I step through the portal to Dreamtale, closing it behind me. I am met by a wave of negativity. I stand still for a moment at the onslaught. The sky is a blood red. What once was grass, was rotting and dead. I could see what I think is the ruins of buildings in the distance. I get out my goggles and put them on. I almost regretted being able to see everything more clearly. But, I could make out a hill past the ruins. I start walking there. As I make my way closer I could not only smell, but feel the death and decay. It reminded me of the aura on my locket. It was almost comforting. I soon start to see rotting pieces of corpses strewed about. As I make my way through, I realize I shouldn't be so calm about this. But, it's like I'm numb to it all.

  Actually, I don't remember really feeling much of any negative emotion in a while other than some panic when I was going to be touched or a little bit regretful at leaving Outer. How long has it been since I really felt sad or angry? Lonely or disgusted? I know I did early on, but I just stopped after a while. I was always trying to be positive and ignore my negative feelings, but I know that isn't healthy. I really didn't have a choice though all things considered. I would have probably committed suicide a long time ago if I hadn't. I'm probably depressed, but in my journal it said as a human, I usually didn't notice it until I was already suicidal. I wasn't very good with identifying my own emotions. I think it said it was because of having Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I know that I learned phycology, so I didn't need to see anyone else for any mental issues I had. But, I never got a proper evaluation. I might have to check to seeing if I can get one at some point. I don't think my imprisonment helped my mental health status.

  I finally make my way past the ruined village, to the base of the hill. I see there are even more corpses over here than in the ruins. I carefully step past them to a stone statue and the remnents of a tree. The tree seemed to have been violently torn down and was dead. I look to the statue. It was a small skeleton child with a look of sadness on its face. It was wearing a cape, gloves, a tunic, and pants. A crown rested on their skull. It seemed to be sitting on the ground looking up. The most peculiar things about it are the golden yellow tears flowing from the sides of the closed eyesockets and the aura of positivity coming from it. This was most likely Dream Sans.

  I'm not sure how long it's been since this happened, but it couldn't have been too long considering the state of the corpses and plants. Maybe a few weeks at most. Nightmare might still be destroying the rest of the Au. I pull up the code to make sure. Yup, he hasn't left yet. It might be too late to save this place, but I could still save Nightmare. It says he's currently being possessed by a spirit. My magic use is definitely out of practice, but I should still be able to do what I have planned. I don't need to get rid of all his corruption, just the evil spirit. I begin my work. I grab a stray branch and begin carving runes into the earth, while infusing them with magic. I was doing a poor man's devil circle. Usually you used blessed salt, but I didn't have the time to make or get that. I just infused it with pure patience magic. It doesn't last as long but it held stronger. Patience magic is used for purification and exorcisms by the old mages. Even normal humans with patience traits have an affinity for it. It was often found in priests and shaman. Just as I finished, I felt a rise in negativity. He's here.

  The atmosphere was becoming suffocating, but I stood strong. If I made it through my time in the white void, I could handle this. I could see flashes of death and destruction of past. Hear the cries for mercy and help. I felt my glitches start reacting to my distress. "Well. Well. Well. What do we have here? A strange black skeleton and a poor excuse for a devil trap. You'll have to do better than that to trap me. I already broke through seven of them, that's not going to hold me. The others learned that lesson with their lives. And, all that suppressed negativity! Mmm, absolutely delicious. I wonder how I hadn't felt it before." A skeleton covered in black ooze says, appearing from the shadows. It could only be a corrupted Nightmare.

  "I WoN't Be ThAt EaSy To KiLl. I'm A LiTtLe ToO DETERMINED FoR ThAt. I WoN't LeT YoU CoNtInUe YoUr SeNsElEsS SlAuGhTeR. NeGaTiViTy Or No." I say to them. My voice was becoming very glitched.

  "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! You can barely keep your composure in my presence! How do you expect to handle fighting me in your condition!" Nightmare says amused. I smirk.

  I lift my hand and and use my magic to telekinetically grab them. Before they can even react, I throw them into the trap. I don't even hesitate and start to flood it with purification magic. The corrupted being begins a terrible screeching. Their black corruption starts to bubble and run down their body. I activate my judgement ability. My left eye burns with flames of yellow and cyan magic. One of the abilities of judgement allows me to look closer at souls. I grab their soul and forcefully pull it out. I hear a harsh gasp, then they continue screaming even louder. Their soul was in the shape of an apple, but it was dripping in the thick black liquid. I start to walk closer to the trap until I'm right outside the edge. Here comes the dangerous part. I quickly step inside.

  The reaction is instant. Corruption lunges at me. I instinctually dodge to the side and they crash into the magic barrier of the edge. I tie them up in my magic strings, then quickly take the soul into my hands and pump it with patience magic. I didn't think it was possible, but the shrieking got even louder. The corruption start to run down the soul or retreat inside. That wasn't important though. I quickly pull something out of my inventory while they're distracted. It's a small metal cage. I flip the
small door open with my left thumb. I look back at the soul and take my right thumb and pointer finger and push it into the soul. I could hear the being thrashing on the ground. Corruption sent a tendril at me and it went through my ribs painfully. I groan, ignoring it and quickly grab what I was reaching for. I pull it out. They slumped on the ground and the tendril melted, but the screeching took on a more echoy tone. I see a whispy being of cyan and black in my grasp trying to pull away. I hold on stronger. I then forcefully shove it into the cage and shut the door. I close a latch on the side and lock it. "FuCk My LiFe." I gasp and fall on my back.

  Now that I wasn't busy I notice my ribs were in serious pain and dripping what I assume is my magic and some of the corruption. I have probably broken them in that last hit. I was positively drained from everything. It's one thing to remove an evil spirit from a normal person. It's a completely different one from a fricken' guardian pumped up with all the negativity of the multiverse. I'm lucky I caught them off guard or it would have been even harder. Their ego was their downfall.

  Everything was starting to look and feel fuzzy. I was losing too much magic. I doubt I'd die, but I'll probably pass out soon. I can't move right now let alone conjure up the green magic to heal myself. I hear groaning coming from my side. Looks like someone is waking up. I can see darkness creeping around the edge of my vision. As I start to pass out I feel a familiar presence approaching. A tall dark outline stands over me. Just as I'm falling under I hear the words, "Finally found you." And then all I know is darkness.