Chapter 3

"Man's life on earth is a struggle; his days are like those of a hired laborer. Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and a hired servant who waits for his wages."

Jó Chapter 7

Sunny was on the brink of madness. He had completely frozen, with only his defect functioning, while the pain intensified. When the agony became unbearable, he finally opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the authoritative voice of the spell echoing through the room:

[Sunny is forbidden from revealing the future. If you want to find out, watch.]

With those words, Sunny's defect ceased to act. The tension in his body dissipated instantly, and he finally relaxed, relieved not to have to face that terrible question.

But little did he know that everyone there already had their answer the moment the question was asked. When all eyes turned to Sunny and saw his reaction, it became clear that yes, he still maintained his aspect of a slave.

After all, in a world full of corruption and deceit, trusting someone's words was rare. People resorted to reading body language, a tool used by the more experienced to discern the truth. The slightest hesitation, a simple involuntary movement, could betray a person's true intentions.

Of course, those with more experience could hide their thoughts with mastery, but Sunny still had much to learn. His body language, despite his efforts, revealed more than he would have liked. Every reaction, every small gesture, was a window into his emotions and thoughts, something he would need to control better if he wanted to survive in an environment where even the smallest weakness could be exploited.

And the great clans, always on the lookout for any weakness, would certainly not hesitate to use this information against him once it was revealed. The expression on the faces around him left no doubt: Sunny had just become an even more vulnerable target.

"Sunny."

Hearing Nephis's voice, he turned to face her, noticing a strange look on her face, something akin to pity. Frustrated, he furrowed his brow and asked:

"What is it?"

Nephis let out a small sigh and approached to whisper, "Even though you didn't say anything, everyone has already noticed that your aspect is still tied to a slave, just by your body language."

She then stepped back to her place.

Meanwhile, Sunny mentally cursed himself. "Damn, I knew something was wrong by the way they looked at me. Why is it always me?"

Running a hand through his hair, he sighed, irritated and confused by everything that was happening. The more his secrets were about to be revealed, the worse he felt.

He didn't know what to do to resolve this situation. Was there any way to escape it? The answer was no. The only thing he could do was accept it.

But for Sunny, simply accepting his fate silently was repugnant. He hated that feeling. After everything he had done to fight and survive, having to resign himself to it felt like an insult. "Try," he thought with determination. "Even if you make me a slave, I will escape and kill anyone who dares to enslave me."

Calm down, he told himself. I need to think calmly. Taking a deep breath, he tried to control his emotions. 'I must ignore these feelings for now. Breathe deeply and ignore them. A calm mind is more dangerous than a panicked one.'

After calming down enough, he began to analyze his options. The spell wouldn't have brought me here just to show my life if I weren't relevant. There was a reason for him being there, and he needed to find out what it was, and how he could use it to his advantage.

As Sunny calmed down, Saint Cor stood up, drawing everyone's attention with his imposing presence. With a firm and neutral look, he asked:

"Does anyone want to add something or comment on what has been shown... besides Sunny's aspect?"

The room fell silent for a moment. The tensions were already high, but Saint Cor's question was an opportunity to shift the focus from Sunny and discuss what else might be relevant.

Seishan shrugged as he responded, "So far, we've gained little information. There's not much to discuss at the moment."

Beastmaster nodded in agreement with his sister's words. "Although we might learn more about Shadow, it hasn't been revealed enough for us to discuss. The best option is to continue watching."

Saint Cor, noting that no one disagreed, nodded. "Alright."

With that, the screen lit up again, and everyone turned their focus back to the projection.

Seeing himself on the screen again, Sunny sighed. His hands trembled slightly, even though he had decided to fight against his fate, against being a slave. It didn't stop the fear and anxiety that still consumed him. Deciding to fight didn't mean his feelings about it would disappear immediately.

Oh, how easy it would be if it were that simple. But it wasn't. Overcoming fears and problems was a slow and painful process, and facing these challenges is what makes us truly strong.

Suddenly, a small hand held his trembling one. It was Cassie.

"Thank you," Sunny whispered, feeling truly grateful.

