Chapter 1481: Fighting Armies Of Nightmare Demons
-----
BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!
As I evolved within my Soulscape, a fierce battle erupted outside!
Just as my evolution began, we advanced through the Crimson Blood Forest, aiming for the third layer as swiftly as possible.
Though the demons inhabiting this place intrigued me, after some thought, I decided they weren’t worth my effort to confront.
That was my plan, at least, if we didn’t encounter them on our path to the Nightmare Dimension, and...
Well, I was completely wrong.
Halfway through the Crimson Blood Forest, while my massive army hunted the creatures charging toward us, a formidable and unfamiliar army emerged. Three giant Kaiju-type Nightmaresaurs led it, commanding a hundred more Nightmaresaurs and Nightmare Plant Monsters.
The most striking feature wasn’t the Kaijus but the Nightmare Demons atop them, clad in tribal clothes and bones, roaring furiously as they unleashed powerful Nightmare Spells and hurled deadly cursed arrows!
Clearly, they weren’t peaceful. Either Beatriz had lied, or she was unaware they were poised for an ambush. Fortunately, Thorn had warned me of their presence, so we met them with full force.
I cast multiple Spells, opening with my destructive [Abyssal Netherworld’s Star] Skill, summoning dozens of massive stars of nether and death flames that engulfed the enemy army in relentless explosions.
BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!
Even against these formidable foes, my Magic Skills’ destructive power was unmatched, especially this highly evolved offensive Magic Skill, already at Level 6!
Each explosion triggered tremors, carving massive craters into the ground with sprawling cracks that spread nether, consuming all life in its path.
Not even the Nightmaresaurs could escape my nether flames, which devoured their flesh and blood, cursing them and draining their life rapidly.
The Kaijus proved the strongest, either resisting the nether or evading it by leaping or flying away from my attacks.
But could they hold out indefinitely?
"Damned humans! You dare invade our lands?!"
"We will not let you through!"
"Kill them and feast on their Dream Hearts!"
The three Nightmare Demon Tribal Chiefs, mounted on their tamed Kaijus, roared in unison as they charged toward me.
A poor decision.
"Who do you think you’re calling food?! GRAAAARRRR!"
RUMBLE!
My little Nyx unleashed her full power, transforming into a colossal, black-scaled dragon with flowing silvery-white hair. She swung her Dream Weapon Axe at the first Kaiju before her.
This Kaiju resembled a massive iguana, clad in heavy armor with venomous spikes protruding from its body!
"GRAAARRR!"
The iguana lashed out its tongue, attempting to ensnare Nyx’s arms and halt her movement. The tongue glistened with poison.
But!
CRAAASH!
Nyx, naturally faster and stronger, severed the Kaiju’s tongue with ease, causing the creature to wail in agony.
"GRYYAAARRRGGH!"
As it writhed in pain, Nyx surged forward. The Nightmare Demon atop the Kaiju, a towering black-scaled lizardman with a crocodile-like head, panicked.
"{N-Nightmare Demon Magic}: {Soul-Devouring Nightmare Vortex}!!!"
FLUOOOSH!
A massive vortex of darkness surged toward Nyx, threatening to trap her and devour her mind and soul.
And yet...
"Don’t care!"
Nyx roared with fury; her axe infused with Dream Power!
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
She sliced through the vortex until it vanished completely.
"What?!"
The Nightmare Demon gasped in disbelief, moments before Nyx’s jaws snapped open, tearing off the Kaiju’s head and crushing the Demon between her razor-sharp fangs.
"Uuuaaaggghh?!"
CRUNCH!
He screamed in torment before his body, along with the Kaiju’s head, was crushed to pieces and... devoured by my daughter.
Well, I suppose her appetite was greater than I’d imagined.
"No! He killed Lizardon?!"
"You damn bastard!"
The remaining two Nightmare Demon Chieftains roared with rage, unleashing their potent magic as their Kaijus attacked Nyx.
"{Shining Justice Strike}!"
FLAAASH!
At that moment, a brilliant light descended from the skies, striking one of the two remaining Kaijus, a towering wingless dodo with green, red, and black feathers.
BOOOMMM!!!
An immense explosion engulfed the Kaiju, standing over three hundred meters tall. The giant bird-like monster shrieked in agony, while the Nightmare Demon Chieftain atop its head—a figure resembling a shattered Greek statue of a woman with black horns jutting from her forehead and bat-like wings sprouting from her back—screamed as her spell was disrupted.
"CRYAAAAGGH!"
"Uuuggh?! T-That light!"
Jonathan appeared, wielding his Dream Weapon, a mighty Divine Blade, and unleashed its ability, triggering a massive explosion of light. The Kaiju collapsed, its legs obliterated.
"You’re going too soft on them again, Jonathan!"
Partner called out to him as Jonathan sighed, approaching the Nightmare Demon, who glared at him with fury.
"Come on, I know you don’t have to do this... Surrender and-"
"SHUT UP AND DIE! HUMANNN!!!"
The enraged statue-like demon ignored him, swiftly conjuring another vortex of nightmare magic. I suppose that’s their favorite spell.
"..."
TRUUUM!
As the vortex engulfed him completely, the nightmare demoness laughed.
"Hahahaha! I got you! You humans are so easy to catch off-guard, you think that niceness is going to work with- GUH!?"
CRASH!
To her shock, Jonathan’s blade pierced her stomach. He strode through the spell unscathed, reaching her and striking true.
"..."
He remained silent as the Nightmare Demon stared at him in disbelief before dissolving into a cloud of black smoke, leaving behind a crystal.
I can’t blame him for that. I might’ve done the same.
Perhaps restraining them all, as I did with Beatriz, could make them cooperate. But that’s hardly a practical approach for everyone.
Might as well clear them from our path and press forward, right?
"Heh...! You’re pretty damn weak, aren’t you?"
Partner grinned viciously at her prey, the third Kaiju and its master, the last Nightmare Demon Chieftain. The Kaiju resembled a massive crimson turtle; its body wreathed in flames.
"GRUOOOHHH!"
Though covered in wounds from her relentless attacks, the Kaiju fought on, unleashing a devastating fiery breath.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Partner deftly parried the blasts with her two evolved spears, radiating a potent Aura of Dreams from her weapons and body.
"That’s enough, bastard."
FLASH!
Like a crimson blur, Partner spread her bat-like wings, reaching the monster in an instant and driving both spears through its head.
CRAAASH!
As the Kaiju’s corpse crashed to the ground, the Nightmare Demon riding it, resembling a turtle himself, fled in panic.
"Running away? What a coward..."
Partner aimed with her spear and launched it like a javelin.
FLAAASH!
The spear pursued him, piercing his chest and shattering his core.
"G-Gaaggh...?!"
BOOOM!
An explosion of darkness consumed him, reducing him to ashes.
"Alright, everyone, let’s finish this quickly. We’re close to the desert!"
I led my Undead Army, marching relentlessly toward our destination.
Nightmare Demon King, you’ll need more than that to stop us.
-----