Chapter 2: Eternal Night System
[Condition Met: You have gathered two Nightmare Stones.]
[The Eternal Night System has been activated.]
The heat that had surged from touching the nightmare stones subsided.
Edgar kept on staring at the blue panel that had a lot of information.
[Using the system, you can upgrade, craft, and strengthen various buildings within your domain by consuming nightmare stones.]
[Current buildings within the domain:]
[Level 1 Unbroken Fire Fortress: 10-meter safe radius, 10 nightmare stones required for upgrade.]
[Four normal buildings and one special building can be built right now.]
[Level 1 Beast Trap: Can deal certain damage to low-level Nightmares. 2 nightmare stones required for crafting.]
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𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Edgar couldn’t hold back his happiness when he read the details.
His system was definitely the best for his current situation!
He subconsciously drew in deep breaths to calm himself down.
’Alright, I still need to strengthen myself in order to survive.’
Edgar gripped the two nightmare stones in his hand and thought grimly.
’Right now, my biggest problem is collecting nightmare stones.’
If he didn’t earn more stones he would definitely die.
And if he used the current nightmare stones to upgrade the place, he would be risking his life.
’Huff....One step at a time.’
He drew in a deep breath and quickly looked around the place.
The old man Oswald had already placed the nightmare stone in the unbroken fire and ignited it.
At the same time, the sky cleared up and the dull grey-black fog disappeared.
Sounds of howling and growling began to fill the barren land as the Eternal Night engulfed everything.
Edgar looked up at the sky which was now filled with stars, illuminating the place.
The unbroken fire kept them safe but only within a ten metre range.
Edgar quickly sensed multiple presences arrive around the fortress.
’They’ were watching from the shadows, ready to kill them as soon as the fire died.
Edgar drew in a deep breath and thought. ’As dangerous as it is, it’s also an opportunity for me.’
Under the watchful eyes of butler Oswald and the Nightmares, he began to move.
From the previous Edgar’s memories, he could confirm that this world was still in the bronze era or atleast the Atreus Clan and those who surrounded them were.
There weren’t many powerful weapons and there were no firearms.
Edgar quickly grabbed a piece of leather and made two holes in it.
He put ropes made of goat intestine through them and made a loop.
Getting inspiration from the trebuchet that had destroyed his parents’ resting place, he made a simple sling.
’Alright, I only need a few nightmare stones.’
Edgar thought, resting a rock on the leather part of the sling.
He looked at the darkness and swung the sling in his hand.
’Please, I only need a few lucky shots.’
Edgar prayed desperately before he snapped the sling.
The rock flew into the darkness like a projectile but didn’t hit anything.
Edgar wasn’t dispirited in any way, grabbing another rock and he tried again.
Still there was nothing.
Only when the fifth round was shot a miserable cry echoed.
In the direction where he had thrown the rock, a glowing stone appeared.
’Nightmare stone!!’ A beaming smile appeared on his face.
Getting a boost in confidence and dopamine from hunting, Edgar continued.
After throwing almost fifteen shots, he had killed two Nightmares.
Oswald, who was sitting close to the fire, praised him. "It’s really a smart way to kill low-level Nightmares, young master!"
’Low-level....’
Edgar’s lips twitched. Shaking off the feeling, he grabbed a long stick.
He didn’t dare walking in the Eternal Night outside the safe zone.
Using the stick, he dragged the two nightmare stones close to him.
Smiling, he picked up the two stones and sat close to the fire along with Oswald.
"You have done great, my lord." Oswald said earnestly. "With this we can live two more days..."
His words gradually turned quieter when the two nightmare stones in Edgar’s hand began to melt.
Without hesitating, Edgar used the two stones to craft a [Beast Trap]!
Oswald the butler stared in disbelief as the two nightmare stones in Edgar’s palm suddenly dissolved.
They melted at an alarming speed, turning into a thick milky-white fluid that slipped through the gaps between his fingers.
Yet before a single drop could touch the floor, the liquid twisted into dozens of pale, ghostly threads suspended in the air.
The threads moved strangely, weaving together layer by layer as they slowly hardened into shape.
Only a few moments passed.
Then, with a heavy clang, a steel beast trap fell onto the ground.
Edgar grinned and began to check the trap, which was enough to farm low-level Nightmares.
"A source of income."
He observed the simple looking beast trap and couldn’t help but praise his golden finger inwardly.
He drew in a deep breath and walked to the edge of the circle, sliding the beast trap out into the open.
’I really hope to earn something when I wake up.’
Edgar happily returned to the unbroken fire where Oswald had finally come out of shock.
"Young master...y-you are an Aberrant."
His voice was filled with disbelief and happiness.
"You are even the rarest of them all! A Builder!!"
With his ecstasy getting the best of him, he quickly stood up and knelt in front of Edgar.
"Young master! If we go back to the clan, you can have everything back!"
He said, his voice dreamy like he could already see Edgar ruling the clan.
"Once they know you are a Builder, they will throw Albert away!"
A Builder was someone who was the core of any clan.
If a clan had one, they would most definitely reach the top in no time.
It was the Builder who created the unbroken fire and fortresses.
Looking at Oswald’s face, Edgar thought for a second.
But in the end, he shook his head. "I will not return home, uncle."
Oswald’s expression froze as he looked at him with pain in his eyes. "B-but why?"
"It’s not my clan." He replied firmly. "They have abandoned me and so have I abandoned them."
Edgar also felt he didn’t need the help of the clan.
With his Eternal Night system, there was nothing that could stop him.
And being a transmigrator, Edgar didn’t have a shred of belonging with the Atreus Clan.
Edgar looked at Oswald and asked curiously. "Uncle Oswald, can you explain what an Aberrant is?"