Infinite Terror: Infinite Reversal

Chapter 424 Falling Asleep
Finally, it was time for bed, and the three of them lay down on their beds. Zheng Zha and Zhang Jie obediently lay down as instructed and watched Mu Xiang operate the machine.

Mu Xiang cleared his throat: "Um... a bedtime story."

"what?"

But after Mu Xiang opened the Necronomicon, the dream world information that Pickman had copied out detached from the pages of the book and floated into the air.

Zheng Zha and Zhang Jie were both stunned: "What is this?"

"Don't ask me, this is the first time I've ever seen this either." Mu Xiang shook his head, then looked at the countless pieces of information floating in the air. These pieces of information no longer had a putrid smell, but instead floated and pulsated in the air, appearing somewhat dreamlike.

Zheng Zha suddenly frowned and asked, "What's that smell?"

"This book... its lost power has been activated again." Mu Xiang's expression was also not good, because the long-lost stench had returned to the Necronomicon.

"So it's useful?" Zhang Jie asked.

Mu Xiang nodded: "Yes, all you need to do now is sleep."

Zheng Zha and Zhang Jie exchanged a helpless glance, then obediently lay down on the bed. Before they could complain, Mu Xiang began chanting a strange incantation.

This incantation appeared in the Necronomicon only after all the other text had detached from the pages... Mu Xiang couldn't recognize it, but when he saw it, he knew how to pronounce it and what it meant!
Before the three, including Mu Xiang, could even feel surprised or horrified, a strong sense of drowsiness washed over them, causing them to fall asleep almost simultaneously. Mu Xiang, the only one still sitting, also collapsed into sleep, while the "Necronomicon" trembled as it slipped from his hand, transforming into a dark red stream of light that merged into the information in the air.

A strange fluctuation arose out of nowhere, passed through the three people's bodies, and guided them into their dreams.

If Mu Xiang were conscious, he would definitely find this thing too bizarre... Damn it, forcibly hypnotizing three fourth-tier powerhouses? Yes, Zhang Jie is not essentially a fourth-tier powerhouse, but he specializes in mental power!

However, he was also caught in the same trap and there was nothing he could do to resist. When the fear in his heart finally emerged, he found himself standing in a state of chaos.

"Hmm?" Mu Xiang frowned and looked behind him. All around him was chaos, and even the direction was unclear. The only thing that was clear was the staircase that was right in front of him.

"The physical body is still there..." Mu Xiang clenched his fist, sensing his power. "It hasn't been weakened. Is it that our physical bodies weren't left in the real world, or that a replica was created?"

Mu Xiang knew that the Dream Realm could be entered physically, but that was a rather special method... such as searching for passages in ghoul lairs, or finding caves connecting to the Cold Plains in the mountains of Central Asia. They, however, entered through a methodical dream, and even the Necronomicon served to guide their dreams.

"The gene lock can be opened normally..." Mu Xiang pushed up his glasses. His gene lock started from the first level and kept climbing up until the fourth level, and he even tried to modify his genes before exiting the gene lock state.

【interesting……】

Mu Xiang's gaze fell on the steps in front of him, which led down to a cave from which a faint light emanated.

"Descend the seventy steps of the Shallow Sleep Staircase, enter the Flame Cave, and meet the two gatekeepers..." Mu Xiang recited the details from his memory, then began to descend. Mu Xiang didn't run; he carefully observed his surroundings with each step. Zheng Zha and Zhang Jie were gone; it seemed each person's staircase into the dream was independent. On either side of the staircase lay the same chaos... and the steps Mu Xiang trod would dissolve into the chaos.

The only things that exist independently of the chaos are Mu Xiang and the untrodden steps beneath his feet.

As he descended the seventieth step of the Shallow Sleep, a strange fluctuation arose. This fluctuation did not originate from his surroundings, but from Mu Xiang's mind. He immediately sensed its source, and the next moment, the surrounding chaos trembled, the unified pattern was broken, and the stone walls covered with paintings and reliefs emerged.

The air was filled with flames, but they were not aggressive at all. On the contrary, their light and warmth made Mu Xiang's body feel relaxed.

"Heh..." Mu Xiang sneered, and an invisible protective force field surged forth, shutting out the firelight and heat. He turned his head and cast his gaze in two directions: "If you don't show yourself soon, wouldn't that be impolite?"

Two tall figures in white robes and black attire appeared where Mu Xiang's gaze swept across, then simultaneously bowed to him. Beneath their tall crowns, only half their faces were visible, appearing at first glance indistinguishable. Although only half their faces were visible, both exuded youth and handsomeness.

With his X-ray vision, Mu Xiang immediately recognized their faces. They were indeed young and handsome, and identical in appearance. There was nothing strange about their hairstyles; the only unusual thing was the look in their eyes as they stared at Mu Xiang… both eyes held a sense of weariness.

Mu Xiang nonchalantly spread his hands: "According to the rules, everyone who enters here must be naked, right? But that doesn't seem to work for me. You don't expect me to take my clothes off myself, do you?"

One of them smiled and said, "We wouldn't dare. You and your friends are honored guests whom our lord has been waiting for. Even if the three of you did not possess such great power, we would still not dare to be impolite."

“Alright.” Mu Xiang nodded. These two men were much taller than him, and even though they bowed and spoke respectfully, they still gave him a sense of superiority. “Then, will you allow me to continue, pass through the seven hundred steps of the Deep Sleep, and enter the Dream Realm?”

Both men simultaneously made a "please" gesture, and it was the other man who spoke: "This is exactly what we need to do... We will open this passage for you, please."

Mu Xiang sized up the two men. Of course he recognized them… Nasht and Kaman-Za, the two gatekeepers of the Dreamland. It was said that they were omniscient and omnipotent, even able to look directly at the face of Azathoth… In the Flame Cave, their words were the law of all things, and even Nyarlathotep could not contend with them here.

The two guardian deities actually share the same origin… It was likely Nasht who spoke, while the silent one was his avatar, Kaman-za. Mu Xiang indeed sensed a formidable strength emanating from them.

They are all powerful beings at the demigod level or above, and in most demonic planes, they are extremely powerful gods!
【My Lord… could it be a memorial tablet?】

"This is our duty, and also our constraint... We are here to welcome the pure souls of dreams and to expel the evil and conspiracy that enter through this place, but we cannot stand with our Lord to sweep away the demons within the dream realm. We implore you and your friends to help our Lord, so that the dream realm may return to its former beauty and purity!"

As if knowing what Mu Xiang was thinking, the deity continued.

"Your supreme god... is fighting against demons?" Mu Xiang pushed up his glasses.

"Yes, when you and your friends descend the seven hundred steps of Deep Sleep, you will reach the gates of the Enchanted Forest... South of the Enchanted Forest lies the endless ocean, where our Lord is battling demons from beyond the heavens at the confluence of the ocean and the sky. Once you enter the Enchanted Forest, the Nightmare army will escort you to meet our Lord."

Mu Xiang nodded: "Okay." With that, he walked towards the steps that appeared on the ground.

(End of this chapter)