Somnu had another unconventional and risky idea.
So far, he couldn’t rely on his skills very much. From his arsenal of [Crow's Call], [Silent Step], [Rooted Vigil], [Straw Strike] and [Hollow Gaze], only Fala proved herself useful against the Leshen creature.
Grudgekeeper boosted his natural prowess, and helped dig him out of the hole he led himself into, but the Dream Catcher wasn’t showing any hints of providing any additional useful support, especially not that Night Terror State.
If it weren’t for Eclipsed Requiem and the enhanced natural abilities that Somnu received with every level up, he would have surely already fallen to the vines and roots whipping across the throne room, each like a hungry predator chasing their prey.
However, those weren’t enough to simply beat Somnu’s enemy this time, it had clearly proven itself stronger than a mere Specter Nightmare Creature.
Hence why Somnu had to think outside the box a little, as hesitant as he was about his idea.
I have to do it! He thought, cutting through the next batch of vines and rushing back towards the monster.
“Hahaha! Only you would think of such a method, kid!” Eamon guffawed from behind the towering gates in the safety of the hallway. “And you used to think you had no creativity because you couldn’t sleep and experience dreams!”
“What?! How do you know that?!” Somnu blurted back. “How long have you been reading my mind?!”
“Hahaha! Now that is some imagination, kiddo! Show me if you can actually succeed!”
Tsk, you just keep on saying whatever you want! Somnu decided to stop entertaining the old knight’s every whim and focused on the fight at hand. Watch me if you’re so eager to see it!
“RRRNNNGGG-KREEAAHH!”
With the mist on both sides, covering all the pillars, Somnu once again chose to charge head on at the monster, knowing full well what awaited him.
The snapping and cracking shriek from the Leshen creature resounded in that middle path, leading all the vines and roots it could spare towards the prey running head-first towards it.
“Fala!”
“Caaw!”
“!”
With flying, violet slashes rushing at the first of the charging crackling tendrils, the crow companion quickly flew up and dropped another torch between the Nightmare Creature and its extended extra limbs.
A moment later, the first vines were cut, and everything behind them burst into flames, briefly blocking the creature’s line of sight.
With [Silent Step], Somnu continued to rush forward despite the rising flames sticking on the newly regenerating wooded tendrils. He took advantage of his silenced movements and continued to cut his way forward in hopes of reaching the enemy quickly.
“Caaw!”
“SKREEECH-HHHRRRR!!”
“Fala!”
Just as the crow companion flew close to the enemy once more to give her master a few more seconds, the Leshen creature raised one arm and shot a cracking branch at Fala. In an instant, the bird’s form dropped, one of her wings completely shattered.
Dammit!! She better be okay!
Somnu quickly canceled [Crow’s Call] and jumped through the rising smoke, appearing right in front of the Leshen monster once more.
“!”
Although he had naturally expected it, the mist quickly closed in on him, looking to turn him into another extension of the Nightmare Creature.
However, this time around, he was ready for it.
I bet you didn’t expect this!!
Canceling Eclipsed Requiem, he had jumped forward once more, this time stretching his arms and legs as wide as possible, making even the deep crimson eyes of the creature widened in shock.
THUD!
“KREEK-GRH?!”
A silent second later, Somnu was hugging the Leshen creature tightly, making sure to lock both his arms and legs behind its back just before his limbs began to turn into wood again from the mist. Just to avoid a potential slip, Somnu added [Rooted Vigil] on top, almost attaching himself to the mossy and rotting enemy in front of him.
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And before the Nightmare Creature could even begin to fathom what he could be planning, Somnu shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Now, Grudgekeeper!” His voice echoed throughout the throne room. “Eat as much as you like! Eat the entire thing alive! Make it pay tenfold for what it did to Fala!”
[Your Grudge grows stronger.]
[Grudgekeeper is reacting to your resentment.]
Although he couldn’t confirm his hunch, Somnu was confident a wide grin had suddenly formed on the chest of his outfit.
I don’t have to beat it with my own hands! If I want to win… It’s okay to cheat a little!
Then, Somnu was in the nude once more as Grudgekeeper thrashed about, almost liquifying, before immediately changing hosts to the Leshen creature and began to feast on it from the inside.
However…
“CREAAK-SHRAAAHHH!!”
The Nightmare Creature wasn’t just about to stand still and let itself get eaten alive.
With its high-pitched shriek that threatened to shatter Somnu’s eardrums, came sudden spike-like branches protruding from its entire body.