For a few minutes after that, Sunny was in a dark mood. But then he pulled himself out of it and inhaled deeply, trying to enjoy the fresh air. Indeed, air like that was hard to come by in the real world: micro dust and other pollutants made it rough and unpleasant, not to mention the general stench of the outskirts. In the better parts of the city, sophisticated filtration systems worked diligently — however, filtrated air tasted sterile and stagnant. Only the very rich had access to truly pleasant breathing.

And here he was, able to enjoy an unlimited amount of pristine, delicious air like a second-generation chaebol.

'Truly, being chosen by the Spell has its benefits.'

Effie nodded, agreeing with Sunny's words. "Yes, that's the wonder of the spell. The dream world is truly amazing, don't you think?"

Nephis glanced away from the screen for a moment, casting a brief look of interest at Effie before returning her attention to the projection.

Cassie, however, frowned, surprised by Effie's opinion. "Do you really think that? Even with all the destruction the spell causes?"

Effie shrugged, as if the question didn't affect her much. "Look, doll, I'm not saying that the deaths it causes are a good thing. But, at least for me, the dream realm is a better place than Earth. For some, this realm is like a paradise."

Sunny listened to Effie's words, and while a part of him didn't fully agree, another part recognized some truth in what she was saying. Compared to life in the outskirts, the dream world, with all its uncertainties and dangers, still offered something that he rarely found in the real world: the possibility of something more, something better, even if the price was his own life.

Effie continued, her tone nonchalant, but her eyes revealing a deeper reflection.

"Here, at least, we have the chance to fight for something greater, to escape the suffocating banality of everyday life. I'm not saying the dream realm is perfect. Far from it. But for some of us, it's the only opportunity to find a bit of freedom, even if it's temporary."

Sunny couldn't help but ponder this, the weight of reality coming back down on his shoulders. For him, both in the real world and the dream realm, death was a constant threat, but at least here, he had the power to choose how to fight, how to live, even if just for a brief moment.

If only there was no dreadful cold, his feet did not ache, and his wrists and back were not in agony!

The slave caravan slowly dragged itself up the mountain, with more and more slaves stumbling and periodically falling to the ground. A couple of times, those who could not walk anymore were taken off the chain and unceremoniously tossed off the road, down into the abyss that loomed to the left of it. Sunny watched them fall with a bit of compassion.

'Poor fellows. Rest in peace, you pitiful souls.'

All in all, he was in good spirits.

"Wow, kid, you're definitely strange, but I like you," Effie said suddenly, flashing a mischievous smile at Sunny.

Sunny blinked, surprised, before hesitantly replying, "Thanks?"

Kai, who had been observing the interaction, nodded. "How do you manage to stay in good spirits? If it were me, I'd already be freaking out."

Sunny shrugged, with a nonchalant air. "You have something to lose, so it's normal to feel fear in this situation. I don't. I don't have anyone or anything that matters enough."

As he spoke, a painful memory of his sister flashed through his mind. She was important to him, but he knew that to her, he was nothing. She probably didn't even remember him anymore. She was in good hands with her new adoptive parents. If he died, it would be fine; no one would miss him, no one would even notice his disappearance. The only ones who would know would be the police, and only because he carried the seed of the nightmare.

Sunny's words were spoken with an apparent calm, but the emotion in them was unmistakable, hidden beneath the facade of indifference.

It was a bit strange to feel good amidst this disaster of a Nightmare, but, thankfully, Sunny had time to prepare himself for this eventuality. When the symptoms of the Spell first appeared, he did not handle it well. Dying before you even turn seventeen was not something one could easily cope with.

Nephis visibly relaxed, though a shadow of concern still lingered in her eyes. To her, Sunny had always been someone who never gave up, someone who wanted to live more than anything else. Seeing these memories, even for a brief moment, wasn't easy. She had always seen in him an unshakable strength.

Seeing Sunny's more vulnerable side affected her more than she would like to admit. Nephis knew he was strong, but witnessing the depth of his loneliness and the coldness with which he faced his own mortality made her question whether, behind that strength, Sunny was actually always on the brink of the abyss.

This revelation caused her to feel a pang of empathy for him, a feeling she rarely allowed herself to experience. However, since the three of them had met, Nephis had been feeling this with disturbing frequency, much more than she had in years. It was strange and, at the same time, comforting. There was something about Sunny, perhaps his resilience or his vulnerability, that stirred in her a deeper connection than she was used to.

