll face him in here, create a huge ruckus for the whole school to see, and buy time for everyone to gather around.

    He''s very good at buying time.

    "Ouch¡­ouch¡­ My head hurts so much. Aigoo¡­"

    Cesar heard a low, grumbling voice from outside as he steeled himself for the fight ahead. Suddenly, his attention was directed to a hand slipping through the door, passing through it like some kind of ghost before it twisted the knob from the inside.

    The moment that hand that very looked like a human hand finished its purpose, he retracted it and opened the door. There, both the deliveryman man Spencer and Cesar started a staring contest with each other.

    "Aigoo¡­ The brat is indeed right when he says that someone as talented as you came back from somewhere everyone thought is inescapable." Spencer removed the cap from above his head, revealing a white hair that dropped down on his shoulders, "I guess rumors are true,"

    "What rumors?" Chapter Explore:

    Spencer answered as he slowly walked inside leisurely, making Cesar unable to sense any malice. The instant he was on the sofa, he sat down and rxed himself.

    "Many people saw you from one city going in a diner together with Arnold. Well, not really but that''s what you''ll do when you''re in a restaurant, right? To eat?"

    Spencer chuckled, "Words are really fast spread in people''s mouths. However, those are just mere spections. What if it''s just anybody else? What if it''s not a real deal? So, after being contacted by that brat, I hastily made my way here towards the Academy. And here I am, looking at the real Cesar Sparrow in the flesh,"

    Cesar frowned upon hearing Spencer''s exnation before retorting, "Are you curious about me, old man?"

    "Yes," Spencer smiled, "What happened in the City of Wheels was just the beginning. And yes, that same thing can happen anywhere in the world, which is why I''m here to gather information from you. Everyone who escaped that godforsaken ce talks about the academy kid, the one who made it possible for them to get out. That''s why you''ve be a valuable source."

    Cesar can somehow understand where Spencer ising from. There are different kinds of cases of Nightmares across the world yet the dangers lurking particrly at the Incident from the City of Wheels is entirely different from what has been recorded in the past.

    If somehow those things managed to get out of the Mansion, who knows what might''ve happened in that part of the world.

    Hence for Spencer toe in here was only because he was concerned for the welfare of the people.

    He didn''te in here to fight or kidnap Cesar. Just wanted a piece of informationing out of his mouth.

    Or was that really it?

    Cesar pondered for a brief moment before replying back, "After I''ve given you the information you want, will you leave?"

    Spencer shrugged, making Cesar unsure of what that implies. Nheless, seeing him not harboring any evil intent as Cedeit didn''t actually rm him about anything else, Cesar also sat down.

    He was still vignt and had his guard up but he wanted to see Spencer''s actions before making a move himself.

    "Ask away,"

    "Very cooperative," Spencer nodded once before adding, "Is it true that you killed a Nightmare alone?"

    Cesar''s face didn''t change as he remained stoic while musing inwardly, ''The time I made a deal with Cedeit to deal the Nightmare Nicotara? Wait, nobody in my group saw what actually happened when we were talking about how we''re alive¡­ unless someone did remain watching the whole situation¡­ Who is it¡ª''

    Soon, it didn''t take long before Cesar concluded as to who had told this piece of news to the interrogators at that time. It is probably because the situation at that time matches how the situation would unfold.

    ''It''s Jeremiah...'' Cesar mused inwardly before answering, thinking about ying the cards on his hand right, "Yes, I did in a kind of way,"

    Spencer remained silent for a while after getting the answer before asking another question, "Then, what have you been doing in the past year since you were gone?"

    Cesar thought for a while about that answer and couldn''t help but find an answer and give it to the unknown delivery man, Spencer.

    Cesar structured his words before letting out a smile, "That''s a funny question, you see. If you want me to honestly tell you the answer that might sound absurd to you, promise that you''ll believe me."

    Spencer sensed something off in his own statement but chose not to correct it. Whatever left his lips had to be his own. It wouldn''t be much of an interrogation if he interrupted just to tweak some of his wording.

    Spencer gave a curt nod.

    Seeing that affirmation, Cesar nodded back before answering, "All these talks that I''ve been gone in a year¡­ it''s not true. In the Earth''s time, it might be the case. But not me."

    Spencer couldn''t help but tilt his head slightly to the side as he let Cesar continued.

    "You see, I''ve just been gone for over a day. The time I escaped The Void''s influence took only a day, Spencer. But for some reason in Earth''s time, it has been a year. And it''s probably because I''ve seen the real thing, sir."

    Cesar pointed his two eyes with two fingers and added, "I''ve seen The Void itself,"

 Chapter 133: For The Next Three Days

    "What?"

    Spencer was visibly confused at Cesar''s words that starting to not make any sense whatsoever. The wordsing from his mouth were something of an entirely new concept of statements that is above all from the rest of what is known.

    If it was a different person, he might''ve been put in an asylum for being mentally and emotionally damaged and needed support.

    But it was Cesar who didn''t look like he was hurt physically but also been fine in a mental and emotional state as well.

    He was fine.

    In an instance where Cesar was indeed fine, his words would shock the whole world.

    "So¡­ so that''s why you haven''t gone crazy? You''ve just been out for a whole day when you exit out from that ce?"

    "Who said I would go crazy?" Cesar smiled amiably, "I''m perfectly fine."

    Other people would''ve been fooled by the words that were spoken so softly and fluently but Spencer was a different kind of person. He was on a spectrum where he could tell whether that person was which between which.

    And Cesar, he was a whole different kind of youngster.

    Looking at his indifferent eyes, which screamed wickedness and hatred hidden within, Cesar wasn''t a fool or inexperienced.

    He was still unpolished but with proper training and guidance by the right people, he could be what he wanted to be while keeping that evil inside him in check.

    "Interestingd. Okay, I got another¡ª"

    Tak¡ª!

    Suddenly, a thumping series of footsteps resounding towards them made both Cesar and Spencer flinch.

    Their eyes shifted at the maning towards the room as the former couldn''t help but be confused while the other was slightly displeased, at the same time, expectant.

    Chapter Read:

    "Uh-oh, herees the noisy brat,"

    Finally, this man entered the room and angrily looked at Cesar before bing angrier at Spencer. He wasn''t really mad at Cesar by the very least but on the intruder that entered Cesar''s room.

    "Old man!"

    Arnold shouted at Spencer.

    "Yo,"

    Spencer waved his hand before Arnold lunged at him which he neatly dodged. When he didn''t catch him, Arnold started to exin.

    "Someone came to me that an uninvited person managed to sneak his way inside. Then I heard another man telling me that his package had been stolen by an unknown person," Arnold paused as he clicked his tongue, "Then I found out this person was sneaking his way towards the teacher''s building, clearly with the direction in mind while carrying Cesar''s package."

    Spencer shrugged, "Hey, you''re the one who contacted me and I just came here to test if he''s the real deal,"

    "Still! I heard you''re asking him questions! I told you to not ask questions!" Arnold angrily groans, "I will get you arrested you old bastard!"

    Spencer shook his head with defeat before looking at Cesar with his ocean-like eyes, "I''ll see you around,"

    Spencer started running towards Cesar''s balcony before jumping towards it which Arnold followed as he abruptly stopped when he was about to jump out.

    "I will exin after three days. For now, like I said, do what you want for now,"

    After that, he jumped down.

    "Huh?"

    But the interaction he had with Spencer was a weird encounter that made him so confused.

    ¡­

    For the next three days, Cesar did whatever he wanted. On the first day, it was half leisure time and half training. However, that started to change when his progress regarding himself was interrupted by the unbearable pain.

    He was training on making his rough Artificial Fire, a conceptualized ability that came from Cedeit, but the situation regarding his soul made him abruptly stop doing it for some time.

    So instead ofplying with Arnold''s demands to make it look like he didn''t need any help, he didn''t include leisure time any longer.

    On the same day, he started searching in the library, the deeper records stored in there, informants he could ask that he had some connections with, andstly, Nightmare data books that only a few people were avable to get into.

    They didn''t find anything but he was expecting a reply from some of the men he talked to for the end of the week.

    On the second day, some of the people he talked to didn''t have the kind of information he needed or found anything from his search at the library or the Nightmare data books. He also did a bit of exercise to keep his body firm and ready.

    On the third day, the same result happened.

    However, he had to do something different today.

    He put the search or asking around time aside as he had another problem to solve.

    "All right, kid. Are you ready?"

    Cesar replied, "You will not going to take control of me, aren''t you?"

    Cedeit clicked his tongue, "I told you, already. When my influence from you has been reduced to a state that only a percent was left in here, I can''t do anything about you. Before the two of us became one, I could only insert the ''connection'' we had to a certain degree because that was the only thing I could do. But then again, it is a different case when I can start reading your mind,"

    Cedeit paused, "One''s Subconsciousness is directly theirs. It is an entryway to your Soul. The two are connected in some sort. Now, where do you think you get your Essences, hmm? Obviously, to your Soul. You humans really thought it was just a gift given to you after consuming these so-called Nightmare Potions but you''re wrong,"

    Cedeit added, "Your Soul has been triggered the moment you got exposed to Nightmares hence your Subconsciousness opening up as well. That''s why you can use abilities that you called Facets."

    ''Huh, that was never really exined to us more exactly and concisely as what Cedeit had told me now. All I had was theories but the way Cedeit talked seemed very certain which all made sense¡­''

    Cesar pondered for a moment, ''But it only because we don''t know the existence of Soul until I learned it myself. Maybe if we had known?''

    Shaking his head to remove these lingering thoughts circling around his head spoke to Cedeit in his mind.

    "I''m ready,"

    "Okay," Cedeit paused, "Now, you don''t really need to fall consciousness this time. We''re already one entity, not two beings fighting over one body. That''s why¡­ to be honest, I didn''t get to control you."

    Some things got cleared inside Cesar''s head as to why he was still able to retain himself instead of being a new identity once he came back.

    It was because they were one being now, not just an influence Cedeit was using of the ''connection'' they shared to force his way inside.

    Once that was cleared, Cesar heard Cedeit continuing.

    "This time, Cesar. Instead of falling into consciousness, all you had to do is imagine,"

    ''Imagine?''

    Cesar mused that notion as he asked aloud, "How do I ''imagine''?"

    Cedeit then exined briefly, "Close your eyes and imagine a space filled with nothing but white. And you imagined yourself standing at it. Once you are sure that you imagined it at the depths of your mind, only then open your eyes,"

    ''Space filled with nothing but white¡­ Imagine myself standing on it¡­''

    Cesar repeated Cedeit''s words inside his head.

    ''Once I''ve really thought about it¡­ open my eyes¡­''

    Suddenly, as if he grasped what Cedeit was trying to imply, Cesar opened his eyes but no longer found himself in the room.

    Instead, he found himself in a confined white space, standing alone... or so he thought, until a voice sounded from behind him.

    "Hey, you kid."

    Cesar turned around and was able to see a very lively, eyeball looking at him.

    "Cedeit?"

 Chapter 134: Subconsciousness

    "Cedeit?"

    Annoyed of being called twice, Cedeit raised up his voice and answered, "I heard you once. Now, did you get a long look at your own Subconscious? Yes, it is small, enough for two of us. There''s another term for it, you see. A ''storage room'' to store your Essences that came to your Soul,"

    Cesar looked around to see nothing but white all around. Nothing inside was interesting aside from why Cedeit was here with him.

    "Let me guess, after barging your way inside of here by forcing me to lose consciousness, have you been here inside all this time, Waiting for the perfect time to control me? Or is it the time when I reached the ce you are staying at,"

    Cedeit stared at Cesar for a brief moment before snorting, "You already have an answer to that. Why even ask,"

    Cesar feigned ignorance even though Cedeit was right. Judging by the clues he had on his hands, he knew the Nightmare had been here the moment the eyeball reced his empty eye socket. The ''connection'' was the key and the Subconsciousness that was left unprotected was there for the taking, which Cedeit seized.

    However, since Cesar still has some control over his body as they fight for it, Cedeit never manages to finish his goal.

    He was almost there but didn''t quite achieve that thing, forgetting one small detail which is seeing Cesar''s train of thoughts.

    That''s why he lost to a lowly human.

    He''s been humbled¡­ but that didn''t mean he was giving in.

    He just didn''t have any cards to y left for now. Which is why he was going toply andply, and will continue toply at Cesar''s demands.

    When the timees, Cedeit knows he''ll strike his chance.

    ''Hah! This Nightmare.''

    Cesar was guessing about what was going through Cedeit''s head¡­ if he had one.

    He was carefully considering that Cedeit has been very good to him in the past few days. There was no cunningness left in his words as they talked and it seemed he was trying to reconcile and build their rtionship once more.

    It''s bullshit.

    The two beings understand it.

    A Nightmare and the Human is still in a fight. Unless the other eradicates the other, it will not finished.

    To break the awkward silence, Cesar came straight to the topic, "Cedeit, if you can now please teach me your method of a way tomunicate without me speaking so loud, I can finally leave in here."

    "Right¡­ right¡­ That was the business there, right?"

    Cedeit seemed to have coughed up which was very wrong, seeing that an eyeball didn''t have any mouth. But it still managed to do so before adding.

    "Cesar, I don''t know if this method would work but it might pose some risks,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but put a smile on his face as he interrupted, "Risks?"

    Cedeit shook itself up and down, "It''s not much of a risk but you can say a problem might arise, something unforeseen even for me,"

    Cesar maintained his cheeky smile and repeated, "Something unforeseen, eh?"

    Cedeit clicked his tongue, "If you won''t believe me, then what''s the point of being here? Let''s just leave,"

    "You know, at first, I believed you. At first. But then again, I had to rethink. Who the hell am I dealing with?" Cesar voiced out, "The concept of Subconsciousness is very interesting but it is very big for the likes of me for a moment. Hence, I will learn about itter. What I need right now is information,"

    Atst, as though the facade he''d tried to maintain was crumbling, Cedeit began shouting again, using the same tone he''d used since Cesar first showed reluctance to give in when at the face of danger.

    "You lowly brat! I''ll kill you! I''ll kill you when I have the chance,"

    Rubbing his ears as if he was annoyed that Cedeit hade back to his usual self, Cesar continued to tell his demands as he remained unresponsive to the Nightmare''s shouts.

    "I want you to tell me how I can find a Soul Schr. Even if I had to cross yet other likes of Void, I would do it. I''m too tired of waiting for the information to sit on myp. I want to in my hands," Cesar paused, "So tell me, where I can find them,"

    Cedeit eventually stops his rumblings and grumblings, upon realizing that he wasn''t thinking straight. When he realized that something wasn''t right, he raised it with disbelief in his tone.

    "You¡­! You tricked me!"

    "¡­"

    "You''re okay with this method of how we talked like this without getting the attention of others from outside, here, in your subconsciousness is that it?" Cedeit scoffed, "That''s why you don''t mind whatever I was going to say to solve that problem¡­ because it is already solved. Now, you just want information about Soul Schr,"

    Cesar remained silent before smirking, "I didn''t do anything else. Besides, I really do want that information. As for how wemunicate, we''ll follow your suggestion. So for both of our sake, tell me,"

    Cedeit hesitated for a while before making a sound of tongue-clicking and revealing the information, knowing it would benefit them in the long run. If he continued to hide this information, who knows when Cesar''s body would give in?

    "Soul Schrs¡­ are creatures that like hide. They actually didn''t want to show themselves that much and when they did, you''ll likely have to cover your eyes,"

    "Hide my eyes?"

    Cedeit nodded, "Yes, these Schrs have a very hideous face so anyone who has seen them will be, tak, gone. Their opponents will just disappear. Now, as for how they are called Soul Schrs, it''s because their powers are rted to it. How they make their opponents disappear is because they target their souls. They are very keen, aware, and able to scent Souls higher than others. I think that is one of their strengths."

    Cesar listened very intently as he replied, "How do Imunicate with them?"

    Cedeit immediately replied, probably expecting the question beforehand, "That''s the thing. I don''t know. But if you want to find them, you''ll have to target the terrains rich in soul."

    Cedeit paused as he chuckled, "You can even search this Academy. It is very rich with soul, I can tell,"

    "Nice joke," Cesar didn''t really feel likeughing at it before shaking his head, "I heard what I wanted to hear. With this, I can reduce my search with your information. Now, how do I get back?"

    Cedeit looked around Cesar''s Subconsciousness before saying, "From the knowledge that I wield, there are two ways to get back outside. First, if someone from the outside is forcing you to wake up. It''s like you need a physical reaction to evict someone from their dreams. Second, you reverse the method of how you got out from here,"

    Cesar replied briefly, "Un-imagining it? Well, that seems very easy,"

    "Will you fucking leave now?"

    Cesar stepped backward and started to ''un-imagine'' himself leaving the white space. It didn''t take a long time till it was aplished the moment he realized his perception became slightly different.

    It didn''t feel his Subconsciousness at all.

    The moment he opened his eyes, he found himself in the same living room he had seen the instant he stepped inside the white space.

 Chapter 135: New Fourth Years

    For the rest of the day, Cesar did nothing else. He stopped maintaining his form, wandered his thoughts about his future, and didn''t search for any kind of information about the Soul Schr.

    What he did wasy around his bed,pletely feeling lost at himself.

    This was the kind of rest he needed.

    He doesn''t need this kind of thing to do every day but just once in a while to refresh his mind. After all, if someone continues using something without a stop, it will be overloaded and will not be able to function like it used to.

    That night, he slept like a kid.

    He didn''t mind if there was someone to disturb his sleep as it was nearly impossible to happen to happen. Well, Spencer was one case but he was an ally.

    Then the next day, he woke up with a big contented smile stered on his face.

    "First day of training, huh,"

    His smile slowly died down once he came up with this realization. Knowing he would miss the warm bed that had been here for him in a couple of days, Cesar began to prepare himself for the day.

    He washed himself up, opened up the curtains, and prepared himself a nice coffee, and cooked normal food¡ª egg and bacon¡ª before setting up a chair right outside of his balcony.

    Feeling the cool breeze of air pass through his skin, Cesar leisurely ate them while couldn''t just help himself to rx.

    This was really worth living for, and just peace it is.

    Once he had finished for a couple of seconds, Cesar walked towards the drawers and chose the academy clothes that Arnold had prepared beforehand. At the desk, while looking himself in the mirror, Cesar saw how his face had changed greatly.

    And it had to do mostly something with his eyes.

    As it stands, his features became even more striking. The Eyes of Deceit meshed together with his normal eyes, making it look like they weren''t different at all. And because of that, the scars rting to it have been gone by chance as Cedeit didn''t seem to like that he was all ugly and such.

    If he wanted to connect with Cesar, at least the Nightmare did it with justice.

    His physique has been buffed as well and his specs seemed to have upgraded.

    He was still Cesar of the old, but many things have greatly changed.

    He just needed to embrace them.

    Cesar saw a ted name tag on the desk in front of the mirror, picked it up, and pinned it to his chest.

    [Cesar Sparrow]

    He can finally say that he is back.

    ¡­

    Cesar walked through the teacher''s building and greeted some of them along the way. Those teachers who noticed his name tag and some familiar on his face were able to greet him with disbelief in their eyes.

    Most tried to hide it but it was natural that some were very open about it¡­ and asked questions.

    Cesar outrightly rejected their demands while putting Arnold''s name in the mix. When that was being said, the teachers didn''t pry any longer and went with their merry way.

    The students who contacted Cesar were different, however. They were strangers to him, and because he had lost too much valuable time, all the knowledge he had regarding the students'' power rankings was lost.

    He had to rebuild thework he had with them. And with that, Cesar also came to understand that connections were important.

    Being a bitch will do him no good. It''s better to have some people to rely on that can be used any time even if he''s the type of person who would want to go solo in any way possible.

    And someone caught his eyes after seeing this figure being surrounded by a group of students.

    "Hey, you''re Cesar Sparrow, right?"

    A man with red hair stretched his hand forward. With a calmposure, he introduced himself with a soft smile.

    "ss 1-A. Fourth Year, Apollo Dublin. I received my few Facet just a week ago after undergoing the Examinations." The red-haired man who introduced himself as Apollo, added, "I''m a son of a very reputable father in the Army, Colonel Dublin. Can we talk about some things, senior?"

    ''Huh, he has a ss, is very respectable, good reputation, and is probably a strong leader with these people beside him. Apollo Dublin, huh? That rings a bell¡­''

    As far as Cesar remembers, Apollo Dublin was a third year when he was fourth year. Apollo had been in ss 1-A since his first year, and aside from that information, nothing.

    He wasn''t interested in people that weren''t in his year after all. They weren''tpetitors aside from the people in the same year.

    And now that Apollo approached him could only pertain to two things; he thought Cesar could either be his opponent or his ally.

    "Hey, why do you think you can recruit Cesar Sparrow on your side, Apollo?"

    ''Recruit?''

    Suddenly, a woman surrounding herself with people beside her came forward and faced Apollo face to face. Her blonde hair fluttered across the hair as she gave him a side eye before shifting his gaze at Cesar.

    "Hello, Cesar Sparrow. You might find this surprising but what Apollo is doing is to take someone on his side, might as well force them if you put it into context. But I''m different. I''m recruiting you with different kinds of benefits that you''ll receive from Apollo,"

    She immediately shook her head as if she had forgotten something before stretching her hands forward, "Well, sorry for my manners. Since they''re openly doing it, I might as well, right? The name''s Mei Xuan."

    Chatter¡ª!

    As the crowds get chummier and tighter with Cesar finding the situation amusing, the path from the side suddenly halved as a man with his group behind him trod forward towards Apollo and Mei.

    To give way to the man, the students scattered away, only leaving Apollo and Mei''s men right beside Cesar.

    "Hello, senior Sparrow,"

    The man stretched his hand forward¡ª his dark blue navy hair and piercing eyes match Academy''s clothes¡ªand spoke apathetically, "The name''s Leon Stratford. Current Academy''s Top. The same as others, I want to recruit you as well."

 Chapter 136: Class System

    Cesar was supposed to meet Arnold at 10 am sharp but since there were still a few minutes left, he made time for his juniors to talk in one room to converse whatever they wanted from him. And since they were the ones who approached of them instead the other way around, Cesar didn''t reject the opportunities that came lying on hisp.

    If he wanted to rebuild hiswork without tweaking much to it, Cesar would have to use them as a way to know more about the information surrounding the whole Academy today.

    However, there was something that confused him. It was more like the situation the Academy had changed or was it because the previous fourth years didn''t manage to do anything rting to what the current fourth years operates.

    "What do you mean you''re recruiting me?"

    Apollo, Mei, and Leon were about to speak all together but Cesar had enough of them arguing from the outside and raised his hand.

    "Let''s start with Apollo since he''s the first one to approach me. After that, if he doesn''t want to continue, Mei can tell what Apollo didn''t tell about. Then, you Leon. Will that be all right?" Cesar didn''t care to wait for the other response as he directed his gaze at Apollo, "Care to tell me what this is all about?"

    Apollo nodded, "Yes, senior. Basically, the previous fourth year didn''t have anything like this, right? It''s a dog-eat-dog kind of thing. No sense ofradeship had developed since the goals of the student were to be an Academy Top, reach ss 1-A, or graduate with a high rank in the Army. These kinds of goals will definitely hurt people in the long run,"

    ''That''s very¡­ bullshit. Hearing it makes me puke. Power of friendship, my ass. Besides, aren''t those goals natural to be achieved? What do you mean hurting people in the long run...?''

    Cesar remained attentive even though he was cringing on the inside. Since he still hadn''t given any reason for their actions, he let him continue.

    Thus his next words came unexpectedly.

    "What all this about is called ss System. You might''ve not noticed it but this idea has been introduced by one of the Four Horsemen, Jacqueline Casanova. It was the time when she was only a first year and tried to gather around students to help her reach the top altogether but¡­ she was betrayed by them. This is probably the reason why she grinded alone in ss 1-A and held the Academy''s Top for almost four years,"

    Cesar almost erupted a snicker but he kept it contained inside of him. If that was where they got the idea of forming ''clubs'' in their position, then bad-mouthing it would surely put his figure in a bad image.

    But there was something else that he mentioned which Cesar found quite funny.

    ''It''s just very hard for Jacqueline to do that. I guess people really do change.''

    Apollo then continued, "But we actually got inspired by her idea and we started doing it on our first years but kept it discreetly. Then, a question had arisen, why are we even doing this in the first ce?"

    Suddenly, Mei interrupted even though Apollo had to say something about it, "It is purely good intentions, senior. We want to help everyone and ourselves whether we''re still in the Academy or after we graduated. We passed through the struggle in the academy as we helped each other. Of course, there arepetitions here and there but do you think this would matter if we die?"

    "¡­"

    Mei then continued after seeing Apollo backing down with a snort. She then added, "Let me tell you the situation of the Examinations that is transpiring currently. On your previous Examinations and ording to statistics, three-tenths that took it have died and be corrupted. And today''s examinations?"

    Mei raised her hand up and motioned his hand in a circle, "There''s still zero deaths until today,"

    This time, Cesar couldn''t help but slightly widen his eyes. He was serious this time, as Mei''s tone suggested, because the system they developed had greatly contributed to the reduction in these numbers.

    Mei paused, "To be physically healthy, you need to train your body to be fit. To be mentally health, you need your mind cleared and devoid of any pressure. And to be emotionally healthy, you need nothing but positivity to clear through the struggles. This is what we consider amongst the rest of the things after we discovered the Examinations while we''re in our second year."

    Mei stopped as he shifted his gaze at Leon to let him continue which he nodded curtly.

    "That''s just the Examinations. There are other things we can show how the ss System managed to change the course of our year whether they were in ss 1-A or not. It''s probably because of us that started it."

    Leon paused, "There are others who tried it on our grade as well but they aren''t as influential as us. But we still keep in touch and exchange some things through dealings. Please make no mistake that we''re abusing our power or forcing everyone to join us. We''re just here to offer extra services while we learn ourselves through the people around us,"

    Cesar watched the sincere eyes of the three that didn''t really harbor any nastiness and was really surprised about the system that they built for themselves.

    "This kind of reliance will be their deaths once they get the taste of the real world."

    What he was thinking inside has been uttered by the mouth of Cedeit which is right on the mark.

    If they continue relying on people to watch their backs each second, it would be a weakness that is easily exploitable.

    For now, they are in the Academy. Their only jobs here are to study, train, and get ready for their term once they are in the Army. To do that, their skills will be tested during the Resisting Expeditions.

    Cesar could already see the problems arising once the real experience starts hitting however he didn''t like to break the bubble to them.

    If they really want to learn, they''ll have to go through it themselves.

    "Your idea is very fascinating. I also thank you guys for willingly approaching me but I have to decline your recruitment," Cesar paused, "But we''ll still be in touch. Are you guys all right about it?"

    Apollo, Mei, and Leon who seemed to be expecting Cesar''s reply didn''t mind the rejection that came from them, probably the first time their three recruitment to be rejected like this.

    But they all answered it with a tone that seemed to adjust very quickly.

    "Okay, we''ll do that,"

    "I can also do that,"

    "We have nothing to lose so why not?"

    Cesar liked the attitude of his juniors before he stood up and replied, "I''ll be on my way now. I have to attend my own ss,"

    The three assisted Cesar outside of the room and each of them gave him a wave of goodbye. The three leaders then broke apart and each went to their own circles since they also had something to do aside from trying to recruit Cesar.

    The Examinations are still undergoing after all.

 Chapter 137: First Class

    "I got time,"

    Cesar just received a letter from Arnold that he should meet him once the three days are up but that was only it. After that, it''s almost as if he was forgotten but understanding that the Headmaster''s position had to take care of the students of the Academy, not just him, he''s obviously not an exception.

    That''s why he had to approach him, not the other way around. It''s not because he''s forceful but just the way to respect a person who has been helpful to him. He wasn''t asking anything in return aside from the fact that he did his duty as a student.

    And finally, the travel that tirelessly took half an hour came to an end when Cesar reached the Headmaster''s Chamber.

    Knock¡ª

    "Sir? Cesar Sparrow here,"

    After knocking once, Cesar had to wait for Arnold''s reply which came a few secondster.

    "Ah, Cesar. Right,e inside."

    Cesar opened the door and saw Arnold reading a lot of paperwork in his hands. There''s also a stack of them at his desk, his eyes looked absolutely tired from doing all this responsibility all by himself.

    Arnold looked at Cesar up and down before bringing down the paper in his hand. After doing so, he grabbed an envelope out of his drawer and slid it to the desk.

    "Here, grab this."

