There were now three travellers crossing the barren plains.
One of them was a young man in tattered hunting gear. He had a black ironwood lance on his back, from the tip of which hung two coarse-furred mice.
Leylin and Bodach were following him at the side. After that 'friendly and enthusiastic' interaction, they'd successfully gotten the youth to bring them to his tribe. They had found out his name as well. He was called Cabadole, and was a descendant of a large tribe nearby.
While he had yet to reach adulthood, he'd already had to take on some responsibilities. Having obtained his prey the youth was obviously elated, and he even began humming a strange tune. While Leylin suspected that these two mice could only provide for a few meals, but based on what the young man had said, this was already plentiful.
"The animals in the wilderness are extremely sly. Even the best hunters in the village can't be confident that they will get harvests every time…" Cabadole stared at Leylin and Bodach with worship in his eyes, "Are you the legendary emissaries of the Master?"
"No!" Bodach answered resolutely. He had no idea why Leylin was so interested in these ants, but since he was the one asking for a favour, he did not dare go against Leylin's wishes. However, Cabadole would never get any goodwill from him.
Unfortunately, the young man was now full of curiosity which even overshadowed his fear. "Then… did Mister Bodach come from the city? Is it Maxi City? I've been there before…"
...
Along the way, Bodach almost broke down from all of Cabadole's antics. When they saw the low walls in the distance, the dragon was the most excited of the group, finally able to escape.
The tribe Cabadole lived in didn't just own some land. They'd built a wall at the outer regions of the village. While the defensive abilities of the wall were questionable, the strength this implied comforted Leylin.
*Clang!* At this moment, the entrance to the village opened. A group of villagers dressed in coarse black clothing walked out, a few elders at their center. There seemed to be some sorrow in the air, and many women were weeping while covering their mouths.
"Looks like they aren't here to welcome you, kid!" Bodach chuckled, but Cabadole did not retort at all. His eyes were fixed at the few native elder at the centre, fists clenched so tight that he was almost bleeding.
"Are they expelling the elders?" Leylin had a feeling that when productivity was lowest, many tribes would choose to chase the elderly with no ability to work away.
"No… they're doing this voluntarily." Cabadole's voice was low, "For the better survival of our race…"
"This is what's so heavy about life. Even though I've passed through so many worlds, I can't help but sigh at this…"
Bodach gave Leylin a long look, "Could you allow me to create a historical poem to record this?"
"No!" Leylin rejected him without hesitation. This one-eyed dragon's talkativeness was also worthy of being recorded into a poem. His writing skills, in particular, were more than enough for those bards to cough up blood. He was also rather shameless, which left Leylin speechless.
At this moment, Cabadole put the lance down and picked up his prey, looking perplexed.
"What is it? If you're going to hand it over, do it quick. A mouse like that won't be able to last for long anyway…" Bodach mumbled to himself, but was then shut up by Leylin. "Fine… Fine, I won't speak. I won't say anything!"
From the very beginning, even after taking out the prey, Cabadole had not hastened forward. On the contrary, his eyes were filled with hot tears as he watched the few elderly walking straight into the dark wilderness with their backs straight.
"The children in the tribe need this more. My lords, please!" With what had happened, Cabadole seemed to have mature a great deal. He stood up again and led the way.
"Mm, not bad. This kid has the potential to become a leader!" Bodach nodded, and then covered his mouth.
After entering the village, Leylin could tell that there was a distinct difference. This did not come from the natives who, on average, had the strength of rank 2 Magi, but something at the heart of the village.
"That… that has the aura that I'm familiar with! And…" Ignoring the natives that had surrounded them, Leylin headed into the deeper parts of the village.
The further in he went, the more secure the place became. At the end, there was even a glint in Leylin's eyes.
At the innermost region of the village was a square built next to a large black mountain. Natives with metal armour and sharp weapons formed the last line of defence here. A deep hole had been excavated into the mountain, powerful radiation emerging from within.
'These energy undulations are already comparable to rank 5 or 6 Magi. So you're the real guardian of this place?'
"Foreigner, this is a forbidden area. Halt your footsteps!" A man who stood taller than the rest blocked Leylin's way. Tens of elite hunters with armour and lances stood by him, including Cabadole. However, he looked rather anxious.
Bodach could take this no longer and stood out, a ruthless look flashing in his eyes. "Keke… When have mice become so gutsy as to block my way?"
"Wait!" At the crucial moment, Leylin stretched out and stopped him. These were the descendants of someone he knew, and it wasn't good to do things so forcefully. He could feel the unique aura of knights and Magi from the Magus World from these guards. Evidently they'd passed through rigorous training as knights and Magi, likely sourced from Leylin himself.
'Seems like after the huge change to Dreamscape and the strength system I passed down, they've managed to study and achieve something…'
"I do not have malicious intent…" Leylin said, though he did not hesitate in the least in his movements.
Along the way, all who wanted to obstruct him collapsed silently to the ground.
"Tsk! I could just swallow them all!" Bodach muttered in disdain at the sight, but he still followed closely behind Leylin. It would take but a thought for existences of laws like them to destroy the entire village. However, for old time's sake, Leylin did not want to go too far.
The cave was not deep, and they reached the end after walking a few steps in. Minerals similar to quartz crystals filled the ceiling of the cave, reflecting fine rays of light. The ground was slightly damp and had watermarks on it. There was also a sort of black moss that had grown everywhere.
"We meet again, Gillian…" Leylin gazed at the depths of the cave where a huge pit was curved in. The skeletons of many animals, mixed with green vines, formed a thick layer here.
A white marble pillar in the shape of a cross stood tall here, on it a strange statue seemingly merged within.
The top of the statue was that of a young girl with strange purple patterns on her face. The face was somewhat similar to Gillian had been in her memories, though she seemed to have matured quite a bit.
Waist-down, everything had dissolved into a chrysalis, looking like the combined body of a human and a pupa. The young girl looked serene, as if only in a deep sleep. Leylin closed his eyes and felt as if the girl who had called him uncle was right by his side.
"Silence? Mutation?"
Badoch widened his eyes and made a big fuss, "Could this human-pupa be the ancestor of the natives outside? Isn't the gap too large?"
"Mm! She should be in the fission stage of her soul, so we shouldn't disturb her…" While Gillian looked like a statue right now, Leylin could still sense the powerful vitality in the human-pupa.
The special energy radiation that she emitted was like how a ferocious beast marked its territory, chasing away all other terrifying life forms and protecting its clansmen. Leylin closed his eyes, somewhat guessing at what had happened.
'Gillian at that point must have been the same as her other clansmen, where their strength mutated. Out of desire for survival, the entire tribe moved to the north…
'There's no pattern for dreamforce entering the body, and mutations are extremely common… With this power, Gillian and her tribe could finally settle in safety… After that, some things must have happened that I don't know about, which left Gillian alone and reaching the limit as a rank 6 Magus. She fell into a deep sleep here to evolve, and has been protecting her clansmen for so long?'
After walking out of the cave, Bodach suddenly spoke. "I smell the scent of the dream demon on the sleeping native just now…"
The one-eyed dragon had exceptional talent in smelling out souls, able to find traces of Leylin from thousands of years ago.
"But of course. With how powerful Gillian is now, how could the dream demon let go of her dreams?" Leylin shook his head and answered, but then he suddenly froze.
'Dreams, absorption, powering up, replenishing… yet another cycle? If that's how it is on a small scale, it could be a pattern used in an entire world…' A trace of understanding flashed in Leylin's eyes.
'But… there's no point just knowing this. Without any strength, there's nothing I can do!' Leylin shook his head, and then watched the frenetic and anxious natives surrounding them.
"What are we going to do now?" Bodach asked at the side.
"I'm just here to see someone I knew long ago. Now that my goal has been achieved, we could take a look around or attempt to remove your curse…" Leylin didn't mind at all. As long as he stayed in Dreamscape, it would be easy to research this world. Hence, there was really nothing he had to do.
