Though this was likely Tinina's Dreamscape, Mithra and Elise, as they progressed, saw more about Alarcus, the Night Eyes possessor.
Tinina and Alarcus came from a noble family in the era of the Wandering God's chaos, ruling a distant, small territory.
Alarcus was exceptionally talented.
Because of the Night Eyes, he was highly valued from a young age, receiving elite training beyond the typical standards.
He wasn't affected by external pressure, meeting all expectations and rapidly maturing.
Those who possessed Night Eyes were extraordinarily gifted; even without them, their talent would have left its mark on history.
The Night Eyes merely amplified their advantages.
By the age of eighteen, Alarcus had reached the Clarity level in miracles.
During that era, the Wandering God's curse ravaged the wilderness, threatening human survival.
Young Alarcus tirelessly joined the ranks defending his home.
His reputation as a young hero spread beyond his territory.
Tinina, at that time, was a young lady who'd recently begun learning miracles, often distracted.
She was, however, fiercely protective of her brother.
Though people often used Alarcus to pressure her, urging her to learn from him, she remained unfazed.
Pressure didn't exist in her worldview.
As long as Alarcus was home, she would cling to him, eager to hear his tales of adventure and exciting stories.
Alarcus doted on his younger sister, leaving the family helpless.
...
"Darkness chooses its people… I've met several before; they were indeed exceptional. Anderet's judgment wasn't bad,"
"Ah," Mithra watched the unfolding scene intently, her response perfunctory.
Elise sighed slightly, "You also possess Night Eyes, passerby. No feelings about it?"
"Mine came from the exchange," Mithra replied casually.
Elise didn't quite understand Mithra's "exchange," but she knew Mithra didn't care about such things.
"Sibling affection… a warm thing," Elise's gaze returned to the brother and sister.
Mithra nodded without comment.
Though this dream was currently idyllic, it was merely a dream; the real historical outcome had been decided.
Only one would remain with the Night Eyes—Tinina.
Many more future events awaited.
…
Meanwhile, Alarcus returned from another expedition. His activities had expanded beyond his territory; he'd begun to fight for the nation, his reputation soaring in the small country.
After returning, he sought Tinina.
"Tinina, how are your swordsmanship lessons going? Need some guidance?" Alarcus asked gently; his features had matured, appearing more handsome and possessing an unexpected level of sophistication for his age.
"Um…" Tinina, initially cheerful, was caught off guard.
"Master Macallan mentioned you seem uninterested in traditional swordsmanship."
"Straight swords are too heavy; I prefer lighter, shorter ones," Tinina mumbled.
"But those are necessary for self-defense; short swords require more consideration and aren't suitable as primary weapons," Alarcus patiently instructed.
"After learning miracles, isn't it all the same? I'd rather punch people directly!" Tinina waved her small hands.
"What about your miracle lessons?" Alarcus smoothly shifted the conversation.
Tinina remained silent.
"Master Macallan said you haven't completed Unified Sense."
"Do you think everyone is like you? Completing Unified Sense below the head at my age is incredible! I'm a year younger than you! Besides, learning miracles can't be rushed; Master Macallan always says that!" Tinina quickly explained.
"That's true, Tinina. But trust me, your talent is as good as mine; you just aren't studying seriously," Alarcus stated seriously.
Tinina lowered her head; her voice softened, "You have those eyes; it's fine with you there. Didn't you say you'd always protect me? Everyone says you're blessed by the Night Elf."
Alarcus placed his hands on Tinina's shoulders, "I will always protect you and this land. It's my duty and responsibility, bestowed by the night's blessing; I mean what I say. But I hope you become stronger, too. A single person's strength is limited; protecting this world isn't just the job of individual heroes; it's the responsibility of everyone in this land."
Tinina and Alarcus stared at each other for a moment, lost in thought.
"…Okay, alright, I'll try…" Tinina shyly looked away, murmuring.
Alarcus's face brightened; he took Tinina's hand.
"Alright, let's go stargazing."
"Huh? Isn't the sky cloudy tonight?" Tinina questioned.
Alarcus seized the opportunity, secretly pulling Tinina away from the manor into the garden.
