Chapter 37: New Skill And New Items

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“It’s… mostly because we Nightmare Entities inherit memories from the Nightmare Dimension,” explained Dryad. “Ugh! Why am I even answering this question?!”

Mongrel laughed loudly. “Hah! You’re finally growing some proper demon claws! Good, good. Now you don’t look so much like a spoiled dragon princess. Perhaps you might have the potential to eventually evolve into a Nightmare Dragon. What do you think, huh? Join the dark side.”

“No thank you,” I sighed, shaking my head. “I’m happy with what I have for now… though, Nightmare Dragons do sound cool.”

I ignored both of them and moved on to the next item, the [Nightmare Affinity Skill Scroll (A Grade)].

I unfurled it without hesitation. Thick, thorny black vines made of pure nightmare energy erupted from the scroll and wrapped around my arms before sinking into my skin. “Whoa?! What the…?” A cold, creeping sensation spread through my body, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt… natural. Just when I said I didn’t want to become a Nightmare Dragon, I was already learning Nightmare Skills.

Ding!

[You have used the [Nightmare Affinity Skill Scroll (A Grade)] x1!]

[You have learned the Nightmare Skill: [Nightmare Thorn Domain – Tier 1: Level 1/10]!]

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[Nightmare Thorn Domain – Tier 1: Level 1/10]

Description: You can now spread a domain of living nightmare thorns that feed on fear, pain, life force, and soul essence.

Effects: Create an area filled with moving thorns that deal continuous piercing + nightmare damage. Thorns drain Spirit and apply fear effects. Drained energy can be converted into your own Soul or Fantasium.

Synergy: Strong synergy with Dryad (as your familiar) and any plant-based abilities. Can be merged with your Sorrowful Ice Garden for horrifying ice-thorn combinations.

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Huh, this was not a bad skill at all. I really liked the new “Synergy” tab that now appeared inside skills. It greatly expanded what they could do and what they could combine with—my existing abilities or even my familiars. Apparently, Dryad could merge with this skill? That sounded cool as hell. It might give me the edge I needed for the battles ahead.

“W-What is that skill?!” Dryad made a horrified squeaking sound. “You’re going to use me as fertilizer for nightmare thorns, aren’t you?!”

I looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “What are you even talking about?” I laughed. “What exactly made you think this would turn you into fertilizer? It does have a symbiotic relationship with you. If I combine you with this skill, the results might be impressive. And since you’re just a tiny seedling right now, that’s probably as far as your usefulness goes, little one.” I said with an innocent smile.

She looked like she wanted to bite me. “I don’t trust you… And I don’t like this! Free me at once!”

“Would you rather die then?” I wondered. “Or…?”

“D-Die?! Come on now… you’re taking things too far!” she muttered, her whole tone shifting.

I giggled and finally reached for the two pieces of equipment.

The first was the [Nightmare Plant Sovereign Bracelet (A Grade)], a beautiful living vine bracelet with pulsing purple flowers and black thorns. The moment I slipped it onto my left wrist, it tightened gently and fused with my scales, becoming part of me.

“Wow, this is stylish.”

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[Nightmare Plant Sovereign Bracelet (A Grade)]

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[Item Type]: [Bracelet] [Nightmare Relic]

[Item Requirements]: [1,000,000 Fantasium]

[Item Parameters]: [Physical Defense]: [10%] [Magic Defense]: [30%] [Durability]: [10,000]

[Item Bonuses]: [+20% Spirit] [+20% Soul] [+20% Fantasium] [+30% Vitality] [+30% Power to all Plant, Nature, and Nightmare-type Skills.]

[Item Skill]: {Sovereign’s Garden}: Plant-type attacks and familiars gain +200% intelligence, range, power, and loyalty. By infusing Fantasium, grants the ability to conjure [Nightmare Blooming Vine Wall] to defend against attacks and unleash vine attacks everywhere once a hit is taken that can drain Lifeforce and Fantasium from a foe.

[Item Description]: A mysterious bracelet forged from the leftover plant nightmare energy of the Plant Sovereign. It is a special bracelet capable of creating a domain of nightmare plants and summoning deadly vampiric vines to drain foes’ energies and bind them with ease.