-x-X-x-
"Wait, my lords!" The tribe leader had regained consciousness at this moment, kneeling before Leylin with respect. The slightest power Leylin had revealed made it obvious that this was someone powerful, and he'd had someone verify that the ancestor was still safe. How would this middle-aged man not realise that these two were actually friends of his tribe?
With the strength they possessed, these people could easily crush them if they wanted to. Hence, it was necessary to better his relationship with them.
"Are you two lords friends of the ancestor? Please stay here for a while, and let us serve you…" The leader of this tribe was nearly two metres tall, adorned in a slightly mouldy smooth leather coat. His bulging muscles seemed as hard as steel.
This man had thick lips and a high nose. His slanted eyes seemed cold, and the crossed scar on his cheek was proof of his gallantry. To survive a native had to be ruthless, violent, and most of all courageous.
However this man was doing all he could to smile, humbling himself given his lower status. As the one with the most knowledge in the tribe, he naturally knew what these two powerful beings represented. Even if they just wanted to destroy the village at will, it was enough for them to let go of all pride and serve these beings humbly.
On top of that, they were actually friends of his ancestor? Did that not mean that they must have been old monsters that had lived for hundreds or even thousands of years?
The middle-aged man was alarmed and sorrowful, knowing that his tribe having this piece of land was nothing remarkable. All sorts of powerful native tribes could die here, even wandering beasts not guaranteed to survive. The scarcity of food had led to the battles between the existing life forms to increase in intensity. The only one they could count on to protect the tribe was their sleeping ancestor.
'With the power of these two lords on our side we might even be able to defy the city's orders...' The middle-aged man had a thought. The next time he looked up, he looked into a pair of eyes that seemed to be able to see through everything.
Leylin chuckled, not expressing his opinion and walking till he arrived in front of the kneeling man. He used an invisible force to lift his chin. "If you're inviting us to stay, then tell me your name."
"Hosain! I am the chief of the Redbud Flower Tribe, Hosain, willing to follow all of Sire's instructions!" Hosain led his clansmen and had everyone kneel and bow. The exposure of crucial regions like their backs showed a complete subservience to the strong.
"Bodach! Looks like we'll need to stay here for some time…" With nothing at hand, Leylin agreed indifferently. Anyway, he was rather interested in studying what was happening to Gillian.
"I'm fine with it!" Bodach gazed at Cabadole beside him, pursing his lips, but did not object. After all, he knew that the moment Leylin decided on something, he had no right to go against his wishes.
...
A fireplace burned away from a wall of the most luxurious building in the village, spreading warmth. A yellow copper stove stood atop a red mahogany table, burning some unknown powder that emitted white tendrils of fragrance.
Cabadole was curled up in a corner, watching Leylin and Bodach respectfully being invited to sit on a soft goose-feather rug. Looking at the numerous exquisite foods and drinks placed in front of the guests, he could not help but gulp.
'How extravagant…' the young man thought to himself, and then looked outside the window. The light outside had dimmed, and there was already a layer of white frost by the windowpane. The contrast with the striking red of the silken curtains left him unable to look away.
"It should be quite cold and dark outside now, right?" Cabadole wondered silently. This region had no sun nor moon, and only had faint rays of light. The natives here used the brightness to differentiate between night and day.
Once night fell, temperatures outside could reach as low as -80 or -90 degrees, or even -100 degrees centigrade! While he did not understand the concept of cold, he knew that there were always unlucky people who froze to death at night every year. Without enough food nor fuel, the lack of heat would leave them helpless to resist the arrival of the grim reaper.
If this was the case in the village, things were much worse outside. The elders who'd left today would probably not live past this night. The young man felt a hot gush at his eyes, and some warm fluid fell from the corner of his eyes.
"Here, my lords. Please!" At the banquet, Hosain did not have so many thoughts. His face was now flushed red, and the area around his scars had turned bright red as he urged the two lords at the main seats to drink.
"Mm." Leylin answered his request and picked up the wooden cup, pursing his lips. Bodach couldn't even be bothered to do that.
Based on Leylin's observations, the alcohol here was fermented using some underground plant stolons with plentiful fat and starch. As the method was very primitive and behind his times, and on top of that the filtering hadn't been performed well, the alcohol was too muddy. Bodach obviously found this beneath himself.
However, to ordinary natives, this was already a delicacy they could never obtain. This was also the same for Hosain. However, to Leylin's surprise, every person in the village, besides the infants, all had a cup. The adults were extremely cautious and had a satisfied look on their faces.
'Equal distribution within the clan?' Leylin shook his head and looked at the table again.
In order to serve the two of them, Hosain had gone all out. The food on the table could be said to be sumptuous. The dessert was a sort of purple fruit that was slightly tart and sweet, while the main was a round pastry made with starch, baked till golden-brown. Even the two coarse-skinned mice that Cabadole had caught today had been brought to the table despite how precious meat was.
The aroma from such a sumptuous feast had all the clansmen gritting their teeth, doing their best to keep their bearings.
Unfortunately, this was rather crude to Leylin and Bodach. Given the one-eyed dragon's original size, even the entire village would only be an appetiser for him. The delicacies and the great alcohol that Leylin had experienced before made it lacking for him as well.
Hence, in the face of this, Bodach found this beneath him, while Leylin ate a few fruits out of courtesy and stopped.
Upon seeing this, a slight embarrassed flush rose on Hosain's face. He could not even bring himself to call up the beautiful young girls he had prepared meticulously beforehand, "My apologies that our esteemed guests had to have such simple food…"
"It's already enough. Here, let's raise our cups to our friendship!" Leylin lifted his cup.
"For friendship!" With Leylin's lead, the rest did the same as Hosain and somewhat warmed the mood.
"I was once friends with your ancestor, so if you have any needs, please let me know…"
After putting down the cutlery, Leylin spoke respectfully. Of course, all this was out of politeness. If the request could be easily completed and he was in a good mood, he might help for old times' sake. However, if the other party brought up a difficult issue, such as having Leylin become their guardian, then Leylin would probably become hostile and leave.
"This is quite embarrassing, but we really have come across an issue we can't solve with our strength." Hosain's voice sounded grim, "We make use of the land here to survive, but we need to give Maxi of the east saige and slaves as taxes… His requests this year are far greater than we can give…"
Hosain explained the situation to Leylin. The Redbud Flower Tribe weren't the only survivors in this area, and they were all attached to a powerful city-state named Maxi. They would have to pay the city every once in a while, giving them a type of food called saige as well as slaves as proof of subservience. Otherwise, they would be attacked.
A few accidents had greatly reduced their crop yield this year, and it was impossible for the Redbud Flower Tribe to reach its target. However, those with power in Maxi did not care for this. The moment Hosain could not hand over enough food, they would be forced to move away, or else they'd be attacked. It wasn't just dream beasts in the wilderness coveting this land, or stray spirits.
"While the ancestor can provide us with protection, Maxi City also has an elder in power with similar strength. Besides, the ancestor is in a deep sleep…" Hosain laughed wryly as he voiced the trouble they were in.
The rest of the clansmen now stopped eating. They understood that if this did not go well, the whole tribe would be exterminated. The food may have been fragrant and tasty, but it no longer tempted them.
"Elder in office? Is that a synonym of power or authority?" Leylin stroked his chin. He had to admit that this Maxi city had piqued his interest. "A city where a large number of inhabitants of Dreamscape gather? And there might even be powerful beings comparable to rank 5 or 6 Magi there…"
This city-state would definitely maintain traces of Dreamscape's glamour and culture before dreamforce weakened. Since he wanted to study this world, it was of extreme importance to Leylin.
Besides, what was a city-state not guarded by a being of laws to Leylin?
"I understand. Let's find a day, and have Cabadole bring me and Bodach there." Leylin nodded in agreement, obtaining the gratitude of Hosain and the others.
-x-X-x-
In the depths of the Redbud Flower Tribe, in the corner of a dark cave dug into a black mountain.
