I Am Establishing a Safe Zone in the Nightmare World

Chapter 98: Chapter 93: Wielding an Excellence Level Curse Object, I’m Invincible

Shi An returned to his rented apartment.

The journey back was as peaceful as ever. No oddities, no Nightmares—the city’s prosperity was not just an illusion.

”The Countermeasures Bureau’s operation was really effective. The number of Nightmare invasions today was significantly lower than yesterday or the day before.”

Shi An murmured to himself.

Normally, this wasn’t something ’ordinary employees’ like them would know, but not only was Li Hao well-informed, Old Song also had plenty of information channels.

With the major operation succeeding, and a celebration banquet to boot, everyone’s spirits were high.

However, only Shi An knew that the crisis was far from over.

The Countermeasures Bureau’s actions were effective.

But if Baijiang City were a massive ship slowly taking on water, then the recent operation was merely an attempt to bail some of it out.

At best, it treated the symptoms, not the root cause.

How could they treat the root cause? Shi An didn’t know either.

All he could do was improve his own strength and, through the Safe Zone, raise the overall level of the Dream Descenders in Baijiang.

At least with power, they would have the right to fight back when a real solution was found.

’The Safe Zone’s upgrade will take sixteen hours. It’s not time yet.’

Shi An wondered what he should do now.

The news was too fake to watch.

As for reading novels, there weren’t many in this world.

Besides, Baijiang City was down to a local area network, and everything outside the city was a woven Nightmare.

After a moment’s thought, Shi An took out his recent spoils of war—the Excellence Level Curse Object, the ’Mask of Night Shadow’.

A black mask that looked ordinary at first glance appeared in his hand.

It looked ordinary because the Curse Object had already been contained, and what appeared in his hand was merely its physical shell.

If it were a true Excellence Level Curse Object, its mere existence would radiate an incredibly terrifying Curse Power, a chilling cold, and a sense of foreboding.

When this Curse Object first manifested last night, he had almost been unable to hold it steady.

But now...

With a thought from Shi An, the shadow in the corner spread out like tentacles, affectionately twining around his hand.

...

Yesterday, after Shi An had collected his reward, the Dream Descenders were still continuously clearing Nightmares, so his Safe Zone couldn’t be upgraded immediately.

So he had gone to Training Room No. 1 to study the Curse Object he had just acquired.

’According to the description, the Mask of Night Shadow has two main effects: one is manipulating shadows, and the other is creating a body of energy.’

This Curse Object was difficult to use directly.

Shi An figured it needed Curse Power to be activated, making the Refining Stage, where one gains Curse Power, the minimum requirement.

’There are probably many other hidden requirements. Maybe only a Transcendent above the Refining Stage could unleash the true power of the Night Shadow Mask.’

But as Manager Shi, he couldn’t be bothered with all those fancy details.

’Power of Containment, let me see your limits.’

The moment he contained it, Shi An instinctively understood how to use this Curse Object.

His perception instantly spread out.

Everywhere there was a shadow became one of his feelers. Even with his eyes closed, he had a clear view of every corner.

’Amazing, truly amazing!’

’So this is an Excellence Level Curse Object?’

He hadn’t even truly used it yet; he had merely ’equipped’ the Curse Object and was enjoying some of its passive effects.

’Wait, is the difference between an Excellence and a Rare Curse Object the addition of this kind of ”passive”?’

’After all, ”passives” and ”Traits” are Abilities that only Transcendents possess.’

Shi An didn’t know for sure.

He had never met a Transcendent, and his knowledge of the Extraordinary was not even comprehensive.

He began to try activating the Curse Object’s power.

”SNAP~!”

With a snap of his fingers, the surrounding shadows came to life.

Behind him, his own shadow rapidly stretched, turning from two-dimensional to three-dimensional. A sharp Shadow Spike shot out with a WHOOSH, whistling as it cut through the air.

”THWACK—!”

A piece of hardwood he had picked up from the Nightmare World to use as a target, set a short distance away, was instantly pierced by the shadow, sending wood splinters flying.

Even Shi An was startled.

’To think, I only activated the Curse Object. I didn’t use any Curse Arts at all!’

’By manipulating shadows, I can freely shape them into any form—spikes, ropes, or even a mire.’

Shi An knew that it was thanks to the Power of Containment that he had instantly skipped the long development process and jumped straight to the proficient stage.

But even at full mastery...

Compared to the power of the Night Shadow Mask, even a Rare Curse Object like the Invisible Corridor seemed like a mere Trick.

’So, what about the power to create a body of energy?’

He focused his thoughts.

His shadow spread, and one after another, pitch-black, humanoid shadow monsters emerged from it.

These shadows had no consciousness of their own; they had to be given commands by him.

But none of them were weak.

’Their speed and strength far exceed that of ordinary people, and I can even form shields and swords for them. At this rate, just a few Shadow Soldiers would probably be enough to contend with an oddity.’

And this was just him scratching the surface.

Shi An began his secluded training in the training room.

Familiarize himself with this Curse Object! Develop this Curse Object!

And comprehend the Curse Art Skills of this Curse Object!

’Night Shadow Mask, let me see your limits!’

...

Back in his rented apartment, Shi An recalled the events.

