Chapter 52

The winter seemed to be in full swing as snow covered the terrain, fully enveloping the world in its white embrace. The sky was crystal clear, a stark contrast to the vast grey sky above the Forgotten Shore. Amidst the world of white, a huge black snake moved through the expanse, cutting through the snow.

On top of the creature sat a man, crimson flickers of fire dancing in the depths of his emotionless golden eyes. Looking at the world of white, the man stood up and concentrated his gaze on the distance. There, in the middle of the snowy terrain, stood a ruined castle.

The ruined ice castle loomed in the heart of the desolate winter landscape, a haunting silhouette against the heavy snowfall. Its once-majestic towers and spires were now shattered and encrusted with thick layers of frost, giving it an ethereal, ghostly appearance. The walls, carved from solid ice, were cracked and weathered, revealing glimpses of the grandeur that had long since faded. Icicles hung like jagged teeth from the battlements, glinting coldly in the dim, grey light.

All around the castle, Nightmare Creatures of all types could be seen lurking. Abominations resembling white bears, packs of twisted wolves, and a tall ice golem prowled the area. As Kiyotaka surveyed the scene, memories of the Crimson Spire flooded his mind. Hope began to stir within him as he thought there might be a gateway in the castle.

As he pondered this possibility, an ear-piercing scream suddenly shattered the stillness. The Nightmare Creatures around the castle shuddered and immediately dashed away, some stumbling and collapsing from the sheer force of the sound. Those unlucky enough to be caught in the storm of snow vanished, their desperate cries swallowed by the fury of the blizzard.

The snowstorm cleared, leaving behind the blood of the Nightmare Creatures, turning the white snow crimson. As Kiyotaka gazed towards the castle, he saw an exquisitely beautiful creature: a hawk of Corrupted rank.

The enormous, house-sized hawk was a strikingly beautiful yet abominable creature, perfectly suited to its wintry domain. Its feathers were a pristine white, glistening like freshly fallen snow, with hints of icy blue reflecting the cold light. Its expansive wings, capable of casting vast shadows, moved with a haunting grace. The hawk's piercing crimson eyes glowed fiercely, a stark contrast to its frosty plumage, exuding an aura of ancient power. Its talons, sharp as icicles, dug into the frozen ground with ease, while its beak, curved and menacing, gleamed like a shard of ice. Despite its monstrous size, the hawk's movements were fluid and elegant, embodying the silent, lethal beauty of a winter storm.

Quickly unsummoning Mamba, Kiyotaka laid on the snow, covering himself with it to blend into the vast expanse of white. As he tried to remain unseen, the intensity of his situation struck him. The hawk's presence radiated power, sending snowstorms all over the land and Kiyotaka's veins felt like they were on the verge of rupturing from the strain of maintaining his balance. His blood manipulation ability was barely keeping the cold at bay, and the sheer pressure of the hawk's aura made his muscles tremble.

He knew he couldn't stay hidden forever. The hawk's predatory instincts would eventually detect him. His veins pulsed painfully as he prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation, a plan of escape forming in his mind.

First, he summoned Asher, the human echo appearing next to him. Instructing her to dash away, he also splashed his own blood at her, making sure the hawk would smell blood. As Asher dashed away, he also relocated himself, waiting for the hawk to take measures.

After some minutes, the hawk spread its wings wide and flew towards the direction where his echo went, leaving the castle unguarded.

Using this opportunity, he quickly summoned Mamba. The dark huge snake appeared again as it enveloped its master with a tail, and then sent him flying towards the broken wall of the castle.

As Kiyotaka landed near the broken wall of the castle, the impact jolted through his body, sending a shockwave of pain. Ignoring the discomfort, he scrambled to his feet and darted inside the ruins. The cold air seeped into his bones, and his breath formed frosty clouds in front of his face as he moved deeper into the darkness.

The interior of the castle was just as foreboding as its exterior. Crumbled stone and ice littered the floor, and the air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional creaking of the icy walls. Kiyotaka's heart pounded in his chest as he navigated through the labyrinthine corridors, his senses on high alert for any sign of danger.

Finding a secluded alcove hidden behind a collapsed pillar, Kiyotaka paused to catch his breath. His muscles ached from the exertion, and his mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead. He knew he couldn't stay hidden forever, but for now, he needed a moment to gather his strength and plan his next move.

Getting up, he walked around the castle, inspecting it as he secretly hoped there would be a Gateway here. Unsurprisingly, there wasn't any Gateway.

Walking through the ancient corridors, he secretly admired the unique design. It resembled something like the Renaissance era. There were some pictures embedded on a wall. The pictures told different stories, mostly of war and battles. As he kept walking, suddenly he stopped.

There, ahead of him, a similar statue of a woman could be seen—an ancient statue of a beautiful woman wielding a spear in one hand, and gripping a beating human heart in the other, her nakedness covered only by a beast hide tied around her thighs, her face lost in the shadows.

There was also something strange—a dark mass resembling a gate, its exquisite beauty filled with madness. Kiyotaka racked his brain to understand what this was before he remembered. He and Cohort used to talk about random stuff from time to time. Once, they talked about whether they would continue their journey after Awakening. Kiyotaka clearly remembered that Awakened had to challenge a Second Nightmare by using the Category 2 Nightmare seed.

And right before him, there it was.

The Seed of Nightmare.