Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!

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CRAAASH!

Both soldiers fell into despair as the claws of the Nightmare Car Monsters aimed at them. However, instead of death, the two soldiers realized that something else had taken the blow. They looked in front of them to find a tall knight clad in white and golden armor, with several swords floating around him.

Four shields made of light had been summoned, protecting them from the attacks of the Nightmarish Car Monsters. A blond young man stared back at them.

They quickly recognized him. He was among the Academy's top ten strongest students.

"A-Artorias?!"

"Aren't you a student? You shouldn't be here…!"

"Is this how you're going to thank me for saving your lives? If you cannot fight anymore, you should evacuate as well," Artorias said, holding Excalibur, his Dream Weapon, tightly. "I must show Jonathan that I am a knight as well and protect the weak. Focusing too much on myself was wrong and selfish… so please, while I protect you, run."

"Thanks…!"

"Hey! Are we really running away?!"

"Shut up!"

"But we're soldiers, we're…!"

"I said shut the fuck up!"

The soldiers ran after his words, one friend carrying the other, who was severely wounded, as Artorias faced dozens of Car Monsters. The people inside screamed. Even though their minds were intact, their bodies were long gone, fused into the monstrosity.

"Help… Help meeeee!"

"Mamaaaaa…! Mamaaaaa…"

"Where's… my… medicine?"

"Aiiiieeeeeee….!"

"It hurtssssss! Someone save me!"

"I'm sorry… I will end your suffering," Artorias said, closing his eyes and then opening them, as they glowed brightly with golden light.

His aura of light expanded everywhere as the Car Nightmare Monsters broke through his Light Shields, rushing toward him.

"{Illusory Garden of Swords}"

Artorias's Domain manifested, and the Car Monsters found themselves inside a strange place of pure light, an eternal dawn with a garden of golden swords.

Each sword floated in midair, rushing toward them from every angle, as Artorias swung his divine sword, unleashing slashing waves of light.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

"GRYYYAAAARRGGH!"

The Nightmare Monsters screamed in agony as they were torn into pieces one by one. The purifying light of his Dream Weapon was so strong that their darkness dissipated, exploding into ashes as they died.

Once the Domain disappeared, Artorias remained there in silence, looking around their surroundings, making sure everyone had evacuated from that area in time.

"You… You're worth my time… What an incredible specimen. I shall feast on your Soul and your Dream Weapon…!"

However, in that moment, Artorias heard a voice coming from behind him. He looked up, glancing at one of the many root-like tendrils the Original Nightmare Curse had divided into. It had appeared in front of him, quickly growing a humanoid body shaped as a heavily armored black knight, covered in purple flames.

"Who… What are you?!"

Artorias pointed his blade at him, a fragment of the Original Nightmare Curse. By putting more of his True Nightmare Soul into this part, he had created a stronger body to face Artorias, defeat him, and then devour him to grow stronger.

"I am the Origin of all Nightmares! The Dark Child of this world, the Calamity given form! Hahahaha! I AM THE END!"

The black knight charged toward Artorias, and the young man met him with his blade. The Nightmare Curse swung his black sword, clashing against him, unleashing devastating blows that released explosions of nightmare flames.

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

"Ugh! Agh!"

Artorias was constantly pushed back. The Original Nightmare Curse was immensely powerful and dexterous. His ability as a swordsman seemed unparalleled. Artorias didn't even know who this thing was or why it was here, but it was definitely not a normal Nightmare or Nightmare Demon.

"Surprised?! I possess the knowledge of countless swordsmen across the world, their nightmares and fears becoming my strength. I have embodied their worst fears! Face my new form, Dark Knightmare!"

"You love talking, don't you?"

Artorias was being pushed back and overwhelmed. The powerful swings and techniques of the Knightmare were obviously superior to his own, but he had more aces up his sleeve. His aura expanded once more, transforming into dozens of swords of light.

"{Holy Blade Rain}!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Explosions of holy light engulfed the Original Nightmare Curse's Avatar, as his body was bombarded with great damage. His armor and weapon suddenly began to show cracks.

"Aaaargh! You dare?!"

The Knightmare stood up once more, stepping forward and swinging his demonic sword. A single slash unleashed a massive wave of darkness that impacted Artorias at full force.

BOOOMMM!!!

He was sent flying away with a massive explosion, crashing into a nearby building and blowing through its walls, ending up on a pile of destroyed groceries inside an abandoned store.

Artorias heard the Knightmare's footsteps as he drew closer. He quickly stood up, holding his blade tightly, facing the aberrant nightmare beyond his worst nightmares. His eyes widened as he saw the thing approaching, its aura turning into black tentacles with eyes.

"I'll devour you… Artorias! Every time, every loop, you always fight the hardest among the students… and even when you died so many times, you kept appearing once more, never truly forgotten… whatever power you possess, I need it to defeat her."

"I don't get what you're saying… But I won't die so easily!"

Artorias stood up as he faced the Knightmare. His Aura transformed, and his Domain was summoned at that moment, surprising the Original Nightmare Curse.

"{Illusory Domain: Knights of the Round Table}"

"T-This is…?!"

The Original Nightmare Curse suddenly stopped walking as he saw a huge table between him and Artorias. Several knights emerged out of nowhere, each with their own distinct appearances and different weapons they wielded.

Artorias sat on a throne while holding his sword down, as all the knights stood up at once, glaring at the Original Nightmare Curse Avatar while pointing their weapons at him.

"Knights, you're all allowed to fight at once!"

"You've summoned Dream Spirits…?! Your Dream Weapon is indeed the strangest of them all!"

He laughed as he clashed against the knights one by one. Their attacks were precise and dexterous, almost overpowering him in technique alone. Percival, Kay, Gaheris, Tristan, Lancelot, Bedivere, and Gawain rushed toward the Knightmare, attacking him from every angle.

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