Chapter 103: Demonic Moon
『What is a Nightmare?』
Just like the Three Solar Natures, which master the material level’s growth, stagnation, and death.
The Three Lunar Natures represent the mental level’s clarity, confusion, and loss of control.
The flawless Brilliant Moon, the Misty Moon half-obscured by clouds, the Dark Moon sunk in shadows.
The changes of the lunar phases are like the rise and fall of tides, affecting the Dream Realm, as well as the mental world, ultimately reflected in the actions of all living beings.
Day belongs to the sun, night belongs to the moon. It is said that in distant eras, whenever night fell, all creatures’ consciousness would enter the Dream Realm, living another kind of life there.
Of course, since the previous generation Dream Master Silver Moon Dragon fell, this promised behavior has been broken. Present World creatures, even when dreaming, are mostly in a dazed confusion, hardly able to stay awake in dreams.
But even outside of dreams, how many people dare say they are absolutely awake.
The world’s myriad complicated affairs bring desire, profit, temptation, making people’s hearts stir, intoxicate them, trap them, hard to let go or abandon. This is their spirit and desire, the meaning of life wriggling for it.
Desire, like life, supports creatures rushing across the Earth, but desire lacks the constraints of real rules, and controlling it is far from easy.
A shift in a single thought can thoroughly collapse a person, letting go of past bravery and pride. The dam of persistent will has always been a difficult thing.
……
A shining golden Sword Blade slashed through Dead Wood, severing it. Shattered wood chips burned in the night, sparking large swaths of fireflies. The two clashed repeatedly in the Forest.
“Clang——”
A crisp clash echoed tremblingly through the Forest. The jade-like emerald-green Sword Blade blocked in front as Xilutiya parried Iona’s attack.
Another shining golden blade swung down, its blazing Sword Light leaving a striking afterimage in her eyes. Xilutiya barely flipped her Sword Blade, deflecting the original blade and blocking the oncoming one.
Emerald-green fragments burst from the Sword Blade. The originally straight Longsword now had another notch.
With the boost of Emerald Honey Nature, the Tree Jade Spirit Sword was not as hard or sharp as pure Black Steel, but its strength was never sharpness, but toughness.
Emerald-green radiance flowed, the jade-like Longsword clashed with the golden blade several times, and its notched edge restored to pristine condition again and again.
Both were First Order Nature. Blazing Sun as a superior Nature brought powerful combat amplification, giving Iona the upper hand temporarily in Power, Speed, and Stamina. But Xilutiya was clearly more proficient in Power control and mastery, so Iona couldn’t defeat her quickly.
Golden-haired and black-haired figures weaved and darted through the Forest. Both swung Sword Blades in repeated clashes, constantly shifting Footwork. Fatigue, exhaustion, and sweat accumulated bit by bit.
After a day of fighting, neither was in good condition now. Both persisted through Will, driving their aching bodies and limbs.
In another clash, Xilutiya shifted her form, black hair and Longsword swinging. A charged Sword Arc slashed at Iona, colliding with her blade once more.
This time, the emerald-green Longsword in her hand notched, while Iona’s Black Steel Longsword, under high heat and constant impacts, finally rolled and cracked, showing flaws and gaps.
Though it seemed like a flickering Candlelight ready to extinguish at any moment, Xilutiya miraculously endured that fierce barrage of attacks.
“You’re actually not a Commoner, are you, Tiya.” Iona recognized the Ring on Xilutiya’s wrist.
The Bracelet originally hidden in her sleeve was now fully exposed amid the intense fighting.
“Let me guess, perhaps you’re also the descendant of some great Noble.”
“No wonder you’re fearless facing me.” She shook her head slightly.
“I should have realized earlier. How could a mediocre, remote Countryside produce a genius like you.”
“Even if there was one, their temperament wouldn’t be as calm and quiet as yours.”
“Temperament and character formation require environmental nurturing. Busy, struggling commoners only raise shortsighted, cunning children. Their next meal is full of uncertainty—how could they be as composed and serene as you.”
