> "Is there any way for players to learn abilities more quickly?"
Evan Walker posed the question, staring thoughtfully at the swirling mist beside him.
The **Nightmare Lord** went silent for a moment—then exploded.
> "What?! You want to let those ants *gain powers*?! Do you have any idea how much Nightmare Power that costs, you fool?!"
> "Wait—what?" Evan blinked.
> "It costs *that much* Nightmare Power to let someone learn a skill in the Nightmare Realm? But... isn't this a dream world *we* created?"
The Nightmare Lord went quiet again.
> "...Are you referring strictly to the Nightmare Realm? Not the real world?"
> "Of course," Evan replied. "Learning to use powers while inside a game-like dream world is perfectly normal. That's how it works in most games."
Then he paused, realizing something.
> "You really *don't* understand video games at all, huh?"
The Nightmare Lord grumbled.
> "Depending on the impact the power has on the Nightmare World system, the Nightmare Power cost varies. But... for small things? It's negligible."
> "Example?"
> "Say... if you wanted Otilia to learn how to use a hand crossbow. That would cost *less than one* point of Nightmare Power."
> "Wait—*less than one*? That's all?!" Evan was shocked.
> "Then why did you freak out just now...?"
Then realization dawned.
> "Wait… you were talking about the *real world*, weren't you?"
The Nightmare Lord snorted proudly.
> "Hmph. Why are you so surprised? I am the **Master of Nightmares**. If I choose to bestow power—*in the waking world*—then so be it!"
> "Ahhh… I get it now."
> "Back then," the Nightmare Lord continued smugly, "I imitated several minor gods, founded the 'Cult of Nightmare,' and raised millions of devoted believers!"
Evan narrowed his eyes.
> "...Sounds more like a Nightmare X Cult. What happened, did those millions of 'believers' become millions of snacks?"
The Nightmare Lord grinned darkly.
> "You could... phrase it that way."
> "You're not even denying it..."
Evan sighed.
> "Fine, but what kind of power could you bestow to these so-called followers?"
> "Magic. Martial arts. Forbidden knowledge. Dreams made manifest. Anything they could imagine!"
> "That much? You mean it's not just illusion magic or subconscious suggestion?"
> "There is *nothing* the power of nightmares cannot accomplish!" the Nightmare Lord boasted proudly.
Evan's expression shifted slightly. He had clearly underestimated the depth of the Nightmare Lord's influence—and the reach of his power.
> "So... if I wanted to give a real human access to Nightmare Power in the physical world, how would that be done?"
> "Through the **Mark of Nightmare**," the Nightmare Lord stated.
> "Nightmare Mark?"
The Nightmare Lord let out his signature eerie chuckle.
> "Yes—a special spiritual mark of my own invention. It fuses nightmare essence, soul runes, and spiritual bonds.
I grant it to my most 'devoted believers.' The ones I marked could freely enter and exit the Nightmare Realm, drag other humans into it, and even access limited powers within."
> "The catch?" Evan raised an eyebrow.
> "Simple. The power comes entirely *from* the mark—and *from me*.
Lose the mark, and they lose everything. These foolish humans believed it made them chosen ones—when in reality, they were nothing more than... **high-grade food**."
> "So let me clarify," Evan said flatly.
> "People with the mark can use powers—but the powers come from the Nightmare Mark, not themselves. The source is the mark and its creator. Not the human."
> "Exactly! I can remove those gifts at any time!" the Nightmare Lord cackled. "Foolish humans never realized it until it was far too late!"
> "You... demon," Evan muttered.
Then he tilted his head in curiosity.
> "So, what happened to that Nightmare—ugh—Cult you started?"
> "..."
> "..."
The silence was deafening. Evan stared.
The Nightmare Lord let out an annoyed **huff**, clearly unwilling to answer.
Evan got the picture.
> "Let me guess—your cult got destroyed by rival gods after they found out you were treating your worshippers like livestock."
Still, the Nightmare Lord said nothing.
Evan decided not to push further. He wasn't likely to get honest answers yet.
He only knew that the Nightmare Lord had existed for **millions of years**—possibly longer—and at the height of his power, he could allegedly destroy *entire worlds*.
> "So… how much Nightmare Power does it take to *grant* a Nightmare Mark?" Evan asked.
> "A basic one—with only pass rights into and out of the Nightmare Realm, and no powers? Around **30 Nightmare Power**," the Nightmare Lord said.
> "That's it? Not bad."
> "But," the Nightmare Lord added darkly, "if you want to add other powers to the mark…"
> "Yeah?"
> "…**10,000** Nightmare Power. *Starting price.*"
> "...Oof." Evan winced. "Okay yeah... we're NOT doing that anytime soon."
They were barely scraping together three-digit gains, let alone pulling those kinds of numbers.
But a *basic* mark, with 30 nightmare power? That was inexpensive—and incredibly versatile. Evan's mind was already whirring.
> "The Nightmare Mark could actually be… really significant in the long run."
Realization dawned quickly—and with it, a surge of excitement.
> "Teach me how to make it," Evan said eagerly.
> "How to forge a Nightmare Mark!"
> "What for?" the Nightmare Lord asked suspiciously.
Evan's eyes gleamed.
> "Oh, just… a **very** useful plan."
> *To be continued…*