The Dreamer's POV

The night was filled with the sound of despair.

It echoed in the narrow crevices of the rocky terrain, seeping into the bark of trees and the soil beneath, carrying the scent of fear and impending death.

<Carnage Beast (Lvl 4)> and <Carnage Beast (Lvl 5)>, the monstrosities unleashed upon the base of the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance, were the harbingers of that despair.

They moved in perfect sync, their terrifyingly sharp claws and fangs rending through the shadows that dared to cross their path, their eyes a crimson glow against the night's cloak.

Each shadow they came across was dispatched with brutal efficiency, the shrill cries of their victims splitting the night, only to be smothered by the throaty growls of the beasts.

The shadows, once feared as the silent killers of the dark, were now the hunted, their forms dissolving into puffs of smoke as they met their untimely end.

The terrain around the base had turned into a macabre tableau of death.

Blood seeped into the ground, dyeing the soil a gruesome shade of crimson, and the scattered remains of the shadows lay strewn around in grotesque formations.

Their forms, which once blended seamlessly with the darkness, were now laid bare in their vulnerability, their essence extinguished.

Amidst this carnage, the beasts stood tall, their monstrous forms illuminated by the moon's ghastly light.

The glow lent an eerie sheen to the blood and viscera that clung to their furred bodies, their eyes reflecting a hunger unsated.

The entire area surrounding the base had descended into chaos, the once stealthy hideout of the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance now a blood-soaked battlefield.

The beasts had turned the tide of the night, their ferocious onslaught leaving a trail of death and despair in their wake.

As the night wore on, the screams of the fallen shadows gradually grew faint, replaced by the growls and snarls of the beasts.

The base that was once buzzing with covert activity had now fallen ominously silent, save for the occasional roar of the creatures echoing in the darkness, a grim testament to the devastation they had wreaked.

********

[00 Months: 15 Days: 13 Hours]

"Perfect."

Fully garbed in my dark cloak, the wind had been flapping against it in the eerie silence of the night as I watched the chaos unfold before me.

The landscape, once filled with the hidden threats of the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance, was now littered with remnants of the deceased.

My Minions, the <Carnage Beast (Lvl 4)> and <Carnage Beast (Lvl 5)>, had done an excellent job.

Their roars and growls had formed a strange symphony that reverberated through the night, each note bringing a sense of satisfaction.

A glance at the carnage that my beasts had wreaked had brought a grin to my face, stretching from ear to ear. "Ah... the fruits of my labor."

I ran my gloved fingers over my necklace, then down to the rings, as I felt the surge of power coursing through my veins.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The energy pulsing within me was electrifying.

My levels had jumped up twice already, their endeavors feeding my own strength. This... was the sweet taste of progress.

'I'm now Level 38. Not bad for a start…'

My eyes had narrowed in on the battlefield, observing the aftermath.

There must have been hundreds upon hundreds of shadows slain by my beasts.

Each a testament to the power I commanded.

Each an affirmation of the strength I'd achieved.

Each a step toward my final goal.

"Hehe…"

I let out a chuckle, the sound resonating through the silent night, adding to the symphony my beasts had created.

The thrill of the battle had my heart racing, the satisfaction filling me up to the brim.

The time had come. The moment I had been waiting for. It was time to bring out the big guns. I flexed my gloved hand and called upon the skill I'd been waiting to use.

The one I hadn't used, not even once.

'The conditions have been met. Let's see what you can do…' My grin broadened.

"<Carnage>"

With that, I let the dark power course through me, filling me with an adrenaline rush like no other.

[Skill Name: <Carnage>]

~Allows the User to increase his Stats by 1% the more enemies he kills, as long as a total of 100 enemies have been killed already. {Lasts as long as there are enemies around. Raises Stats per 1 enemy killed. Does not require Energy}~

I already understood what this meant.

'This is a Skill meant purely for a massacre.'

It was finally time to show them, both the troops standing behind me, and the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance, the full extent of my power.

'The night is still young.'

*********

A tight knot of anxiety twisted in Theo's stomach as he slipped through the ranks, his disguise cloaking his true identity.

The weight of the Lyma Family name was heavy upon his shoulders, but to the soldiers around him, he was simply another face in the crowd. Using a special artifact of the Lyma Family, he was currently under the guise of a regular soldier.

This was a compulsory condition he had to fulfill in order to come for this mission, so he had to agree.

Throughout the mission, he kept himself within the protective sphere of Benard and Drius, feeling a little more secure in their shadow.

And currently… he was more than grateful for the nature of this arrangement.

The creaking gears of war had been set into motion, and the troupe was inching ever closer to the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance's lair.

Yet, the palpable fear spreading like wildfire through the ranks was not triggered by the prospect of the fierce enemies that lay ahead. Instead, it was born from the terror of the power that was on their side, the beastly might of their leader, Luke.

Kendrick was a clear reflection of this fear.

The haughty arrogance that had marked him earlier was replaced by a thin veneer of fright. Yet, in his eyes, there was also a profound sense of gratitude, a relief that he had been spared the full wrath of Luke's power.

Benard's usual jovial expression had slipped away to reveal a pale, anxious face. His lips were pressed tightly together as he trudged ahead, deep in thought.

The always vigilant Drius, was now even more cautious, his eyes darting to Luke now and then with an unmistakable wariness.

Theo couldn't blame them.

Luke's power was terrifying, a force to be reckoned with. The young heir himself could feel the cold tendrils of fear creeping into his heart.

But within that fear, lay a desperate ambition.

He wanted - no, needed - that power to be on the Lyma family's side. With Luke, their family's influence could reach unimaginable heights.

'Luke… your power is unnatural. And even now I feel like you have yet to show me all you're capable of.'

He could only hope that this immense power would never be turned against them. Because if it did, Theo knew, they wouldn't stand a chance.

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[A/N]

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