Chapter 183: The Trailblazer's Remnants

In Amadeus City, Richard and Ulysses swiftly arrived at Amadeus' manor. In the courtyard, the corpses of two slain Amadeus guards still leaked Nightmare Power.

"This master is bold, leaving behind two Great Nightmare corpses," Richard remarked, pocketing the bodies to temporarily contain the dissipating power.

These corpses alone would make this venture worthwhile, providing enough Nightmare Power to refine the soul essence required for Richard to advance to a second-circle wizard.

"Ulysses, take this pouch to my main body. I'll head inside the manor to see if I can grab a share of the spoils."

Ulysses took the pouch and flew into the sky: "Caw, be careful. Losing a soul seed isn't catastrophic, but don't pick up anything strange."

Richard nodded and entered the manor.

From the outside, Amadeus' manor seemed modest, but its interior space surpassed the external frame.

Following the faint magical traces left by the master, Richard navigated through the manor, encountering many nightmare creations dissipating Nightmare Power.

These creations were bizarre, some retaining insidious nightmare rules.

Had Richard encountered them, escaping would have been a challenge, if not impossible.

But the master had easily destroyed these creations, leaving few magical traces.

Richard couldn't help but chuckle.

The master might disregard this Nightmare Power, but Richard valued it highly. These creations contained significant power, and the lingering nightmare rules were enticing.

Able to refine soul essence with Nightmare Power and extract rules with soul energy, Richard saw a closed-loop system enhancing his power and ability to gather more Nightmare Power.

Creating a magic pouch with Nightmare Power, Richard collected the creations and continued following the traces.

Before the manor's basement door, a rune-covered figure asked:

"Are you sure it's here?"

Beside him, Amanda nodded:

"Master, it's definitely here. This is the only place in the manor I haven't accessed. If there's a nightmare artifact, it's inside."

The figure nodded, conjuring an ancient, mysterious wand.

The wand, silver-white and covered in intricate runes, would be recognized by Richard as mithril, a material as famous as adamantine. Its head was a crystal ball flickering with runes, emitting a gentle yet mysterious glow.

Undoubtedly, this was a powerful wand.

Amanda observed the master with reverence and gratitude. Though his Nightmare Power was sealed, it reached the level of a third-tier nightmare creature.

With this three-circle master's help, Amanda was confident of escape.

Suddenly, the wizard paused.

"Someone's coming," he frowned. "And they're a first-tier being."

He was certain he had cleared the manor of nightmare creatures, and others of that strength were with Amadeus.

According to nightmare rules, other territories wouldn't invade during such times.

Where had this nightmare creature come from?

He signaled Amanda with a gesture from the White Wizard Corps, indicating to hide and await orders.

He hid himself with a spell to see what approached.

Soon, Richard appeared at the basement passage entrance. Using energy vision, he saw a creature hidden in the dark, its energy far below third-tier strength.

Richard frowned, thinking, "The magical traces lead here. If I can't see the master, he's either gone inside or noticed me and hid."

Richard conjured a wand, simulating magic with Nightmare Power to cast a light spell.

Amanda's eyes widened.

"A light spell—it's really a light spell! A nightmare creature using wizardry!"

Beside him, the three-circle wizard revealed himself.

"Are you the new recruit?" he asked.

Seeing the figure in the dark, radiant with energy, Richard replied:

"Master, it's me."

Amanda, watching, was shocked.

This nightmare creature using spells was a disguised wizard!

The club's research on nightmare creatures had reached this level?

Richard approached the master, respectfully saluting.

"I'm Richard. May I know your name, Master?"

"Susa," the wizard replied.

Amanda emerged, marveling at Richard's disguise:

"Master Richard, your disguise is... flawless."

Richard glanced at Amanda, guessing his identity.

"You're Amanda, right? I'm a member of the Dreamwalkers' Club. Glad to see you're alive."

After brief exchanges, Master Susa resumed breaking the door.

The basement door held nightmare rules, requiring a world master to breach with brute force.

Susa's wand exuded a mystic aura, causing Richard to feel drowsy just by sensing it.

"Is it nightmare rules or dream rules?"

Richard focused, trying to learn from Susa's use of rules.

Unfortunately, his power was too weak, and Susa didn't intentionally allow observation. Richard only saw Susa's wand tap the door, causing it to crack.

The three wizards entered, Susa immediately spotting a coffin deep inside.

The coffin radiated intense nightmare rules, likely housing what he sought.

Susa addressed the other two wizards:

"The door will stay open for a minute. Make your move."

He headed for the coffin.

Richard and Amanda acted, the basement filled with chests, all brimming with energy pathways, clearly mimics.

Beneath each mimic, an energy pathway indicated security measures.

Richard couldn't simply pack Amadeus' collection.

"Amanda, the chests are mimics and connected to alarms. Be careful," Richard warned.

Not out of kindness but practicality—as allies, any triggered alarm could let Susa escape, but not him.

Amanda nodded gratefully, conjuring a wand to open a chest.

Creak!

The chest opened, a crimson tongue darting at Amanda, thwarted by Richard's warning.

Seeing Amanda safe, Richard conjured a mithril short spear, opening a weaker mimic.

Creak, bang!

Before the mimic could lash out with its massive tongue, Richard speared it, then stirred its throat.

Gag!

The mimic soon expelled a strange item.

Richard picked it up, momentarily stunned.

How could the Nightmare World also have forerunner artifacts?

The mimic had disgorged a small, intricate crystal device.

Having studied forerunner crystals for years, Richard recognized it instantly.

Wasting no time, he pocketed it.

With ten seconds left before the gap closed, Richard decided not to risk further. He slipped through the gap, leaving the basement.

As he exited, Susa broke the coffin's seal, revealing its terrifying contents, agitating the mimics.

Meanwhile, dueling the Black Knight commander, Amadeus sensed the basement's intrusion. Distracted, his sword faltered, barely avoiding the knight's spear.

The spear seemed unassuming but held a power Amadeus feared.

He tried to dodge, but couldn't completely evade. The spear touched his armor, shattering layered protective spells like paper.

The spear's power waned as it shattered the spells.

Boom!

Amadeus' left arm exploded under the spear, becoming a pillar of Nightmare Power. His sword, however, slashed into the commander's body.

Rip.

The commander was bisected, the sword's power inhibiting healing, forming a larger nightmare pillar on the battlefield.

"Lord Amadeus won!" Puppet Billy lamented.

"Isn't that good? Why the face?" Richard asked.

"Heh," Billy chuckled bitterly. "With Lord Amadeus so injured, expect taxes to increase tenfold for a century!"

He added, almost resigned:

"Death would've been better."

"Are you sure?" Richard asked, amused.

"Why?"

Richard pointed skyward. Amadeus, stabilized, ignored his followers, flying straight to the city.

The basement was his treasure trove, housing a significant item—he couldn't afford its loss.

Seeing this, Billy's wooden jaw dropped.

"No, I was joking!"