Nightmare Mythos

The second day of the banquet started with a festival. A showcase of performance and the vibrancy that the City of Lights brings were shown through dances and designs.

Slash!

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The loud cheers of the supporters in the streets that were being performed covered the screams that happened just nearby.

"Ackk!"

Slashing the neck of his pursuer, Cesar drew a large breath before avoiding the dagger that tried to aim at his head.

Whoosh!

Running towards the assassin, Cesar prepared himself to engage in hand-to-hand combat.

Watching him approaching swiftly, the assassin subtly arranged the hidden blades under his sleeves while Cesar was fast approaching.

Whoosh—!

Cesar who was quick to see the subtle action, held the hand of the assassin once he met him before forcing the individual forward using the seized hand.

Tak—!

Using his knee to kick the assassin's chin, Cesar grabbed his hair and did another kick, this time, directed to his opponent's face.

Once the assassin had been blown away by the force, Cesar followed it up by lunging towards his killer and raising his jade dagger.

Hitting the assassin's head, Cesar immediately removed it and slit them through his neck. The instant those two key weaknesses of a person have been hit, Cesar went for the third one where the heart is located

Slash—!

"Hahh..."

Letting out a huge tired sigh, Cesar looked around the three corpses he had killed the first thing in the morning.

Before this situation even transpired, Cesar was merely taking a quick roam around the city when he got pushed around toward a discreet alley where an unknown trio of assassins tried to take the bounty themselves.

However, Cesar was already aware of them beforehand.

His Cedeit-Meter already warned him about the incoming attack.

Hence he pulled his jade dagger at the first person, fought two versus one against the ones left before finally, managing to finish them off.

"Hahh... at least I thank you guys for letting me sleep in the night."

Wiping the unceasing sweat that formed on his clothes, Cesar drew a long sigh and exited the alley.

Feeling already fatigued even though this was the only action he did, Cesar joined the rest of the people and made his way towards his room to clean himself.

...

Already conscious about the gazes and movements of the people that he passes by, Cesar entered the building where every worker from the Academy used to stay. Just like the inn they had used from Flora City, the building he was entering was not entirely different.

Arnold was currently staying in here as well. However, since he was an important figure, he was out alongside other people who used this building.

For now, Cesar knew he was pretty much alone in here.

Walking slowly towards his chambers, Cesar reached his destination almost immediately. With a tired sigh, he entered the room and took a shower.

After five minutes of cleansing himself with his dirtied blood, Cesar used the spare towel and left the bathroom.

However, the view inside already changed.

The window where the sun shone earlier was covered with thick roots, the wooden floor was replaced with 'root thorns' with red liquid oozing out from its tip, and finally, a lone figure was sitting on an available chair while looking at Cesar who was half naked.

"You are under my spell now. Everything you see here is a mere illusion I've put in case you managed to break free. Don't worry, you're also not going to get hurt if you don't do something funny. But let me tell you this, the only reason you're alive now is because I willed it."

Cesar stared at the lone figure wearing a top hat from his heat. He saw this unknown individual gesturing him to sit down on an available chair he made in this illusionary circle he created.

"Cesar Sparrow, do you know why I let you live?"

Cesar shook his head, "I'm actually curious about your words,"

The lone figure smirks and begins to answer, "It's simple. I won't know where you've hidden your artifacts and possessed them on my own. At first, it was a rumor that you own a couple of them but we received certain information you indeed managed to get a bunch. Where is it?"

The figure paused as a tired yawn escaped his lips, "Who knows? Maybe if I'm satisfied with the items, I might let you live,"

Cesar stared at the figure briefly before answering, "What if I don't want to give it to you?"

The figure sitting in the spare chair sighed as he stood up. Soon, the floor started to crack as the roots all around began to move, directly pointing the sharp tip to Cesar.

The figure then smirked, "Well, too bad, I guess? I'll receive the bounty as promised. And you… you're going to die—"

Suddenly, the figure in front of Cesar couldn't help but involuntarily step back upon noticing the change in his eye.

It was eerily glowing while watching him.

But his fears started to come true once Cesar slowly shifted his gaze to the side, where the real figure that tried to hunt him in his inn was currently standing, pointing his huge blade at him.

"Hi~"

Seeing that smile that reached from ear to ear, the real figure behind the illusion circle that was supposed to work shivered uncontrollably, feeling fear for the first time.

'This can't be real… No, this! This can't be happening! This is the only time my powers haven't worked on someone! I was careful! No, no… Yes, he's only faking it…'

The figure tried to think this was all a mere trick that Cesar pulled off since escaping the illusionary circle wasn't going to be easy.

He prepared so much for this day to happen, obviously, it wasn't going to be easily cracked by some student of the Academy.

However, his worst fears started to show when Cesar stood up from the ground, slowly trod towards his direction.

He wasn't going left or right as if he was guessing where the real him was but was going straight at him.

Finally, Cesar reached at this figure, still smiling from ear to ear before stating.

"Drop this down or I might kill you this instant,"

Knowing true fear for the first time, thinking his most powerful weapon got countered, the figure removed the illusionary circle and prostrated himself to Cesar.