Wizard: Starting With the Knights Breathing Method Chapter 3113: 639: Nightmare’s Defeat
Previously on Wizard: Starting With the Knights Breathing Method...
Whether to return to the Nightmare or to seek refuge elsewhere would be a matter for later discussion.
For the present moment, the priority is to preserve our fighting forces.
While the Nightmare Will persists, its complete dominion over the Nightmare World remains elusive.
After all, the world itself is merely an extension of its will.
Regarding the plundering of resources, no immediate solution can be found.
Confronted by the Underworld Source River, the Nightmare Will began to feel its strength wane.
In essence, all Nightmare Creatures were its progeny.
Yet, a significant number of these offspring had now turned against it.
This betrayal fueled its rage and inflicted a deep sense of humiliation.
"Is my reign truly drawing to a close?"The Nightmare Will refused to accept this.
However, reality was unavoidable.
"Order a full retreat!"The Nightmare Will expended a substantial portion of its primordial essence, achieving a temporary surge in power. This enabled it to shake the very fabric of the Universe, ultimately breaking free from the constraints of the Mother River.
Having fallen close to Level 11 Mid Stage as a consequence, the Nightmare Will, along with the Blood and Flesh Palace and several nearby Monarchs, vanished swiftly.
The Underworld Source River unleashed potent yellow currents, scouring the Universe in its search.
Ultimately, the Nightmare Will evaded detection.
A prudent hare, it is said, possesses numerous burrows.
In the nascent stages of the Nightmare World's creation, a contingency against the astral world was established, and the Nightmare Will had undoubtedly secured a hidden sanctuary outside its own domain.
Its whereabouts would remain unknown for the immediate future.
However, from the perspective of the Mother River, the Universe is finite. With its influence reaching across the Multidimensional Planes, discovery was merely a matter of time.
Meanwhile, on another front.
Simultaneously, the Master of Horror exerted his might, compelling the Netherworld Ancestor to fall back.
The simultaneous retreat of these two supreme combatants was indeed a momentous event.
At this juncture, all Nightmare Creatures understood: they had suffered defeat.
The Nightmare's fate was sealed.
A wave of panic swept through their ranks, and a surge of middle and lower-tier forces began to defect.
They were incapable of prolonged absence from the Nightmare World.
Rather than remain in hiding, it was advantageous to switch allegiances and serve a new master!
Naturally, a greater number of Nightmare Creatures dispersed and fled.
Some escaped into the vastness of the Multidimensional Planes, while others sought refuge within the Life Dream.
However, the majority retreated to the familiar confines of the Nightmare World.
The Nightmare Monarchs were the swiftest to flee. With the two supreme powers creating a diversion, each using their unique abilities to force Nora's strongest combatants back, over 180 of them vanished instantly. Figures like the [Forgotten Monarch], at the Level 10 Peak, made a rapid withdrawal, their current locations unknown.
Nora and the Netherworld's elite forces made every effort to intercept. Levi, the Netherworld Ancestor, and even the Mother River herself intervened, ultimately resulting in 101 Monarchs remaining on the battlefield.
"Surround them completely; do not allow a single one to escape!"The tide of the conflict had turned. With the addition of several defecting Monarchs, Nora's contingent, now numbering nearly three hundred Level 10 elites, would find it simple to subdue the remaining forces.
This group of over 100 monarchs was plunged into absolute despair.
They had lost their chance to escape and were now abandoned, ensnared by the formidable barrier of water conjured by the Mother River, effectively imprisoned.
The Netherworld Ancestor and the Chaos Emperor, two supreme beings, pressed their assault relentlessly.
Facing the combined might of three supremes, resistance was futile.
As for loyalty to the Nightmare? Hadn't their leader already abandoned them?
The Ignorant Monarch and the Sloth Demon Lord appeared, proclaiming:
"Fellow beings, surrender. The larger conflict has already been decided."Levi stated:
"The Mother River is present; your escape is impossible. Your survival or demise rests entirely on your decision. I shall grant you one day to deliberate."What followed was a day of immense psychological strain, lasting 24 hours.
In the end, all 101 monarchs yielded!
They knelt upon the ground, their imposing stature completely diminished, stripped of all former majesty.
In that moment, they descended from their former heights to utter dust, becoming prisoners of war.
This was a fate they had never conceived.
Levi deliberately summoned Fingal.
