Awakening：The Infinite Evolution of My Talent as a Low-Level Awakener

"Do you know why I want to lead the Nightmare Empire and stand against the entire world? Aside from becoming the sole emperor of this world, there is another reason: to gain the recognition of the highest power, and thus truly master this power and achieve the one true supremacy!

Status... power... these are merely the appendages of strength. Only by obtaining the most powerful strength can one rise above everything else."

"I never imagined that you, too, have obtained a trace of the highest power. Tell me, how did you manage to do it?"

The Nightmare Overlord didn't immediately reveal his monstrous form. Perhaps it was due to the loneliness of being sealed for tens of thousands of years, or maybe because he felt that everything was already under his control. He said all of this, almost as if venting his emotions.

After all, from being a prisoner to being free, such a dramatic shift, without any warning, even for someone of his nature, would inevitably stir up intense emotions.

"Obtaining the recognition of the highest power?"

Sterl's brow furrowed slightly as he vaguely caught something in the Nightmare Overlord's words. His thoughts quickly churned, and he soon pieced together the key information.

The source of Dream Power was most likely in the Origin Space he had accidentally entered before. Becoming the sole emperor of Dreamland, gathering the fortune and karma of the entire world, would grant him the qualifications to enter the Origin Space and thus seize Dream Power.

Whether this was true or not still required confirmation, but if so, Sterl was now fully bound to the Nightmare Legion.

In this world, if one wanted to rule, having a powerful army was essential. Though the Nightmare Legion had been scattered, even a dead camel is bigger than a horse. With proper management, it could still rise again.

"I did not obtain the recognition of the highest power. It was merely a crack that appeared beneath the Ancient Tree of the Abyssal Prison. By a stroke of luck, I obtained a trace of this power, but unfortunately, after repeatedly breaking the seals, this power has already been exhausted."

Sterl shared his previous hypothesis. Whether the Nightmare Overlord believed it or not didn't matter.

Moreover, in the Nightmare Overlord's eyes, he was about to gain everything and become the master of nightmares again, so he didn't care about the truth of Sterl's words.

"A crack? It seems like a world rift.

The world is like a giant embryo, constantly growing by absorbing nutrients, while it also expels some energy, or else it would burst apart.

For such a remote event to have happened to you... it seems fate has not abandoned me."

The greed and excitement in the Nightmare Overlord's eyes faded as he clearly understood some details about Dream Power and the world rift.

Occasionally, world rifts would appear, leaking small amounts of the highest power. However, this power could only be collected and used as top-tier material or in tools, it couldn't be mastered by merely having this energy.

It was like a primitive man accidentally finding a book that recorded the origins of civilization—he would never be able to absorb the knowledge contained within it. At most, he could only use it as kindling.

"War, you need not be discouraged. Do you know why I believe in you? Because we are very much alike.

Our pursuit of power and status is far less than our thirst for strength. So, when we break through the Eternal Light and rebuild the Nightmare Empire to rule the world, we will definitely share the highest power with you, because the two of us are indispensable."

The Nightmare Overlord said with a tone of reflection, hands clasped behind his back.

"..."

Sterl remained silent, standing quietly in place.

This was the personality of the War Demon that he had deduced from Ghost Old Man and people like Walker and Wood.

Grim, taciturn, resolute, and ruthless.

Thus, silence was the best response for the War Demon.

Seeing this, the Nightmare Overlord secretly smirked. No matter how powerful this War Demon was, he would never be able to escape the Nightmare Overlord's grasp. As for sharing the highest power? That was a fantasy!

He was merely lulling his opponent into a false sense of security, while secretly gathering strength to strike him down in one blow, eliminating any future threat!

The highest power could only be controlled by him alone, along with all the power and glory of the Nightmare Empire!

The War Demon was nothing more than a tool in his hand, and he would never be able to rise up and become the master!

"My ability... has failed."

At this moment, Sterl, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, causing the Nightmare Overlord to pause slightly.

"Ability? Is it the army arcane skill that you control? This..."

The Nightmare Overlord was momentarily at a loss for words, but Sterl immediately noticed that the Overlord wasn't surprised—he was actually pleased!

This made Sterl feel relieved. The ability to enhance an army was undeniably important for the War Demon's status, otherwise, he wouldn't have held such power.

But judging from the Nightmare Overlord's expression, this ability wasn't a talent, but rather a special arcane skill.

"I see. After so many years of being sealed, and with you having walked through the Land of Silent Spirits for so long, your soul has suffered irreversible damage, and your source blood is near depletion. That's why you can't use your abilities now.