Then, Alarcus brought his hands together, condensing a multicolored star-shaped pattern.
["Starlight": Star miracle. Calls upon spiritual light from the cosmos, using their illumination as a miracle. It can also condense a faintly luminous spiritual light above the head; the light isn't bright, but its reach is considerable…]
[——"May the star guide our path."]
Mithra saw the miracle information.
A star miracle, belonging to a rare type of natural miracle. Its symbolism was profound; Mithra had only seen a summary, never studied it in detail.
With Alarcus's use, the originally dark, lightless sky suddenly began to twinkle with stars.
Tinina was captivated, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the heavens.
"Wow! Brother, you're amazing! Is there such a miracle?"
"It's called a star miracle. I learned it from someone after my last expedition. I unexpectedly had the intuition for it. But more than its function, I thought you'd like it," Alarcus said.
"Hee hee, brother, how many stars can your miracle light up?"
"Ha ha, I haven't actually counted. Let's count them together?"
"Okay!"
The two stood under the not-so-bright, not-particularly-beautiful starry sky, counting together.
"One, two, three, four, five…"
Their counting blended, their voices gradually fading into the distance.
…
The Dreamscape atmosphere abruptly changed.
As a white mist enveloped everything, the image didn't continue to progress.
Scritch scritch—
The sound of hard objects moving echoed.
Within the white fog, several purple, crystalline humanoids moved stiffly, emerging.
Each held a long blade condensed from dark matter, surrounding Mithra and Elise.
Mithra's eyes narrowed slightly.
Ikli was hidden amongst these crystalline figures; his eyes also glowed purple.
Elise said, "The Dreamscape's progress has been forcibly interfered with by a higher power; it's temporarily lagging… but it won't last long. It might transition into an aggressive state due to this disruption."
Before she finished, the Abhorrence staff transformed into a bladed whip, spinning violently. Dark energy clung to it; the seemingly tough crystalline humanoids were effortlessly shattered into fragments.
Ikli was stunned; he hadn't expected his painstakingly constructed efforts to assist Mithra to be so easily broken by her sudden display of abyssal miracle power.
Then, a fierce wind roared past, Mithra's Night Worship Greatsword descending.
He didn't block, dodging to find an opportunity to counterattack.
But the bladed whip was incredibly agile, catching up to him, piercing his chest and embedding thorny tendrils that pulled him back.
Bang!
The Worship Greatsword struck squarely; Ikli instantly shattered into fragments of crystalline dust.
"We are watching a movie, what are you fidgeting about?" Mithra casually crushed the crystalline remnants underfoot.
Elise arrived leisurely, sighing, "You should've let me kill him; now he's escaped. Brave but reckless, passerby."
"Slow and deliberate Miss Elise criticizes others for being too fast?" Mithra countered.
Elise couldn't argue; she'd focused on the Dreamscape's changes.
After their first encounter, even though Ikli escaped, she hadn't taken him seriously.
He wouldn't last three moves against her.
After Ikli's defeat, the white mist shifted.
But this time, it was more intense.
Suddenly, a loud uproar preceded the image's appearance.
Something flashed in the white fog.
Mithra glanced; a rough-skinned beastman charged towards her. Before it got close, Elise intercepted and killed it.
But this was only the beginning.
The white mist dissipated completely; Mithra and Elise found themselves in a desolate field.
Two factions were clashing.
One was human; the other… beastmen!
The beastmen weren't numerous, but they were incredibly powerful. Without miracles, unorganized soldiers couldn't withstand their attacks.
Though the beastmen had rejected the alliance with humans at the end of the Forty-Four Pillar Gods era, ultimately losing the war,
But until the Wandering God's chaotic era, all large and small beastmen settlements existed in the corners of Dreamland, secretly thriving amidst the chaos.
A beastman knight in armor, wielding a rusty greatsword, noticed Mithra and Elise, charging forward. His seemingly powerful thrust abruptly veered off, revealing his deceptive tactics.
Elise ignored his feints; wielding her twin blades, she moved like a bird, intercepting his attack. Her blades sliced through his damaged armor, severing his head.
