Nightmare Mythos

Chapter 58: Incoming Marathon

"Hahh…"

It's been a while since Cesar took a good night's rest. Well, it's only been a day since he arrived at the Mansion yet what he crossed just to get in the table appeared to have been very long time.

Even when he was back in the academy, Cesar never felt more exhausted than he is now. The mansion kept draining him mentally, abused him physically, and continued playing with his emotions without any kind of break most of the time.

Now, he was able to take a certain amount of rest that reset his fatigued engine, eat some of the rations that Jeremiah willingly shared with bright smiles on their faces that came from Amar, and be able to break his mind from constant thinking and alert on enemies that might come lunging at him any time.

Right now, Cesar was hiding in one of the spots while using an invisible cloak artifact that belonged to Leah. It was the one that Quentin used to sneak to Cesar and was able to meet him.

Like Quentin, Cesar is tasked on the lookout near their area and see if any other people will be joining them before they plan on facing the Nightmare. He did not disagree with their decision since they weren't just idling around either but preparing for the incoming fight.

"Hey there,"

As if the timing was correct for it to enter, Cedeit called out with its usual uneven voice. Cesar already knew how slow its reply was from time to time since, from his words, it said it was having a hard time staying up for too long to connect with him, but didn't mind at all.

Up to this point in time, Cedeit was nothing but helpful throughout his whole journey.

If he were going to receive help from this being again, Cesar would not be rejecting it.

"What now?"

Cedeit replied over a minute, "That Nightmare's Title is called Dim. Its true name, however, is called Nicotara. It's very obsessed with the candelabra probably because one of the entities that had sat on one of the chairs related to darkness touched it. It's feeding off the corruption from this candelabra that was considered, amongst you humans, as an Intermediate Nightmare,"

'There it is… the rank of this creature is an Intermediate Nightmare Creature.'

He was expecting the worst but still couldn't believe that they were going to fight and kill a Nightmare of that caliber.

Cedeit then continued, "Its influence was spread all around the candelabra. And for that reason, do you realize another problem with your part?"

Cesar shook his head while remaining on the lookout before hearing an answer coming from Cedeit.

Cedeit then answered after half a minute, "The Nightmare will be the least of your problems because as soon as you are inside the territory, the candelabra will be your greatest adversary. It will be an agile and fearsome monster and you all, the trespassers are just other beings meant to harm his abode,"

Cesar remained silent. He let Cedeit continue by adding.

"There will be a marathon you guys shave to do while being on the constant lookout for the Nightmare and its underlings. Lookout is clearly an understatement since you'll have to fight it constantly and mostly, repeatedly."

Cesar's face was grim once he realized this was not just a simple eradication of a Nightmare but a battle of endurance that would take a long time.

"I couldn't put an exact distance how long you'll have to travel but on your human terms, it will take a few kilometers to cross over. That is if you had the guts to do it,"

The more he heard how problematic their desperate solution was, the more hesitation filled his head. Not only that, it was probably because of how grave the situation was that Jeremiah and the rest weren't risking going further.

If they did, they wouldn't be waiting in their tent for a chance that hasn't come to their graces yet.

Cesar would've laughed about it after landing upon yet another ridiculous situation he was put into, but this time there wasn't any playfulness plastered around his face.

If it was below Level Three Corrupted, he might've just shrugged it off but this was different.

It was Nightmare.

Cesar continued to rack his brain for solutions, trying to think of yet another option but nothing came to mind. Find new worlds at m-vl-em-py-r

'Looks like there's no other choice left to do… Hahaha, this is ridiculous.'

Cesar adjusted his thinking almost immediately, preparing his mind that they were set to fight the Nightmare in over two days.

"Okay, Cedeit. Do you perhaps have any idea of its abilities?"

Cedeit replied almost immediately as he relayed very briefly, "First is the ability to see in the dark. Second, to leave a dim of darkness from the places it marked. Third, the ability to detect movements within its marked territories. Fourth, the ability to teleport at its marked territories and even the darkness itself as long as it will it.

Lastly, as far as I knew, is the ability to manipulate the darkness and make something its puppet,"

He paused after a minute, probably talking that long had exhausted its capabilities before continuing, "I don't know if it managed to pull a breakthrough of its capabilities but this is what I knew about the creature,"

Cesar went silent for a while before he continued his lookout, waiting for another shift to come that would replace him for his position.

Watching the frozen delicacies remain motionless while the spiraling lamps that came from the ceiling of this place provided a bit of light for people, Cesar muttered something from his lips.

"Thank you, Cedeit,"

There was no follow-up response but Cesar didn't didn't pursue it any longer.

Right long after, Klaus came to fill up his position before running to the tent silently to give his reports that he didn't tell everyone from yesterday when they were talking to each other regarding their findings.

After all, he didn't have any reason… not like he needed to.

But now, Cesar was willing to reveal most of his secrets which might be helpful for their upcoming fight.

However, the existence of Cedeit… he'd like to keep its being a secret, something that only he should know.