Awaken - Part 5

"None of your fucking business, Dime! However, with how things are moving let's hope and pray all hell doesn't break loose and your brother doesn't anger the beast dwelling within," Noctis shivered as he thought back to the last time something like this happened and the person who had the bear the brunt of Ezekiel's anger following his abrupt awakening.

"Well, from the looks of things that won't be happening, considering~," Dime was saying before his domain suddenly shattered, following the appearance of an explosion of grayish light.

That originated from the location of the ark rupture in Zone 5 codenamed AX75O, just as the sound of someone cracking their knuckles could be heard from the crater. Which was left behind following the destruction of the ark rupture, which left numerous people injured as widespread panic spread throughout the outer ring.

"Now just what do we have here?!" Rin wondered as he glanced at his surroundings curiously before unleashing his aura causing the entire Dreamworld to quake and rumble.

***

Earlier that day...

"So, Claire what exactly does Dime need you to collect from within the ark rupture?" Morpheus asked as he quickly scanned the surrounding area, following their entry into the ark rupture as they were transported to a deserted island.

Which had nothing but palm trees, sand, and rocky terrain.

"Not sure, however, he said I would know when I see it so for now, I think it would be in our best interest to explore our surroundings. While searching for the two beings that entered beforehand," she said while putting on a pair of white gloves, before retrieving a glass container and a small shovel from her spatial ring.

"Just say you don't know and that he wants you to collect anything that might help you guys better understand ark ruptures," Morpheus muttered as he waited for Claire to finish what she was doing so that they could begin exploring this independent pocket dimension.

"I will do, sir," Claire replied flatly as she secured her first samples, after collecting a bit of sand and a leaf from a nearby palm tree, "So where to now, sir?"

"Not sure as I'm not able to use my divine senses to pinpoint where those two idiots might have gone. However, considering the lack of life on this island, I think the heart of this dimension would be the best place to find them. So, let's head north until we reach the point where all the islands converge."

"Makes sense, hopefully, once we reach the center, we might be able to discover something that could help with our research," Claire added considering while many knew ark ruptures could occur following the death of a Dream Beast, there were still many things people did not know about them.

For example, why they never appear in the same location twice, or why the actions of a Dream and Mare can also trigger an ark rupture's formation.

"You better hope so as once, I find those two idiots were immediately leaving… since there's no way, I'm going to stay a minute longer in this accursed place."

"Hmm, who would have thought the feared and almighty Dream King would be scared of an ark rupture," Claire smiled as they left the island and began to walk across the surface of an ocean darker than ink as a black and white sun shined upon them as gray clouds roamed the sky like dragonflies in slow motion.

Yet while oddly beautiful, if they had just taken the time to stop and glance at the ocean below them. They would have noticed they were not the only ones here as a swarm of aquatic creatures could be seen swimming beneath them.

Causing the once-black ocean of tar to sporadically have a golden shine as their footsteps left behind golden ripples in the water.

***

Simultaneously, as Morpheus and Claire made their way towards the center of this dimension...

The two idiots they were searching for could be seen sitting on a platform as they gazed at a cocoon of diverse colors. That hummed ever so light like a phone on vibrate as a bolt of reddish lightning occasionally flashed across its surface like a comet in the night sky.

"So, Charlie, do you think this could've been the reason behind Master's visit to Dreamworld?" Shadow asked curiously as she sat on top of Charlie's head.

"Maybe... however, just what could be so special about this cocoon? Considering, it just looks like what occurs during the evolution of a Saint bloodline, or the metamorphosis of a magic beast about to undergo the last ceremony.

{A fancy way of referring to a beast, demi-human, or cultivator about to approach the end of their life, during which they have one shot to break through to a higher rank or die trying. Using the culmination of their essence, cultivation, and fate to try and make the impossible possible.}

"Charlie, now for someone so smart, haven't you heard the saying, 'never to judge a book by its cover'? Also, what if it is not necessarily what the cocoon is Master was concerned about, but the entity that might emerge from it?" Shadow asked as kids are not afraid of the dark, but of the creatures that might be lurking within its depths.

"True, but still we've been here for ten minutes, and it doesn't seem like this is going to be over anytime soon," Charlie complained as he didn't expect it to be so boring, even though internally he was starting to wonder if he would ever become a Divine Overlord in this lifetime.

"Well, who was the one who thought this might be their opportunity to break through? So blame yourself for being anxious and quick to assume, Charlie that every action of your master could potentially lead to the opportunity you need to... Oh, it seems we have company," Shadow said as she stopped and gazed into the distance as Morpheus and Claire slowly approached them.

"Are they strong?"

"Can't tell as this place limits the radius of your divine sense to 20 meters."

"Hmm, well I guess our little adventure has come to an end," Charlie sighed as he stood up and dusted off his clothes, "Hopefully, they aren't hostile, and we can return home safely before Master realizes we've been snooping around once again."

"You can say that again," Shadow purred as she stretched her limbs, before hopping off Charlie's head and landing in his arms as they waited for Morpheus and Claire to arrive.