As An Antique Shop Owner, It's Only Reasonable That I Know A Bit Of Magic - Chapter 42

“You weren’t already…” Weren’t you already dead?

Before Freddy could finish his question, a torrent of fierce flames erupted from the flamethrower in Su Fan’s hand, instantly engulfing his head!

“ARGHHH!!!”

A heart-wrenching roar tore from Freddy’s throat. Clutching his head, he scrambled backward, rolling on the ground.

Su Fan didn’t let him escape. He pressed the attack, relentlessly pouring on the fire until Freddy was burned to ashes!

“Su Fan, you… you’re okay!” Annie blurted out, both shocked and overjoyed. She paused, then touched her own slender, pale neck in surprise. She could speak again!

“Of course I’m fine,” Su Fan said. The flamethrower in his hand vanished into thin air as he stepped forward to help Annie up. The moment they made contact, her clothes shifted back to their original form.

“Just now, how did you… how…” Annie was so excited she could barely form a coherent sentence, her gaze darting between Su Fan and the blood-stained hospital bed.

“Just a little trick,” Su Fan replied.

That white light hadn’t been simple; its effect was to blur memories and shake one’s will. The instant he was hit by it, Su Fan sensed something was wrong. Instead of retreating, he decided to play along, simultaneously using his supernatural ability—Dreamweaver Incantation (Yan Dao).

The illusion created by Dreamweaver Incantation fooled everyone present, including the Nightmare King, Freddy, ensuring the success of this ambush.

[You used Dreamweaver Incantation, deceiving everyone present, including the Nightmare King Freddy. Dreamweaver Incantation proficiency +3!]

[You used Dream Control to create a flamethrower and used it to damage Freddy! Dream Control proficiency +3! Soul Strength +3!]

[A wondrous change begins to manifest. You feel more familiar with the dream realm, and your Dream Control shows signs of becoming second nature!]

As the notification sounds echoed, Su Fan felt himself grow even stronger within the dream!

“Did you completely destroy Freddy?” Annie asked, looking anxiously at the charred floor.

“No. If we had, this dream wouldn’t still be holding,” Su Fan replied.

His words made Annie instinctively look around. Sure enough, their surroundings hadn’t changed at all; they were still in the hospital treatment room.

“In the dream, he’s very hard to kill outright. Even if his body is destroyed, it only temporarily weakens his power,” Su Fan explained. The A Nightmare on Elm Street series had nearly ten films, and Freddy died several times throughout, only to return again and again to wreak havoc.

“Does that mean we’ll be haunted by him forever?” Annie gasped, a chill running down her spine.

“Don’t lose heart. Let’s try killing him a few times first. Who knows, we might get lucky,” Su Fan said calmly, though his words were brutally straightforward.

No sooner had he spoken than the black ashes began to coalesce again, forming a gigantic face in the air!

“SU FAN!! SU FAN!! SU FAN!!!! I WILL TEAR YOU TO PIECES!!”

This Freddy had none of the dark humor from their previous encounters. Every word was spat out with gritted teeth and pure hatred. He had been burned alive in his past life, and now, even after death, he had to endure the agony of flames again. Right now, Freddy’s desire was to devour Su Fan’s flesh and drink his blood!

The enraged face opened its massive mouth, swooping down to crush them.

Su Fan stomped hard on the ground. A whirlwind erupted from him, not only scattering the ash-formed face but also demolishing the entire room!
[You utilized Dream Control to simulate the effect of wind manipulation. Dream Control proficiency +3!]

The enormous commotion immediately drew the attention of the other “doctors.” They arrived on the scene, saw Su Fan and Annie free from restraints, and charged without a second thought.
“Wake up! He’s Su Fan, he’s here to save us!” Annie cried out, her heart frantic with worry. “We’re inside Freddy’s dream! Don’t do anything rash!!”

But these people, their memories altered, wouldn’t listen to a word she said. They simply took it as a worsening of her condition, strengthening their resolve to restrain the two!
Su Fan showed no mercy to such obstacles. It just meant knocking them down again. Though many were armed, none could last more than two seconds against him. Soon, more than half were lying on the ground.

After seeing Su Fan punch through a riot shield, the remaining few promptly dropped their weapons and raised their hands in surrender. Yet, even this couldn’t save them from Su Fan’s “Personality Correction Fist.”

“Huh? Where am I?” The production assistant, who had earlier “diagnosed” Annie, was the first to wake up. He looked around at the chaos, utterly bewildered.

One by one, the subdued crew members woke up, staring at each other in confusion, completely unaware of the situation.

“I remember! We encountered a ghost!” someone finally shouted, recalling memories from before they blacked out.

That one cry changed everyone’s expressions!
The flickering lights, the alternating nightmare spaces, the terrifying dark shadow drawing closer… Just remembering the scene made them break out in a cold sweat!

“But we were…”

“…clearly attacked by him,” some recalled more details.

This statement made everyone look at Su Fan with renewed suspicion.

Seeing the situation turning sour, Annie immediately raised her voice. “Everyone, listen to me! Right now, we are all inside a dream, not in the real world. The dark shadow you saw earlier is the evil spirit I told you about, the one that kills in dreams! If Su Fan hadn’t knocked everyone out, forcing you into unconsciousness, you would have been killed by that shadow!”

Annie’s shouts had some effect. Freddy’s earlier appearance had been too horrifying to dismiss. So, even those with doubts held back for now.

The atmosphere grew tense and strange.

Seeing that the group had settled down, Su Fan saw no need to continue. His eyes scanned their faces, and he frowned. Elizabeth and the bearded director weren’t here. Where had they gone?

Suddenly, the scene before them transformed again, morphing into a raging, fiery inferno!
The terrifying horrifying spectacle drew gasps and cries of alarm!

“My God! Is this hell?”

“It’s so hot! I accidentally touched a rock near the flames and burned my hand! Is this really a dream?”

“I’d rather it be a dream… If it’s not, then we’ve really ended up in hell!”

“Lord, forgive my sins! Deliver me from evil!”

“Is this the demon’s power?! What Annie said was actually true!”

“Damn that Elizabeth! I actually believed her nonsense! I knew something was wrong and wanted to leave then, but she talked me into staying!”