Nightmare Despair

Chapter 32 They knew I was here
The blood surging outside the window was like a tide, wave after wave, showing no sign of stopping.

The parasitic corpse that had been devoured by the nursery had also completely decomposed, and the roots of the Moonlit Orchid in the soil twitched slightly.

The effect of "clear mind" made him feel refreshed.

Having survived a life-or-death situation, the relaxation that follows intense mental tension is the golden time to hone one's skills.

Zhou Kai gripped the two-handed sword, feeling his muscle memory being recalibrated and optimized with each swing.

Soraka's swordsmanship experience +2

Soon, the last ray of warm light from the fireplace flickered and entered Zhou Kai's body.

[General Experience Points +3]

Three o'clock, this trip was worthwhile.

"panel."

[Character: Zhou Kai]

[Status: Erosion, Clear Mind (71h)]

【技能：综合格斗lv3（0/50），轻盈步伐lv3（8/50），索拉卡剑术lv1（9/15），神秘学lv1（0/15），隼击术Lv1（0/15）】

[Items: Residence Permit, Brand New Two-Handed Sword, Bloodstained Axe, Oil Lamp, Morning Star Notebook (Part 3, Part 2), Moonshine Orchid Seed (Full), Moonshine Orchid Amulet (Damaged)]

[General Experience Points: 4]

"I used all nine experience points on the amulet, now I only have four left, it's better than nothing..."

The amulet is very important; it must be repaired.

Moreover, it might have a miraculous effect...

Zhou Kai stared at the panel, his gaze falling on the description of "Moonlight Orchid Amulet".

"When misfortune departs, the tranquil moonlight will bring you a long-lasting sense of clarity."

[General Experience Points -1]

[Moonlight Orchid Amulet (Damaged) → Moonlight Orchid Amulet (Old)]

The cracks in the amulet were visibly healed, and its durability was restored to about one-third.

And he was right.

In the status bar, a line of text refreshed and jumped.

[Clear Mind *2 (72h)]

Become!

This will elevate his training efficiency to a whole new level over the next 72 hours.

This is a rare example of achieving great results with a small investment.

"continue!"

With double the energy, Zhou Kai felt like he had inexhaustible strength, and his mind was incredibly clear.

About forty minutes later.

Soraka's swordsmanship experience +2

The double buff had an immediate effect, boosting experience gain efficiency to over 1.5 times.

……

Soraka's swordsmanship experience +2

Another hour later, the experience points started jumping again.

But this time, Zhou Kai suddenly stopped and dared not continue.

because……

Da...da...

A heavy dragging sound came from the ceiling above, as if some overweight thing was crawling on the roof, scratching at the tiles with its claws, moving slowly.

crunch--

The wooden beams groaned under the weight.

Dust fell down.

Zhou Kai subconsciously slowed his breathing and restrained his movements, minimizing his presence.

But the thing didn't seem to have any intention of leaving; the noise of its claws scraping against the wood remained above his head, sniffing around.

Zhou Kai's eyes narrowed, and he slowly leaned his two swords against the wall.

He can't just wait around.

Whether in a nightmare or in reality, wasting time is the most extravagant form of suicide.

He took out two Morning Star Journals from his pocket and, by the light of the lamp, began to read them page by page.

The first book I received was "Morning Star Notes, Volume Two," whose core information was the "Light Steps" skill and a series of occult knowledge for judging environmental anomalies, the latter manifesting as the skill [Occultism] on the panel. The third book contained the most information.

Besides the usage of Moonlit Orchid and the records of Blood Tide, there are also many warnings that contain both speculation and hints.

such as……

[...We must learn to adapt to the darkness; the nightmares of the past should not have light. When the light of hope is exposed in the darkness, it attracts not only those who seek it, but also... monsters that intend to annihilate it. Lights should be prohibited unless absolutely necessary.]

[...The notes were placed haphazardly, randomly left in all the places I visited...I first encountered the blood tide in room 653, but what caused me the most trouble wasn't the insects.]

What's truly despairing is that from the very first day I arrived here...

They knew of my existence.

[...under scrutiny, intrusion will be seen as an invitation...]

Click.

Zhou Kai subconsciously turned the oil lamp switch, and the flickering flame suddenly went out.

A faint smell of diesel fuel lingered in the air, and in the sudden darkness, Zhou Kai's expression was more solemn than ever before.

"Damn, no wonder..."

"What kind of weird place has such rules?!"

Why is that strange man with a doughy face so determined to get into the shelter?

Why would the "wanderer" open the French windows right under his nose?
It all made sense.

So I was just a walking "Welcome" floor mat before?
Without this notebook, Zhou Kai estimated that he would have died dozens of times and still not figured out the tricks of the trade.

Who would have thought that in this godforsaken place, being blind to the truth is the safest thing to do!
Based on my own experience, I deduce that this rule can probably be extended to hearing, smell... Perhaps only the living dead, who have lost all five senses, can avoid being preyed upon by those things.

But how can you activate special buildings if you've lost all five senses?
How to ward off blood beetles and the ever-present cold?
This nightmare forces people to make a choice, a choice that leads to different ways of dying.

But Zhou Kai was not going to sit idly by and wait for his doom.

He ignored the noise on the roof, picked up his sword, and returned to the fireplace.

Keep practicing!
Fifteen minutes before the wanderer's body was about to burn to ashes.

Boom!

A deafening clap of thunder seemed to tear the sky apart.

Then, a torrential downpour began, signaling the start of a bloodbath that had lasted for more than five hours…

ended.

Zhou Kai stopped wielding the greatsword.

Soraka's swordsmanship experience +5

Soraka Swordsmanship Lv2 (3/25)

Subtle strands of power grow within the muscle fibers, and more skillful techniques are etched into the mind like a brand.

A glint of light flashed in Zhou Kai's eyes.

He breathed a sigh of relief; his combat strength had reached a new level.

"Phew... I didn't even have to use my 'backup hidden energy'."

Zhou Kai glanced at the squid-like piece of flesh not far from the fireplace—the head of Diablo's parasitic corpse.

His original plan was that if the blood tide hadn't ended by the time the bodies were burned, he would throw the head in as well to prop it up.

It now appears that the head can be handed over to the nursery intact.

He had a feeling that sacrificing the monster's corpse intact to a special building would yield even greater rewards.

Using a two-handed sword to string the "squid head" together, Zhou Kai went down to the basement.

Then he went to the door again, preparing to go out.

Through the crack in the door, lightning illuminated the shadowy town in the rain, a dangerous clamor lurking beneath the deathly silence.

Zhou Kai's Adam's apple bobbed.

The blood tide has ended, but his nightmare is far from over.

Twelve hours... only half of them have passed.

"When you stand still, darkness will follow you like a shadow."

"I don't deserve to rest yet."

With his sword on his back and his talisman in his hand, Zhou Kai stepped out of Shelter No. 777.

Hopefully, there's nothing waiting for me at the door.

As another flash of lightning illuminated the scene, Zhou Kai glanced around and breathed a sigh of relief.

It should be safe.

(End of this chapter)