This new sensitivity made her question her own emotional barriers, but paradoxically, it also made her feel more human, more connected to something beyond her own purpose. It was a pleasant feeling, a warmth emerging amidst the chaos, giving her one more reason to keep going. Even though she knew the path ahead would be difficult, this new dimension of her feelings was something she was beginning to accept, perhaps even to value.

But, in the end, it only took Sunny several days to come to terms with it. After visiting his parents' makeshift resting place — well, actually, since he was too poor to afford even the cheapest slot in the remembrance facility, it was just two lines carved into an old tree — and adding a third line for himself, Sunny suddenly became relaxed and carefree.

"That's a little sad. Also, you have a sister... I thought you'd be a bit more worried about not being able to take care of her," Cassie remarked, her voice tinged with concern as she watched Sunny.

Sunny shrugged, his expression hardly changing, as if the sadness implied in Cassie's words didn't affect him.

"My sister's fine. She doesn't need my help."

Cassie frowned, surprised by Sunny's detached response. She had expected that mentioning his sister would evoke some concern, but his reaction was cold, almost indifferent. This only deepened her curiosity, while also increasing her worry.

"I see..." she replied softly, though it was clear she was still mulling over Sunny's words. To her, the idea of not worrying about someone so close was hard to understand.

Sunny, however, seemed calm, almost oblivious to the impact his words might have on others. He had already decided that his sister was better off without him. It was a deep conviction, an armor he wore to shield himself from a greater pain—the pain of not being needed in the life of someone he secretly still considered important.

After all, he didn't have to worry about earning money, finding food, protecting himself and planning for the future anymore. Once the worst that could happen had already happened, what else was there to fear?

So, becoming a slave and slowly freezing to death was not that much of a shock.

"I agree, I went through the same thing. You don't need to worry about any of it... it was a small relief to finally be able to rest," Master Jet commented, his voice tinged with bitter resignation.

"Yeah, accepting death wasn't all that hard," Sunny responded, with an indifference that seemed almost cruel.

The reality behind these words was devastating. After all, they were still children, who should have been living without such burdens, enjoying the innocence that youth was meant to provide. Instead, without parents or any support, they had to learn to survive on their own, forced to mature brutally and prematurely.

Kai frowned before letting out a deep sigh. 'Why do people have to suffer so much?' He hadn't thought much about it before, but ever since he awakened and was sent to the Dream Realm, his mind often turned to the cruelty of the Spell and of humanity itself. He had witnessed firsthand the tyranny of the strong in the castle, where the weak were oppressed, and survival was a constant struggle.

The resigned acceptance of Sunny and Master Jet wasn't just a survival tactic; it was a sad adaptation to the fact that the world, both in the Dream Realm and beyond, offered no mercy to those who couldn't fight.

They only survived because they clung to life with every ounce of strength they had, dragging themselves through hardship. They had no choice but to learn how to fight.

Each scar, every battle won or lost, was a testament to their resilience. There was no room for weakness or hesitation; the world would not forgive them for it. Fighting wasn't just a necessity; it had become second nature to them. Facing death was routine, and accepting mortality had become part of the harsh reality they lived in.

Besides, he knew that cold would not kill him — simply because he had already seen what fate was awaiting the caravan further up the mountain. The picture of piled bones littering the ground was still fresh in his mind. Most likely, it was a pack of monsters that were going to do the caravan in… and by the look of it, the attack was going to take place in a matter of hours, not days.

So he still had a chance.

Seishan, upon hearing Sunny's words on the screen, tilted her head and asked:

"So, if you were thinking about giving up on living, why does it still seem like you're desperately clinging to life?"

Sunny gave a grim smile before replying:

"I never wanted to die. I was just realistic. The chances of someone like me surviving were almost none, so it wasn't a matter of giving up. I knew the odds were against me, but that never meant I'd stop fighting. I'd still fight with everything I have to survive, even if it's just for one more day."

Master Jet nodded, agreeing with Sunny's stance.

"That's right, kid. Even if you have to crawl to survive, as long as you keep fighting, there might still be a chance. But if you give up without even trying, I'm sure you would have died right from the start."