“AGH!!”
Not only was Grudgekeeper skewered, filling it with even more holes than what it was still carrying from the scarecrow monster, but so was Somnu in a dozen or so places across his body. While his limbs continued to turn into wood, his torso and the side of his cheek were quickly turning red and blue, his already pale complexion quickly turning almost completely white.
The pain was quickly stretching the limits, but somehow, Somnu felt he could endure them a while longer.
Whether that was because his Hollow Core was level 21, or this pain seemed less unbearable due to the true agony and torture he had experienced against the other laughing Nightmare Creatures, he couldn't know.
Nevertheless, despite it all, Grudgekeeper continued to feast. Somnu could only hope it would be fast enough before he turned completely to a tree bark.
The Leshen monster continued to resist as best it could, attempting to grab Somnu and Grudgekeeper and throw them away, but Somnu was stuck to it as if he was a part of its very skin. On the other hand, Grudgekeeper kept reshaping any parts it lost into a new set of teeth to dig in, biting chunks out of the monster.
BOOOM!
“?!”
Just as it seemed like things were not going to go in anyone’s favor, the giant gates burst open.
“I cannot interfere, but nothing says I cannot stand right here and spectate on this comical scenery! Hahaha!” Standing proudly with his shining golden armor, Eamon Emberlyn bellowed as loudly as he could from all the way across the doorway.
It was a mere moment, but the sight of him alone had made the Leshen creature tremble in place, allowing Grugekeeper a brief advantage as it tore through the torso completely, splitting the creature in half.
In the process, Somnu fell to the ground, his nude pose still held as the wood transformation had just reached below his neck, covering his entire body.
***
“...”
Looking at the dark fog slowly dissipating inside the throne room, the old man winced slightly before raising the corners of his mouth.
Finally… He thought, then cast his eyes further into the room as if waiting for the fog to reveal his hopes. It’s only natural, a new aeon is upon us and it is the next generation that will carry this new age to its end. Whether it was planned or not, he is part of that generation now. And so is she…
The old knight had never counted the years he had waited for this moment to come, but he was finally able to set foot inside the one place that he was tied to, oathbound to.
A moment of calmness and a deep breath later, he took a step forward, and walked across the tattered, yet familiar red carpet leading to the one who had made it all possible.
The one carrying the hopes and fears of those no longer able to dream.
Or to sleep.
***
“Dammit! Come on! Turn back to normal!” Feeling the other presence slowly creeping in, Somnu mumbled to himself, hoping his body would allow him to change his pose quickly.
“The one thing I regret not having at the moment is a camera to commemorate this occasion! Hahaha!” The last knight of Nirvia laughed as he walked beside the half wooden statue. “Ah! Wait!”
“No! D-don’t tell me!”
“Yep, I actually do have one right here!”
CLACK!
Eamon summoned a modern camera and took a picture.
“Damn you! I’ll show you once I’m out of here!” Somnu shouted with resentment, and yet the System didn’t respond to his feelings this time.
“Relax, would you?” The old man said in a nonchalant tone while holding up the picture. “You want to turn back to normal, no?”
“Wait… when did you print it?!”
A moment later, Eamon tore up the picture in half, and with it, Somnu’s body turned back to normal, no more damages or wooden texture to be seen.
“There, you can get up now.”
Somnu’s eyes were still wide as he noticed his immediate change of state.
“That’s way too good! Give it to me!” He shouted as he launched himself at the old man, aiming for the camera in his hands.
“That’s not how it works, kid.” Eamon let out, canceling the summoning of one of his Mementos. “And for the goddess’ sake, cover your dignity already.”
“Ah! Grudgekeeper!” Somnu finally remembered and summoned his Dream Catcher, but even with it on, it barely covered anything with all the damage it had sustained.
“Do you just enjoy being in the nude…?” Eamon shook his head slowly. “I never pictured you as-”
“Stop it! Don’t start any weird rumors and ruin my reputation! This was a matter of survival!” Somnu paused, then repeated. “Survival, I tell you!”
“Sure thing, kid.” The old knight started walking away, towards the end of the throne room where the dark fog was still clearing. “Just collect your rewards and level it up quickly.”
“Ah, right!” Somnu realized, then called out again. “Wait! Give me that Memento too! You don’t need it, right? I want one that is that good too!”
“Patience, kid. Good things come to those who wait.”
“Huh?! Don’t give me that!” Somnu blurted out, but the next System message quickly alerted him. “What?!”
[A Memento is responding to your presence...]
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