The first thing I did after being reborn was to jump off the rooftop of my girlfriend’s apartment and die at her doorstep. Everyone thought I had gone mad, but as I lay there dying, I smiled in satisfaction. The apocalypse was coming in seven days, and anyone who died within this window would transform into a nightmare creature. This time, I would become the King of Nightmares, the most terrifying being of all. Only by doing so could I exact my revenge on Fiona, the treacherous ex-girlfriend who cheated on me and stole my inheritance. She would pay the ultimate price. At midnight, I leapt from the rooftop of Fiona’s apartment. As I fell, a calm smile spread across my face. I wasn’t insane; on the contrary, I had never been more clear-headed. This was all for my return in seven days. The apocalypse was only a week away, and anyone who died during this period would rise as a nightmare creature. I wasn’t just going to become one of them. I was going to be their king. The most powerful and horrifying nightmare of all. Only then could I take my revenge on Fiona, repaying her betrayal and the pain she caused me in my previous life. In my past life, when the apocalypse hit, my best friend, Ethan, died in a car accident and became a nightmare creature. It was thanks to him secretly protecting me that I managed to survive the chaos. But my story ended with Fiona’s betrayal. To please a powerful nightmare in a black suit, she personally carved out my heart. That night, she had invited me over for dinner and drugged my food. When I woke up, I couldn’t move. Like a fool, I thought she was just playing some intimate game and told her to stop messing around. Then, I saw her holding a sharp knife, her lips curled into a seductive smile as she sliced open my chest. The drugs numbed my nerves, so I couldn’t feel the pain of the wound, but the terror in my heart threatened to drown me. I’ll never forget how she cut me 53 times with that knife before reaching in and pulling out my heart. At that moment, I became a cold corpse, a monster without a heart. Even as I died, I couldn’t understand how she could be so heartless. In my final moments, I asked her why she did it, my voice filled with despair. She sneered coldly and said, “You idiot, you were just a game to me.” When Ethan found out what happened, he was furious and tried to avenge me. But the nightmare that Fiona had allied with was too strong. Ethan died protecting me, his soul obliterated. I was left utterly hopeless, my consciousness swallowed by darkness. But fate granted me another chance. This time, I would change everything.
My first mission was to save Ethan. Although dying within the seven days before the apocalypse meant becoming a nightmare creature, the process involved unimaginable pain. Ethan’s life was exchanged for mine in the last timeline. This time, it was my turn to protect him and ensure he lived as a normal human being. I glanced at my phone. It was five in the afternoon. In exactly one hour, Ethan would die in a car accident. Without hesitation, I dialed a video call. “Hey. I’m at work. What’s up?” Ethan said, looking up from his computer screen. Seeing that familiar face made my chest tighten with guilt. In the last timeline, he was obliterated because of me. Now, having another chance to see him alive was a blessing. I steadied my voice. “After work, don’t leave the office. Wait for me.” “What’s going on?” Ethan asked, puzzled. “Just trust me. Stay put, no matter what happens. Promise me.” At 6:30 PM, I met Ethan as he left work. As soon as we stepped out of the office building, a black van hurtled toward us. I yanked Ethan back, narrowly avoiding the vehicle, though it grazed my arm. It was just a scratch. That van… It was exactly the same as in my last life. No license plate. This wasn’t an accident. Someone wanted Ethan dead. “Ethan,” I asked quietly, “have you pissed anyone off recently?” Ethan, straightforward and kind-hearted, wasn’t the type to make enemies. I couldn’t imagine who’d target him. “No, not at all,” he said, scratching his head. “Think harder!” “Wait…” His face paled as he recalled something. “Are you saying… that van was aiming for me?” I nodded. Ethan gripped my arm, his expression darkening. After a moment of hesitation, he confessed, “I just remembered something. But it might have to do with you.” A heavy feeling settled in my chest. “Three days ago,” Ethan took a deep breath, “I saw Fiona with another guy. Something about him felt… off.” “And he saw me too.” Ethan glanced at me nervously. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to act rashly.” My eyes turned cold. It was Fiona. That woman wanted to silence Ethan. In my last life, I was a fool blinded by love. I would never have believed someone as seemingly sweet and innocent as Fiona capable of such schemes. But now, I knew her true nature. She was a merciless devil. “Go home,” I told Ethan, keeping my voice steady. “Stay safe for the next few days. Leave the rest to me.” After hailing a cab to take Ethan home, I gave him one last instruction. “If I die, don’t be too upset. “Just keep burning spirit money for me as fast as you can. Burn as much as you can.” Spirit money was essential for building power in the nightmare realm. When I returned, I wouldn’t be alone. I’d have an army of nightmares under my command. “What the hell are you talking about? You’re not going to die!” Ethan punched my shoulder, his tone frustrated. I smiled faintly, handing him my bank card. “Use every penny in this account to buy spirit money and burn it for me. Don’t leave a single bill unburned. Otherwise, I won’t rest in peace.” There was no one else I could trust with this. Clapping his shoulder, I turned to leave. “Damn lunatic!” Ethan shouted after me, his voice a mix of anger and worry.
