Ancient Nightmares, mysterious monsters that abruptly appeared in the world thousands of years ago, when some demons still roamed the continent. Yet, no information about these Nightmares exists in current books, save for what can be gleaned from ancient writings left behind in primordial ruins.
The Nightmares themselves were harbingers of misfortune and ill-fated doom. Wherever these beasts roamed, natural disasters and man-made calamities would inevitably follow. Fortunately, such creatures were rare, a fact for which the demons of the primordial era deserved gratitude, for they had eliminated over ninety percent of the Nightmares; otherwise, no other races would have survived in this world.
However, Nightmares were utterly ineffective against one particular type of being: those possessed of ‘evil.’ On the contrary, if an ‘evil’ individual consumed a Nightmare, their power would surge dramatically, increasing severalfold, even dozens of times over.
In essence, Nightmares were monsters that brought misfortune and catastrophe upon the world. Nevertheless, their offensive capabilities were not to be underestimated, for anything or anyone they touched would be branded with a permanent, unpurifiable mark of ill fortune and doom.
It was crucial to note that Nightmares possessed colossal bodies, typically ranging between twenty and thirty meters in size. Their forms were semi-corporeal, meaning their internal organs were solid, while the rest of their bodies consisted of liquid.
“This way, please follow me.”
Sacred Flame began to run, leading the way for them.
“Everyone, stick close and don’t fall behind!”
Under Sacred Flame’s guidance, the group departed from the altar.
Just as they believed they were about to exit the ruins, a vast hall unfolded before their eyes. The hall’s exit lay directly ahead, yet they halted, not immediately advancing, for before them, two factions were locked in a fierce battle with a horde of rare magical beasts.
One faction consisted of Lucy and her companions, whom Jeanne D’Arc’s group had encountered previously. This time, however, there were ten individuals, accompanied by several earth-elemental summoned familiars, instead of just five.
The other faction comprised black-robed figures, all clad in uniform attire. They outnumbered Lucy’s group and possessed superior combat prowess, utterly suppressing Lucy and her allies.
As for the rare magical beasts, they were the unique guardians of the ruins, awakening only when outsiders encroached. Now, all the beasts within the ruins had converged here, though some had perished in other parts of the ancient site.
“Luoge, what should we do now?”
By this point, Shavier Aznar, originally the leader, found the entire group deferring to Luoge East. After all, Luoge East possessed far greater knowledge.
“Do you trust this one?” Luoge East asked, her tone grave.
“We are comrades, and the best of friends,” Shavier Aznar affirmed, nodding decisively. The others followed suit.
“Very well then. Soon, you must cover your ears and run forward with all your might. Do not concern yourselves with me.”
At this critical juncture, Luoge East had no choice but to take a gamble. An Ancient Nightmare was on the verge of awakening behind them, while ahead lay a chaotic three-way battle. She resolved to attempt something drastic.
“Luoge, wear this. It will protect you.”
Jeanne D’Arc unclasped the wolf fang necklace she wore and fastened it around Luoge East’s neck.
“Please be careful, Luoge. We will wait for you.”
With that, Jeanne D’Arc and her four companions covered their ears and sprinted forward, heedless of anything else.
“Resound, O Symphony of Stars, Third Page!”
Luoge East seized her harp, her hands already brimming with gathered magic. She began to pluck the strings, providing an accompaniment as she sang, unleashing her unique magic.
As Luoge East’s magic successfully activated, the three warring factions, embroiled in chaos on the battlefield, were struck by an unknown magical interference. Instantly, they dropped to one knee, channeling their internal magic to resist the potent disturbance.
“Cough, cough~!”
After Jeanne D’Arc and her group had bypassed the now-stilled battlefield, Luoge East’s magic, which she had amplified severalfold with her own power to suppress her targets, began to turn against her. With so many targets, the opposing magical resistance grew immense, causing her magic to backfire. A trace of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
“Master!”
Sacred Flame, deeply concerned for Luoge East’s condition, swiftly cast a healing spell upon her.
“Thank you. This one is fine.” Luoge East shook her head, wiping away the blood from her lips.
Because Luoge East’s magic had disrupted the three-way conflict, the battle ceased. All three factions turned their attention to the individual who had interfered.
“Everyone, please stop fighting. Listen to me.” Luoge East stepped forward, intending to warn them of the Ancient Nightmare’s imminent awakening.
“Grandma Muma, it’s those young women from before.” Hukelent, who had been protecting Grandma Muma, spoke to her.
