I walked through the dead land, to a single destination.
One of the few things still standing, that's organic that is.
It was a gigantic tree, bark as black as night, the leaves a dark crimson.
It was quite a Mesmerizing sight, even if I could only see a "picture" of it in my mind.
I walked towards it carelessly, but I already knew what this was.
A nightmare creature most likely.
Yet, no matter where I looked, no matter how hard I tried.
I couldn't sense it, couldn't see the soul cores.
As if they were hidden.
I sighed, muttered a low phrase.
"Lord give me strength."
It wouldn't be long before I reached it. And I would also need to climb a hill.
Annoying.
***
I finally arrived at the base of the hill. I was staring. Not at the tree, nor the hill.
At a quite big creature guarding it.
I haven't seen anything this... humanoid before.
It was a gigantic creature, its body resembling that of a human.
The only big difference was that it had a single giant eye, and a crown of horns.
I let out a sigh, of course I couldn't rest after my journey.
Of course, it had to be a strong creature as well.
Well, not the strongest thing I've fought.
But still, a Fallen Demon.
It let out a roar that slightly deafened me, starting to run towards me without any regard for its own safety.
Its giant steps shook the ground, my balance wavering.
Finally, it arrived in range, swinging both of its arms from each side.
As if to crush my tiny body in between them in a single attack.
I let out a scoff, disappointed.
Warp carried me to the shoulder. And I just, didn't move.
The giant head turned every which way, trying to find me.
'A dumb one as well. '
Was my only thought as I warped the dagger into its eye, then through its chest a few times.
The kill confirmation arrived as it always did, the dark screen manifested to the right of my head.
As well as the spell's monotone ringing in my mind.
Just as the kill confirmation vanished, I felt it.
Something silently trying to puncture my mind. I shuddered, my hair straightening like a cat's.
Blood sense expanded several times in a second,
Yet there was nothing unnatural... except the tree.
Yet there was nothing, I couldn't see any soul cores, any essence.
As if the tree was just that, a tree.
Which meant I was delusional. Surely. Perhaps all of the insane things happening finally started to affect me.
I let out a tired sigh, approaching the tree.
Finally, after climbing the small hill, I lay against the massive black trunk of it, exhaustion driving me to slumber.
***
I woke up, and immediately realized something was wrong.
Which meant, I in fact, was not being delusional.
I scowled, jumping up from my vulnerable position.
I grabbed some sort of fruit from the ground, while using [Spectral] to scan around me.
Finally, I noticed two soul cores above.
Yet it did not seem hostile, nor did it seem to notice me.
The [Vamparic dagger] manifested in all its crimson glory, blood sense expanding soon after.
My brows raised at the strange creature.
It was a strange one, that's for sure.
It resembled a crow, yet its black feathers slightly glinted, as if made of metal.
Its beak was also too big, resembling teeth where both ends met.
And it had four skinny legs rather than two, them grabbing onto a branch.
It also appeared to be sleeping, or perhaps, just trying to fool me.
I finally decided to ignore it.
If it was ignoring me, it meant it had intelligence on par with my own family members.
I wouldn't kill it for a mere four fragments.
Not unless it attacked me first.
I bit into the fruit. Suprisingly I didn't die from poison, nor did it taste bad.
It tasted something like an apple, but more juicy and sweet.
[Nightmare fragments +1].
My chewing stopped, and I dropped the fruit.
I stared at the manifested runes, confusion and shock coursing through my veins.
How?
I didn't absorb anything, didn't kill anything.
I stared at the fruit, trying to see anything with Spectral.
Until finally, after pouring some soul essence into my eyes and brain, I saw it.
A tinge of soul essence, barely strong enough to count as a fragment.
And now, as I actually focused on the soul essence and attribute.
I could see it.
Five brightly glowing cores.
A Fallen Terror.
I shuddered, sweat forming on the back of my neck.
I looked back at half-eaten fruit.
And decided on the best course of action.
Since the creature didn't seem to care for my existence.
I would abuse it, just as any good tree-protecting citizen would.
***
The previously sleeping bird shot upwards, blood sense showing me its form expanding into some sort of eldritch abomination.
The next moment, I "saw" it as well.
Or rather, I saw the soul cores.
Four cores slowly moved towards the hill, them rising and falling signifying large steps.
Or perhaps flight.
At the same moment I realized the threat, I felt another sensation.
Yet not from the approaching creature.
But rather, the Terror I was leaning against.
It was almost a tangible whisper, to protect it. To protect the sacred tree, to protect the fruits that gave me strength and kept my stomach full.
And I? I had no reason to not follow through.
Who knows, perhaps such a generous creature would reward me even more.
And so, I stood up.
My bow manifests from the usual sparks.
A nightmare augmentation merged with the bow.
An ever-shining arrow manifested next, another augmentation strengthening it.
The next moment, the stronger than transcendent memory shot through the air, completely missing the enemy.
All sound vanished, the wind itself tore in place, and space warped as the arrow passed.
And the next moment?
Warp swallowed the arrow, spewing it out in front of the enemy.
There was a screech, as the arrow carried its impaled victim further and further away.
Soon after, a massive explosion followed.
I'm sure I would have been temporarily blinded once again, if I wasn't already permanently blind that is.
I took a moment to register the kill confirmation, and the fact that I received the fragments from the kill.
Which was nice, I wouldn't need to leave the tree to find the soul shards.
I fell against the tree once again, absent-mindedly biting into another fruit.
The next step forward would be to find a citadel. It wouldn't matter which, I just needed a gateway.
Then I would be anchored and could enter and leave the dream realm with ease.
Thanks for reading.