    Cesar trod forward and touched the envelope. Since it wasn''t sealed, he was able to get the documents inside and read them.

    Arnold exined the contents of the paper. "The first page outlines your weekly schedule for the uing sses. It also lists the teachers assigned to each ss. Some instructors want to teach you every other day, so I''ve adjusted the schedule to include sses appropriate for a fourth-year student like you."

    He paused as he grabbed his cigarette and puffed a smoke before continuing, "You''re still under the curriculum of the fourth years but you are doing an entirely different schedule from them. After all, you won''t need those things, instead, an upgrade that can polish your skills,"

    Cesar continued skimming down to his tight schedule with a few breaks here and there. If were really talking about a ''break'', then the only time he could see something like that is when he went home to rest.

    Arnold then continued after bringing his cigarette, "The rest of the documents contained the teachers'' info. Obviously, their facets are out of it since anyone wouldn''t want to expose their hands. There are also faces in there so you won''t get lost to which is which."

    Cesar went down to thest page before he stopped at the particr name that made him smirk.

    ''I knew it,''

    Cesar saw Spencer''s name on the list of instructors that would be teaching him, the striking image of his ocean-like eyes.Reaching the end of the list, he realized that, aside from Spencer, it would be his first time seeing most of these instructors in ss.

    ''Hmm¡­ so today is Friday. I have five teachers to attend this special training and another three sses for normal sses like the other fourth-year students. Eight different sses in total.''

    Cesar groaned as he turned around, ''This is going to hurt,''

    Arnold, seeing his response let out a small chortle before retorting, "And by the way, expect iing interviewees by the next week. A word has been spread from outside that you''re already here at the academy, and it was confirmed,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but frown, "How can it be confirmed that I''m here if the Academy is isted from the outside?"

    Arnold''s smile widened before shrugging, "We''ll see,"

    Tilting his head slightly to the side, confused at where Arnold was getting at, Cesar paid his respect and left his chambers.

    Watching his back leaving, Arnold muttered under his breath, "Wee back, kid."

    ¡­

    The first ss he''ll have to attend is called Double Wielding Course. Basically, the given description that Arnold handled that this ss contained is to practice weapon acquisition at a high level while using both hands.

    Cesar isn''t a stranger when ites to double-wielding since he used his dagger in the same manner as that. However, the ss will provide him with other ways to wield other weapons aside from his dagger.

    If he didn''t have a dagger, what would he even use?

    All his skills aside from dagger proficiency even fall below further the average skillset.

    That''s probably the reason why it is included.

    Finally, Cesar reached the third gymnasium amongst all fifty gymnasiums that the academy had. He had to travel across three buildings and countless streets to reach his destination. That''s just how big the Academy is.

    "Hah!"

    Cesar entered the humungous gym and saw that it was quite¡­ empty. There are a few students here and there but it isn''t enough to fill the gym as a whole.

    And standing in the middle of the gymnasium was a man wielding one spear in his hand while the sword was on his other.

    And he was staring directly at Cesar.

    ''Pointy ears with golden earrings attached to his lobe. A buzz-cut hair with a star scar at his left eye. Yep, this is the one all right,''

    Cesar observed the man as he jogged towards him before paying his respect the moment he reached the instructor.

    "Hello, Sir Randal Sop,"

    His instructor for the Double Wielding Course, Randal, gave an affirmation nod and replied back.

    "Student Sparrow," Randal paused, "Just call me Randal. Since we''re going to be with each other for a whole year in this ss, it''s better to get to know each other,"

    Randal then introduced himself, "I''m Randal Sop. Since Arnold had invited me while pulling some strings, I''ve taken an indefinite leave from the Army. I''m a Sergeant Major, who has aplished three cleared sites in my deployed area. And I''m Shaded of the Second Order,"

    ''Woah, a second order, huh,''

    Cesar nodded once as replied back, realizing that he had to introduce himself as well, "Good morning sir. My name is Cesar Sparrow, First Order. Just call me Cesar if you like. In the Academy, I have a nickname called The Freak. On the outside, I''m the one everyone knew from the City of Wheels if they get to know it,"

    Randal nodded before replying, "I see. Well, how about we start?"

 Chapter 138: Fast Evaluation

    ng¡ª!

    What Cesar understood when Randal said to start their lesson, he thought he was going to be receiving a brief introduction on how their course would develop over time, what he should do to achieve the desired results that Randal wanted, and all of that stuff?

    But no, Randal had a very different terminology for starting things up.

    ''God damn it!''

    ng¡ª!

    Randal just passed him a weapon in the inventory, threw it at Cesar, and started running him down.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    His movements were exact and chaotic. The technique he used on his sword was entirely different from that on his spear. It looked like both of his arms were alive and he could think of what to do while executing a series of actions.

    That''s why Cesar was unable to discern the attack patterns Randal moved due to how confusing his actions were.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    ''How in the world is he doing this¡ª!''

    To be done with the pursuit that was tilting towards Randal''s favor, he sprinted at Cesar and motioned one huge attack.

    With only pure physical strength, Randol slid through the ground and stretched his spear toward Cesar, who defended it with ease.

    However, the spear in his hand swerved and slithered, hitting his face in the process. With just a slight movement in his grip, he was able to will the spear actions as he pleased.

    Slick¡ª!

    Feeling the cut on his cheek which could''ve been worse if Randal hadn''t rough, Cesar wanted to create a sort of distance between them since it was almost impossible to read his instructor''s movement.

    But before he could do so, Randal slightly threw his sword in the air before spinning his spear which then hit the sword in the air and flew towards Cesar at an explosive rate.

    Tak¡ª!

    The air whistled before the sword hit the floor just right behind Cesar, who immediately stopped when he felt something rushing at him, almost threatening to end his life.

    Nheless, that''s what Randal gave to the life he had given at his weapons while dealing with Cesar. At the end of the day, he still has a duty as his instructor to keep his students safe.

    "We can stop now,"

    Cesar wiped the beads of sweat at his nose before sitting down on the ground, raggedly breathing. He dropped down his weapon as well while contemting a few things inside his head.

    ''For some reason, this is almost equal to the most exhausting things I did in the past. It''s not about physical, really. More like the constant thinking of his next movement is making my mind jumbled. I can''t process it all inside my head,''

    Randal grabbed the sword along the way before finally approaching Cesar and finally giving his evaluation.

    "You are a very smart fighter, Cesar. Now I can see why you managed to get out alive. However, being smart isn''t almost guaranteed to win a fight,"

    Randal paused, "Your physical state is average but we can tweak it a little bit to make it more suitable for your style ofbat. I''m sure other sses will rmend this to you as well. Too much and not too much, they will say. So exact is probably the right word."

    Randal walked around the inventory around the gym and put the two swords, and a spear back in one of the avable cabs before reaching Cesar once again and continuing his evaluation.

    "Your mental state is weak, however. Well, not really weak but disorderly perhaps?" Randal seated down right in front of Cesar, "You are a smart kid and because of that, you thought of many possibilities all at once to produce a result that is far better than any else of your choices. That''s what I did just now,"

    Randal started moving his wrist, "I give you a lot of options for my attack, and discerning it made you think it''s impossible to read, right?"

    Cesar was indeed thinking about that earlier which is why he gave up being offensive and tried being in a defensive strategy but it was all futile in the end.

    After seeing a noding from Cesar, Randal then added, "But you see, there''s only one option left that everyone is thinking of when dealing with their opponents. Only one; and that is to kill them. Everything after that will be just noises and distractions that will make your mind crazy,"

    ''Noises and distractions¡­''

    Randal then took a pause as he observed the students around them before furthering his exnation, "That puts me to teach you this ss. And this will be another thing you''ll need to learn. To kill your opponent, not only you should be ''alive''. Your weapons should be as well. And do you know what makes a weapon alive, well, while watching me?"

    Cesar tried to guess, "Your mind?"

    Randal chuckled and gently shook his head, "No, it is how the way you handled them. It means using your grip just the way you thought without actually thinking about it,"

    "My grip? Is this the reason why you''re very good at wielding different kinds of weapons, sir?"

    Cesar asked to which Randal replied with another curt nod. After contemting, he continued.

    "Yes, starting on our next meeting, you''ll have to practice different kinds of gripping patterns at different kinds of weapons. It will be challenging. By the end of the contract I had with Arnold, you might not be able to wield as much as I do but you''ll master a few some of them and not just daggers.

    "We''re only going for the basics so don''t expect any fights like we did just now."

    Randal stood up from his seat and grabbed a bandage from his pockets. Tossing it towards Cesar, he then dered the end of the ss.

    "You can go. For the remaining time you have, do what business you have," Randal touched the bridge of his nose, "I''ll have to oversee the Facet Selections, you see. That''s part of the deal,"

    Cesar saw Randal leaving the gymnasium, producing a few whispers from all over the ce. Since he did have something to do, he also left the area after a few minutes of digesting information from his instructor.

 Chapter 139: The Same

    Cesar has a lot of time on his hands right now. The fight with Randal only took a few minutes, adding his evaluation of his skills took over a few minutes as well, hence there is more than free time given to him at the moment.

    Because of that, Cesar will finally have the freedom to begin his search from finding treatment for his unknown health condition by looking for a Nightmares, Soul Schr.

    There are a few things on his mind and to start it, he''ll have to ask the people he asked questions by the end of the week and now it''s Friday. There''s one day left but he was promised it would be either today or tomorrow.

    Hence, after riding a cab as his destination would be that long, Cesar asked the driver to deliver him to a certain location.

    "Boron Street, Fourth District,"

    The driver nodded once, a Staff Member of the Academy. Since they didn''t have to pay for any Vennon money or contribution points, the drivers were very willing to drive students to whatever streets, roads, or districts students asked them to.

    And because Cesar has been very familiar with almost the entire Academy aside from some things that are off-ground for them, he will not have a hard time giving directions.

    ''I could''ve done this earlier to reach the gymnasium if not for the fact the cabs I''ve seen are full and many. But Fourth District is just far. With a cab, I can reduce an hour of traveling into minutes,''

    The Academy obviously had streets and roads but because it was toorge, the ssification became very wide, hence districts were made.

    And they are thirteen districts that the Academy contains.

    Now the Fourth District and its streets and roads can be called an entertainment district. Students who have a lot of time usually go in here to enjoy their leisure time to be free from the tight schedule of the Academy on in a while.

    Idly considering some of the things inside his head, Cesar saw a familiar sign right after they shifted to another street which made him realize that he was finally here.

    -Boron Street

    The driver of the cab stopped the clutches before nodding at Cesar after looking at him in the rearview mirror.

    "Thanks,"

    Getting down, Cesar observed the entertainment district was not really that crowded. Fourth years were absent due to most of them still undergoing the Facet Selection. The Third and Second years were the same as well but what made this district still have some people because of the First Years.

    The newly admitted batch of students was very prominent in this district and streets. It''s only because they didn''t have encountered the challenges that the Academy stored for them yet.

    But they were about to be once the selection ended.

    Walking through the streets, some of the students who saw him tread forward recognized him but were very reluctant to approach. Because of that, Cesar freely made his way to the designation point where he''d meet his informants.

    Entering a house, Cesar made his way deeper inside. The people who saw him merely gave him a nce beforepletely ignoring him. Everyone had businesses on their own and Cesar was just one of those people who had entered their establishment.

    After finding the room of their meeting point, Cesar entered and couldn''t help but stay frozen the moment he saw the person, a different figure, he''ll meet.

    Cesar stared at the individual for a few moments before closing the door. He then approached the figure, sitting down on one of the spaces beside it.

    "You''re not ude. He''s the informant I was supposed to meet," Cesar spoke sarcastically.

    "I''m indeed not in fact ude. He''s one of my men inside the Academy," Nas, one of the Administrators of the Academy, smiled, "Your wants intrigued me,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but click his tongue silently while musing inwardly.

    ''God damn... He will be suspicious why I''m asking a particr Nightmare.''

    But instead of being disheartened as to why Nas is able to discover his actions, Cesar sees it as a chance.

    Nas could be considered someone he already had connections with. He recalled the time he had asked Nas for information about Facet Selection, along with several other things he inquired about through him.

    Now that he discovered that Nas is a very important figure, sticking with the best person there is will be obviously beneficial in the future.

    Cesar then retorted, "I want information regarding Nightmares that is connected with Soul Schr. They lived in terrains rich in Soul. Do you have this kind of information?"

    Nas, upon confirming that it was really Cesar asking this question, replied. "No, this particr detail you''re asking hasn''t been recorded yet through our databooks, either public or private knowledge,"

    Nas paused, "And that''s what makes this conversation very interesting. Where did you get this from? And Soul? That is a very... interesting topic,"

    Cesar, already expecting this kind of question to be asked while not getting fazed by it, replied with grit in his teeth, "I have my ways and I''m not nning on sharing it,"

    Nas stared nkly at Cesar as if trying to peek at his very inside which made Cesar himself shudder. Not backing down at the stare-down while feeling the pressure, Cesar finally saw Nas stopping while letting out a small smile.

    "If there''s nothing else, you can leave."

    Cesar kept his gaze fixated on Nas before nodding, "Yes, sir. It was a pleasure meeting you again. May I know if there''s a possible way to contact you?"

    Nas replied with the same gentle tone, "Just contact me through Arnold. We''ll set up a date and timeter on if I''m still avable,"

    Cesar gestured that he understood what he meant before standing up and hastily leaving the room. Not only did he have other sses to attend but also because he also didn''t calcte enough that Nas would be present which exined his haste.

    ''Seriously, dealing with Nas is more stressful than the others I''ve met in my entire life.''

    Watching Cesar leave the room with his presence inside, Nas slightly shifted his head to the side and muttered.

    "Are you sure now?"

    A voice, not echoing from the walls but resonating from within him, spoke to offer affirmation.

    "Yes. I can feel that you and that student are the same. Someone is also inside of him,"

 Chapter 140: Fourth Class

    Cesar spends the next two sses in normal ssrooms, with the current Fourth Years ss present. At least half of the student body was still undergoing the selection and the sses he attended only had a few of them which is why Cesar was able to focus on those two particr sses.

    Probably because the news of Cesar had already spread around, some of them weren''t even curious about his situation. This made him very pleased as no additional disturbances happened to him and was able to act as a normal student.

    These two specific sses were not part of his specialized lessons. They focused entirely on theoretical, book-based topics and covered subjects rted to Nightmares.

    The instructor even made a surprise quiz which Cesar easily aced. That hurt some of the students since it was Cesar''s first time attending the ss yet he finished it very wlessly.

    "ss Dismissed,"

    Finally, the moment the instructor signaled the end of the ss after giving back the test papers to him, Cesar trod outside and checked out the document in his hand to see his next schedule and the uing schedules that will all be special sses.

    And at the end of the day, it was just another ordinary ss he had to attend. Specialized or not.

    ''Five more to go¡­''

    Cesar left the building he had been in, heading to the bathhouse where his next special ss was held. Weirdly enough, this particr special ss is different from the other sses like the physical one had attended with Randal earlier.

    Arnold really made him a perfect schedule. If he''s all about fighting and using brawns, he''ll likely get burnt out and exhausted. With that kind of thinking, he developed a kind of method to reduce the physical part of his training.

    This ss is rted to having a perfect mental state.

    "Sentara Street, Seventh District"

    Yet again very far from the area that the building for students to attend to, Cesar had to take another avable cab he could see. After encountering traffic in the second district which he passed along the way, those minutes came fast as the cab driver immediately dropped him at the particr location he had spoken to him.

    "Thanks,"

    Cesar got down to the cab before observing his surroundings.

    "Jade''s Bathhouse¡­ Jade''s¡ª"

    Looking at the name of the bathhouse he was going to attend to, Cesar quickly spotted the right building.

    ''What the hell¡­ it''s big¡­''

    Almost looking like a mansion, the bathhouse window sses were clouded with fog. Because it was indeed a bathhouse that it turned into something like that, a curtain to cover the inside was no need for such a case.

    As Cesar entered the bathhouse and stepped inside its interior, he instinctively waved his hand to clear the dense fog obscuring his vision. With faint lights scattered here and there to guide him and with patience to move forward, he finally managed to reach the person he had been searching for.

    It was a fat man, topless while only using a towel to cover his bottom.

    ''There''s no need to doubt his identity, all right¡­''

    With a shake of his head, Cesar voiced out with a sigh, "Sir, Iso?"

    Iso, the fat man, nodded, "That''s right. You must be student Cesar Sparrow. There''s only one person who wille here if that''s not the case,"

    Iso then paused, "Let''s not get too chatty. Now, take your clothes off,"

    ''Huh?''

    To make it not look like he was trying to assault Cesar, Iso let out a soft sigh before adding to his exnation.

    "It is part of the ss. Take your clothes off. While you do that, I''ll hand over to cover¡­ you,"

    Cesar was still hesitant at first but since it was an ordering from his instructor, he reluctantly undressed himself. Thinking that Iso would throw him some sort of cloth, the fog suddenly moved and covered his lower part of the body.

    "Now then, how about we start?" Iso didn''t spare him a nce and continued, "Did you already take a bath in the morning?"

    When Cesar gave a nod to answer his question, Iso ignored it and gestured to follow him deeper into the bathhouse.

    Cesar curiously nced around the bathhouse as he made his way through the showers, dressing rooms, and eventually the locker rooms where he was supposed to store his clothes. The ce was spotless and empty, as one would not expect from a normal bathhouse.

    After all, normal ones are really crowded most of the time.

    As they walked deeper inside while the temperature of the bathhouse continued to rise up, Iso began to introduce himself.

    "The full name''s Iso Polo. I''m a doctor in the Army and merely just a Captain."

    ''A doctor in the academy. And he said ''merely'' a Captain ranked in there? This guy must be good if he achieved that rank while being in this profession. Arnold really had a lot of contacts in there, huh,''

    As if he didn''t want Cesar to think deeply about it, Iso continued.

    "Due to Arnold''s request, I''m here to teach you something in this ss specifically, I guess? Don''t worry about it though. I''m on a specific leave which the Army permits. That''s why me and the rest of the people he hired are here,"

    Cesar suddenly got curious about Arnold''s position when he was in the Army. To pull off these connections while dealing with the higher-ups of the Army itself, he must''ve pulled a lot of strings behind.

    Iso gave a quick nce at Cesar through the thick fog before stating in a more convincing tone, "Now, we should focus on our lesson."

    After walking through the thick fog and rising temperature, Cesar was led into a sauna with steam rooms. Clearly just looking at the thick fog surrounding him, he heard Iso speaking out loud.

    "Your Fourth ss, Cleansing Course, targeted the specific user to keep their mental state stable. This will teach you how to bathe your exhausting mind with purity and just call it after a long and tiring day. This teaching of mine is very good and has been proven especially to Shadeds. it''s very easy, really,"

    Iso dropped down to the ground and sat cross-legged before urging Cesar to copy him which he abided wholeheartedly.

    "After doing this pose, try to very focus on your ''center'' and try to feel it. This center is what you can say is a ''core''. The moment you feel this center, rx and try to extend it through your body as if using your essence to spread out to be able to use your facet,"

    Cesar struggled at it for a few moments, trying this new concept being delivered to him before Cedeit, the voice that had been quiet for today, voiced out in glee.

    "Ohhhh!"

    Cesar began to feel it as well.

    "This guy is not bad! I don''t know if he''s aware of what he''s doing but this is very beneficial for the likes of you, kid. It helps you replenish your Soul to receive essence from it while keeping the Soul itself in a state of rxation."

    Cesar wanted to utter what those words meant but Cedeit seemed to know what he was thinking already and replied.

    "It means it will be good for you! What he''s doing is at least stopping your Soul frompletely breaking down. Okay, you should learn more about this guy. I don''t know what method is this or because it is rted to his facet but you should carefully listen to his teachings!"

    Realizing that what Iso was teaching him was needed for the likes of him, especially with his unknown condition, Cesar didn''t doubt this doctor any longer and how he was able to achieve that position in the Army while only doing this.

    It''s because this ''simple'' this is great for the likes of them.

    Right after, Cesar began to listen more attentively to his lesson.

    "To keep you more focused, only let your thoughts drift to the core of yours and only it. The key detail on understanding more of your core is to keep it refreshed and maintained."

    Cesar was still confused about the terminologies being used here. While undergoing the cleansing of his core, he couldn''t help but ask him more about this subject and see how he came up with it.

    "Sir Iso, howe you discovered this method of teaching? Honestly, the Academy isn''t offering or at least a bit simr to this course. And what exactly is the core or center you''re referring to,"

    Iso remained in his position, fully rxed, "To answer your first question, it is rted to my power. I''m¡­ well, it is rted to directly being able to control essence very precisely. And while I continued to study more about it, I''ve discovered that essence is not just the end of it. There''s more to essence, a higher level of understanding, and I named it a ''core'',"

    He paused, "Basically, the ''core'' is something that is within us figuratively but it exists, that''s for sure. I thought this core is something that gives us essence, and that didn''t juste to us naturally. If we consider that, then that means this ''core'' gets tired as well."

    Iso let out a small breath, "That means we''ll have to replenish and keep it maintained. And what we''re doing is cleansing the very ''core'' as if we''re cleaning it like cleaning your room after making it dirty. But we''re barely scratching the surface and it doesn''t help me, really,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but frown as he mused inwardly, ''But why do I feel that it''s actually helping me and not barely scratching the surface?''

    As if he was in a good mood today after being able to feel Cesar''s Soul not being shaky, Cedeit replied.

    "Heh, the answer is simple. It''s because you opened up your Subconsciousness unlike this guy and the rest who don''t,"

 Chapter 141: Plans Of Exposure

    ''So, it is rted to that¡­''

    Iso had a rough surface of what a Soul is. For sure, others who stole this idea or used it in the same manner from him were the same but they actually didn''t know how to fully capitalize it.

    That''s where Cedeit''s advantage came in.

    Knowledge of a Nightmare came in handy in these times.

    Cedeit then exined, "The core he''s mentioning is indeed Soul. However, because they have no idea what that is, this human and the other people who used his method weren''t able to fully feel the whole capability of it,"

    Cesar silently listened and made conclusions inside his head that only remained his. Afraid that voicing out his concern which were only rted to Cedeit would make Iso doubt him that might pose some question such as "why is this kid talking in the air?"

    He didn''t want another Arnold who would react the same way as in the early times where he was talking to himself.

    Feeling that Cesar was very interested in his ss made a smile on Iso''s lips. Feeling that his methods were definitely working especially for Cesar, the two continued their lessons. His student continued asking questions while Iso continued to feed him with information.

    ¡­

    By the end of their ss, Cesar was able to learn a lot from Iso. And he was ready to use this knowledge to the best of its proficiency, specifically to someone like him who had a condition in the subject that he was willing to teach.

    For a moment, it looked like Cesar was trying to trick Iso into feeding him more about his teachings, but he discovered a few things about it.

    First, this was definitely effective because it was Iso. His facets clearly relied on the essence part that made things easier which matches his words earlier. This was the reason why he highly regarded a high position in the Army and even some Colonel-Ranked personnel were under his guidance.

    However, that didn''t mean it would hinder the progress of the person who didn''t have Iso''s direction.

    Those who were able to understand him will be able to copy it and use it for themselves.

    This conclusion was even brought by Iso that Cesar was really a genius of his kind. To be able to understand the core concept he was teaching him and being able to feel very fast isn''t surprising since others have done it, but it was still an achievement on its own.

    Cesar was very happy about this matter but didn''t get astonished at his talent. After all, there are things to consider as to why he was getting the best of it.

    And he wasn''t just going to keep at himself.

    "Sir, did you create a research regarding this that is named and made by you?" Cesar paused, "May I know if I can borrow it in case a rted topic from my uing sses will require a thesis? I will surely put you on it,"

    If Cesar hadn''t been gone, he surely believed that their year would be making a thesis. However, that doesn''t mean the current fourth year will not be having one, in fact, they will do it.

    This made Cesare to a reason to spread whatever he knew about Soul through research. With this and to avoid much bigger suspicions, he already had ns on how to do it. This mainly focuses on using Iso''s reports if he ever has one.

    "I did,"

    Cesar''s face ddened upon hearing it.

    "It is published publicly. You can find it using my name too," Iso replied after wearing his clothes before using a cloth to cleanse his eyesses, "I will very much appreciate it if you did include me in your uing thesis."

    Cesar smiled and stretched his hands, "It''s a deal then,"

    Iso received his handshake before the two said their goodbyes. However, they were surprised to see each other outside until they went to the same cab.

    By the looks of it, Iso also had the responsibility to watch over the examinations. Coincidentally, Cesar''s next ss is near the Academy premises.

    "Right¡­ sir,"

    To avoid being awkward with each other due to sharing the same cab since it was a rush time in the Academy itself, the two continued their talk from where they left earlier.

    ¡­

    "Sir, thank you again!"

    Bowing respectfully to Iso, Cesar turned his back and rushed to the nearby dojo which Iso could only wave at him. Since the two were in a rush, the moment they got dropped from the cab, it was their n to just leave immediately.

    Cesar didn''t do it though. Nheless, he knew it was the right thing to do.

    "That kid is really¡­"

    Iso couldn''t help but shake his head with a smile before also jogging his way to the selection to take over other teacher''s shifts.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    ''I''m notte. Yes¡­''

    Four subjects just had passed, and one of them was a kind of specialized ss that calms down a person''s well-being, but Cesar was already finding it tiring.

    He had to walk, listen to the lesson, walk yet again, and ride a cab if the premises of his ss were far. It was just his first day of doing this but Cesar was already feeling he will be regretting it.

    It will definitely exhaust him even if the other sses are a way to rx and heal oneself such as Iso''s ss.

    That''s why Cesar couldn''t help butmend Arnold yet again for his given schedule. If not for actually putting a list that isn''t just organized, Cesar knew he would be chasing the time as of the moment.

    Because of that, Cesar finally reached the dojo that Arnold''s document led him to.

    [Silver Sky Dojo]

    Cesar slowly approached the quiet gates of the dojo. Walking for a few more steps, he was able to step into it directly before fixating his gaze on the middle where an old man was closing his eyes while sitting cross-legged.

    "Wee, Sparrow,"

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 142: Silver Sky Dojo

    "Wee, Sparrow,"

    Upon hearing the words of the master who called out to him, Cesar respectfully bowed his head and replied.

    "Sir Syros,"

    The old man, Syros, looked like he had opened his eyes but it was definitely still closing from the onlookers. Probably because he had terrible wrinkles stered on his face due to old age his face appears like that.

    His katana was resting on hisp as he steadily rxed.

    However, there''s one to take note of when facing Syros which Cesar immediately saw the moment his eyes look at the old man.

    Syros'' fierce presence continued to be felt by anyone who was near him, and the only one who did currently was Cesar.

    ''Damn¡­''

    His entire aura was on a different level. Itpelled Cesar to bow down without uttering a single word. People who gave off that kind of impression were usually the ones with an insurmountable extent of experience in this field.

    Cesar then saw Syros standing up, unsure if the old man was still keeping his eyes closed or not. The next thing the old man did was put his katana at the side of his body before slowly approaching Cesar.

    When he was right in front of him, Syros closed his face at Cesar as if observing his eyes directly and gave a nod.

    "Okay, I can teach you."

    Syros then turned around and started introducing himself and the ss he would be teaching to Cesar, "As Arnold had given to you, my name is Syros, and only that. Don''t ask why. I''m not willing to entertain the history behind it to you,"

    Cesar immediately gestured that he didn''t give any less shit about why he didn''t have ast name with a respectful shrug and nod. Seeing his reaction of impassiveness and curiosity regarding his name as he should be, he then continued.

    "I''m a retired military person, achieving a Lieutenant Colonel. I''ve received countless medals as well and I can show it to you if you are ever interested. And also to believe that I''m not all talk," Syros paused, "In our ss, I might be able to teach you one of the Techniques I''ve learned through my time,"

    Cesar couldn''t'' help but slightly widen his eyes. He had one of the Techniques which has been taught by Arnold throughoutst year''s fourth-year students he was unsure of the situation now, but it''s not really helpful inbat.

    However, it would be different if Syros taught him a Technique that would be essential to his growth. If it''s rted tobat, then he''ll absolutely get lucky to even see it himself from a retired Lieutenant Colonel.

    "All right, whatever do I need to do just tell me. I will willingly do it," Cesar pumped his fist in excitement, "What''s my first assignment?"

    Seeing Cesar burning with enthusiasm that even the old man could feel it through his skin, Syros liked the fact that he didn''t beat around the bush and went straight to the task.

