Although Jeremy was fixated on the abrupt emergence of Nocturne City within the second layer of The Misty Garden, he did not neglect to maintain vigilance regarding the threat behind him.
As the grotesque monster, composed entirely of shadows, drew within approximately one meter of Jeremy, he suddenly turned around and swung the Longsword of the Undying at the creature.
The distorted monster let out a piercing wail in response to Jeremy's assault.
Although Jeremy had not personally endured an attack from the twisted monster, the creature's sharp, anguished wails induced a fierce headache that throbbed within his skull.
"I never anticipated that this monster would possess abilities for mental assault. Could it be that every creature within The Misty Garden is capable of employing psychic attacks?!"
At this moment, Jeremy found himself filled with a sense of bewilderment.
In his view, mental attacks should be classified as highly advanced abilities.
While he could accept that the instance boss of The Misty Garden might wield such powers, he was utterly astonished to discover that even the ordinary monsters within The Misty Garden possessed the capacity for mental strikes.
Though the psychic attack did not severely cripple Jeremy, it nevertheless caused him to lose his balance.
He stumbled and fell, rolling down into the second layer of The Misty Garden.
As Jeremy descended into the second layer, the heavy gate between the two layers of The Misty Garden slammed shut.
The intricate designs adorning the gate shifted from an elevated sun to an utterly pitch-black night sky.
As Jeremy's intense headache gradually subsided, he suddenly realized that he seemed to have been transported back two months into the past.
Beside him, in addition to Bonnie, were Heber and the members of Heber's merchant caravan.
"What are you standing there for, you rascal? We've finally arrived at Nocturne City, so we must hasten to commence our mission!"
Heber wore an expression of urgency as he implored Jeremy.
Although Jeremy felt a twinge of confusion, he nonetheless nodded in agreement.
"We certainly should get moving without delay. However, I am uncertain about what our next course of action is. Could you please enlighten me as to what we are supposed to undertake next?"
Jeremy's question elicited a peculiar look from everyone around him.
Bonnie, in particular, regarded Jeremy with a gaze filled with concern.
"What is the matter with you? Have you not yet managed to return to normal?" Bonnie inquired, placing her hand gently on Jeremy's forehead as she spoke.
"You've already broken your fever! Does that mean the poison you received can only be countered by an antidote?"
No sooner had Bonnie finished her statement than Heber leapt up, exclaiming, "That is absolutely impossible! The antidote I was able to procure is certainly effective."
Heber places great importance on his commercial reputation. He would never allow anyone to tarnish the integrity of the goods he sold.
Witnessing this interaction, a faint smile appeared on Jeremy's face.
Everything seemed exceedingly normal, as if the events Jeremy had previously experienced were nothing more than a figment of his imagination.
The place he found himself in now felt like the true realm of reality.
He sprinted towards Bonnie with unparalleled speed.
At that moment, the sun, which hung high in the sky, began to plummet rapidly, a massive orb that nearly obscured the entire heavens. The buildings of Nocturne City were almost completely melted away by the unimaginable light and heat.
Jeremy felt as if his body was approaching its absolute limits.
He sensed that his skin was being scorched by the extreme temperatures. Yet, he refused to abandon his course of action, he was determined to reach Bonnie's side.
With the aid of his formidable willpower, Jeremy finally arrived next to Bonnie.
However, at this point, Bonnie had long since succumbed to death.
"This is all your fault, had you not entered Nocturne City, she would not have died." a grand and authoritative voice resonated from the heavens.
It was evident that this voice belonged to the Sun.
Upon hearing those words, a flicker of confusion crossed Jeremy's face.
He could not shake the feeling that something was amiss about the situation he was facing. Yet, he could not articulate exactly what felt wrong.
After scrutinizing his palm and carefully examining Bonnie's face, Jeremy finally realized where the dissonance lay.
With a firm grip on the Longsword of the Undying, Jeremy turned toward the sun and shouted loudly.
"Do not attempt to shroud the truth in deception any longer! I am fully aware that this is merely an illusion concocted by you! You wish to shatter my sanity through this trickery!
I almost fell for your scheme! Since you are the boss of The Misty Garden instance, then show yourself before me. I will unequivocally demonstrate just how powerful I truly am!"
In that moment, Jeremy suddenly recognized that the visions he witnessed were manifestations of his deepest fears. He was profoundly afraid that his failure would result in dire consequences for his companions.
The instance boss of The Misty Garden successfully exploited the vulnerabilities within Jeremy's heart, meticulously crafting an illusion tailored for him.
When Jeremy came to the realization that everything happening around him was merely an illusion, the surrounding images swiftly dissipated. The true visage of the second layer of The Misty Garden revealed itself before Jeremy.
In this second layer, there existed only a multitude of plants exuding a hallucinogenic aura. These plants intertwined and grew together, forming a deathly array capable of ensnaring anyone within a trance.
"Since you have no intention of directly confronting me for our final battle, I shall force you out in my own way!"
Jeremy retrieved a specially designed incendiary bomb from his pocket. He hurled the bomb directly into the most densely tangled area of the plants.
As the incendiary device exploded, numerous hallucinogenic plants in the second layer of The Misty Garden were ignited.
Although these plants could not move, they possessed a form of self-awareness. Thus, during the burning process, they emitted anguished cries of suffering.
As Jeremy heard the anguished cries of suffering, he was once again beset by a piercing headache.
However, after enduring a series of previous ordeals, Jeremy had developed a remarkable resilience to pain.
"Is it truly the case that you creatures, skilled in mental assaults, can only inflict upon me this excruciating headache through your psychic attacks? Your efforts will never succeed in vanquishing me.
For headaches cannot truly be fatal. Moreover, as long as I can numb my sense of pain, you will find yourselves utterly powerless against me."
With unwavering confidence, Jeremy called out into the depths of The Misty Garden, hoping that this bold declaration would draw forth the instance boss.