"The Dreamscape has become aggressive; we're caught in this Impetus," Elise said after the quick kill.
Several small beastmen surrounding Mithra were whipped away by the Abhorrence staff, their bodies dissolving into fragments.
"Find Alarcus," she said.
They began searching the field.
With inferior equipment and few believers, the human side struggled against the frenzied beastmen; some were killed and immediately devoured.
Mithra and Elise didn't attract the humans' attention, but they drew the beastmen's.
Eventually, they found Alarcus, surprisingly with Tinina.
Alarcus faced two beastman knights, his swordsmanship precise, repelling their attacks.
Both knights were believers, using miracles—one fire, one ice. Instead of conflict, the combined power formed a formidable force, even hindering Alarcus's movements.
But then, Tinina, somehow, inserted herself between the two beastmen, her short sword slashing, interrupting the fire beastman's attack.
The two beastmen's coordinated assault was broken; Alarcus counterattacked, instantly killing the ice beastman.
As Tinina had said before, she preferred enhancing herself for direct combat over swordsmanship and miracles.
Her Reinforce Body miracle was masterful; with various transformations, she quickly overwhelmed the fire beastman, disarming and ultimately killing him with a short-sword thrust to the eye.
"That young lady has grown remarkably," Elise stepped on a beastman corpse, forcefully pulling a blade from its flesh.
Mithra nodded.
While their age hadn't changed significantly, Tinina had transformed from a truant child to a warrior keeping pace with her brother.
Her growth was astonishing; Alarcus's words about Tinina's talent weren't just empty encouragement.
Alarcus and Tinina swept through the battlefield; the demoralized beastmen fled in panic.
The battle was won.
Tinina rose to prominence from that day forward.
She'd realized that her brother, with his responsibilities, often went on expeditions, leaving for extended periods.
If she could match his strength, couldn't she accompany him on his adventures?
Just as her family began seeking a husband for her, causing her distress, this problem was easily resolved.
Alarcus, overjoyed, didn't try to prevent Tinina from facing danger; he'd seen too much on his travels, knowing that in this era, there were no truly safe places.
If Tinina's strength matched his, they'd be a better team.
Thus, over the next few years, the brother and sister, both in their twenties, rose to fame.
This small nation, this distant territory, produced two prodigies—though the younger, Alarcus, still dominated the headlines, Tinina's brilliance was celebrated.
Mithra watched Alarcus and Tinina win countless battles, then return surrounded by people; this cycle repeated for a long time.
Suddenly…
Roar—
A roar echoed in Mithra's mind.
A contrast.
Mithra turned, her gaze fixed on the distant hillside beyond the city walls; a figure, large for a human, was clearly visible within the vast landscape.
A beast with emerald fur, wearing rough armor, carrying a greatsword that pulsed with pale blue light.
The Night Hunter.
It had arrived.
The Hunter leaped high, landing with a wolf-like bound, aiming its Night Hunter Greatsword at the territory—
When Mithra and Elise regained their senses, they were surrounded by fire.
Around them, the cursed beings, familiar foes from the Gross mines, rampaged.
Destruction descended; the suddenly appearing Wandering God shattered the fragile beauty, revealing the true nightmare, the true face of the Wandering God's chaos to the ignorant.
"That sword…" Elise's expression remained unchanged, but her gaze on the Hunter's blade triggered a memory; she looked at Mithra.
"Yes, it's in my possession now," Mithra's expression was equally impassive; she walked towards the most intense sounds.
Elise followed without question.
They fought their way through a horde of cursed beings, finally reaching the scene.
Amidst the carnage, the survivors fought desperately to protect their home, only to become corpses with a single swing of the Hunter's sword.
Tinina, covered in blood, lay panting, struggling to rise.
Everyone around her had fallen, leaving Alarcus facing the Wandering God.
"You goddamn want my eyes!? Come on!" Alarcus shouted angrily at the Wandering God.
"Brother! Alarcus!" Willpower propelled Tinina to her feet; she tried to reach her brother.
Alarcus launched a desperate attack, using the Star miracle. The destructive starlight, like mournful eyes, granted him ultimate power.
