Chapter 261 Terror Construct VS. Dream Beast-Final
As the sacrificed mage's life force was offered to the Terror Construct, a profound transformation unfolded. The flesh, blood, and vitality were absorbed into the construct, imbuing it with a pulsating vitality of its own. No longer a mere magical creation, the Terror Construct now seemed to possess a life force, an essence that radiated an eerie energy.
By performing a dark ritual, Eisenhart channeled the blood, flesh, and vitality from the sacrificed mage directly into the Terror Construct. This infusion bestowed upon the construct a semblance of living vitality.
With heightened strength, augmented power, and now pulsating with its own life force, the Terror Construct had transformed into a formidable lure, drawing a horde of hungry dream beasts toward it in a desperate attempt to ensure their survival.
The effect was immediate and profound. The once relentless dream beasts, drawn by the scent of vitality, now swarmed toward the transformed Terror Construct like moths irresistibly drawn to a flame. Their frenzied assault intensified, as if the Terror Construct had become a magnet for the nightmarish creatures, their instinctual drive to consume life overpowering any semblance of caution.
"Jump!" Eisenhart shouted, urging his last follower to leap off the back of the Terror Construct, now transformed into a magnet that attracted countless hungry dream beasts towards it.
In the desperate dash towards the pre-determined direction, Eisenhart and his lone companion sprinted through the mist-choked abyss. The distant glow signaling the border between the dream realm's influence and the tangible reality beyond became their beacon of hope.
Behind them, the Lernean Hydra, now a living magnet for the nightmarish horde, roared in a symphony of destruction. Each of its heads, resembling the fabled creature from myth, tore through the ranks of countless middle-small size dream beasts.
The scene was one of chaos and carnage, as the heads crushed, trampled, and devoured the relentless swarm. However, the number of dream beasts drawn to the Terror Construct continued to surge, creating a maddening pursuit.
As they ran, the rhythmic echoes of roars, screeches, and the grotesque sounds of the dream beasts' demise filled the air. The relentless struggle for survival painted a grim backdrop to their flight.
Eisenhart and his last follower, hearts pounding in their chests, pushed through the mist, drawing nearer to the elusive border where the dream realm's influence waned. The glow became more pronounced, a spectral light cutting through the oppressive fog like a lifeline leading them out of the nightmare.
With each step, the reality outside beckoned, promising sanctuary from the malevolent grip of the dream realm. The border represented a tangible escape from the relentless assault, an escape Eisenhart and his follower desperately sought as the chaos behind them continued to unfold.
"Endure a little bit more, and we will survive!" Eisenhart encouraged, aiming to boost the morale of his last follower.
As Eisenhart and his last follower raced desperately toward the dim light, the lingering echoes of the battle gradually faded into the enshrouding mist. Yet, the horrors persisted, taking on an even more ominous form.
Behind them, within the thickening mist, a colossal dream beast emerged, standing at an imposing height of around 300 meters. Countless vines and roots draped over its massive form like a grotesque cloak, swaying eerily as if infused with a life of their own. The red, menacing eyes of the creature fixated on the duo, promising death and destruction in the most horrific manner imaginable.
Amidst the nightmarish scene, the colossal dream beast, adorned with the bone goat mask, extended its hand toward the location where the Terror Construct once stood.
With a thundering roar that echoed like the sound of a goat and man mixing together, the colossal beast crushed the construct. The reverberating sound of flesh and bone being obliterated sent shivers down Eisenhart and his follower's spines.
The two, now more terrified than ever, increased their pace as if their lives depended on it. With the Terror Construct gone, there was nothing left to divert the attention of the dream beast horde that followed the colossal creature.
The duo ran, their every step echoing desperation as they tried to outpace the impending doom that lurked within the thick mist. The bone goat mask dream beasts, a nightmarish guardian of Sloth, led the charge, its ghastly presence casting a long, foreboding shadow over their harrowing escape.
As they neared the exit, the thundering footsteps of the dream beast horde grew louder, the cacophony of pursuit closing in with relentless determination. The colossal goat bone mask dream beast took giant strides, its colossal form casting a looming shadow that intensified the urgency of their escape.
