Nightmare Mythos

Chapter 100 : Cohort's Changes

The machinations inside the library continued inexorably, completely unbothered by the beings it took in mid-air. The changes were apparent as the whole thing was shifting, with the library job never-ending updating the entire design as it should be.

The current roof was gradually transforming into what would soon be the current floor, while, conversely, the current floor was becoming the ceiling for the temporary occupants of the library. Under the watchful gaze of the grand structure of the library, each being remained to linger in their Float Period.

Whoosh—!

Cesar felt himself being pulled back by the tethered rope, a sensation he knew so well, as people started to gather and began to follow Jeremiah, closing in on the Nightmare, Keeper of the Void in hopes of completely defeating it.

As he drifted further from the Nightmare's presence, Cesar felt an unfilled emptiness settle within him. He clicked his tongue in frustration, dissatisfied with an outcome that brought him no closer to accomplishing his goals.

Eventually, he stopped the moment the tethered rope had accomplished its goal to relieve him from his position earlier.

"Why do you look annoyed, huh?"

Klaus tapped Cesar's head as if he didn't like the way he was acting before he jested with a cheeky smile.

"We're late for the news but you really dare battle that… abomination one versus one. If you're not the sanest out of all of us, then where are we going to put ourselves?"

Cesar glanced at Klaus, slightly dissatisfied about himself as he retorted, "If that was meant to console me, it failed by the way."

Cesar then darted his attention to the side and gazed at the familiar people that he hadn't met for a long time, which didn't seem very long.

Still, Cesar was slightly sentimental about being able to see them again face to face.

There was Reyna who stood nearby, her expression appeared depressed mixed with a somber determination. Meanwhile, Nike's entire demeanor had shifted. He seemed transformed, nothing like he was before. His once meek personality now replaced by an outgoing energy tinged with danger.

Then there was Jacqueline.

She looked disheveled and raggedy, yet the aura around her was nothing like before. In the academy, she had been a graceful, unbreakable wall, but now it appears that this graceful wall has become just an image that masked the true terror lurking beneath.

It had been honed, likely from countless encounters within the library, and now the results were beginning to show.

However, one person was missing from the group.

"Joshua?"

Expecting that he was merely lost and was far away from being retrieved in this state of Float Period, Cesar couldn't believe it in his ears when Nike, the brother of the guy, gave him the answer.

"He's dead,"

Cesar noticed Reyna's subtle reaction as the topic came up, her expression shifted ever so slightly, revealing something he wasn't aware of. Nike, meanwhile, cast her a slightly disgusted look before continuing with his statement.

"You don't need to feel sorry or anything. He chose what he needed to do. I just don't want it to happen to me since my goal is to get out of here," Nike directed his gaze at Cesar, "You've grown so much, Squad Leader. It looks like you have undergone some major changes like Jacqueline here,"

Seeing the hopelessness in Nike's eyes, which scream everything was hopeless no matter what actions they did, Cesar paused, reconsidering his words. He shifted from offering consolation to providing an answer to Nile's question.

He might appear strong now but Cesar knew he was hurting inside. But that kind of conviction is needed while being inside the space of a being that created the entire library.

If someone is just going to whine, it's better to do it outside.

"It's no big deal. I'm going to take a moment of rest before joining the rest in attacking the Nightmare before we even move to the Dive Period,"

Nike nodded before putting his gaze back at the Nightmare who was battling dozens of men mid-air on its own, even empowering them which produced more backups to the ones available.

He then asked out of curiosity since the situation wasn't making any sense on his side. With a pause, he raised a question.

"How long have you been here in this library, Cesar? It's impossible that nobody has met you except for this guy who reeled you in and the fatty that pretty much healed some of the worst wounds I've seen in my life. But by the looks of it, you guys knew each other beforehand. It doesn't make any sense because we also never met these people after a few hours ago,"

Cesar paused as he scratched the back of his head, "We just came here just this day. A little bit over twenty-four hours, if we follow the normal time. But if you're curious about the time I went to this Mansion, it's been over a week,"

Jacquline, Reyna, and even Nike seemed to be surprised at that statement as they couldn't help but inform Cesar of their situation.

"Are you aware, Cesar? We've been in this library for a little over a month already. We gathered people around the library through the help of some guys and we've been devising a plan to defeat that Nightmare and the other Nightmare it was battling as well." Enjoy new chapters from m-v l'e|m,p-y r

Nike paused, "However, even though our plan had rough sketches all around, we're on our point of discovery of how the two behemoths of the library moved, their powers, and counterattack them. You're just in a way to ruin all of it,"

Cesar frowned as he retorted, "You aren't even aware of its name and you're telling me that you're on some point of discovery? Believe me, I don't need any rescues from any of you. Well, Vin saving me from being cornered is a valid one."

This time, Klaus was the one who interjected and couldn't help but raise his tone slightly, "Wait, you already knew the titles of those creatures? How— wait, you know what, you've already shown us your quirks while we crossed that table, I shouldn't be surprised."

Jacqueline was the one who interjected this time as she raised the matter, "What do you think their titles were?"

Cesar shrugged, preparing to retort, when a massive explosion erupted just above their heads.

Immediately afterward, a deep rumble echoed from above, reverberating through every corner of the library.