Chapter Sixty-Nine: Battle with the Nightmare Demon, My Wife Aids Me

As the first Dream Disaster raid drew to a close, the second round of competition officially began. Within the Nanjing City Sports Arena, the newly advanced Dreamwalkers emerged from their rest rooms in succession.

Wen Ji, dressed in a black suit, took charge of the lottery to determine the order of appearance. Due to the unexpected events—the Dream Disaster being raided—the number of Dreamwalkers who advanced from the first round far exceeded expectations. Thus, the rules for the second round of Dream Demon battles were slightly adjusted.

Tang Nai, president of the Dreamwalker Association, issued a special order. In addition to the original five Dream Demons, nine more vicious Dream Demons were transported from the Dream Demon prison. Fourteen Dream Demons in total, divided into four groups for the selection process.

Nevertheless, the overall rules remained unchanged.

On the court, the security perimeter was drawn. Fourteen metal cages stood in a row, stretching from the entrance of the rest rooms to the far end of the arena. Divided into four groups, each group’s Dreamwalkers would first battle the three Dream Demons within their group. If they defeated all three, they would advance to face the remaining two Dream Demons.

The strength of the Dream Demons increased in a stepwise manner, from lowest to highest. This method tested the Dreamwalkers’ comprehensive abilities, ensuring no one advanced merely by luck.

Surrounding the cages, Dreamwalkers from the Dreamwalker Tower, all clad in black suits, were responsible for security. If a Dreamwalker was overwhelmed, the guards would immediately restrict the Dream Demon’s actions.

In the stands encircling the arena, an uproarious chorus of cheers erupted, piercing the sky. Compared to the first Dream Disaster raid, the audience was even more eager to witness the Dream Demon battles, for these were real fights—opportunities to see Dreamwalkers face Dream Demons directly.

On the dais, the host began an eloquent introduction of the competition format. Meanwhile, on the LCD screen, the crimes of the fourteen Dream Demons were displayed.

These were Dream Demons steeped in crime, their hands stained with human blood, guilty of unforgivable acts. For example, one Dream Demon disguised himself as a taxi driver in the city, targeting women traveling alone at night—once he struck, almost none survived.

They were the root of chaos in society, viruses invading humanity. All were universally despised.

“These Dream Demons have all been sentenced to death. In this Dream Demon battle, our new Dreamwalkers must confront these cruel monsters.”

“Each new Dreamwalker starts from their group and must defeat five Dream Demons—five rounds. Those who clear all five become provincial champions.”

“If several Dreamwalkers pass all five rounds, a final tournament will decide the champion.”

“Let us wait and see!”

...

The host’s voice rose with excitement. As his words concluded, the black cloth covering the first cage in each group was swiftly pulled away.

Cold steel glimmered on the big screen. The Dream Demons appeared one by one—some looked like delicate women, some like boys in prison garb, some like weathered middle-aged men, and some like frail old people.

All seemed unremarkable, yet this was the most terrifying thing about them: Dream Demons parasitized ordinary humans, taking their form, but carried the twisted will and madness of the Dream Disaster.

They wore human bodies, but were no longer human.

Meanwhile, the new Dreamwalkers conducted the lottery. Out of a thousand, the first round had eliminated about six hundred, leaving just over four hundred. Such a high retention rate was due to the unexpected incident in the first round.

Normally, with the Dream Disaster proceeding as expected, only about a hundred would advance.

Du Fang and Chen Xi completed their group draws. Chen Xi looked at her number: “Group B, number forty-four.” She turned to Du Fang, curious about his result.

Du Fang glanced at his number and smiled, “Group A, number forty-nine... Too bad we’re not in the same group.”

Chen Xi’s face showed regret. What a pity—she couldn’t find a comfortable position to relax.

Still, she only felt a slight disappointment. Relying on relaxation wasn’t her style.

“Du, go for it!” Chen Xi clenched her fist, smiling energetically.

Du Fang smiled in response.

He looked forward to the battle, full of anticipation. His abilities had just improved, and he couldn’t wait to test and refine them against the Dream Demons.

Moreover, his bond with his wife had reached eighty, granting him her ability: “Red Garment Form.” Du Fang intended to try it out.

Although he hadn’t completed his panel tasks to awaken his own unique power, his wife’s abilities, by extension... didn’t they count as his, too?

Du Fang, always yearning for special abilities, was filled with expectation. He even began to imagine what he would look like after activating the “Red Garment Form.”

Perhaps, with a red coat, he’d answer to no one.

Judging by his wife’s temperament, it would likely be such a state.

...

Time ticked by. The sun climbed to its zenith. Brilliant sunlight bathed the arena, raising the tension.

The Dream Demon battles officially began.

The big screen displayed the matches between each new Dreamwalker and their Dream Demons.

The battles were truly diverse.

Du Fang saw all kinds of abilities—some Dreamwalkers could breathe fire, some could spray water, some could make themselves fat, some could sprout spikes all over...

The spectacle left Du Fang dazzled and tingling.

Yet, flashy abilities didn’t necessarily mean strength. Many who advanced by luck in the first round were exposed.

In their first group match against a Dream Demon, many Dreamwalkers were instantly overwhelmed. If not for the security guards pressing the stun button and unleashing high-voltage currents to restrain the Dream Demons, there might have been casualties.

Some new, certified Dreamwalkers showed exceptional strength, easily defeating their first Dream Demon and advancing to the second.

However, most struggled against the third Dream Demon in their groups, faltering badly.

Only a handful from elite squads managed to advance, earning the right to face their group’s fourth Dream Demon.

...

“Next, Group A, number forty-nine: Du Fang.”

The Dreamwalker guard in charge of Group A called out loudly.

Du Fang felt a sudden tension in his body.

“Go for it, Du!” Chen Xi encouraged him.

Du Fang smiled back, holding Luo Luo’s hand, his wife’s hand resting on his shoulder, as he stepped out of the line and headed toward the cage holding the first Dream Demon of Group A.

...

“Another one?”

“You so-called righteous Dreamwalkers arrested me, ready to kill or torture as you please—why insult me like this?”

Inside the cage, a nondescript middle-aged man roared, suppressing his madness with restless pacing.

His face was flushed, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.

He wanted to slaughter these Dreamwalkers, his violent streak urging him to unleash his rage.

What had he done? He only killed a few ordinary people.

In his world, ordinary people were slaves, ants!

Worthless. Dead or alive, it didn’t matter.

And these Dreamwalkers had arrested him for their sake, sentencing him to death?

Those who wield extraordinary power should rule over the ordinary!

These Dreamwalkers—hypocrites! Disgusting!

If not for their numbers, would he be afraid?

He and his kind, survivors of Dream Disasters, had faced every storm imaginable.

The cage door opened.

A delicate, handsome Dreamwalker entered.

The middle-aged Dream Demon licked his lips, grinned savagely, and punched the cage, sending a thunderous echo through the metal.

“Pretty boy.”

“You look so good—one punch and you’ll cry for ages, right?”

“I’ll tear you apart!”

“I’ll savor the sound of your whimpering.”

Du Fang’s black coat fluttered within the cage.

Hands in his pockets, he gazed calmly at the snarling Dream Demon.

Faced with such threats, Du Fang had no intention of wasting time. He wanted to test his strength, to try his wife’s “Red Garment Form.”

Thus, he responded with just four words.

“Wife,”

“Lend me your strength!”

ps: Please vote for the monthly and recommendation tickets