by Noam Oswin
“Erzili never quite understood it either. Dreamer said he had to ‘end it this time’ and took off. In the chaos surrounding his betrayal and disappearance, the rest of the Eight Night Emperors turned against each other. The Dreamer had not been the strongest of us, but he had been the one to bring us together and was the one that stopped us from killing one another. Without his leadership – the Nine Night Emperors were done. During this power struggle, Erzili was killed. Erzili’s lands – taken. Erzili’s darling army, beautiful castle – destroyed.”
“You were… killed?”
“At the time, yes. But a small fraction of Erzili remained. Small enough to regenerate from. Erzili was weak, weaker than Erzili had ever been… but Erzili was alive.” Erzili shook her head. “All of Erzili’s former enemies that knew Erzili as a Night Emperor began hunting Erzili for vengeance. None desired to let Erzili return to the height of power that Erzili once had. In between evading former powerful enemies and evading the fallout of Dreamer’s treachery, Erzili has been trying to rebuild... with so far, very little success.”
Erzili sighed. “And then, Erzili began hearing rumors. A new group had formed again – a new group that had taken on the mantle of the Nine Night Emperors. And once again, they were led by a person who called himself… Dreamer.”
Erzili laughed. “Though, there are clear differences now. This new group, rather than working together, it seems they all take orders from Dreamer. Erzili does not know why Dreamer resurfaced with this new group, but Erzili wants to find out. Erzili wants vengeance. Erzili wants answers.”
I pointed to myself. “And me? Where do I fit in?”
“Like you, Janus darling, Dreamer was a Demiurge.”
“…I see.”
“He was the one to teach Erzili the knowledge of the Nightscripts, the one to explain the Mothertongue, to decipher the language thus that we, the Night Emperors, would not go insane from reading it. However, as we were not Demiurges, we could never fully use the knowledge.”
I sat, rubbing the side of my head slowly as I came to terms with all the new information Erzili unloaded upon me. If there was anything I could glean from the knowledge, about, then it meant that Dreamer was the one that Oblivion had been talking about. The one who was trying to break into my world. The one Oblivion wanted me to stop at all costs, even if it meant destroying all of Alamir.
Him being a Demiurge like me and his knowledge of other worlds…
Is it possible he’s…?
“So your desire to create a world where man and nightmare can coexist…?”
“Janus, darling, Erzili is sorry, but Erzili told you from the start – Erzili will say whatever and do whatever to stay alive, and to complete Erzili’s goals.”
“That too was a lie.”
I didn’t know Erzili at all. Everything she had told me was a lie. The only truth in her words was that she lied a lot, which was the most ironic thing about it all.
“If the Night Emperors are your enemies, why didn’t you want me fighting them?”
“Darling, Erzili means no offense, but even at Erzili’s lowest moment as the Night Emperor of Lust, you as you are would not be able to leave a scratch on Erzili.” She shook her head. “That aside, Dreamer has the habit of killing all other Demiurges he manages to encounter. You aren’t even an Elder One yet Janus – you have not even been a nightmare for a year, for half of that. You do not have any chance against beings who have a millennium’s worth of experience.”
I wanted to stubbornly disagree. I was confident in my knowledge as a reincarnated person, and all the titles and tricks that came along with it. However, if my opponent was a Demiurge like I, if he was, as I suspected him to be, a reincarnated person from my world, then the stakes were different.
It was like a Level One player entering an MMO server for the first time, and within his first ten seconds, he decides to find the number one player who’d been in the game for over ten years, and then challenge them.
No game system would allow it. It wouldn’t even be worth calling a battle. Even with my [Duality] the gap was still insurmountable.
But with the Heart of Sisyphus…
From the look Erzili gave me, I could tell she was thinking the same thing.
