Chapter 25: Three Factions
Because Su Xiao had been sniping from a distance all along, the Nightmare King mistakenly believed he was a despicable coward who only dared to hide far away, making him the breakthrough point in this battle. As long as he dealt with Su Xiao, and with the Great Knight having retreated, the Nightmare King estimated that he could definitely escape.
Thinking this, the Nightmare King's purple-black eyes narrowed. If he could escape, he would abandon the Nightmare World, take all his [Scroll Fragments], and go to the adjacent Inner Painting World to seek refuge with the Blazing Sun Lord. Although the other party looked down on him a bit and was stronger, they had been neighbors for many years.
A dramatic scene unfolded. The Nightmare King sprinted at full speed ahead, charging straight toward Su Xiao, with Zuiyasi and Wude chasing from behind.
In fact, Wude had a way to stop the Nightmare King from rushing at Su Xiao. The reason he didn't was because he felt something aiming at his brow. If he blocked the Nightmare King, his brow would likely take a bullet.
"Wude, what are you thinking? Hurry—"
Zuiyasi's words stopped midway as the crisis sensation of being aimed at his brow appeared. This feeling made the "eye" on his right arm stir restlessly. He knew what Wude was thinking—Wude didn't want to take a bullet.
The Nightmare King leaped into the air. He was only a few dozen meters away from Su Xiao. Mid-jump, a hint of glee and ferocity appeared in the Nightmare King's eyes. Today, he would make this despicable long-range transcendent know what his spiked hammer tasted like.
"Feel... the pain."
The Nightmare King aimed his long-handled spiked hammer at Su Xiao. Seeing this, Su Xiao put away [J·Demon].
A wave of energy spread, and both Su Xiao and the Nightmare King vanished.
Su Xiao's vision blurred for an instant, and then he found himself in a cylindrical space. Because he had been on the top floor of the building earlier, he was now falling.
After landing on the ground, Su Xiao looked around. This place had a diameter of 20 meters, like being inside an inverted bucket. The surrounding walls were made of metal plates, rotating clockwise like a tornado. Any slight touch would cause severe damage.
This ability didn't belong to the Nightmare King himself but was attached to the long-handled warhammer in his hand. For Su Xiao, this was practically a divine skill. If he could trap some agile long-range types in here, it would be a sure victory. The trapped long-range fighters would be utterly hopeless.
Bang.
The Nightmare King's long-handled spiked hammer slammed into the ground beside him. He saw the blade at Su Xiao's waist. At this point, even if the enemy had melee capabilities, the Nightmare King had no choice but to fight head-on. Besides, his weapon was a relic of some powerful existence—which one, even the Nightmare King didn't know.
"Don't bluff. Today, is your—"
Three minutes later.
Boom!
The Nightmare King shot out like a heavy cannon, kicked by Su Xiao's straight thrust into the metal wall. Then, a grating cutting sound echoed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
After three consecutive slashes, Su Xiao paused, sidestepped the Nightmare King's heavy hammer, stepped onto the hammer's long handle, and aimed three more slashes at the Nightmare King's neck. The strikes were fluid and powerful.
Su Xiao wasn't sure if the Nightmare King's heavy armor was inherently strong or enhanced by the Nightmare World, but its defense was absurdly high. He had already slashed dozens of times, plus the damage from the Great Knight, Wude, and Zuiyasi earlier, yet the armor's defense remained stubborn.
'Blade Path Sword: Flow.'
A graceful wind scar cut across, leaving a slash mark on the armor. Seeing this, Su Xiao realized his damage to the armor had increased.
The Nightmare King flipped his long-handled spiked hammer, leaning forward. Purple energy immediately wrapped around the hammer, accompanied by a howling wind, as he swung it at Su Xiao.
Boom!!
The ground beneath Su Xiao cracked. Of course, he could handle the Nightmare King. The latter had taken an Apollo, endured the Great Knight's ultimate move, and then fought Wude one-on-one for a while.
Moreover, Zuiyasi's attacks had been dealing continuous high damage to the Nightmare King. Even now, the Nightmare King's internal injuries were worsening due to Zuiyasi's ability.
The Nightmare King took a large step back, panting. He never imagined that the enemy he had trapped would be even stronger in melee combat than him. His earlier action was almost like locking himself in a room to get beaten up.
"W-Wait, you've won. The victor should take everything. My scroll fragments are all yours."
A piece of canvas appeared in the Nightmare King's hand. It was stitched together from palm-sized fragments, roughly estimated to be 20 to 25 scroll fragments.
Was the Nightmare King surrendering? Not at all. He had realized that Su Xiao and the others came for the scroll fragments, so he planned to use a trick to make them fight among themselves. He just needed to stall until his weapon's ability wore off. This ability was good in every way except that it couldn't be deactivated voluntarily.
'Blade Path Sword: Azure Demon.'
Su Xiao didn't even listen to what the Nightmare King said. As he slashed out, a blood-energy spear formed in his hand. He assumed a throwing stance and hurled the blood-energy spear with full force at the Nightmare King.
The blood-energy spear pierced through with a detonating sound, breaking through layers of air waves before striking the Nightmare King's chest. Blood energy exploded.
Within the blood energy, the Nightmare King knelt on one knee, at the end of his rope, held up only by his armor. But everything has its limits, including this armor.
With a crack, cracks appeared on the armor. After enduring successive heavy blows from the Great Knight, Zuiyasi, Su Xiao, and others, the armor finally couldn't hold out.
"You'll... come down with me."
