Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

1901  Dreamscape

Nina felt like she had entered a surreal dream.

Initially, she found herself in the grand capital of the Edinburgh kingdom, the City of Edin. In this dreamlike version of the city, everything appeared more magnificent than reality, each detail both clear and shrouded in mystery.

It was as if Nina had become a wisp, observing the bustling city from a bird's-eye view. But in an instant, she was contained within a vessel.

Though she felt in control of her physical form, her thoughts swirled chaotically, making it hard to focus. As she moved closer to the capital city, the scenery shifted once more.

This time, she found herself at a graduation ceremony for young Rankers. It felt familiar as if she had witnessed it in reality, yet the perspective from which she viewed it was different.

Glancing around the audience, she spotted herself, Jiana Jiang, and Levine de Montmorency, all cheering for Eren. The current version of herself in the dream stood among a group of young Rankers receiving accolades from King Emil himself.

"Isn't this Eren's graduation ceremony?" Nina pondered, trying to make sense of the strange dream. The scenes around her dissolved into clouds of smoke before coalescing into a new scene.

Now, she stood in a dense forest filled with mana beasts, exotic creatures, and the dreaded Children of Echidna, known as monsters. Towering trees and thick foliage obscured the sunlight, casting the forest in a semi-shadowy domain.

As Nina ventured deeper into the forest in her dream, she sensed something different about this scene.

Strange whispers echoed through the trees, their eerie cadence sending shivers down her spine. Though she couldn't discern their words, she felt a primal fear stirring within her as she delved further into the mysterious forest.

As she walked, Nina encountered a variety of creatures she had only read about in texts: mythical beasts with glowing eyes, ethereal beings that seemed to materialize from the shadows, and creatures whose forms shifted and twisted like liquid in a kaleidoscope. They took on the shapes of monsters, or rather, Children of Echidna as they liked to call themselves.

"This... this is Monster Canyon. But I don't think I have ever been to this particular region within the canyon. How am I dreaming this weird dream?" Nina questioned her own sanity as she traversed the forest.

She had already confirmed that this was just an elaborate dream, not an illusory trap set by her enemies. After all, there was no one left in Anfang who would try to mess with her. Eren had either killed them or suppressed them so thoroughly that they wouldn't even think of casting illusory traps on her.

As Nina explored the forest in her dream, she came upon a peculiarly grim scene that made her question many things. She witnessed a wolf-like D-Ranked beast attacking an old Adept Ranker with ferocity, biting the man's groin and causing him immense pain. Despite his injuries, the Adept displayed a fierce determination. When the beast attacked again, he threw his dagger with a seemingly impossible accuracy, killing the beast before succumbing to his injuries.

Nina felt a strange connection to the old Ranker as he died before her eyes. However, before she could approach his body, the scene changed once again.

Now, Nina found herself inside a giant birdcage, standing close to a charming yet dangerous woman. Upon closer inspection, she recognized the face of the woman as Eliza Samael, the dragon-type half-blood who had terrorized the Anfang Alliance.

In the dream, Nina battled Eliza Samael in ways she had never fought anyone before, completely dominating the legendary dragon half-blood. If Eliza Samael was known as the best Titan Slayer of Anfang, then what title should be bestowed upon the one who defeated her?

The concepts of time and space blurred as Nina found herself repeatedly summoned into various illusory realms, each depicting a story about someone's life. Initially, she believed she was experiencing her own dreams. However, as these dreams persisted, she came to understand that she was living out someone else's experiences, someone else's reality.

Eventually, Nina found herself within an isolated dimension, familiar with a lake she had encountered not long ago. It was the same lake within the Oni Dungeon.

As Nina gazed upon the lake within the isolated dimension, she observed its tranquil surface, reflecting the surrounding scenery like a mirror. The water shimmered with an otherworldly glow, casting an ethereal ambiance over the area.

"Let me see how I look."

She wore a fitted, sleeveless blouse in a rich shade of deep crimson. The blouse featured intricate embroidery along the neckline, adding a touch of intricate detail to the ensemble. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

11:09

As she peered into her own reflection, Nina beheld her current form—a shapeless, slime-like substance that lacked any discernible features. Yet, with a simple blink, her appearance shifted, and she regained her familiar form within this illusory realm.

In the reflection, Nina's smooth and supple skin took on a more attractive quality, with a light-tanned hue that accentuated her features.

Her figure appeared seductive, with curves that enhanced her allure. Her facial features exuded a heightened beauty, with a mature look that added an air of sophistication.

She observed herself wearing sophisticated attire that complemented her features.

She wore a fitted, sleeveless blouse in a rich shade of deep crimson. The blouse featured intricate embroidery along the neckline, adding a touch of intricate detail to the ensemble.

Paired with the blouse, Nina wore a flowing skirt crafted from luxurious silk fabric, adorned with delicate patterns. The skirt cascaded gracefully around her legs, swaying with each movement.

A pair of dangling earrings adorned her ears. Around her neck, she wore a slender chain necklace with a pendant that caught the light, casting subtle reflections across the surroundings.

The clothing completed her appearance, allowing her to look the best version of herself in this illusory realm.

"Haah! You're finally here. I thought that this technique was nothing but a sham."

Nina heard a familiar voice from behind her.

When she saw Eren standing there with a smile on his face, her heart melted, and her eyes turned a bit red.

Immediately, she enveloped him in an embrace.

She wasn't completely sure if what she was experiencing was a dream or not.

However, this was the first time in a long while that she could feel Eren so close.

She wanted to cherish this dream for as long as possible before it ended.