Requirement Alternatives:
Using the following items, you may access the Find Command for “The Heart of Sisyphus” item:
Human Champion’s Blood x1
Nine Starred Devil Pentagram x1
Hair of a Nightly One x 1
Alhamisian Virgin Sacrifice x 9
Heart of a Beloved x 1
“The current Alhamisian Champion is General Hoplite Hierophantasia. The Marisian Champion is Saint Leone de Nostradame. The Takumian Champion is Prince Wukari ibn Raba. The Saba’ini Champion is Chief Avarga Khan, and the Gabani Champion is King Korol Zhaniye. Together, they make up the Five Champions of Humanity.”
“And we need to get blood from one of them?”
“The first two are out of the question,” Erzili said immediately. “Attempting to wound either the Alhamisian or Marisian Champion is a suicidal task. The remaining three are also difficult, but due to varying reasons rather than sheer power. The Kingdom of Takum is too far north to reach, and out of our grasp. The Saba’in Hordes have a Cockatrice Calvary that rides faster than the wind. The Gaban Dynasty is an impenetrable fortress.”
“So, it’s an impossible task.”
“At our current level of power… yes.” Erzili agreed reluctantly. “There are Five Champions of Humanity, and there were Nine Night Emperors. Nine couldn’t defeat Five. That speaks for the strength of each Champion.”
“So what do we do then?”
She rose from her seated position, walking back and forth, before turning to me. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“For now. For now, we’ll focus on increasing our power. Erzili will think of a method in time. Let us simply focus on increasing the strength of Fort Zyvar, and dominating the Hlahani Lands. If we expand our Domain suitably enough, Erzili believes the answer will present itself.”
‘Hey, Janus. We’ve got a problem.’ Sunny’s voice spoke. ‘You seeing what I’m seeing?’
My brow rose, sharply, as I could see what Sunny was seeing in another timeline. “Erzili… is Giggles… an Elder One?”
Erzili blinked at me. “How did you know?”
“…because I’m fighting him. Right now.”
/∞/
[Path B: Sunny]
Giggles
[He Who Laughs Last]
[Elder One of Cosmic Humor]
[Ancestral Deity of Krvavi Lagoon]
Nuckelavee
Level ?
I expected a monster.
An ugly, twisted abomination of a creature that would disgust and revolt me at its mere presence. Instead, what was before me was neither monstrous nor disgusting. Pitch black like the starless sky, the creature before me, standing atop the Lagoon was some sort of mutated Centaur. Half-man, half-horse, the upper body of the horse was muscular yet lean. A long, smooth beard almost resembling the stereotypical visage of aged Chinese martial artist dragged down from its chin. Its eyes were darkened with white pupils, its hair braided backward in a long mane, its arms long, but muscular, and with an almost serene, aged visage upon the monster’s face, I felt I was more in the presence of a mythical creature than I was in the presence of a nightmare.
Two long horns protruded from the top of Giggles’ head like antlers. The with two arms and four feet, the creature, gliding atop the surface of the water was almost saint-like.
“[Water Striding].”
I activated my skill as soon as I hit the water. My feet made contact with the clear liquid and I performed the miracle of walking on water, whereas Onna splashed into the depths. I dragged her up, ignoring her spit out water from her lungs as she continued to laugh. Her laughter increasing in pitch, manic, desperate, and almost yearning for an end.
[You have found
the Krvavi Lagoon!]
[Krvavi Lagoon is a claimed Domain!]
[You have entered the Domain of Giggles the Nuckelavee!]
[You are under the effect of [Comicality]]
[You are under the effect of [Absurdism]]
[Epithet Skill [Gatekeeper] has mitigated harmful effects from entering the Domain without the Owner’s permission]
With each passing day, [Gatekeeper] proved to be as useful as [Duality]. I did not know what abilities the creature before me possessed, but I knew, had it not been for [Gatekeeper], I would have been reduced to the same level Onna was, laughing and laughing without rhyme or reason, desperate to find an end to her laughter.
“You do not laugh.”
Giggles voice echoed across the Lagoon. There was a soft, almost grandfatherly appeal to the voice. It was aged. Aged but sharp.
“You didn’t tell me a joke.”
