Chapter 94: Jumping the Nightmare
The Headless Nightmare slowly approached the exposed Fortress.
Edgar slowly turned to look at the monster that had been the cause of everything that had happened today.
The anger within him reflected across his body as the golden vines beneath his skin glowed even brighter.
’I am done messing around.’
Edgar took a deep breath and jumped down from the Fortress Wall. Using his four Invisible Hands, he cushioned his landing.
Right on cue, the three Soul Guardians reached his side, their towering bodies surrounding Edgar.
As he walked forward, Edgar crushed a boulder in his path with his Sage Hands before splitting it into four chunks to use as weapons.
The Headless Nightmare finally came to a halt and stared down at Edgar.
Edgar clicked his tongue. "I guess talking is pointless."
As if agreeing with him, the Headless Nightmare pulled on the reins, and the grotesque horse charged toward Edgar.
Edgar flexed his muscles before rushing forward as well.
But before they could even collide, the Ballistas behind him locked onto the Nightmare.
BOOOOMMMM!!
Ten bolts were fired one after another at the Headless Nightmare.
BOOOOOM!!
The first shot struck the Headless Nightmare square in the chest.
The grotesque horse screamed as the front half of its body was swallowed by crimson light.
The mounted commander was hurled backwards across the battlefield, smashing through dozens of Nightmare corpses before skidding across the blood-soaked earth.
The remaining bolts pursued it without mercy.
BOOOOM!!
BOOOOM!!
Twin explosions engulfed the Headless Nightmare once again.
A towering pillar of dust and crimson fire rose into the Eternal Night.
Edgar didn’t stop. His two Invisible Hands propelled him forward even faster.
Chunks of shattered stone floated around him like loyal hounds.
’Don’t let it recover.’
He burst straight into the cloud of dust.
However, his instincts screamed the moment he got close. A rusted blade flashed out of the smoke.
CLANG!!
Two Invisible Hands crossed together and barely caught the descending sword.
The impact blasted away the surrounding dust.
The Headless Nightmare stood before him.
Its armour was cracked. Its chest bore a scorched crater where the Ballista bolts had struck.
As soon as Edgar regained his balance, he hurled one of the chunks of stone.
BOOOOMMM!!!
The boulder shot forward like a cannonball.
The Headless Nightmare twisted its body.
The stone grazed its shoulder before exploding against the ground behind it, throwing dirt and broken rock high into the air.
Edgar didn’t care whether it landed. The first throw had only been a distraction.
His second Invisible Hand launched another boulder straight toward the Nightmare’s legs.
BOOOOM!!
This time, the Headless Nightmare couldn’t avoid it completely.
The massive rock slammed into its knee.
CRACK!!
Its stance faltered for the briefest instant.
’Now!’
Edgar’s muscles bulged.
Golden vines blazed beneath his skin as he poured every ounce of strength into his Invisible Hands.
The rusted blade was shoved away. Without wasting the opening, Edgar stepped inside the Nightmare’s guard.
His fist shot forward.
BOOOOM!!
The punch landed squarely in the crater left by the Ballista.
The Headless Nightmare staggered backwards. Before it could recover, another stone slammed into its side.
The remaining boulders struck one after another, forcing the commander further and further back.
Its cracked armour caved in with each impact.
Edgar pursued relentlessly. He wasn’t giving the monster a single moment to recover.
The Headless Nightmare suddenly planted one foot into the ground.
Its retreat came to an abrupt halt as its rusted sword swept sideways.
SHIIING!!
A crimson arc burst from the blade.
One Soul Guardian rushed in and took the attack head-on.
The Guardian was hurled dozens of metres away before crashing heavily into the ground.
The other two Soul Guardians flanked the Nightmare from both sides.
The Headless Nightmare calmly shifted its stance.
The Guardian on the left threw the first punch.
BOOOOM!!
The Nightmare caught the fist with one hand.
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air.
Before it could retaliate, the second Guardian’s fist crashed into its side.
BANG!!
The cracked armour dented inward.
The Headless Nightmare staggered half a step.
Edgar didn’t waste the opportunity. Using all four Invisible Hands, he launched himself into the air.
His right fist glowed with brilliant golden light as the vines beneath his skin blazed like molten gold.
BOOOOOOM!!
The punch struck directly against the Nightmare’s breastplate.
The already fractured armour finally gave way.
CRAAACK!!
Spiderweb-like cracks spread across the dull metal.
The Headless Nightmare’s feet sank deep into the earth beneath the overwhelming force.
"My Lord!!"
A familiar voice echoed from behind, and Edgar immediately knew what to do.
He quickly jumped back, and so did the other Soul Guardians.
From behind him, Gordon leapt forward with his sword.
The veteran knight crossed the distance in a single explosive burst. His weathered sword gleamed beneath the Eternal Night.
Every muscle in his body swelled as Aura erupted around him.
"HAAAAH!!"
He swung with every ounce of strength he possessed.
SHIIING!!
The blade tore through the air with frightening speed. The Headless Nightmare barely had time to raise its rusted sword.
CLAAANG!!
The two weapons collided. A deafening metallic shriek echoed across the battlefield.
The force generated by the clash blasted the surrounding corpses away.
The already fractured ground beneath their feet shattered even further.
The moment the two became locked in a contest of strength, Edgar acted.
Using two Invisible Hands, he propelled himself forward like an arrow.
The remaining two Soul Guardians charged alongside him.
Golden vines blazed across his arm as Edgar closed the distance.
BOOOOM!!
His punch landed directly on the cracked breastplate.
CRAAASH!!
Fragments of blackened metal scattered across the battlefield.
The two Soul Guardians seized the opportunity.
Each grabbed one of the Nightmare’s arms and yanked them backward, exposing its chest.
SHIIING!!
Gordon’s blade traced a brilliant silver arc toward the Nightmare’s exposed torso.
The sword pierced straight through the Headless Nightmare’s heart.
Black blood sprayed into the air. Slowly, the ghost-type deity lost its strength.
The next moment, its body collapsed onto the ground. Just like that, the Headless Nightmare fell.
At the same instant, the voices of the Bell Demon vanished.
Edgar immediately reignited the ⟨Unbroken Fire⟩.
Not far away, Semele continued watching Edgar with an enchanting smile on her face.
Whatever she was thinking remained known only to her.