[A Memento is responding to your presence...]

  [A long lost Memento is deeply moved by your aspirations.]

  [Obtaining Memento…]

  “What?!”

  Sensing a change in the atmosphere, Somnu’s eyes immediately turned to what was going on behind him.

  From deep within the treasure hoard, as if passing right through them, two of the same object floated upwards, likely a set. The bright violet shine coming from them began to envelop the surroundings like a dim night falling on a bright sunny day.

  Somnu couldn’t help but watch in awe at the sight in front of him. Ever since he had fallen into his coma and been brought to the Nightmare Realm, all he was met with were Nightmare Creatures, horrors and constant fear.

  His entire life, the only time he could experience such wonders were through fictional stories.

  After all, Somnu had never had a dream of his own.

  He could never lie down, go to sleep and explore an imagination of wonders.

  However, now, right in front of him, he was finally able to experience such a magical sight.

  Even Fala had landed next to him, mesmerized by the encounter.

  Perhaps it had been sheer luck, or a coincidence, but Somnu knew better. Even with the System messages clearly confirming it, Somnu could similarly feel it.

  This Memento, this floating glowing object had chosen him specifically for a reason.

  They were a set of sickles, fit for a scarecrow.

  [Memento obtained.]

  [Memento recalibrated to suit the new owner.]

  [Memento Name: Eclipsed Requiem.]

  [Current Memento Grade: Primal.]

  [Your new Memento, {Eclipsed Requiem} has successfully recalled a fragment of its original ability.]

  [Current Memento Level: Lvl 1.]

  [Current Ability Grade: Primal.]

  [Memento Ability: Nightcleaving Harvest.]

  [Ability Description: The night stands as a boundary between life and death. The violet moon’s cycles shall be your guide, cleaving all that may eclipse your path.]

  Somnu could barely even read the new messages popping up, his eyes were firmly focusing on the two glowing violet sickles floating down to his arms.

  “...”

  The moment he grabbed the tightly wrapped black and purple handles, a new flow of energy rushed through him, making him fix his posture and take a deep breath.

  Studying it as the violet glow began to dim, he quickly noticed the perfect craftsmanship from the edge of the handles, down the blade curves depicting a crescent shape. Although Somnu had never used one, it seemed these were double-edged sickles, sharp on both sides of the curves.

  If its faint violet glow and unusual entrance hadn’t made it obvious, the ornamental design and the rune carvings along the blunt part of the blades confirmed the otherworldly feeling it gave off. Somnu just wished he could read it. It seemed as though his [Multilingual Comprehension] skill had been completely useless thus far.

  Even so, he was glad. He finally got himself a Memento, a weapon he could use.

  A weapon that fit him perfectly as a farmer, as a scarecrow.

  And just as it fit him, he fit the Memento perfectly.

  “I don’t know what to say…” He finally let out, still mesmerized by the two objects he was holding. “Do you see this, Fala? With these, I can finally… I can finally fight back.”

  “Caaw!” Fala flew up and landed on his left shoulder, her mood seemingly much better now.

  “What do you think it can actually do though?” He asked his crow companion, not awaiting an answer. “The description is very vague again, but I can try it out and learn about it before heading out.”

  However, before that, Somnu went through his System messages again, making sure to read them carefully. In that process, he came across some messages he had missed earlier.

  [Note: Mementos are forgotten echoes of the past. When a Sleeper dies, their Dream Catcher may live on. If another Sleeper is chosen by them to take on the mantle of the original owner, the Dream Catcher becomes a Memento, resets, and then offers its new allegiances. Only by consuming Ego Particles and leveling up is it able to recall more fragments of its original ability.]

  [Note: Mementos can be traded with another Sleeper if compatibility arises and the Memento is willing.]

  “So, these sickles were someone’s Dream Catcher once. After that person died, they waited here all this time to find someone new…” As Somnu realized the implications of the words he was uttering, along with the true significance behind the act of choosing him, a rush of emotions overwhelmed him. “I’ll do my best… I promise.”

  Brushing the tip of his nose with his sleeves, Somnu quickly regathered himself and focused on the matter at hand.

  “This new weapon is still in its early phase, that means from now on, I have to split the Ego Particles between it and Grudgekeeper.”

  He wondered, but the moment those words were heard-

  “!”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  In a matter of a second, Somnu was thankfully able to cancel the use of Eclipsed Requiem, or in better words, he sent them to his inventory, just in time to save them.

  “What are you doing?!” Somnu shouted, looking down.

  He was received with only silence. Nevertheless, he had seen it clearly.

  Grudgekeeper tried to consume the new Memento.

  “Don’t do that again! You won’t be eating much if I’m dead, will you?” He tried to reason with a mindless outfit, the absurdity of the fact not lost on him. He could only sigh. “Whatever, I’ll just be careful.”

  “Caaw!”

  “!”

  Not waiting, Fala urged him to follow her again.

  “Wait! I wanted to try the weapon out first!”

  But to no avail, he had to start jogging after her.

  One last glance in the room made him narrow his eyes slightly, then he followed Fala outside of the treasure room.

  “Why are you in such a rush-?!”

  CRAAASH!

