As the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness swallowed the Bone Ridge, it was finally time to put the second phase of Sunny’s plan into motion.
Nephis stood on one of the branches with a lit torch in hand while Sunny taunted the Demon, making just enough noise to draw the Carapace Demon’s attention.
The giant creature slowly turned toward him, its massive frame scraping against bone as it approached with deliberate steps.
“Come on, ugly,” Sunny muttered, provoking it just enough to lure it closer.
The moment the monster entered range, he hurled the clay containers filled with centipede oil.
The Demon reacted instantly, one of its enormous scythes slicing through the containers before they could hit.
However, that accomplished little.
The clay shattered, and thick black oil splashed across the creature’s armored shell.
Nephis had already anticipated that outcome.
She hurled the torch.
The instant the flames touched the oil, the Carapace Demon erupted into a towering inferno.
Fire raced across its body in seconds, turning the colossal Nightmare Creature into a blazing beacon that illuminated everything below the Soul Devouring Tree.
Its deafening roar shook the surroundings as it thrashed violently, rolling across the ground in a desperate attempt to extinguish the flames.
Then, almost as if responding to the fire itself, the black sea stirred.
A dense white fog crept inland, swallowing the shoreline before climbing over the cliffs with unnatural speed.
Cassie’s expression changed instantly.
“Don’t look,” she said, her usually gentle voice carrying an urgency none of them had heard before.
“Whatever happens…
don’t open your eyes.” Without hesitation, everyone obeyed.
Orren closed his eyes as well, expecting the same suffocating discomfort the others seemed to anticipate.
Instead, he felt…
nothing.
No.
Not nothing.
The mist felt strangely familiar.
It brushed against his skin like an old acquaintance, carrying a faint sense of recognition that he couldn’t explain.
It must be because of my [Mist-Touched] Attribute, he realized.
Even so, he kept his eyes shut.
Around him, the world erupted into chaos.
The Demon’s enraged roars echoed through the darkness, accompanied by crashing impacts and the distant sound of something enormous tearing through the Bone Ridge.
Intermixed with those sounds were the strained breaths of his companions as they fought whatever illusions the mysterious fog forced upon them.
Orren experienced none of it.
He simply stood there in silence, listening.
Gradually, the battle below quieted.
The Demon’s furious roars faded, replaced once again by stillness.
Only after several long moments did Cassie finally relax.
“It’s gone.” Everyone slowly opened their eyes.
The fog had disappeared as suddenly as it had arrived.
Below the tree, the Carapace Demon staggered back toward its resting place, its once-impenetrable armor blackened and cracked from the flames.
Every step looked labored, and trails of dark blood marked its path.
No one needed to discuss what came next.
Weapons appeared almost simultaneously.
Draco remained within Orren’s soul, still recovering from the injuries he had sustained earlier, so this battle would have to be won without him.
They descended together.
Nephis would deliver the killing blow.
Among the three of them, she possessed the greatest physical strength after absorbing the largest number of soul shards.
If anyone could pierce the Demon’s armor, it was her.
That meant Orren and Sunny had only one task.
Create an opening.
The two darted around the wounded abomination like relentless predators.
Whenever the Demon focused on one of them, the other immediately struck.
Sunny’s shadow-enhanced agility and Orren’s flawless spatial awareness complemented each other surprisingly well.
One attacked, withdrew, and circled, while the other slipped into the opening left behind.
Their blades constantly harassed the Demon’s legs, forcing the giant creature to shift its balance again and again.
Unable to commit to either target, the Demon grew slower with every passing exchange.
Then it happened.
Its weight shifted just a fraction too far.
Nephis moved.
Essence ignited along her blade as white flames enveloped the sword.
She accelerated in a blur, charging straight through the opening the others had created.
With a fierce shout, she drove the burning blade deep into the wound already carved into the Demon’s chest.
Fire erupted inside its body.
The colossal Nightmare Creature convulsed once, letting out one final, agonizing roar before collapsing with enough force to shake the ground beneath their feet.