After saying goodbye to Ethan, I headed straight for Fiona’s apartment. She lived on the 19th floor, but I didn’t take the elevator. The building’s exterior had air-conditioning platforms on each floor. Using the surveillance blind spots, I climbed my way up. Peering through a gap in her drawn curtains, I saw Fiona’s bedroom. On the bed, Fiona entwined herself around a man like a snake. My stomach churned, not because she was cheating on me, but because of who the man was. It was Rivers, the nightmare creature Fiona had cozied up to in my last life. My fists clenched so hard my knuckles cracked. I wanted nothing more than to burst in and kill them both. These two scumbags. I wasn’t letting either of them off the hook. Inside, they continued their shameless flirting. Rivers’ hands roamed over Fiona’s nearly naked body as he grumbled, “When are you going to dump that loser? This sneaking around is ridiculous.” Fiona pressed herself closer to him and purred, “Be patient. Once I marry him, I’ll kill him. All his inheritance will be ours.” She giggled wickedly. “I’ve already done the research. Once he’s dead, his parents’ 50 million dollars will be ours to enjoy for the rest of our lives.” A chill ran through me. This woman kept pushing the limits of human depravity. I had always suspected she only dated me for my money, but now I had confirmation. To her, I was nothing more than a walking ATM. Rivers laughed smugly, “That idiot still thinks he’s found true love. Little does he know he’s just your cash cow. “Savage. I like it.” Fiona chuckled and replied, “A woman’s got to be ruthless to secure her place.” Watching this nauseating scene, I nearly smashed through the glass to give them each a blade to the throat. But I knew I wasn’t a match for Rivers yet. Still, I wasn’t going to let them off without a parting gift. Biting my finger, I used my blood to scrawl a curse on the glass—a vivid account of their betrayal and greed. As the two continued their sordid tryst, I stepped onto the edge of the balcony, glanced at my watch. It was midnight. Spreading my arms like a bat, I plummeted from the 19th floor. With the apocalypse drawing near, the rules of the world had already begun to change. Though my body was dead, my soul lingered in the mortal realm. Until my body was cremated, I would exist as a wandering spirit. I wanted to see how Fiona reacted to my mangled corpse and how terrified she’d be when she realized the nightmare had only just begun. My death was such a mess, and the apartment would surely be sealed by tomorrow. The police would certainly investigate the affair between them.
