Chapter 623

As expected, anyone capable of the insane act of annihilating half the Dream Realm definitely wasn’t in a normal mental state. But after actually meeting Leon, even Nightmare Leon was surprised at just how far off the deep end his sanity had gone.

“You aren’t afraid the Clearing Bureau will retaliate for this?”

Nightmare Leon, growing increasingly anxious inside, tried to psych him out while stealthily searching for other nightmares: “If the Clearing Bureau finds out you killed so many cleaners at once, they’ll execute you on the spot! If you don’t want that to happen…”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Leon, who had wiped the divine blood streaming down his face and immediately saw through his opponent’s plan, calmly countered without bothering to explain that the cleaners were still alive: “The murderer is you, what does it have to do with me?”

“You?!”

Hearing Leon’s response, Nightmare Leon’s eyes couldn’t help but widen dramatically.

So… he plans to pin it all on me?! Damn, how could his heart be darker than mine? Watching Leon’s smug expression, an irritated Nightmare Leon took a deep breath and immediately turned around, retracing his steps from the deepest parts of Soulfall Black Abyss upward, beginning to search for and consume nightmares that could replenish the “Nightmare” power.

Determined to stick with him, Leon naturally followed without hesitation. The two Leons, as if in a race, kept up their policy of eating everything in sight as they sprinted upwards.

Even though Nightmare Leon could spread a sea of insects, his feeding efficiency was far superior to Leon’s. But as Leon continuously slashed away at the insect sea with his blade and used his speed to capture prey first, his “feeding” speed somehow surpassed Nightmare Leon’s. As he grew more proficient, Leon’s feeding efficiency began to skyrocket…

No way! This absolutely can’t continue! “Dragging” Leon, who relentlessly pursued him, they arrived at one of the largest nightmare gathering points in Soulfall Black Abyss and devoured every last nightmare inside. Nightmare Leon, shocked and angry, realized he had eaten far less than Leon.

During the previous descent of the Nightmare King into the Present World, most of the elite nightmares in Soulfall Black Abyss were taken away. Those unfortunate nightmares were first brutally killed by the director of the Virgo Subdivision, then largely consumed by the Destroyer’s “Dream-Eating Anomalies.” In the end, not even a tenth of them managed to return to Soulfall Black Abyss.

Even though the nightmares in Soulfall Black Abyss could resurrect from the Nightmare River, resurrection takes time. Currently, there were very few nightmares in Soulfall Black Abyss, and even fewer elites capable of replenishing the “Nightmare” power.

And the damn “true self” was eating faster than him; about eighty percent of the nightmares ended up in his stomach. If this continued, even if he ate the entire Soulfall Black Abyss with him, he probably wouldn’t be able to fully replenish the missing “Nightmare” power.

There’s no other choice!

Realizing the crisis he faced, Nightmare Leon suddenly stopped in his tracks. Then, to Leon’s surprised expression, he plunged headfirst into the Nightmare River beneath his feet.

What is he trying to do? Caught off guard by Nightmare Leon’s unusual move, but sensing no immediate danger, Leon hesitated only briefly before decisively following suit, diving into the Nightmare River. He swam through countless fragments of nightmares appearing and disappearing, chasing after Nightmare Leon all the way.

I’ll show you!

Seeing that Leon had actually followed, Nightmare Leon’s heart darkened. Suddenly, he stretched out his hands as if gripping an incredibly heavy door, gritted his teeth, and pulled with all his might! “BOOM!”

With a strange sound existing only in consciousness, the pitch-black riverbed of the infinitely deep Nightmare River was directly torn open by Nightmare Leon, revealing a wide fissure. A massive amount of black river water, carrying countless shattered dreams, surged into the fissure along with Nightmare Leon.

Could it be?!

Through the hundred-meter-wide fissure at the river bottom, Leon vaguely glimpsed the scenery within and couldn’t help but feel a sudden chill. The timely warning from Senior Armin confirmed his suspicions.

“Leon, you need to catch up quickly.”

Big Sister Stool’s usually calm voice suddenly carried a trace of urgency.

“He must have realized that, with your interference and harassment, the current number of nightmares in Soulfall Black Abyss isn’t enough for him to restore the missing ‘Nightmare’ power.

“What will happen if he does this? Will it help him complete the ‘Nightmare’ power?”

“Yes.”

Big Sister Stool sighed:

“I told you before, the Dream Realm appears to have many layers, but in reality, there is only one. Each layer of the Dream Realm seems independent, but they are actually different manifestations of other dream realms, completely unified.

Therefore, any beings from other dream realms that get washed and soaked by the Nightmare River’s waters will directly ‘transfer’ from the current dream realm into Soulfall Black Abyss, forcibly transforming into nightmares.”

So… if he eats these newly transformed nightmares, he can completely restore the missing ‘Nightmare’ power and become the Lord of Nightmares unaffected by me?!

After fully understanding Nightmare Leon’s intentions through his exchange with Senior Armin, Leon didn’t dare waste any time. He activated the full power of the “Minothil Curse Mercury” and chased after him, plunging into another layer of the dream realm along with the pitch-black river.

“This layer is Mirror Sky Hollow, one of the nine great dream realms, representing lucid dreams, characterized by the ability to consciously control one’s own dreams…”

Amidst Senior Armin’s gentle introduction, Leon sped toward Nightmare Leon, who was feasting, struck him with an Iron Mountain Shoulder Smash, knocking him aside, and snatched the deer he had already stuffed into his mouth.

“Th… thank you…”

Just when the deer, which was almost eaten, was saved and still shaken, instinctively thanked its rescuer, Leon couldn’t help but sigh after looking at it, now completely nightmare-transformed. With the stunned deer nightmare watching, he threw it into his own mouth.

“You’re welcome.”

“AHHHH!!”

As the deer nightmare screamed and disappeared in Leon’s mouth, Nightmare Leon, who had been pushed aside, wasted no time, tearing open Mirror Sky Hollow again and rushing into the next dream layer with the surging Nightmare River.

“This layer is Moonclimbing Well Path, one of the twelve lesser dream realms, representing trauma dreams…”

“Save… ah, thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”

“What are you doing? Hey…”

“This layer is Lonely Travel Mountain… Great Dream Realm… physiological dreams…”

“Everyone run! Des… Ah, who are you?”

“You’re not welcome.”

“Wha… ?!!!”

(End of Chapter)