Capítulo 880: World Outside The Nightmare

Alice let out a soft groan. She had entered the Nightmare before she knew it. The moment the sun touched the horizon line, she blacked out and woke up here.

Compared to the first night, this was a far smoother experience.

No falling through several strange realms, no mannequins trying to kill her.

No parasite bursting out of someone’s chest to kill her.

She was back at the camp having died to the boss.

The streets were the same, the placement of the beasts were also the same.

Nothing had changed in this realm since her last departure.

At least… nothing that she could see.

Picking up her rapier, Alice adjusted her had and stepped out into the fog filled city.

It’s clear that she couldn’t fight the boss right now. The risks were simply too high and she’d rather not stack up her deaths if she could help it. The beast dropped down from above but Alice leaned to the side while slashing up.

A swift cut against the throat before stabbing the temple, killing the beast without letting him attack once.

According to Karina, there were shops where she could use the Embryos she’s obtained to buy spells, weapons and consumables.

With quite a few tier 1 Embryos at her disposal, purchasing a few items should be doable.

First and foremost was getting better spells and a method of healing without going back to the camp.

If she can heal during a boss fight, it’ll certainly make her life a lot easier. To give herself more room for error if anything took her by surprise.

Picking up the Embryo from the ash on the ground, Alice stored it into her pocket before tracing the familiar path through the city.

Past the traps, the beast tried to ram her into the chasm once more but this time Alice took a few steps back to avoid it before circling around the beast.

With the roles reversed, she broke the beast’s balance by slashing his tendons and kicked him into the chasm.

Watching the beast disappear into the fog, Alice hopped over the gap without any issues, even avoiding the trap set on the ledge in the process.

Once she was on the other side, Alice clenched the Embryo and glanced at the paths laid out before her.

The closest path was the path back to the boss.

Therefore, her goal this time was to venture deeper into the city.

This was uncharted territory once more so Alice slowed herself down.

Keeping herself close to the walls in case something was waiting for her in the centre of the road.

At least by staying close to the walls, she’ll reduce the changes of drawing their attention.

Just as she took a step towards what seemed to be the centre of the city, Alice felt a sense of danger from her left.

Her eyes darted to the side and froze upon seeing a human face.

No… calling it human wouldn’t be accurate.

The lower jaw split apart, revealing the rows of thorns and writhing roots. The face a pale imitation of beauty constructed by layering countless petals together.

Without thinking of anything else, Alice immediately relaxed her legs and dropped to the ground.

*BANG!!!

From the wall, the maw snapped forward, crushing the empty air where Alice’s upper body would’ve been.

Some of her hair was caught in the jaw as the beast’s saliva melted away the strands.

Quickly rolling back, Alice glanced at her pony tail that had been forcefully shortened with green saliva still melting away at the edges.

Cutting it off with her rapier to stop it from spreading, Alice glared at the plant beast that slowly clawed out of the building.

Taking a deep breath to regain her calm, Alice took aim with her rapier.

‘Long root like limbs. Body mostly comprised of a bundle of them rather than a solid piece. Changes are it can probably cause a bunch of roots to expand in an instant. Thorns are an issue.’ Alice analysed.

Sure, using Pale Lance could solve this but she only had a limited amount of casts per rest. She didn’t want to waste it on a random beast like this unless absolutely needed.

There’s no telling if there would be an abnormally strong beast guarding the main paths that respawns per rest.

Turning its head slowly, the beast slowly peeled away the petals that made up the human face, revealing 10 eyes lined up where the stamen of the flower would’ve been.

Its roots slithered like a snake as the beast turned towards Alice before slamming down with its vines.

Side stepping the strike, Alice flicked her wrist and slashed the vines quickly, severing them from the main body.

Letting out a hiss of pain, the beast hunched over for a moment as Alice frowned.

She made a few light hops in the same spot while maintaining a neutral stance.

The moment the attack flies her way, she’ll be able to instantly dive towards any direction she wants.

*RUMBLE!!!

A giant bundle of vines burst forth from the beast’s stomach, seeking to swallow Alice whole.

