Each passing moment, the air grew hotter—ash turning into smoking rubble. Our surroundings finally started burning with Amon's flickering flames. We followed the highly-eroded path of destruction, both of us sensing our demon comrade’s aura now.
After many collapsed corridors and burning rooms, we existed into a desolate wasteland. This part of the Dreamer's lair didn't have a ceiling, or any walls. When I was running with Evy on my back, I could've sworn I was going straight. However, when I jumped into this open space, I fell backwards, as the gravity seemed to change perpendicular to the tunnel we came from.
I thought this was the center of the house at first, judging by its size and open look. However, when I looked at the ground, everything became clear. A field of ash, with a few broken pieces of rubble sticking out of it, still burning with hellfire.
This was Amon's doing.
He burned everything in sight, creating a room—if you can call it that—which encompassed... everything. It seemed to span endlessly, as there was no ceiling, no walls, just a dusty sky. "H-how?" I stuttered.
This level of destruction wasn't anything unexpected from Amon's level of power, but this dream lair had a strong protective network of magic through it. In the midst of this half-burnt and half-burning landscape, Amon stood victoriously, his shirt gone from using such a vast amount of hellfire from his upper body. Below him on the ground was the still-alive Dreamer.
Part of its face and body were charred black, while Amon's manapool was slowly replenishing itself. He hadn't even used it all up...
Putting Evy down from my back, I walked slowly towards my comrade. When I reached him, I saw an arrogant smirk that grew close to my heart. He's truly got stronger, and became a friend of mine that I cherish. I was glad this fight worked out without... many casualties. It looks like it wasn't a mistake to grow closer to Amon and Cidion.
I stand beside my demon friend, staring at the huffing Dreamer. "What was that about being prepared?" I ask, taking the Sunsword out.
The Dreamer raises one of its working eyebrows. "I adore your overinflated confidence. You've spent too much time with your demonic pet over here."
I point the Sunsword at the Dreamer. "Call him that again, and I'll... Well, I'll kill you anyways so say what you want."
The Dreamer shakes its head. "You only go by what you see, by what you hear... Your senses will fail you if you don't use your ration."
It tries standing up, but Amon kicks it down, burning its body with heat coming from his leg. "You're not going anywhere."
I crouch down, so my gaze is almost at its level. "Last time, I killed you. Even if I... returned, I still ended your life. The information from your mark might give you insight, but it only shows how much stronger I am compared to you."
It lies back onto the ground, its head the only part of its body not burned. The aura it had almost vanished completely, as Death crept close. Still, a calm look sits on its face. "Let me ask you something, Messiah. Do you know who controls dreams?"
My brows furrow as I ponder its cryptic question. "I don't know, the person sleeping?"
It shakes its head slightly, its neck starting to charr. "The subconscious. We have no control over it, although it is present in our every decision, and makes everything in our dreams..."
"What does this have to do with this?" I ask, giving into its lousy speech.
It smiles. "I'm... conscious," it says as Amon's heat burns through the whole body, leaving withering ash.
Amon stretches. "Well, that was fun, but I was expecting more from this final boss you've been hyping up."
I stare at where my enemy's body was a few seconds ago. "Conscious... Subconscious..." I turn around in a panic, staring at the sky.
Amon jumps back, as a thin ray of pink energy strikes through Evy. I was careless, relaxing at the worst possible moment.
I dash over to her, deflecting another beam that would split her head open. "NO!!" I scream, grabbing her body. She winces in pain as another beam almost strikes me, but Amon appears in time, using his hellfire to catch the dream magic. "Is Coco alive?" he asks.
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"Yes, but she's badly hurt," I answer.
The dust and smoke that surrounded us disappeared, allowing me to see the distant ceiling. We were still caged in a giant room, with absurd proportions. From the distant ceiling—at least half a mile above us—something came crashing downwards. It hit the ground not even a hundred feet from us, brimming with a mighty aura of pure dream magic.
We got into a battle position, with Evy unable to conjure up any spells, due to her condition. She was bleeding badly, already starting to show signs of blood loss. The shot pierced her liver, so she couldn't hold on for long without immediate health support.
In front of us stood a new entity, with rose robe-like clothes and with pale rose hair. Its eyes were the same neon shade of pink as the Dreamer, but this was a true form, not a taken body or a shapeshifted one.
It carried a dangerously radiating four and a half barrels deep manapool, probably even stronger than Cidion when he wasn't injured.
