"Roar—!"
Missing its target, the Nightmare let out an enraged roar.
"Heh heh…"
The controller of the Nightmare, Apostle No. 02, watched from the side, her heart filled with immense satisfaction.
These high-level Nightmares were obtained from the dreams of other apostles. With such a dense offensive, Duan Chen couldn't utilize his ranged techniques. This was a battle plan meticulously crafted by her specifically for Duan Chen.
"Sticky plaster!"
Duan Chen cursed.
He looked towards Galot.
"Hey!"
"Oh? Don't call me. All my power is with Nya," Galot said, leaning against a nearby tree trunk and spreading his hands in resignation.
"No way?"
"What's with that look? I came to help you break free from the dreamscape constructed by the Nightmares, not to help you fight."
Galot rolled his eyes.
Duan Chen felt like rolling his eyes even more.
"Thousand Illusions Pandora - [Blade] Form!"
*Clang!*
The blade cut through the air, forcing even the Nightmares to evade its sharpness and retreat a short distance from Duan Chen.
"Sequence 015: [Beast Taming Technique!]"
A red glow flickered in Duan Chen's left eye, with a faint red roulette spinning within.
"Roar—!"
Unexpectedly, the Nightmares remained unfazed, becoming even more enraged.
Apostle No. 02 let out a mocking laugh.
Trying to control her Nightmares with the Beast Taming Technique was too naive. Nightmares were mere phantoms that appeared only in dreams; they weren't true beasts, so how could they be so easily controlled by Duan Chen?
If it were that simple, wouldn't that be underestimating her as an Apostle?
Seeing that the Beast Taming Technique was ineffective, Duan Chen couldn't help but furrow his brows. While fending off the Nightmares' attacks from all directions, he pondered a solution.
Nightmares were indeed strange. Based on his earlier tests, they didn't belong to the beast category. And according to Galot, Nightmares only appeared in dreams. Could they be similar to Galot's phantom state?
If so, perhaps that move would be effective.
Seeing Duan Chen at a disadvantage, Galot couldn't help but frown. Apostle No. 02, on the other hand, felt a sense of relief. This tactic was specifically designed for Duan Chen, and she believed he wouldn't be able to pull off any significant counter-moves.
"Let's end this!"
She sneered.
"Combine!"
Apostle No. 02 shouted, and the four Nightmares merged into one, transforming into a larger Nightmare.
"Roar—!"
The Nightmare gradually took on a humanoid outline. Its two small eyes stared down at Duan Chen from above, and it raised its sharp claws high.
"Duan Chen!"
Galot was about to step forward.
"Go back!"
Duan Chen commanded coldly.
Galot's footsteps halted.
Duan Chen had used this move on Zhen You Du before. He mused that these Nightmares might be akin to Zhen You Du's soul.
"Soul Sight!"
Augmented by the Blood Eye, the Soul Sight was more powerful and potent. Duan Chen could see directly through the Nightmare's body to the pulsating purple heart deep within.
In Duan Chen's hand, Thousand Illusions Pandora had transformed into a long saber as black as ink.
"What is he trying to do?"
Apostle No. 02 felt a faint sense of foreboding.
Not long after, this premonition proved to be true.
Duan Chen, wielding the long saber, pierced the Nightmare's heart with unerring accuracy!
"Roar…"
"How is this possible?!"
Her heart pounded, and she exclaimed in disbelief.
The Nightmare, after a faint whimper, disintegrated into fragments of deep purple that scattered with the wind.
After the Nightmare vanished, Duan Chen's red pupils came into Apostle No. 02's line of sight.
The original bright red had now darkened to a deep crimson, with silver-white irises, staring intently in her direction.
This was a pupil technique that could penetrate her physical body and gaze directly into her soul!
A shiver crawled up Apostle No. 02's spine.
*Hiss…*
Dreadful dark red patterns, resembling veins, began to extend from Duan Chen's eyeballs, winding outwards and forming terrifying dark red markings around his eye sockets.
"Blood Eye - Dread Gaze!"
Hai Ren had once told him that the Blood Eye possessed many different types and abilities. It was akin to a powerful aberrant entity with self-awareness. Just as the Blood Eye adapted to the user's consciousness, it could also evolve new pupil techniques based on the environment, such as this one.
However, Duan Chen felt this wasn't a newly developed technique, but rather a newly awakened one, as he had experienced this move before taming the Blood Eye.
Dread Gaze!
In an instant, Apostle No. 02 saw a colossal red vertical eye slowly forming behind Duan Chen.
This vertical eye was blood-red. The moment it appeared, everything around seemed to freeze. The sky gradually turned red, and even the surrounding buildings were infected, bathed in scarlet.
A gentle breeze stirred the leaves on the trees.
The vertical eye hovered in mid-air, staring down at her with a hint of disdain.
Simultaneously, an ineffable sense of dread slowly welled up in Apostle No. 02's heart.
Under the gaze of this vertical eye, she felt an urge to prostrate herself in submission!
"Duan Chen's pupil techniques are truly becoming unfathomable."
Galot, observing from the periphery of the battlefield, couldn't help but sigh as he noticed the changes in the environment.
He might not always agree with Duan Chen, but he was objective and wouldn't let that influence his assessment of Duan Chen's strength.
Looking at this move, he suspected even some Apostles might not be able to withstand it.
From relying on Wu Suo Wei to being able to defeat Apostles independently, this guy's growth rate was terrifying…
Speaking of Apostles, Galot thought of Nya's missing bronze mask.
"Tch… that guy 01… I hope it's not what I'm thinking. They wouldn't actually be that insane, would they…"
Considering a certain possibility, Galot felt completely uneasy.
It wasn't that he was indulging in wild speculation; it was just that recently, both Apostles and Sea Demons had been too quiet, forcing him to think in that direction.
If it were true, Duan Chen would likely expend considerable energy dealing with those threats.
Meanwhile, under the watchful eye of the vertical pupil, Apostle No. 02 was completely frozen, daring not to move.
Duan Chen held his saber in one hand, the other tucked into his pocket, exuding an air of casual indifference.
He walked slowly towards Apostle No. 02.
The woman's eyes were now filled with terror, her legs trembling. Especially as the vertical eye gradually approached her, the fear in her heart reached its peak.
"N-no."
"You will pay the price for your transgressions. You not only offended my mother, but you also offended Gao Tian Kai. With these two charges, do you think they are enough to warrant my execution of you?"
As he drew closer, a faint smile spread across Duan Chen's lips.
In Apostle No. 02's eyes, this smile was no different from a devil's grin.
"You…"
*Clang!*
Duan Chen's saber descended, leaving no trace.
He had no intention of hearing her response.