The Elf King unleashed his unknown authorities, and the Ancient Sun God responded appropriately.
The eye within the shadowy curtain opened, a "corruption" aura tainting the ocean of sunlight.
Dark, viscous corruption emerged, blending with the sunlight, turning the pure sea of light into a deep, shadowy abyss.
"The Chaos Sea?!" Truman was stunned; the shadowy ocean bore a striking resemblance to the Chaos Sea.
"If you add the dragon's 'mind,' the tyrant's 'ocean,' and the white tower's 'knowledge,' it'd be even closer…"
Indeed, everything had its traces.
The Elf King and Ancient Sun God reached another stalemate, the former unable to break through, the latter wary of other ancient gods.
This battle would likely drag on, drawing all eyes here.
…
While the giants marched on the elven divine kingdom, the Giant King faced the Phoenix, and Truman confronted the calamity, other forces moved.
The timing was impeccable. The Dragon of Imagination ventured beyond the elven seas, and even Devil Monarch Farbauti emerged from the Abyss amid the sea's turmoil.
No one noticed matters beyond the divine war.
This was a human city-state outside the City of Miracles.
From here, one could look up and see the City of Miracles, suspended in the sky, never touching the ground.
A true divine marvel, it drove the region's humans to fervently worship dragons, birthing a vibrant dragon culture.
But gods didn't care. To them, humans were insignificant, their worship meaningless to dragons.
Under the Dragon of Imagination's influence, the dragon race's need for faith plummeted, rendering humans valueless in their eyes.
The Dragon of Imagination never glanced here, and passing dragons merely scanned with the cold gaze of tallying food stocks.
Occasionally, during sacrifices, a dragon would descend, devouring a few "offerings" trembling with fear or joy.
In good spirits, a dragon might respond, hearing human pleas and fulfilling simple requests.
In poor spirits, they'd unleash disasters—frost, storms, flames. The more humans feared, the grander the sacrifices, the more simultaneous prayers, all stabilizing the dragon's state.
At the edge of the City of Miracles' reach stood a city-state shunned by other dragons.
This was the domain of the Nightmare Dragon, Alzuhod.
Among dragons, the Nightmare Dragon was uniquely malevolent, delighting in dominating minds, bending beings to its will.
These beings rarely noticed, unable to break free, believing the thoughts were their own, culminating in the most terrifying, horrific nightmares.
"Roar!" A silent bellow echoed through the collective unconscious sea of all in the Nightmare City.
A strange power rippled, driving minds into frenzy, erasing personal thoughts, preparing for a carnival of dancing with monsters.
"Sleep." Before classic tragedies of patricide or filicide unfolded, starlight sprinkled from a night-like sky, lulling all into sleep, granting momentary peace.
"Who!?" A dragon's roar shook the city, a draconic head emerging from the illusory unconscious sea.
A figure slowly took shape—a graceful silhouette in a dark, radiant black robe, hooded, with a veil concealing their eyes.
"I know you!" The dragon's head eyed the Angel of Secrets, a glint flashing in its eyes, before speaking. "The secret sect among humans!"
"But it's all a facade. I know your true origin," the Nightmare Dragon declared, revealing the Angel of Secret's roots. "You're an angel under the Misfortune Goddess!"
"Misfortune betrayed the Demonic Wolf, seizing the greatest gain…" The Nightmare Dragon chanted, recounting past events.
"Why have you come to my domain!" Instantly, it shrank into the collective unconscious sea, its eyes fixed on the Angel of Secrets, menace gleaming within.
As a Sequence 1 of the Visionary pathway, it lacked none of its traits.
It observed the Angel of Secrets, seeking a chance for a fatal strike.
"You wish to replace Misfortune and ally with my Father God?" The Nightmare Dragon manipulated a nearby human to speak.
"Misfortune will eventually face the giants, and only we dragons can counter them."
After speaking, the human collapsed, another rising.
"You want to ally with us against the giants?"
"It's a logical choice. Misfortune seized the only chance to survive!"
The Nightmare Dragon constantly shifted its position in the collective unconscious sea, switching controlled human bodies.
This was cautious enough; aside from its Father God, no deity could pinpoint its location.
And the opponent was merely a Sequence 2 angel.
"The Visionary pathway is truly formidable," the Angel of Secrets spoke for the first time, with a tone of admiration, echoing some of Truman's views. "You're worthy of being a 'Writer.'"
"Thinking too much."
"Mind Control" was useless!
The Nightmare Dragon's eyes flashed, runes glowing on its body. It stared at the Angel of Secrets, invisible forces surging.
Every prior word was a lure, guiding the Angel of Secret's psyche, a "Writer's" power to steer history, yet an unseen force blocked the suggestion.
The Nightmare Dragon's head shook in the collective unconscious sea; it had already fled Nightmare City.
From the moment the Angel of Secrets appeared, it prepared thoroughly, initially speaking through a virtual persona.
Its true body hid in the Conscious sea's deeper layers.
Even as the virtual persona spoke, it laid traps, using "Writer" abilities to orchestrate "coincidences."
For instance, Herabergen in the City of Miracles coincidentally noticed its absence, beginning a search, turning eyes toward Nightmare City.
If battle erupted here, Herabergen would swiftly rally the City's dragons to advance!
Or, a human in Nightmare City would unconsciously shout its Father God's name upon waking, drawing His gaze.
These measures ensured its safety.
"So, are you prepared?" The Angel of Secrets spoke again, its gaze piercing the collective conscious sea, as if seeing straight to the deepest depths!
(End of Chapter)