    With a pause and the genial old man he is, Syros put both of his hands at the back and exined briefly.

    "In this ss, I will carve you to be an individual whose goal is to annihte every enemy you sat at the front. To do that, having a clear mind is needed." Syros paused, "This is what you have to do. You see me sitting down earlier, right? Just do what I did while clearing your mind. Be in a state of nothing and clearheaded. Even a word passing through your mind or a mere figment of thoughts is out,"

    Syros halted, "Go on, do it now. I will be able to know your condition if that''s what you''re worried about. Hence all you have to do is achieve my task then we can move on to our second one,"

    ''Be in a state of nothing¡­ clearheaded?'' Cesar mused inwardly, ''Not thinking about something, huh? I''m pretty good at it,''

    He definitely wasn''t lying when he thought to himself that the task was pretty easy. Right now, too when he should definitely be finding a cure for his unknown Soul condition, he then was training.

    That''s just one of the many examples there is.

    So, it shouldn''t be so hard for him.

    Sitting cross-legged on the dojo''s wooden floor while feeling the breeze on the outside with noisesing from here to there due to this structure is just yet another part of the Academy''s premises.

    Cesar begins to do the task.

    He closed his eyes.

    ''Be in a state of nothing,''

    Completely taking out the cool breeze passing through his skin while the noises that came from the cabs, the voices of the students, and anything academy-rted sounds slowly began to be unheard of, at least for him.

    ''I knew it. It is easy¡ª''

    Tak¡ª!

    Suddenly, his head got smacked by the katana''s sheath which made him slowly open his eyes and weirdly look at Syros.

    "Sorry, my hand slipped. I was just walking around and it identally hit you,"

    His words might be the most bullshit thing he had heard today since he felt his figure moving towards him and doing it on purpose. Still, to respect the old man, Cesar ignored it as he got his head back to the task.

    ''Focus¡­''

    Cesar let out a small breath as he delved deeper into the state of clear-headedness. Almost doing it along the way, he suddenly felt his finger being pressed down by a foot which he couldn''t help but hiss, and forcefully moved it out from the feet.

    "Tsk,"

    Grumbling, Cesar yet again had to force his eyes open and intently look at Syros this time.

    ''Why is this guy trying to be a bitch?''

    Syros looked back at him, his gaze didn''t look like it was opened at all before retorting with an amiable smile.

    "My bad. Please continue,"

    But Cesar had enough as he couldn''t help but voice out, knowing surely this time that Syros was doing this with persistence.

    "What are you doing, sir?"

    "What is what I''m doing?"

    However, Syros remained ignorant with the same smirk stered on his lips. Cesar began to be annoyed about it before grumpily breathing out loud to make sure the old man was aware that he was irritated.

    However, Syros just doesn''t give a fuck.

    Tak¡ª!

    He continued disturbing on the task he had given to him.

 Chapter 143: Clearheaded

    Halfway through being pestered by the old man to do his task while also being disturbed by him which is contradictory on its own, Cesar couldn''t contain the frustration building up inside him and went haywire.

    "Old man! Will you stop doing this crap?!"

    After almost trying to hit Cesar with the tip of his sheath, Syros abruptly stopped hitting him.

    It might be because of his conscience or due to the annoyed shouting from his student. Who knows what the old man was really thinking of putting up this task while doing some shenanigans?

    "What am I doing wrong? Just finish the task I''m giving you since you''re not even close to aplishing it," Syros replied with a snarky smile, "But since you don''t understand the whole concept of our lesson, I''ll keep telling it to you,"

    "Sir, Syros, will all due respect. You didn''t even teach me anything at all. Yes, I know this course is called Clear Mind but that doesn''t give me anything at all. You just gave me a task and I was doing it but you kept disturbing me,"

    Syros couldn''t help but raise a brow and chuckled, "Soldiers aren''t supposed toin about theirmander officer''smands. They either do it or they will be charged with uncooperativeness,"

    Syros pointed his sheath at Cesar once more before adding, "But I guess I didn''t get you enough ''clear'' goal to you. So let me give you another debriefing,"

    Syros then sat beside Cesar and started exining why he had given the task to him while pestering him at the same time.

    "You know, like what you''re doing right now, it''s very easy to put your mind at ease and be at focus. But it is all different when you''re on a battlefield where chaos and situations alle up in different ces at the same time. It''s unending and never ceasing.

    "This lesson provides rity while in battle. Of course, a reenactment of the real deal, and this one might not happen until it is already happening but with me, your teacher, I can deliver it over to you. You''re a smart man, Sparrow. I know that. And because of that, you fight smartly. And what do you think you need to do to add being a smart fighter?"

    Syros paused, "It is being able to think clearly to produce the desired images of what you wanted to do. Instinct is an important aspect of fighting as well but they merely rely on their chaotic fighting style which might lead to a few injuries here and there. The Casanova family does that,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but muse, ''I remember that Jacqueline also gave a lesson about instinctively fighting and I think I got to learn more about it in the real fighting as well, but it''s not clearly my kind of style. I liked to think my actions steps ahead to not let get yed out by my opponents,''

    Finally understanding the concept of the whole ss event if Syros had given a bit of intel about what this was all about, Cesar got to work.

    ''If you could''ve just exined it from the start earlier, I wouldn''t have been so emotional,'' Cesar mused inwardly before beginning his focus.

    He closed his eyes and started to be in a total concentration of clearheadedness.

    ¡­

    In the end, achieving such a state when Syros was having a st of his time to continue disturbing him with a huge grin on his face wasn''t working out until the very end. The ss ended very soon after the two said their heartfelt goodbye even if Cesar faked it all.

    It was a pretty irritating ss with a sadist old teacher who loved seeing his students get annoyed reactions at his antics.

    ''Sixth ss¡­''

    His sixth ss is another specialized ss. In the description that Arnold had given in the document, it is said that the ss is rted to learning traps and it is called the Trapmaster Course.

    It is located in one of the open training fields where students have to pass through a bunch of obstacles to get to a finish. Cesar already knew this field since it was just near to the part of the whole Academy premises and also because he had been there a few times.

    Just like any other second-year, he had been ordered to run and pass the obstacles there. He didn''t need a cab to ride since it was just nearby and in just a few minutes, he was able toe to the designated location.

    Since it is really a wide area and some of the students all across levels were using it to train themselves, Cesar had a hard time finding his instructor.

    It was a woman she was finding, but Cesar still wasn''t able to spot the instructor of his.

    Until Cesar met a man, that seemed very familiar to him.

    "Cesar Sparrow?"

    Cesar couldn''t help but shift his gaze to the side and spotted a second-year approaching him. Frowning for a bit after recognizing his face, his gaze fell down at its name dog, and couldn''t help but call out to him.

    "Amon? That kid from that time?"

    Amon seemed to be d that Cesar was able to recognize him as his eyes glistened, "That time? Ah, if you''re talking about my bold announcement at ''that time'', then you''re right it is indeed me. And I''m not all talk, you know? I''m considered the top student in my year,"

    Cesar didn''t forget it as for him, it just happened a few months ago. With a nod, he then asked.

    "Kid, did you see any green-haired woman in this open field? She had a top hat, a green eye on her left, and a ck eye on her right. She''s somewhat tall and loves to carry a knife around her clothes,"

    Amon couldn''t help but ponder about it after Cesar asked him to him before shaking his head, "Uhm, no sir. I didn''t,"

    "Hah!"

    Suddenly, a figure approached behind Cesar since he was the nearest one there before tapping his shoulders.

    It looked like she had just rushed to get here after sprinting from who knows where.

    "Excuse me, is this the fifth training field that the academy had?"

    Cesar and Amon both nced backward and saw a woman calling out to them with a giddy smile. When they saw this woman, both shifted their gazes back at and couldn''t help but stare on each other listlessly.

 Chapter 144: Trapmaster

    "You''re¡­"

    "Hah, Cesar Sparrow!"

    After standing motionlessly in their position after realizing that the person Cesar is telling Amon he was supposed to be meeting with is right on their very front, the three couldn''t help but be surprised.

    The woman with a giddy smile stretched her hand forward as she added, "The name''s Aaliyah by the way, ranked Captain in the Army. I''m called the Trapmaster hence the name for our ss,"

    Amon couldn''t help but chimed in, "Our ss? Am I included in this?"

    Aaliyah looked at Amon and revealed with a very cheerful tone, "Nah, this ss is solely made for Cesar, you see."

    Cesar acted surprised but was genuine on the inside since Arnold didn''t say anything revealing this information at all. On the contrary, he hadn''t spoken about keeping it under the ropes of the students that he was getting this kind of favor from the Headmaster himself.

    ''What is Arnold thinking honestly¡­''

    Amon, who didn''t appear to be disheartened at first, was able to react as if this was only natural to happen beforementing about it.

    "Honestly, with what you did to the survivors and how they were doing right now currently, thriving and popr all that, receiving a bit of gratitude from the Academy should be natural," Amon paused as he let out a crazed face, "Besides, I don''t want to enter you another kind of training since that seems to be what you''re doing,"

    He turned around while trying to wave at Cesar and Aaliyah, "I''ll leave you two then. I''ll have my ssmates and other students who I have good contacts with to leave you guys alone. Ma''am Aaliyah, it was nice meeting you. As well as you, Cesar,"

    Bowing down his head slightly, Amon began to rush towards his ss and continued their training amongst the rest.

    Watching the second year leave their presence, Aaliyah then looked at Cesar and said, "You might''ve known this but you''re poprity is back yet again, whether in here in the Academy or outside,"

    Cesar didn''t really give a shit about everyone''s opinions about him but since a good reputation brings good benefits, he didn''t reject people saying he was a good man and what is there to say about him.

    But he was curious about the people seeing him return from the outside. Since he didn''t get a newspaper to read yet, he asked Aaliyah herself.

    "Popr, you say. What kind of popr?"

    Aaliyah contemted briefly before answering, "Let''s just say that you''re a hero who came back from the dead. It''s not just rumors now, you see. Outside has confirmed that you are alive,"

    Aaliyah paused as she made a remark with a very low tone enough for Cesar to hear, "Arnold is a madman. And whoever is behind Arnold is nning something big. But be very careful. You''re in the very center of their machinations."

    Cesar was still confused about what she was talking about and had no n of searching for answers. But if it was endangering his life when his body was already killing himself, he had to know.

    But it seemed Aaliyah was reluctant to even say another thing probably because she didn''t know what to say. She had a guess but it might be wrong which might Cesar misunderstood.

    Aaliyah stopped from prying any longer before letting out a sigh, "Anyways, let''s get back on the topic, right? Today, I''m teaching you basic ways to handle, understand, and craft traps. With just a string, stone, and a bit of maniption, you can make a person fall into the trap you''ve designed yourself. As a Trapmaster, I can give it to you,"

    Aaliyah began to gesture to Cesar to follow her as she began introducing the course and the things Cesar needed to do to pass the ss.

    "What do you think a person needs to understand how a trap works, Cesar? Genuine question and I''m literally asking you,"

    Afraid that he would just get cut off not until thest statement was stated, Cesar pondered very carefully before answering his own understanding regarding the subject.

    "How they were created?"

    "That''s one thing,"

    Aaliyah didn''t deny or agree to Cesar''s words. She just put it in a tone that suggested that''s one part of how the trap worked but not really the answer she was looking for.

    With a pause, Aaliyah revealed, "To understand how the trap works, you need to know the trap itself. Meaning, you must recognize a trap right very instantly even if you''re the one who made it or not,"

    Aaliyah further rified, "There''s one thing inmon about traps, and that is the time when a person triggered it. If the person is a good trapper, you might suffer from an injury without you knowing. That''s why being able to recognize it even if you triggered it is important,"

    Aaliyah finally stopped walking forward and came to a halt where a huge table wasid in their front. Atop of it are different kinds of items for Cesar to see that she asked Arnold to prepare in advance.

    Once they got a good look at it, Aaliyah whistled.

    "Damn Arnold really understand what I need,"

    Aaliyah grabbed a funny-looking box and a scrap metal before stitching them together with a string. Adding a few more items she could see, she became quiet while remaining focused on her craft.

    Cesar watched it all with curiosity before Aaliyah finished it in just a minute after adding some finishing touches that enabled the trap.

    The rough-looking trap she made was a box with a string atop it.

    "Let me call this¡­ Stringed Box since you know, it''s a metal box with a loose string¡­ Anyways, I''ve just thought up a way to create it right in this instant." Aaliyah paused, "This is one of the rules of understanding a trap. Don''t be fooled by their appearances,"

    Aaliyah pulled the string from the box and it opened up, revealing sharp razors on the inside. Right after, these razors seemed to shoot out in every direction which she had ounted that no student would get hurt.

    "Stringed Box might appear funny on the outside but there is wickedness it is trying to hide within. This little remember might cost you or your opponent''s life so remember well,"

 Chapter 145: Banquet Plans

    "Nice demonstration."

    "Right?"

    Aaliyah then brought down the top hat above her head before adding, "As per the contract, I''ll give you lessons that might be able to save your life when the timees. We''ll be having a lots of fun while we engineer the machines that will grow their own life."

    Cesar knew he was going to have a lot of fun. After all, this subject was an entirely different kind of aspect that he would have to learn since not everything about fighting is having a clear head in a fight or being able to wield using two hands.

    It''s about setting up traps before even the battle begins.

    Some of the Nightmares might not even anticipate these kinds of traps which will increase the chance of winning the battle. But not everything revolves around the Nightmares, even if that''s what humans should be concerned with.

    There are some people as well. Heretics, Criminals Shaded, and just a bad line of people that means harm.

    Learning to be a trapper, Cesar could see the limitless potential of what he could do. Aaliyah can provide it to him which she was very confident about doing.

    He was just worried about himself, that''s all.

    ''Man, I hope my body will be able to keep up learning all of these things¡­''

    With that wishful thinking inside his head which will surely not happen as he will definitely struggle, Cesar began to listen like a little kid to Aaliyah who was teaching him a lot of stuff on their first day of ss.

    ¡­

    For one specific reason, his seventh ss, another specialized ss, was canceled due to an emergency that happened in the selection some of the teachers that were avable at that time needed to rush to a location where it was being held.

    Hence he continued his search for the location of the terrain he needed to find the Soul Schr that still bore no results.

    After the time allotted for that particr ss diminished, Cesar went for his eighth andst ss for the day which was a regr ss he needed to attend.

    Hence he attended four out of the five special sses, one canceled, and three regr sses since he still had to keep his attendance clean.

    Academy is not all about connections but also about raising one''s value in it. To do that, students must attend their given sses and excel in them.

    The regr ss is located inside the Academy.

    Cesar wasn''t really expecting anything out of it as long as it was all about theoretical. There are only a few physical sses in the regr sses that Arnold arranged for him but it''s not as extreme as he had inputted through the special ones.

    Upon reaching the room, Cesar slid the door open, only to find it empty. His eyes then darted to the side, where he noticed someone seated in the teacher''s chair.

    However, it wasn''t really the instructor he was expecting to see.

    "Is there any problem, Headmaster?"

    Arnold was reading a bunch of papers in his hands before replying, still not looking at Cesar, "There''s no problem. It''s just a request that you really have no choice but to ept."

    Arnold couldn''t help but chuckle, "Do you remember the mission from the City of Wheels?"

    Cesar nodded, remembering it as if yesterday and how it got to the point of the day they were in right now. He then saw Arnold continuing.

    "Well, the Academy is holding a huge banquet for you. A week duration. The rewards that you haven''t received yet will be rightfully given to you at that date and time. It has been decided and is already being developed,"

    Feeling something off about his words, Cesar had some doubts and didn''t even pry any longer and just shrugged it off since the rewards that were given at that time were absolutely humungous if he thought about it.

    Well, he was remembering it now since he totally forgot it.

    But holding a banquet just for a student to receive his rewards from his endeavors? Just outright suspicious that''s all.

    Cesar then replied, "If the Academy is holding the banquet, will it happen inside?"

    "Of course not. It will happen outside in the City of Lights, Dawn Breaker. Important people, figures, influential powerhouses, and Mayors all across the world wille to this event to meet you, Hero of Wheels," Arnold paused, "There''s no way I will expose the Academy to danger,"

    Cesar nodded, "So instead of the Academy, you chose me as a scapegoat. It''s all right. I would do the same thing if I was in your position. When is it?"

    Arnold really liked the fact that Cesar was a smart person to deal with rather than a man who would keep asking questions when they already knew the answer. After ncing at Cesar for a bit, he replied.

    "Next month hence you have three weeks left to train before you depart again from the Academy. Who knows what might change since then but the Banquet will continue, no matter what."

    ''No matter what¡­ huh,''

    Arnold sounded like they were forced to attend this banquet since that''s what the higher people from above ordered them to do. Like a dog, all they needed was a bone and be done with it.

    Cesar sat down and stated, "When are we leaving? How far is City of Lights?"

    Arnold replied very fast as if he already prepared an answer to this question, "In the second of thest week of the month, we''ll leave. Obviously, I''ming with you,"

    Cesar found that reassuranceforting, knowing that Arnold was a force to be reckoned with. Even if someone decided to take action against him, they might hesitate with Arnold around.

    Yet, this very thought put Cesar in a predicament of his own.

    "Are we expecting trouble?"

    Arnold remained motionless in his seat, lowering the paper he was holding. He reached for a cigarette from his stash, pulled a lighter from his pocket, and lit it with a practiced flick.

    "Pheww..."

    Taking a slow drag, he exhaled a cloud of smoke into the air.

    Arnold''s eyes lingered on the ceiling and replied, "Definitely. Right from the start, creating this banquet is suspicious enough,"

 Chapter 146: Monday Came

    "It is suspicious, all right,"

    Cesar repeated with a sigh before asking, "Are you searching for whoever arranged this or already discovered it?"

    Arnold answered discreetly, "Nah, we''re still under the ropes of who has made it but we have suspicions. I just came to discover this after Nas had told me that an official document has been handled out throughout different parts of the cities, Army officials, Academy officials, and the Association''s officials."

    Arnold paused after puffing out smoke, "Anyways, this regr ss has been canceled as well. They are needed on the selection since something bad came up. And bad news rting to the selection mostly results in one thing; corruption."

    Arnold stood up as he gathered the papers in his hand andmented on the same subject, "However, the Academy this year has a very impressive record. This is just one casualty throughout the ongoing selection. I heard they built a ss System and it is one of the things that made this result possible¡­ Students really never failed to surprise me,"

    Cesar understood what he was trying to say having zero casualties up to this day is a feat on its own.

    Now that they finished talking about the important one, Arnold seemed to not have anything to talk about any longer as his business with him was finished.

    That was until Arnold grabbed something out from his pocket and tossed a card at Cesar, who managed to catch it without trouble.

    It was a heavily ted diamond card with his name on the front and status on the back.

    "What''s this?"

    "License card for VVIP," Arnold paused, "Those buildings and ces that are mostly restricted to students like you and some of the teachers that didn''t have higher positions or influence, a license is needed to allow your pass. I''m giving you one,"

    Already receiving an abundant amount of privileges from Arnold, Cesar also started to get suspicious about it. There''s no way, he, amongst exceptional students he had taught, wasn''t able to achieve what he aplished to receive such treatment.

    This made hime to lingering doubts entered his doubts, finding an objective to Arnold''s actions now that Aaliyah had inflicted him with her thoughts.

    But Arnold immediately cleared these misgiving benefits as he stated calmly.

    "It wasn''t me who had given the order but Nas," Arnold rified, "He clearly stated that you met him earlier and quoted "Give a VVIP license to Cesar. Also, begin creating a license for him that he will start using in the future once the banquet begins" and that,"

    ''Nas again¡­?''

    Cesar mused inwardly before nodding once.

    "How do I thank him?"

    Arnold approached the room''s exit before waving his hand, "You don''t need to. Just do whatever you''re doing right and get ready. The moment we go out again, it''ll be another trouble,"

    Arnold left the room as Cesar watched his back disappearing from its doorstep. When no additional surprises were added, he also left the room and proceeded to go back to the teacher''s buildings where he was currently staying.

    He needed some time alone to process everything he''d absorbed today.

    ¡­

    On the weekends, Cesar decided to practice his artificial fire. Since it was rough workings for now, mastering it to a degree of perfection is still far-fetched. Unless Cedeit was willing to teach him which wasn''t happening for now.

    For now, the only guidance he had in crafting the fire came from his own trial and error.

    When he was taking a break, he practiced Iso''s teaching to calm his Soul since practicing the artificial fire requires an essence to pull off.

    He had to calm himself down since every time he used a bit of his soul, he felt really dizziness taking over him which he had to abruptly stop.

    It was slightly hurting, and it was starting to be apparent.

    This is what makes Iso''s teaching exceptional.

    Even if the method was using essence to perform such a state, the return of cleansing the soul returned twice the amount. Hence even if he was losing one, the return was two. It was a simple math which he will garner no loss.

    ''Ugh, if I can strike another deal with Cedeit in exchange for information or knowledge of whatever he knew, I would do it. However, nothing ising in my mind¡­''

    Cesar already made a deal with Cedeit that he''ll be retrieving some of Deceit''s consciousness if he ever sees one, whatever that meant. After all, he didn''t describe what its appearance is.

    Will it be another dying eyeball?

    The next thing he knew after the weekends passed, Monday came.

    Cesar found himself riding a cab as he appreciated the view of the academy while students walking around its streets. With the selectioning to its end, it wouldn''t take long till the fourth years filled those same roads again.

    However, it wouldn''t take long till they are going to their given expeditions.

    Not like Cesar actually cared about it.

    Finally, the cab driver delivered Cesar from the location where he intended to go.

    "Kanto Street, Seventh Third District"

    Cesar nodded once, and said his thanks, before leaving the cab with a determined expression. Finding a weaponry workshop at the end of the street, he was finally able to find his next ss.

    [Kanto cksmith]

    It is a workshop where students can buy weapons made by the cksmiths inside using their contribution points. This will be where his first ss every Monday will be held. Fortunately, this specialized ss will only happen once every week.

    It didn''t involve sharpening one''sbat after all.

    Cling¡ª!

    Cesar entered the workshop with some of the students roaming around the ce to find a weapon that suited them. He remembered that the daggers he used inside the Mansion had been bought in one of the workshops of the Academy as well.

    ''Right¡­ daggers. I need to find something suitable for myself soon,''

    Soon, Cesar moved to the very back of the room and was finally able to spot a tall, buffed man wearing a workshop apron, thick ck gloves, and a long hammer which he continued hammering down at his silver anvil.

    "Hello¡ª"

    Tang¡ª!

    "My name¡ª"

    Tang¡ª!

    "Is Cesar Sparrow¡ª"

    Tang¡ª!

    "I¡ª"

    Tang¡ª!

    After his failed attempt at introducing himself, Cesar chose not to disturb the instructor who was supposed to teach him. Instead, he waited patiently for the instructor to finish whatever he was doing.

    However, he had waited for too long.

    Almost an hour passed, and his instructor didn''t let go of his hammer and continued hitting it down to his anvil to shape the weapon he was doing.

 Chapter 147: Not Seeing The Big Picture

    Cesar nced at the clock and saw that a measly few minutes were left till the end of their ss yet not only did his instructor not even once talk to him but he also didn''t give a single nce at him.

    Cesar didn''t understand if his instructor had to focus on his job that his presence should be put solely on his work or because he didn''t care about him at all.

    And as the hour was almost passing through their allotted time in their ss, Cesar began to think it was thetter concluded thought.

    "Instructor Han?"

    Tang¡ª!

    Finally as if tomend that Cesar has been patient all this time even though he was on the verge of breaking out, the cksmith Han, spared him a nce before bringing down his hammer.

    "I don''t see any interest in your eyes,"

    The way he uttered those words in the most disinterested tone possible made Cesar irked for some reason. It was because whatever Han was thinking toment was true.

    The description of the ss in the document regarding the Kanto cksmith has already been put there. Unlike the rest who wanted their ss to be introduced right in his face, only this course has everything prettyid out.

    That''s why Cesar was able to discover that nobat practice would happen in this ss, which probably appeared in his eyes that he wasn''t interested in his lesson.

    The question was how.

    ''I don''t usually make faces until something was already been said. That means he had already seen that I didn''t take an interest in this ss¡­ But so far, he didn''t give me any look after stating that. So how was he able to discern?''

    Suddenly Cesar came into a thought.

    ''Wait, why am I thinking about this in the first ce? He wasted my time because of his pride and stubbornly waited for the ss at the end just to say it!''

    He could''ve done a lot of time in that span of time if instructor Hans had just been honest from the start. If Cesar wasn''t interested in the way he sees it, he could''ve just been evicted from the cksmith and he would''ve used the time more efficiently.

    It was starting to get on his nerves.

    Han watched his expression as if he was an open book even though he was trying to hide it before he picked up his hammer once again and started pounding the metal at his anvil into the weapon he was trying to create.

    "By the way, you have a deal with Arnold. Whatever that is, I''m sure it involves teaching me," Cesar confidently spoke as he turned his back around and added in a sarcastic tone, "He will not like it if you continue being like this, sir. But if you say I''m not interested in this ss, maybe inform me in advance so I won''te here? That will save us both a lot of time, right?"

    Han abruptly stopped pounding his hammer at the metal right above his anvil before shifting his gaze to Cesar.

    "You put your trust in Arnold too much,"

    Cesar halted his steps upon hearing about it before he nced back and saw Han wiping the sweat formed on his forehead.

    "Is that what he tried to make appear on you, huh? That''s funny," Han paused as he nced around at his workce before continuing, "Don''t get blinded by their graces. I know you''re not an idiot so you will realize sooner that you are nothing but a piece. You''re not just seeing the bigger picture, that''s all,"

    Cesar started to frown at his words, not really understanding what those imply but he continued to listen.

    "To clear what you have in mind, Arnold and I had a deal but teaching you wasn''t on the part of it. There''s just no way will I teach my techniques to a stranger whether they are uninterested or not in this subject, "Han chuckled, "However that changed when an opportunity arose and it is you,"

    Cesar became more confused at whatever Han was trying to mention and what ''opportunity'' had risen that involved himself but he didn''t like the sound of it.

    "That''s why it was all right for Arnold if I didn''t teach you anything. After all, I don''t belong to the Army or Academy itself. Oh, where are my manners, I forgot to introduce myself,"

    "Myst name wasn''t on the document so you probably aren''t aware of who I really am," Han stretched his hand through the air, "I''m Han Langston."

    At first, Cesar was confused as to why he revealed hisst name even if he didn''t include in the document that Arnold had probably respectfully asked. However, as Hans'' whole name reverberated through his head, he started to get confused which slowly turned into a surprise.

    ''Langston¡­ Langston? Langston!''

    Cesar couldn''t help but widen his eyes upon realizing that he was dealing with the real deal.

    The once prominent family alongside with Casanova and Yarrow family of the Hunter''s Association was right on his very front in the flesh.

    "You made a deal with Arnold? Someone¡­ like you?"

    Seeing the visible surprise from Cesar, Han nodded before answering, "So sorry not sorry, I guess? Every Monday, you cane in here if you want but I will never teach someone my techniques who isn''t family. Well, close ties with us will be considered but you aren''t,"

    ''What a bummer,''

    Cesar felt that this was a wasted opportunity. By the looks of it, convincing Han will not work as he looks like a stubborn person like him.

    There''s no way he would want to strike a deal as well.

    ''He would not teach me if I wasn''t family. Yeah, there''s no way I would marry someone from them. So I can consider the people they had a very friendly rtionship with them¡­''

    Suddenly, a thought passed through Cesar''s head.

    ''What if I marry Jacqueline? She''s a Casanova and probably her family is friendly with Langston,''

    Imagining Jacqueline as a wife, a beautiful partner, and walking through the aisleing towards him wearing a white dress, Cesar had to violently shake his head feeling his face burning up.

    ''What the¡­ W-what did I just think?''

    Han slightly tilted his head before seeing Cesar had an exasperated expression as he left his workce before seeing his back leaving the workshop itself.

    "Weirdo,"

    Han brought his attention back to his work before he continued hammering his hammer down to the metal atop of the anvil.

 Chapter 148: Lab Warnings

    "Ugh¡­"

    Weakly walking while trying to remove the funny thoughts inside his head, Cesar forced himself back on the right track once he realized he was getting sidetracked. Leaving the workshop behind, he finally snapped.

    "That arrogant instructor. Now, he''s at the bottom of my list, only second to Syros," Cesar sighed as he remembered the five sses he''ll be having today, all specialized sses.

