CH29: Daylight and Explanations

Raze turned around and waved lazily at Cipher. "Well, I am off. Have fun and enjoy yourself, boy. I'll be watching."

His body slowly dissolved into mist, his eerie laughter lingering long after he was gone.

Cipher inhaled sharply—only to immediately start coughing. The air of Nightmare Valley clung to his lungs, thick with the acrid stench of rot. It wasn't just decay. It was something worse—something unnatural. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, grimacing as the taste of blood still lingered on his tongue. His entire body ached, exhaustion weighing on him like heavy chains. But he was alive.

Barely.

A familiar voice echoed in his mind.

{DEM ~ You were lucky to survive that in one piece. Not many have the opportunity to meet a Fallen and live to tell about it. You also collected a significant amount of Dream Credits, but I suggest we leave this forest before discussing your rewards.}

Cipher didn't argue. His instincts screamed at him to move. Staying in Nightmare Valley was a death sentence, and the last thing he wanted was another ambush.

"Yeah, I'm not sticking around for a round two," he muttered, flexing his fingers around the Twin Stars. His muscles protested, soreness radiating through his limbs, but he ignored the pain. "DEM, pull up the map. Fastest way out."

A translucent display flickered into view, tracing a winding route through the valley. The way out wasn't easy—steep cliffs, thick undergrowth, and more than likely, more Nightmares waiting in the shadows. But it was the best option.

Cipher exhaled sharply and took off.

The silence in the valley was unnatural. Shadows stretched and twisted along the ground, moving just out of sight. Occasionally, a whisper slithered through the darkness, low and guttural. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, but his steps remained precise. Every movement calculated. Every breath controlled.

When a Nightmare finally lunged at him, he didn't hesitate.

The Twin Stars flashed. A single clean strike. The creature barely had time to react before the Extradict spell activated, swallowing it into the void.

No hesitation. No mercy.

"Not stopping. Not until I'm out of this damn place."

Hours passed—or at least, that's what it felt like. Time warped in Nightmare Valley, stretching unnaturally. But finally, the oppressive darkness began to lift.

And then, he saw it.

A towering stone wall marking the valley's edge.

"Almost there."

The sight filled him with renewed determination. He forced his legs to move, ignoring the pain as he reached the base of the thirty-meter-high rock face. There was no hesitation. He ran straight at it, using the jagged surface for footholds. His fingers dug into the cracks, muscles burning as he pulled himself higher.

Reaching the top, he swung over and landed on solid ground.

Then, he looked up—and stopped.

Two suns hung in the sky. One yellow, one blue. Their combined light bathed the world in an ethereal glow, blending together in a strange but beautiful harmony.

Cipher narrowed his eyes. "I wonder if the sky turns green when the suns pass each other?"

{DEM ~ That would depend on atmospheric conditions, but I imagine it would create an interesting visual effect.}

A short laugh escaped Cipher. Even after everything, the world still had its moments of beauty.

But as he turned to look back, Nightmare Valley was a different story. The further he moved from its edge, the more unnatural it became. Past a certain point, the valley was simply… void. A place where light refused to exist.

Cipher shuddered and turned away. No use dwelling on it.

He walked a few steps into the open plains before dropping onto the grass with a heavy sigh. His body still ached, but at least he was out.

"Alright, DEM. Pull up my status screen."

A familiar glow filled his vision.

[System Display]

Name: Cipher Starlight

Age: 17

Role: Knight of Light - Counter (Immortal)

Strength: B-Class (12 → 20%)

Magic: C-Class → B-Class (4%)

Endurance: B-Class (15 → 30%)

Intelligence: A-Class (27 → 32%)

Agility: B-Class (0 → 15%)

Weapons: Twin Stars {Mastery Level 12 → 30%}

Blade Skills:

Extradict Blades – Uses Twin Stars as a medium for the Extradict spell, allowing attacks to simultaneously execute and purify Nightmares.

Learned Magic:

Amplification {Mastery Level 100%}Sound Manipulation {Mastery Level 60%}Reinforcement Magic {Mastery Level 65 → 75%}Sound Magic {Mastery Level 100%}Dimensional Magic {Mastery Level 3 → 7%}Void Magic ????????Extradict {Mastery Level 100%}

Dream Credits: 5,525

Cipher's eyes widened. His stats had jumped significantly—especially magic, which had officially risen to B-Class. That meant stronger spells, better efficiency.

But one number stood out the most.

His Dream Credits.

"Holy shit," he muttered, staring at the screen. "How did I get that many points?"

{DEM ~ That would be the result of defeating multiple Nightmares, including a B-Class Earth Gargoyle. Not to mention, surviving an encounter with a Fallen is an achievement in itself.}

Cipher ran a hand through his hair, still processing it all. Then another thought hit him.

"The Magic Shop," he muttered. "I unlocked it a while ago, didn't I?"

{DEM ~ That's correct. The Magic Shop has two primary functions: acquiring new magic skills and enhancing comprehension of existing ones.}

Cipher nodded along—until DEM added something new.

{DEM ~ Magic skills depend on your magic stat, but abilities function independently.}

Cipher frowned. "Abilities?"

{DEM ~ Examples include poison immunity, self-regeneration, and mind protection. These abilities are intrinsic and not affected by stat progression.}

His mind raced with possibilities. If abilities weren't tied to stats, he could gain advantages that didn't rely on raw power.

He leaned back on the grass, staring at the sky.

"I've got some choices to make before I reach Future City."

A smirk pulled at his lips.

"Might as well start planning now."