Chapter 18)

Iris and I rushed towards the nightmare as according to plan.

It's eyes kept changing its direction between the two of us, it moved so fast it was like the nightmare was tracking both of our movements at the same time. 

We kept circling the nightmare, looking for a position to attack once Iris was ready to do so. I knew that I wouldn't be able to just go and directly kill the nightmare, as Iris had already found out that it can only counter movements. And seeing how the gladiators had been killed so easily, I didn't want to take that chance.

"Once I'm in front, Ogata! Follow the plan!" Iris said, as I could see her behind the nightmare's back. 

"Got it!"

It was a moment before she was ready, but in seconds she was facing the nightmare head on.

"Now!" Iris yelled, as her movements switched from running in circles to now running towards the nightmare.

As soon as she started, my feet planted and switched towards the nightmares back. We were now both running towards the nightmare, but it could only keep it's view on Iris, since it would not be able to look behind.

I could see Iris go in for a strike, leading the tip of her blade towards the nightmare's body. As predicted, the nightmare immediately countered the move, but what it wasn't expecting was that Iris would be able to freeze it's movements, not allowing it move any further. 

"Finish it!"

I was in position to cut the nightmare in half. The fierce purple aura that surrounded it stopped it's ability to counter, leaving me the perfect chance to end it once and for all. 

My blade seemed to be only inches away from the nightmare at this point. I could hear it shrieking as it knew I was behind it, but there was nothing it could do, as I could feel my blade touch it's body.

Of course, it was only inches away from ending it.

"Ugh?!"

I thought I had been able to cut the nightmare, the feeling I felt had to have been my blade touching it's skin, so what else was it? It was only a second later until I had found out. Instead of moving forward, I was now pushed back. Blood splattered from the direction I was pushed, leaving me on the floor once again.

"Ogata!" Iris yelled, her focus on me instead of the nightmare, allowing it move once again. Noticing this, she had to withdraw as she could watch as I laid there on the floor.

"Nightmare! Attack!" I heard a familiar voice command, as I watched the nightmare twitch it's body, moving its joints and large claws around, before taking steps towards Iris. 

"Damn...!" Who is that...?!"

"Who, you ask? It's me! Don't you remember? You're kinda dumb, aren't you?"

It had just dawned upon me as my blurry vision looked up from where I was laying from. It was the same hooded figure who had just attacked the city almost a night before. He was holding a small blade in his hand, and as I looked at my stomach, I could see that he used it to cut it open. 

"Ugh! You...! You couldn't just do the work by yourself, huh? You had to use nightmares do attack for you...?"

"Yeah, and it worked, didn't it? Now you're lying there in shame while I'm just about ready to kill you. How pathetic do you feel right now? You really couldn't even stop me! Hahahaha!"

It hurt to even breath with this open wound on my stomach. I could only watched as he laughed mockingly at my face.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Aren't you going to kill me? Or are you too afraid to do that?"

He stopped laughing, and took out a small crystal black gem from the pocket of his cloak. It gleamed in the moonlight, as it jingled in his hand.

"I have different plans. Just before you die, you'll become my pawn. Listening to my commands without any other will. How does that sound? Then, you won't die a meaningless death!"

He started to walk towards me. As he bent down down towards my bleeding chest, he raised the black crystal in the air, as it twirled, I could see the light reflect each of the small grooves and curves it held. It's shape was sharp, the tip of the crystal looked as though it could cut right through skin. 

My vision was blurring, as I could hear the small buzzing of something distant. I looked back at Iris, who, despite fighting the nightmare with all her might, took a sudden stop as she looked towards the sky. Was something there?

"What's this? Who's...? Hah! HAHAHA! You! You think you can stop the inevitable?" The hooded figure's words distorted words slurred in my mind, as I could hear him mock and laugh at whatever was there in the distance. I could only hear the buzzing and the wheezing sounds of my breath. 

It was just in that moment of consciousness that I thought I could see blood. As I focused my eyes, I could see that the hooded figure's right arm had been cut off, and was now screaming in pain and agony.