"Begin!"
The Paper Man finished speaking, tossed a handful of colorful confetti, and disappeared into the castle walls.
Rumbleâ
The castle gates swung open.
"Nightmare, is it?"
Good Duck waddled into the castle.
Suddenly.
Arms began emerging from the ground.
Painful and sorrowful voices followed:
"Die...die with me..."
"Someone save me..."
"The breath of the living, let me take a bite!"
"Kill you!"
A dense whispering arose.
Lines of glowing small text suddenly appeared in the Void:
"An identical Nightmare World has descended."
"It possesses everything from your world."
"You must not engage directly, only the two Nightmare Worlds may battle."
"If your world losesâ"
"This trial shall be declared a failure!"
Good Duck understood immediately.
ââSo this is a nightmare showdown!
"Iâve chosen you, come forth!"
Good Duck shouted.
The Void parted.
The Big Skeleton Pei Lun suddenly appeared.
"Whatâs the situation?" it asked.
"Look, ghosts everywhere," said Good Duck.
"Oh my, Iâm most afraid of ghosts." Pei Lun shrank back, jumped into its Dharma Aspect, and vanished.
"..." Good Duck.
Pei Lun seems indeed quite afraid of ghosts.
This was evident when taking the train through Hell back then.
Whatâs there to fear about ghosts?
Iâm not afraid at all.
Good Duck was a little speechless.
Never mind.
Nextâ
"Come forth, honorable Underworld Lord Miket Tikaxiwa!"
Good Duck called once more.
Miket Tikaxiwa quietly appeared.
She took one look and said, "Very powerful resentful spirits, troublesome to battle, but a joint army can eliminate them."
"Understood," Good Duck responded.
"QuicklyâTheyâre summoning an army too," Miket Tikaxiwa warned.
"Of course, quickly," Good Duck said.
That Demon King looks extraordinarily formidable at a glance.
The second trial of the Dream is only temporarily isolated.
Who knows whenâ
This isolation will disappear.
If so, the Demon King contacting the outside world might make things difficult.
So it must be quick!
Pass this trial immediately!
Good Duck spread out its Dharma Aspect and shouted loudly:
"Accept the summon!"
"ââThe Human Race King, Elf High Priest, Mother Earth!"
Miket Tikaxiwa melded into the Dharma Aspect.
"Prepare the joint army of the Four Tribes immediately, and notify me once ready," said Good Duck.
"Right away!" Miket Tikaxiwa replied.
Crack, crack, crack, crackâ
The ground shattered.
The Undead began crawling out from the ground, rushing toward Good Duck.
"Bring it on,"
Good Duck shouted.
Just as it was about to draw its blade to meet the enemy, a team of Human Race soldiers emerged from behind, standing in front.
The Human Race King Norton jumped out along with them.
"What do you think? Right on time, huh," Norton shouted.
"Youâre so fast."
"Because we already formed a War Alliance, ready to mobilize at any moment!"
In the Void.
One large army after another appeared.
Elves, Beastmen, Undead, and Humans formed a united army, descending upon this place!
But an identical large army emerged from the other side.
ââThis was a battle between two identical worlds!
Good Duckâs eyes shifted, a plan formulated in its mind.
"Everyone!"
It jumped onto the castle wall, loudly addressing the soldiers of its army:
"Before we battle, listen to me!"
In an instant.
Everyone turned to look at Good Duck.
Good Duck appeared solemn, pulling out a microphone from behind and sang loudly:
"Hand in hand, one step, two steps, three steps, four steps, looking at the skyâ"
"No copyright beyond this point!"
"I bid goodbye with a kissâ"
"No copyright beyond this point!"
"Will you be coming tonight, is your love still there!"
"No copyright beyond this point!"
"Ten years ago, you didnât know meâ"
"No copyright beyond this point!"
Silence fell over the crowd.
What the heck is this duck doing?
Has it gone mad?
But then Good Duck extended its wings and pointed below, angrily shouting:
"Friends on this side, how are you?"
In an instant.
Lines of glowing small text stealthily appeared:
"You are the âHoly Songstressâ."
"Youâve launched a super large diva concert, bestowing Holy Chanting upon all beings on your side."
"Everyoneâs Skills have been elevated by one Rank."
"Success!"
Though the soldiers, commanders, armor, and weapons on both sides were identical.
The other side didnât have Good Duck.
Without Good Duck, there was no Skills +1!
This battle was sure to be won!
Good Duck watched as the strong on its side responded.
"Such strength, heâs grown," Madame Daisy of the Dark Night Ros Dance Troupe said proudly.
"He seems like a tenor," Centaur Carola evaluated, arms crossed.
"But his songs lean towards pop music, he might prefer earning more money," Mother Earth commented.
"Makes sense," agreed Miket Tikaxiwa.
"Everyone, stop gawking, prepare for battleâRoyal Mage Group, simultaneous spellcasting!" Norton yelled.
The mages of the Royal Mage Group began chanting spells.
The ancient spell voices awakened everyone.
"Charge, brothers!"
The Big Skeleton suddenly jumped out, letting out a strange cry, transforming mid-air into a giant dragon.
The other side had a giant dragon appear as well.
Howeverâ
The giant dragon formed by the Big Skeleton, all its Skills were one Rank higher than its counterpart!
It unleashed a burning Dragon Breath at the other side.
The battle began!
...
Meanwhile.
First layer of trial.
A stream of light across the sky emitted waves of explosive sound.
A blade.
The blade pressed against the Time Saintâs weapon, charging forward with full force.
Whenever the Time Wheel altered its angle, the blade would also alter its angle, continuing to adhere to the Time Wheel, ensuring the opponent was always suppressed.