Chapter 404: Nightmare Attack, Battle for the Banquet

Chapter 404: Chapter 404: Nightmare Attack, Battle for the Banquet

Eureka looked over.

Deep within the once-calm night sky, something suddenly twisted without warning.

It was as if a drop of thick ink had fallen into clear water, spreading into an ominous stain.

Immediately after, an invisible force—cold, decaying, and filled with malice and chaos—faintly rolled in like a tide.

Although it was faint, it seemed to dim the brilliant splendor of the entire banquet hall for a moment.

The sweet aroma wafting through the air was tainted by a faint, almost imperceptible scent of rust and ash.

Eureka’s eyes turned cold. Their thin lips parted, uttering a few words only they could hear:

"The nightmare... It’s finally here."

At almost the same moment.

Seraphina Sullivan, Clayton Quinn, Ironhide, Joy Hughes, and the others, who were scattered throughout the banquet hall, all seemed to sense something.

Their hearts sank in unison.

Their gazes simultaneously turned toward the windows.

Or they began to warily scan the seemingly joyous guests around them.

Although the system hadn’t issued a new notification, a primal sense of crisis, like a cold spiderweb, had silently ensnared everyone’s nerves.

The Players understood instantly.

The second main quest.

"Protect the banquet from being ruined."

The real challenge had now begun.

Behind the curtain of the false feast, the Nightmare Minions had already revealed their hideous silhouettes.

The banquet came to an abrupt halt.

"AHH—!! It’s the Nightmare Minions! The nightmare is here!!!"

It was unclear which guest was the first to let out a shriek so terrified it was off-key.

The sound instantly detonated the banquet hall, which had been immersed in joy just a moment before!

The cheerful music screeched to a halt, the dancing stopped, and the laughter froze.

In their place was a cacophony of panicked shouts.

The shattering sound of cups and plates hitting the floor.

And the rapidly spreading Aura of fear.

Outside the transparent, rock-candy dome of the banquet hall, the thick mass of darkness in the simulated starry sky had completely dissolved.

Like ink dropped into clear water, it spread and twisted rapidly.

Immediately after, twisted figures of all shapes and sizes, exuding a sinister black mist, appeared.

They looked as if they were condensed from the deepest fear and malice.

Raining down from the dark rift, they poured into the hall!

Some looked like twisted, thorny shadows.

Others were like melting wax figures, constantly shifting their grotesque faces.

And others were pure clouds of black mist, roiling with negative emotions.

They let out skin-crawling shrieks or whispers.

The Nightmare Minions’ invasion had officially begun!

"AOOO—!!!"

Princess Truffles let out a piercing shriek from her throne.

Her massive body shot to its feet, and the light from her "Disco Ball" gown seemed to grow even more dazzling with her fury.

"Who is it?! Who dares to ruin my banquet?!?"

She waved her wide, jewel-encrusted sleeves, her voice trembling with rage.

"Guards! Guards! Everyone! Get them!

Drive out every last one of these damned, ugly, disgusting Nightmare Minions!

Crush them!! Protect my banquet!!!"

Following the Princess’s command.

The frog guards, already on high alert, immediately formed ranks to face the enemy.

The tips of the "Candy Wands" in their hands lit up with a soft yet resolute glow, attempting to disperse the black mist.

Some more powerful Dream Guards, who looked like kingdom officers, also appeared and joined the fray.

The Players, focused on their quest, also sprang into action.

Clayton Quinn’s figure was the first to dart out from the shadows, his movements as swift as a phantom, almost blending into the darkness.

He didn’t use any flashy Skills.

The shadow at his feet simply stretched out and split apart like a living, black viper.

It transformed into dozens of thin yet incredibly tough [Shadow Touching Hands].

They silently coiled around several of the closest Nightmare Minions, which were pouncing toward a table of guests.

The minions caught by the shadow tentacles immediately slowed down, letting out pained hisses as if they were being burned.

Seeing this, Seraphina Sullivan’s pupils contracted slightly.

This Ability to control shadows instantly reminded her of Lina, the Acolyte of the God of Assassination from the Zombie Kingdom, before she was possessed by the Demon God Will.

Their abilities were remarkably similar.

But Clayton Quinn’s technique was more restrained and precise, and his control over the shadows seemed as effortless as moving his own limbs.

It lacked some of Lina’s sinister and treacherous nature, but possessed a greater simplicity and deadliness.

Ironhide, on the other hand, chose the most direct route.

He let out a low roar.

His already burly frame seemed to swell even larger.

An earthy-yellow, faintly glowing armor activated, covering the surface of his skin!

Like a human tank, he charged directly at a wave of Nightmare Minions that was trying to assault the royal seating area.

He used his sturdy chest and arms to forcefully block their charges and bites.

The dull thuds of his fists cutting through the air scattered the misty minions upon impact.

Lamb also joined the battle.

His face still wore a relaxed, even somewhat excited expression.

He spread his hands, and his long golden hair billowed without a wind, instantly transforming into countless shimmering, incredibly tough [Dream Cotton Threads].

Like an overwhelming sea of threads, they swept toward the Nightmare Minions pouring into the hall!

The threads wove into nets, either entangling and binding the creatures or slicing through them like sharp wires. It was incredibly efficient, clearing a large area in an instant.

Seraphina Sullivan, however, did not immediately join the frontal assault.

Her gaze swept rapidly across the battlefield, finally settling on the dessert area she was in charge of.

Specifically, it landed on the multi-tiered "Dream Celebration Cake" that she had specially made for the Princess.

’The quest is to protect the banquet... The core of the banquet is for it to proceed smoothly and not be ruined.’

’These desserts, especially this cake, are important symbols and components of the banquet. Nothing can happen to them.’

Seraphina instantly identified her objective.

But watching the Nightmare Minions pour in like a tide—chaotic and destructive—she knew that a passive defense wouldn’t be enough.

’I have to find their Weaknesses and eliminate the threat efficiently.’

She focused her mind and, facing a vine-like Nightmare Minion that was using its black mist to corrode the "Cloud Tablecloth," she activated [Eye of Resume] again.

This time, the Skill successfully returned information!

[Weaknesses: Spiritually fragile. Strong or direct Spirit Attacks can cause significant damage or even instant annihilation.]

"Spirit Attacks are their weakness!" A sharp glint flashed in Seraphina’s eyes.

She immediately raised her voice, shouting to Joy Hughes, Clayton Quinn, Ironhide, and the others who were in the middle of the fight.

"Hey! These Nightmare Minions! They’re afraid of Spirit Attacks!"

As she shouted, she had already locked onto a target.

A black cloud of mist covered in spikes, like a hedgehog.

At that moment, it was howling as it charged straight for the giant "Dream Celebration Cake."

It was clearly trying to destroy the most conspicuous "symbol of beauty" at the banquet!