    He then ced himself in a stop station and awaited a cab to pass by as he started muttering on his own, "Next ss is Syros, that old man¡­ After that sneaky old man is Iso, one of my most liked instructors teaching me. Up next is two instructors I''ll be meeting for the first time,"

    Cesar sighed, "Monday would''ve been my not-so-free tight schedule if not for the fact that aside from Hans'', every ss is two hours each time. Sigh, what a bummer indeed,"

    Finally, a cab saw him at the station and went for him. Cesar didn''t waste time greeting the person and demanded respectfully.

    "Academy, third gate."

    The cab driver nodded before slowly driving Cesar to the location he mentioned since the Silver Sky Dojo was near the third gate of the Academy.

    ¡­

    Syros never failed Cesar at all as they remained the task he ordered him to do on Friday since Cesar was nowhere close to aplishing it. He had fun messing with him even though that was indeed the learning his instructor was going to give him.

    Worse of all, he had to suck up this distraction and humiliation he was receiving from the old man since by the end of it, the frustration will lead him to nowhere.

    Who knows if there''s a benefit through all this? Well, it''s clearly being clear-headed in a fight as his course suggested but there were still lingering doubts that stayed on his mind no matter how many times he convinced himself that there was something to benefit from all of this.

    What if Syros was just making fun of him because he was bored?

    These thoughts were all quashed, however, at least momentarily, when Cesar went to Iso''s ss and continued their usual ss as usual.

    The Cleansing Course became his personal favorite not only because Iso was very easy to talk to but also because his teaching was mostly beneficial to him. If not for it, he wouldn''t have been able to use his essence to practice his artificial fire.

    He felt really refreshed every time Iso taught him more about this method. It makes his unstable Soul at least bearable.

    However, it wasn''t really a solution.

    The more every second and day slipped by his hands, his chance of surviving his unknown condition was bing truer.

    ''Soon¡­ With the banquet opening as an opportunity to venture out, I can solve this problem in no time. I just had to pinpoint a ce, travel around, and finally finish this once and for all,''

    The course ended very fast even though two hours had already passed. Currently, he was heading toward his fourth ss for today which is located in the Academy and must be that way since it is slightly dangerous amongst the rest.

    The ce had to be heavily secured and had to be watched out for most of the time since people might just be stupid enough to pull off ridiculous stunts that might as well endanger the whole academy as a whole.

    Finally, after walking through the big premises of the Academy, Cesar finally came to his destination.

    [Lab 9]

    Entering theb, Cesar was met with two guards who stopped on his way. They asked in a strict tone.

    "Name and purpose?"

    He answered, "Cesar Sparrow. I''m here to attend a ss for ma''am Rina. I think she''s inside,"

    The guard looked at each other and one of the guys went to his table and grabbed a notebook that foreseen the schedule for the current ss. Once they pinpointed the time currently and assessed that there was a sole ss meant for Cesar Sparrow that had been decreed by the Academy itself, they didn''t contain him from the outside any longer.

    One of the guards began to lead him inside.

    One of the guards that led him inside warned, "I''m sure you''ve been in thebs, Sparrow. I''m also sure that you knew the risks if you ever did something dumb. Not long ago, some idiot first-year touched a normal-looking liquid without the consent of the teacher. What happened? Well, his hand just evaporated and he was forced to be expelled from the Academy since a defect like that isn''t required for the harsh training of the Academy,"

    The guard paused, "This is just one of the recent idents that happened in thebs so be mindful of the signs stered everywhere, okay? If there''s a sign that no touching, definitely not do it. In fact, if you see something in theb, just don''t touch anything and tread forward,"

    Cesar mused inwardly, ''How caring for a guard.''

    After passing through countless tempered ss, cabs that are protected with very thick mirrors, and signs that signal and warn people to avoid ever touching them identally.

    "Here you go, Sparrow. This is the room you''ll be meeting with your instructor. She''s already waiting inside,"

    Cesar thanked the guard who led him here even though he could do it himself, but because there are real troublemakers that make a job harder, a bit of precaution is still needed.

    Cesar opened the door on his front and his gaze easily and swiftly fixated on the woman in a coat, holding a bubbling liquid from his hand. Wearing eyewear on her left eye, with thick gloves to assist the things she was holding, Cesar''s instructor, Rina shifted her gaze at him.

    "Sparrow?"

    Cesar nodded, "It is me, ma''am Rina,"

    Rina had a strange smile on her face, more like insanity, as she replied, "Isn''t this beautiful?"

    Rina slightly tilted her cup that was enough to see the revolting contents inside. Everything just felt wrong about it, the smell and the image almost made him puke.

    Cesar had to cover his nose and give his honest opinions, "Nahh, there''s no way that is beautiful! It''s horrendous! Disgusting!"

 Chapter 149: Exotics

    Rina stared at Cesar for a moment before chuckling, "I know right? I was just testing you, silly. If you agreed to that, I might''ve reconsider teaching you about alchemy."

    Rina shook the disgusting liquid from her hands using the cup beforementing, "If anyone calls Death Toxin beautiful, I will definitely report you for having an unstable mind. But anyways since the little test of mine is done, let''s start to the real part,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but roll his eyes in irritation as he mused inwardly, ''Just¡­ what a stupid test! Please, it better not be the same as that prick Hans'' ss that will make me just watch her do stupid experiments to waste my time!''

    Rina nced for a brief moment before she started picking up different kinds of ingredients from the side and posed a question.

    "Cesar, are you familiar with the new ingredients that appeared worldwide because of the Nightmares? I think they taught it to you in the Academy and they are primarily called Exotics."

    Cesar nodded once since he encountered that kind of subject from time to time, and it is a requirement for a student to learn it. He gave his opinions about it.

    "Exotics can be considered as ingredients that will help reduce the potency of corruption in the Nightmare Potion. As of today, every ingredient that can help to that has the highest value in the market. But that wasn''t the only purpose of Exotics.

    "These unusual items can also be used to create weapons such as Artifacts and Specialized Bullets. They can even improve a food''s quality twofold and are considered to be a spice as well, even better, as long as it was proven tested and healthy for consumption. Some are even good to test in the medical field. The list just goes on."

    Rina nodded as he grabbed an empty jar after already grabbing a bunch of stuff from it before stating calmly.

    "You couldn''t have exined it better,"

    Rina gestured toe closer but had to stop her actions as she almost forgot something.

    "Go to the dressing room and wear gloves, protective ss, and ab coat first. Haha, almost forgot about it,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but stare at her erratically, his left eye blinking in a strange motion before musing inwardly, ''I was waiting for you to say that since I will nevere closer to you no matter what you say, but you almost forgot it?''

    As he walked through the dressing room to dress himself with equipment, Cesar was already thinking that Rina might just not be suited to this field. If she was this forgetful and carefree, then the world might just enter another epoch.

    After a few minutes of arranging himself, Cesar left the dressing room whilepletely equipped. Approaching his instructor, he saw something different from the way Rina was acting earlier.

    The way she was arranging the ingredients on the table was delicate. Her gaze was instantly devoid of any jolliness as she was expecting everything like a hawk. Especially the atmosphere around her was different.

    "I will teach you different kinds of ways to distinguish the kind of Exotics you see using different kinds of methods since others aren''t viable for that one action but can be done to others," Rina paused, "For example, you can distinguish an Exotic through a smell but not touch, vice versa. You can say it is applicable to this one but not to other¡­ which I just exined now,"

    Rina paused, "And what do you think one has to have to be able to learn about them, huh Cesar? I''ll give you a hint, its two words,"

    Cesar rxed as he thought deeply about but nothing came to mind. Is it rted to having a skill? Or another mastery of being able to distinguish something right in an instant?

    He shook his head when he didn''t give an answer that Rina could understand.

    "My teacher asked me the same thing from me, you see. At first, I thought he was joking when he mentioned the answer but eventually as I studied more about Exotics, it was bing clearer that it is true."

    Rina paused as she revealed, "The answer to that question is Common Sense,"

    "¡­"

    Rina then exined, "Imagine you see the Exotic emitting out a repugnant smell, of course, you wouldn''t use your nose. In a different situation where having your eyes closed, either you have your sense of touch, hearing, or smell. This brings me to the method of distinguishing an Exotic,"

    Rina picked up a green branch of wood using a tweezer from the table andsaid, "There are five categories for it. It''s hard to give an exnation so I''ll use this ingredient. For example, this Green Oakwood doesn''t really have anything unusual from it aside from it being color green. You don''t have to cover your eyes or nose. Hence, this is a Category Five Exotic, basically a very safe ingredient¡­ but that is until it is proven in this demonstration alone,"

    Rina picked up an empty jar before bringing up a cup that was filled with blue water, "Just think that we didn''t have data about this. Just like any alchemist out there, the only choice they have is to do trial and error. The result will not be seen unless it already appeared,"

    Rina poured the cup of blue water into the empty jar before cing the green oak wood. Soon, the chemical reaction happened and the water became filled with green viscous liquid that had bubbles popping out.

    "Now that it looks like this water is not safe enough to be touched with hands, the Category that this one had just added up. Hence the data that we''ll be inputting is Category Five-Four, Greek Oakwood. The five is the raw output, and four is the final result after using the ingredient,"

    Rina halted to catch her breath, "To sum it all up, the categories are heavily linked to whatever our five senses can differentiate. The more it is unavable to one''s senses, the more the final result of output will add up,"

    Cesar couldn''t help but be enlightened at this learning as his mind who was still hungry for knowledge was dying to have for more.

    "I''m getting excited¡­"

 Chapter 150: Monday Done

    "The subject regarding what to mix in what part of the recipe in ordance to the data that we already have seemed very big on its own. I think it would bore you as well. That''s why it''s better to show you some of the ingredients reaction to each other,"

    After discussing more about the Exotic Category and how one can distinguish through their senses, it seems like Rina was getting bored of just saying stuff.

    A student can learn about a subject if the topic is demonstrated right on their front. And by the looks of it, Rina was intending to do so in the first ce.

    "It sucks that we don''t have any Nightmare piece of meat leftovers that the academy could give but I guess that''s too much to ask for?" Rina chuckled before adding, "Today, I''m going to show you how a simplebination of exotics can be revolutionary,"

    Rina began to do her own thing as she started to fill up the cauldron on the side with ingredients.

    "Green Oakwood is an ingredient that will change upon contact with a liquid substance that releases its toxin upon contact. Leaf Tea, is an odorless leaf that has been plucked out by the Coron Tree which can make the mixture smoother and better. Once mixed, the taste of the product afterbination bes sweet."

    At first, it was only two ingredients that gradually became five.

    This idea that formed inside Cesar''s head that it would be finished when the ingredients mixed in one single cauldron crashed down when he realized Rina wasn''t done even after six inputs of ingredients altogether.

    She was going for more.

    ''Uhh...''

    It was funny in the way she analyzed the ingredients that came next in the cauldron but in the end, everything will be mixed in the end. It doesn''t really matter whates first when ites to using exotics in this kind of alchemy since everything and anything inputted inside will be mixed.

    Unlike the Nightmare Potions where an exact method has to be done to make a potion not just potent, but effective and risk-reduced product. If one blindly puts exotics in a cauldron that involves a Nightmare, when their carcasses have been inserted into it, it will surely result in a worse oue.

    There are cases where after all the ingredients were done being inserted in any kind of cauldron or storage to store the exotics and items, once a Nightmare flesh was involved, oues always ended in a disaster.

    That''s why Rina wasn''t afraid of whatever she was trying to put in the cauldron that became so revolting to look at. However, thanks to some certainbination of ingredients, it wasn''t actually smelly.

    This made Cesar relieved since if that ever happened, he would surely dart his way out of the room and leave the premises entirely to proceed to his next ss.

    ''Fuck, fuck...''

    Nheless, the situation was turning into something more chaotic as a physical oue of a strange manifestation started to appear in the cauldron. When ''physical'', as if something was being exhibited in the cauldron that almost looked like an undead to others.

    It was horrifying and mostly, sickening.

    "Uhm, what is that?!"

    "This?"

    Rina asked in an amused tone, "This is alchemy! My profession. What you''re seeing is a byproduct of my experiment. By mixing different kinds of ingredients avable in this table whether they are useful or not, I created a creature,"

    ''A fucking what? There''s not even a Nightmare flesh involved in it! Don''t tell me she secretly sneaked something into the cauldron to summon a Nightmare?! I have to stop her!''

    After being amused at seeing Cesar''s reaction from her position, thinking that she already pulled enough pranks for today, Rina grabbed a tiny bottle from the table before pouring it into the cauldron.

    Soon the ''mystifying creature'' that started to give birth on its own due to Rina''s creation abruptly paused before looking at her with horror on its way.

    The creature that tried to leave simply extinguished in its ce, forever disappearing its existence out from the world.

    ''What the hell?! How is that possible?!''

    Rina then exined what happened, "Don''t worry, it''s just my powers working on its own. Don''t feel threatened as well, the creature you saw is gone. Out. Disappeared,"

    "So, are you telling me what you just did right now or no?"

    Rina shook her head, "Go to your next ss and find it out on our next meeting. I have to inspect it first. All I showed you just now is how it worked and that''s it. Besides, alchemy is not all about positive results. There will always be bad ones.

    Cesar was he confused but followed Rina''s advice and immediately went to dressing room to undress himself. Taking a curious nce at the product she just showed, he walked outside of theb to go to his next ss.

    The image of the creature spawning was terrifying.

    ''I wonder what is it?''

    Musing that thought inside, Cesarpletely forgot it at all and left.

    ¡­

    His fifth specialized ss didn''t strike him as interesting as it sounds and looked to him which is only natural. After all, the ss is called Flexibility Assessment.

    That''s what it was at first. This ss involved being flexible after all, whether it was on the mind or one''s body. His instructor''s name in the ss is called Ma''am Nora. Cesar thought it was a simple assessment and ss where they would all be doing yoga and stuff.

    Unfortunately, it was another kind of surprise.

    The Flexibility Assessment was able to see the faults one has on their body, what it had be to be exact. Because people tend to exert much of their actions even if their capabilities aren''t the things they were expecting, it was making their body adjust to it without proper training.

    This leads to strains and injuries that can lead to some points where people will be unable to move because of these impairments.

    This ss teaches Cesar to be aware of his body and how he can reduce the build-ups in his body which greatly helped him a lot. It made all the aches in his body disappear.

    "Today has been great,"

    His Monday ended.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 151: Footwork

    Two days for Cesar passed by in the blink of an eye. More like thest two days either are a repetition of the sses he already had beforehand or sses that, this time, Cesar didn''t get interested in.

    Of course, for formality and out of respect for Arnold and interest in teaching him, aside from one particr cksmith who didn''t give a damn about him, Cesar attended him. Additionally, it''s not he had the authority to ignore all of them.

    He had to attend them because he was still being graded. Moreover, he was learning so what''s there toin about.

    "Ugh, I have to attend this ss. Right, the instructor¡­ is someone I''ve met beforehand. Still, this is the first time we''ll be meeting officially. I hope to learn great things from this guy,"

    Mumbling to himself while riding a cab that would lead him to his designated ss, it didn''t take long before Cesar was able to see the cab stopped at the parking area.

    "Thank you,"

    Cesar gave his gratitude to the driver before walking straight towards arge old mansion from the front. Giving off a dangerous aura with sign boards that this was out of reach for anyone trying to trespass it, Cesar made his way through while avoiding the signs that surrounded the mansion.

    Once he pushed through the old door, a loud creak reverberated all throughout the mansion as Cesar entered. Looking around the interior of the mansion which is no different from its condition on the outside, Cesar shouted and called out.

    "Hey, instructor Spencer! Your student is ready to be taught by your teachings,"

    Suddenly, an old man with ocean-like eyes revealed himself from one of the furniture of the mansion before shaking his head with a sigh.

    "You don''t need to be sarcastic. Look, I know what I did is very uncharacteristic and not right. You just went back to a very harsh situation and¡­ I pulled a prank on you but I came in good intentions!"

    Spencer both raised his hand up as he started to exin, "Kids like you are the future of the world. After hearing the deeds you''ve done at the mansion such as escaping an Intermediate Nightmare Creature, at the Library, even battling the Keeper of the Void. It was really inspiring! That''s why I wanted to see what kind of person you are. I never meant to start a fight whatsoever!"

    Cesar, hearing that those reasons are actually valid, sighed and replied, "Okay, all right! I know that we have plenty of time but I want to learn instead of talking about this."

    Since what Spencer did at that time wasn''t intentional to bring him harm, Cesar can just let bygones be bygones. What he came here for was to receive any learningsing from Spencer and learn from it.

    Spencer, who could understand where he wasing from, was ddened at the fact that Cesar was willing to forgive but not forget, and started exining to him.

    "What you''re going to learn from me is a series of Footwork, just like what this ss is. You''ll have to decide eventually what kind of footwork is suited for you when you''re facing an opponent but I will teach you all of what I have in here to you. Be d,"

    Cesar observed Spencer before musing inwardly, ''Is this guy dumb? What do you mean I have to choose the series of footwork he''ll have to teach when I can just learn all of them?''

    Spencer honestly thinks that Cesar will choose one of the footwork he''ll be teaching when he already told him that he can teach everything he had cultivated throughout the time he was alive.

    If Cesar is learning one footwork, his list of choices when there''s a battle in his front will be limited. So if Spencer was so generous as to give it, Cesar would definitely not miss the chance.

    Spencer then began to exin the core teachings when ites to footwork, "Footwork is a diverse Technique from the past that has been handed down to me. You see, I''ve reinvented it, honed it to perfection, and finally, my very own style is born,"

    Spencer raised three fingers, "There are three things you''ll have to remember when ites to studying footwork. The first is positioning. The second is bnce. Finally, the third and most important thing to remember is movement. Mastering these three categories is what makes footwork alive. However, practicing and honing it is an entirely different manner. If you can do it, you''ll have a mastered footwork on your own,"

    Spencer began to demonstrate one of his footworks as he started to run around the area while instilling no sound on the ground or tremors. After ''positioning'' himself with the right ''bnce'', executing the exact ''movement'' has never been easy for him.

    Spencer then smiled, "This is Stealth Footwork. As it name suggests, you can move without any sound. This footwork is good for infiltration and assassination. This is a very dangerous technique if it had fallen to dangerous hands but quite valuable to allies. Now next,"

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Spencer suddenly picked up the pace as he moved around the area. Executing the three categories of how a footwork must be done with perfect, it looked like he was disappearing from one ce to another. However, there was traces of sound left as he moved.

    "This is Speed Footwork. This is viable to use if you are trying to chase down a person or escape a group of people. Yes, it has traces but if you are even a bit faster than to the people you are chasing or escaping from, it wouldn''t even matter. You can switch to another footwork then all problems will disappear. As for another footwork, you''ll have to learn from me¡­"

    Spencer paused as a smirk stered on his face before rushing towards Cesar, who felt the force of the footwork that he actioned just now.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Spencer immediately came to Cesar''s front and raised one of its legs upward before mming it down to him.

    In response to that quick and destructive attack, Cesar defended himself with the use of his arms.

    Thud¡ª!

    ''It stings!''

    Surprised that Cesar was able to defend that, Spencer chuckled and introduced, "This is Explosive Footwork. It works with a mixture of Speed Footwork and Destructive Footwork. Now, are you interested in this lesson now?"

    Slightly annoyed that Spencer didn''t warn him about the attack, Cesar shouted and retorted with spite, "You sly old man! Warn me beforehand!"

    A/N: Sorry for not uploading in the past few days. I just got a burnout. Will be releasing steadily from now on (trying)

 Chapter 152: Third Party Involvement

    "Hah¡­!"

    Spencer made it look easy to be able to replicate his movements that seemed ordinary at first but Cesar had already found it hard while training and was able to realize this in the hard way. And for him to passed this ss, he''ll have to achieve perfection at this technique.

    Because he saw that footwork isn''t just any other type of technique that one can achieve easily, and with Spencer being his instructor, Cesar encountered some problems. His movements became erratic, he tripped over himself and broke a few bones here and there, and a few others more.

    It was just day one and Cesar already knew there were much more toe.

    "Okay, stop now."

    Cesar forced himself to stop as he slumped down on the ground, beads of sweats falling down that drenched his training clothes. Feeling pain all over his body, he tried to recollect his breath before a crazed smile stered on his lips.

    ''This is great! Absolutely one of my top choices when ites to ss! It''s hard but it will be all worth it if I''m able to learn all the footwork that Spencer is willing to teach me.''

    Spencer cast a nce at Cesar''s reaction at the end of their training, thinking that he had gone insane with that smile. However, he set those thoughts aside since it didn''t look like he disliked his ss. More like he was thrilled to be able to be part of it.

    Spencer then contemted something from his head before adding, "If you would like, I can teach you in the weekends if you aren''t busy. Just inform me beforehand since I might be doing something in those days. However, if we''re both free, then better not waste it,"

    ''Will that even require an answer?''

    Drawing out a huge breath from his mouth, Cesar smirked and nodded, "Let''s do it,"

    Ending the ss there while watching Spencer leave the mansion in its sorry state, Cesar remained on its premises briefly to rethink what he had learned for the past few days. Now that he had seen his whole schedule for the whole week and knew he would be learning a lot from them, Cesar didn''t doubt what he could achieve with them.

    Aside from the arrogant Han Langston who will probably give him the same treatment most of the time, Cesar realized it was really worthwhile.

    Eventually, Cesar left the mansion a few minutester after struggling to rise up and walk. Now that he was all battered around his body, the only thing that was going through his mind was to take a shower and sleep.

    ¡­

    Days quickly passed by.

    All Cesar did most of the time he was in the Academy was train and train. There was less talk happening and he was seldommunicating with his peers, but he didn''t forget the important matters he had to handle eventually.

    The first one was finding the Soul Schr.

    He didn''t neglect everything to thest detail. Since he was running out of ideas and research, Cesar used his teacher''s knowledge regarding what terrain is most concentrated with essence.

    Everyone answered on their own, and even Han participated in his questions while cksmithing, and soon, certain areas across the world were mentioned.

    Red zones, safe zones, unknown zones, and knowledge that aren''t made in public were told to him as well.

    That brings him to the second most important event happening soon, the banquet.

    Various people wille to this celebration as each official will watch the Hero of Wheels receive his rightful rewards.

    However, that thing is just full of mystery and danger. Unknown threats havee into y with this banquet, and Cesar knew he was in the middle of the uing storm. It will either sway him like the rest of the people or use this opportunity to sneak his way out.

    The sad news about that part is Arnold and Nas were still in the dark on the whole purpose of this banquet. He was hearing this piece of news along the way currently.

    "We still haven''t discovered anything crucial for this sudden banquet that is made for you, but there''s progress," Arnold paused while gazing outside of their vehicle as they made their exit through the Academy tunnels.

    Then he took an abrupt pause, "Few people are under our radar now. Hidden investigations have been implemented. And¡­"

    Cesar noticed that Arnold grew hesitant to continue, afraid that even knowing about it would endanger Cesar himself.

    "Just tell me. I''m not afraid of anything,"

    Arnold took a nce at Cesar''s face before sighing, "There''s a third-party involvement. This just needs any other party that is willing to do something for the sake of money or fame. And¡­ we''re considering a High Ranking Personnel in the Army and Nightmare Corps. A Nightmare. Last but not least, an Administrator,"

    Cesar''s eyes grew wide once he heard that piece of information before finally realizing the graveness of the situation.

    ''Why would a High Ranking Army Officer, an Administrator of the Academy, and a fucking Nightmare in the cahoots with each other? That doesn''t sound right¡­ Does that mean they are traitors and want to do something from me? Is it because of my involvement with Deceit?''

    Cesar didn''t receive this kind of attention when he was only The Freak of the Academy. Now that he had gone out of one of the strongest Origin Nightmare Creature''s strongholds, people started to take interest and be willing to achieve their purpose from him.

    And to do that, Cesar had to be just in a ce where he was the most vulnerable of any protection.

    But everything is not making any sense.

    ''Howe they are cooperating with a Nightmare?''

    Cesar was about to ask that question when Arnold halted him with a raised hand.

    "Don''t ask about it. There are certain things that you should definitely not know. It''s also for your own safety,"

    Cesar shook his head as heined in an annoyed tone, "If you''re going to hide it from me, you shouldn''t have told me in the first ce,"

    Arnold shrugged but didn''t dare look at Cesar straight in the eyes.

    The area inside their vehicle became awkward as passed through one of the Academy tunnels with the intention of moving through their destination, City of Lights, Dawnbreaker

 Chapter 153: Flora City

    "Outside! Oh, how I missed this sensation! The Academy grounds you''ve been is too cramped for me,"

    Cedeit who seldom talked to Cesar while they were inside the Academy, started talking to him again almost all the time. It seemed the Academy bored the Nightmare.

    Afraid that talking to him now in the real world would make Arnold suspicious as to why he was talking through the air, Cesar remained quiet before he started focusing on himself.

    Tak¡ª!

    Currently still in their vehicle as it crossed into a bump, Cesar closed his eyes and imagined the white space known as Subconsciousness.

    After a whole minute of putting his focus on it, Cesar transferred to his own Subconsciousness and met the eyeball, Cedeit.

    "What do you need me for?"

    Cedeit asked in a roundabout way even though the Nightmare was already aware of what Cesar needed to be here in the space.

    The Nightmare''s suspicions became true as Cesar then asked.

    "There''s a nearby terrain that is highly concentrated with Soul. Well, it was essence for them but you told me there''s a connection between the two. We''re going to pass it and tell me if a Soul Schr is currently resting at it. Can you even do it?"

    Cedeit contemted for a bit, the eye seemed to be pondering the answer before nodding once, "I can do that. Since we''re all done in here, I want to tell you another thing,"

    Cedeit paused as their previous problem seemed to already have a solution as he added, "Now, in the meantime, I advise you to carefully have a proper consumption of using your essence. You''re just prolonging the inevitable and it will not be long till you actually break down,"

    Cesar took a mouthful of gulp as he voiced out, "It''s that bad, huh,"

    Cedeit didn''t sugarcoat and make things worse as he added more, "Yes, it''s that bad. So I''m very happy that you''re looking through it. But then again, don''t expect that this is going to be easy. You''ll have to talk to a creature you loathed and make a deal with it,"

    Cesar scratched his head and waved his hand, "Yeah, yeah. I''m aware. You''ve already informed me about this beforehand. Just guide me when ites to that point,"

    Cedeit rolled around the white space before Cesar left the white space, and returned to the vehicle without garnering any suspicions from Arnold. He nced to the side and saw that the Headmaster of the Academy was motionless and looking through the window.

    The driver of their vehicle then voiced out after a few minutes, "Sir, we need to take a gas. We''ll be stopping at the Flora City in a bit,"

    Arnold gestured with a nod as he retorted, "All right. And may I ask how long till we made our way to the Langston Bridge?"

    The driver tilted his head and replied, "It will take a day if we continue with our current pace. Then we would need a few more days to arrive at Dawnbreaker,"

    Arnold nodded before casting a nce at Cesar, "That''s your cue. Whatever you intend to do here, you should do it now,"

    Cesar sat frozen at first before letting out a chuckle, "Nothing really gets passed through you, huh,"

    That''s right.

    Amongst the rmendations that were given to him where the concentration of essences was high, Flora City was one of the choices. He directly heard this information from Spencer, and probably the old man directly reported to Arnold, just like the rest of his teachers who are teaching him.

    Arnold chuckled before saying, "Get down now. Carry a few artifacts from your possessions in case something bad happens,"

    Cesar wasn''t really nning on carrying anything that is rted to the usage of one''s essence but he had to agree with Arnold.

    Grabbing the case underneath his seat, Cesar opened the locks and grabbed the Flexible Dagger and Librarian''s Key. Next, he put on a robe that was prepared beforehand by Arnold and wore it.

    "Where can I meet you?"

    Arnold paused, "We''re stopping at an inn owned by the Academy. It''s where anyone who belongs to the Academy can freely amodate and is only avable to us. Right, do remember you only have a day,"

    "Okay,"

    Cesar covered his face with a robe before exiting the vehicle to begin his search for Soul Schr.

    As he went down to their vehicle and saw it leaving through the road, Cesar couldn''t help but marvel at the beauty of this city just like any other city he had seen from his entire life.

    The city, as one would expect, is very crowded. Towering buildings with very artistic designs spread across the street. Cesar saw families walking around the area, bright smiles across their faces. Vendors and merchants were trying to sell their products to passersby.

