Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1863: Sharing The Power Of Dreams... And Nightmares
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On that day, a mysterious and alien element suddenly manifested across the great world of Yggdrasil. Although some gods noticed it, most paid it no real attention, dismissing it as insignificant. Hel’s powers condensed the atmosphere around Maria’s territory, rendering it nearly impossible for any god to discern what was truly happening in that entire region, no matter how intently they tried to look.
Hidden from divine eyes, Maria used her Dream Heart Crystal to awaken the Dream Hearts of every single member of her village—without exception. Even the youngest child received theirs. Thanks to her powers, it was impossible for anyone to develop into a Nightmare; her blessing granted them complete protection against such corruption.
Maria granted this power first to her strongest members—those with fighting potential or who had already fought at her side—then extended it to others, until ultimately everyone possessed a Dream Heart.
Of course, merely having a Dream Heart did not guarantee anything. It did not mean they could awaken the Dream Spirit or Dream Weapon within. For most, their strength and abilities remained largely unchanged.
But for those whose dreams and convictions had solidified—those with great resolve, admirable roles, or unyielding purpose—awakening their Dream Weapons or Dream Spirits proved simple and effortless.
In the span of a single day, everyone who was alive—or caught between life and death—had awakened to new power.
For some reason, pure undead such as Darkbound could not awaken Dream Hearts... and Maria had already suspected why.
"Hm, I’m sorry, Darkbound. It seems you and a few others truly cannot awaken Dream Hearts, as I feared."
"It does not bother me, master. I shall continue sharpening my ghostly blade and pursue perfection along my own path."
"Heh, don’t think that’s the end of it, though."
"Hm?"
"I have another path for you and those who cannot receive the power of Dreams..."
The reason pure undead could not awaken Dream Hearts—while beings between life and death, such as ghosts who became spirits or her undead familiars who evolved into living undead, could—was clear to her.
"First, let’s address why you cannot receive Dream Hearts..."
Before Maria stood her many undead: Darkbound, Pyro, and even some of her Vampire Zombies. In Murim she had created Jiangshi and Rakshasa—races "between life and death"—and they had successfully awakened Dream Hearts.
But pure undead—skeletons, traditional zombies—could not awaken them like any living person.
When Kim Hua died as a Dream Warrior and evolved into a Pure Dream Ghost, that had been a rare, exceptional case Maria did not consider the norm.
In truth, what these undead suffered resembled what Blackie once endured. Instead of harboring a Dream Heart...
"Undead are beings born from curses and resentment," Maria explained to her familiars. "It might sound harsh, but this is how we were all born. Yet we can reach a point where we release that resentment—either to pass on peacefully or to continue aiding others—purifying our souls and hearts, evolving into lifeforms between life and death. Like what happened to Lucifer, for example, or the many ghosts who are now spirits."
"Resentment..." Darkbound said. "I feel no such thing, however. Why is that?"
"That’s because you are a special undead born from many souls at once," Maria explained. "Your composition and ’body’ are made of such resentment, but the mind and personality you developed carry none. This is what makes you so unique, Darkbound."
"I see... I finally grasp more clearly what I truly am. As always, your words are filled with wisdom, master." Darkbound bowed deeply.
"It’s nothing," Maria said. "Anyway, although most of you feel no resentment... that’s because I raised you. In a way, you do not feel it, but it still exists—thanks to my blessing. I shoulder your resentment and suffering, transforming it into cursed power that makes me even stronger."
"...?!"
"...!"
"...?"
Most of her undead familiars could not speak, but their expressions clearly showed concern and surprise after hearing this.
"You shoulder such resentment?" Darkbound asked. "But why!"
"It’s my nature. It’s not something I can stop now," Maria said with a gentle smile. "When I evolved into a Nightmare and an Outer Goddess, I gained powers tied to grief and sorrow—to become... the martyr for all who suffer and resent. And I like it. You can call me mad, but this is a good madness in my opinion."
"..."
Darkbound fell silent. Maria reached out and caressed his large skeletal hand, reassuring him that everything was fine.
"You don’t have to feel bad. I am not suffering at all," Maria said warmly. "Even more so now that I have my living body—my power can reverse that resentment and turn it into healing, restorative energy that makes me stronger over time."
"...Incredible!" Darkbound exclaimed.
"Anyway," Maria continued. "I can also infuse undead with this—the power of Nightmares—and grant you a Nightmare Heart, turning you into a Nightmare or even a Nightmare Demon. Do you want this power?"
The undead did not hesitate. They wanted to be more useful to their master, so they agreed unanimously.
"Good. Then let’s begin. I shall weaponize your resentment and other negative emotions, crystallizing them all into a heart of nightmares," Maria said with a smile. "Once you attain this power, you will also be able to learn my own Martial Arts, Darkbound. I am certain you are incredibly talented—you will benefit greatly from this."
"Truly?!" he gasped. "I am deeply grateful!"
FLUOSH!
Maria extended black, ghostly clouds from her hands. They enveloped everyone before her, rapidly evolving them into Nightmare Undead. Some remained mostly unchanged, while others underwent dramatic transformations.
For example, Pyro grew four times larger—only slightly smaller than Arachne’s monster form—and blazed with nightmare flames.
Darkbound changed the most of all—far more than Pyro. His body grew even larger and more robust. His bones turned metallic and pitch black. His armor took on a black and dark blue hue, becoming sharp, demonic, and adorned with bone motifs and laughing demon sculptures.
He gained a pair of tall, sharp black horns sprouting from his skull—visible inside his massive helmet, now shaped like a roaring serpent.
At the same time, his sword—part of his very being—evolved, growing larger, imprinted with black serpent patterns and an even ghostlier aura.
"He...! He didn’t just become a Nightmare Undead...! He’s a Nightmare Demon?!"
Maria stood speechless as Darkbound manifested a terrifying power that distorted space around him—reminiscent of the strongest Nightmare Demons.
In fact, his aura felt strikingly similar to the original Nightmare Demon King’s. He was the only one who achieved the status of a True Nightmare Demon.
"This power...?! I feel like I am overflowing with it!" he said in astonishment. "But why do I feel so strange at the same time? It is like my body... I evolved?!"
"Calm down, Darkbound. Let’s process things slowly," Maria said. "...How about a spar?"
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