“You’re very different, Tiya.”
“I consider myself impatient. Playing house games with those Commoner kids wastes energy and time.”
“But overly weak people are often delayed by all sorts of things, while true Strong Persons focus only on their own Growth and Strength.”
She slowly raised her sword vertically, gripping it before her. The straight Sword Blade bisected her face, her scarlet Eyes especially firm and bright in the Firelight.
“Right now, you can’t defeat me.”
As if to verify her words, she swung forward. Her originally dim swordsmanship now burst with vitality again.
The golden Sword Blade swung repeatedly, hammering Xilutiya’s blocking Sword Body like an iron hammer, smashing open the gates of that precise defense.
“Sorry, but I don’t think the Strong Person you speak of is correct.” Xilutiya shook her head, feeling the other’s Concept somewhat narrow.
As someone who once intensely browsed online books and forums, she had seen too many such verbal debates and was immune to this ‘survival of the fittest’ rhetoric.
True Kindness is a firm and noble Virtue, not some weak behavior.
But the current Iona was clearly immersed in her own world; whatever she said wouldn’t get through.
Xilutiya tossed out her nearly depleted Pearl. Fierce cold air spread between them, and she pulled distance from Iona again.
Taking advantage of the gap, she took a Blood Berry from her waist pouch and put it in her mouth.
The Berry originally for replenishing Blood could also Restore Stamina, allowing her depleted Blood Law Nature to recover.
Her Blood circulated anew. The Blood Strange Flower【 at Xilutiya’s waist】 also emitted a faint glow.
Her stalled Breathing Technique Lv.3【 instantly broke through the final barrier, stepping into the Fourth Order Realm.】
In the past, such an action would transform Xilutiya’s Nature, but now her Emerald Honey【 Nature was stable enough to resist the radiation from Breathing Technique Lv.4【 on her Fate Plate.】
After the Breathing Technique breakthrough, it not only brought stronger Power and Speed boosts, but also greatly reduced the side effects on her body’s load.
Without giving Xilutiya much breathing room, a brilliant golden gleam pierced the cold mist, rushing at her and exploding right before her.
Shattered golden blade melted and tore the Tree Jade Spirit Sword.
Gripping the remaining golden blade with both hands, Iona charged forward. Her form seemed cloaked in glow as she crashed into Xilutiya’s embrace, the held golden blade piercing straight through Xilutiya’s left arm.
The recent Breathing Technique breakthrough gave Xilutiya faster Reaction Speed. In that split second, she shifted slightly, dodging the killing golden blade.
This final all-out attack failed to defeat Xilutiya. In subsequent clashes, Iona’s attacks grew weaker. The side effects of her Radiant Breathing Technique【 began to overwhelm her, while Xilutiya, thanks to the breakthrough, moved and wielded her sword ever more fluidly and effortlessly.】
Seeing defeat was just a matter of time, endless Anxiety and Panic welled in Iona’s heart.
She had never imagined she would lose to someone in the Assessment.
She had envisioned that path for too long; it became her Obsession. It was her only way to Rescue her family and Father, to maintain her own Pride.
Imagining she might never catch up to her peers in the Royal Capital—those she once despised would trample over her, while she wandered futilely in remote mountains, forced to accept reality and live a mediocre life—this Fantasy crushed her Reason bit by bit.
No
Don’t
Absolutely not
Standing in the dim Forest, surrounding Trees Twisted, as if bearing faces Mockery her, stirring many bad Memories.
Since Viscount Karen’s defeat, her life plummeted. Former Companions who were once friendly turned away one by one, avoiding her in Fear upon meeting again, for anyone linked to Viscount Karen would face His Majesty’s Rage.
Countless thoughts collided and surged in her mind. Past scenes, faces from Memory, now all seemed arrogant, Looking Down on her tiny as dust, then stepping over her.
In the night sky, a dim red moon hung high.
In the Forest, the golden-haired Maiden’s eyes gradually lost their luster.
『What is a Nightmare?』
『It is the shattering of the spirit, the Disintegration of Reason and Despair』
