I left the library with quick steps, the heavy door closing behind me with a dull thud that echoed through the empty corridor. The fresh air from the distant courtyard hit my sweaty face, helping to clear my head a little. The desire throbbed low in my veins, control hanging by a thin thread — Olivia stayed inside organizing the books, brown eyes following curiously as I walked away, but I needed distance before I gave in and turned a study session into a major complication.
The academy corridors were almost deserted at that afternoon hour, students in extra training or resting in the dorms after the dungeon, female instructors patrolling distantly with evaluating looks that always made us feel smaller. I went straight back to the men's dormitory without stopping, shared room still empty, threw my body onto the creaking bed staring at the cracked and peeling ceiling, mind spinning nonstop in tight circles.
The anomaly of the world system tower wouldn't leave my head at all — pink rays covering the entire area after the kingdom's big ceremony, tremendous magical energy being processed causing small and controlled explosions around, powerful mages from all countries and races sent urgently to investigate the sacred and protected site that no ordinary person could get close to.
My SIS — the defective Aspect that awakened in the First Nightmare — pink and blue lines always pulsing on the dark stone whenever I focused internally or felt the rich ambient mana of the capital vibrate subtly, coinciding exactly with the moment of the general ceremony that every Awakened in the kingdom felt deep in their soul.
Pure coincidence or real direct connection? The Nightmare Spell part of the bigger world tower, anomaly from my reincarnated soul triggering something global, bigger and dangerous for everyone?
Aria reported low and efficient while I lay there: [Personal airship 70% complete now. Queen core integrated as secondary reactor — huge boost to total speed and stealth. Tower anomaly detected in capital ambient mana — pink lines compatible with master's SIS. Possible defective Aspect origin partially confirmed.]
Fuck, indirect but clear confirmation. The sexual system somehow linked to the tower, maybe the perverted origin of my reincarnated anomaly.
Residual desire from Olivia burning low but insistent, image of her leaning close over the table coming back strong, floral scent, discreet curves, intelligent eyes. Almost a partner if I had given in at the empty corner of the library, but control held firm — risk way too high to complicate things with someone smart rising fast like her.
Night fell heavy and suffocating over the entire campus, sleep coming inevitable and strong like a rising tide. Cold mechanical voice echoing clear in the dark mind: [Second Nightmare starting now. Awakened Aspirant, prepare for test adapted to current strength.]
Everything darkened slowly, body falling into the familiar abyss of the Nightmare, sensation of infinite fall before the impact.
I awoke in a new and distorted environment — enormous floating arena of the central academy, but deep shadows covering everything, audience of noble women laughing loud and echoing empty in the stands, mob men chained to the ground moaning low in mana chains.
Opposite creature in the center — high-rank terrifying mana tyrant, five milky indifferent eyes fixed straight on me, multiple arms raising an ancient serrated and rusted weapon, massive body pulsing corrupted pink/blue mixed mana, tower coincidence?
Chances low as fuck for survival, exhaustion from the recent dungeon throbbing in sore muscles, cynical humor laughing bitterly inside: I'm already fucked anyway, worse than turning into daily normal routine in this shit life.
But the Beast purring deep and primal, desire channeling unexpected extra strength through the veins.
I advanced first fast, sword plunging into the joint of a smaller lower arm — blade sinking deep with channeled boost, cruel twist tearing thick venomous tendons, tyrant roared smashing the ground where I had been a second before.
I rolled avoiding the impact, Aria plasma firing at the central milky eye — partially melting it with a loud hiss, creature blinding half its vision, frenzied attack with remaining arms swinging the serrated weapon.
Pain throbbing in shoulder from partial hit barely avoided, but regeneration holding firm, desire boost strength — next strike completely decapitating a smaller arm, mana blood spurting hot onto the arena floor.
Tyrant casually grabbed a chained mob nearby, crushing the skull like nothing, throwing the body off the arena cliff into the abyss indifferently.
Exultant despite growing fear — kill or die absolute, channel everything available.
I leaped high onto the thick carapace for leverage, sword straight into the pulsing chest core — sinking deep with full force, internal mana explosion starting with pink/blue sparks.
Tyrant convulsed in final violent spasm, massive body crashing down with a tremor cracking the entire arena, eyes slowly dimming, enormous corpse steaming with residual corrupted mana.
I fell gasping onto the dirty floor, total exhaustion destroying my body, but clear victory.
Interface flashing new boost: [Second Nightmare completed successfully. Defective Aspect partially evolved — consumption reduced 15%. Initial remote cure partner unlocked. Tyrant loot: Ancient serrated weapon, high-rank crystals.]
Abrupt return to real world, waking up in cold sweat in the dark dormitory, body aching with Nightmare echo.
Tower anomaly now strongly linked to Nightmare — pink SIS lines pulsing in sync.
Control growing slowly, but the Beast's eternal hunger whispering.
Olivia tomorrow study tease possible partner.
Independence close with Aria. Absolute sexual survival.