Chapter 169: Equal Footing

The fight between the generals and Edgar’s Commanders had already reached a terrifying level.

The four-armed Nightmare General swung its enormous sword again, forcing the Headless Commander to raise its own blade to block the attack.

The impact created a powerful shockwave that pushed the surrounding Nightmares and Soul Guardians several metres away.

The Gorilla Commander immediately rushed in from the side.

Its enormous fist struck the Nightmare General’s chest with enough force to crack the black armor covering its body.

The General staggered backward, but before it could recover, the Nightmare Giant charged forward and slammed its shoulder into it.

BOOM!

The three Commanders attacked together.

The Headless Commander continued striking with its sword while the Gorilla Commander attacked from close range.

The Nightmare Giant used its enormous body to keep the General from escaping.

However, the Nightmare General wasn’t weak enough to be overwhelmed so easily.

Its four arms moved almost simultaneously, blocking one attack before countering with another.

The enormous sword cut through the air while the spear stabbed toward the Headless Commander, forcing the skeletal horse to leap sideways.

Edgar watched the fight through the Soul Network.

He could feel the damage his Commanders were taking, but he could also sense the weakening energy of the Nightmare General.

’Keep attacking.’

The Commanders immediately increased their assault.

Several Nightmares attempted to interfere with the battle, rushing toward the Soul Guardians from behind.

Edgar noticed them immediately. He moved through the battlefield at incredible speed.

BOOM!

His fist struck the first Nightmare before it could reach the Gorilla Commander.

The creature was sent flying into the darkness.

Edgar turned and kicked another Nightmare away before it could attack the Headless Commander.

"Focus on the General."

The Commanders didn’t need to answer. They understood the order through the Soul Network.

The Nightmare General roared and swung all four weapons at once.

The Headless Commander blocked the sword while the Gorilla Commander caught the axe with both hands.

The Nightmare Giant took the spear directly into its chest.

The enormous creature staggered backward, but instead of retreating, it grabbed the spear and pulled the General toward itself.

The Headless Commander immediately took advantage of the opening.

Its sword flashed through the darkness.

The blade struck the Nightmare General’s shoulder and cut deeply into its body. Black blood sprayed across the ground.

The General roared in anger and attempted to counterattack, but Edgar suddenly appeared beside it.

His fist struck the creature’s face.

BOOM!

The Nightmare General’s head snapped backward.

Before it could recover, the Gorilla Commander struck its chest while the Nightmare Giant grabbed one of its arms.

The four-armed General struggled violently, the Headless Commander raised its sword.

The blade descended.

SHING!

The General’s body froze and a deep cut appeared across its neck.

Its enormous body slowly collapsed to the ground. The surrounding Nightmares stopped for a brief moment.

Their general had fallen.

Edgar looked at the corpse. One of the strongest enemies on the battlefield had just been killed.

However, Edgar didn’t have time to celebrate.

His eyes moved toward the second general.

The pale Nightmare stood several hundred metres away, surrounded by black objects that continued floating around its body.

Several Soul Guardian Commanders were already fighting it.

The battle between them was much stranger.

The Nightmare General rarely moved from its position, instead using the strange black objects surrounding its body to attack the Commanders from different directions.

One Commander was struck in the chest and thrown backward.

Another had its arm severed yet the Soul Guardians continued attacking.

Edgar immediately moved toward them. He had already lost too many Soul Guardians.

He wasn’t going to allow another Commander to fall.

The moment Edgar entered the battle, the Nightmare General’s single eye turned toward him.

A strange black beam suddenly shot toward his chest. Edgar twisted his body.

The beam passed beside him and struck the ground, leaving a deep black mark.

Edgar immediately closed the distance.

The General raised its hand. Several black objects flew toward Edgar from different directions.

Edgar’s Solar Energy erupted from his body.

BOOM!

The objects were pushed away.

He continued forward and punched the Nightmare General directly in the stomach.

The creature bent forward.

One of the Soul Guardian Commanders immediately struck its back. Another attacked from the side.

The Nightmare General stumbled as Edgar and the Commanders surrounded it.

The battle became increasingly violent.

The General’s strange abilities destroyed several Soul Guardians, but every time it killed one, Edgar’s remaining Commanders attacked even more aggressively.