White quartz glimmered as it illuminated the moss-covered area, giving the place a sense of life. There was a pillar near the end of the cave, shaped like a cross. The humanoid pupa that was Gillian's current form had fused perfectly with the base, showing her beautiful curves and face off like the most exquisite work of art.
'This silent evolution is similar to those of Magi…' The A.I. Chip's light flashed in Leylin's eyes as he reached forward to touch the statue, feeling the weakness and regret of the soul at its core. Having said that, though, this weakness was in comparison to Leylin himself. The soul was already as powerful as a rank 5 or rank 6 Magus.
"Have you sensed my arrival?" A slight smile rose on his face. "Seeing as you've been helpful in my research, let me give you a tiny gift."
A dark red glint extended from Leylin's fingers, leaving behind two elegant trails as it formed strange arcs in the air like a dancing butterfly. It landed on the statue's shoulder.
*Pu!* Red lights flickered, and the points of light and skin of the statue immediately dissolved upon contact with it. The entire human-pupa began to move slightly, and the eyes now appeared to have gained some life in them.
Sensing the rate at which her soul awoke being quickened, Leylin turned to leave, seemingly uncaring of the situation, "You can do it, little Gillian…"
The lives of beings of laws were extremely long. Leylin could foresee that if Gillian failed to become rank 7 this would probably be their last meeting.
"Is this how people who can live for eternity feel? Loneliness? And transcending worldliness?" Leylin's looked melancholic, recalling a great number of people. Images of Bicky, Kroft, and even many enemies flashed across his mind.
Many of them had been unable to endure the passage of time, entering the cycle of death.
'Still… Even so I want to seek out the extraordinary, achieving true eternity!' With a fling of his robes, Leylin unhesitatingly left the cave. 'A.I. Chip, what are the results of the investigation from before?'
Upon hearing its robotic reply, Leylin sighed. "There isn't even a specific time. Looks like a sample of a native who has yet to become a being of laws can't be useful towards my research…"
Leylin's primary goal in this excursion to Dreamscape was to study the weakening of dreamforce, completely grasping its power and making it the foundation for him to fuse laws and enter rank 8. The A.I. Chip's analyses had all been pointed towards this direction.
Unfortunately, a sample and model comparable to a rank 6 Magus still could not help the A.I. Chip progress further. Only a true rank 7 existence of laws could give Leylin some enlightenment.
'Then again, one gains a body of laws merged with the world after entering rank 7. They experience a complete change, and I can only use such existences of laws to study the World Origin Force…'
"But going around here will still give me some results…" Leylin transmitted a wave of soul undulations, summoning the one-eyed dragon Bodach who had disappeared somewhere.
"Get Cabadole. We're going to leave!"
"Leave? For Maxi?" Bodach scratched his head, "I don't think that sort of place will have what you want… All the treasures of this territory, the cute little sparkly things, they can't escape my sense of smell…"
Bodach had guessed at this point that Leylin was probably looking for something. Still, with his limited knowledge and thought process, he only considered dazzling gems and crystals treasures. As for signs of civilisation or historical poems and the like, those were only used to pass time. With the one-eyed dragon's great background in the Ultron World and the memories passed down through generations, it was nothing to him.
Leylin suddenly turned back, a depthless darkness in his eyes. "I'm warning you right now. You've already provoked one Lord of Calamity. Don't provoke another or I won't let you off!"
It caused the one-eyed dragon to shrink back in pure terror, shaking his head, "Fine, fine. Don't worry, I won't be that stupid… besides, the dream demon likes to collect dreams, which I don't care for…"
"It's actually because you don't care for his treasure trove!" Leylin rolled his eyes and waved his arms, signalling to the hunter Cabadole, "We're here…"
"My lords!" Cabadole had now changed into different clothes, this one with at least fewer patches. His face had been washed, revealing freckled cheeks that were slightly red from excitement. Intelligence flashed in his eyes.
He now knew that Leylin and Bodach were definitely amazing people. Though he would just be a guide, even their tribe leader Hosain was envious of his position. As long as he could obtain their favour, the tiniest thing they handed over to him could last him a lifetime.
"I'll guide you well, my lords!" Cabadole puffed out his chest as he guaranteed, holding tightly onto the black lance in his hands.
"You're just a guide though!" Bodach snorted disdainfully.
"This might be a little different from before. We'll be flying, so you'll just need to show us directions…" Leylin reminded him.
"Flying? We're flying?" Cabadole felt slightly dizzy, and then gaped as he saw Leylin jumping into the sky.
While the people here had the vitality and soul durability of official Magi, they could only fly if they mutated to form a pair of wings. The laws of Dreamscape were very harsh.
"Stop getting so surprised, kid…" Bodach picked him up by the collar, and all Cabadole felt was a powerful gust of wind from below as his feet left the ground.
*Thud!* He released his hold, and the black lance from before fell to the ground, slanting as it entered the soil.
"Careful there, kid. Don't blame me if you fall!" Bodach snickered, finding that he had discovered a way to deal with Cabadole.
How about a 360 degree dance in the sky? Or a few flips? Faster than sound flight? That kid would probably spit out last night's food from his nostrils.
Bodach laughed vilely… Until, unfortunately, Cabadole's incomparable adaptability as a child who'd survived the harsh wilderness showed itself. By the time the three reached Maxi City, Cabadole was pale no longer. Instead, an excited flush had risen on his face.
"That was amazing! If I could fly, I'd be able to hunt even demonic wolves down using my arrows!" He looked towards Bodach with anticipation, "My Lord, can you teach me how to fly?"
"Damn it, damn it! Can I strangle him?" Bodach looked towards Leylin.
"Of course not. Unless you want our journey to end here…" Leylin glanced at Cabadole, who was shocked at the bloodlust Bodach was exhibiting. A kind smile arose upon his face, "Don't be afraid. Your uncle Bodach was just joking with you!"
"That joke isn't funny at all!" Cabadole muttered, and his footsteps were intentionally faster as he ran to Leylin's side.
"Tsk! Foolish people will always make more foolish choices…" Bodach turned away with contempt.
He shifted his attention to a huge arch made of white marble at Maxi City's entrance, as well as the high city walls with elite warriors on top. His thieving instincts began to show themselves.
"Tsk tsk… I never thought a bunch of immigrants in Dreamscape would have this much wealth. Unfortunately, I'll only need three periods of refining metal to loot this sort of city…"
"Be more careful and don't make us more enemies!" Leylin clutched at his forehead, beginning to wonder if bringing the dragon along was the right decision.
"Maxi is governed by its own citizens, its officers and protectors being elected into office every hundred days at the outdoor square…" Cabadole was performing his job well, introducing Maxi City to Leylin and Bodach.
"Citizens? Them?" Leylin looked to the side of the road. The citizens Cabadole had mentioned could be seen by the gardens and marble fountain. They dressed themselves up tidily in white, their garb held up by a single ring on their shoulders. It made them look languid and comfortable.
Their derision for Cabadole and the like was obvious from their very gaze, arising from their souls or maybe even their genetics.
"Yes. They're citizens of Maxi, with enough food and servants to attend to them…" Cabadole lowered his head. The reason these citizens could avoid work and yet enjoy food and servants was obvious; they were exploiting numerous tribes like the Redbud Flower Tribe.
Bluntly speaking, the environment here wasn't the only reason for the terrible plight of the natives. It could be attributed to the citizens of Maxi as well.
-x-X-x-
Leylin looked at Cabadole, whose whole body was stretched taut like a little leopard, and petted his head. "What? Does the current situation leave you dissatisfied?"
"No. I just hope to obtain more strength in order to protect my clan," Cabadole answered.
"What a clever answer!" Leylin praised him.
In his previous world, such extreme exploitation would long since have given rise to violent revolts. With so few ruling over so many, and so blatantly abusing their power at that, they would just be courting death.
Unfortunately, this was a world where extraordinary strength crushed everything else! Even though the minority was in power, exploiting their position atrociously, all the majority could do was crush their desires for revolution. After all, this minority possessed great military strength. The ones with the greatest power held the greatest authority. Strength was the truth.
