_Clang! Clang! Clang!
I phased through the hall, dodging the rain of blades as I pushed through the horde of hollows,
those who had long forgotten the elegance of earlier and now moved like rabid beasts.
_Whirr!
A man lunged from the crowd, swinging the blood-slick blade in his trembling hand.
I ducked, sliding across the marble floor, only for a woman's heel to come flying from above.
I rolled aside, leaped into the air, and kicked her mid-spin, sending her crashing to the ground.
'I can't use mana!'
I reported to Orran. For some reason, I was unable to use mana or access my subspace.
[The theme of this dream was party, not action. You have to deal with it.]
I sidestepped, dodging another blade as I grabbed the attacker's wrist and used his momentum to throw him forward.
I didn't have time to check where he landed as another blade came from the other side.
I twisted my wrist, grabbed the attacker's elbow, and drove my knee into his ribs.
_Crack!
A sickening crack echoed as he flew backward, smashing into a marble pillar.
"AHHH!"
Another hollow screamed, its voice distorted like a broken record.
It swung wildly, no rhythm, no grace, only madness.
I sidestepped, feeling the wind of its blade brush past my neck, then slammed my palm into its chest and flipped it over my shoulder.
_Thud!
The body crashed to the ground with a hollow thump.
_Clang!
Again, multiple swords rained down from above,
But this time I was a bit slow to react.
I jumped, trying to get out of the attack zone, but one of the blades cut through my sleeve,
sending a trail of blood across the floor.
The blades fell and impaled the hollow I had thrown earlier.
I didn't pay it much attention and broke into a sprint again.
My target?
The silent girl at the far end of the hall.
A flash of green caught my eye.
Grace moved through the chaos barefoot. At some point, she had abandoned her heels and ripped her dress, revealing her long, slender legs.
One hollow lunged at her; she ducked under the blade, grabbed its arm, and twisted until bone snapped.
_Crack!
Without missing a beat, she used the limp body as a shield against another attacker.
Blood splattered across her face. She didn't even flinch.
I focused back on Melissa.
Aside from her introduction, she hadn't said a single word since.
She continued to stand there with her creepy smile, head bowed.
I dodged another blade as I jumped through the back of the attack.
_Crack!
Kicking the person standing next straight in the ribs.
I didn't stop my momentum and continued my charge.
_♪TIII!! ♪
The violin's shrill laugh twisted through the air, notes rising to a manic pitch.
Every hollow froze for an instant, then jerked violently, their limbs snapping back into motion like marionettes,
all of them running toward me, blocking my path.
_Thud!
Suddenly, a body came flying from the side, crashing into the horde ahead.
After the body came a kick,
Grace spun, her skirt flaring out as she kicked a hollow square in the throat.
It stumbled back, choking soundlessly before collapsing.
One came from behind; I spun, caught its wrist, and wrenched the arm until it tore off.
Another leaped for Grace, and she met it midair with a kick that sent it crashing into the chandelier above.
"GO! I'LL HOLD THEM OFF!!" Grace yelled.
_Thud!
I grabbed one of the hollows by the collar and slammed it into the floor.
Then I leaped past Grace without saying a single word.
She kicked the hollow chasing behind me and sent it crashing into others.
'She won't be able to hold for long.'
I needed to finish it quickly.
I looked forward; I was very close to Melissa now,
but she was still surrounded by a lot of hollows.
I glanced toward the other corner; a smirk appeared on my lips.
'Guess it works.'
"AHHH!"
The hollow in front of me shrieked as it charged.
I dodged its punch and moved past it.
A kick came from the side,
but this time I didn't dodge.
Instead, I raised both arms and let it hit, jumping slightly to add momentum.
The punch sent me flying… straight toward the violinist,
right where I wanted to be.
I twisted midair and landed perfectly on the ground near him.
_♪TIII!! TAAAA♪
The violinist, sensing danger, quickly played the violin.
_Clang!
Multiple swords came flying from above as I dodged left and right, steadily making my way toward him.
Steel screamed through the air, cutting down anything that moved.
I dove beneath a swinging arm, rolled across the floor, and came up just a few feet from the stage.
_♪TIII!! TAAAA♪
The violinist's bow moved in a blur, each stroke of the strings sending more blades crashing from the ceiling like a storm of death.
I darted forward, zigzagging between falling swords, each impact exploding shards of marble beneath my feet.
_Clang!
One blade struck beside me, nicking my shoulder as I slid under the next barrage.
_♪TIII!! TAAAA-LAAA!♪
The violinist's head twitched unnaturally, its smile widening as another note shrieked from the strings.
The floor rippled beneath me, twisting like liquid gold as more hollows clawed their way out, dancing in broken motion.
But I didn't stop.
I kicked one back, grabbed its sword midair, and hurled it straight at the stage.
_SNAP!
The blade hit the violin mid-note,
And the music stuttered.
The entire hall trembled, chandeliers flickering as shadows warped and melted away from the walls.
I leaped, dodging the hollows and landing exactly near the violinist.
"AHHHHH—"
_THUD!
It tried to shriek, but I quickly grasped its mouth and slammed its face into the floor.
_Thud!
"Your grin's been pissing me off since the start," I hissed, slamming its head again.
_Thud!
"And you're playing..." I lifted it by the collar and smashed its face down once more. "...sounds like shit!"
The violinist twitched, the smile finally breaking, black mist leaking from the fissures in its face as its body spasmed beneath my grip.
_Thud! Thud! Thud!
Each hit echoed louder, the marble cracking deeper beneath us. The once-beautiful floor turned into a crater of black something.
"You think this is music?" I snarled.
_Thud!
"Then listen to this!"
_Thud!
A final blow drove the creature's head deep into the floor until its body went limp,
the broken violin beside it letting out a pitiful string's whine, a dying note swallowed by silence.
My breath came in short bursts.
'This feels satisfying.'
The other hollows froze, their heads twitching toward me in eerie unison.
_Thud!
Then they all fell one by one to the ground like puppets whose strings were cut off.
I looked around. The only ones still standing were me, Grace, the old butler, and…
Melissa.
I steadied my breathing and moved toward her.
'Let's end this.'
_Shatter!
I froze at the sudden sound of glass breaking.
A red-haired knight stepped through the shattered window.
"I... I need... to wake them all."
"Sir Ewan!" Grace exclaimed, running toward the knight.
"Wait—!"
I tried to warn her, but the knight suddenly raised his sword.
"I... need to... wake..."
'Ah, shit.'