Diving to the right, Alice adjusted her grip and ran towards the beast. A rapid upwards slash into two stabs then a downwards slash against the eyes.

And to finish things off, one final stab against the centre of the flower, causing the beast to crumble and wither before turning to ash.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Alice calmed her heart rate and picked up the Embryo.

The fights were short but dangerous.

She had to prepare herself properly or else a single hit may become fatal.

To always keep herself ready for an attack while also being wary of her surroundings.

During that fight, Alice kept her Zone deployed, no matter how unstable the barrier was.

She couldn’t risk the lurker taking her by surprise again like her accidental arrival at the boss.

From the ashes of the plant beast, Alice picked up another tier 1 Embryo.

But this time, there was something else mixed into the ash.

A small bundle of leaves tied together with a golden thread. Bringing it up to her nose, Alice was careful in case it was poison.

The leaves gave off a rather aromatic scent that calmed the nerves. Gentle, soothing and cool like the midnight breeze.

She could feel her fatigue being elevated to some degree. Barely noticeable but she could definitely feel the effects.

Storing it away in her pocket for now, she ventured deeper into the city. But with the fog covering her view from all directions, the only thing she can rely on was the butterflies that traverse this realm.

How many camps must she find before her view was cleared?

###

Suyin watched as her machines hummed to life.

The dials and hands spinning rapidly as ambient energy and information was being recorded down with each second.

Her eyes shimmered with excitement.

Sure she heard of the phenomenon from Alice but seeing it… it was a different kind of feeling.

To watch as both Alice and Elias suddenly collapse on the bed as though their soul had just been whisked away.

She poked, she prodded but they would not wake up no matter what.

Then there was the changes in their soul.

The countless information being updated in real time.

Movements, actions, emotional condition. Every fluctuation monitored and noted down in raw unfiltered data.

This much change shouldn’t even be possible considering the fact that they were simply ‘sleeping’.

But the notes don’t lie.

This nightmare of theirs was very, VERY real.

“Iya~ What an eerie night.” Suyin climbed onto the window ledge and glanced up at the night sky.

Rather than a calming midnight blue that most were familiar with, the sky was dyed in an ominous shade of crimson and purple.

It’s clear that the thing hanging in the sky was dying the realm in its own colour. That pervasive red which obscures the calming blue.

The fractured crimson moon hung ominously, visible from all directions.

Turning her gaze away from the sky, she glanced down at the streets.

No one was walking around.

Not one civilian, not one guard.

Everyone had already gone inside.

Those who remained on the streets slept standing up while facing the moon.

Their eyes were closed but if it was open, Suyin theorised they might even stare at the moon without blinking.

A creepy sight no doubt.

And then…

But this unnerving feeling…

Something was in this city.

Crawling around, slowly…

Something was here, she just can’t see it.

Was it because she’s viewing things from a lens rather than her own eyes?

Had she been there in person, she wouldn’t be spared from this phenomenon after all.

Or perhaps whatever was crawling around shouldn’t be seen by human eyes.

A forbidden entity.

In that moment, Suyin felt the moonlight flicker momentarily and glanced up.

A wave of dread struck her body from behind the screen.

Her blood ran cold, sweat dripped down her back and she slammed her hand down to cut the connection.

All the camera showed was the night sky and the crimson moon…

But that flicker…

Suyin glanced down at her hand.

She could see her fingers trembling as that fear she felt was real.

She felt death stare at her for a moment.

Even from behind the safety of her screens, the reaper was calling her name had she not cut the connection off early.

Did they sense her? Sense the moment someone observed the strange country without being dragged into the dream?

Taking several shaky breaths in a futile attempt to calm herself, Suyin tried to walk over to the desk only to realise her legs wouldn’t budge.

Her fear prevented her from moving them properly.

“Jeez… What the hell is even happening?” Suyin forced a brave smile and pulled herself towards the desk with difficulty.

She glanced at the data being sent over in real time and sighed in relief.

Whatever she saw wasn’t harming Alice or Elias.

At least… for the moment.