At 6:00 AM, a security guard patrolling the Starhaven Apartments discovered my body. “Someone jumped! Looks like they fell from the 19th floor. There’s writing in blood on the window!” The pounding on Fiona’s door was frantic. She stumbled out, her face pale with fear. When she saw my mangled body on the ground, she nearly fainted. The security captain recognized me immediately. “Isn’t this the guy who was always visiting Fiona? Why would he jump from her balcony?” Rivers sauntered out of the apartment, clearly annoyed. “What the hell is all this noise about so early…” The moment he saw my corpse, he froze, his face draining of color. Standing beside them in my spirit form, I watched coolly. If Rivers was this shaken now, just wait until I returned as the King of Nightmares. An elderly woman from the neighboring apartment peeked out and gasped at the sight of Rivers. Her expression quickly turned scornful. “Shameless!” she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. Fiona opened her mouth, trying to explain, but no words came out. By the time the police and paramedics arrived, the scene was sealed off. The bloody curse on the window, exposing their affair and murderous intentions, was crystal clear. The police immediately deemed Fiona and Rivers suspects in my death and arrested them on the spot. The curse ended with a chilling warning. I would return as a vengeful spirit, forever haunting them. As they were escorted past my body, both were trembling. Fiona’s forehead was slick with sweat, her lips quivering, unable to form a coherent sentence. Rivers, on the other hand, was visibly shaking, barely able to stay on his feet. Watching them squirm brought me immense satisfaction. This was just the appetizer. When the apocalypse arrived, I’d deal with them properly. My body was sent to the crematorium. Ethan rushed over as soon as he heard the news. This iron-willed man broke down the moment he saw my lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably. “Why, Nathan? Why would you throw your life away over a woman like that?” he choked out, his voice hoarse. Standing beside him in spirit form, I felt a wave of impatience. “Damn it, stop crying and focus! Do you remember what I told you? Burning spirit money for me is the priority here!” Thankfully, Ethan pulled himself together. After seeing me into the incinerator, he wiped his tears and sprinted off. As the flames consumed my body, I felt the mortal realm slipping away. Then, an unseen force dragged me into the nightmare world.
The moment I entered the Nightmare Realm, the stench of blood nearly made me retch. The sinister aura was so suffocating, it felt like my soul might shatter under the pressure. The air was thick with an inexplicable sense of dread, as though countless unseen eyes were lurking in the shadows, watching my every move. Looking up, there was no sun or moon. Instead, three massive blood-red eyes loomed in the sky, their crimson veins pulsating as they scanned the warped land below. From my past life, I knew what they were—the Kings of Nightmares. When the apocalypse struck, these blood eyes would descend to rule the mortal world. As a newly dead nightmare creature, I was at the bottom of the food chain, a lamb awaiting slaughter. Surviving this newbie phase was my top priority. Here, strength was the only law. Powerful nightmares could crush weaker ones without a second thought, like humans stepping on ants. Around me was a twisted, broken urban landscape. Luckily, this area seemed relatively desolate and safe, at least for now. A battered Mercedes was parked by the side of the road. Without hesitation, I climbed in, seeking refuge. Minutes later, a colossal figure lumbered into view. It was a Famine Nightmare, towering three stories tall, bloated like a pig, with tusks jutting out of its mouth and bloodshot eyes oozing malice. Its stench of rot and decay filled the air as it searched for prey, its gaze filled with insatiable hunger. When it stopped near the car, I held my breath, silently praying it wouldn’t notice me. But the beast sniffed the air and turned its grotesque head toward me. My soul nearly shattered from sheer terror. Then, as if distracted, it lumbered toward a nearby building. A terrified newborn nightmare screamed as the Famine Nightmare ripped it from its hiding place. “Eat, eat, tasty!” the beast gurgled, saliva dripping from its maw. The newborn was as weak as me, and all he could do was to scream in despair. With a single gulp, it devoured the hapless creature. I curled up in the car, trembling. If it had spotted me, I’d have been dessert. Thankfully, I still had a chance to turn the tables. All I needed was for Ethan to burn spirit money for me. In the Nightmare Realm, spirit money was sustenance, fuel for growth and power. I had given Ethan my entire savings, enough to buy enough spirit money to catapult me into the ranks of the strongest nightmares. As I anxiously awaited his action, the Famine Nightmare finally moved on, satisfied. I let out a sigh of relief but stayed vigilant. Half an hour passed. My nerves were fraying, and I found myself silently cursing, “Ethan! Damn it, what are you waiting for?!” As I waited, I couldn’t help but curse myself. If only I’d prepared the spirit money in advance and had Ethan start burning it the moment I died, I wouldn’t be stuck in this mess. While I was busy berating my own stupidity, the situation escalated. Another powerful nightmare appeared. This time, it was a Hellhound Hunter, a monstrous creature with three wolf heads, each wreathed in ghostly blue flames. Its razor-sharp fangs gleamed as it snarled, exuding an aura even more terrifying than the Famine Nightmare. Its keen nose picked up my scent immediately.
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