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!" At this moment, two rows of warriors dressed in black armour and held iron spears and shields darted onto the streets, moving the people to the sides of the road.
'Hm? Even citizens won't have this much authority. Could this be the government or some security officials?' Leylin glanced at Cabadole next to him, but the boy was now trembling all over, and his lips seemed to turn darker in in his fear.
"No…" Cabadole bit at his lower lip, gritting out a few words, "The power of the government comes from the citizens, which is why this is impossible for them… The only possibility is the legendary Lord's Envoy! There are many city-states like Maxi in this area, but they all have to bow down to the Lord's Envoy lest they be destroyed."
"Lord's Envoy?" Leylin thought this phrase over, sensing the terror within the surrounding natives of Dreamscape. This terror had nothing to do with the higher or lower class, the rich or the poor. Even the citizens of Maxi who had been relaxed just moments before were the same as them.
'The Lord of Calamity himself, that dream demon, should be the one with feudal power here. Are these soldiers of his armies?' Leylin made a guess.
The Lords of Calamity weren't alone. They had great numbers of subordinates that formed huge armies. When Dreamscape intersected with the real worlds, the other worlds in the astral plane would face nightmares in the form of the Lords of Calamity and their armies. Besides the Magus World and other large worlds, there were few who could resist their invasion.
However, Dreamscape weakened regularly. Even if a Lord of Calamity could take over an entire world, they would soon have to give up on it. If not for that, other worlds like the Purgatory World, Icy World, and Shadow World may not have been able to resist Dreamscape.
"They're here! They're here!" People at the front began to get restless, while Leylin and Bodach saw the 'Lord of Calamity' that had large numbers of people crowded around.
"Oh? So that's how things are. No wonder these natives are so afraid…" What appeared in front of Leylin was a legion of high-energy beings similar to moths. The moths were extremely large, with some near three metres tall, and others at around a metre tall. They had even evolved to have forelimbs similar to human hands.
"This is the dream demon's illusory moth army. Although they aren't all that powerful, they're pretty proficient in illusions and poisons…" As someone who knew this well, Bodach was now introducing them to Leylin. Still, unlike them this one-eyed dragon was obviously strong enough to wipe Maxi City out easily.
However, these Illusory Moths weren't the main characters here. At their centre was a human.
Indeed, a human. This was a native of Dreamscape, with yellow skin and wavy hair. The red tattoos on her body indicated that she wasn't from the Redbud Flower Tribe, but with a single look at her Cabadole quickly covered his mouth.
Most of the other citizens of Maxi did the same, stopping their impending shrieks of terror.
Escorted by the numerous Illusory Moths was a young native girl, with a beautiful, slender waist and a face full of vitality. However, her eyes were muddied and filled with a deathly aura, a white being laid down on her lush hair.
This being had a furry body, its two wings mottled in different colours. A large proboscis had pierced into the girl's soul from in front of its large compound eyes, as if sucking something out.
Leylin could feel the majesty of laws from the body of this white mouth. Although it was only a trace aura, it represented the essence of what it had once been.
'Is this some sort of backlash?' Leylin sighed.
The Lord of Calamity in this region was an exceptionally large dream demon. Its body had rotted to form a huge piece of land, sustaining the lives of many natives.
This naturally wasn't done out of pure goodwill. Even the most powerful Lords of Calamity in Dreamscape had to seal themselves up, fighting against the weakening dreamforce. Even if they did so they would be tormented by the destructive snow, sapped of their strength. Dream demons did something different. They used the their bodies to nourish a group of natives, splitting their truesouls and entering the dreams of all beings living in their territories. This would help them evade the destructive snow, allowing them to wait out the weakness of the World Origin Force.
Relying on the people's dreams to preserve their life allowed dream demons to wield most of their strength even after being sealed. The inhabitants who were being protected would give up a portion of their soul force, in exchange obtaining a chance at survival. This was a trade that benefited both parties.
However, there were unexpected situations that could crop up. Although the dream demons carefully controlled their intake of power, they were still Lords of Calamity. If they were agitated by the natives' dreams, and their absorption unknowingly increased, things would be disastrous.
Just 0.00000001% of the soul power of a dream demon could easily absorb all life from a native. Once the native died, these dream demons would also lose a body to attach themselves to, weakening rapidly as they awaited death.
Although this process was irreversible, there were still exceptions. If the dream demon realised in time that it had absorbed too much, the perfect control would repair the balance of the symbiotic relationship.
However, the native they were attached to would have been absorbed greatly, inclusive of their souls. They would become an empty husk.
Such a shell was actually a huge treasure for a dream demon. At the very least, it would leave no issues with its survival. WIth another layer of protection from a native, there was no need to be afraid of the effects of being in an environment that was weakening. It could also retain some strength and influence over the outer world.
These humans who were controlled had another name in the world: the Lord's Envoys. Being raised by the dream demon, natives like Cabadole, and even citizens of city states or their leaders, all had parasites within them. Seeing the Lord's Envoy, it was understandable for them to feel distress.
"Hmm?" Just as Leylin and Bodach were sizing up the Lord's Envoy, the girl with the moth on her head also turned to look at them. "I never thought I'd be able to see guests from another world here!" she exclaimed, her eyes gaining some vigour.
An astonishing conscient began to awaken in the girl. In that moment, Leylin even saw the body of a dream demon moving through the universe, spreading wings that could cover a small world as it greeted him.
"We're only travellers touring the area, and unwittingly entered your territory…"
Leylin was not all that surprised by this. While those like Cabadole had a portion of the dream demon's truesoul in their bodies, these fragments were mostly in slumber. They could only subconsciously absorb the dream energy as food. However, the truesoul inside an envoy was awake, possessing a portion of the main body's conscient. This made it easy to spot Leylin and Bodach, who had done nothing special to conceal themselves.
The Lord's Envoy's beautiful eyes swirled towards the one-eyed dragon, her next words causing Leylin to turn grim, "I remember the smell of your spirit. You're the person who once coveted my treasure trove…"
That wretched greedy dragon had really once wanted her treasure trove before!
"Ah… hehe… Haha, the weather's quite good today… Haha…" Bodach rubbed his head and began to laugh dryly.
"However, your humble servant's treasure trove must have disappointed my Lord…" The Lord's Envoy was now occupied by a powerful conscient. Leylin estimated that the awakened conscient had now completely gathered here. However, she seemed to be exceptionally easy-going, and was even apologising to Bodach like a wise lady.
"Oh, it's nothing! I don't have much interest in dreams that are like bubbles…" Bodach waved his arms and spoke bluntly.
"Apologise!" Leylin pressed Bodach's head down, and then smiled apologetically at the Lord's Envoy, "My apologies… This guy has a screw loose…"
"If you don't mind, we could discuss this further elsewhere…" The Lord's Envoy pointed away. The natives and citizens of Maxi were currently frozen stiff, especially a few beings with golden olive wreaths on their heads that seemed to be members of the government.
"Sure!" Leylin nodded, and then pointed at Cabadole, "I have some connections to his ancestor…"
There was nothing else that needed to be said. He was sure that she would handle this matter well. After all, the goodwill of another existence of laws for something so trivial would definitely be worth it.
As he watched Leylin and three others depart, Cabadole's mouth was wide open. He was at a loss of what to say, but the hint of flattery and reverence in the eyes of the citizens surrounding him told him that things would definitely be settled now.
-x-X-x-
The boundless skies shattered to reveal a huge hole, allowing one to see some large stars and bands of light. Leylin, Bodach and the Lord's Envoy stood side by side, enjoying this broken scenery.
"When Dreamscape Origin Force weakens, the entire world descends into stillness…" The envoy's face showed hints of sorrow before she looked towards Bodach, "I see a tracking curse on your body from Salilus… And the shine of suolo gems…"
Bodach's expression froze, and then he tried to speak up for himself. "Uh… haha… you must have gotten something wrong. I'm such an honest dragon… Why would I steal something that belongs to someone else… Haha…"
"You've got the wrong impression. I don't really have any dealings with Salilus. On the contrary, there are some conflicts between us…" The young lady's voice was like a silver bell, pleasant to the ear. The clear look in her eyes made it seem like she knew everything.