His beautiful blue Illusion body changed violently; his form almost lost control; Starlight filled everything.
Starlight's blade clashed with the Hunter's Hunting Blade.
With a deafening roar…
The Hunter cried out in pain, severely wounded; it stumbled back, using its sword to support itself.
As Tinina stumbled towards them, Alarcus's body lay shattered; his severed head rolled before her, his Night Eyes wide open.
Stunned, Tinina quickly picked up Alarcus's head, cradling it.
But a clawed hand snatched the head, attempting to take it away.
"Give me back my brother! Don't take him!" Tinina screamed.
She forgot to enhance herself, being flung away by the Hunter.
Scritch scritch—
The sound of shattering bones echoed.
Tinina collapsed, curling up, enduring the intense pain, looking at her hand; only half of Alarcus's head remained.
The Hunter glanced at the half-head in its hand, breathing heavily, advancing to take the other half.
Tinina struggled to her feet, fully activating Reinforce Body, fleeing.
She had to escape; even with her brother mortally wounded, the Wandering God was beyond her capabilities. She couldn't let her brother's eyes fall into the beast's hands.
The Hunter attempted to pursue, but suddenly its legs buckled, collapsing to the ground.
Starlight, forming chains, bound its legs.
[Star Chains: Star miracle. The star constellations hold endless mysteries; merely utilizing the symbolic structure revealed by their form, under sufficient impact, can create immensely powerful Star Chains, achieving a direct, simple effect.]
[——He knew he couldn't kill it; thus, he bought time for his sister and the others…]
"Roar—!" With a furious roar, the Hunter forcefully tore at the Starlight chains on its legs; the chains, borrowing immense spiritual power at the cost of life, held firm.
A minute—approximately a minute of confinement.
By the time the Hunter broke free, Tinina had escaped a considerable distance.
She ran continuously, her wounds tearing further, never stopping.
She dared not look back; she couldn't even breathe; the Hunter excelled at pursuing prey.
Fortunately, luck favored her.
She encountered reinforcements; they rescued her.
When the Hunter arrived, it attacked, but its injured state and the prepared Wandering God counterattack force repelled it.
Tinina survived.
Her family's territory, ravaged by the cursed beings spawned by the Hunter, was destroyed in an instant; surviving relatives and friends were scattered.
Most importantly, she had lost her brother.
Night Eyes were a blessing from the Night Elf.
But the cruel price followed slowly.
Ultimately, whether it was a blessing or a curse was debatable.
...
"Even well-intentioned blessings can attract malicious attention; that's not unusual in Dreamland," Elise said calmly.
"It's not the fault of the blessed, but the malice itself," Mithra stated casually, continuing forward.
"Yes, objectively speaking, perhaps that's true. But I've seen this too many times; in the brutal chaos of the world, misfortune and tragedy are expected," Elise said coldly.
"I didn't realize you were a pessimist, Miss Elise," Mithra said without turning.
"Perhaps I am, passerby. Aren't you?" Elise retorted.
"I'm a true optimist," Mithra raised her hand, gesturing.
Elise was slightly puzzled.
She couldn't see any optimism in Mithra.
Seeing Mithra walk away, she quickly followed.
…
Tinina, carrying half of Alarcus's head, returned to her ravaged homeland, then, rejecting offers of comfort, continued her journey.
She had witnessed the power of the beasts; a long-held belief that she could gain strength beyond human capabilities.
She cast aside all inhibitions, approaching forbidden creatures, the beasts, seeking their power.
Alarcus's head quickly rotted; the flesh, devoid of miraculous preservation, turned to mush.
Only the Night Eyes remained fresh.
A cycle of seeking beasts, seeking their guidance, clashing with malicious beasts, killing or escaping—it repeated endlessly.
After countless years, Tinina found an unexpected community of humans and beasts.
This was beyond common imagination; this settlement was called "Gulanslova" by its inhabitants.
It was undoubtedly the site of the Gulan Sacrifice Tower's predecessor.
The community welcomed Tinina, offering the help she sought.
Upon learning her intentions, they tried to dissuade her from seeking revenge on the Hunter.
It was a beast-origin creature that was only superficially similar to beasts.