Giggles right hand rose, stroking down his long, bearded chin. “That is true.” He said. “It has been too long, since one came and did not laugh. This one has forgotten.”
“Forgotten?”
“Forgotten how some have plugged their ears.”
Onna’s rasping laugh continued, as she clung to my feet, eyes wide and open as if begging me to make it stop.
“Can you make her stop laughing?”
Giggles shook his head. “One cannot stop a person from laughing at a joke any more than they can hold back the tide of a river with a stone.”
“If she keeps laughing like that, she’s going to die.”
Giggles countenance softened. “It always hurts this one’s heart to witness the suffering of a maiden. This one does indeed have a way to stop the laughter.”
Giggles right hand extended forward. “[Catharsis].”
Onna stopped laughing. She stopped breathing. I searched, quickly, and noticed that her name no longer appeared above her head.
“You… killed her.”
“It is better, for those who cannot withstand the joke, to be deprived of it.”
With a word… did he kill her with a single word? I found my thoughts racing, my confusion growing. I would have to end this timeline, but I needed to learn what Giggles’ power was, what his weakness was before I did so.
“Tell me, humorless one. What is your name?”
I kept silent at first. “Janus.”
Giggles nodded serenely. “A beautiful name. A sad name. Your Night One must have been hurting, to grant you a name meant to ward off betrayal.”
“How would you know that?”
“Look around, humorless one, and see.”
The Lagoon was serene. The water, clear to the bottom, with ne’er a fish in sight. There were no other living things present beside myself and Giggles, the odd black horned-centaur.
“I don’t see anything.”
“You do not look.”
My patience with the situation was wearing thin. “You’re off your rocker, aren’t you?”
“You do not see? You do not hear? Tell me, humorless one, how do you live without understanding the joke?”
“What joke?”
“You,” Giggles pointed. “I,” Giggles pointed at himself. “This,” he gestured to the Lagoon. “All part of the grand comedy.”
“Right,” I said, dryly. “Whatever. I don’t suppose you’re willing to just tell me what your weakness is and then over this domain peacefully?”
“Tell me, humorless one, why do you seek my domain?”
“There’s food on the other side. Resources. Tactical advantages.”
“The villagers of Krvavi Village are mine to protect, humorless one.”
“A nightmare protecting villagers? Sorry if I find that hard to believe.”
Giggles cantered across the Lagoon surface, hands behind his back. “Once a year, humorless one, they offer to this one their most beautiful and their most brave. Female and male, I take. For decades so it has been. The people have come to worship this one. They revere this one as their guardian. The joke, it is so painful, humorless one. Alas, guardian, this one is called, and so, guardian this one shall be.”
Skill [Water Striding] has gained a Level.
“Funny indeed,” I said. “Unfortunately I’m here to take that village for myself. So that makes us enemies.”
Giggles nodded sagely. “A shame, humorless one. This one shall indulge you with some honesty. This one does not care, for guardianship. This one does not care, for their male or female, young or old, cattle or crop.”
“You don’t?”
“No, humorless one.”
My brows furrowed. “So why do you protect the village?”
“This one does not care. Yet, this one shall still uphold the duty. Because it is what this one is expected to do.”
“I don’t understand.”
Giggles pointed to the sky. “That is the joke, humorless one. Thy purpose, from creation till cessation is already determined. A nightmare must be as a nightmare is to be. This one must kill, despite wishing only to live. This one must take, despite having no need. This one must destroy, despite a desire to create.”
“That’s the way it is,” I said shrugging. “But there’s nothing that says that’s how it always has to be.”
“Ah, humorless one, that is the grandest joke this one has heard in a long time.”
“Thank you. I wasn’t even trying.”
Giggles shook his head. “Humorless one, you must understand that one cannot change their essence. A nightmare shall be as a nightmare is meant to be. Even you, humorless one, are moving as you are ordained to move. This one can tell, the hunger that resonates within you. You desire to sink your teeth into Alamirian and livestock alike, feast on flesh, dine on blood. With one part of your soul, you desire peace. With the other, you happily welcome war.”
