The Cornflower Witch

Chapter 102: Demonic Moon

What is a nightmare?

Just as the three solar Aspects govern growth, stagnation, and death on the material plane,

the three lunar Aspects represent clarity, confusion, and loss of control on the spiritual plane.

The clear and flawless Luminous Moon, the half-veiled Misty Moon, and the shadow-sunken Dark Moon.

The changing phases of the moon, like the rise and fall of tides, influence dreams, the spiritual world, and ultimately manifest in the actions of all living beings.

Daytime belongs to the sun, and Night belongs to the moon. It is said that in distant eras, whenever night fell, the consciousness of all creatures would enter dreams, living another life there.

Of course, since the fall of the last 'Dream Master,' the Silver Moon Dragon, this covenant has been broken. Even when creatures of the present world dream, most are muddled and confused, rarely achieving lucidity within the dream.

But even when not dreaming, how many dare claim they are absolutely clear-minded?

The myriad complexities of the world bring desires, profits, temptations, making people yearn for them, become intoxicated by them, trapped by them, finding it difficult to let go. This is their spirit and desire, the meaning for which life squirms.

Desire, like life itself, propels creatures across the earth. But desire lacks the constraints of reality's rules. Controlling it is far from easy.A single shift in thought can make a person completely collapse. Letting go of past courage, pride, and maintaining the embankment of will has always been a difficult task.

...

A gleaming golden blade sliced through dead wood, severing it. Splintered wood chips burned in the night, scattering large swathes of Sparks. The two figures clashed continuously within the forest.

"Dang—"

A clear, crisp clang reverberated through the woods. A firefly-green, jade-like blade was held before her as Sylutia blocked Iona's assault.

Another shining golden blade swept down. The searing sword glare left a stark afterimage in her eyes. Sylutia strained to twist her blade, deflecting the original strike and parrying this new incoming slash.

Firefly-green fragments chipped off her sword. The originally straight longsword gained another notch.

With the enhancement of the 'Verdant Nectar' Aspect, the Tree Jade Spirit Sword, while not as hard or sharp as pure black steel, had never relied on sharpness. Its strength was resilience.

Firefly-green radiance flowed. The jade-like longsword clashed with the golden blade several times, and the notched edge repeatedly restored itself to its original state.

Both were at the First-Tier Aspect level. 'Blazing Sun,' as a superior Aspect, provided powerful amplification in combat, granting Iona a temporary edge over Sylutia in strength, speed, and endurance. However, Sylutia was clearly more proficient in the control and application of her power, preventing Iona from defeating her quickly.

Figures with golden and black hair wove through the forest, back and forth. Both swung their blades in repeated clashes, constantly shifting stances. Fatigue, exhaustion, and sweat accumulated bit by bit.

After a day of fighting, neither was in good condition, relying on willpower to drive their sore, aching limbs.

In another exchange, Sylutia shifted her posture. Her black hair and longsword swung together, a powered-up arc slashing toward Iona, once again colliding with the other's blade.

This time, the firefly-green sword in her hand chipped, while the opponent's black steel sword, under the high temperature and constant impact, finally warped, cracked, and developed a flaw.

Though seemingly like a flickering candle flame ready to be extinguished at any moment, Sylutia miraculously held on under that fierce, relentless assault.

"You're not actually an ordinary person, are you, Tia?" Iona recognized the bracelet on Sylutia's wrist.

Originally hidden under her sleeve, the bracelet was now completely exposed due to the intensity of the fight.

"Let me guess, perhaps you're also the descendant of some great noble."

"No wonder you show no fear facing me." She shook her head slightly.

"I should have realized sooner. How could a mediocre, remote countryside produce a genius like you?"

"Even if it did, their personality wouldn't be as calm and quiet as yours."

"Cultivating one's temperament and character requires the right environment. The busy, struggling lower classes only raise short-sighted, cunning children. Their next meal is uncertain; how could they be as composed and tranquil as you?"

"You're very different, Tia."

"I admit I have no patience to play those childish games with commoner children, wasting energy and time."