    Located in a mountainside, feeling the cold breeze of air passing through the holes of his clothes, Cesar began his search while following the instructions he was receiving from Cedeit inside his head.

    "The concentration of the essence is located at the edge of the mountain. Feel it yourself." Cedeit guided Cesar before adding, "Watch out for any suspicious person that might watch you."

    "I know¡­"

    Muttering under his breath, Cesar slowly made his way to the edge of the mountainside of Flora City. Even though there''s a wall that covers the edge which has been built for people with suicidal thoughts, Cesar was determined to see the end of his search.

    Hiding through the eyes that might''ve tried being aware of his presence, Cesar avoided those small things before eventuallying to his destination.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Feeling the intensity of the cool air on the edge of the mountainside, Cesar''s gaze fell below. At first, he didn''t feel this sensation as Cedeit was there to guide him but it changed now.

    There was something further below the mountainside that was attracting Cesar to it.

    "Do you know what is waiting for us below?"

    Cedeit scoffed, "Obviously not. But haven''t you been preparing for something like this? I know you''re confident so let''s just go see and solve your problem,"

    Cesar was hesitant for a moment before a sigh escaped his lips. The next thing he did, he jumped towards the edge of the mountainside.

 Chapter 154: The Beauty of the Key

    Whoosh¡ª

    Feeling the intensity of the cold breeze brushing through his skin as his robe violently shook, Cesar watched himself fall through the dark before grabbing the Librarian''s Key in his pocket. Inserting the key through the air, imagining as if there was a knob, he opened it up and saw a bunch of tools inside.

    Grasping a grappling hook from one of the tools inside, Cesar pointed it towards the edge of the mountainside and clicked the trigger.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The hook lunged to the side, clutching onto the soil, before using the momentum thatpletely made him stop from falling. Once he took a halt mid-air while positioning himself to the side, Cesar looked down below and found nothing at all.

    It waspletely dark. However, that is only what appears through the naked eye as Cesar and even Cedeit himself can still feel the lingering sensation, this time it is much stronger and denser.

    "This is where the soul in this city is more concentrated?" Cedeit questioned in a confused tone, "You really need to get down and check it out."

    "Uh, okay? Just what the hell am I doing, huh?" Cesar asked with a sigh. He shook his head before opening up the air once more to use the Librarian''s Key.

    ''This thing is really handy in this type of situation,''

    The artifact he had gotten from the Heretic, which he stole from the Librarian, was the Librarian''s Key. Studying the full capabilities of his acquired artifacts is just one of the things he needed to aplish, and something he had already done when he was back in the Academy.

    Not knowing your weapon''s full function is one of the reasons why Cesar suffered so much back in the mansion. He reflected upon it and worked his best to not repeat the same mistake.

    The Librarian''s Key is a very interesting power that Cesar currently holds, amongst the top three of his currently possessed artifacts. The Fabric of Prison Realm and Book of Contents were at the top.

    As for why he ced this item amongst those two important artifacts it was because its two functions were greatly usable and efficiently possible. One thing is to be able to store items inside, a space that is avable for the current user of the key.

    Right now, amongst the other usable items that the Heretic left inside, were currently stored inside. As for why he didn''t put all his artifacts inside this storage, it was because Arnold was already aware of how many artifacts he currently possessed.

    If all those items were to disappear, it would pose more questions and Arnold might take an interest in his items even if he didn''t know any of those functions. That''s why he remained inconspicuous in using his artifacts whether privately or in public.

    Yes, he trusted Arnold but not to the extent that he was willing to give his life and treasures to him, even if he was going to borrow them.

    As for the second function of the key, the most interesting part that Cesar liked about it, is the ability to switch and go through ces.

    Just remember the image inside your head and must be an exact image for it to work. There''s a certain distance however but it''s almost asrge as a whole city like the ce he was in.

    Like how the Heretic is using the key to transfer from one ce or another, Cesar was able to see how it was used while only infusing a bit of his essence into it just like the rest.

    The key can do its two wonders by merely inserting the key everywhere. And if Cesar was done inserting it, he could use the storage room by moving it to the left. As for the switching ces, he only had to move the key to the right after cing it through the air.

    Eventually, after moving through the mountainside using the grappling hook to go down carefully, Cesar felt a solid floor below and removed the hook from sticking to the mountain walls.

    Picking up antern inside the key''s storage, he started moving forward while being aware of his surroundings.

    "You''re lucky that it isn''t another Dwellers in the Dark terrain. However, the concentration of the soul is getting higher. You''re nearby. If you''re lucky, you''ll encounter the Nightmare you''re looking for,"

    ''How is it lucky to encounter a Nightmare now? What an irony¡­'' Cesar mused inwardly as he made his way forward.

    After a few minutes of walking while fully understanding the dangers he put himself into, Cesarnded upon a pond.

    Gasp¡ª!

    A towering figure was resting on it that produced a gasp from Cesar''s mouth he involuntarily took a step back. What''s worse about this situation is that he couldn''t notice its presence, however, he was sure that the strong concentration of essence wasing to the pond, and to this Nightmare.

    ''Shit!''

    Cesar''s mind stirred as any possible actions ran through his mind with a thinking that an unavoidable fight was bound to happen before Cedeit rest him assured.

    "It''s dead,"

    ''What?''

    Cesar directly pointed hisntern near the dead Nightmare, clearly seeing it''s disgusting appearance face to face before spotting a few bite marks which immediately shows how this abomination was put into such a state.

    "It''s a Fallen Nightmare¡­"

    Cesar then whispered, "Do you recognize this one?"

    Cedeit replied almost after, "Nah. This is one of the countless Nightmare. Anyway, that''s beside the point. You''re lucky to found this Nightmare. Go, see if it dropped an Artifact. And ording to what I know, bringing a flesh of a Nightmare amounts to much cash,"

    Just as Cedeit was exining what he should be supposed to do, Cesar was already on the move. Grasping a tool from his storage room of the key, he began to cut a piece of its flesh as if he were a professional.

    He grabbed one of its dead eyes, a piece of skin, a flesh, and some innards that were wide open for him to see through the bite marks.

    At the end of his search, he found an artifact.

    However, something was wrong.

    "What?"

    Cedeit voiced out his confusion.

 Chapter 155: Nightmare Shops

    The four-star artifact didn''t appear catchy at first nce since it was merely being disyed at the Nightmare''s Flesh near its heart. This opinion began to change when Cesar was having a hard time plucking it out from the Nightmare, making him frown in the process.

    Only Cedeit cleared out this confusion.

    "What? This¡­ I understand it now,"

    "What? What do you understand?"

    Cedeit sighed and replied, "This artifact is a defect¡­ However, it is defective in a kind of good way. Do you know why? Well, this thing is the one providing the concentrated essence in this city. Judging this Nightmare''s death and how are you able to gather this information from one of your instructors, it''s been many years since this is happening. This star probably connected its roots to the city, providing them an abundance of this like resupplying their consumed essence."

    Cedeit paused, his tone in delight "We''ve passed many cities along the way and you''re fortunate enough to encounter this treasure trove. In case you encounter the same problem, this is a good ce to do it,"

    Cesar shook his head mildly before retorting, "You''re saying this is unavable to take. However, I can take advantage of this defect?"

    "Precisely. But I don''t know if you are supposed to be d about this since, fortunately, and unfortunately, this is not the Nightmare you''re looking for. Now let''s focus on the good side and start harvesting your trophy. Be careful not to damage the defected artifact,"

    ''This Nightmare is greedier than I thought¡­''

    Cesar mused inwardly before shaking his head in defeat as he began removing the flesh of the monster that was deemed important. Leaving the artifact there was a painful idea to think but with the iing cashing on his way the moment he sold the Nightmare''s Flesh.

    ¡­

    Once he was done harvesting he found the mutted corpse to the point it became unrecognizable, Cesar didn''t waste time and prepared himself to leave.

    Inserting the key in the air and tilting it to the right, Cesar imagined the inside of the vehicle they used toe into the city. Soon, a broken reality opened up, not much different from what he had saw at the time the Heretic used this to kill him in that Ceased World.

    On the other side of the ce was an empty space for the vehicle. Arnold and the driver weren''t there any longer since it''s been a few hours now and they were probably using the inn to rest.

    ncing at the artifact he was going to leave behind, Cesar entered the broken reality before using the same key to make it disappear.

    The moment he was inside the vehicle, Cesar didn''t waste idling around and leave it. Locking the door of the car, he took a mental note of the inn that Arnold had told him about, which belonged to the Academy, before searching for a shop that was buying Nightmare''s Flesh.

    Since the era involved a lot of Nightmares, it was only natural for these kinds of shops to exist. Taking this matter into consideration, Cesar was already aware of the ces he needed to go to.

    But since Flora City is asrge as the other cities Cesar knew, he was already aware that he needed to thoroughly search the area. If he knew that there was a Fallen Nightmare from the edge of the mountainside, he would''ve asked Arnold beforehand about specific locations where he could earn the best for selling Nightmare Flesh.

    Even so, with the Nightmare business flouring as it was hundreds of years ago, Cesar was able to spot a certain Nightmare shop in the distance.

    Cesar distanced closer to the shop before finally looking at the shop that he was able to spot after a few minutes.

    [Moren Nightmare Shop]

    "¡­"

    Cesar felt oddly attached to this shop as the only difference from thest time to this one is that it involves Nightmares. The shop he and his squad had seen from Harden City was a normal shop that involved trading and exchanging goods.

    ''Well, okay I guess? Now that I think about it, the owner said that time she was curious about Jacqueline when she transferred to the City of Wheels¡­ I think her name was Melinda? Hah, I wonder what her reactions were when we''re under the influence of The Mansion?''

    Cesar''s gaze fell into the description that the Moren Nightmare Shop contained and couldn''t help but connect the dots.

    [Moren Nightmare Shop is currently licensed under the jurisdiction of Hunter''s Association.]

    The description probably shows that their shop couldn''t be messed around since they are under the Hunter Association''s influence. It also proves that they aren''t fake and going to fake their business since the ones backing them are very important figures.

    They just wouldn''t tarnish their sponsor''s reputation to scam a few bucks unlike some certain Melinda he met at the Harden City.

    ''Is Melinda curious about Jacqueline''s wellbeing because she''s under the great three families there which is the Casanova? I can''t think of anything else from that honestly. It''s also the most logical exnation to have,''

    Cesar sighed and remembered why he would even care about this when it wasn''t even on his list of concerns. He was here to sell the Nightmare Flesh and that is what he should be doing.

    Entering the building with a calm gait, Cesar saw that there were a few people inside. The only difference is that they are formed into a group of squads.

    It was mostly the Army that monopolized the possession of Nightmares whether they were dead or alive. So others who came here were either part of the Association or mercenaries who worked in someone else''s position.

    Hence when Cesar entered alone the shop, all gazes fell on him. Those with abilities were able to see the face behind his robe since it didn''t involve any special power to entirely cover like the one the Heretic uses.

    Cesar really didn''t give a damn about it.

    He made his way toward the counter, and looked at the receptionist currently observing him before stating, "I''m here to sell,"

 Chapter 156: Handlers and Executives

    "I''m here to sell,"

    As much as it is unbelievable it sounds, everyone''s interest became piqued after hearing that small phraseing from Cesar''s mouth. The receptionist immediately acted professional upon realizing that the person on his front wasn''t a noob like they were ustomed to seeing.

    He immediately presented himself with a calm demeanor as he talked to Cesar.

    "I will certainly assist you to it. May I know if you''re already registered with our current list of Hunters? If you aren''t, maybe I can do the honors of putting you up on our list,"

    The clerk gave a soothing answer that Cesar didn''t reject. After receiving that offer, he replied immediately.

    "We can certainly do it. May I know when I can sell?"

    "Now,"

    The clerk left his table before smiling, "We people in the Nightmare Shops are called Handlers. We don''t have any names when we''re on the job but you can refer us with that nickname. As we introduce you to our shop, I''ll begin putting up the description of what you seemed fit while walking around. Will that be all right?"

    Cesar nced around the ce before answering, "That will not be a problem,"

    At that moment, the clerk began assisting Cesar inside their establishment passing through a few people along the way. Once they were halfway through their destination, the Handler began asking.

    "May I know what we''re going to refer you from now on?"

    Cesar contemted the name that would tell him that he was that person, but at the same time, not the same in a kind of way. He wanted to put an alias that would not directly link him to being ''Cesar'' so that it would not garner too much attention.

    "Let''s go with Cedeit."

    "Cedeit¡­" The Handler muttered under his breath before smiling, "What a very peculiar yet good name. Mr. Cedeit it is,"

    The owner of that name inside his consciousnessined but not in a way that made it sound like it was irritated. Its manner of tone found it strange.

    "Hey, don''t use my name like that,"

    Cesar abrupt shrugged his shoulders before he heard his Handler speaking.

    "Well, just as my guess, Mr. Cedeit didn''t appear in our whole database. As for why we''re able to distinguish this and that, it''s because we''re tasked to memorize the names that came to our shop to sell their Nightmares. It doesn''t matter if they are different branches, this requirement is the least of the things we had to handle as we''re on this job,"

    Giving a brief introduction about their job description, the Handler proceeded to the topic right away as he added, "Anyways, now that I''ve started recording Mr. Cedeit''s actions, may I know if you have any description of the Nightmare you''re going to sell?"

    Cesar vividly remembered the scene of the Nightmare that surprised him due to its unnoticed presence before exining the features of the creature.

    "It was a grotesque creature with disorderly features that I couldn''t even phantom of telling you about. It had bite marks all around its body and a huge chunk of it was near its abdomen. This Nightmare seemed to be already centuries old. Its abilities are unknown. Its body is humungous and one can mistake it as a Higher Nightmare Creature. And¡ª"

    The Handler intently listened to Cesar while nodding once, trying to list the description that he kept feeding to him. After a whole minute of hearing the description of the Nightmare that Cesar was going to sell, the Handler couldn''t help but chuckle nervously the moment he was done.

    "Sir, what you''ve described just now is indeed a Higher Nightmare Creature. It wasn''t a mistake. But I guess such feats are easy for you," The Handler paused before adding, "Right, Cesar Sparrow?"

    Cesar immediately froze at the spot before looking suspiciously at the Handler who continued walking without a stop. Then, the man continued.

    "Don''t worry, that doesn''t contain any ill intention if you''re trying to think one. However, if you''re going to cover yourself, you should put on a cloth which has special functions. I think others already recognized you,"

    Realizing that he had stirred away from the current topic, his current Handler spoke, "I''m sorry if I''m invading your privacy but¡­ I just couldn''t contain it. You''re Hero of Wheels after all. But let''s not stray away, okay? To my current level, this information regarding your Nightmare isn''t within my rank yet. I''m going to lead you to different people that will definitely help you make a deal with what you have right now,"

    Sensing that Handler didn''t mean any ill intention but was merely a fan who couldn''t contain his emotions toward his idol, Cesar had to double check to see if Cedeit was in the same opinion.

    "You''re good to go."

    Once that confirmation was guided by Cedeit, Cesar let out a relieved sigh before nodding, "Okay, if you can lead me to another Handler who is a much higher rank than you fast, it will be really appreciated,"

    "Of course,"

    Saying that in the calmest tone possible, Cesar was a little wary of the Handler. Walking a step back away from him, he found himself being led into a wide room with a single person sitting on a table scratching her head in irritation as she read the stack of papersid bare for her to see.

    "Ma''am Executive,"

    Being distracted as a person entered his room, the Executive cast a nce at Cesar before shifting it back to the Handler.

    "Handler, another special client?"

    "Certainly,"

    The Executive shifted it again to Cesar before she stood up from her seat and introduced herself, "Hi, I''m an Executive for this Moren Nightmare Shop. You can say I''m a branch owner. Nice to meet you, Hero of Wheels,"

    ''Of course¡­ If Ickey can recognize me even if I''m using this kind of cover, there''s no way the boss wouldn''t,''

    Cesar shook hands with the Executive as the Handler left the room. She then moved closer to the door to close it before gesturing for Cesar to sit down at the avable chair.

    "Sorry for the mess,"

    "It''s okay,"

    The Executive lingered her gaze at Cesar briefly before stating, "All right, if that Handler used his coupon to choose a special client like you, it means everything rted to your entire sale will be listed through him. Congrats, you just earned yourself a Handler. In Nightmare Shops such as ours, it is kind of a trophy,"

    She then sped her hands before saying, "All right, Sparrow. Get on with it. Let''s see what you''ll show me,"

    Looking at the Executive with a questioning look, Cesar begins the process of carrying the Nightmare Flesh out of the storage room with the Librarian''s Key. Not daring to hide it from the Executive since he really doesn''t have a choice but to openly do it, he begins to pull out kilo after kilo of Nightmare carcasses and flesh.

    At first, the Executive looked a bit surprised upon seeing the power behind the Librarian''s Key as anyone would willingly kill someone who possessed it to make it on their own. However, as Cesar continued pulling out those pounds of flesh, her face started to gain visible change.

    ''How the hell did he manage to acquire this much?!'' The Executive mused inwardly as she came into a thought that almost absurd thing to think off, ''Don''t tell me he soloed a creature of this magnitude? It seems he was the only one who possessed this flesh!''

    The Executive sneakily grabbed the Handler''s description of the Nightmare that Cesar was willing to sell before gasping in an inconspicuous manner.

    ''My god¡­ if I''m thinking right, its rank is indeed a Higher Nightmare Creature¡­ Howe he was disturbing its flesh on his own as if he was selling it to some store?!''

    Finally, after putting up the flesh he managed to garner for himself and putting it down on an avable weighing scale that the room already provided, Cesar wiped the beads of sweat that formed on his forehead before asking.

    "How much?"

    The Executive took a mouthful of gulp down to her throat before answering, "This is worth a hundred thousand Vennon Cash right in this instant. However, that seemed too underwhelming. Yes, I can pay you straight up with the cash right away but what about you a credit card that is only avable for the shops rting to Moren?"

    ''Credit card? What''s that?''

    The Executive rummaged through under the drawers of her table before grabbing out a single silver-ted card. Closing the distance between her and Cesar, she handed it to him and said.

    "This Card is only avable for the people that are highly very, very important person anything rted to Moren. You can buy anything, literally anything using this Silver Card. The amount of items you can buy is ten,"

    Cesar began to reassess the situation as he rified, "Let me get this straight. I''ll be receiving this Silver Card and money worth a hundred thousand cash in one go if I ept this deal?"

    The Executive nodded before Cesar chuckled as he didn''t wait even a few secondster to think.

    "Deal! Where are the papers I need to sign?? "

 Chapter 157: Arrival

    Cesar left Nightmare Shop with an oue that was quite better than what he was expecting. What confused him, however, was how a Higher Nightmare Creature was found dead at the pond, which Cedeit still had no exnation for.

    If something as strong as that only provided a concentration of essence in this city, what could have made that abomination into something like that?

    "Care to give me some exnation?"

    Cedeit who heard his whisper replied very swiftly, "I don''t. I would like to tell you that even though I''m knowledgeable, my other consciousness is way, way more than what I contain. They could''ve told you what that was about. Sadly, you only have me,"

    Cesar didn''t dwell much on the situation regarding the Nightmare he found in the mountainside of Flora City. He put his mind at ease and did window shopping first to find some weapons suitable for him even if it''s not Artifacts.

    When he found absolutely nothing that interested him, he went to the inn where Arnold was currently staying for the day.

    ¡­

    "Cesar?"

    Cesar let out a gasp as he opened his eyes tiredly. Looking at the window to see the situation, it seemed it''s been a while since they resumed their travels after resuming their travels a few hours ago.

    Passing through countless cities as there was a skyway to use for vehicles when traveling across high distances, it didn''t take long before they entered Langston Bridge, the interconnected and Intersecting Bridge.

    Moving inside the gigantic bridge that only provided lights inside of it, the driver skillfully traveled through smoothly. There was no waste of movement and made sure the two of them are safe.

    While the driver was doing his job perfectly, Cesar focused on himself and started to use Iso''s teaching to keep his breaking Soul intact.

    As of now, symptoms started to appear of his Soul crashing down.

    He didn''t notice it at first but he was more fatigued than ever even if his movements were only minimal. Like yesterday when he was merely pulling the Nightmare Flesh out from his storage, he felt sweat above his forehead even though something as simple as that shouldn''t tire him way back.

    An additional symptom he noticed is his sleep. Right after they leave for their destination at Dawn Breaker, Cesar realizes he slept for a solid thirteen hours upon checking the time right before he went concentrating.

    It wasn''t just a few hours since then.

    "You were sleeping so well I didn''t even want to disturb you," Arnold said before handing over a piece of burger to Cesar, "Eat now. I can hear your stomach grumbling,"

    As if he was right, Cesar''s stomach indeed let out a low growl as if his hunger couldn''t be left unchecked any longer. He stopped doing the essence exercise and shifted his gaze at the food.

    "¡­"

    Receiving the burger bashfully, Cesar began to eat his fill as Arnold kept offering food. It looked like an owner was feeding his dog but Arnold wasn''t like that as he was just doing this with good intent.

    "Just how much food is this?"

    "Enough,"

    Cesar felt that his hunger was already satiated. Bringing down the spare food, he went back into concentrating once more and Arnold left him be.

    Moving into their peaceful ride as the time seemed to pass by so fast, their vehicle finally left the Langston Bridge. Once more, the driver asked Arnold if they should take a break since their vehicle needed another set of gas to fuel its engine up.

    However seeing that Cesar didn''t have any intention of sight-seeing in the current city, Arnold told the driver that they will resume their ride the moment the vehicle gassed up.

    That''s what they did.

    From time to time, Cesar took a few minutes break to replenish his exhausted mental state due to the relentless time he put into the essence exercise from Iso''s course. Because of that, he was only able to spot a few things on the road but he could feel he passed through different kinds of terrain.

    At once, the ride was so bumpy that he and Arnold kept shaking in their ces. Then there was the time when the vehicle had to take a slow approach due to the harsh terrain, then anotherndscape where there was so much traffic they had to go through a lot of streets to make themselves escape from the hellish road.

    All these roads came to an end the moment their arrival in the City of Lights was right ahead of them.

    And just as its name suggests, even if someone is very far from the whole city itself, one can see the brimming lights that show someone''s eyes with brightness. It was very blinding¡­ and also a bit too much.

    "We''re finally here,"

    Arnold let out a sigh as he started stretching himself due to the fact that the only thing they did together was sit in one wide space beside each other. Their faces look very raggedy and very spent.

    "Can I look around for a moment?"

    Cesar asked, very interested in the city he was going through for a week right the moment the banquet started. So why not enjoy it till then?

    Arnold contemted it for a brief moment before nodding once, "If you want to learn about the whole city''s structure and history, go towards the Hunter''s Association Guild. But if you want to learn more, go to the owner of that branch and tell them, ''Arnold''s on the house''"

    Cesar tilted his head before remembering those words at the back of his head.

    Parking the vehicle at the side after the driver saw the chance, Cesar went down and finally could view the whole city right outside of its gate.

    "Finally¡­ something that didn''t smell like a car interior at all," Cesar paused as he added, "City of Lights, Dawn Breaker. Cesar, the Hero of Wheels is entering your humble abode,"

 Chapter 158: Dawn Breaker

    "Big!"

    Cedeit couldn''t help but shout inside Cesar''s head as the City of Lights was indeed big, much bigger than any cities they''ve passed through. It was even bigger than City of Wheels.

    But that is much expected since the City of Lights is one of the famous and strongest Capital of humanity. It''s a bastion, a stronghold, and a beacon of hope all in all.

    Beforeing here, Cesar already did his research regarding the city and it is one of the most prominent Capital there is to humanity. From what he gathered, there are only a dozen capitals spread around the world where it is the most secure and where the poprity of humans strives.

    "Human! Explore it!"

    Cedeit who seemed very excited about this venture was very to do some adventure. Since Cesar really had no choice but to enter this crowded area, he soon fall in line to the tight security of its gates.

    After sight-seeing the shops outside of the city gates, hoping to find some items that would suit him, Cesar immediately changed the direction of his thinking since there really weren''t any. There was no Moren Shop or anything of quality equipment that piqued his interest.

    Hence right after being strictly checked by the guards after showing them the Librarian''s Key and Flexible Dagger, Cesar watched the busier crowds'' get rowdier and full. Even with that being the case, one will not think that it was annoying as officials from this city are supervising matters regarding these small problems.

    But his expression gradually changed upon noticing a poster stuck on an electrical post that he happened to pass by. There was an announcement of ''awarding'' that will take ce in this city soon.

    Cesar''s name, title as a hero, and his backgroundid bare right in his front that his mouth turned agape.

    "They''re definitely talking about you. Cesar Sparrow, The Freak of the Academy and Hero of Wheels. Without the sacrifice of this hero, the others wouldn''t have been able to leave the Mansion. However, this Hero came back from the dead. A yearter, he came back strong and alive¡­ huh. Very human-like description,"

    Cedeit didn''t seem to be very amused based on the tone he used on reading the description but that could also be said to Cesar, who was reading it with a frown.

    "I''ll just get out of here¡­"

    Muttering under his breath while hearing Cedeit letting out a snicker, Cesar traveled through the busy streets and went to different shops he could see. At first, he was left disappointed since nothing was within his expected weaponry.

    Yet this soon stopped upon being able to spot a familiar name of the shop from across the street.

    [Langston Inventories]

    Seeing the guard that surrounded the area, Cesar didn''t wait any longer and entered the establishment and couldn''t help but be blown away by the bunch of weapons that were decorated like an antique for all people to see.

    ''Sweet items¡­''

    And finally, he was able to spot a weapon to his liking.

    "Are you interested in buying?"

    Tugging his robe closer to his face, Cesar nodded as he answered the clerk who approached him, "May I know who created this fancy-looking jade dagger?"

    The clerk chuckled before answering, "Well, this jade dagger is made by no other than the rising star of builders, Han Langston. Under his care guidance and work effort to make the best products possible, he was able to create a variety of weapons that has been widely spread and used by the people,"

    "Woah¡­"

    Cesar nodded once before asking the price, "How much is it?"

    The clerk began telling him the numbers, "Forty Thousand Vennon Cash. We can proceed with the transaction right now if you''re willing to buy it right away,"

    Since he was really in need of a weapon to use and the jade de looked very good for him, Cesar didn''t hesitate to shake the hands of the clerk.

    "Please wait in the customer room. We''re going to hand over the dagger to you. You should prepare your payment in advance,"

    Cesar immediately followed the clerk that led him to this said room. Seeing the clerk walking away to grab his weapon, he asked Cedeit if the room didn''t have any hidden wires of camera to spy on him.

    Fortunately, there weren''t hidden essoriesid out as pulling out the briefcase of his money with payment inside of it be hard without the curious gaze of the room had stored for him.

    He was done pulling it out after a few seconds interval of inserting the key and grabbing the briefcase out of the storage room. Counting the Vennon Cash and putting it at the avable table, Cesar threw the briefcase inside the storage before the cracked reality disappeared.

    A few minutester, the clerk was bringing a metal case inside the room with two guards observing the situation.

    Laying the briefcase down to the table, the clerk opened the locks before presenting the jade dagger to Cesar with an avable scabbard and sheath.

    "You can count the money if you want,"

    The clerk did as to what Cesar told him while Cesar himself began inspecting the dagger.

    Feeling the intense work that Han had put in the dagger, Cesar waved it around and almost spooked the guards inside the room before finally being satisfied with the purchase.

    "Are we done?"

    The clerk gestured for the guards toe to the table to retrieve the money before sping his hand to answer Cesar, "Surely Mr. Customer. Thank you for buying at the Langston Inventories,"

    Cesar nodded once before leaving the room while thinking that the clerk or the guards might pull some tricks behind his back but that suspicion never came true.

    Leaving the enterprise with a grin on his face, Cesar slowly walked forward with a destination in mind to look for other weapons to his liking.

    "Ow!"

    Suddenly bumping into someone in the busy street, Cesar couldn''t help but violently shift his gaze at the perpetrator and clicked his tongue.

    "I''m sorry¡ª"

    Suddenly, this woman locked her gaze at Cesar, whose eyes slowly widened.

    "Cesar?"

    Cesar who still couldn''t hide his shock, contemted for a brief moment before greeting with an amiable smile, "Reyna. How are you doing?"

 Chapter 159: Reunion

    "Reyna. How are you doing?"

    That manner of speech, the tone used to deliver it, and his face that speak volumes about the person that she missed for the entire year was right in her very front. She was already in the City of Lights for weeks and she didn''t know she would meet Cesar this way.