Mere beast strength couldn't defeat it.
Furthermore, as a Wandering God manifestation, the Hunter had continued its hunts, growing stronger. Humans couldn't realistically contend with such a creature.
These arguments failed to sway Tinina's resolve.
Desperate, the Gulanslova inhabitants taught Tinina beast miracles.
At Tinina's request, they performed Night Eyes transplantation surgery.
This would aid her revenge; if the Hunter hunted for Night Eyes, she could use them as bait.
After several years of training in Gulanslova, Tinina heard news of a kingdom destroyed by the Hunter.
Unable to restrain herself, she began her pursuit.
For the rest of her long life, she chased that frenzied beast.
Unfortunately, the beast seemed uninterested in her single eye; perhaps her relentless pursuit, remaining unknown, hadn't attracted its attention.
In the chaotic past, even knowing the Night Eyes' location and laying an ambush was difficult due to limited information.
She was more like a grieving dog chasing an unattainable goal.
Each ambiguous clue spurred her on, like a puppet on strings.
Uncontrolled beast miracle usage led to deeper, uncontrollable mutations, yet her ultimate goal remained elusive.
Then, she received further help from Gulanslova.
They discovered information on the next Night Eyes possessor. Information from Gulanslova was reliable, but another piece of news came with it.
That Night Eyes possessor was collaborating with other beasts; they planned to use themselves as bait to eliminate the Hunter, the looming threat over generations of Night Eyes possessors.
The Hunter's secondary targets, when Night Eyes were unavailable, were often other beasts.
This was a shared grievance.
She set off immediately; meanwhile, the Hunter's location had been confirmed; a decisive battle between humans and beasts was imminent.
Her time was short.
…
"She's coming," Elise said, watching the rapidly approaching figure.
"No," Mithra replied flatly.
Tinina had only encountered the Hunter once—that desperate first encounter was her last; it filled her with lifelong despair.
She spent her life seeking revenge, but even at her physical limit, she missed her chance by a hair's breadth.
Her frenzy found no outlet; her pain found no closure.
Just as Mithra and Elise were thinking this, the Dreamscape violently changed.
As Tinina ran, her body twisted, her flesh and bones mutating; her left eye transformed into wood, fur sprouting on her body.
She transitioned from bipedal to quadrupedal locomotion.
Her speed in this dream reached impossible limits.
All scenery was left behind; before her was the brutal battlefield.
Human and beast roars echoed; the emerald beast was larger and more imposing; thirty-four eyes on its greatsword blinked, surveying the surroundings.
Mithra and Elise were pulled into this scene.
"She caught up?" Mithra questioned.
"It seems so. She couldn't in reality, but she did in the dream. I can sense the Dreamscape's focus on her. She's the dreamer now!" Elise said seriously.
"…Should we help her resolve this dream?" Mithra tilted her head, asking Elise.
"Unfortunately, we can't," Elise sighed, "Don't you see how her intense obsession has altered the Dreamscape, and how she's transformed within the dream?"
Tinina's current form was even more severe than her real-world beast transformation.
"Miracles have a price, but sometimes the gain and price are disproportionate. She's blinded by the dream, paying the real price to fulfill a false dream's promise."
"If we let her achieve her wish here, she'll fully submerge in the dream, and the outside world will also spiral out of control."
Mithra raised her weapon, "Even in a dream, we have to maintain clarity."
Elise drew her twin blades, "Precisely. In Dreamland, even dreams are cruel, passerby."
They charged towards Tinina.
At that moment, a clear crystalline sound echoed from somewhere on the dream battlefield.
A figure suddenly appeared before Mithra and Elise.
Without a doubt, it was Ikli.
Mithra and Elise ignored him; exchanging a glance, they continued their advance without hesitation or avoidance.
Ikli's tightly shut eyes snapped open, his eyes transforming into Night Eyes!
Mithra was startled, but her actions didn't falter; the Ashes Flame Father ignited on her, her flaming mace smashing towards him.
Elise's twin blades, flashing purple and white, followed.
Ikli's long blade swung, unleashing "Black Rend," a black wave crashing towards them. But before impact, he refined his technique, maximizing the miracle's power.
