The Dreamer's POV

Chapter 35: Nightmare Paradise

[You Have Died]

<Dream Sequence Has Been Disabled>

{Interference has been detected. <Dream> will not be activated}

<The Conditions Have Been Met>

{Exclusive Skill: <Nightmare> has been initiated}

[Nightmare will now commence]

"Haaa..." I saw a misty breath escape from my lips as a hissing sound proceeded from my mouth.

Where was I?

What was happening?

... I had no idea.

As I rose from the wreckage, a surreal sensation washed over me.

The world around me took on an ethereal quality, shifting into shades of monochrome, as if I had entered a dreamlike state.

Ah... I was dreaming again, wasn't I?

A reddish-black aura enveloped me, pulsating with an intensity that seemed to defy reason. My very essence felt transformed, unrecognizable from before.

What in the world? What was this? What was happening? What... was I doing?

A distant sound caused me to look ahead, feeling reality blur as my vision turned to fog and reverted back within a moment.

With a sense of both awe and trepidation, I looked upon the five adversaries before me. Though their features remained the same, there was an undeniable familiarity to their presence.

In this strange world, I knew them as only one thing.

'... My enemies.'

Ah, yes. THAT WAS ALL THEY WERE.

A surge of determination coursed through my veins, overpowering any confusion or doubt. I took a step forward, my resolve unyielding.

Whether this was a dream or some twisted manifestation of my subconscious, I refused to let it hinder me.

I would fight, I would overcome, and I would emerge victorious.

"Haaa...." Silhouettes lashed around me, but nothing caused me to cease focusing on the ENEMIES that stood in front of me.

The distorted world seemed to bend to my will as I summoned the remnants of my strength. The reddish-black aura intensified, crackling with suppressed energy.

I honestly felt like I could do anything.

This world. This place. This reality.... it was MINE! In this dreamlike wonderland, only I could see the end.

... And it was glorious!

I extended my hand, and the debris around me trembled and levitated, swirling in a chaotic dance of power.

With a primal roar that echoed through the dreamlike landscape, I unleashed my newfound might.

The debris became projectiles, hurtling towards my adversaries with lethal force. The very fabric of this surreal reality quivered as my attacks tore through the monochrome surroundings.

The five enemies, once formidable in their own right, were now faced with a force beyond their comprehension. Their faces contorted in fear and disbelief as they struggled to defend against the onslaught.

'Yes...'

I pressed on, relentless and driven by an unwavering determination.

'... Fear me...'

Time seemed to distort, seconds stretching into eternity as I unleashed blow after blow.

'... Suffer...'

Each strike was fueled by a potent mix of rage, resilience, and the desire to transcend my previous limitations.

'... Despair...'

I fought with a ferocity that defied the confines of this dreamlike realm.

'... DIE!'

The enemies staggered, their defenses crumbling under the weight of my unleashed power.

The dreamlike landscape quivered, as if acknowledging my triumph.

'No... not like this...'

In no time at all, the world was reset.

I was back to my initial position, the silhouettes still flashing and dancing around me. My opposition, almost as if completely unaware of what had just transpired, stood before me again.

'... REPEAT!' With a mere thought, I manipulated the very fabric of this reality.

The five apparitions before me trembled, sensing the shift in power.

Their movements became sluggish, their once confident expressions contorted with fear. They were at the mercy of my newfound abilities, mere pawns in the grand design of this altered existence.

I extended my hand, and the penthouse responded, obeying my command.

Furniture, shattered glass, and debris levitated, swirling with an otherworldly energy. With a flick of my wrist, I sent the objects hurtling toward my adversaries, each projectile finding its mark with precision.

The air crackled with my control, as if my will alone shaped this dreamlike realm.

Walls of energy materialized, trapping my foes in a cage of my creation. They struggled futilely, their attacks dissipating against the impenetrable barrier that encased them.

I moved with an effortless grace, traversing the battlefield like a phantom. My movements were fluid, each step deliberate and purposeful. The penthouse itself became an extension of my will, shifting and changing to suit my needs.

With a wave of my hand, the very floor beneath my enemies erupted, morphing into tendrils of darkness that ensnared them. They cried out in agony as the shadows constricted around their bodies, rendering them powerless.

I summoned the energies of the penthouse, channeling them through my being. Arcs of electricity danced across my fingertips, crackling with raw power. With a sweeping motion, I unleashed bolts of lightning upon my adversaries, each strike delivering a surge of agony.

The walls of the penthouse became mirrors, reflecting the terror-stricken faces of my foes. They witnessed their own despair, their deepest fears materializing before their eyes.

'Do you see it? My NIGHTMARE?'

The psychological assault combined with the physical, overwhelming their senses and breaking their spirits. I thought I perceived screams echo and pierce the area, but my hearing had become too dull to understand what they meant.

There was only one thought on my mind.

'ENEMIES...'

One by one, the five fell to their knees, their forms dissolving into nothingness. Their cries echoed through the shattered penthouse, a haunting requiem to their defeat.

'You are all... my enemies.'

The reality I had crafted, a playground of my dominance, consumed them, erasing their existence.

As the last remnants of my adversaries vanished, the monochrome world shattered, revealing a blinding light beyond.

The surreal veil lifted, and I found myself standing in the remnants of the penthouse, the remnants of my victory strewn about.

"Allocate 9 Stat Points to Life Force." I heard my voice echo, and the world began to blur once again.

It felt like I was waking up. No, I was dreaming. No... not quite... I was... awake this whole time?

No... I....

For a moment, I stood there, caught between the realms of dreams and reality.

Uncertainty lingered, but a resolute fire burned within me. Regardless of the nature of this encounter, I had emerged triumphant.

I had overcome my enemies, shattering the chains that bound me.

"The work is done..." A gentle whisper leaked from my lips as I crumbled to the ground, completely losing all forms of my strength.

The world turned black, and I felt every ounce of my consciousness fade away, ruining the euphoric, ethereal image etched in my mind.

It was all reverting... turning blank.

<Nightmare Sequence Will Be Ending Shortly>

{Penalty fee has been collected due to the use of Exclusive Skill: <Nightmare>}

<Synchronization in process>

[You will wake up soon]

"... I won."

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[A/N]

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.

Thanks for reading. See you in the next one!