    Standing up from the ground with Cesar''s help, Reyna stood up and remained staring at him. Her eyes were telling a lot of questions yet not a single word escaped from her mouth to deliver them.

    Cesar who was about to speak to clear her hesitation suddenly saw a group of people running towards them before approaching Reyna''s back.

    "Squad Leader, what is going on here?" A man with a tall stature shifted his gaze at Cesar with a frown, "Is this man bothering you?"

    The other who followed the man''s trail all looked toward Cesar with a suspicious gaze. However, Reyna immediately smacked at the man''s head and scowled.

    "He''s not bothering me, okay? I was the one who bumped into him and fell down. He helped me get up,"

    "Oh¡­"

    The suspicions immediately died down before Reyna shook her head and approached Cesar, this time asking him to join her for lunch.

    "Are you hungry? Let''s eat. My treat," Reyna paused, "Oh, no need to feel pressured. I''m offering this to you if you aren''t busy,"

    The people behind Reyna who seemed to be her squad were left confused since the way she exined Cesar earlier was just a stranger. But looking at their interaction, he was nothing like that.

    Upon contemting that he had spare time and really wasn''t in haste, Cesar agreed to the offer. Reyna began to lead Cesar to a nearby restaurant while her squad followed suit.

    And on the way there, Cedeit couldn''t help but speak outwardly with an interesting tone.

    "I remember her all right,"

    Cesar''s heart wavered upon realizing that Cedeit knew something that he wasn''t aware of, based only on his manner of speaking.

    Cedeit then snickered, "Hehe, after all, she was the reason why one of your squad members was dead,"

    Dropping that bombshell of information, Cesar''s mind stirred. However, Cedeit stopped giving any additional information regarding that news as if he was interested in how their situation would evolve with that idea bugging Cesar''s head.

    A few minutester, they entered a bustling restaurant where they received a VIP dining as they had a room for only themselves.

    ¡­

    Their food is served as waiters, and servers enter their rooms left and right. Reyna''s squad was already filling up their fill as they continued eating.

    Cesar, on the other hand, never touched any of the food as he was pondering about something. Reyna noticed his actions, her thoughts circled around if Cesar didn''t like any of the food being showered at his front.

    But since Cesar continued his silence, Reyna let her be and started eating as well.

    After a few minutes, her squad was already done and Reyna, who was halfway through finishing her meal, demanded them.

    "Can you please leave us alone first?"

    Her squad looked at each other for a brief moment before they all stood up from their ces and left the dining table. Once the room quieted down and they are only the two of them left, Reyna began to ask.

    "You''re never this quiet. Is something bothering you?"

    Cesar nced at Reyna briefly before grabbing a beer at the table and took a mouthful of it. Smacking his lips, he replied.

    "You never answered my question earlier. How are you doing?"

    Reyna paused before she and Cesar chuckled. She began exining the things that happened to her for the past year Cesar was gone, mostly about the Academy works and a little bit of her Army expenditures.

    But her achievements throughout the short time she began serving in the Army have been top-notch notch as she was involved in clearing two sites that were festering with a few Nightmares. Her kill count was already three.

    So now, after her recent sessful mission, Reyna received a break from her superiors.

    Now, because she heard that Cesar miraculously came back which she firmly believed that he would and not a workings of ''miracle'', she went to the City of Lights while waiting for her next mission.

    "Hey, what about you? You''ve been gone¡­ for a year. I''m sure the experience of facing The Void is scary, right?"

    Cesar gulped a mouthful of chicken from his mouth before shaking his head, "You don''t know about it but I have no clear exnation of what happened to me. But Reyna, I''m rtively sure about my experience that I''ve not disappeared for a whole year. In the Earth''s time, it might be a year. For me, it was just a day. Well, not count of me fainting and gone for a whole week but that''s just it,"

    Cesar paused, "But I''ve met the Void directly."

    Reyna''s eyes grew wide as a gasp escaped her lips, "You know, I''m not surprised at how you met that¡­ emptiness. It''s how you managed to escape from it. And let''s say there''s a time in the event when you need to exin your situation. It means there are creatures out there so unfathomable, logic and reasoning don''t work on them,"

    Cesar paused before chuckling, "Actually, there are. A lot of them. So let''s get strong, yeah?"

    Reyna chuckled before revealing, "Hey, don''t underestimate me. I''m Shaded of the Second Order now. A Sergeant in the Army and know a few secrets that you don''t know about. I''m quite strong, much stronger than what am I before entering the Mansion,"

    "I''m sure you are,"

    The two lost the passage of time as they continuously conversed with each other, their faces started to get fuzzy due to too much drinking. Their talks started to get deeper until Reyna finally slipped something from her mouth.

    "Cesar¡­"

    Cesar who heard that weak toneing from Reyna, replied, "Yeah?"

    Reyna smiled sadly before lightly shaking her head, "I¡­ I think Nike mes me for her brother''s death, but he doesn''t really know the full story of it."

    Cesar remained quiet as it looked like Reyna was trying to open it until she did.

    "Hmm, how do I start? I don''t even know why I''m telling you about this. Is it because you''re my Squad Leader at that time or so that you don''t feel guilty about losing one of your members? But fuck it. I''m telling you. " Reyna paused, "Joshua and I¡­ we developed feelings when we''re inside the Mansion,"

 Chapter 160: Still Waters

    "Hah¡­!"

    Breathing raggedly while ncing behind her once in a while, Reyna felt her legs weakening while being chased down by a couple of corrupted humans just right behind her. Attacking them was neigh impossible, much more on escaping them since it would not be too long till she got too exhausted and gave up.

    To make her situation worse, she was bleeding at the side of her shoulder and stomach. Because she was determined to survive and escape her pursuers she was able to pull off the ridiculous actions in her current dire situation.

    However, those wishful thinking would soon turn into nothing if she remained at her current pace.

    That slowly started toe true.

    Her vision started dwindling and hazy as her movements became sluggish. Everything seemed impossible to pull off and the negative thoughts that entered her mind only made the situation worse.

    She was already losing hope.

    "God damn it¡­! I just got randomly dropped here and freaking corrupted humans attacked me! Goodness, it fucking hurts!"

    These thoughts that momentarily clouded her thinking came to an abrupt halt however when she screamed the pain she felt throughout her whole body outwards. Additionally, throughout the relentless running, she had to herself with injuries throughout her body, she was able to spot an ancient wooden door right at the end of it.

    Screech¡ª!

    Going for one final push at the relentless hurdle she was facing, Reyna pushed through the door with one of the corrupted humans almost touching her back but failed to follow up once she closed the door instantaneously.

    Thud¡ª!

    Hearing the corrupted humans right behind the door violently trying to get in that the wooden door would not just allow, Reyna plopped down on the ground while touching her bleeding stomach.

    "Damn it¡­"

    By the looks of it, barely doing that stunt took too much toll on her already injured body. With the bleeding intensified to the point that her eyes started to roll back, Reyna just knew that she was going to die there.

    Alone, and most of all, afraid.

    "Fuck¡­"

    Just as she was about to lose consciousness, Reyna spotted a figure rushing at her. She couldn''t get a clear view of this individual but she didn''t need to upon realizing the situation she was facing.

    "Reyna!"

    She was on the brink of death.

    ¡­

    -Reyna, you''re going to be the most beautiful and respectable owner of our bank. Not only you''re smart but also brave. However, it is a requirement to attend the Academy but you don''t need to try really hard, my daughter. I''ll get you out of the Army once you graduate. So hang on, okay?

    Remembering the words of her father right before entering the Academy randomly, Reyna violently stood up from her ce as she widened her eyes and tried to talk.

    Her actions were futile when she found out that her mouth was covered with a cloth.

    "Hmm!"

    As if not to hide her surprise, Reyna spotted a familiar individual who was cutting a piece of wood with a gloomy expression.

    "Quiet down if you don''t want to wake up the Monsters in the Depths."

    Joshua, another person from Cesar''s, warned the agitated Reyna.

    Almost immediately, Reyna began to assess her current situation they came across as she and Joshua. Moving her head all around, all she could see was the still water as they floated through it using only a boat.

    Removing the piece of her cloth from her mouth, Reyna meekly approached Joshua and demanded, "What exactly is going on in here?"

    Joshua pitifully observed Reyna for a brief moment before giving her a reply with a soft tone, "ording to the people that went ahead from us, this ce is called Still Waters. And right beneath its surface was an Intermediate Nightmare Creature. I-I''ve seen it with my own eyes¡­ this behemoth, we better not make too loud noises,"

    Reyna as if that was enough to conclude the confusion on her head replied, her tone almost raising, "If these so-called Still Waters are that dangerous, why are we traversing through it¡­!"

    "Your tone¡­!" Joshua let out a sigh, "It''s because the Nightmare I was mentioning came through the shore and is resting there¡­! Yes, this is risky but we need to see if there''s another door towards the end of this¡­ weird ce we''re in."

    ''A door¡­''

    Reyna couldn''t help but notice that clue that saved her life from the corrupted humans. In fact, she wouldn''t have stayed alive for even a few seconds toote if she hadn''t found the ancient wooden door that led here to Still Waters.

    Eventually, she began to ponder deeply how she was alive throughout all the times she garnered injuries from those things.

    Shifting her gaze from her shoulder down to her stomach, Reyna saw that she wasn''t feeling any more pain in there. Instead, her previous injuries were wrapped around with the same cloth that used to cover her mouth.

    "I applied a low-level healing ability that I got from my Facet. But you''re very lucky that younded to me, and to this terrain when there''s an abundance of water. Without it, you''re pretty much dead. But hurrah, you''re alive. Why even matter the past?"

    ''Why even matter the past huh? Well, he''s right¡­''

    Observing Joshua busily cutting the wood with the use of avable blood, Reyna curiously moved closer to him and asked.

    "What are you doing?"

    "Making a weapon,"

    Reyna scoffed, "Will that even hurt Nightmares?"

    Joshua dangerously looked at Reyna before replying, "To use it on you. Too bad, you woke up. You are supposed to be my dinner,"

    Reyna was bbergasted that her instincts were screaming for her to run but Joshua immediately stopped his actions and chuckled softly.

    "I''m just kidding. We have different kinds of food here that aren''t made of any human flesh. There''s no way I''m going tomit cannibalism¡­ unless it bes too desperate."

    Staring at Joshua which acted almost too believable for him, Reyna chuckled nervously andmented, "You have a fucked humor, you know that?"

 Chapter 161 One Thing Came To Mind

    "By the way, I didn''t give you my thanks on treating my wounds. Without your help, I''m probably would not be here now. So thank you."

    "Don''t mention it," Joshua waved his hands dismissively as he added, "Thank me when we''re both of us get out of here in one piece. However, the road is far ahead and risky so let''s not get ahead of ourselves. Let''s stay pessimistic."

    Reyna shrugged as she watched the still waters remain motionless. She wanted to ask a series of questions just like what she had been doing for a couple of hours now when something break her jovial demeanor that almost shook her entire soul.

    The Still Waters wasn''t still any longer as a fin protruded out from its surface.

    Atst, something disrupted the unending silence which Reyna didn''t like a single bit since a Nightmare was already under their boat.

    It didn''t seemed to attack it as it was more like it was ignoring their presence. However, the fear that struck them inside was traumatizing as they observed the humungous fin circling around.

    Reyna appeared to be visibly shaking. Even though she was already aware of Joshua''s warning to not make any noise once they spotted a Nightmare in the vicinity, the fear of being under the depths were haunting her head.

    Rustle¡ª

    Her nervousness soon died down after she saw Joshua approach her and grab her hand. And for some reason, it made her calm down.

    Plop¡ª!

    As their boat was being swayed by the currents that didn''t seem apparent to the naked eye, the two of them held each other''s hand as their gazes followed the fin''s direction, praying that whatever roaming around under would not eat them whole.

    After a solid hour of being at the edge of their seat while being at the death''s door, the two saw the fin going down under the water.

    That didn''t die down their nervousness as it only made everything worse. Thinking that they are going to be eaten any time soon, their senses were heightened to the max, their hands still tightly touching each other in desperation.

    For the next few hours, being aware of the behemoth from the depths was the only thing they could do.

    ¡­

    Joshua and Reyna hadpletely be lost in time as their mental and emotional state was already in its worst state. They weren''t even moving a single inch, and it was too long until they realized the monster was gone.

    Reyna shifted her gaze at Joshua, her eyes tired, "A-are we going to experience this most of the time we''re here?"

    Joshua wanted to yawn loudly but did it very discreetly before whispering back, "What do you even want to do? Fight some of them and hope we see their weak spot and attack it. So yeah, we''re going to bepletely quiet and wish we were alive at the end of it,"

    Reyna let out a low sigh as her gaze fell below. Then a bit further, she saw that her hands were still touching together with Joshua.

    Staring at Joshua, she waited for him to notice that they were holding each other''s hands. Once she was able to notice that, Reyna snickered and smiled, "Oh? What''s this? Are you desperate to getid, man? Well, I wouldn''t mind if we were not in this situation. How about it? Once we get out of here¡­ let''s get a room¡ª" Discover exclusive tales on empire

    Joshua tapped Reyna''s head aggressively before forcibly removing her hands from his. Snickering at the situation she put herself in, he then teased.

    "You might not be able to handle me."

    Reyna rubbed her head as she pouted, "Darn you¡­! My skull feels like splitting¡­! Besides, as if I would want to sleep with you¡­!"

    Joshua gestured a quieted sign teasingly as hemented, "Your tone. Not too loud,"

    Reyna clicked her tongue and wanted to rebut once more but had to abruptly stop when a droplet of water touched her finger. Joshua who wanted to continue teasing her, also had to get back his focus as droplets of water started dipping down on them.

    Just not after getting out of their previous predicament, the two braced themselves as they watched an iing storming from their direction.

    "What in the shitty unluckiness is this?" Joshua chuckled nervously as he prepared for the worst situation toe.

    ¡­

    Joshua and Reyna had lost count of how many disasters went through their way that they managed to pass through without losing any of their insanity.

    Their boat was already fragile from the start was reduced to a state that the only thing both Joshua and Reyna were riding was the tform itself. In fact, it was the only lucky thing that the goddess of luck had given to them.

    Full of fear while depending on each other''s warmth to keep themselvespany in the harrowing situation, Joshua and Reyna observed dozens of fins circling their area,pletely ignoring them in the process.

    Ssh¡ª!

    Reyna, amidst her calmposure she was keeping up outside, was absolutely scared inside. However, the exhaustion was taking over her whole body and she didn''t mind the slight shaking happening in her body.

    She tried to keep it down but the experience she had to suffer was already too much for somebody like her.

    The only one who noticed her condition was Joshua, who started to get nervous.

    "Hey, hey, hey¡­ Get a hold of yourself. Control your mental state and emotions¡­" Joshua clicked his tongue as he held her hands, "Damn it, Reyna. You''re losing control¡­!"

    Her condition started to worsen as seconds went by. Her hair started to get longer as her skin started dripping down to the ground.

    "You woman¡­! We''vee this far and gone through shit, but you''re breaking down now?" Joshua started talking as he watched those fins start to get agitated and his tone kept rising.

    But he had no words to speak to her right now. Not like he knew what to say anyway since he was bad at it.

    Yet Joshua knew that if Reyna continued being like this, he would also be involved at her demise as well.

    He had to do something.

    And there was only one thing that came to mind.

    Ssh¡ª!

    ''Damn it!''

    Joshua removed her hand from his before he moved closer to her face and kissed her.

 Chapter 162 A Moment Of Mistake

    ''Women with their unstable emotional state, damn it!''

    Joshua gently pressed his lips onto Reyna, trying to calm her by kissing. He didn''t know if it would work, and was merely using his experience and learnings that doing this action can help someone regain their calmness. Even if that kiss didn''t mean anything, at the very least, it could help the person feel reassured.

    Explore hidden tales at empire

    "Mmph!"

    And by the looks of it, doing the kiss helped Reyna regain a bit of her emotional state as her eyes turned wonky when her eyes regained focus and spotted that she was kissing Joshua.

    She got flustered and mostly embarrassed but instead of escaping from his grasp, Reyna remained in that position and continued feeling the warmth Joshua was willingly giving.

    ''Uh, you can remove¡ª''

    Joshua wanted to leave as this wasn''t part of his n but Reyna didn''t give in as she motioned a tighter hug,pletely leaving the man embarrassed as well.

    As their boats swayed through the currents of the water while the fins started to be stable after the noiseing from the wooden tform abruptly stopped, the two kissed each other gently and softly.

    ¡­

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    With their backs against each other,plete awkwardness surrounding them, the two were hugging their knees unsure what to reply. As of now, they would''ve already talked and bantered like they always did after passing through countless hurdles together but nothing like that happened.

    ''He was the first one to kiss me¡­ My first kiss for goodness sake! Did that mean anything? Did it mean something? Why isn''t he talking to me? He should first talk to me and tell me something! Gosh, this is awkward. Why is my face burning though? Even though he has a big body, he''s really gentle¡ª Ack, he kissed me! Why am I even thinking of some lewd things?!''

    Tucking her head closer to her knees while ncing back, only to see the same huge back being motionless, Reyna wanted to say something but it seemed Joshua beat her to it.

    With an apologetic tone, Joshua stated, "That didn''t mean anything. I apologize if you got vited. I did what I can do to reduce your state of losing control,"

    For some reason, Reyna felt ''irked'' upon being told that the kiss didn''t mean anything and she was vited when she was the one willingly pushed for it to happen. It annoyed her for some reason but her rationality took over and sighed.

    "Again, you saved me. Thanks¡­"

    "Yeah¡­"

    Reyna who still had a question left in her mind couldn''t help but ask, "That kiss. Did that mean nothing?"

    Not wanting to look back as she raised that matter, Reyna''s heart pounded fast. Now that she thought about it, Joshua was the only one who apanied her time in this ce most of the time.

    Her memory of Joshua shed before her mind.

    Even though most of them are in Still Waters, she was able to know a lot about him.

    They traveled into the Still Waters and faced hurdles together. She didn''t know when was the time she felt d that someone was in herpany and made her feel safe. With him, she felt like she could conquer the world.

    That was probably why she didn''t like the answer she received earlier.

    After a moment of silence, thinking that she wouldn''t receive a reply, Joshua finally voiced out in a normal tone.

    "Hey, I could see something,"

    Reyna was about to get annoyed when her question was left unanswered but after realizing this wasn''t a normal spot where one can make jokes, she violently shifted her head, thinking it was one of the Nightmares or another natural urrence in the Still Waters.

    It was neither of them.

    It was a shore.

    And a few more distance at theirnding point was a wooden ancient door waiting for them.

    ¡­

    Walking through the sands of the shore as they started sprinting away from the water, not wanting to stay a bit longer than they were supposed to, Reyna and Joshua approached the door.

    An old-looking door has never been this good in their eyes. It was standing motionless at the wall water wall between the Still Waters and the unknown terrain outside.

    But being in an unknown terrain rather than the Still Water was better at this point. The moment they saw the wooden ancient door wasn''t locked, they darted their way inside with triumphant expressions.

    "Yes!"

    Their joy of escaping the ce could never be put into words. All their efforts on keeping their focus up momentarily diminished upon seeing that the wooden shelves didn''t threaten them at all.

    However, that was their mistake. Reyna might''ve made the same mistake again but Joshua wasn''t that kind of person.

    He had been mindful of their surroundings for most of the time they were in Still Waters, and he was so tired all around his body that the only time he hadn''t put his guard up was when they entered.

    Because of that one action which isn''t even considered as a mistake at all, a huge shadow went behind Reyna''s back.

    Carrying a single long sword in its hand, the Nightmare had a book swerving in around its front. Its nose was deformed with a ss hanging at its bridge.

    "!"

    Feeling shivers down her spine, Reyna couldn''t help but nce back before watching the same creature that Joshua''s eyes had been stuck ever since this creature appeared swiftly.

    Reyna''s mind raised as she did everything she could by trying to use her Technique or Facet but all of it was futile as the great sword of the Nightmare was already between her face.

    ''Fuck¡ª''

    sh¡ª!

    Reyna got herself violently thrown out as she saw Joshua stepping back as well by saving her life for the third time.

    "Joshua¡­"

    Suddenly, a low gasp escaped from Reyna''s mouth upon diverting her gaze to Joshua''s right arm. In there, she saw one of his arms were gone, cleanly cleaved by the Nightmare''s sword.

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 163 Meaning

    "Joshua¡ª"

    "God damn it, shut up for a sec, Reyna! Why do I have to watch you every time like you''re a goddamn kid! Man up, will you?!"

    Joshua hissed as he immediately tried to treat his decapitated arm by putting some blue liquid to momentarily stop the bleeding using his facet. With a click of his tongue, he added.

    "Go to your fucking position! We''ll hold on! I just got caught off guard, that''s all,"

    Reyna was visibly shaken as she traced where the missing arm went. Calming down at the very least, she went beside Joshua and positioned herself.

    "I''m sorry¡­ I''m really sorry¡­"

    With blood dropping at his left, Joshua shook his head as he said weakly, "It''s all right. It''s not your fault¡­"

    Thud¡ª!

    As their attention is stuck on the Nightmare, they begin to brace themselves. However, what could they even do at this point?

    It was Nightmare, and judging the ominous aura it was emanating involuntarily, they could immediately deduce that it wasn''t like any other Nightmare they had faced.

    The disy of raw power was apparent.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    The Nightmare lightly took a step before disappearing at its ce to lunge aggressively towards both of them.

    Reyna took a step back before using a Technique that her family had given her before entering the Academy.

    "Right!"

    Joshua, who understood the assignment, immediately used his huge sword to defend the swift action in hopes that it was enough.

    However, it was just a bit too much.

    Thud¡ª!

    His sword instantly broke and the Nightmare''s great sword immediately went to his head.

    But Reyna who could only watch everything in the process managed to pull Joshua out. With great effort, she managed to keep him one whole.

    However, this fruitless action started to take over their cursed situation when the Nightmare''s arms pivoted directly at them.

    sh¡ª!

    Reyna wanted to avoid the attack, thinking that Joshua would do the same but that moment didn''t happen.

    Tap¡ª!

    Reyna found herself being thrown away by Joshua, who took all the brunt of the damage of the Nightmare''s great sword upon realizing defending wasn''t even going to work.

    "No!"

    Reyna watched Joshua''s chest open up, blood spurting everywhere.

    sh¡ª!

    The Nightmare tried to finish Joshua fast to put its attention next to Reyna, but it got caught off guard when its attack was missed.

    Joshua with great effort, bleeding from his chest, tried to hug the Nightmare''s legs. But instead of trying to do something, he only shouted one word.

    "Run!"

    A gasp left Reyna''s mouth.

    ''Run where?''

    Reyna stood frozen at her ce briefly before starting to walk. However, instead of running away, she approached Joshua slowly.

    As she tried to ask the reason for his unneeded rescue, Reyna saw the Nightmare''s great sword plunged toward Joshua''s back, impaling him with it.

    "Bleurgh!"

    Joshua tried to tightly hug the Nightmare to buy Reyna even a little bit of time but the strength he could apply started to fade as he found himself hurt all over his body.

    Crack¡ª!

    Just as the Nightmare was about to move, a strange hole appeared right above its head as if waiting for the perfect time to enter the scene.

    There, an individual wearing a robe appeared and took the creature inside the hole it manifested.

    With a triumphant smile and face, the Heretic clenched the key in his hand strongly.

    "I finally caught this giant¡­ Let''s see if it will work at the Keeper,"

    The Heretic mused happily before closing down the storage using the Librarian''s Key in his hand.

    Once he was done with the small things, he nced towards Reyna and finally at Joshua.

    "Thank you for buying time, kid. For that, you''ll be spared," The Heretic chuckled, "Your buddy''s not going to make it though. That''s sad. But anyways, his death will be your burden,"

    The Heretic waved his hand before started running away from their position. On the other hand, Reyna could only nkly stare at the fast series of events that urred in their front.

    But the important thing she needed to do right in this instant took over her mind as she immediately ran towards Joshua.

    "Joshua¡­!"

    Joshua was in a poor state. Her mind raised as Reyna found herself thinking of trying to do something.

    At least anything to relieve Joshua from his position.

    It doesn''t matter what that is.

    But after losing an arm, receiving a direct hit in his chest that didn''t stop the blood from pouring out, and a great sword impaled at its back, he was already beyond rescue.

    This reality was made clear by Joshua first.

    "Reyna¡­ stop¡­"

    But the one who kept denying it was still Reyna.

    "No! No! I have to do something! Please, don''t leave me yet!"

    Joshua watched Reyna attempting to rescue his irreparable situation but he knew she was just wasting her time.

    "Reyna¡­"

    To put it to a stop, Joshua raised his hand and caressed Reyna''s cheek. Her agitated actions as she tried to find a solution, came to a full stop when she felt his hand from her face.

    "Take care of Nike for me¡­"

    Reyna bit her lips as the only thing she could do right now was cry her heart out. Nodding once as tears continued dropping down, she only listened to Joshua''s words.

    "Nike is a troublesome¡­ kid. We''ve only got each other since we were abandoned by our parents but now¡­ he will need someone to rely on. Please¡­ let it be¡­ you,"

    Sob¡ª!

    Joshua struggled to emit words from his mouth as his eyes went full ck. He couldn''t see anything else now.

    But he knew, Reyna was still there.

    He could still feel her tears falling from his hands.

    "About the kiss¡­ I''m d we felt the same thing,"

    Tears started to drop under his eyes as well.

    "Thank you for being with me for only a short moment of time. I hoped¡­ I really hoped that we could spend each other''spany outside and notice our feelings a bit sooner¡­"

    Joshua seemed like he wanted to add something more but his face already grew pale. His hand slowly went down from Reyna''s cheek as his eyes grew lifeless.

    "Joshua¡­ Joshuaaa!"

    Joshua was dead.

    Reyna continued bawling her eyes out as she hugged Joshua, her undeniable screams could be the only thing heard around her.

    Crack¡ª!

    "Brother¡­?"

    And just as it was still not enough, Reyna heard an unsteady voice from behind. ncing behind, she saw Nike staring at the mutted corpse of his brother with a great sword impaled at his back.

    Crack¡ª!

    "Jacqueline, grab her! It''s about the fluctuations'' about to start!"

    Sergeant Alms shouted as Nike seemed to be still in a daze as he watched his brother''s lifeless corpse from his position.

    Soon enough, confusion and anger erupted from Nike''s heart as he gritted his teeth and shouted in spite.

    Crack¡ª!

    "What happened here, Reyna?!"

    Reyna tried to avoid his gaze but she soon felt another woman''s hand on hers. Watching Jacqueline holding hers, she heard her whisper in a nervous tone.

    "Hold tight¡­"

    Soon, the fluctuations inside the Library urred as they went through its first phase, the Floating Period.

    Thest thing Reyna knew at that time was leaving Joshua''s corpse behind.

 Chapter 164 Hunter Association Guild

    Cesar observed Reyna fast asleep after rying her story to him, her tears were still visible.

    Now that it became clear the confusion regarding Joshua''s death that Reyna tried to hide from everyone, Cesar became relieved that he was the first one she had told him.

    After all, when Cesar researched the news of the deaths of the people who went through the Mansion, Joshua''s death was unknown.

    Nike happened to be in that situation and was probably shocked to see his brother reduced to such a state that she med Reyna, who was the only victim of a Nightmare, at that time.

    ''It was the Librarian¡­''

    Cesar let out a tired sigh as he grabbed a ss of water and drank it after feeling parched. Standing up from his position, he trod towards the exit and met Reyna''s squad at the end of the hallway.

    "Did you hear anything?"

    "Hear what? Ah, if you''re talking about peeping whatever Leader and you talked about then no, nothing at all. We''re waiting here to avoid idental noise that might erupt inside,"

    The guy who looked like the vice leader under Reyna''s tutge replied.

    Cesar observed the man for a brief moment before asking, "What''s your name?"

    "It''s Lennon,"

    Cesar tapped his shoulder and stated, "Okay, Lennon. Take care of her. She''s asleep due to drinking. When she wakes up, the premise that she''s still here, tell her we''ll meet at the ceremony soon. Do you copy?"

    Lennon removed Cesar''s hand and replied, "I will deliver the news to her, Sparrow,"

    Cesar chuckled as it seemed his sloppy cover would make him recognizable to a few people who have the means to distinguish someone.

    Judging that Reyna''s squad wasn''t surprised by that news, Cesar already nodded once and had nothing to worry about.