This is the strongest arcane skill of my Nightmare Empire, but unfortunately, it can only be triggered by the source blood and soul of your Skullbrave Clan. And now, you are the last living member of the Skullbrave Clan."

"You don't need to worry. Once we get out, I will naturally find a way to restore the source blood within you..."

At this point, the Nightmare Overlord paused for a moment, and a sinister smile spread across his face.

The power he had been accumulating for so long had finally been completed!

Although this ability wasn't even a fraction of his full strength, even at just ten percent, it was enough to suppress this damned War Demon.

As for the army arcane skill? He didn't need to worry at all. As long as he forcibly extracted the source blood and cultivated it, he could still activate the ability.

With this, he would completely replace the War Demon's power, and all the prestige the War Demon had in the Nightmare Empire would return to him!

Thinking this, he looked down at Sterl, and the malice in his eyes was completely unabashed.

"War, now that my origin has been exhausted, since you are so loyal to me, then offer up your source blood and soul to become the cornerstone of my resurgence!"

The Nightmare Overlord sneered, and with a sudden, forceful movement, he pressed his hand downward. Countless dark lines covered his palm, and an invisible weight caused the entire space to freeze.

This was a lethal move the Nightmare Overlord mastered, using the Power of Nightmares to manipulate the forces of nature. His most adept manipulation was gravity.

The tremendous gravity was enough to drag entire star systems. At his peak, he could even summon a whole star from the sky to crush everything in his path!

Now, using this power, he had perfectly eliminated any possibility of the War Demon resisting. The War Demon could only passively let him extract his source blood and soul, turning them into nourishment for his own recovery.

However, at that moment, an ominous feeling suddenly surged in his chest.

The smile on the Nightmare Overlord's face faltered slightly as he looked at Sterl. He did not see any shock or fear on the War Demon's face. Instead, Sterl was calmly watching him, as though observing some interesting performance, his eyes even showing a hint of mockery…

"This is bad!"

The Nightmare Overlord's heart trembled as he thought to himself that something was wrong. Yet, he did not retract his hand. Instead, he pushed down with all his strength.

This was the strongest strike he had ever gathered. No matter what kind of trump card the War Demon had prepared, he could not allow him to retreat. Doing so would risk losing the initiative and paying a heavy price.

After all, as much as he was proud, he had never underestimated the War Demon. In addition to activating the strongest army arcane skill, the War Demon's personal strength was second only to his own in the entire Nightmare Empire.

Sterl watched the Nightmare Overlord's reaction, and a gentle smile appeared on his face. But that smile sent a chill down the Nightmare Overlord's spine.

He knew the War Demon too well—he would never smile like that.

Boom!!

In an instant, the Power of Star-Bone surged within Sterl's body. He activated the Star-Bone Body, and terrifying power began to gather from every part of his body. With a single punch, he struck at the descending hand.

Thud!!

When their fists and palms collided, the Nightmare Overlord felt as though he had been struck head-on by an iron train accelerated by interstellar orbital cannons. His powerful body was thrown backward uncontrollably.

However, as soon as his body left the ground, countless tiny star threads, so fine they were nearly impossible to capture, formed a massive web, entangling and pulling him in all directions.

The force of the backward momentum allowed the star threads to easily cut through his skin, sinking deep into his flesh.

In a single exchange, the Nightmare Overlord's body was drenched in blood, and his once formidable aura deflated rapidly, like a balloon with a hole in it.

"You… you are not War Demon… who are you!?"

The Nightmare Overlord knelt on one knee, his eyes wide in disbelief, staring at Sterl as if trying to see through his disguise.

However, Sterl was truly the War Demon now. Aside from the differences in memories, he was the real deal.

Shaking his slightly numb arm, Sterl looked at the Nightmare Overlord, who was bound by the star threads, and couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.

It could only be said that the Nightmare Overlord truly lived up to his name. His strength and physical endurance were terrifying.

Fortunately, the passage of tens of thousands of years had worn down his power to the absolute limit. Otherwise, even with full firepower, Sterl would have had no chance but to meet death.

If a normal king is a versatile, well-rounded fighter, then the Nightmare Overlord was someone who had poured all his talents and energy into combat alone.

Though his mind was simple, his combat strength was unparalleled.

But, alas, fate had already sealed his end. The Nightmare Overlord had been defeated by the Dream Spirit Empire forty thousand years ago, and now, Sterl was simply bringing an end to the destiny he should have met long ago.