"However, those who are too soft often get delayed by various matters. True powerhouses focus solely on their own growth and strength."

She slowly raised her sword, holding it vertically before her. The straight blade bisected her face. Her crimson eyes were exceptionally resolute and bright in the firelight.

"The current you cannot defeat me."

As if to prove her words, she charged forward, sword in hand. Her previously dimmed swordplay now erupted with renewed vigor.

The golden blade swung repeatedly, striking against Sylutia's parrying sword like a hammer, battering open the gates of her precise defense.

"Sorry, but I don't think your definition of a 'true powerhouse' is correct." Sylutia shook her head, feeling the other's perspective was somewhat narrow.

As someone who had spent significant time reading books and forums online in her past life, she had witnessed too many such verbal battles and was long immune to this 'survival of the fittest' rhetoric.

True kindness is a firm and noble virtue, not some weak behavior.

But Iona was clearly immersed in her own world now. Anything Sylutia said would fall on deaf ears.

Sylutia threw the pearl with its dwindling power. A fierce chill spread between them, and she once again put distance between herself and Iona.

Seizing this moment, she took a 'Blood-colored Berry' from the pouch at her waist and put it in her mouth.

Originally used to replenish blood, the berry could also restore stamina, allowing the nearly depleted 'Bloodline' Aspect within her body to recover.

Her blood circulated anew. The 【Blood Aberration Flower】 at her waist also emitted a faint halo.

The previously stalled 【Breathing Technique Lv.3】 instantly broke through the final barrier, stepping into the fourth stage.

In the past, such an action would have inevitably caused Sylutia's Aspect to change. But now, her 【Verdant Nectar】 Aspect was stable enough to withstand the radiating influence of 【Breathing Technique Lv.4】 on her Fate Plate.

After the Breathing Technique breakthrough, it not only provided greater strength and speed amplification but also significantly reduced the previous side effects burdening her body.

She wasn't given much respite. A dazzling golden radiance pierced through the cold mist, shooting toward her and exploding right in front of her.

The shattered golden blade melted and tore through the Tree Jade Spirit Sword.

Gripping the remaining golden hilt with both hands, Iona lunged forward. Her figure seemed covered in a halo as she crashed into Sylutia's embrace, the held golden blade piercing through Sylutia's left arm.

The recent Breathing Technique breakthrough gave Sylutia faster reaction speed. In that split second, she shifted part of her body, dodging the lethal golden blade.

This final all-out attack did not defeat Sylutia. In the subsequent exchanges, Iona's attacks grew increasingly weak. The side effects of using 【Solar Radiance Breathing Technique】 began to overwhelm her. Meanwhile, Sylutia, due to her Breathing Technique breakthrough, moved and wielded her sword with increasing fluidity and ease.

Seeing her defeat was only a matter of time, endless anxiety and panic surged within Iona.

She had never imagined she would lose to someone else in an assessment.

She had envisioned that path for too long; it had become an obsession in her heart, the only way to save her family, her father, and preserve her own pride.

Thinking that she might never catch up to her peers back in the royal capital, that those she once looked down upon might one day trample over her, while she could only wander futilely in remote mountains, eventually forced to accept reality and live a mediocre life... this imagined future slowly crushed her rationality.

No.

Don't.

Absolutely not.

Standing in the dark forest, the surrounding trees seemed twisted, as if countless faces were on them, mockingly laughing at her, stirring many unpleasant memories.

Since Viscount Caren's defeat, her life had plummeted. Former companions she was close to turned away one by one. Meeting again, they only avoided her in fear, for anyone associated with Viscount Caren would face His Majesty's wrath.

Countless thoughts collided and surged in her mind. Past scenes, the faces in her memory, all now seemed haughty, looking down on her tiny, dust-like self, then stepping over her.

In the night sky, the murky red moon hung high.

In the forest, the golden-haired girl's eyes gradually lost their light.

What is a nightmare?

It is the shattering of the spirit, the collapse of reason, and despair.