The Nightmare King's eyes gleamed with ferocity. He released his long-handled warhammer and grabbed at Su Xiao with one hand. His right hand and gauntlet turned purple—deep, ominous.
The Nightmare King's hand grabbed Su Xiao's face, bringing him a moment of satisfaction. Though he would die here, he had at least taken someone down with him.
But the next moment, the Nightmare King's hand went through empty air. His right hand passed right through Su Xiao's head. Su Xiao was in a state of spatial penetration. Since this place was already an alternate space, it effectively enhanced the concealment of Dragon Shadow Flash.
Everything around them suddenly returned to normal. Su Xiao and the Nightmare King emerged from the alternate space. Wude and Zuiyasi's auras appeared nearby.
'Blade Path Sword: Extreme.'
Pfft!
The long blade cut through the Nightmare King's neck, slicing through armor, flesh, and bone, severing his entire head. The blade dragged a trail of blood, like a brush painting a dark-style artwork—red blood, purple moon, black iron.
The Nightmare King's eyes widened. Even now, he couldn't accept that he had died in the Nightmare World. In this world, he was almost invincible at his rank. Nightmare Town amplified his domain, and under the siege of the Black Hounds, there was no enemy he couldn't kill. His armor gave him formidable defense. Combined, even the Blazing Sun Lord could be challenged in the Nightmare World.
The canvas in the Nightmare King's hand flew up. Su Xiao flashed forward, grabbing at it with one hand.
Spatial fluctuations appeared opposite him. Wude appeared ahead, also grabbing the canvas, but with a slightly smaller grip than Su Xiao.
Several tentacles also shot out, forming a hand that grabbed the canvas simultaneously with Su Xiao and Wude.
Rip!
The canvas was torn into three pieces. Su Xiao immediately stowed away his piece.
[Prompt: You have obtained Scroll Fragments ×9.]
[You have slain the Nightmare King.]
[You have obtained 10.19% World Source (Main Painting World World Source). Due to the participation of Devil Clan Wude and Doom Star Zuiyasi in this kill, this reward has been reduced.]
[You have obtained the Nightmare Chest (Chest-type item; this reward has not been reduced).]
...
With 9 [Scroll Fragments] in hand, Su Xiao wasn't about to let it go. Facing these two good teammates, of course, he wanted it all.
"Look at you two getting excited. Let's split the spoils evenly—no need to fight."
Zuiyasi spoke up. He had gotten the fewest fragments.
"Yeah, I agree."
Wude also expressed his stance.
"Fine."
Su Xiao naturally wouldn't refuse.
Then, the three faced off for nearly two minutes. No one took out any [Scroll Fragments].
"White Night, five scroll fragments. Let's take out Zuiyasi together."
Wude spoke. Hearing this, Zuiyasi chuckled and said:
"White Night, I'll give you seven. Let's kill Wude together. That guy has some kind of trump card—very dangerous."
"..."
Su Xiao narrowed his eyes, causing Wude's aura to tighten. If it were him, he would definitely agree.
[Announcement (Void Tree): You are about to leave the Nightmare World.]
Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao rushed to the Nightmare King's corpse in a few steps and picked up the chest.
Seeing Su Xiao move, Wude and Zuiyasi also charged forward.
'Blade Path Sword: Time!'
Thump~
A shockwave spread. Wude and Zuiyasi both slowed down. Zuiyasi grabbed at Wude's face with one hand, while Su Xiao's blade thrust toward Zuiyasi's neck.
The next moment, Su Xiao, Wude, and Zuiyasi appeared in the main painting world's castle first-floor reception hall. Zuiyasi's hand stopped, and Su Xiao's blade tip didn't advance further.
"Oh? What's going on?"
Molei, sitting on a nearby chair, looked utterly confused. This plot was way too complicated, and without subtitles, she didn't understand a thing.
"Occasional sparring is quite nice."
Zuiyasi patted Wude's shoulder. Wude sat down calmly, and Su Xiao sheathed his long blade, as if nothing had happened.
In the reception hall, Molei, Yueshitu, Yinqi Sawyer, female spellcaster Luo Xi, Lilim, Tianyu, and others were all present. When Su Xiao and the other two returned, everyone turned to look.
Luo Xi's gaze carried a hint of anger—not because she lost, but because she had been manipulated too thoroughly earlier.
[Prompt: The first Inner Painting World has been fully explored. Restrictions on the main painting world's castle second floor have been lifted.]
[All participants may rest in the main painting world for 12 hours. After 12 hours, all participants will enter the "Sand Painting."]
[Prompt: Upon entering the next Inner Painting World, all participants will be divided into three factions: Good Faction / Neutral Faction / Evil Faction (Different factions will receive different initial identities. They will be in mutual opposition or hostile relationships. The Neutral Faction is relatively special).]
[Prompt: You have experienced the first Inner Painting World. To complete this round of the Scroll Battle, you must not only compete but also cooperate when necessary. The cooperation situation in the Nightmare World will determine the allocation of this three-faction system.]
[Good Faction Personnel: Sawyer, Luo Xi (Arcane Eternal Star), Lilim (Demon Clan), Molei, Yueshitu (Apocalypse Paradise).]
[Neutral Faction Personnel: Tianyu (Feather Clan).]
[Evil Faction: Zuiyasi (Doom Star), Wude (Devil Clan), White Night (Reincarnation Paradise).]
...
Seeing this faction allocation, Molei and Yueshitu instantly turned to stone. It looked like 5 vs. 3, but that wasn't the case at all.
"How the hell are we supposed to fight this?"
Yueshitu's mouth was as sweet as honey as she couldn't help but curse. She was completely shattered.