章 524: Volume 5 – Chapter 138(Mary Skelter: Nightmares(Part 10))
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author Note:
[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.
{ } = When talking through Telepathy.
' ' = When thinking in your mind.
<< >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.
--- --- = When describing a certain period OR Another place.
** ** = Point Of View, i.e., POV
/// /// = In Call
" " = System and when talking to it.
「 」 = Thoughts being heard
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---- Mary Skelter: Nightmares, Jail, Underground Cavern ----
Nightmare: Aaaaaaaaah!
Lumine flinched and took steps back as she looked at the huge armored nightmare, which was more than twice her height.
The Nightmare only had a big face with golden metal-rimmed eyes, a mouth, and four limbs. As it approached her, the sound of its metal steps resounded.
Cold sweat appeared on the blonde's forehead as she tensed up. It's unsurprising because if she can't even defeat a single Marchen here, how can she coupe up against Nightmare, who was regarded as the area's boss?
As she moved back, her brain ran full throttle, trying to find an escape route. But no matter where she looked, she couldn't find the safest one. The only two paths here were the next floor and the one leading back to City Streets.
Later was blocked by Nightmare, and if she took the former, she would have no choice but to face those over-levelled Marchens.
After giving it deep thought, Lumine decided to take the latter one. Because even if she entered the next floor, there was a high possibility that the Nightmare would follow. If that happened, she would have to face those Marchens and Nightmare simultaneously.
And if she decided to face the Nightmare here, while she couldn't defeat it, she could still find some opening and make her escape back to City Streets.
The Traveler then took her sword and gathered anemo around her. While doing so, she also used Adeptal energy to cover her brain so that her mind would calm down and she could make more rational moves.
Seeing that the blonde was preparing to fight, Nightmare grew angry.
Nightmare: Aaaaaaaaah!
SWOOSH!
Next, it swung its fist at her.
Thanks to Anemo, Lumine could see the movement in the wind and the trajectory of the coming fist. Hence, she side-stepped to the left, making it miss her.
While doing so, she also twisted her body before slashing at the back of Nightmare's knee, hoping to make it lose its balance.
SLASH!
CLANG!
Alas, it didn't go as she expected since Nightmare didn't even flinch at this.
Seeing that, the blonde couldn't help but show a wry smile.
'Lumine: The gap between us is really too big.'
At this moment, the Nightmare turned to her again and punched. With her quick reflexes, Lumine rolled right under Nightmare's legs and came behind it.
When she was thinking of trying another way to distract it, she noticed something weird that made her pause her steps. Unfortunately, by stopping like this, she allowed Nightmare to strike her.
It hurriedly turned its body, making his arm hit the Traveler.
BAM!
The force behind that swing sent Lumine to the other side of the room.
However, just when it seemed that she would hit the wall, Lumine stabbed her sword into the ground. A crevice appeared in the ground for 5 meters before she stopped.
Pulling out her sword, she stood up and looked at the Nightmare in surprise and confusion.
'Lumine: That punch of its didn't possess much strength behind it...Could it be that it thinks I am not worth its efforts?'
But then she thought back to what she witnessed a few seconds ago.
There was a deep crack behind the Nightmare's knee where she had attacked before. This shouldn't be possible because when she fought the Marchen, she was barely able to scratch it, and yet she was able to harm the Nightmare.
Suddenly, an unexpected thought appeared in her mind.
'Lumine: Could it be that...this Nightmare is weaker than I think?'
Still, she didn't conclude immediately and decided to face it to check.
SWOOSH!
This time, the Traveler took the offensive and rushed toward the Nightmare, which was ready to strike again.
Seeing the coming fist, the girl jumped and landed on its arm, slashing at its face with full strength.
Lumine: Hah!
SLASH!!
DANG!!
CRACK!!
A new deep crack appeared.
Next, she jumped back to avoid another incoming fist. While in the air, she gathered anemo around her before launching them in the form of powerful jets of air that retained all of their force even at long distances.
FWOOSH!!
FWOOSH!!
FWOOSH!!
...
…
BANG!!
BANG!!
BANG!!
...
..
All those attacks hit the Nightmare, causing it to step back as parts of its armor started breaking more and more.
THUD!
Finally, she landed on the ground and looked at Nightmare. Twisting her hand holding the sword, she approached it again.
While doing so, Lumine didn't realize that her eyes were glowing golden like her Adeptal energy.
.
.
.
An hour later.
Nightmare: Ggh…
The Armored Nightmare lay on the ground, full of cracks and broken parts, with Lumine standing on top of it and looking down on it.
Her injuries were better than Nightmare's, and she will recover fully in one or two days of rest.
Lumine: This is the end.
She muttered and raised her sword. The power of anemo started covering the sword. When she confirmed it was enough, she struck.
Or was about when…
Nightmare: Ggh… Nooo… Hhe…llp…
Lumine: !!!!!!!!!!
This made her pause as she widened her eyes in shock.
'Lumine: I-It spoke. And it is asking for mercy…'
Pulling back her sword, she looked at the Nightmare in disbelief.
'Lumine: Nightmare can speak? But Red Riding Hood never mentioned something like that in our conversation before… Did she forget?... That's highly unlikely. Then does this mean this Nightmare is different?'
One by one, more questions kept appearing in her head, yet, unlike before, she was not getting any answers.
'Lumine: Damn. Until now, I have kept recovering other useless memories, but not an important one like this.'
Putting her sword away, she sighed and crouched to look at it.
'Lumine: Or could it be that something is not quite right about this Nightmare? And it looks quite scared… Fine. I will give it a chance and see how it goes. Still, if it tries anything funny, I will end it.'
Lumine: So, why are you so afraid?