Bang!
This time, he successfully halted Mithra and Elise.
"What is this? Night Eyes are now commodities?" Mithra steadied herself.
"He's borrowing power in the dream through the Eternal Night crystal, similar to Miss Tinina's situation," Elise explained.
"Dreams are convenient sources of power."
"Higher power interference is convenient, but there's a price."
"But his price doesn't concern us, does it?"
"Yes, leave this to me, passerby. Let me see just how optimistic you are," Elise said coldly.
"No, splitting our strength is pointless; we'll attack together," Mithra rejected Elise's plan; the Night Hunter Greatsword's hilt pierced her flesh, then was drawn out.
Even though the "dog" disliked the connection to the ash form, Mithra ignored it; as long as the greatsword wasn't consumed by flames, it was fine.
Night Eyes didn't provide much true power enhancement; combining them with an Eternal Night crystal to unleash more Eternal Night power was possible.
But it didn't matter; Ikli's limit was probably that; he'd never seen—or imagined—this.
"Fools… I possess unparalleled Eternal Night power! You rabble can't defeat me!" The surge of power disrupted Ikli's usually calm demeanor.
But as he finished shouting, he narrowly dodged a Hunting Blade.
Having dodged, the fiery mace followed.
He raised his blade to block, but the explosive force sent him flying.
Before he hit the ground, Elise, moving like a bird, appeared; crimson stained her white feathers.
Ikli's head flew off.
Scritch scritch—
Crystallization appeared again; teleporting to continue his assault.
This time, Ikli's escape was even faster; his strength aside, his evasive maneuvers in this dream were exceptionally refined.
But even with his skill, Mithra and Elise wouldn't give him another chance.
Before they could pursue, several bright stars fell from the dark sky, connecting to form Star Chains, ensnaring Ikli's crystalline fragments, halting his escape.
Elise was startled, but didn't stop; her twin blades whirled, completely obliterating Ikli's consciousness.
Pausing briefly, she looked back at the dissipating starlight with a strange expression.
Mithra, however, gasped slightly; a living Alarcus stood before her.
Was this a resurrection match?
The moment Alarcus appeared, the Dreamscape's movement slowed significantly.
"Sorry to trouble you," Alarcus said with a warm smile.
Mithra's Night Eyes showed slight strain, but Alarcus's Night Eyes were like pearls—dark yet luminous; they met.
"Is this the residual power from your eyes?"
"It's barely more than a trace, but as that young lady said, the dream's power is convenient given the conditions," Alarcus shrugged.
"Then why didn't you save your sister?" Mithra asked.
"If I interfered, Tinina would never wake up; she'd be lost forever. She's strong, but also fragile," Alarcus glanced away slightly.
Mithra remained silent.
"Night Eyes weren't meant to be transplanted or merged casually. The Night Elf wouldn't allow their gifts to be misused—the Hunter's case was an exception."
"You mean…?"
"Tinina, during her transformation, forged a pact with the Night Elf. She could borrow the Night Eyes' power, suppress her lifelong beast transformation, and even leave her will in her eyes after death. This was her intended power."
"And the price?"
"The price is that the Night Elf must fulfill her wish—killing the Hunter."
She failed.
Mithra could prevent the Hunter's resurrection; unless Mithra lost control, allowing the Hunter to possess her, it was impossible.
"The main reason for Tinina's deterioration wasn't external forces or even the Dreamscape. The root cause was paying the price for her past life. She suppressed her beast transformation, continuing to suppress the effects for Daphne; now, the price must be paid."
Alarcus spoke calmly, but the underlying restraint was palpable.
She hadn't done anything wrong; she lived an ordinary life, using everything yet failing to achieve her final goal.
But the goddess, Anderet, wouldn't forgive her.
Or perhaps, when Anderet allowed the Night Eyes transplantation, not rejecting her, agreeing to the bargain, was the greatest forgiveness.
Now, she had to pay the price.
Mithra looked towards the distance, where Tinina now faced the Hunter in the dream.
Would she awaken?
Even if she knew this was a false dream, she likely hoped to achieve something.