With this gaze on him, even the one-eyed dragon lowered his head, ashamed. "In that case… that's great!"
It had to be said that there were few people Leylin had met who were as thick-skinned as Bodach was.
"Hehe…" Even the dream demon was evidently entertained by how shameless he was, and the girl that she had possessed pursed her lips and began to smile.
"I just want to remind you that Salilus' poison curse is the most vile in the entire universe. In order to obtain enough malicious intent, he even pushed a small plane into the Plains of Despair… Just to absorb the hatred arising near the death of a continent…"
Leylin's expression changed. The astral plane had a few large worlds in it. Planes were a rank lower than worlds, but even then they were still as large as entire continents, with populations of tens or even a hundred million. Destroying a plane just to obtain the hatred and malicious intent was something that would do more than just raise people's hackles.
'Or has he gone mad or turned chaotic?' While Leylin wasn't a good person in any way, he suddenly felt that like he had an actual bottom line, something better than those beings.
"With the vengeful energy from millions of life forms, as well as Salilus' own powers of disaster, the curse formed isn't something that the Yosi Blood Hoop on your head can suppress…"
"So this thing is a Yosi Blood Hoop? Doesn't seem to be that useful…" Bodach discontentedly prodded at the silver hoop on his head and complained.
"Shut up and don't move it, you idiot!" Leylin's expression changed, watching as Bodach took the hoop that had been on his head down curiously.
*Wooh!* In that moment, the Yosi Blood Hoop revealed a piercing red light. Blood vessels wriggled as a piercing female shriek resounded. The blood-red luster became more exuberant till the whole hoop exploded, creating a tiny poof and only leaving behind silver ashes.
"What the… heck… what's going on?" The one-eyed dragon gaped at the silver granules in his hand and cursed.
"Found You!" A powerful conscient exploded from the purple eyeball behind him, accompanied by a chilling evil and bloodlust.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!* The curse that Leylin had under his control burst forth as the purple eyes exploded one by one. Yellow pus flew everywhere, causing Bodach to cry in misery. This liquid fell into the surrounding areas, and even more tiny purple eyes appeared as they began to cover the dragon's entire body.
Leylin could sense a powerful soul aura locking onto Bodach completely, an aura unique to Lords of Calamity awakening…
Still in the north, but south of the dream demon's territory. Within a region of calamity.
"You wretched, despicable little thief, Salilus has finally found you!" Snow fell with immense destructive power, but it could do nothing against a large ice crystal at the centre of this place. The ice sizzled sharply and melted down, emitting dazzling lights as runic chains broke apart.
Howls resonated as the large ice crystal exploded, and an enormous body jumped out, disappearing into the clouds and quickly heading towards the dream demon's territory.
"Wha- wha- wha- what are we going to do?" Bodach clutched his head with both hands, barely keeping the urge to tear off his own flesh at bay while staring at Leylin pitifully.
'Hmm? No… No matter how careless Bodach might be, he still prioritises his own safety. At the very least, there had not been any mishaps in the journey before, so why would there be issues now?
'The only change is that we now have a Lord of Calamity by our sides, and it's the dream demon with strange abilities…'
With a thought, Leylin quickly had a feeling that something was off.
[Beep! Soul enchantment found, searching for source of contamination.] the A.I. Chip's voice sounded. The atomic microscope revealed a layer of mysterious powder floating in the air, centred around the dream demon.
"Damn it, it really is you! Without my Nightmare Absorbing Physique, I'd probably be caught in your magic as well…"
Annoyed, Leylin began to move the Nightmare Bloodline within him and dissolved all of the powder that had entered his body, quickly feeling his mind clear.
"An astounding illusory ability. Seems like the anger in my heart was also induced by the powder… As expected of a demon that manipulates dreams and illusions!" A series of thoughts flashed in his mind, but Leylin was on the surface still berating Bodach furiously. His gaze fell on the dream demon, and he put his guard up.
"Don't worry. Like I told you, I share enmity with Salilus, so I won't let him into my territory. We can team up to deal with him together…"
Seeing the anger in Leylin's eyes, the lady was soon elated. She then saw the vigilance in his eyes. This was very normal. All existences of laws had to be on their guard when attacked by the Lords of Calamity in Dreamscape, which was why she said what she did.
As she spoke, Leylin noticed the microscopic powder in the air ripple slightly, enchanting the soul slightly and affecting one's judgement. Bodach, for instance, kept nodding.
Upon seeing this, she dealt another blow, "Mm. If we defeat or seal him, then the curse on my Lord's friend here will be taken care of."
"Agree to it, Leylin. Agree to it!" Bodach kept nodding like a chick pecking at grains of rice, and the soul undulations became more vigorous.
"But of course, I agree…" Leylin seemed to be taken with the idea and, after seeing her delight, could not help but take several steps closer, fine soul powder rippling on his body. All of a sudden, his eyes flashed.
"I agree to nothing!" he exclaimed, and a loud hiss resounded as a tremendous phantom Targaryen appeared behind Leylin. The serpent extended its terrifying mouth, biting down on the dream demon.
Leylin had acted exquisitely, covering his actions with his control of laws. This way, he'd managed to deceive this Lord of Calamity. The sudden trouble caused shock and astonishment to arise in the dream demon's eyes, causing Leylin to feel good once more.
*Ka-cha!* The mouth of the snake, formed with the laws of devouring, bit down, causing even space to disappear into nothingness. Everything was taken in and transformed, turned into Leylin's own energy.
While the young lady that had become the Lord's Envoy was a product of the dream demon devouring a truesoul but not its dreams, she was still a normal person. Her transformation had been recent, and there was nothing she could do to evade Leylin. She immediately melted away into boundless darkness, leaving behind a conscient emitting light.
"You destroyed a part of me!" Great anger emerged from the conscient, and the entire land seemed to roar as well. All the natives living on it immediately knelt and began to pray.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!* A native who was praying for the Lord to calm his anger had his brain exploded, and a point of light flew out of his brain followed by many others. The numerous points of light gathered on the ground, seemingly glued together.
Having obtained so many motes of light, the Lord of Calamity began to tremble. A strange aura of life awakened in the land, accompanied by the surging conscient of a rank 8.
"She's desperate enough now to forcefully unseal herself?" Leylin had a teasing smile on his face. The other party was still sealed, and the weakened dreamforce was now his best helper.
"Unfortunately, it's too late!" Leylin sighed slightly, red light flashing in his eyes. The bit of the conscient in the air exploded noiselessly, and numerous memories and fragmented comprehensions of laws leaked out.
The result of having a portion of one's conscient destroyed was terrifying. The entire territory began to roar, volcanos erupting as earthquakes occurred. The ground cracked apart as a large hand made of lava arose, covering all else.
"She isn't really injured, and her aura only weakened slightly… Seems like she'd only awakened a small part of her conscient."
Leylin spoke with pity in his tone, turning into a dark arrow that pierced through the large palm in the air. With the dazed Bodach in tow, he fumbled a little in the air as he disappeared.
Tens of seconds after Leylin disappeared, a great number of moths filled the area to form the large face of a woman. She gazed in the direction that Leylin had left, her eyes full of hatred. Seeing the destructive snow falling suddenly, fear surfaced in her eyes as she quickly disappeared.
Everything calmed down once more.
-x-X-x-
Destructive snow was a limitation Dreamscape had set up for the sealed Lords of Calamity. It was a shackle that imprisoned them.
Most of the time, the lords relied on layers of powerful seals to protect themselves, The moment they were unsealed, they would have to face the destructive snow head on and be weakened. This was from both the origin of the soul and from the World Origin Force.
No Lord could handle being weakened like this, which was why they were always in sealed states, unless there were special circumstances.