During that golden six-hour window when the Dream Descenders were clearing Nightmares, Shi An had also created—or rather, comprehended—two Curse Arts based on the Night Shadow Mask.

Shadow Incarnation

Shadow Blade

The latter built upon the previous ability to shape shadows, but added rearranging, consolidating, sharpening, and hardening them!

In reality, it was less that Shi An had created a new Curse Art and more that he had comprehended a power that already existed within the Curse Object.

Shadow Blade was simple, brutal, and powerful.

As for ’Shadow Incarnation’...

Shi An focused, his expression turning serious and concentrated.

A vast amount of Curse Power surged out from the containment box, flowed into his body, and was then transformed into a mystical power that manifested in reality.

One second!

Two seconds!

Ten seconds!

Just as Shi An felt like his body was about to burst from the Curse Power, it seemed the Mask of Night Shadow still had far more than half of its Curse Power remaining. The reserves of an Excellence Level Curse Object were immense, more than ten times that of a Rare Curse Object!

The Curse Power churned.

Curse Power and stamina flowed out of him like a flood from an open dam.

In the blink of an eye, a figure, pitch-black from head to toe, appeared before the completely drained Shi An.

At first glance, it looked no different from a Shadow Soldier, but with a thought, Shi An’s perspective shifted to the pitch-black figure.

This was the ’Shadow Incarnation’!

A body made of pure energy.

The Shadow Incarnation could use all the abilities of the Night Shadow Mask. The incarnation needed to be controlled by Shi An himself, but its consciousness was linked to his main body.

Even though it was just a body of energy, the Shadow Incarnation was not fragile.

Its body could be soft or hard—as hard as steel when needed. It had no fatal weaknesses and could freely use Curse Power.

Compared to a human body, this Shadow Incarnation could also merge into shadows.

’Perhaps the Shadow Incarnation’s combat power is weakened in broad daylight, but at night, the strength this incarnation can unleash is far greater than my own body’s.’

And by ”my own body,” he meant himself while wielding the Night Shadow Mask.

Previously, when wielding the Invisible Corridor and one complete Curse Object, Shi An had judged his combat power to be on par with a veteran of the Refining Stage.

Now, wielding an Excellence Curse Object, Shi An found it difficult to gauge his current strength.

But there was one thing he could do now.

’Even if the Shadow Incarnation is destroyed, I can just create a new one the next day.’

’In that case...’

Shi An took out a few pieces of ’Dream Descender’s Fashion’ he had acquired from his own Safe Zone.

A tight-fitting night suit, a black robe over it, and a mask.

Perfect.

Ever since he learned that Baijiang City was trapped in a Nightmare, Shi An had entertained the idea of going to the city’s edge to take a look.

But he couldn’t actually go himself.

Even with the Nether Robe’s protection, he didn’t want to run around recklessly.

His previous idea was to let the Nether Robe float out and scout the situation.

But there were risks to the Nether Robe going alone.

He had to ’go himself,’ so to speak.

...

The night was deep.

Shi An lay on his bed, trying to avoid bumping into things at home due to his inexperience with multitasking.

Meanwhile, in an unnoticed corner, a shadow was already darting rapidly through the night, like a fish in water.

Fast!

Very fast!

Shi An controlled the shadow, making it speed along the corners of walls.

Only when it was about three or four kilometers away from his apartment did the shadow emerge from a secluded alleyway and take the form of a black-robed figure.

Shi An clenched his fists.

He raised his head.

Between the two buildings was a night sky as fluid as water.

The next moment, his perspective flipped, and he was already on a rooftop.

He stood at the edge of the roof, his black robe whipping in the wind.

Shi An was, after all, just a young man.

What young man, upon gaining Extraordinary Power, wouldn’t want to show off a little? But he couldn’t; he had to restrain himself as much as possible.

Now, with the help of this manifested Shadow Incarnation, Shi An had no more worries holding him back.

As if freed from a cage, Shi An felt an urge to throw his head back and laugh.

He still managed to hold it in.

He simply spread his arms and leaped joyfully between buildings, in a shadowy form that no one could see under the cover of night.

He chased the streams of traffic on the roads below.

He raced against the moonlight.

He moved silently and swiftly.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

As he moved away from the main urban area, the surroundings gradually grew quieter.

He passed a small mountain within the city, the chirping of insects a low whisper among the trees. Shi An went straight through the mountain and landed on the national highway leading out of the city.

Instantly, everything became even more silent.

A few of the streetlights on the highway were broken; only a scattered few still flickered.

In the distance, in the direction leading out of the city, hung a ”No Entry” sign. A series of roadblocks had sealed off the road.

There were no vehicles here.

This was because the very concept of ’leaving the city’ didn’t exist in most people’s minds.

Shi An floated through the roadblocks. He rode on a shadow, shaping it into a skateboard, and sped down the road at eighty kilometers per hour.

The wind whistled past his cheeks.

Unfortunately, the energy body had no sense of touch.

Shi An felt a pang of regret that he couldn’t fully enjoy this rare experience.

Suddenly,

His expression sharpened.

Under the night sky, his vision was obstructed.

But he wielded the power of shadow, so the darkness was an aid, not a hindrance. He could see far into the distance, to the end of the road, to the other side of the rolling mountains...

An endless gray fog.

The enemy.