A silver-haired, violet-eyed girl in a black Gothic dress appeared before everyone.
She smiled sweetly, looking innocent and adorable, but there was an inexplicable maturity and depth hidden in her gaze that belied her youthful appearance.
Upon seeing this figure, all the cultists, including Tia, showed a fervent light in their eyes. They dropped to one knee in reverence and shouted in unison, “Greetings, my lord!”
However, Jormungandr didn’t spare them a single glance. Instead, she walked over to Luca’s side, her expression shifting into one of obedient gentleness. “What orders do you have for me, Master? I will do everything I can to carry them out!”
Hearing these words, every single member of the Nightmare Cult twitched, their faces twitching in disbelief.
Was this truly their Lord of Dreams?
And she was calling this young man ‘Master’… What were they supposed to call him now?
Luca sipped his tea calmly, showing no surprise at Jormungandr’s sudden change in attitude.
After all, this King-level monster’s life was now in his hands. No matter how much she secretly hated him and wished to tear him to pieces, she had no choice but to feign compliance with a smile.
His gaze shifted to Tia and the others, eyes narrowing as he asked, “I can give you what you desire, but dreams are ultimately just dreams. No matter how vivid or real they may seem, they are still illusions. Even so, does it not bother you?”
Most people thought that the followers of the Nightmare Cult were brainwashed into pursuing some utopian dreamscape or perfect life. But having interacted with their higher-ups in the past, Luca knew that these people were fully aware that what they sought was entirely fabricated.
What they wanted was precisely this perfect, idealized dream without suffering or flaws.
Only Jormungandr possessed the ability to create a Dream Kingdom and to bring Dream Manifestations into reality. This was the reason they worshipped her.
And now, with Luca holding the Dreamweaver class, he was reluctantly considered the second person in the world who could potentially fulfill their wishes.
“That’s right.” All of them nodded resolutely at his question, Tia included.
With unwavering conviction, she declared, “As long as you can bring back my sister and family, I will agree to anything, no matter what it is. I’ll offer you my body and my life if that’s what it takes!”
Luca’s eyes flicked over Tia’s voluptuous figure and stunning face, a trace of scorn curling his lips. “I don’t know whether I should pity you or despise you.”
These people knew exactly what they were doing from the very beginning, even when they committed murder.
Slaughtering innocent civilians for their own selfish desires—there was nothing they wouldn’t do. Their obsessions had sunk deep into their bones, making them beyond redemption.
But then again, such intense obsessions were beneficial for him. They would help him achieve his goals more effectively and make them easier to control.
“Come here,” he ordered, raising his hand to point at Tia, his tone indifferent. Yet, the simple command made Tia’s heart pound wildly in her chest.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she walked up to stand in front of Luca.
“Close your eyes and recall the person you most want to see—their face, their expressions, every detail in your memory,” Luca said calmly as a mesmerizing purple light bloomed in his hand, casting an ethereal glow.
“Impossible!” Seeing the familiar light, Jormungandr’s eyes widened in shock, her face filled with disbelief.
She knew all too well what this power was—Luca was using none other than Dreamweaving energy!
But how could he possess Dreamweaving energy? In this world, only she should have that power!
Jormungandr had no idea that Luca’s Dreamweaving ability had come directly from her…
Watching the Dreamweaving energy manifest in Luca’s hand, everyone present knew exactly what this power signified.
The members of the Nightmare Cult began to breathe heavily, their eyes burning with fervor.
Tia was so overwhelmed with emotion that her face flushed a deep red.
At this moment, no one doubted his words anymore.
“Let’s begin,” Luca instructed softly, all the while sensing the Dreamweaving energy in his hand. He noted how different it felt compared to magic runes or the power of the Witch Doctor.
Dreamweaving energy had a unique property that extended into the realm of the soul. He realized that advancing the Dreamweaver class in the future might be even more challenging than becoming a Demonic Rune Mage.
However, with Jormungandr by his side, he wasn’t worried about hitting a dead end in his progress.
Hearing Luca’s words, Tia immediately shut her eyes, focusing all her thoughts on remembering her sister Mira’s face and the cherished memories they shared.
Luca gently placed his hand on Tia’s smooth, pale forehead.
Skill: Dreamweaving activated!
In an instant, Tia saw a flash of purple light break through the darkness.
The light grew brighter and brighter in her vision.
The deepest, most hidden memories within her heart seemed to stir and rise up, one by one, playing out vividly before her eyes.
Scene after scene of her life with her sister unfolded like a series of fleeting glimpses.
Then, with another burst of light, Tia felt as if she had returned to the small town from her past.
A two-story house stood before her.
The sunlight outside was dazzling, the green leaves of the trees swaying gently in the breeze.
Inside, a faint cacophony of sounds reached her ears, making Tia’s heart tremble.
It was the voices of her sister Mira and their family.
“Father, you’re cheating! I clearly won just now!” a girl’s indignant voice protested, and even through the door, Tia could almost picture her sister’s pouting face, cheeks puffed up in frustration.
