Nightmare

"Fuck, this is real..." Eryon muttered, swallowing hard.

As he tried to move, the creature suddenly sprinted like a trained athlete, closing the distance between them in an instant. Eryon had no time to dodge or defend himself before the creature's hand wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground.

His face contorted in pain as he clawed at the creature's arm, desperately trying to free himself. But the sheer raw strength of the monster was overwhelming.

His feet dangled in the air, his lungs burning as he struggled to breathe. His eyes widened in terror as he got a closer look at the creature's grotesque face—something that had haunted his childhood nightmares. Even as an adult, the sight of it sent shivers down his spine.

His fingers dug into the creature's arm, veins bulging as he fought against its grip. Yet, no matter how much strength he used, the creature held firm.

With each passing second, Eryon's face turned red from oxygen deprivation, his mind teetering on the edge of unconsciousness. His body trembled with primal fear, but deep inside, something remained unshaken—his physical self, Eryon Ashbourn, was not afraid.

A surge of gravitational energy exploded from his body, sending the monster hurtling several meters away.

Finally, his feet touched the ground again, and he gasped for air, his chest rising and falling rapidly. The redness in his face faded as he regained his composure. His gaze locked onto the humanoid cockroach, now sprawled on the ground.

Now he understood. This thing was the embodiment of his greatest fear, yet Eryon Ashbourn—the true owner of this body—was fearless of that creature. That meant he could take control of his fear.

Standing up straight, his expression shifted into one of defiance.

"Come at me, you ugly cockroach!" he taunted.

As if responding to his challenge, the creature dashed toward him again, ready to strike. But this time, Eryon was prepared. He leaped high into the air, using his gravitational powers to propel himself upward. The monster's attack missed, striking only empty space.

While mid-air, Eryon summoned Durandal and swung it down in a powerful slash. The blade cut deep into the creature's back, leaving a long, gaping wound.

He didn't stop there. With a flick of his fingers, he increased the gravitational force around the creature, rendering it completely immobile. The monster thrashed, but its body refused to budge.

Without hesitation, Eryon infused Durandal with gravitational energy, then drove the blade straight into the back of the monster's neck.

Stab!

"Now, explode!" he commanded, activating his skill, Minor Energy Explosion.

BOOM!

A dark purple explosion erupted, obliterating the creature's neck. Its head detached, hitting the ground with a sickening thud, black blood pooling beneath it.

Eryon stood there, breathing heavily, but a satisfied smirk played on his lips.

"Good thing the worst fear I had was just this thing," he muttered.

That humanoid cockroach had plagued his nightmares for years, ever since he first saw it in an old comic. But in the end, his real self had no fear of it.

Just then, the endless grasslands around him dissolved into darkness, as if devoured by an unseen force. Moments later, he found himself back in a cave, surrounded by granite walls and rocky terrain—the same place he had been before.

His gaze shifted forward, landing on a lone figure standing still in the dim cave light.

A young man, likely in his twenties, stood motionless, his eyes wide open but eerily blank—all whites, no pupils.

"That man..." Eryon narrowed his eyes, immediately recognizing him. It was the swordsman from Erwin's group.

He approached cautiously, examining him closely before coming to a realization.

"He's still trapped in the illusion world," he muttered, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Eryon couldn't help but be impressed. This place was truly something else. Everything he had just experienced had felt undeniably real. Yet, all that time, he had only been standing in place.

"Well, this is the easiest kill ever," he said with a grin, summoning Durandal once more.

Taking a few steps back, his body shimmered with a violet aura. Activating Paw Step, he shot forward like a bolt of lightning, slicing through the air.

A moment later, Andy's head dropped to the ground. His once-empty eyes regained their pupils, only for the light in them to fade immediately after.

Eryon flicked Durandal, shaking off the blood, then stared at the lifeless body.

A faint tremor ran through his fingers. Andy was the second human he had killed. And no matter how strong he was, taking another human's life still felt... different.

"Well, let's see what you've got for me," he muttered, reaching for Andy's corpse.

[You have acquired the skill: Moonlight Slash]

[Description: A slash that cuts through the air, creating an energy blade that destroys everything in its path]

Eryon's lips curled into a satisfied grin. "Now that's a damn good skill."

He stood up and turned his attention to the katana still strapped to Andy's waist. Grabbing the weapon, he inspected it closely.

[Name: Fine Katana]

[Grade: C]

[Description: A well-crafted katana forged by an experienced blacksmith]

"Not bad," Eryon mused. "I'll keep it."

With a flick of his wrist, the katana vanished into his spatial ring.

His gaze then shifted toward the deeper part of the cave, his sharp eyes glinting with anticipation.

"Now, let's move on!" he declared, dashing further into the darkness.

Adam, Aurelle, and Nafie were still out there. And he had no idea what kind of things awaited him next.