“We must protect those girls! They will become the hope of humanity, perhaps even the entire continent, in the future!”
Grandma Muma was astonished upon seeing Luoge East. She immediately ordered Hukelent to protect Luoge East, who had become a target for both opposing factions, as well as Jeanne D’Arc and her companions on the other side.
Action followed words. The members of Fiore Academy split into two teams of five, breaking through in two directions. One team rushed to Luoge East’s side, while the other hastened to Jeanne D’Arc and her group.
“Did the old woman mispeak? Or is she still half-asleep?” Zalenk, the Cool-headed Young Man, grumbled, clearly displeased at being ordered to do something he deemed meaningless. He glanced back at Jeanne D’Arc’s group, but his gaze settled on Shana Aznar, who met his eyes.
“If Senior Muma spoke, there must be a reason behind her words.” Nangong Ye’s eyes briefly flickered from Zalenk before he grew wary of the hostility emanating from both factions.
“While I detest trouble, this concerns the continent, so I must take it seriously.” Rushu no longer concealed his weapon; the holy artifact in his hand instantly transformed, no longer merely a simple wooden bow.
“I just want to go back to sleep. I’m a night owl, you know.” Xiao, hovering in mid-air, yawned incessantly, his eyes barely open.
“I don’t particularly enjoy being ostentatious, but circumstances have changed. I urge everyone to treat this situation with the gravity it deserves.”
Phyllis, who had remained out of sight until now, emanated a dense magical aura. The single-handed sword in her grip turned jet black, indicating she had entered a serious combat state.
“Tch!” Zalenk clicked his tongue.
“Are you alright, child?” Grandma Muma began to examine Luoge East’s condition.
“Leave your safety to me!” Hukelent stood at the very front, exuding an aura of invincibility, as if one man could hold off ten thousand.
“I’m fine, but this is not the time for such talk. You must evacuate this place immediately, quickly! Otherwise, it will be too late!” Luoge East clutched Grandma Muma’s hands, urging them to leave without delay.
“It seems something has awakened.” Sophia Intist turned her head towards the exit from which Luoge East’s group had emerged, her brow furrowing instantly.
“It’s a Nightmare.” Luoge East knew it was already too late. In truth, she had never truly intended to escape the ruins and seek aid from the kingdom or empire.
“A Nightmare? What is that?” Lucy and her companions had no idea what a Nightmare was, completely failing to grasp the urgency in Luoge East’s voice.
“It’s here.” Luoge East and Sophia Intist spoke simultaneously. However, Sophia Intist quickly summoned a colossal stone golem, commanding it to hurl their group of six towards Rushu and his companions.
*Gurgle~*
A grotesque portion of the Ancient Nightmare’s body oozed from the opening, accompanied by a sickening stench of putrefaction and decay. The stone golem was instantly corroded away.
The magical beasts of the ruins, as if driven mad, lunged en masse towards the Ancient Nightmare.
*Gurgle~*
Sadly, their efforts proved utterly futile. Every beast that attacked was swallowed whole by the Nightmare, undergoing evolution and mutation within its grotesque form. Inside, the devoured beasts writhed in constant struggle.
“What *is* that thing?!” Everyone present, save for those already in the know, was bewildered. They recognized it as a magical beast from the ruins, yet none had ever seen anything like it.
“Does anyone here know how to seal? Ideally, a high-level sealing spell?” Luoge East suddenly conceived a plan: to seal the ruins’ exit, thereby buying time to seek reinforcements. She placed her hopes on Lucy’s group of ten.
“I only know basic sealing spells.” Lucy admitted with a touch of shame. She had never specialized in sealing magic, believing that delving too deeply into it would be a waste, so she had only learned the rudimentary aspects.
“If we cannot stop it, the entire continent of Europa will face a crisis.” Luoge East had now completely given up hope.
“What do we do then? Grandma Muma, do you have a solution?” Lucy, growing anxious, urgently sought Grandma Muma’s help.
“Hmph! Why not just hack it to pieces and be done with it?” Zalenk scoffed. Despite his words, he remained disciplined, as he was not the captain of this mission, and would not act unless Phyllis, his actual captain, gave the order.
“Anything touched by an Ancient Nightmare is permanently cursed with misfortune and doom; its weakness is completely unknown.” Luoge East extinguished Zalenk’s impulsive idea.
Yet, even as they debated, all the magical beasts within the Nightmare’s body had fully mutated. They burst forth from its flesh, lunging directly at everyone present, including Jeanne D’Arc’s group.