“The grinning skull?! You can’t mean…!”

  “I do.”

  The moment he heard the name, the image of the bloodied mark still on the wall in his mother’s bedroom flashed into Somnu’s mind.

  Without realizing it, he had taken a step back, a sudden tightness grabbing at his throat and heart. There were no Nightmare Creatures around for any of his active fears to be enhanced…

  However, this wasn’t simply an active fear.

  This was Somnu’s trauma.

  “B-but that can’t be possible…!” He blurted out, rejecting the very idea. “H-he’s in prison! And didn’t you say this happened a long time ago?! I don’t even know how you have lived that long, but he can’t possibly have…”

  “Relax, Somnu.” Eamon tried to step closer to the scarecrow kid. “Take deep breaths and calm down. Remember, you aren’t the same boy that first came across that mark, you have grown bigger, stronger, wiser.”

  “...”

  “You can face and overcome this fear too.” The old knight added as he patted Somnu on the head. “Just like you can finally approach those who you have avoided until now.”

  “Stop doing that, nothing is more annoying than a witty old man, than one who can know everything I’m thinking.” Somnu let out as he shoved the old geezer’s hand away. “Answer my question!”

  Eamon seemed to take a moment to consider his next words, then spoke, cutting right to chase.

  “The one who killed your mother, the John Doe without a known identity, isn’t just a normal human murderer.”

  “?!”

  “It’s very likely that you will encounter him…” The old knight paused, then shook his head slowly. “No, you will definitely have to face him at least once in the Abyss of Lethe.”

  Hearing that, Somnu felt his hands begin to shake, but immediately clenched them into fists.

  Yes, he had been traumatized and scared of that mark for his entire life.

  And he knew it wasn’t going to be so easy to simply get over it now, it was going to be a long and painful journey.

  And yet, nevertheless, he had to face the one who took away everything he held dear, the caring mother who took care of him all on her own, stayed up most nights just to keep him company, and tried her best to make him feel validated and seen.

  Now that he had heard the murderer will be in the first layer of the Nightmare Realm, and that they would definitely meet, a premonition Somnu wouldn’t dare doubt coming from the Mythborn Eamon Emberlyn, the scarecrow knew what he needed to do.

  I’ll take care of the Nightmare Creatures… I’ll complete the quests and wake up from my coma… I’ll even force myself to talk to others and to form bonds of friendship… But before all of that… Somnu narrowed his shimmering purple eyes as he dug his nails into his palms again.

  He had lived most of his waking life without relying on violence. The few times he had done so when he got really low… ended up very badly for everyone involved.

  However, despite his gentle and mild nature as a kid, he had always felt a deep anger growing within him, an ever-increasing flame of resentment towards the world, everyone around him, the murderer, and especially, towards himself.

  There were instances where he had felt that same resentment manifesting already. When he had first gotten Grudgekeeper, he knew it wasn’t a simple coincidence. His resentment had reacted to him against multiple Nightmare Creatures, even reaching a boiling point against the scarecrow monster.

  And now, that resentment was once again shooting through the roof at the mere thought of being able to avenge his mother.

  At the thought of finally being able to face the murderer himself and do something about those pent-up feelings which he had harbored, and fertilized, for almost a decade.

  I’ll kill him with my bare hands!

  ***

  “...”

  Seeing the twisted expression forming on the previously innocent kid, Eamon couldn’t help but close his eyes. Even if he knew this was for the best, he couldn’t simply accept the change the kid was going through.

  Part of him had hoped Somnu would stay innocent and gentle forever, just like his mother had been…

  And yet, he had pushed him into the fight with the Woodland Spirit out of selfish reasons. Not only had Eamon hoped Somnu would win, but his main goal had been to force Somnu into another confrontation with the Nightmare Creatures as fast as possible.

  The truth was, Somnu had clearly still been shaken up from his last encounter in the misty graveyard. Even when he had tried his best to hide it, Eamon could naturally see through it.

  And although putting him against the Woodland Spirit was risky and dangerous in many ways than one, Eamon was glad Somnu could overcome his initial sense of panic.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Now, despite not telling him everything, Eamon had to rely on keeping Somnu’s focus linear. And despite the changes happening within the kid, the nature of the scarecrow would always ensure to keep him from straying.

  Surviving the Nightmare Realm demanded such change, for better or worse. And yet, the old man simply could not bear to see the kid’s face continue to show that much hatred.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something, kid?” The old knight forced the conversation to shift, once again moving things forward to save some time.

  “I haven’t forgotten…” Somnu mumbled, then furrowed his brows. “I’m just… scared of the worst…”

  “Do it. It’ll be fine.”

  “Crow’s Call!”

  ***

  After hesitating for another second, Somnu finally tried summoning Fala once more.

  “!”

  The moment she appeared out of the smoke above him, she fell down like a rock. He barely managed to catch her before her figure hit the ground.