The large female face exploded, leaving behind another little girl. Her eyes were muddied, and she also had a white moth on her head. However, she was smaller than the one before. Once the dream demon quieted down, the destructive snow also weakened until it was bearable.
"Damn it… How did that Magus get away from my soul powder…" The dream demon's avatar looked confused, and she transmitted some information.
"Hm? Dream demon… You've found the thief who stole from my treasure trove?" Tens of minutes later, a terrifying amount of pressure formed as a large tornado moved towards the dream demon. Powerful destructive snow hovered around this tornado, eliminating the ice, the rocks, and all forms of life.
The one who had spoken was a steel knight over a hundred metres tall. He wore ice-blue armour, and on his chest was a striking, gigantic rune in the shape of a cross. With his face covered by a helmet, it was difficult to see his expression. Only an inquiring red light seemed to shoot out, the evil gaze seemingly bringing disaster.
Endless black clouds revolved over this person's head. Terrifying destructive snow fell, to the point that even the dream demon's avatar had to retreat a distance. Everything under his waist was hidden in the great tornado, vaguely revealing huge blocks of ice. The terrifying tornado whistled, combining with the destructive snow.
The powerful law of calamity as well as a malicious might of vengeance formed more than a hundred million faces around the tornado, all of them crying.
This was the Lord of Calamity Salilus, a rank 8 existence! He'd grasped many laws like calamity and hatred. This evil god that made numerous worlds weep had now descended with his main body!
"Long time no see, Salilus…" The dream demon smiled as she greeted him, "Looks like you really detest him, to the point that you've moved your true body!"
"He's stolen one of my suolo gems! Without it, my main body will need ten thousand years to recuperate after a disaster!" Salilus sounded hoarse, like the sounds of numerous crows squawking together. His voice had a strange ability to turn one's stomach, hiding extreme anger within it.
"That damned thief! I want to send him to the Plains of Despair and seal his true soul, and then slowly skin him for ten thousand years!"
"I've obtained information about the thief. He also has a rank 7 Magus helping him, so you have to be careful…" The dream demon in the form of a young girl raised a finger, and a moth flew up to Salilus. The Lord of Calamity swallowed it.
Through this strange exchange, Salilus immediately obtained footage of Bodach, and Leylin next to him.
"Just two newly-advanced rank 7s? I can destroy their truesouls with just one hand!" Salilus shook his head nonchalantly, and then looked at the dream demon, "In all my memory, you've never been so kind-hearted…"
"Hehe… he's also harmed my avatar and even caused me to lose a portion of my conscient…" A trace of paleness could be seen on her face.
"That's true… your strength relies more on charm. While even a rank 8 existence might be unwittingly caught in your trap, once the other party has their guard up…" Salilus smiled as he spoke, controlling the tornado into chasing the direction of his imprint.
All the land here had been merged with the dream demon's body, making her detection ability terrifying. As a result, the girl could determine that Salilus had truly left after a moment. She watched the direction that he had left in, a strange smile on her face.
"Relies more on charm?" Although the dream demon wasn't acknowledged for combat power amongst the Lords of Calamity, she had been their longest survivor. Her origins traced all the way back to the ancient Final War! How could someone of this level of strength have weaknesses and be seen through easily?
While the other lords believed that the Dream Demon's abilities were charm and sealing, this was actually not the case. What she was most proficient in was actually sensing souls!
'Disregarding that one-eyed dragon, the young Magus is giving me an evil and dangerous impression. That's not because of a Warlock's bloodline ability, but… it's like we're mortal enemies…' The girl's eyes were serious as she recalled this dangerous Magus.
She and Salilus were, in reality, not on good terms. There was no point in offending two existences of laws for him. However, after taking one look at Leylin, her innate soul senses told her that he was extremely dangerous. It seemed like he would become a mortal foe.
For this reason, the young girl had tested him out right after meeting him.
"He isn't afraid of my soul powder at all… And this doesn't even seem to be the limits of his abilities…" The young girl bit at her lips, her delicate eyebrows furrowing and exuding a heart-breaking charm. It was because of this danger that she'd abandoned all intent to pursue them.
"Forget it… That stupid Salilus will be right at the frontlines if anything goes wrong… Let me see how many cards that Magus has up his sleeve." A sparkling moth's body trembled, producing a puff of dazzling powder, and the entire body disappeared as the dream demon secretly followed Salilus.
...
"Damn it, Leylin! Are you crazy? Why did you attack our ally?" Bodach's huge body was tossed by Leylin onto the ground, causing dust to fly everywhere while he yelled and shook his head.
"You're the one who's gone crazy! Aren't you clear-headed yet?" Leylin glanced at Bodach, suddenly punching his face using a fist covered in blood-red flames.
*Bang!* Bodach immediately fell backwards like an artillery shell, breaking through several tall and hard mountain peaks.
"Damn it… You dare to hit my handsome face. I will fight you to the death… Ugh…" Bodach shook his head, spitting blood out that stained his teeth. Of course, much more soul powder was spat out. He was first cursing everywhere and almost transformed back into his original body, but his expression soon changed.
Fury turned into puzzlement, and then slight fear! Soul powder that could affect the truesoul directly was better than any illusory spells. It was something that even existences of laws found difficult to resist!
"That darned moth actually tried to control me, One-eyed Dragon Bodach, the prophet of the Ultron World and great scholar… I, who've travelled through numerous worlds and left behind numerous treasured legends was almost controlled?"
*Roar!* Bodach yelled. The fear had been replaced by rage once more.
For these existences of laws, small injuries were just losses of energy. With their limitless time, They could be healed, which was why this was no issue. However… the moment someone tried to interfere with their free will or even enslave them, what would be left was endless hatred!
"Dreamscape's Dream Demon Lord! I'll remember this!" Bodach hatefully spat out some white air, but wasn't foolish enough to say that he'd immediately return. Evidently, he still retained some reason.
He was a rank 7, while the other party was rank 8. On top of that… he still had a curse on him, and was now being pursued by another Lord of Calamity.
"Leylin, I'm sorry!" At this point, Bodach obviously knew that Leylin was his true ally, and he could not offend him. This was especially when there were many things he needed to trouble Leylin with.
"Hmph… Awake now?" Leylin snorted, but found this situation strange.
'That dream demon is acting so strangely. She doesn't know us, but she suddenly attacked. And still, she didn't pursue us either. Did she notice something?' Her strange behaviour caused Leylin to think up all sorts of possibilities.
However, he was interrupted by a prompt from the A.I. Chip.
[Beep! Host's devouring talent has been used. Completely digested conscient of law. Host has obtained partial information regarding the law of 'charm'. Host has obtained partial law of 'illusion'. Host's illusion proficiency has been strengthened.]
Using his law of devouring, Leylin could absorb the powers of existences of laws, turning them into his own comprehension.
'Unfortunately… Even a rank 7 who has evolved can't obtain more from those existences of laws. If I were to use the A.I. Chip's terms, I haven't even obtained 1% of the law. That's even worse than the World of Gods…' Leylin sighed.
There were obviously some things lost during the conversion of laws, but for Leylin, this was so low it was rage-inducing.
Although that was just a portion of the dream demon's conscient, if this was a god in the World of Gods he wouldn't have had trouble in forming a thread of divinity. The difference was more than tenfold!
'Even with my devouring law I'm in this situation. Things would be even worse for other existences of laws. Then again, if everyone can advance so rapidly, the Magus World doesn't need to send people over. It can just fight and devour as well as annihilate itself… Only the World of Gods can be the true hunting grounds of Magi.'
Unlike how hard it was for Magi to comprehend laws the divine laws in the World of Gods were easy to acquire. They were learned quite quickly, so much so that devouring a god could allow one to obtain the complete comprehension of a law! That was the reason Magi were crazy over them!
-x-X-x-
'With the attraction of the two World Origin Forces, and such immense benefits, it's no wonder the ancient Final War was so intense…' Leylin sighed inside. Had he been the one who'd found a world where he could absorb the comprehension of laws by killing deities, he'd have gone crazy as well. The fall of other Magi and the suffering of the commoners was nothing in comparison.