  Just as he reached the hallway again and tried to reprimand Fala, the sound of the treasure room crashing on itself quickly changed his mind.

  It could have only meant one thing.

  Whatever destroyed the ceiling when he first got here was indeed still out there.

  And it was hunting him.

  “Let’s go.” He stretched his arms and walked forward, summoning his new Memento. “Find us some zombies to kill.”

  “Caaw!”

  ***

  It wasn’t long before Fala scouted two zombies and led them to her master.

  They were still in the hallway that seemed to go in circles, but Fala had confirmed the location of an exit previously, so Somnu wasn’t worried.

  However…

  “!”

  The second he saw the zombies again, or the Contagious Corpses, Somnu shuddered in place. He felt the multiple fears the Nightmare Creatures were based upon quickly got enhanced. His breathing began to grow heavy, beads of sweat ran down his face and a slight quiver creeped in.

  That’s right, the System didn’t send me a confirmation that I overcame these fears. I couldn’t… He thought, remembering their last encounter. If anything, that was too much trauma. I’m more terrified of them than ever.

  Nevertheless, Somnu gritted his teeth and stood his ground. He waited, knowing full well the worst was yet to come.

  These zombies carried a rotting infection, along with the need to tear out and eat your own flesh. However, that was only an issue if he let them get close enough again.

  I won’t let that happen!

  [Straw Strike.] [Rooted Vigil.]

  Holding his new Memento, Somnu grounded himself in the ground, increasing his perception and reaction speed while at the same time, he called forth straws to cover his hands just in case.

  “GROUGHHH!”

  “WRAAAGH!”

  The zombies finally came into view.

  “Do I look like delicious corn to you?” He shouted, grabbing their attention as Fala joined his side. “Come and get it if you want!”

  “!”

  The second they saw him, smelled his fear, they took off running with their arms flapping in the wind.

  Alright! Let’s try this quickly!

  THUD! THUD!

  A moment later, both zombies had suddenly fallen headfirst into the ground.

  The first thing Somnu did was use his straws better.

  Although it almost took all his energy, he guided them underground in advance and emerged only a dozen or so meters away to grab onto the zombie’s ankles, sending them crashing down.

  And then, tightening his grip on the new sickles he got, he lowered his knees and swung them both in opposite directions in front of him as if drawing a cross.

  “!”

  Even Somnu was slightly taken aback when he saw the two glowing violet blades release two crescent-shaped slashes made out of pure compressed energy.

  A moment later, both zombies were cleaved in two, splitting them almost perfectly in the middle.

  “Holy…! That's amazing! Did you see that, Fala?” He addressed the bird landing on his shoulder again. “I’ve got nothing to fear now! No more running from now on!”

  As he took a step closer, Fala flew forward and started its own hunt on the still active worms and flies.

  A moment later, the System came alive again.

  [You have slain a Nightmare Creature!]

  [...]

  [Calculating all rewards…]

  [All rewards calculations are complete.]

  [You have obtained 2 Gray Terror Cores and 7 Transparent Terror Cores.]

  [Current available Transparent Terror Cores in storage: 27 Terror Cores.]

  [Would you like to consume available Terror Cores now?]

  Go ahead.

  After receiving the rewards, and doing his usual thing, Somnu and Fala made their way to the exit.

  They didn’t find any more zombies on their way there, but they were now at Hollow Core level 21 with 2 more cores till the next level up, while Grudgekeeper was at level 37 with 4 more points needed till the next level up.

  Somnu was confident and glad, he had grown stronger, despite his current predicament. He was making progress, getting strong enough to be able to fight nightmares head on, even while afraid.

  The only two things that bothered him was first, the fact that he still hadn’t received the message about overcoming the last fears he had encountered, as if that wasn’t a System function outside of the Nightmare Layers.

  Second, and although part of him was actually glad about it, none of the Nightmare Creatures seemed to have a single Ego Particle. While that meant he couldn’t level up his new Memento any further, it also meant these monsters hadn’t killed or consumed a Sleeper yet.

  “How did the previous owner of this Memento die here then…?” Somnu wondered, but pressed on.

  He needed to get out of this mausoleum, something seemed to be destroying it.

  “Caaw!”

  “!” The second Somnu and Fala stepped out of the exit of the mausoleum, their eyes were quickly grabbed by the sky.

  A violet moon enveloped the grim night, giving the starless, desolate sky a purple hue.

  CRACK!

  “?!”

  Just then, a sudden sound alerted both newcomers.

  As their eyes came back down, they realized they were standing in a foggy graveyard, completely empty besides the countless stone statues and open graves around.

  However, one figure emerged slowly from the fog in front of Somnu.

  A figure he did not believe could possibly be in front of him.

  It looked somewhat different, shorter, arms at its sides, but there was no doubt about it. The glowing crimson eyes, the hot steam protruding through its jagged teeth, the remnants of strings that previously were sown on its mouth, the outfit he could never forget…

  It was the scarecrow monster that haunted him the second he was relocated to the Nightmare Realm.

  Seeing the wide, shaking eyes on its prey, smelling his fear once again, the scarecrow stretched its face muscles into a wide, almost gooey grin.

  Before realizing it, Somnu had taken off running.

  Running, again.

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