Witnessing her brother's death, desperately retrieving only half his head, chasing the Wandering God, yet missing her chance before the Hunter's defeat.
"I understand," Mithra's expression remained unchanged; her tone was flat, calm.
Alarcus, about to speak, was stunned for a moment before chuckling and nodding.
He bowed deeply to Mithra.
"Tinina and I offer our deepest respect and gratitude."
Mithra didn't respond, walking past the bowing Alarcus.
Alarcus vanished; the Dreamscape resumed its normal speed.
Elise quietly approached Mithra.
"Wait here," Mithra said.
Elise watched her, silent.
Then, Mithra charged into the battlefield.
Tinina stood before the Hunter.
But before she could attack, a Night Hunter Greatsword pierced the Hunter's chest; Mithra landed swiftly, her fiery mace smashing the Hunter's head, bringing it crashing to the ground.
Rising, gathering strength, the dream's fire was drawn into Mithra's hand, then slammed into the dream Hunter.
Dong!
The dream's logic shattered; the false Wandering God lost its power, easily falling to Mithra.
Tinina stood frozen, watching Mithra withdraw the real Night Hunter Greatsword, still dripping with fresh flesh.
Mithra turned, calmly regarding Tinina.
"The illusion isn't enough."
She raised the sword, partially covering her face with the blade.
"Powerless Tinina, prove your worth."
The indifferent voice echoed across the dream battlefield.
Tinina clutched her head; tears streamed down her face, her choked sobs blurring, finally dissolving into a frenzied roar.
[Dream Tinina: A noble family's young lady, a clingy younger sister, a warrior following her brother's footsteps, a survivor of a ravaged village, a puppet-like avenger, ultimately a powerless, ordinary individual.]
Tinina lunged at Mithra, various beast miracle patterns flashing across her body.
Powerful, paralyzing claws swung wildly; Mithra swung her mace, the flames dispelling the beast's power; the Ashes Flame Father's suppression of beasts remained potent.
Tinina roared, her claws striking at Mithra.
But in her frenzy, she didn't notice the pale blue light flash.
A deep gash appeared on her outstretched arm, nearly severing it; only the reinforced muscles from her extensive beast transformation prevented complete amputation.
Before a scream escaped her distorted mouth, Mithra dodged, breaking one of her legs.
Tinina fell to her knees, supporting herself with her remaining leg.
Mithra swiftly climbed onto Tinina's massive form, leaping onto her back, then thrusting her sword downward.
Phut phut!
The greatsword plunged deep into Tinina's back; she screamed in agony, her claws reaching for Mithra, her body shaking violently.
Mithra stirred the greatsword, withdrawing it before being grasped, leaping off her.
Tinina's leg swiftly regenerated; she lunged forward, claws extended, striking at Mithra.
Mithra's feet planted firmly; she subtly bent, her body fluid; facing Tinina, she countered.
They rapidly closed the distance; Mithra suddenly unleashed her hammer, scattering a large spray of sparks.
Tinina charged into the sparks; a series of explosions erupted.
Dust scattered; the battered beast, ignoring the destruction, burst through the dust, only to be met by a powerful downward swing of the Night Hunter Greatsword.
Dong!
The beast was pinned to the ground; Mithra was sent stumbling back, but she attacked again before it could recover.
The beast, engulfed in flames, struggled; its strength waning, its claws being torn off.
The burns on Mithra deepened, spreading across her body, even reaching her eyes.
Elise watched silently, her eyes reflecting the flames swirling around Mithra.
Bang!
The beast was knocked back again; blood splattered the ground, some drying from the burns.
Normally, it should have fallen; as a frenzied beast under the Ashes Flame Father's flames, its performance was no better—even worse—than Infeder, the Ember City Priest.
It was exceptionally resilient, even for a punching bag.
Because this was a dream.
Its obsession determined its endurance.
But it was nearing its limit.
The beast lunged at Mithra, its frenzied, clouded eyes reflecting only the Night Hunter Greatsword in Mithra's hand.
Thud—
Its body suddenly went limp, collapsing to the ground.
It struggled to move, crawling.