Fingal administered oaths, requiring the monarchs to swear allegiance to their new lord and an oath binding them to the Excalibur.
Coupled with the oath of the congress round table, this formed a formidable triple-layered commitment.
The Netherworld Ancestor inquired:
"How shall these monarchs be treated? Should Fingal escort them back to the Nightmare?"Levi responded:
"Not for the time being; they shall remain under Nora's custody."The Nightmare Will and the Master of Horror remained at large.
Until they were apprehended, the Nightmare World would not be secure, and there was a considerable risk that the Nightmare Will might employ extraordinary measures to reassert control over these monarchs.
After all, they were all born from the very essence of the Nightmare World.
On the ravaged battlefield, various combat units commenced the task of clearing the aftermath.
Levi announced loudly:
"We have achieved an initial victory in this war, but two supreme powers and approximately 200 remaining Monarchs are still at large and yet to be eliminated."Let's quickly clear the battlefield, return to Nora for recuperation, arrange for the fallen, tend to the wounded, and sort through the spoils of war. A second wave of attacks will commence shortly.
We will be proceeding along two separate paths.
One contingent will advance into the Nightmare World, joining forces with the Dusk Army to swiftly annihilate any remnants who have fled there. Their mission will be to gather resources and replenish what was consumed in the war.
The other group will relentlessly pursue the remaining Nightmare forces. No matter where they seek refuge, we will chase them to the very end, until both the Nightmare Will and the Master of Horror are utterly extinguished!
Press on with our remaining courage, but do not seek personal glory like the Overlords!
Leaving such calamities unchecked will forever leave Nora vulnerable.
"Emperor!"
"Emperor!"
"Chairman of the Grand Council!"
Uproarious cheers erupted from the shadows.
Regardless of the cost, Nora had achieved victory.
In eighty years, they had eliminated 108 monarchs, 1364 overlords, and vanquished one-third of the Nightmare's supreme beings. The colossal Nightmare had been reduced to half its former might.
On Nora's side.
Thus far, fewer than 28 individuals at Level 10 had perished or sustained injuries, with over 360 at Level 9 also affected.
Considering the scale of the civil war, these were minimal losses.
A feat unprecedented and unlikely to be seen again.
Naturally, the transportation capabilities of the Ancient Tower were indispensable.
Without them, Nora's losses in this conflict would have easily doubled.
Everyone recognized the immense contributions of the Grand Council Chairman.
Over eighty years, he manifested as the Dragon-headed Giant, standing firm within the most perilous Disaster World, directly confronting supreme-level assaults, and single-handedly eradicating the Lord of Disaster!
He remained at Level 10 throughout.
Then there was Hera of the Void Holy Temple.
Though her time at the supreme level was brief.
She shone with the brilliance of a meteor.
Nora's losses would have been incalculable without her intervention.
Every soul who made the ultimate sacrifice in this war deserves eternal remembrance!
...
One month later.
Tranquility had returned to the battlefield.
Only the cleanup crews continued their meticulous search for any remaining spoils of war.
The Underworld Source River and the Netherworld Ancestor retreated to the Underworld to rest and recover.
With a single, effortless strike, the Netherworld Ancestor dispatched the Water Demon Lord.
This particular entity, trapped within the Eight Formation Map for a full eighty years, had endured immense suffering.
Gargamel encountered another significant opportunity.
With the assistance of the Netherworld Ancestor, his Sealing Demon Book gained a formidable new acquisition:
The Water Demon Lord.
However, his current cultivation level was insufficient, preventing him from wielding this power directly for fear of a backlash. Only upon reaching the Ten-Ring Senior stage would he be capable of even partially commanding this Demon Lord.
This would grant him formidable, top-tier strength.
The Netherworld Ancestor Hall also returned to its domain within the Underworld.
The Mother River, though regaining its peace, did not cease its search for any sign of the Nightmare Will.
Another severe blow like this would reduce the Nightmare to the Mid Stage of Level 11, stripping it of its eligibility to become a giant and ensuring it could never again rival her.
The Netherworld Ancestor reclined in the spring water.
Her mood was somber, still grieving the loss of her only daughter.
From start to finish, Hera had never uttered a word to her.
The "Sorren Quotations" resting on the table emitted a soft luminescence.
The Netherworld Ancestor picked it up, opened it, and her gaze sharpened.
Suddenly, a smile graced her lips, a sight unseen for eons.
"Madam, I shall find Hera."