'The reason why divine laws convert so easily… Is it because of the origin forces being compatible, or do they complete each other?' At this point, Leylin was now beginning to believe the rumours more and more. When victory was decided between the World of Gods and the Magus World, the victor would devour the loser's path to power to open the path to eternity!
'It's also possible that the Magus World and World of Gods were a single body in ancient times,' Leylin guessed.
One had to consider why the rumours that gave rise to the ancient Final War spread so widely. The ancient Magi of laws and gods were no fools, and they would not do something without benefit.
'Unfortunately… The Magi miscalculated how difficult the gods would be to deal with. With the mysteriousness of divine kingdoms, the result was that both sides suffered and there were no winners, and it brought about the end of the glamour of the ancient times…'
Leylin's eyes glinted as he clenched his fists, 'But the Final War that I shall cause will not go down the same path. The road to eternity is mine and mine alone!'
Leylin had previously been ordinary, able to keep a low profile. But when this epic universe held a hope for immortality, no restraints and limitations would hinder his goal any longer. He would pay no heed to those who didn't block his path, but when conflict arose he would attack to destroy, regardless of who it was!
[Beep! Captured conscient of existence of laws. Similarity to dead body cells: 100%. Beginning revitalising…] the A.I. Chip prompted at this moment.
'A living specimen of the dream demon?' Leylin smiled slightly.
The dream demon's humongous body had merged with this land, so it was naturally possible to obtain her cells anywhere. However research had shown that the shell left behind was but a pile of nutrition, devoid of laws. Only with the body and conscient together could a real living specimen be obtained.
As he had been afraid of the dream demon, he had not laid a hand on the regular people with her parasites. However, after she had become hostile, Leylin no longer had any reservations. The A.I. Chip quickly gave him good news.
[Revitalisation successful. Host has obtained sample of Dreamscape existence of law. Rate of analysis of World Origin Force quickened by 27%.]
'There are differences between various existences of laws. Another sample will get here soon…'
Blood red light flashed in Leylin's eyes, and a red line opened up between his brows as a strange twisting force rippled in the air.
"Oh! Oh no… it's Salilus! I sense that he's closing in…" At the other side, Bodach began to cry out pitifully.
The purple eyeballs on his body seemed to have sensed that their original owner was arriving, and they all began to wriggle about in a craze. They then exploded one after the other, causing Bodach to cry out.
"Hmph, shut up!" Leylin turned back, the red line between his brows opening slightly.
*Rustle!* Something strange happened then. The purple eyes on Bodach seemed to be frightened by something, and abruptly shrank back. Bodach's cries quieted, and he watched Leylin with disbelief.
"This…"
"Quiet. Don't you want to remove the curse?" After activating the Nightmare Absorption bloodline, Leylin was akin to a king in Dreamscape. Dreamscape Origin Force was now hovering around him at all times, causing Bodach to unknowingly close his mouth.
"Return to where you came from!" Leylin chanted in an ancient tone. Threads of Dreamscape Origin Force descended, forming blazing red runes that disappeared into Bodach's skin. The purple eyes quickly retreated due to these runes, eventually forming an exquisite purple eye sealed by a ring of fiery red on his back.
"That- that's it?" Bodach waved his arms around, looking stunned. A curse formed of malicious intent from a Lord of Calamity who massacred hundreds of millions of living souls was sealed so easily?
The whole process was simple, to the point that Bodach felt he was dreaming.
Upon seeing this, Leylin nodded slightly, suddenly coming to an understanding. 'As expected… I guessed right. As long as it uses dreamforce as a base, anything can be suppressed by my Nightmare Absorbing Physique!'
Even if it was a Lord of Calamity with powerful laws of calamity, if he was still in essence a being of Dreamscape he would have to survive using Dreamscape Origin Force. That would mean that he could be suppressed by Leylin's bloodline ability.
"This suppression seems quite terrifying…" Leylin looked at the World Origin Force hovering around him, and the slight attention from the World Will. 'If this were a rank 8 existence from another world, even though I might be confident in defeating them in Dreamscape chances are they'd escape. However, if it's a Lord of Calamity… They probably won't even get a chance to escape… It seems like this is the world's wish! Hm? Wait!'
Leylin's eyes went as wide as saucers, feeling like he had grasped something crucial in that moment. There was no hatred nor love without reason in the world. Giving birth to the Nightmare Absorbing Body must have been an act of Dreamscape itself, which made the goal in doing this rather interesting.
Inducing the formation of a bloodline and investing so much origin force and care required a huge amount of effort.
"Hah…" At this every moment, a ravaging tornado appeared in the horizon, large amounts of destructive snow overhead as it hastened in their direction.
"Leylin… Sire! He's here!" Bodach changed the way he addressed Leylin and placed himself below the Warlock.
"Great timing! I just had a thought I need to confirm." Leylin nodded, while also very satisfied with how Bodach was acting. His actions seemed to have tamed the dragon a bit.
"Huh? But he's a rank 8 Lord of Calamity. Are you going to attack him?" Bodach couldn't believe what Leylin implied.
"Of course! Do you have any objections?" Intricate dark red patterns appeared on Leylin's body. Powerful bloodline energy surged forth, revealing a boundless aura that seemed to echo within the entirety of Dreamscape.
After seeing this, Bodach shook his head like a rattle-drum. He could sense that Leylin right now was more terrifying than that Lord of Calamity!
Besides, he was the one who had provoked Salilus, and Leylin was technically helping him. Most importantly… Bodach took a look at the seal on his back and the purple eyeball that had been torturing him.
Leylin had merely made a seal but not completely removed it. While things did not seem troublesome now, Bodach did not dare believe Leylin had not done anything else to him.
It was already terrifying enough to offend one Lord of Calamity, but another? This...
"Damn it! I'll go all out! Roar…" Having found determination, Bodach's body exploded into yellow smoke, forming a large one-eyed dragon. Leylin stood atop its head.
With a draconic aura that far surpassed normal dragons, and a strength that could freeze time itself, Bodach spread out his wings that could span the heavens as he exhibited might that only beings of laws possessed. He bared sharp teeth at the attacking Lord of Calamity, "Salilus!"
Two rank 7 existences from varying worlds, as well as a rank 8 Lord of Calamity from this world, quickly began an intense battle!
*Roar!* Bodach raised his head, taking a deep breath through two nostrils...
*Whoosh!* The sand on the ground abruptly floated into the sky, and all of a sudden it was as if two large black holes had appeared. When Bodach inhaled, practically half the air in the continent was absorbed by him, forming a gigantic vacuum.
*Boom!* The air was compressed to the limits in the one-eyed dragon's lungs, turned into something like two white streams of air that penetrated through space and hurtled in Salilus' direction.
"Not bad! As you are right now, you barely have the power of a rank 7 existence!" Leylin nodded in praise. If this was in the Magus World, that breath would have consigned half the natives to death by suffocation. Even rank 1 or 2 Magi would not be spared.
Thankfully, this was Dreamscape, where the land was vast and boundless and in a still state. Besides the dream demon's territory, there weren't many living beings here, which was why things were not so disastrous.
The air cannon that had been compressed to the extreme hit Salilus straight on, while this Lord of Calamity immediately bellowed, "You thief! You dare attack me?"
"I am the master of calamity!" In the moment that the attack hit him, Salilus exhibited the true strength of a Lord of Calamity. A boundless snowstorm formed a strange phantom centaur behind him, roaring quickly in the ancient Byron language.
Powerful dreamforce gathered at his hands, forming a large black hatchet with a human face etched on the surface.
"Die!" He struck down with the hatchet, and a black flash of light passed.
*Bang! Bang!* The air clashed with the black lines, forming boundless distortions. Large areas of Dreamscape were destroyed, and terrifying explosions resounded soon after.
-x-X-x-
*Rumble!* The air cracked, and the ground trembled. The very world tremored in the face of a battle between two existences of laws.