    Now that they knew him, everything would proceed smoothly.

    "I''ll be on my way now,"

    Cesar left those words as he waved his hands. Leaving the restaurant while immediately sobering up, he went to his next destination.

    ¡­

    Unlike Nightmare shops or even normal shops themselves, the guilds that Cesar passed by were bustling with people.

    Not to mention the Hunter Association Guild that Arnold revealed earlier. The guild itself was huge, almost looking like a tower standing in the middle of the street. Obviously, people came inside and out of this building.

    There''s a reason why he needed toe here.

    As always, it was to gather information.

    Tap¡ª!

    Entering the building, a few people started to notice his presence. And since his cover was nothing near perfect and barely could even called a cover, conversations started to erupt that Cesar paid no attention.

    Chatter¡ª!

    He went straight to the counter as people made way for him to show respect. Finally, at the end of the line, he met what seemed to be a receptionist for the guild.

    "What do I owe the pleasure, Hero of Wheels?"

    For a brief moment, the area grew silent. That soon extinguished when a louder chatter erupted all around.

    With a sigh, Cesar removed the hood from his head and showed his face to everyone.

    ''We just got here to this city and everyone seemed to be already aware of my presence. This seems to be going around before even I met Reyna, which seemed to be the case¡­'' Cesar paused as he tried to see the perpetrator in the crowd, ''Someone''s keeping a close watch on my movements,''

    Cesar removed the dangerous thoughts around his head before demanding, "I know you''re not the owner but I''ll tell it to you anyway. ''Arnold''s on the house'',"

    The receptionist smiled from ear to ear before gesturing for Cesar to follow him, "This way, Hero of Wheels. I''ll lead you to the branch leader,"

    ¡­

    No conversation happened between Cesar and the receptionist. Just like what he had told earlier, he was only there to bring him to the branch leader.

    By the time Cesar knew it, he was already in front of the supposed branch leader''s chambers.

    Knocking once after seeing the receptionist leaving, Cesar waited for a few seconds until the door unlocked on its own. Inside the room revealed a man wearing nothing but trousers.

    This branch leader shifted his gaze at Cesar before brimming with a smile, "Wee,"

    Cesar stared at the branch leader''s eyes before replying, "Arnold''s on the house,"

    The branch leader motioned a face p and nodded, "I''ve heard you from the recorder ced at the reception hall. All right, Hero of Wheels. What do you want to know?"

    Cesar entered the branch leader''s chambers after being signaled by him to enter. He then demanded tly.

    "Can I borrow some maps that can be used legally and illegally? It''s okay if it''s not urate. Just give me anything," Cesar paused as he pondered his next words before adding, "Another thing, can you tell me any additional news regarding the Hero of Wheels, Cesar Sparrow? What''s his current status and situation?"

    The branch leader let out a huge yawn as he rubbed his abdomen before he went to one of the cabs and began searching for something.

    "I''m Ark, by the way. The branch leader of the Associations Guild in Dawn Breaker,"

    "I don''t care but it''s nice to meet you,"

    Ark let out a letdown sigh before he finally grabbed a list of blueprints from one of the cabs and went straight to Cesar.

    "Here''s thetest blueprint I had in this city. I''ve also given you the structure of Castle Hearth where the event with your ceremony will be urring seems you are unaware of the building itself,"

    After handling everything Cesar wanted to know regarding his first request, Ark grabbed the tobo cigar beside the table before puffing out smoke.

    "Phew¡­"

    Ark put the words he''ll be uttering as an answer before revealing, "I''m sure you''re confused as to how everyone had be aware of your presence even if you''re in the Academy most of the time. No, probably even before that. The time when you exited out somewhere in the City Of Wheels toe back from where you''ve traveled,"

    Ark sniffed a bit of the smoke he released from his mouth before adding another key information, "There''s a huge bounty in your head, Hero of Wheels. The demands are simple and it was to bring you dead or alive,"

 Chapter 165 Bounty In His Head

    Cesar''s brows raised.

    ''A bounty in my head?''

    That couldn''t be even possible.

    He had no recollection of any enemy he made right before even entering the Mansion. Much more likely when he was finally out of it.

    Through the three weeks he was in the Academy, the only thing he did was never-ending training in the teachings he received from his instructors.

    Hence it never made sense why this was put on his head at all. Through an outsider''s eyes, he was just the Hero of Wheels who managed to free the trapped people inside the Mansion.

    Of course, he knew how powerful he was inside. At his age alone, Cesar is aware of how much strength he possesses and wields unlike his peers but he doesn''t willingly show it unless it is needed.

    The only people who managed to glimpse the true strength of his power were no other than the survivors of the Mansion. But ording to Arnold, they kept a tight-lipped on revealing his strength to the outside.

    ''Or I''m thinking it wrong?''

    What if some of those bastards have been paid to tell information? What if he really made an enemy along the way and it was perfect timing to confuse everyone who was aware of his situation?

    There are so many questions pouring out from the mere fact that Cesar had a bounty above his head that he couldn''t pinpoint the exact purpose of it.

    Cesar pondered shortly, "May I know how much is the bounty?"

    Ark thought for a moment before answering, "As of now, and what I''ve gathered just a week ago, your bounty already amounted to a staggering amount of A Hundred Million Vennon Cash. You''ll be surprised at how it managed to rise in just a small amount of time."

    This time, Cesar''s eyes widened at how much they put value on his head. For some reason, he was strangely happy that the money wasn''t definitely low, meaning they understood how risky was it toe for him.

    If he was put in a third-rate bounty, he would surely crash out.

    Cesar then put his focus back on the topic before asking another question rted to his bounty as he stated, "How authentic is this reward? I''m sure it originated from somewhere,"

    Ark nodded at those words as he revealed, "It''s very authentic because it came from the Underworld. You know what an Underworld is, right?"

    ''Underworld¡­''

    Once that ce was mentioned, Cesar couldn''t help but remember the time when he first met a Nightmare, and it was the time when he was still a child.

    The moment when fellow children like him were wiped out the attack was located in the Underworld. That''s why he was very aware of that ce even if he didn''t pay much attention to it.

    ''Back to my roots, huh? How interesting¡­''

    Cesar stood from his ce, intending to leave the chambers after being satisfied with the answers. And just as he was about to exit, he looked at Ark and asked in a indirect manner.

    "Will I be expecting enemies the moment I leave your guild, branch leader Ark?"

    Ark walked towards the window of his chamber, opened it up, and answered truthfully, "I''m very interested in the bounty. However, making Arnold an enemy will just do me no good. You don''t even understand how that person is."

    Ark finally went straight into Cesar''s eyes and added, "He''s your backer, isn''t he? You''re pretty lucky. After all, that was the only reason why you''re alive at this point. However, even with that kind of reputation amongst the people, it will not be too long till chaos erupts again. I can feel it. Anyone who was keeping a close watch can discern it as well,"

    Ark paused, "So be careful out there, kid,"

    Cesar remembered his words that couldn''t be truer.

    And that was what he was afraid of.

    Because currently, Cesar was still in the dark about what was actually happening. This thing was so very well hidden that it was making him nervous.

    But then again, it wasn''t the first time he faced this kind of situation.

    He was right to be nervous but being afraid to face it directly wasn''t going to cut it. Discover hidden tales at empire

    ''Man, I would''ve made preparations if only I knew more¡­''

    Letting out a sigh, Cesar left Ark''s chambers before finally leaving the Associations Guild itself. For the rest of the moment of time he had left, he went through the shops to see if there were any weapons he could buy with the remaining pocket money he had left.

    After purchasing some of the items he liked, Cesar went to Arnold and wasted most of his time training indoors once they settled.

    The banquet was fast approaching until the fateful day finally came.

    ¡­

    "If something happens in the banquet today, you''re only allowed to use a minimal amount of essence. More than that and you''ll copse on the spot. Are you hearing me, kid?"

    Picking up a wrist essory from his drawer which is an Artifact that has been specifically given to him by Arnold, Cesar replied through the air.

    "I can hear you. Don''t worry, until I managed to do something with my Soul. I will definitely heed your warning. So, let''s hope that nothing happened in a week and be it a normal banquet,"

    Cesar watched himself wearing formal attire in front of a rectangr mirror.

    Everything about him changed.

    The parts of him that scream youthfulness were gone, recing it with an even more menacing demeanor. His body became even perked and buffed due to the training and changes he had to do with himself which can be outlined in his clothes.

    One special factor was his left eye where the Nightmare, Cedeit was currently dwelling.

    There was a ring difference between his two eyes.

    The Eyes of Deceit was emanating an indescribable aura even if it appeared normal under the naked eyes.

    Even staring at himself felt suffocating.

    That was how he was currently envisioning current self.

    "Spooky,"

    Putting the key in his side pockets where he stored every weapon he possessed just to be ready for any situation he was about to face, Cesar left his room.

    With his departure, Cesar finally epted that the banquet had finally started.

 Chapter 166 The Velvet Blade

    The banquet will be held at Castle Hearth, located right in the middle of the City of Lights.

    This castle stood in this city for hundreds of years and became a bastion for humanity, which has been used to adjust to the unending influence of the Nightmare. It has been well-maintained by the Mayor of the city and the people who have been living in the area.

    But for Cesar who was entering its premises could only feel nothing but dread.

    The castle looked like a trap designed for him to finish it all in one swoop without leaving any loose strings.

    If he were to die here, it would cause amotion but that''s just it.

    Whoever was pulling the strings behind will just pull some bullshit that will weep on his death and the world would forget about him a few monthster. His suspicions only proved to be right since his enemies are very elusive and still unknown to him up to this day.

    Well, they are right to be cowering in the dark. If Cesar discovered them, he would definitely chase them until the edge of the world.

    Tak!

    Observing a lot of attendees at the banquet, Cesar slowly made his way inside. Unlike the others who were handing out their invitation cards to ensure ''security'', Cesar and a few other people didn''t have to go through such a hassle phase.

    When Cesar got recognized by the guards and a few passersby in the line, he was immediately exempted from it and entered Castle Hearth.

    The walls of Castle Hearth were made out of solid stone walls that had been fortified with a few artifacts to maximize the security it was giving to the attendees.

    However, it didn''t give any antique vibes as it was clearly maintained like what it boasts outside.

    This was just the entrance.

    Cesar explored the Castle Hearth while still going through the main hall where the event will be held.

    Eventually, he was able toe to his destination.

    The huge hall he was in consisted of very important people who were chattering amongst their peers and friends.

    Wearing the most exquisite and expensive clothes they could wear to unt their riches and positions, everythingplements the theme of the whole Dawn Breaker, the City of Lights.

    ''These are the kinds of people I had to watch out for, huh? Most of them are already unting how powerful they are while some of them are very discreet about how much strength they possess... The people who hide their capabilities are something I had to keep an eye out for...''

    Cesar mused inwardly as he scanned his eyes around trying to spot familiar faces. However, he couldn''t see a single one.

    All of them are new faces.

    And not a single one of them seemed dumb and incapable.

    Some might be less intelligent but their strength should be nothing to scoff at. The same as strength but very intelligent. It can work either way after all.

    ''I couldn''t see the people who managed to pull this banquet together because of their reputation. A Nightmare, if that is even real, is already out of the picture. The Administrator of the Academy can be considered out as well since not even the students of the Academy knew about them.''

    Cesar halted his thoughts as he continued'' But it''s entirely different at that High Ranking Official. From what I gathered, I heard his name is Franklin Donatello.''

    Remembering the name that Arnold had mentioned in the passing for him, one ring description he had given is that Franklin Donatello was a Colonel.

    From that alone, Cesar researched that Franklin didn''t have a good reputation.

    He was involved in countless scandals, political disputes, and numerous corrupted deceptions. However, because his achievements are nothing to scoff at, no one more powerful than him was able to touch even the hilt of his clothes.

    Cesar couldn''t find this specific figure in the crowd. But it''s not like he was the only one he needed to watch out for.

    After drinking a ss of champagne, Cesar was approached by a woman.

    "Hey, Mr. Sparrow. I''m d to finally be able to meet you,"

    Cesar cast a nce beside him and raised a brow.

    "Who you might be?"

    The woman wearing a long red dress with a red high heels smiled as she stretched her delicate hands to initiate a handshake.

    "The name''s Ciara. Though anyone knew me as The Velvet de. Does that ring any bell?"

    Cesar pondered for a brief moment before bing more suspicious. "Velvet who? Are you famous?"

    The woman, Ciara, made a strange expression as she raised a brow.

    Her velvet eyes tried to find the fault of Cesar''s words to see if he was joking but his face was full of innocence.

    It looked like he really didn''t know.

    But who wouldn''t know The Velvet de?

    It was probably only Cesar.

    He should''ve been grateful that she was the one who approached her and not the other way around. If it was other knowledgeable people, they would already be on their knees and kissed the floor.

    It somehow hurt her pride.

    "What did you even do to have that name? If you have it, you must be somewhere in the Army. Or you''re probably Shaded of the Third Order."

    ''He really didn''t know...'' Ciara mused inwardly with a shake of her head when Cesar added questions. Your adventure continues at empire

    Then, she dered, "Do you want me to demonstrate the power I wielded?"

    Cesar nodded once, his voice a bit sarcastic, "Please show me senior,"

    He really didn''t give a damn what she was about to show. But to keep the woman entertained, he just let her do her thing.

    Ciara chuckled, amused at Cesar''s actions before taking a whistle once.

    Whistle!

    The moment she did, hidden individuals emerged from her shadows. All of them immediately tried to defend Ciara, threatening everyone to kill who went on their way.

    Because of this disy, everyone stopped talking as their attention was put on Ciara and Cesar.

    Ciara chuckled and stated, "Now, do you think I gave you an answer to your question earlier?"

    Cesar frowned as he sighed, "You don''t need to be shy. Was that really necessary?"

    Ciara shrugged, "Yes. Now, do I have your attention?"

    Cesar shook his head as he mused inwardly, ''Yeah, this person is very attention-prone. For someone like me who didn''t like attention a bit too much, Ciara is someone I had to avoid.''

    But that thinking of his soon died down when he realized that a group of people began to approach him. Mostly went for Ciara but the rest went to know Cesar.

 Chapter 167 Brigadier General

    "Ugh¡­"

    Clearly exhausted from being thrown by a barrage of questions, Cesar had to leave the main hall. He wasn''t even pressured by their questions but the problem was himself.

    By the looks of it, he ran out of social battery. Being with people just doesn''t suit him, and even more so if he had hidden enemies that might be probably observing him from afar. He had to be even more extra careful.

    Cesar went through the second floor which is still inside the main hall for the main event.

    "Tired already kid?"

    Being approached by a particr someone, Cesar raised his head up and observed the individual.

    He didn''t know when was thest he had met this person but he was finally d that a familiar face showed up.

    "Sir Baron,"

    Baron, the one that was with him on the selection when he drank his Nightmare Potion, nodded once and replied.

    Resting his hand on the wooden rail as they watched the main hall in the same manner as Cesar, Baron replied, "It''s been a while,"

    "It''s really been a while," Cesar retorted back before looking at the other figure beside her as he added, "Who might this person be?"

    The woman beside Baron waved her hands at him before introducing herself, "My name is Deane. I''m a Brigadier General. I''m someone who can be said as a boss, Sparrow. Nice to meet you,"

    Cesar respectfully nodded, realizing that this individual was probably the most powerful person he had ever met if talking about the Army Rankings, as far as he could remember. After all, the brigadier general is much higher than the colonel rank.

    In terms of Academy rankings, she had the same position as Arnold.

    ''Baron''s friend¡­ I''m jealous,''

    Cesar then put his gaze on the main hall before asking, "For you guys to approach me, is there anything you want, sir and madam?"

    Baron shook his head and informed, "Are you already aware of the bounty that has been ced on you?"

    Cesar gave a curt nod.

    Probably half of the attendees of the banquet were aware of the bounty that Cesar had in his head. They either didn''t care about it or tried to avoid raising such a topic at a banquet that was directly focused on him.

    Looks like Baron informed it out of goodwill.

    Baron then added, "It''s good that you are aware. This makes it even easier to raise up a deal,"

    ''A deal?''

    For some reason, Cesar didn''t like the sound of that word but he remained silent. Out of respect for Deane, he kept hisposure in check.

    Seeing no violent reactioning from Cesar yet, Baron let the person beside him continue.

    "I''m going to be blunt with you. When you receive your awardster on, and they ask what you will do about it. Tell them you will be working under me,"

    Cesar frowned at that group of words before replying, "Work under where?"

    "Where? Of course, under the Nightmare Corps," Deane sounded as if she was making that obvious, "If you joined the Nightmare Corps under my jurisdiction, you''d be set on life. Additionally, the rewards you''ll receive will already exceed your imagination unlike when you''re in the Army. Well, the Corps are still under them but we have much freedom in our movements,"

    Cesar listened very intently to the deal before asking another thing, "Why someone like me?"

    Deane''s gaze fell below before retorting, "Let''s say I''m very curious about your talent. And also to tell those people from the hall that I''m already interested in you. There will be only a few more people who will touch you what has been marked by me,"

    ''Am I being auctioned? Do I look like an item to you?'' Cesar mused inwardly, not showing his disdain out from his face.

    Still, he made his actions clear that he disliked the option of epting the deal. Hence instead of giving an answer, the only thing Deane received was silence.

    Even if it was slightly disrespectful on Deane''s part, Cesar didn''t give a damn about it right now.

    That was until Deane gave another offer.

    With a low sigh, she added, "Honestly, I can give you a lot of time to think of an answer but for your own safety, you have to decide if you''ll be my enemy or ally,"

    Cesar felt the situation was starting to turn dangerous. With how Deane used her tone and put those words together in one sentence, he cast a dangerous nce and retorted.

    "My hands are full but I''ll take you on if that''s what it takes. So if that''s a threat, then we''re going to have a problem,"

    Deane who had been emotionless throughout the time she had conversed with Cesar, couldn''t help but form a sly smile around her lips.

    "Ballsy Sparrow,"

    Cesar already had one hand in his pocket to equip the Librarian''s key for any situation that would trouble him. Deane seemed to also not like the attitude he was giving to him hence she started to put a bit of pressure on him.

    "All right, madam. You can stop now,"

    Baron who was good enough to convince Deane to take this a step further, looked at Cesar and continued, "You too, kid. We don''t want to have any trouble from here on out. And for the note, I''m not part of any kind of deal that Deane had to think of right now. It was entirely her intention,"

    "Hey, why are you making this as if it was my fault?"

    Baron shook his head and replied, "Fighting a kid is already one matter but forcing them to work under you is different. Of course, they would feel suspicious and doubtful,"

    "Hey, don''t lecture me now. If those bastards managed to get someone as talented as him, they would never shine. I''m not going to make the same mistakes again,"

    Seeing them bantering on each other, Cesar finally found the chance to escape to the second floor since it seemed also not safe for his peace.

    With already two troublesome situations he had to face when not even an hour passed, Cesar felt already tired.

    Cesar went to the bathroom to cleanse himself out. Experience tales at empire

 Chapter 168 Hero of Wheels

    After going through the stone hallway of the Castle Hearth to find a bathroom, Cesar finally found one at the end of the hallway. Without waiting for even another second, he entered inside and started relieving himself.

    After just a full minute, he went to wash his hands where a huge mirror was on the wall.

    Hearing only the water pouring down from the faucet, Cesar was all dead silent before his left eye started to glow faintly.

    When his gaze fell into the mirror, Cesar spotted countless eyes looking at him in the walls,pletely camouged. Without the Eyes of Deceit, he wouldn''t have been able to look or even be aware of them. Find adventures at empire

    ''So that''s it, huh.''

    Removing the faint glow of his eyes simultaneously, Cesar saw the dreaded situatione back to normal.

    It almost appeared like he wasn''t aware of their presence when, in fact, someone from his mind continued bbering the people that were hiding in the walls.

    "I told you, didn''t I? A lots of them are already trailing you. Now this makes me even more suspicious since the security that this castle boasts almost seems like a joke to me."

    Cedeit was the one who warned him about this situation before leaving Deane and Baron from the second floor.

    Of course, he didn''te unprepared as he was readying his key to escape from these people.

    He wasn''t going to fight them in here in case something came up. Even if he had the knowledge and details regarding Castle Hearth, he preferred the terrain where he was dominant on it or just equal on grounds.

    If they still didn''t make their move, so be it.

    Cesar left the bathroom,pletely making it look like he was the same as he had entered inside. -However, it is different now.

    ''Let''s focus...''

    Cesar mused inwardly, his guard still up as always. -He confidently takes his step forward as hees to the main hall since the event is starting.

    "Greetings gentlemen anddies, this is the Mayor of Dawn Breaker, Nicholo Feen, as your host for today''s banquet,"

    A man who was old enough to be called a senior, spoke in such a calm demeanor as he added,

    "Today holds a very wonderful day. As we know a year ago, a tragic event had befallen humanity. City of Wheels. As you know, only a few of them managed to get back from the dreaded Mansion. Facing Nightmares, Corrupted Humans, a Heretic and even The Void, these people managed to w their way back to us."

    Nicholo paused, "But there''s a single person who was all talks when talking about that specific event. No, this is not just rumors but the survivors themselves vouched for this. Do you know what they said?"

    Nicholo acted as if he was pondering the words he had to put before adding, "Who is Cesar Sparrow? Why Mr. Sparrow, a student from the academy, who was the sole reason for their escape, followed them outside? Where was he, amongst the people he had saved from that ce?"

    Nicholo remembered the speech he had memorized earlier and jiggled his memory before acting upon it, "Sadly, there''s no Cesar Sparrow that came with them. A day passed since their escape, and no signs of his presence showed up from within the City of Wheels. Hence a search for this Hero started to be widespread. However, days, weeks, and months had passed, still no signs. What happened to the Hero of Wheels?"

    Nicholo sighed as he added with a grave tone, "All rumors pointed out that he''s sacrificed himself to save more lives. This! This act alone deserves countless medals for this youngd. But in the end, are all these sacrifices really worth it if you''re dead?"

    Nicholo took a dramatic pause as if he was letting the audience think deeply about the words he had stated. At the right moment, he continued, his tone rising and in fervor.

    "But just a month ago, it was received that Hero of Wheels was spotted. The burning hopes that Cesar Sparrow disappeared alongside that Mansion have been rekindled once more. The Hero that everyone thought died has appeared on us again,"

    Nicholo pointed his hand at the side and introduced himself with a smile, "Let''s wee the main character of this today''s banquet, Hero of Wheels, Cesar Sparrow!"

    The attendees pped their hands as they saw Cesar walking towards the stage. If everyone was receiving that kind of recognition, they would''ve already smiled and waved to those people but Cesar was different.

    He will not trust any of those people who came here to take advantage of him or kill him.

    Receiving the mic from Nicholo, Cesar tapped it once to test if it was working before grumbling to it.

    "Uhhhhhh¡­"

    Annoying the hell out of some people hearing his voice since he didn''t appear professional at all, Cesar smirked and stated solemnly.

    "You are very good. Imend your way of doing things which I also can''t help but be impressed in the same way,"

    His starting words confused most of the attendees, not understanding what it meant. After all, they thought he would give a good starting speech.

    Cesar, on the other hand, had long passed on thinking this was a normal banquet.

    "But anyways, let''s not dwell on that matter. Let''s talk about the stupid title you''ve given to me, shall we?"

    Cesar went forward to the audience as he raised a brow, "A fucking hero? Do you really ssify me like that? Does being the Hero of Wheels mean anything? In fact, where the hell this hero came, actually? A symbol of peace, power? Don''t make meugh. Being called like that gives me the funny feelings."

    Chatter¡ª!

    Completely unbothered by the whispersing from the audience, Cesar continued his impromptu speech that was justing to his mind.

    "I''m no Hero, don''t give me that bullshit. I saved no one nor sacrificed myself to someone. Give this fucking stupid title out of me, I don''t want to do anything of this crap,"

    Cesar paused as he shrugged his shoulders, "Now, give me my fucking rewards. Staying here any second longer makes me want to tear this ce down,"

 Chapter 169 First Assassination Attempt

    "Hahahahahaha!"

    Deane couldn''t stopughing at the awkward situation that had already enveloped the entirety of the main hall. Her eyes were already teared up as she pounded her hand at the table, finding the situation quite amusing.

    After the speech Cesar had given to every attendee in the hall, the main hall atmosphere became awkward.

    That''s why some of those eyes were looking at Deane as if he had lost her mind.

    Her goal today was to recruit Cesar in here after all. But after the stunt he had done to mess around with everyone, probably only her and a few of them wanted to be at his side now.

    "My god, that kid is very entertaining. Did Arnold tell him to do this? I''m really curious~"

    "Oh yeah?

    Suddenly, someone went to their table and used the avable chairs to sit down. Both Deane and Baron shifted their gaze at this individual and greeted him.

    "Headmaster Arnold,"

    "Cut the crap," Arnold waved his hand dismissively, "You never once called me that when I''ve already attained this position. Just treat me like I''m your subordinate when we''re in the Army,"

    Arnold touched the ss of alcohol prepared on that table and shook it in his hand, "Just so you know, I didn''t tell him to do that. He has the freedom to give what he wants though,"

    Deane smiled, "Hahaha, so you did!"

    Arnold frowned, trying to see if Deane was listening at all.

    After knowing each other for years, Arnold and Deane could understand words that only they knew. It was some sort of bond that had been developed for them when battling through the crisis they''d faced for their entire life.

    That''s why even if Arnold was trying to hide it, Deane knew that he influenced Cesar to do this. He was putting an act so that it didn''t look like he was involved or the Academy was behind all of this.

    "Anyway, enough of that. Where''s your kid anyway?" Deane asked as she looked around the hall.

    Arnold shrugged and answered, "Dunno. Might be loitering around or something,"

    ¡­

    sh¡ª!

    Slicing the neck of an assassin who was sent to kill him using his newly purchased jade dagger, Cesar slowly trod towards thest individual who managed to survive all of his attacks.

    "We got the wrong info! This is not just an ordinary student! We got duped,"

    Corpses mutted were scattered around an alleyway as thest one alive watched in horror as Cesar approached him.

    Facing the assassin in his front, Cesar asked.

    "Where did you get this info?"

    The assassin shaking in his ce begins to confess.

    "From someone we don''t know! We are just hired assassins meant to kill you and we''re supposed to do it on the day of your banquet! Everyone has been closely watching you and some others would''ve already made their attack if this condition wasn''t put in the first ce. Even if we fulfilled on killing you, failure toply with the condition will result in the contract being null,"

    ''So there''s a person behind. And specifically, do the assassination at the banquet? What the hell is that supposed to mean?''

    Cesar mused inwardly, finding no answer or lead to his questions before adding another question.

    "How many of you are here? I mean, all those people that are interested in the bounty?"

    "A lot of them! You are not going to believe how many are interested in taking this job even if it means to end you! Whatever you did to make them angry, it''s your own damn fault!"

    The assassin kept spouting gibberish that it started to hurt Cesar''s ear. cing his bloodied hand on his chin, he looked above the skies and sighed.

    "Man, after hearing your words, why does it look like you guys are the scapegoat to test out my abilities?"

    Cesar looked around the littered corpses of the mutted assassins as he sighed.

    "None of you even had Facets or Techniques. You are just skilled but the people I''ve learned for short amount of time was the best. If that''s the case, that does mean my thoughts are true?"

    "What did you say¡ª!"

    sh¡ª!

    Cesar ended the first assassination attempt by cutting the neck of thest assassin that came his way today.

    "You''re clearly exhausted. The enemies will know that something is wrong with you when you''re getting tired like this too early on,"

    Cedeit voiced out in an even tone, part of it looked like he was worried and the other is that he was amused.

    "Shut up, I know. I know it very well, god damn it." Cesar flipped his hair upwards while letting out a short breath, "I might not be able to reach the week if I''m like this. I guess it''s time to make some arrangements¡­"

    nning on changing his bloodied clothes, Cesar went ahead to a tailor shop that he quite fancied and tried to buy something that suited him in their line of clothing.

    Clearly stupefied at how he entered their establishment while he was covered with blood, Cesar entered Castle Hearth once again.

    Entering its entrance while receiving countless gazes, Cesar went straight to the main hall and tried to find a specific person.

    Finally, after being able to spot the individual, he went to sit at their table and demanded.

    "Reyna, do me a favor. I need your help"

    Reyna who was wearing an expensive dress herself since she was also invited to the banquet, raised a brow and replied.

    "Why? What''s wrong?"