“That –” I blinked. “That’s true. You’re not completely crazy after all.”
“Your desire for peace will only succeed if man and dwarf change their essence. If they do not do as men do and judge by the appearance than the soul. It will only succeed if nightmares do not do as nightmares do, and restrain from pillaging, devouring and conquering. Neither of those two things can happen, humorless one… yet, this one feels you know of this.”
“If I know all of this, why are you telling it to me?”
“Humorless one is aware, yet humorless one chases the impossible. Ah, humorless one. What a tragic life you live.” Giggles shook his head. “Your dream, humorless one, can only succeed if you first suppress the Kingdom of Men. Only if you do as nightmares must do – pillage, devour, conquer.”
“Are you done?”
Giggles acquiesced, tilting his head. “Indeed humorless one. This one has spoken too much.” The half-man, half-horse creature gestured his chest wide open. “Come, humorless one. Shall this battle between us be the crowning moment of this one’s life? Was this one made and has this one lived to face demise at your hands? Or shall this one stand over you, and live to hear the final laugh?”
An overwhelming burst of pressure emerged from Giggles, sending ripples traveling across the surface of the lake.
[Sixth Sense – DANGER DETECTED!]
[Skill {Sixth Sense} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Sixth Sense} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Sixth Sense} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Sixth Sense} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Sixth Sense} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Sixth Sense} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Sixth Sense} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Sixth Sense} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Sixth Sense} has evolved into {Greater Sixth Sense}]
[Skill {Greater Sixth Sense} has evolved into {Superior Sixth Sense}]
[Skill {Superior Sixth Sense} has evolved into {Seventh Sense}]
[Sense has risen by 50!]
Fuck.
[Seventh Sense] – WARNING.
You are about to engage in combat with a
Nightmare of the Eighth Tier.
You are about to engage in combat with an Elder One.
You are about to engage in combat with an enemy who has [Sovereignty].
You are about to engage in combat with a [Boss] Category Enemy.
[Ill-Advised to Proceed]
Fuck.
The air was so thick I couldn’t breathe. The suffocating feeling of power crackled around me with the scent of ozone. There was, I realized, lightning crackling in the air as Giggles rose his hand skyward.
“[Sango’s Hand].”
Fuck.
From the sky, a giant palm of lightning dwarfed and obscured the sun. There was no evading it. There was no avoiding it. Larger than the Statue of Liberty and the Cristo Redentor put together, the hand descended like the strike of a vengeful god upon unsuspecting mortals.
“You extend god’s hand to me?!” I laughed at the absurdity. “I’ll take it! [Golem Creation]!”
Mana and magic bled from my form so quickly it formed a mist of energy that surrounded me. I forced the earth to rise. Mud, ground, sand, dust, complete with trees, rocks, and everything else within it. My body burned from the sheer amount of MP that I was bleeding off.
The lightning hand of god met with the hand of nature itself –
And the world was bathed in white.
/∞/
“What do you mean by, you’re fighting him?”
[You are now in the True Path]
[The title {Phoenix} has come into effect.]
[You have attained [Lightning Damage Immunity] from being killed by a powerful Lightning-attribute attack]
I rubbed my brows slowly. “I lost.”
‘That’s not on us. The dude was bullshit powerful. No one told us he was supposed to be that powerful.’
“Oh, no, no, no. Janus, what have you done?” Erzili was panicking. She turned to me, eyes alight with anger. “What have you done?”
“Calm down. I used my power, and fought Giggles in a different timeline –”
“Why?” Erzili screeched.
“To know his weaknesses.”
“No, no, Janus darling, you don’t understand! Giggles, his Epithet Skill, if you don’t counter it before fighting him –” She gritted her teeth. “You’ve been exposed to it. There is no time. There is no time at all. Listen, do as Erzili says immediately. Use the Antediluvian Hieroglyphs and write the command ‘Return’ on your body. Write it anywhere. Hurry.”