Nightmare: Mmhe… Ggh… Nooo… ffah…it...…Yh…uuu… fah… it… I… rahnn…
Lumine: You won't do anything if I don't fight. Huh.
Nightmare: Mmhe… Lhn… g… aagho… hhe… re… Ggh… Wha… ndur… thhe… re…
Lumine: So, you aren't the Nightmare of this Underground Cavern.
'Lumine: No wonder it is so weak compared to even Marchens there.'
Nightmare: Llh… ooss…t…
'Lumine: Why am I not surprised that it got lost?'
Nightmare: Bhe… frre… lhho… sstt… mhe… ahtk… ed… bai… Marrsh… en… sayv… Lhitt… le… Meer… mad…
Lumine: So, you got lost, attacked a Marchen, and saved someone called Little Mermaid.
Nightmare: Shh… e… saahv… d… mhe… Bht… sooo… sch… rd… Bht… Lhitt… l… Meh… rd… Kah… nd… Nahi… cce… Whee… slohh… bee… kamm… ffre… ndd…
Lumine: Little Mermaid was kind to you, and you both became friends.
Nightmare: Yh… ss… Bht… I… ddhnt… sahe… th… nkks… Ggh… Shhee… naw… gh… ne… Ggh… Ssoh… I… whant… seee… hher… agh… nn… ssahee… tha… kksss…
Lumine: I see. You didn't thank her then, so now you want to meet her again and say thanks.
Nightmare: Yh… ss… Whh… rre… Lhhitt… le… Merrhh… made…?
Lumine: I don't know. I have never heard of or seen her before. So, I don't know where she has gone…. And I'm not sure how long you meant by "long ago," too.
Nightmare: Whh… rre… Lhhitt… le… Merrhh… made…?
Lumine: Like I said, I don't know.
Nightmare: I… wwhaantt… seee… Lhittlleee… Meehmade…!
Lumine: ...…
Seeing how desperate this Nightmare wanted to see her, the blonde turned silent for some time.
Lumine: I don't know who this Little Mermaid is. Whether she is alive or dead, but… wanna come with me.
Nightmare: Mhe… cohm… e… wid… yu…
Lumine: Yeah. That way, you can have more opportunities to look for her.
Nightmare: We… yu… wuh… nt… hhel… pe… Mhee…
Lumine: ... Because I have a selfish motive.
Nightmare: Sel… fizh… mot… ize…
Lumine: Yeah. You seem to be all alone and looking for someone who became your friend in the past… I am also all alone, without any family or friends… In a way, we are the same. So, I think it won't be bad to have each other company.
Nightmare: ...
Lumine: Of course, if you don't want to, it's alright. I will still help you as promised.
Nightmare: Sho… yu… wuh… nt… to… behc… khmee… mhe… ffre… nndd… too…
Lumine: Um. So… what you said?
The blonde turned silent and waited in anticipation for the Nightmare's answer. It would be a lie to say that she was not slightly afraid that the Nightmare would decline.
After who knew how long, the Nightmare finally spoke.
Nightmare: Okhe…
A sweet smile appeared on the Traveler's face as she jumped down and introduced herself.
Lumine: I am Lumine. It's nice to meet you. What about you? Do you have a name?
DANG!!
DING!!
THUD!!
....
…
Before the Nightmare could answer, its armor broke, and its parts fell one by one. And then, in front of the astonished eyes of the Lumine, someone came out of it.
It looked somewhat like any other human but more inclined towards bamboo. It had bamboo-like arms, a torso, and a tail with leafy green hair. The starry portions of its body were segmented like bamboo as well.
Nightmare: I am… Otsuu.
.
.
.
.
.
.
---- Genshin Impact, Liyue Harbor, Jade Chamber ----
'Primis: So, the main target of these Man-Eaters are Shenhe, Ganyu, and Cloud Retainer… 'We' knew that Will of the World had some utter motive when it pushed them towards 'Us', but this confirmed that it was so that 'We' could give them protection. Because of that, both Shenhe and Ganyu are safe now.'
Moon: Because Shenhe and Ganyu had left the Liyue Harbor, these Man-Eaters have no way to capture them. Hence, they have turned their attention to this Adeptus Cloud Retainer.
Primis: It seems so.
Moon: Maybe… She is already dead.
Primis: She is not.
'Primis: When 'We' told Ei to teach these Adepti a lesson back then, 'We' noted each of their Fate and Destiny. So, 'We' know that Cloud Retainer is still alive.'
Moon: She is. Huh.
Primis: Yes. 'We' will look into this ourselves.
Moon: Alright.
Primis: Anyway, 'We' have a new task for you.
Sighing out a sigh, she thought.
'Moon: I knew it. You won't give me any time to rest, do you?'
Primis: Don't worry. This task is relatively easy than before.
Moon: Yeah. Right…
She responded blankly, not believing Primis one bit. In the past year, he made her do much more work than they mentioned.
Primis: Ow. 'We' are hurt. You are nothing like 'Our' secretary who is always ready to take over 'Our' work so that 'We' won't overwork. Or like 'Our' Shogun who always massages 'Our' shoulder, pours tea, and ensures' We' have proper rest. *sob* *sob* 'We' are already missing 'Our' cute little Cocogoat and loving Ei.
Seeing how he was pretending to wipe his tears of pain, Moon gritted her teeth in frustration.
'Moon: Damn him…'
In the end, she sighed.
Moon: Fine… What is it?
At this, he returned to his serious state and told her the next task. The crystal-haired woman's lips twitched at such a fast change in expression, but she didn't say anything.
After getting the task, she left, and Primis leaned back on his.
Primis: Now that you have heard enough, why don't you both show yourself already? Ningguang. Keqing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*A/N: Please throw some power stones.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット