Chapter 812: 409 Li Ang

Look at what I fear most?

Hearing the words of the King of Nightmares, Li Ang's pupils subtly widened as he stared at his own reflection in the mirror crown upon its head.

His memories—under no circumstances could they be shown to anyone! Whether the existence of the Badge System or the truth of his status as a transmigrant, both were absolute secrets that could never be revealed!

Especially the latter!

If this secret leaked out and the General Bureau connected the dots, recalling the warning from the Watchtower about a "soul from an unknown world," even if the Scorpion Director arrived within five minutes, his career as a Cleaner would be over!

Faced with this sudden emergency, Li Ang, who had originally planned to wait until the 【Immortal in Wine】 wore off before using the Archer Mark and 【Dream Invader】 to struggle for an opening, immediately abandoned all reserve and activated 【Dream Invader】 to fight to the death.

Unfortunately, although 【Dream Invader】 was an anomaly crafted from the weapon of the Lord of Desires and possessed considerable rank, it was still utterly inadequate against the King of Nightmares in person.

Even though Li Ang, bolstered by the Archer Mark, barely managed to lock onto the King of Nightmares' consciousness, before he could drag it into the dream, the King's withered skull split cleanly down the middle, dividing in two with chilling precision.

"Heh."

Accompanied by a faint, mocking chuckle, the countless nightmares composing the King of Nightmares' body swirled rapidly, shedding its old form like a crab molting, emerging anew from the split.

"You didn't seriously think the same trick would work twice, did you?"

After fiddling with the old body, now captured by 【Dream Invader】 and whose eyes had grown hazy, the King of Nightmares, his expression tinged with amusement, looked at the frustrated Li Ang before sneering:

"The secret arts of the Archer Palace are indeed remarkable—they allow a Level Three Cleaner like you to briefly match the power of a Director. Had I been caught off guard, you might have actually slipped from my grasp.

But no matter how powerful a tool is, its effectiveness depends entirely on who wields it. If the Archer Director himself used this, I'd have no chance—I'd be dragged straight into the dream.

But your soul's strength is nowhere near enough to lock onto my core consciousness. All you can catch are a few hundred insignificant nightmares. There are countless such fragments in the river of dreams—what good are they to you?"

"…."

……

"Enough. After struggling like this, you should finally give up."

Removing the mirror crown from the hollowed-out corpse and placing it back upon his own head, the gray mist giant extended his ashen, withered finger, wiping the crown's surface with his fingertip. A grating, malicious voice intruded brutally into Li Ang's ears:

"Come! In the name of the Lord of Nightmares, I command you—open your heart and reveal to me your deepest fear!"

As the King of Nightmares spoke, the blazing sun overhead flickered several times, then shifted as if from midsummer to late autumn—its blinding white glare dimmed to a feeble orange-yellow, casting weak, uninviting light.

Immediately, the endless golden sands around them faded silently. Centered on Li Ang, who stood frozen, the boundless desert dissolved into a dilapidated hospital ward thick with coughs and the acrid stench of medicine.

On the soiled edge of the bed, a frail girl with a face drained of all color turned her head slightly, her voice soft yet stubborn:

"Brother… maybe… just leave me alone?"

"…"

So his greatest fear was merely the death of his family?

Glancing from the gaunt girl on the bed to Li Ang's contorted face, the King of Nightmares, who had moments ago been eager, now felt a heavy wave of disappointment flicker across his eyes.

The fear was intense, the resentment and bitterness intriguing—but such fear and nightmares were far too common for him. He'd seen far too many. This held no interest at all.

Boring.

Watching the uninspired nightmare before him—the King of Nightmares, who had replaced part of the endless desert with Li Ang's deepest fear—let out a dismissive, bored sigh.

So his calm endurance of eternal torment wasn't true fearlessness—it was likely the effect of some anomaly.

I'd thought this fellow, who nearly made me stumble, would have some fascinating fear… and this is all it is? How disappointing…

Hmm? What is he doing?

Watching Li Ang, face twisted, burst out of the ward, clutching a knife he'd picked up, seemingly intent on something, the King of Nightmares finally stirred a flicker of interest. He shifted his form to human height and followed.

Immediately, everything from two months ago replayed without change.

"Is anyone here? I'm here to apply!"

"What are you staring at? Never seen a demon before?"

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"Didn't I explain clearly enough? Someone like you—a normal person—isn't suited for the Cleaner Bureau."

"Wait a moment!"

"My observational ability is unique! I can identify certain special things—and with direct contact, I can instantly gain related information!"

"There—that goat is a 'special thing.' Now start explaining."

After the Red-haired Director posed the "test," Li Ang, having staked everything on this last lifeline, took a deep breath and trembled as he reached out to touch the black goat—yet…

"?!!?"

Nothing? Why nothing?

Realizing this wasn't as he expected, Li Ang's face flooded with profound terror. An overwhelming panic surged upward, as if an icy, bone-chilling hand had seized his heart.

It should be there! It should have been there!

If I just touch it, something should pop up—telling me the anomaly's details! Why is there nothing now?!

"Heh. So you're a madman."

With a disappointed shake of her head, the blurred Red-haired Woman's cold eyes dismissed him:

"Get out! This isn't your place!"

"But… but I clearly…"

"Go! I won't say it again! Hmph. What a waste of time!"

"…"

Under the King of Nightmares' intrigued gaze, Li Ang, hollow-eyed and defeated, was thrown out of the Cleaner Bureau. He trudged back to the hospital, head drooping, like a corpse walking.

After spending every last coin and struggling for over a week without raising enough for medicine, under the girl's insistence, Li Ang carried her—coughing through every night, unable to sleep—back home.

Then, just as the frail girl had first suggested, when the nightly coughing finally ceased, Li Ang, to continue collecting her pension, secretly dumped her corpse into the sewage river at night, pretending she still lived.

But less than a month later, this small deception was uncovered by an official from the Military Department, who imposed heavier fines—plunging the family deeper into poverty, their faces growing ever more sallow and gaunt.

The next year, a fever epidemic swept the capital. The two children, chronically malnourished and weak, lacking medicine and care, ultimately could not survive. The once cramped little home became utterly empty…

……

So that's it.

Watching Li Ang, hunched over beside the small bed, stroking an old photo album with a vacant, numb gaze, the King of Nightmares raised an eyebrow—he finally understood what Li Ang truly feared.

If he had never possessed the qualifications to become a Cleaner, if he had never joined the Bureau, he would have lost everything, bit by bit, inevitably—just like this nightmare.

Therefore, to torment him, I need not inflict physical suffering. I need only seal his original memories and force him to relive this endlessly.

Hmph. Turns out it's this simple.

With a wave of his hand, he dispersed the nightmare conjured by the 【Mirror of Dread】, revealing the endless desert once more.

Watching the real Li Ang—who had remained silent since bursting from the hospital, as if struck by some immense blow—the King of Nightmares curled his lips into a pleased smile:

"Your fear is ordinary, but overall… interesting. Heh. I've already decided how to punish you for your insolence.

Listen well—I declare that from now on, you will be…" "What are you doing?"

"I'm giving you a gift."

Crushing the vial containing 【Dream-Eating Armor】, he shoved every remaining beetle into the hollowed-out corpse the King of Nightmares had shed.

Amid the King's puzzled expression, Li Ang expressionlessly drew out the 【Unfair Snake Pact】, exchanging it with the Red-haired Director outside for a single strand of vivid red hair.

Then, the corpse, now filled with the devouring 【Dream-Eating Armor】, vanished from his hands—and reappeared in the night sky over the capital, blanketed in countless nightmares.

"From now on, no one—no one fucking—will ever dream again!!!"