    Cesar contemted the n he was thinking inside his head before whispering, "I want you to gather around the squad and the people that went to the City of Wheels."

    Cesar paused as he exined the situation, "I currently have a bounty above my head. Now, I don''t trust everyone to watch my back and not be blinded by that money that wanted to kill me. Additionally, I have a special condition that makes my performance minimal. If you can gather them today, I want to ask for you to protect me."

    Reyna felt overloaded with information about his words but she understood the assignment.

    Stay updated through empire

    "I guess it''s time to return the favor, huh?"

    Cesar took a sip of the ss on the table before nodding, "Yeah,"

    Reyna stood up from her seat and retorted, "I''ll get back to you."

    The first day of the banquet ended very boring. Aside from Cesar''s speech, nothing interesting came up next which made most of the guests leave.

    This was just an opening ceremony after all.

    There are still six days left.

 Chapter 170 Early In The Morning Attempts

    The second day of the banquet started with a festival. A showcase of performance and the vibrancy that the City of Lights brings were shown through dances and designs.

    sh!

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    The loud cheers of the supporters in the streets that were being performed covered the screams that happened just nearby.

    "Ackk!"

    shing the neck of his pursuer, Cesar drew arge breath before avoiding the dagger that tried to aim at his head.

    Whoosh!

    Running towards the assassin, Cesar prepared himself to engage in hand-to-handbat.

    Watching him approaching swiftly, the assassin subtly arranged the hidden des under his sleeves while Cesar was fast approaching.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Cesar who was quick to see the subtle action, held the hand of the assassin once he met him before forcing the individual forward using the seized hand.

    Tak¡ª!

    Using his knee to kick the assassin''s chin, Cesar grabbed his hair and did another kick, this time, directed to his opponent''s face.

    Once the assassin had been blown away by the force, Cesar followed it up by lunging towards his killer and raising his jade dagger.

    Hitting the assassin''s head, Cesar immediately removed it and slit them through his neck. The instant those two key weaknesses of a person have been hit, Cesar went for the third one where the heart is located

    sh¡ª!

    "Hahh..."

    Letting out a huge tired sigh, Cesar looked around the three corpses he had killed the first thing in the morning.

    Before this situation even transpired, Cesar was merely taking a quick roam around the city when he got pushed around toward a discreet alley where an unknown trio of assassins tried to take the bounty themselves.

    However, Cesar was already aware of them beforehand.

    His Cedeit-Meter already warned him about the iing attack.

    Hence he pulled his jade dagger at the first person, fought two versus one against the ones left before finally, managing to finish them off.

    "Hahh... at least I thank you guys for letting me sleep in the night."

    Wiping the unceasing sweat that formed on his clothes, Cesar drew a long sigh and exited the alley.

    Feeling already fatigued even though this was the only action he did, Cesar joined the rest of the people and made his way towards his room to clean himself.

    ...

    Already conscious about the gazes and movements of the people that he passes by, Cesar entered the building where every worker from the Academy used to stay. Just like the inn they had used from Flora City, the building he was entering was not entirely different.

    Arnold was currently staying in here as well. However, since he was an important figure, he was out alongside other people who used this building.

    For now, Cesar knew he was pretty much alone in here.

    Walking slowly towards his chambers, Cesar reached his destination almost immediately. With a tired sigh, he entered the room and took a shower.

    After five minutes of cleansing himself with his dirtied blood, Cesar used the spare towel and left the bathroom.

    However, the view inside already changed.

    The window where the sun shone earlier was covered with thick roots, the wooden floor was reced with ''root thorns'' with red liquid oozing out from its tip, and finally, a lone figure was sitting on an avable chair while looking at Cesar who was half naked.

    "You are under my spell now. Everything you see here is a mere illusion I''ve put in case you managed to break free. Don''t worry, you''re also not going to get hurt if you don''t do something funny. But let me tell you this, the only reason you''re alive now is because I willed it."

    Cesar stared at the lone figure wearing a top hat from his heat. He saw this unknown individual gesturing him to sit down on an avable chair he made in this illusionary circle he created.

    "Cesar Sparrow, do you know why I let you live?"

    Cesar shook his head, "I''m actually curious about your words,"

    The lone figure smirks and begins to answer, "It''s simple. I won''t know where you''ve hidden your artifacts and possessed them on my own. At first, it was a rumor that you own a couple of them but we received certain information you indeed managed to get a bunch. Where is it?"

    The figure paused as a tired yawn escaped his lips, "Who knows? Maybe if I''m satisfied with the items, I might let you live,"

    Cesar stared at the figure briefly before answering, "What if I don''t want to give it to you?"

    The figure sitting in the spare chair sighed as he stood up. Soon, the floor started to crack as the roots all around began to move, directly pointing the sharp tip to Cesar.

    The figure then smirked, "Well, too bad, I guess? I''ll receive the bounty as promised. And you¡­ you''re going to die¡ª"

    Suddenly, the figure in front of Cesar couldn''t help but involuntarily step back upon noticing the change in his eye.

    It was eerily glowing while watching him.

    But his fears started toe true once Cesar slowly shifted his gaze to the side, where the real figure that tried to hunt him in his inn was currently standing, pointing his huge de at him.

    "Hi~"

    Seeing that smile that reached from ear to ear, the real figure behind the illusion circle that was supposed to work shivered uncontrobly, feeling fear for the first time.

    ''This can''t be real¡­ No, this! This can''t be happening! This is the only time my powers haven''t worked on someone! I was careful! No, no¡­ Yes, he''s only faking it¡­''

    The figure tried to think this was all a mere trick that Cesar pulled off since escaping the illusionary circle wasn''t going to be easy.

    He prepared so much for this day to happen, obviously, it wasn''t going to be easily cracked by some student of the Academy.

    However, his worst fears started to show when Cesar stood up from the ground, slowly trod towards his direction.

    He wasn''t going left or right as if he was guessing where the real him was but was going straight at him.

    Finally, Cesar reached at this figure, still smiling from ear to ear before stating.

    "Drop this down or I might kill you this instant,"

    Knowing true fear for the first time, thinking his most powerful weapon got countered, the figure removed the illusionary circle and prostrated himself to Cesar.

 Chapter 171 Three Circles

    "All right, state your name."

    Looking at the figure that was meekly sitting on the floor, his head drooping down, Cesar had his thoughts raised at the matter.

    After all, without his Eyes of Deceit, Cesar would''ve probably been dead by now. His Cedeit-meter didn''t seem to work as he also noticed it a bit toote when the figure was talking to him.

    It could only imply that the individual was a professional.

    That''s why Cesar knew he had broken the spirit of this person just by merely breaking through the illusionary circle that the assassin was proud off just earlier.

    The figure with a slim figure and a round face can''t afford to look straight into Cesar''s eyes.

    Remaining his eyes fixated on the ground, the figure answered shakily, "I''m Karl. I''m quite known throughout the world but I''m famous in the Underworld since I go by the name The Juke. It was a title given to me since every victim I''ve put in ce hadn''t seen my face. I''ve kept juking my enemies using the same method I did now, but didn''t seem to work against¡­ you,"

    Cesar maintained his domineering posture as he mused inwardly, ''I knew it. This is not just a no-name assassin. It''s a pro.''

    Cesar began to ponder deeply about how he should make use of this guy who was visibly afraid of him. But at the end of all these things, the right thing to do was kill his enemies to avoid retaliation or revenge.

    But if that''s how he will keep doing things, Cesar knows he will be exhausted.

    Cesar realized what he wascking at the moment and that was information regarding his enemies.

    And the professional assassin Karl, The Juke, might be the way to extort any needed information he will have to eventually know.

    ''Let''s empty this guy on everything before executing him. It doesn''t matter if he noticed what I''m doing. I''ll make it look like he''s slowly gaining my trust, giving him a sense of security that I rely on him, and if he bares his fangs after knowing everything, I''ll kill him,''

    Creating the devious n inside his head that would surely work if he manipted it very well, Cesar drew a sly smirk on his lips before stating.

    "All right, Karl. Here''s how things are going to happen. Listen to me very carefully."

    Karl slowly raised his head and looked straight at Cesar.

    His eyes shook just by merely taking a quick look, remembering how Cesar''s eye glowed and gave birth to primal fear inside him.

    Seeing the nervous nod from Karl, Cesar continued, "All right, Karl. First, hand me any Artifact or hidden weapon you are using. Drop them down on the ground like what you did with your de, got it? I''ll count to three, got it?"

    Karl swiftly made a move as he dropped any hidden weapon he had stored in his body. However, Cesar was left disappointed when he spotted no Artifacts.

    "I didn''t even get to count," Cesarmented before pondering his next words, "All right. Next, tell me any big groups or names that are interested or you are certain that will being for my head. Be concise about their description, give what type of abilities they possess, andstly, reveal their names or titles,"

    Soon, Karl began to spill everything he had known in his entire life of knowledge of being an assassin. He gave different kinds of descriptions of any assassins he knew that were willing to hunt him down, which are mostly known assassins out there.

    There''s no way someone is skipping the Hundred Million Bounty when the target was only a student.

    But it seemed they were forgetting the fact that the student was no other than the Hero of Wheels.

    There''s no way a student of that caliber was ordinary or normal.

    After distinguishing the loads of information that Karl fed him nonstop, Cesar kept everything at the back of his mind. He memorized it right in that instant since it involved his survival, and at the same time, wasn''t going to becent because he had that information.

    There are still things to consider such as hidden factors or information that Karl didn''t wield.

    Finally, after over an hour of spilling information, Cesar cracked his head before finally proceeding to hisst question.

    "Tell me what you know about the assigned bounty for me,"

    Karl let out a short cough before asking politely, "Can I get a ss of water? I''m feeling parched,"

    Cesar stared at him briefly and replied, "If you stand up at your ce, that will be thest thing you''ll ever do,"

    Karl shivered uncontrobly before spilling another kind of information that he wielded.

    However, Cesar couldn''t help but leave disappointed since he was already aware of most of the information he leaked.

    As he continued to listen, Cesar stood up from his ce, grabbed a pitchel from the kitchen, poured it with ice-cold water, and came back to the table where he was talking with Karl.

    Showing his level of pettiness to a thirsty assassin, Cesar drank it down to his throat before smacking his lips.

    Karl''s face grew darkly watching that as he couldn''t help but touch his throat, feeling parched still.

    But he couldn''t just stop.

    Thinking that there wasn''t any new information, Cesar''s face grew bored before Karl revealed a key piece of info that piqued his interest.

    Karl stated, "Oh right, I heard from my assassin friends that when this bounty is established and continues to rise in numbers, there is a certain individual that keepsing back to raise this value. That''s when I thought ''This guy might be rich'' hence I came up with a n to find out about this individual through also my connections. I hired professionals to do this job and expected a result a few dayster,"

    Cesar saw the change of demeanor from Karl and he couldn''t help but focus.

    There was hesitation in his actions. It looked like a memory that Karl tried to bury was resurfacing once more since Cesar demanded answers to his questions.

    Karl is no newbie when ites to disgusting situations since his line of job is linked to it.

    If he felt fear for Cesar after countering his ability, then the situation he was trying to put into words to tell Cesar was the most repulsive scene he had encountered in his entire life.

    After finally dozens of seconds of contemting, Karl revealed, "Suddenly, news quickly spread that even the Army had to be involved. Underworld dogs like us would be obviously curious when even the military itself has been entangled. Find your next read at empire

    "However, this case hasn''t been as simple as we thought as even the Nightmare Corps has been concerned as well. That''s why I asked. Howe this group of specialists came particrly on our turf and should''ve been involved only in Nightmares? T-that''s when I witnessed something horrifying,"

    Karl took a long pause, "On the site, there was a specific killing. On each wall, there was an intersecting circle painted with human blood. Like a three-circle venn diagram. On each circle was a skull that was still fresh due to how new it was at that time. A-and In the middle of each three circles was a strange-looking symbol that curved circrly."

    Karl took a mouthful of gulped as he expressed repulsively, "The informants I asked to gather information from that particr person were there. However, their face skins, arms, legs, and any body parts were hanging on the ceiling as if¡­ as if to give a warning to whoever tried to search for them.

    "T-the scene left me traumatized since I never have seen that kind of brutality ever before. You can even tell the horrors those informants met when you see how horrified their faces are. T-that''s why I gave up on the n of continuing the search,"

    Cesar formed a frown upon realizing that his bounty wasn''t just made out of a whim. If he takes Karl''s words into consideration, then the person he tried to search for was one of the people who put the bounty above his head.

    If that''s the case, then it was a huge lead to receive from Karl.

    But almost instantly, he heard a crazed shout inside his head that almost pierced his brain due to how violent it was.

    "It''s fucking them!"

    Cesar''s eyes widened.

    "It''s the fucking Holy Trinity!"

 Chapter 172 Unholy Trinity

    "Unholy Trinity¡­?"

    A bbergasted tone escaped Cesar''s lips as he muttered thebel of what seemed to be a group that Cedeit informed him.

    With a sigh, Cedeit answered.

    "Look closely here, Unholy Trinity is a group that has three Origin Entities. The three intersecting circles are their trademark. These suspicions of mine only heightened when there was a skull on each circle to represent three heads. Now aside from Deceit, how many Origin Entities do you already know?" Find your next read at empire

    Cesar took Cedeit''s words very carefully as he couldn''t help but remember the Immersive Reading he did when he was at the Academy.

    He already knew that they are twenty-two Origin Entities that attended that gathering if Deceit was included.

    But if talking about the titles, there are Hypocrisy, Rash, and Scorn.

    Hence if he had to answer correctly¡­

    "I already knew three of them. They are Hypocrisy, Rash, and Scorn,"

    "Wait, you already knew that woman?" Cedeit couldn''t help but ask suspiciously beforeing back to that topic, "Well, I guess today is your lucky day. Look, if the Unholy Trinity is the one targeting you, then we''re in a deep shit, you hear me? It means they knew that me, Cedeit, a mere consciousness of the real Deceit, was out from this world,"

    Cedeit paused as he added, "It could only mean they are still afraid of me. Heh, of course, who wouldn''t shit their pants on someone of my caliber? But who am I to talk to? I''m just one of his consciousness that Deceit spread throughout. Haha, it means they are afraid that ''He'' will be born again. But again, those bastards aren''t too grateful for receiving his help, huh,"

    Cedeit let out a short sigh as he added, "This is not merely just a simple assassination attempt to kill you now, Cesar. I had to be involved right now. Whatever they are nning, I''m sure it involves something great. So, how about I start discussing with you what the Unholy Trinity is?"

    Not minding the strange look Karl was giving, Cesar awaited Cedeit''s exnation that came a few secondster.

    Unholy Trinity consists of three Origin Nightmares.

    "First is Prejudice,"

    Prejudice is an Origin Nightmare Entity that can manipte emotions. He has many names such as Fractured Truths, Words of Misbelief, and The Impartial.

    ording to Cedeit''s description, Prejudice is a ''sweet talker'' since the Nightmare is good on its words. With a specific condition, the Nightmare can bend someone''s will.

    It almost had the same description as its name of being prejudiced. A favoring or dislike of something without good reason or sufficient grounds.

    "Second is Doubt,"

    Doubt is another Origin Nightmare Entity that can target someone''s mind. The same as Prejudice, this Nightmare also had different names which included Echoes of Uncertainty, Unbroken Mind, and The Unseen.

    ying someone''s ''doubt'' is very crucial for this Nightmare as its powers revolve around it. Cedeit described the Nightmare as a master of maniption, only second to Deceit himself.

    To Nightmares, he was the worst enemy to face if they didn''t have any defensive mechanism to counter an attack to their mind.

    "Finally, the third and final Origin Nightmare of the Unholy Trinity, Hate"

    Thest Origin Nightmare of the Unholy Trinity was Hate.

    Amongst the three Nightmares, Cedeit specifically told him that Hate was the most dangerous of them all.

    His powers simply target one''s soul. Amidst all the many names that have been given to this Nightmare amongst themselves, he was simply called the Soul Reaper.

    "This being loves giving its victim a brutal death,"

    Finally, after giving more descriptions regarding these three Origin Entities, Cesar couldn''t help but shiver from time to time.

    These creatures were just horrifying.

    Cedeit then snorted, "Heh, of course, these lowly beings didn''te close to the prime Deceit. He can defeat them all. The one and only me, Hahahaha!"

    As if Cedeit tried to sneak his words inside the terrifying descriptions he had given to these Nightmares to it look like they were small fries when clearly, they weren''t, Cesar remembered something in the passing.

    "Actually, I think I know one more Origin Entity. I think it''s called Apathy? Does that ring you any bell?"

    Since Cesar knew that the ''connection'' he and Cedeit share came from the Nightmare Potion that he drank from the selection, and the passing information he wielded was Deceit himself talking about Apathy, he wasn''t wrong to voice it out in the open.

    "Apathy¡­"

    Cedeit suddenly grew grimly before sighing in a low voice.

    "Hey, don''t ever mention that name. Everything rted to that Nightmare will be known to that creature and that Entity will be aware of your presence as a result. Thankfully, you made it look like it was anyone with apathy and not the real deal itself,"

    Cesar frowned, "Hey, I''m just saying. I really thought he was part of this trinity but I didn''t hear any of his descriptions when you were giving information so maybe, I thought you forgot about him,"

    Cedeit snorted as if Cesar couldn''t understand the words he was trying to ry, "How can I forget that Entity? He''s one of the strongest amongst us Origin Entities."

    Cesar couldn''t help but slightly widen his eyes before Cedeit woke him up from his reverie as they were darting away from their objectives.

    "Anyways, you need to wrap this up. Know who your enemies are, and eliminate them to reducepetition because, if The Trinity are really targeting you, there is more toe."

    Nodding once, Cesar redeemed his focus back and shifted his gaze at Karl, who was staring at him while shaking.

    ''He''s talking to himself!''

    From an outsider''s eyes, it really looked like Cesar had gone mad.

    But what can they do?

    Not like Cesar give a damn.

    "Hey, I just got a pretty great idea. Listen here, I''ve marked you. Got it? I got my eyes to know your movements wherever you are. So better follow my words,"

    Almost breaking his neck for nodding very swiftly, Cesar began to tell him about the n he was thinking inside his head.

    Karl''s face was full of fear before it just became downright astonished with still traces of fear from hearing Cesar''s words.

    When their meeting came to an end, Cesar prepared himself for the banquet since he''d be meeting Reyna in there.

    He''ll probably even reuinite with some friends over there.

 Chapter 173 Unusual Occurrence

    Right after he took another quick shower since talking with Karl and Cedeit brought some exciting info, Cesar left the bathroom and found that the assassin had already left.

    However, a sign that he wasn''t betrayed and was going through with their n is apparent due to his weapons still on the floor where they are dropped and untouched.

    Of course, he could''ve escaped. In fact, he can just buy a different weapon and go as far as he can from Dawn Breaker but Cesar already instilled the fact that he knew each of his movements, even if that is hardly the truth.

    Even so, Cesar had already nted the seed of doubt. After showcasing a glimpse of his powers, Karl definitely will rethink his thoughts twice.

    ''I just hope this wouldn''t bite me much in the back,''

    Cesar mused inwardly, and let out a short sigh before preparing himself for the banquet as he wore the attire he was supposed to wear today.

    Leaving his chambers, Cesar went straight to Castle Hearth again.

    ¡­

    Fortunately for Cesar, he hadn''t encountered any attempt of being assassinated on the way towards the castle.

    It was probably because it was crowded and lots of guards spread across each street that the assassins chose the right spot and ce to carry out their missions.

    There''s one specific thing that Cesar noticed regarding these assassinations though, and it was that they didn''t just involve any innocent or civilian.

    It was probably work ethic, their own standards, or whatnot, but it seemed that getting this out in the open would cause a major shift that might get overlooked by the Army or the Association.

    If those organizations got involved in this case, their whole n might not work.

    It''s not like these two organizations weren''t aware of this situation. To keep the people calm in their homes, they didn''t stir enough news since nothing great had been taken ounted for.

    ''I guess I''m just a sacrificialmb that I better drop dead for the better of the world,'' Cesar considered inwardly, amused at his own thoughts.

    As he entered the castle, Cesar suddenly came to a thought.

    ''But Arnold seemed to be keeping quiet about this matter to me. And there''s no way he isn''t aware of this matter. Should I just ask him and try to see what he has on mind?''

    Cesar left those words aside when he spotted a group of people waiting for him on the second floor of the main hall.

    When their eyes met, all of them had a huge smile on their faces.

    Cesar also felt happy to be able to meet them again.

    ¡­

    Their table consisted of nine people. Cesar''s previous squad was also there, us, Leah, and Amar were also there. Finally, to make the table full, their previousmander at that site, Vin, also sat beside them.

    They''ve already talked about kinds of stuff regarding Cesar''s return but only made the conversation jolly and not serious.

    However, they maintained a sense of privacy for Cesar, unlike some attendees who brutally asked him what his experiences were even if it was already a breach of discretion.

    Some words are better left unsaid and kept after all.

    But all those useless talks have to end. Now, they are back on business.

    "Cesar, we heard about your situation from Reyna. A bounty on your head? It would''ve made sense if we also got as well, but throughout the year we''ve escaped from the Mansion, we never received warnings from our superiors regarding our own bounties, well, because they never existed in the first ce,"

    Nike tried to give his own view regarding Cesar''s situation and others agreed as well.

    If they are worried about Cesar''s strength, they should''ve also hunted the fifty-three survivors since they''ve be a powerhouse and made a name for themselves.

    However, Cesar already received such a warrant that made assassination attempts rampant which he already experienced.

    It just doesn''t make any sense, but it''s not like they are aware of his situation.

    There was a bigger y in here, and Cesar wasn''t willing to risk telling it to them in the open. Hence, keeping the goal crystal clear, he lied through his teeth and mastered the ss of talking smoothly.

    "I don''t have any idea how this came to the current situation but all I''m asking is protection until the end of the banquet. I''ll return to the Academy after that but I won''t need you guys since Arnold will be me. You see that he''s the Headmaster, right? Of course, he had a lot of things to do aside from keeping a watch on me. At least, on this banquet,"

    us, who was only listening to the side, agreed as he gave his opinion, "Don''t worry kid. We''re already in the same boat here. We''re going to start applying protection for you but we just wanted to hear the reason, if there''s any, why they are doing this. But I guess there are no answers yet,"

    ''Good¡­ Reyna had done her job exceptionally well. Now, that is less burden for me to carry¡­''

    Wiping the sweat from his neck even though he barely even moved, Cesar smiled darkly and let out a tired sigh.

    "Now since we''re still talking seriously, how is the Army? Any interesting news that I need to know? If it''s a secret, whisper it to me,"

    Cesar tried to liven up the mood and tried to find some interesting information about certain Nightmares, like Soul Schr that he just couldn''t find no matter how much search he did.

    Though that didn''t work as the demeanor of each person was bleak.

    ''Something''s wrong?''

    Each of them gave a strange look at each other. The only ones who didn''t look between were Nike and Reyna who seemed very determined to not lock their gazes together.

    But in the end, those actions were trying to ry something to Cesar. Eventually, Vin who is a Major now, took the lead to disclose the information.

    "A month ago. A horde of Nightmares are spotted gathering in one particr red zone area," Vin paused, "Then, a few weeks ago, another group of Nightmares has gathered in another site. Then these spotted bunch of Nightmares kept appearing all across the world as if they were assembling."

    Leah, who also seemed aware of this information, nodded, "Do you get this? We never had this weird case recorded before. If a group of Nightmares banded together and started to wreak havoc, even a city would be under their mercy,"

 Chapter 174 Heretics Movement

    ''That''s¡­ indeed weird and horrifying. Why are they so calm about this though? If they are right, those cities that were going to be affected will have their people evacuated right in the instant. Just what are they nning?''

    As if the satiate his curiosity, Amar who merely watching on the side began to reveal some more ssified information.

    "We''ve been secretly evacuating the citizens of the cities that will be affected if the case of attack happened. However, we are maintaining this under wraps to not instigate chaos that might ensue once this is announced."

    From the side, Quentin added, "That doesn''t mean we''re going to keep this hidden forever. With the help of high-ranking officials of the Army and the Association, the operation has been smooth sailing. Once we''re done with the job, we''ll spread this across the world but we''re going to say it is under control while stating out facts,"

    Liking the idea that it wasn''t tooplicated yet very easy to put into action, Cesar felt reassured.

    Everyone must be nervous about making the same mistake again like what happened to City of Wheels and anything rted to that. To make it up, the actions were much swifter this time around.

    "Anything else that anyone wants to willingly share?"

    Reyna didn''t like the idea that she was being quiet when she was mostly the most talkative person there.

    But it''s only because she and Nike had a bad rtionship.

    They are still awkward with each other but since they are professional and Cesar is in need of help, they kept their differences aside and tried to appear on ''good terms.''

    Hence without thinking too much, Reyna revealed, "Didn''t I mention to you I came back from a recent mission hence I''ve been in this city for quite some time now? Well, that mission involves Heretics. And by the looks of it, everyone has different gods they believe in. I came to a very interesting case, you see,"

    Had his senses perked up while all ears, Cesar awaited for any rted topic about Heretics.

    "Ever since that¡­ time, I''ve been very conscious about these individuals. Since I perfected my missions, there are passes avable that only rookies like us are avable hence I searched and found out specific information about them,"

    Reyna took a long pause before revealing, "It seems, even if these individuals have different kinds of gods in their own perspective, they are very well established. Trades between heretics, information passed between heretics, andstly, ordersing between heretics."

    Reyna grabbed a biscuit at her front before exining further, "However, there is no solid proof that they are under the same banner hence the Army kept excluding the notion that the Heretic formed a hidden unofficial organization themselves,"

    Cesar''s attention was piqued at this very moment.

    Aside from Nightmares, the other batch he hated was Heretics. These lump of bastards who believed that Nightmares are their gods are the worst thing that any human has ever existed.

    Could they even read the history books and see that we''re in a constant battle with them?

    They are not just right in their damn minds.

    But if they are under one organization, yet they moved separately ording to their own beliefs of their own gods, then Cesar knew this would be a great trouble.

    Imagine a bunch of Caster, the single heretic that made the lives of an already hopeless people be more dreadful?

    Just thinking about it makes his blood run cold.

    Soon, their conversation ensued as it was while the attendees didn''t pay much attention to them.

    This event was supposed to be the time when Cesar should raise his value the most but it was he who also created this situation for himself.

    His downfall was his own fault.

    Hence his worth as Hero of Wheels continued going down. Being called a Hero disgusts him anyway so what''s even the point of having it?

    At the end of the day, Cesar was going to be himself.

    ...

    Throughout the second day of the banquet, a few speakers decided to endorse their products from the attendees in hopes of acquiring some investors. The banquet then continued with a few dances, short times of breaks, and show matches to keep the attendees entertained.

    For formality, Cesar stayed in the Castle.

    And for a while, there were no assassination attempts all because he was surrounded by influential and powerful people. The protection he was receiving from the group was already started too hence it was less worry.

    That''s why the assassins will have to think twice.

    Cesar looked up at the clock above hanging on the main hall''s walls and watched that the second day was nearing its end.

    ''It''s about time¡­''

    Cesar stood up from his ce and their table abruptly came to a pause. They were ready to follow him when he dered.

    "I''m going to the bathroom for a minute,"

    Jacqueline noticed how Cesar was almost drenched with sweat and couldn''t help but retort, "Do you want someone to follow you?"

    Cesar shook his head, "Nah, it''s all good. No one would dare to do it inside the castle anyway,"

    Of course, they can carry out their assassination attempt. Cesar lied straight to Jacqueline. Someone might''ve already infiltrated the castle and was only keeping an eye on him already.

    But Cesar can handle them if there was ever.

    However, he had a different objective tonight.

    Bidding farewell to his group even if he was only taking a toilet break in their eyes, Cesar went to the nearest bathroom and grabbed the key.

    Twisting the key mid-air while imagining the scene inside his head, Cesar was able to see a gapped reality and entered inside.

    Whoosh¡ª!

    Feeling the cool breeze from his skin, Cesar watched the steady moonlight from above showering a bit of light in the quiet night.

    He found himself in the middle of a huge stone tform, located at the top of the Castle''s top floor.

    Heaving a long sigh, Cesar stood motionlessly. It didn''t take long before the tranquility he loved was destroyed a few secondster.

    "Wow, I didn''t believe it if it was true but I guess we got the right information,"

    Cesar saw hundreds of individuals from the very tform he was standing before a sly smirk formed on his lips.

    "I guess you found me,"

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