Fuelled by desperation, the duo sprinted towards the exit, their breaths strained, and their hearts pounded in their chests. With the horde in close pursuit, the ten-meter gap to freedom seemed both tantalizingly close and agonizingly far.
In the critical moment, a wolf-like dream beast, swift and agile, closed in from behind, its blood-stained teeth glinting ominously in the dim light. The additional threat added another layer of terror to their already harrowing escape.
In just about 3 more meters, they would reach the exit, but the wolf-like dream beast lunged at them, and the closest target was none other than Eisenhart's last follower.
In a desperate attempt, the follower summoned his last remaining mana and unleashed a fiery ball aimed at his leader's legs, setting them ablaze.
"Arrrrrrrggghhhh! My leg! You!!"
Eisenhart screamed in agony and collapsed, becoming a helpless lure for the dream beasts that pursued them. Seizing the opportunity, the follower, now wearing a twisted smile of satisfaction, reached the exit, escaping towards safety.
As his follower exist to the safety of the real world, Eisenhart tried to crawl toward the exit , it's just about 2 meters away but the destabilize of dream realm started early than he had expected and the exit faded away.
In a cruel twist of fate, Eisenhart found himself betrayed, a scenario he had never envisioned. Accustomed to being the one orchestrating betrayal, he now faced the unexpected betrayal from a mage of lower status, one he had deemed weaker. The realization struck him with disbelief as the last follower clinched the chance of survival for himself at Eisenhart's expense.
Unwilling to meet his demise in this nightmarish realm, Eisenhart grappled with the harsh reality. The prospect of his soul being devoured by the dream beasts or trapped in the dream realm indefinitely loomed over him. His soul, with no chance of returning to the surplus body tucked away beneath the Alchemont Clan's basement, faced an unsettling fate of eternal entrapment in the dream's clutches.
Amidst the agonizing pain and the impending threat of the dream beasts, Eisenhart, lying on the ground, unleashed a desperate roar, venting his frustration with the cruel twists of his life.
"No!! This is not how it should end! Raaarrrrgggh!" Eisenhart screamed in unwillingness as the horde of dream beasts approached him.
The first bite came from the wolf-like dream beast, tearing into his arm and ripping it off in the process. Excruciating pain coursed through his body, and Eisenhart screamed at the top of his lungs. The horde of dream beasts caught up and pounced on him, ravenously consuming Eisenhart until his screams faded away along with his life.
— Real World —
In the bustling foodie street of the real world, life continued with vibrant energy. The once vacant and eerie atmosphere of the dream realm had vanished. The street was now alive with the hustle and bustle of people indulging in the diverse culinary delights offered by the myriad of food stalls and restaurants. n--O.-v-/e(.l(/b.-I/)n
Laughter, chatter, and the sizzling sounds of various dishes being prepared filled the air. The aroma of delectable cuisines wafted through the lively street, enticing passersby to explore the culinary wonders on display.
Families, friends, and solo adventurers alike wandered through the colorful stalls, savoring the rich tapestry of flavors that the street had to offer. The contrast between the nightmarish dream realm and the vibrant reality was stark, emphasizing the resilience of the real world in the face of the fantastical and the horrifying.
The mages, emerging from the nightmarish realm, stumbled and walked out of the nearby alley, collapsing onto the roadside where people passed by. His laughter echoed like the cackles of madmen.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!"
The manic laughter reverberated through the street, grabbing the attention of both passersby and those enjoying various delicious foods. Some onlookers, curious but cautious, stayed at a distance, while bolder individuals approached to investigate.
"HAHAHA!! I survived! SURVIVED!!! I survived, you bitch! Hahahaha!" The mage continued to laugh for about five minutes, lying sprawled on the street, reveling in the sense of safety that permeated this vibrant and lively street.
After a good five minutes, the mage gradually regained his composure. Slowly standing up, he dispersed the crowd surrounding him using a magic that made him seem suddenly and extremely uninterested in their presence. It was one of the basic spells that mages needed to master when traversing the world, allowing them to avoid drawing excessive attention from ordinary people without magical abilities.