The Nightmare General eventually began retreating. It tried to move toward the Nightmare army.

Edgar understood what it was attempting to do. "Don’t let it escape."

The Commanders immediately surrounded the General. Edgar gathered Solar Energy into his right hand.

Golden light illuminated the battlefield. The Nightmare General’s single eye widened.

Edgar punched forward.

BOOM!

The Solar Energy exploded through the creature’s body. The General’s body was thrown backward, crashing into the ground.

Before it could rise again, several Soul Guardians attacked simultaneously.

The Nightmare General’s body was torn apart.

The strange black objects surrounding it fell to the ground one after another.

Then everything became silent.

Edgar slowly lowered his hand. Two generals had fallen.

The Nightmare army had lost a huge portion of its strength yet something was wrong.

The Nightmares weren’t retreating but were still attacking.

Edgar looked toward the rear of the battlefield.

The golden-skinned man was still sitting on his carriage. The Nightmare King hadn’t moved.

He had watched both of his generals die without showing the slightest reaction.

Edgar’s expression became serious. ’What is he waiting for?’

The answer came moments later as the Nightmare King slowly stood.

The four Giants carrying his carriage immediately stopped moving.

The battlefield seemed to become strangely quiet despite the thousands of creatures still fighting around them.

The King stepped down from the carriage.

His feet touched the ground.

BOOM.

A powerful pressure suddenly spread across the battlefield.

Nightmares and Soul Guardians alike were forced to stop for a brief moment.

Edgar’s body became tense.

The pressure wasn’t simply intimidating.

It was physical.

It pressed against his body and made the ground beneath his feet crack.

The Nightmare King looked toward the corpse of his first general.

Then he looked toward the second.

There was still no anger on his face.

Instead, he looked almost disappointed.

"So they died."

His voice was calm enough that Edgar almost couldn’t hear him through the battlefield.

The King slowly looked toward Edgar. "You are stronger than I expected."

Edgar stared at him. "And you’re finally fighting?"

The Nightmare King tilted his head slightly.

"I was waiting."

"For what?"

"For something interesting."

Edgar’s expression hardened.

The King took another step forward.

The ground cracked beneath his feet. "I have heard many things about you."

Edgar didn’t answer.

The Nightmare King looked toward the Fortress.

"You built all of this."

His golden eyes moved across the walls, the towers, and the countless Soul Guardians.

"You gathered these creatures and made them your soldiers."

He looked back at Edgar. "Interesting."

Edgar raised his hand and the Soul Network immediately responded.

Every remaining Commander began moving toward him.

The Headless Commander rode across the battlefield. The Gorilla Commander charged through the Nightmares.

The Nightmare Giant roared as it approached.

Other Commanders gathered around Edgar as well.

The King looked at them and all he did was just smile faintly.

"All of them?"

Edgar’s eyes narrowed. "You wanted something interesting."

The Nightmare King rolled his shoulders.

"Then come."

Edgar immediately charged.

BOOM!

Edgar’s body shot forward like a golden streak.

The Nightmare King didn’t move.

Edgar’s fist was already in front of his face when the King finally raised one hand and caught it.

The impact created a powerful shockwave that swept across the battlefield, sending several Nightmares tumbling through the dirt.

Edgar’s eyes widened slightly.

The Nightmare King’s hand hadn’t even moved.

He had simply stopped the attack.

"You are strong," the King said calmly.

Edgar immediately pulled his fist back and swung with his other hand.

The King tilted his head, allowing the punch to pass beside his face.

Edgar followed with a kick.

The King blocked it with his forearm.

BOOM!

The force pushed him backward several metres, leaving deep marks in the ground beneath his feet.

For the first time, the Nightmare King’s expression changed.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Much better."

Edgar didn’t give him a chance to speak again.

Solar Energy erupted from his body as he charged forward.

His golden aura illuminated the battlefield, and the Commanders followed behind him.

The Headless Commander arrived first.

Its skeletal horse charged toward the King while its sword descended from above.

CLANG!

The Nightmare King raised one hand and caught the blade.

The Headless Commander immediately pulled the sword back, but the King grabbed the horse’s neck with his other hand and threw both rider and mount across the battlefield.

The Gorilla Commander attacked from behind.