"Roar… growl… roar… roar… Ugh… whimper…" The roars weakened, gradually blurring into human sobs.
Seeing this, the flames on Mithra slowly died down; she approached Tinina.
Amidst the burning flames, she watched Tinina cry.
When the sobs grew hoarse and weakened, she spoke, "Awake?"
"…It's too much… even the end… ah… even a beautiful dream won't let me be…" Tinina's voice was weak, still tinged with bestial breathing, but she spoke in human words.
"I… couldn't save… let me… sleep…"
"You couldn't save. What about Daphne?" Mithra asked.
Tinina froze.
Right, there was another, an innocent person dragged into her affairs.
"I… I…"
But what did others matter? She'd given her all, only making things worse; barely able to sustain herself, what right did she have to consider others…?
Bang!
A nearby sound caught her attention.
The Night Hunter Greatsword lay before her, silently on the ground.
Mithra relaxed, sitting down, "You wanted to see the Hunter's sword."
Tinina's pact with Anderet was to kill the Hunter; even if Anderet had given her extraordinary convenience, only the price of killing a Wandering God was worthy of her intervention.
Just looking at the Night Hunter Greatsword—such a simple price couldn't be the full payment.
Clearly, after realizing Mithra wasn't the Hunter, and that the Hunter was dead, Tinina's desire to see the sword stemmed from her acknowledgment of failure, a final wish.
Of course, now she might not care anymore.
Tinina, captivated by the greatsword, moved, trying to get closer.
"You want to find your brother's eyes?" Mithra spoke again.
Tinina inched closer, "Yes… yes… Thank you…"
"Don't rush. I'll help you; let's count them slowly."
"Count?"
"Yes, count."
Mithra grasped the hilt, activating some of the sword's power, causing its eyes to open one by one.
Then, extending a finger, she slowly pointed at each one.
"If you see it, say it. One… two… three… four…"
Mithra began counting; her voice was slow, giving Tinina time to react.
Gradually, Tinina's voice joined Mithra's.
She began counting with Mithra.
Their voices blended.
Like when she counted stars with her brother.
As she counted, Tinina's voice became clearer; the faint bestial sounds dissipated, returning to her slightly hoarse, low female voice.
As her vision cleared, tears flowed silently down her cheeks.
She wished this moment of comfort could last forever.
Though Mithra's voice was cold and indifferent, far from her brother's warmth, the figure with Night Eyes counting alongside her blurred with Alarcus's image through her tear-filled eyes.
"Thirty-two… thirty-three… thirty-four…"
This brief moment of peace ended.
Mithra and Tinina had counted all the eyes on both sides of the sword.
A shared silence followed, broken by Mithra, "Did you find your brother's eyes?"
Tinina nodded slightly, "No."
Indeed, they weren't there.
Alarcus's remaining eye had been destroyed during his fight with the Hunter; Tinina hadn't noticed.
The Hunter had taken the other half of his head; the Night Eyes were gone.
In the end, she hadn't seen what she wanted.
Yet, Tinina was finally at peace.
"Ah… so… it wasn't taken… I didn't let them take my brother's remaining eye… It's good… so good…"
"I… I did it…"
Mithra stood, raising the Night Hunter Greatsword.
"…Thank you, Mithra… brother," Tinina smiled faintly.
"Yes, sleep well, Tinina."
With a single swing of the sword.
...
Daphne suddenly opened her eyes, feeling wetness on her face; she instinctively covered her right eye.
But there was nothing there, only an empty socket.
The Night Eyes were gone.
She quickly sat up, examining her body.
She was wearing a Sanctuary uniform; the clothes torn during her beast transformation had been replaced. Her skin was smooth, with no trace of fur.
Her claws and teeth were also normal.
Purple light illuminated the surroundings; Mithra's light shone nearby; others were resting.
"Awake?"
The voice startled Daphne; she looked towards the sound and saw Mithra leaning against the wall beside her, half-hidden in the shadows, her expression unchanging.
"Miss Tinina…" Daphne began, wanting to ask something.
Mithra extended a hand, palm open.
An unusual Night Eye rested there.
Instead of the usual inky blackness, two star-shaped lights flickered within the eye....