*Hsss! Tinkle! Chi!* An energy undulation rippled out, and in that moment all the Lords of Calamity in Dreamscape awoke from their sealed slumbers. They emitted powerful radiation that protected their own territories.
The Dream Demon Lord, in particular, had countless moths cover the sky in layer upon layer that quickly fell. Her armies paid great casualties to block most of the stray energy, multi-coloured lights mixing with the air and meteor fragments to stop everything else.
*Pu! Pu!* All of a sudden, a thin black thread shot through the region and arrived in front of Bodach. The dragon scales that the one-eyed dragon prided himself on so much had no effect as they were pierced through, and dragon blood appeared.
A layer of tiny black dots began to surround the injury, spreading outwards with the powerful might of calamity.
"Despicable thief, you will pay for your sins today!" Salilus' figure burst out from the smoke, his sparkling armour showing no damage. This already showed who was winning right now.
"As expected of a rank 8 Lord of Calamity." Leylin also made his move at this moment. He gathered dreamforce as well, forming a thin red layer that covered the dragon's wounds and suppressed the power of calamity.
"You're…" Salilus halted, glancing at the Magus on the one-eyed dragon's head with serious red eyes. Leylin's robes rustled in the wind from the stray rays of the explosion, and traces of dreamforce still lingered around him.
The giant that was a hundred metres tall had not noticed this tiny thing at all before, but once Leylin stood out, he seemed to have turned into the heart of everything! Salilus' gaze unconsciously focused on him.
"Magus… no! Bloodline Warlock!" Salilus stopped moving, the large black hatchet in his hands appearing protectively in front of him, "Your bloodline ability has unique characteristics of Dreamscape…"
The dreamforce surging out of Leylin's body was making him feel unsettled, as if he had met a natural enemy. Memories from ancient times were sealed within his blood and genes, and now they were emerging. Yet, these memories were being covered by something, giving rise to a depression that made Salilus want to cough blood up in anger.
'A Lord of Calamity, a rank 8 existence!' Leylin focused on his enemy. This could be the most powerful being he'd ever fought.
When he'd fought the Snake Dowager and the rest in the Purgatory World, he'd had the advantage of being in the right place at the right time. Leylin currently did not have that luxury, he would have to rely on his own strength!
'Of course, my bloodline ability from the Nightmare King is a trump card.' Without that as an insurance, Leylin would have prudently avoided making a move here. He currently needed a Lord of Calamity as a guinea pig so he could confirm some suspicions, if not he definitely wouldn't have stopped here and waited for Salilus to arrive.
'Good timing…. Let me see the differences in a bloodline Warlock after rank 7!' The figure of a looped snake was reflected in Leylin's eyes. Purplish-red bloodline force surged out, and torrential strength seemed to make contact with several large worlds. The power of numerous blood descendants was transmitted over to him.
Having broken away from the Snake Dowager, Leylin had become the progenitor of a new bloodline. He had a bunch of bloodline abilities he could use.
*Hss!* Boundless bloodline energy formed a phantom Targaryen that soured through the skies. The large winged serpent suddenly pounced forward, savage and dominant like a tyrant hunting for prey. It took a good bite out of the centaur, dragging it all the way to the astral river.
The auric phantom forms of these two beings of laws began a huge war in the starry skies, causing great energy undulations that destroyed numerous planets.
"Have I been asleep for too long? Since when could mere rank 7s challenge me?" Salilus roared, the black hatchet in his hands instantly turning into a streak of light aimed straight at Leylin.
"I am a Lord of Calamity!" Numerous malicious spirits were pulled out of thin air, forming distorted figures that surrounded the incoming black light. These faces wailed, their eyes filled with tears of blood. A black mask in the shape of a crying face solidified in the air, forming a strange mark of calamity.
"The moment he brazenly releases all his might, this land is completely done for…" Leylin noticed what Salilus was doing, rather surprised.
Based on normal logic, rank 7 existences like them could cause immense damage to their environments with a single move. Battles would be avoided at all costs. However, this Lord of Calamity seemed to be having none of that. He had no qualms in his strikes, caring naught for the consequences of his actions.
"If you do this, aren't you afraid of the World Will interfering?" Leylin berated. At the same time, numerous crimson shields spread in the skies, seemingly indestructible.
"Bloodline Shield!" Purplish-red light reflected off the metallic lustre of these shields. Many vortices formed, like countless huge mouths waiting for their prey. The combination of rank 7 bloodline energy and the law of devouring created a powerful defence.
When the devouring shield clashed with the blade, numerous vortices rapidly spun around to absorb the power of calamity from the hatchet. Horrifying crunches sounded out as the shield surrounded the hatchet, acting like a huge mouth doing all it could to digest the object.
"What's a World Will to me?" Salilus laughed maniacally. His views seemed to be different from those of the Magi, as red light gained in intensity on his helmet.
"Break!" A great rumble resounded as the numerous crimson shields shattered. While the law of devouring was exceptional, it was currently put up against a rank 8 being. The burden being too great, it could hold on no longer.
Once the bloodline shields were eliminated, the hatchet of calamity also seemed to have used up all its strength. It gradually disappeared.
"Warlock, I admit that your power is not bad amongst rank 7s. No… Of the worlds I have travelled to, your ability is at the top. But so what? Can your law of devouring overpower mine?" Salilus chuckled madly, a black knight's halberd appearing in his hands. The spearpoint blazed with terrifying flames, while the battleaxe glinted with light. The sharp teeth on its side seemed chilling, able to pierce through the void itself as great power of laws lingered around it.
'It'll be difficult to fight the accumulated strength of a rank 8 existence, especially if he doesn't just use the law of calamity… But then again, if he can even say something like "What's the World Will to me," it seems like the path they walk goes against the World Will.' Leylin's eyes flashed with understanding.
This was actually rather easy to comprehend. Which other world forced their beings of law to this point, causing them to seal themselves in and reduce their energy consumption, unable to escape? One would have to oppose the World Will to warrant such treatment.
'It might also be due to the unique environment here, leaving them with no choice.' Leylin now felt like he had a better understanding of Dreamscape now.
*Lulu!* At this moment, a victor had been decided between the giant snake and the centaur. The tall centaur roared, ruthlessly kicking at the neck of the Targaryen. The winged serpent also opened its mouth, leaving behind an injury that allowed one to sea bone at the centaur's chest.
The Targaryen disappeared unwillingly amidst its last struggles, leaving behind a centaur with injuries all over it. It thundered out, "sksklgnlsdgnl!" the words translating to 'I am the king of calamity!'
"You've seen it, haven't you? Your power loses completely to mine," Salilus raised his head proudly, "Admit defeat, and I can consider letting you go."
"Unfortunately, you and I both know that's impossible!" Leylin answered nonchalantly, caressing a cross blade that appeared in his hand. The weapon blazed with crimson light.
If he'd planned on peace from the start, Leylin would at least have forced Bodach to hand over the suolo gem, seeing if it was possible to calm the fury in the Lord of Calamity's heart. Instead he'd attacked at the very beginning, which meant he wasn't going to be benevolent.
"Don't forget me, the gem thief from the boundless world, one-eyed dragon Bodach!" The one-eyed dragon Leylin had mounted flapped his wings, snorting out a terrifying dragon breath. In normal worlds this breath alone could render entire species extinct, but things were fine here.
As the three beings of laws went all out in their attacks, the surroundings were completely destroyed. The space around them grew disordered, and the ground disappeared into grey fog of primal chaos.
Large amounts of the power of laws spread everywhere in this region, the horrifying radiation destined to make this a dangerous land of Dreamscape.
Once the dragon breath was launched, Bodach's mountainous body pounced agilely towards Salilus, forming a straight white line in the vacuum.
"Keke… coward, you've finally gotten the courage to face me?" Salilus chuckled madly, the blizzard above his body becoming more concentrated.
"Unfortunately, that's all useless!" He leant over and aimed at the one-eyed dragon charging over… *Boom!*