I hold my Sunsword, ready for it to attack at any second. "W-who are you??"
This entity was a true form, and not a mask like the Dreamer wore. By its looks, it seemed male, although I couldn't be sure from all the energy it released passively.
It—or rather he—took a step forward. "Didn't you hear my dead Conscious? I'm the Subconscious, and I operate this dimension," he says with a voice brimming with energy.
It looks like they were part of a single entity, with only the Subconscious part alive now. It still seems sentient, but I won't question the meaning behind their names.
Amon's hands lit up, his aura replenished and his magic ready to use. "Try to keep Coco alive while I fight this guy."
"Are you sure you can handle him?" I ask.
Amon's feet light up with hellfire. "Are you doubting me, rival!?" An explosion propels him forward, his hands reaching the current Dreamer in an instant. Hellfire is released in a giant burst, a cloud of flames expanding from Amon's hands.
I grit my teeth, seeing the Dreamer above Amon, levitating in the air. He can fly?? I decided to halt my healing of Evy, as she was conscious and breathing, grabbing my arm. "Help Amon. It's no use healing me if the two of you die."
I nodded, not wanting her to experience any more death of her loved ones, knowing how detrimental it is for one's psyche by experience. I dash at Amon, picking him up just in time as a beam of energy hit the ground and detonated. The beams produced a high pitched sound, which trembled with a deep bass after detonation.
"We have to fight it together!" I note to Amon, who was already displeased with the idea of fighting together.
"It's not fair, we're fighting two against one!" he argues, although with the dumbest idea I've ever heard.
I turn towards him. "This is life or death, we can't play by any rules or handicaps!" I reason.
He sighs, but accepts to fight alongside me, knowing that working together is imperative if we want to win. We dash at Evy's side, protecting her together. We already have a handicap, having to protect her while fighting this monstrosity.
The Dreamer smiles, lifting his hand and snapping his finger. Suddenly the ground warps and takes on a hill-like structure, with dents and bulges filling this massive floor. Out of small openings in the ground, tiny pink balls exit and surround us. The Dreamer snaps his fingers again, the balls moving like bullets towards us.
I use the Sunsword to cut some of them, while deflecting the rest. Amon blocks some of them, while burning the others before they could strike him. The ones he blocked left dents in his arms, as blood slowly poured from the fresh wounds.
I throw the Sunsword into the air, catching it while aiming at this Subconscious Dreamer.
"Spear"
The thrust would've ended his miserable life, if only he couldn't teleport. This was even faster than Usui—a Sword Saint that literally used spatial magic as his primary one. The Dreamer teleported to the side, which Amon noticed immediately. "Stay here," my demon comrade ordered as he rushed towards our enemy.
This time, he launched multiple teardrop-like projectiles of hellfire, which exploded loudly and brightly, painting the horizon in orange and red. He didn't stop there, using his enhanced senses to pick up where the moving Dreamer was. While boosting himself with his magic, he moved efficiently and incredibly quickly, trying to reach our enemy while simultaneously striking him with hellfireballs. All of this was done while dodging pink beams of dream magic coming at light-speeds. Amon was a genius in terms of fighting and magic.
His fire magic might seem basic, but he uses it better than anyone.
When I saw the chance, I used light magic and the
Just as I thought I'd done something, he regenerated his arms instantly. My vision seemed to expand, as everything in my sight started to distance itself. What's happening?
"Rival!!" Amon screamed. I was suddenly jolted awake by a burning pain in my abdomen. I was hit, another hole through my body. It thankfully didn't pierce any internal organs, but I was left breathing shallowly. Yet again, the dream magic bore through my defense and influenced my mind.
The Sunsword left my hand for a second, but I grabbed it just in time. The Dreamer was still in front of me.
"Spea—"
My nemesis vanished again, with Amon almost burning me alive, charging for me from the other side. We almost clashed, my 'Spear' almost drilling him. Wait, where did that bastard dissapea—
Amon and I turned around simultaneously, seeing the slippery bastard standing behind Evy. She looked upwards at the standing nightmare, who grabbed her head.
"You bastard... If YOU DO THAT I'LL—"
My words were cut off by a crunching sound, that of Evy's head turning 180 degrees. My eye twitched as my gut fell through my body. Adrenaline numbs any pain and shock slows everything down to a halt. Is… Is this really happening?
Another casualty... All because of me… This one being the worst that could've happened.