Niti, Mathew, and Bjorn were surprised to hear the Nightmare King, someone with such a horrendously savage aura, speak with such a cheerful tone. In their minds, one of the supreme powerhouses of a hellscape like the Nightmare Inferno Realm had to be a sadistic monster.
The Nightmare King saw the confusion in the trio's eyes and only shock his head before showing a calm smile.
"Brats, while it is true that in its inception that the Nightmare Inferno Realm was a place of absolute cruelty and savagery, things have changed over the years. I will acknowledge that there are still lawless areas where thousands perish every day, but at least my domain is ruled by laws that are not that different from those in most worlds of the old Prima Universe.
Most Nightmare Kings see things like me, with their territories establishing a certain degree of order. Of course, the laws of the jungle still reign supreme, but billions live in it by their own choice. Some may be evil, but the vast majority only found the Daybreak Universe unsuitable for their cultivation paths and chose to live in danger, all for rising beyond their limits."
The Nightmare King's smile widened as he saw the trio hearing his words with an open mind. He looked at the surroundings and took a deep breath as an expression of utter relaxation appeared on his face.
"I enjoy these little trips to the Daybreak Universe, as I can relax knowing there is no danger to my life whatsoever. However, while it is great for a short period, being here too long affects my battle drive and weakens my instincts.
From my youth, I fought every day, never knowing peace until I took revenge on those who wronged me, and even then, it did not last for long as a new goal soon presented itself. If I were to live in the Daybreak Universe, I would know endless peace, but that would not fulfill me.
I aim for the peak of the universe, to raise my bloodline beyond the power of the laws, developing it to the point it could match the mighty Lords of Emptiness!"
Shock appeared in the eyes of the trio when they heard the grandiose goal of the Nightmare King. Noah remained silent but did not hide his admiration while Sirik's eyes burned with resolution.
"Is something like that even possible?" Mathew asked that question as silver flames emerged in his eyes. He was not doubting the Nightmare King's determination or looking down on this one.
It was just that raising your bloodline to the level of the Lord of Emptiness was an incredibly challenging goal.
"My entire cultivation path revolved around my bloodline. As long as I rise to the Fourth Realm, my lineage will also do it, granting me the honor of becoming the second life form ever to originate a Tier 0 Bloodline. A feat only the Samsara Thearch has achieved!"
The Nightmare King's eyes began to glow with silver light as his willpower burst with might. He knew how hard the path he chose was but was willing to take it head-on.
"I knew you looked familiar. It is a great honor to be in the presence of one of the Great Heroes of Dawn."
Noah spoke with a smile and clasped his hands before performing a deep bow.
Niti, Mathew, and Bjorn were surprised that Noah called the Nightmare King a Great Hero of Dawn. Still, the first thing they did was immediately adopt a respectful stance and bow.
The Great Heroes of Dawn was a title given to the mightiest warriors of the Prima Universe that fought valiantly against Endless Darkness, giving enough time to Samsara Thearch to return and kill their eternal foe.
No one in the Daybreak Universe would dare to disrespect those mighty legends. It was their bravery that saved the multiverse.
Niti, Mathew, and Bjorn were surprised to learn that one of the greatest heroes that their elders spoke with so much devotion was a dreadful Nightmare King. These past experiences showed the trio that their understanding of the world was too shallow and was something they needed to fix.
Although they wanted to ask which of the Great Heroes of Dawn was the Nightmare King, their previous attitude ashamed them, and they were too embarrassed to ask.
The Nightmare King could guess the thoughts in the trio's mind and only laughed. He was too old and experienced too much to hold a grudge against some brats.
"I am Roku, the Astral Fiend Primogenitor."
Niti, Mathew, and Bjorn's eyes glowed with enlightenment as they remembered the tale of one of the great geniuses born of the Magi World and who fought side by side with the Samsara Thearch and the Emptiness Thearch during the Oblivion of Gods.
"Lord Roku, since you have such an impressive background and know the Emptiness Thearch, I wonder if you could shed light on a rumor I heard," Niti spoke softly. There was a burning question in her mind, and if there were someone that could answer it, that would be the Nightmare King.
"If I can help you, I will, little girl." Roku was in a good mood, so he nodded to the Fallen, giving her permission to ask the question.
"It is true that the Thearchs and Sacred Kings organized the First Samsara Tournament to celebrate the awakening of the Samsara Thearch!?" Niti almost shouted as she made that question, and the same burning curiosity appeared in Bjorn and Mathew.
Roku saw the excitement in the trio but shook his head.
"Not even the Emptiness Thearch or Revenge Thearch are aware of when the Lord of All Existence will awake. I heard it wouldn't be that long, but that could easily mean another fifty thousand years." Roku saw the downcast expression of the trio, and an amusing expression appeared on his face as he carried on.
"The tournament is to celebrate the coming of age of the Samsara Lord's second son. He spent more than sixty thousand years in his mother's womb and another five thousand years before opening his eyes after his birth.
Now that he is grown, the Thearchs and Sacred Kings organize the tournament to show him to the world."
It was a fact that powerful life forms needed a long gestation period, but the trio was still surprised to hear that someone would need sixty-five thousand years.
However, that shock was nothing compared with what they felt as Roku focused on Noah and spoke again.
"You really resemble your father."