  “Fala! Dammit! Her wing is still…!” Somnu bit his lip as he looked down at his crow companion, bleeding and shivering in his palms. “Mr. Emberlyn… please…!”

  “...”

  After a moment of deliberation and likely listening to the Lightmares spirits, the old knight seemed to figure it out.

  “The crow is a product of your Dream Catcher, then?” He asked, despite knowing the answer. “Try leveling it up with the recent rewards you got.”

  I’m sorry, everyone… I’ll do my best to use them effectively and avenge you too… Without further hesitation, Somnu brought up the related pop-up messages.

  [Ego Particles Available: 999]

  [2 Mementos and 1 Dream Catcher detected.]

  [Would you like to consume available Ego Particles?]

  Yes, have Grudgekeeper consume 124 Ego Particles.

  [Processing…]

  [Grudgekeeper has consumed 124 Ego Particles.]

  [Your Dream Catcher has leveled up!]

  [Your Dream Catcher has leveled up!]

  [...]

  [Dream Catcher Level: Lvl 50.] {With 10 more cores to the next level up.}

  “?!”

  As soon as that message popped up, Somnu looked back at Fala.

  “Caaw!”

  Suddenly, her wing had rapidly healed with the benefits of 13 extra levels. Not only that, but she seemed a little bigger once more, with black smoke leaking from her feathers.

  Then, without warning, the crow’s figure seemed to split into two as another Fala distorted out from the original one and flew up towards the ceiling like a bird that had been caged for ages.

  “What?!” Startled, Somnu jolted in place. “How did you…?”

  Following his question, the new pop-up message cleared things up.

  [You have accumulated more grudge.]

  [Grudgekeeper has grown much stronger.]

  [Additional Skill obtained.]

  [Crow’s Clone.]

  [Crow’s Clone: Your familiar is able to split in two to double its efficiency.]

  Is this because Grudgekeeper reached level 50? Somnu questioned inwardly, then turned back to the Fala still in his palms. “I’m glad you’re okay, Fala. Sorry you had to go through that…”

  “Caaw!”

  Without delay, Fala flew up and landed on Somnu’s right shoulder, letting out a proud and dignified caaw.

  “I’m glad you’re so cheerful…”

  “She said. ‘It’s because my master is incompetent that I have to work harder.’” Eamon added from the side. “Her words, not mine.”

  “What?! Is that really how low you think of me?!” Somnu cried out. “Wait, you can understand her?!”

  Instead of an answer, Eamon simply smiled and shrugged.

  Of course he can… He can do anything… Somnu thought, then quickly remembered that one skill that Eamon had which was an upgraded version of his, {Complete Multilingual Comprehension}. Maybe that’s what allowed him to understand her? Will I get mine upgraded soon too?

  He wasn’t quite sure if he should be excited or not about being able to communicate with his crow familiar in the future. He had a feeling it might be more trouble than it was worth.

  “Caaw!”

  “Aw! Hey!”

  As if sensing his doubts, Fala started poking him in the side of his head.

  “...”

  Somnu noticed Mr. Emberlyn watch them with a smile, before quickly clenching a fist and interrupting the fun banter.

  “Somnu.”

  “!”

  “Follow me.”

  Although confused, Somnu did as he was told and followed the old knight. Fala and her clone on the other hand, flew towards the Leshen creature’s remaining split corpse to consume it too.

  After walking for a few seconds, Somnu was finally able to make out the throne properly now that the mist had completely cleared on the other side of the room.

  Before him stood an imposing throne of jet-black stone looming amid the dust and decay, its surface fractured and decorated with cracks of gold, just like the castle walls had been.

  It almost looked like an ordinary throne if it weren’t for the magnificent halo-like connection rising from both its sides, depicting an intricate dream catcher with black and silver threads woven into an ethereal web. The circular frame, adorned with spiraling golden and violet patterns, along with delicate pale feathers, seemed to all sway gently as if stirred by an unseen melody.

  As majestic as the sight was, Somnu could tell how much the cruelty of time had worn it down. Even with that in mind, the main culprit was obvious. Whatever that jet-black material was, it had consumed the entire castle.

  “!”

  That’s when Somnu realized something else. The crypt he had found while running from the scarecrow monster when he first got to the Abyss of Lethe was made from the same material. He had believed it was obsidian, but that hadn’t made much sense even back then.

  “Somnu, do me a favor.” The old knight asked, lowering his gaze in front of the scarecrow kid.

  “... What is it?” Somnu prepared himself.

  Mr. Emberlyn had always helped him, he saved him. Somnu owed the old man more than he could ever repay, but he wanted to try.

  “Please… sit on the throne.”

  “Huh?!”

  Here's the Patreon link for those who can't wait and want to read 30+ chapters:

  Rating and Leaving a Review goes a long way to support the series!

  !