Silence followed.
By the time the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, all four Sleepers lay scattered across the ancient bones, too exhausted to move.
For the first time since entering the Dream Realm, they had slain an Awakened Demon together.
‘So, it’s begun.’ Orren had noticed it the previous night, but only now did he fully recognize the feeling.
The influence of the Soul Devouring Tree was frighteningly subtle.
It didn’t seize one’s mind or force obedience.
Instead, it whispered gently, encouraging contentment, convincing its victims that there was no reason to leave.
Had he not already known what the tree was capable of, he would have mistaken those thoughts for his own.
‘I guess it’s time to end my rest here.’ He let out a quiet breath.
‘These past few days with the three of them have given me something I didn’t realize I needed.
My first Nightmare left me mentally exhausted, but…
I’m fine now.
Better than fine.’ He slowly looked at the others.
Sunny was arguing with Nephis about something trivial.
Cassie sat nearby, quietly listening with a faint smile on her face.
For the first time since arriving in this world, things felt…
peaceful.
That was precisely why he had to leave.
‘I have no way to resist the Soul Devouring Tree.’ Orren knew the three would survive even without him and if he was being honest with himself, he knew he had no way to shield his mind from the influence of the Soul Devouring Tree.
Sunny had eventually managed to awaken Nephis in the original story by reminding her of the people she wanted to kill.
Hatred had become her anchor.
But what about him?
Orren didn’t know what his own anchor would be.
If the tree completely enthralled him, there was no guarantee anyone could bring him back.
Worse, there was a real chance they would end up turning their weapons on one another.
And if that happened…
He glanced at Draco’s rune for a brief moment.
…someone was going to die.
Orren may not be the strongest when it comes to raw strength but he for sure was deadly with his experience, memories and Echo.
‘I should leave while I still can.’ The longer he delayed, the harder it became to act.
Even now, part of him questioned whether leaving was truly necessary.
He knew that wasn’t his own thought.
Taking a deep breath, Orren pushed himself to his feet.
“Everyone.” The others looked up.
Sunny raised an eyebrow, Nephis silently waited for him to continue, while Cassie offered him a small smile.
Orren hesitated for only a moment.
“This is where we part ways.” The words immediately shattered the comfortable atmosphere.
“Huh…
why?” Cassie asked first, genuine confusion and fear creeping into her voice.
Sunny frowned.
“That’s not exactly something you joke about.” “I’m not joking.” His calm answer only made the silence heavier.
“I have something I need to do.
I can’t explain it…
but I have to leave.” None of them spoke.
Orren searched for something else to say, something that would make the decision easier for them to accept, but nothing came to mind.
Instead, he smiled faintly.
“You’ll be fine.” His gaze shifted toward Sunny.
“You’ve already seen yourself leading everyone safely through the castle gates.
Whether you believe it or not, you’ll get them there.” Sunny opened his mouth to object but couldn’t find the words.
After several long seconds, Nephis finally broke the silence.
“If that’s what you want…” She didn’t try to stop him.
She simply accepted his decision.
Sunny looked between the two of them in disbelief.
“You’re really just going to let him leave?” Nephis remained silent.
Cassie, on the other hand, lowered her head.
“…Don’t go.” Her voice was quiet.
“It’s nice here.” Orren felt his chest tighten.
She’s already halfway under the tree’s influence.
The thought was unsettling.
And if he was honest…
…so was he.
Every passing minute made leaving seem less important.
Less necessary.
He didn’t like that feeling.
Without another word, he summoned The One Who Remembers and placed the dark wooden mask over his face.
The familiar calm washed over him immediately, cutting through the tree’s subtle influence like cold water.
His resolve hardened once more.
“I’m certain we’ll meet again.” He gave them one last wave.
Then, before anyone could stop him or before he could change his own mind, he turned and sprinted back toward the Bone Ridge, leaving the three of them standing beneath the silent branches of the Soul Devouring Tree.
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