A man’s rough, hearty laughter echoed. “That’s called an unexpected move, not cheating! Little Mira, a real winner admits defeat. Now go wash the dishes!”
“You’re always bullying me! I’m never talking to you again…” The girl’s angry huff was followed by the sound of bare feet stomping heavily on the wooden floor.
From the kitchen came the playful laughter of a young woman, followed by the girl’s grumbling complaints and the splashing sound of running water.
Tia stepped forward, her lips pressed tightly together.
With trembling hands, she slowly pushed open the door that had appeared countless times in her dreams.
“Creak…” The door made a soft sound as it slowly swung open.
The scene inside the room unfolded before Tia’s eyes, rendering her motionless in shock.
In the neat and tidy living room, a burly man was tidying up a deck of cards.
Hearing the door, he looked up.
Noticing it was Tia, the man raised his brows in surprise. “Why are you back so late today? There’s some food left for you in the kitchen—go eat it before it gets cold, or it won’t taste good.”
“Oh, and after you’re done, make sure to have little Mira do the dishes.”
“Big sis is back!” A girl’s excited cheer rang out from the kitchen.
Moments later, a young girl who looked about seventy to eighty percent like Tia dashed out from the kitchen.
Her face was full of expectation as she grabbed onto Tia’s arm and asked eagerly, “Big sis, did you bring me anything yummy today?”
The sensation from the girl’s touch felt unbelievably real, as if she were truly there.
Tia’s eyes instantly welled up with tears.
She wanted to respond to the girl, but found herself choking up, unable to speak a word.
And then, she noticed that the scene before her began to blur and turn hazy.
“No! Please, no! Just give me a little more time, just a bit longer!” Tia realized what was happening and pleaded desperately, but it was all in vain. The figures and faces of her family started to become indistinct, dissolving into a fog of memories.
Tia stretched out her hand, as if trying to grasp onto something.
But her hand passed through the little girl’s body, clutching only empty air in the end.
The next second, the dream shattered into a thousand pieces!
Tia was pulled back to reality, her body limp and drained of all strength. She collapsed onto the ground, her legs unable to support her.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.
This was the closest she had come to being with her family in so many years.
The sensation had been so real, exactly as it was in her memory!
“If you help me with what I need, I’ll help you manifest your sister,” Luca said as he withdrew his hand, looking down at her with an indifferent gaze, his tone flat and devoid of emotion.
The reason he had kept Tia around until now was because of her potential and abilities.
Tia, who would one day become the “Nightmare Queen,” had unimaginable potential. Even now, she was already a high-tier professional with the rare class “Shadow Sorceress,” capable of offering significant assistance to him.
“I agree!” Tia raised her head, almost blurting out her answer without a moment’s hesitation.
At this moment, as long as she could bring Mira back, she was willing to pay any price, no matter how steep.
“As you wish.” Luca wasn’t surprised by her answer. He casually reached out and gently brushed his fingers across Tia’s forehead, pulling out a silvery orb of light that glimmered with a soft radiance.
Dream Manifestation!
With a thought, the purple light in Luca’s hand blazed brightly. The silvery orb intertwined with the purple Dreamweaving energy, quickly forming a complex, intricate silver rune in his palm.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, the rune blossomed into a dazzling, dreamlike silver light.
A slender figure slowly emerged from the intangible void and solidified into reality right before their eyes.
She wore a simple, pristine white dress and had long violet hair just like Tia’s. Her eyes were clear and her features delicate, giving her an ethereal beauty that seemed almost unreal. She looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, yet her appearance already hinted at a stunning beauty that could captivate nations.
At this moment, the young girl’s eyes were filled with confusion, as if she hadn’t yet grasped what was happening.
When she finally took in her surroundings, she moved closer to Tia, clutching the hem of her sister’s clothes anxiously. “Sis… Sister, weren’t we just at home? Why are we here now?”
“Mira, don’t be scared. Sister’s here… I’m right here…” Tia pulled Mira into her arms, trying to comfort her, but in the end, she couldn’t hold back her own emotions and began to sob uncontrollably.
She hugged the girl tightly, as if terrified that she would vanish the very next second.
“He actually brought someone out from a dream into reality!” This miraculous scene left everyone present utterly speechless with shock.
“How on earth did you do that?!” Jormungandr was completely stunned. Not only could this young man use her Dreamweaving art, but he could even bring someone from a dream into the real world. This was beyond comprehension!
Luca didn’t bother to answer her question. Instead, he spoke calmly, “This girl won’t last long in this world. Use your Dreamweaving power to stabilize her form and give her seven days.”
The “Mira” before them was a manifestation derived from Tia’s memories. With Luca’s current capabilities, he could only maintain this girl’s body for about ten minutes before it began to disintegrate.
He didn’t have enough magical energy to sustain Mira’s existence for longer than that.
Fortunately, with Jormungandr—a King-level monster—present, this was the perfect opportunity to put her to use.