Her words were harsh, but they carried an undeniable truth. In that world, where strength and determination were the only reliable allies, giving up was never an option. Survival depended on the will to fight, no matter how difficult the path ahead was.

Using the opportunity, Sunny decided to take another look at his status and summoned the runes again. The last time he was too outraged by the Aspect and didn't study the Attributes well. While not as important as one's Aspect, the Attributes were often the deciding factor between life and death. They represented one's natural traits and affinities, sometimes even providing passive abilities and effects.

[Fated] Attribute Description: "The strings of fate wrap tightly around you. Unlikely events, both good and bad, are drawn by your presence. There are those who are blessed, and there are those who are cursed… but rarely both."

"Interesting description of that attribute," Saint Cor commented thoughtfully. "It means that much of your life will be influenced by it. Besides, I'm sure that this ability is the reason why your aspect seemed useless."

"That's terrible," Morgan interjected, with a somewhat indifferent tone. "No wonder you seem so unlucky. This could be a problem... If you stick around me, disasters might happen, and that could affect me." Her concern was less about Sunny and more about how his bad luck might interfere with her own life.

Beastmaster, who had been silent until then, also spoke up.

"Yeah, from what we've seen, you seem to be more on the cursed side... at least for now. Tell me, has that changed? Have you become blessed now?" Her voice carried a hint of irony, and she let out a soft, almost musical laugh before continuing: "I highly doubt it. The mere fact that we're reacting to you, instead of any of us, proves that things remain as they always have."

Sunny grimaced at her words, but he couldn't deny that the only truly good thing that had happened in his recent life was meeting Nephis and Cassie.

Saint Madoc, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up.

"Though it seems true," he began, with a thoughtful tone, "he might be both, both blessed and cursed. We can't be sure. It would be a mistake to assume anything based on such limited information."

The other members of the group nodded in agreement. If Sunny were truly a combination of blessing and curse, they could still use him for their own purposes. But if he were merely cursed, it would be safer to leave him alone. After all, if he joined them and his attribute acted at an inopportune moment, they could find themselves in a terrible, perhaps even fatal, situation. Caution was essential to avoid being dragged into death along with Sunny's bad luck.

[Mark of Divinity] Attribute Description: "You bear a faint scent of divinity, as though someone briefly touched by it once, a long time ago."

[Child of Shadows] Attribute Description: "Shadows recognize you as one of their own."

'Hmmm… Interesting.'

"I agree," said Saint Madoc, his tone calm but thoughtful. "There are few people with shadow-related aspects, so few you can count them on one hand." He paused, his eyes narrowing as he reflected. "Besides, it's becoming increasingly clear that Sunny may have inherited the lineage of the God of Shadows, especially with this attribute. Even though others possess shadow-related abilities, none of them are truly recognized as one of his."

Morgan raised her beautiful eyebrows, her curious gaze fixed on Sunny, before asking, "Does that mean you're a shadow?"

Sunny blinked, surprised by the sudden question, but then nodded. "Yes, in a way," he replied.

Master Jet frowned, thoughtful.

"I know a few as well," she said slowly, "but from what I understand, even if they have some shadow-related abilities, none of them are recognized as part of the shadows themselves."

"That just shows how interesting this boy is," Beastmaster commented, a gleam of curiosity in her eyes. She watched him with a mix of fascination, as if analyzing a rare creature.

Sunny quickly recognized the first attribute, [Fated], as the main culprit of his predicament. At first glance, it seemed to indicate that he was destined for a certain fate — to die miserably and vanish without a trace, for example. But after reading the description, he realized that being fated actually just meant that improbable things had a higher chance of occurring when he was around.

'I guess this is how I managed to receive one of the super rare useless Aspects — and a weird variant of it, at that!'

"If it leans toward both sides, it wouldn't be so bad. It would be a balance, right?" Kai commented, trying to find a positive perspective in the situation.

Effie nodded, adding, "If improbable situations are more likely to happen around you, maybe that was one of the reasons you survived your first Nightmare. From what I know, it would have been nearly impossible for someone like you to come out alive."

Sunny was visibly surprised by her words. He had always underestimated Effie, thinking she was just a carefree girl, but now he realized there was more to her than met the eye. After all, she had survived her first Nightmare too, and that required more than just luck. Her words made sense, forcing him to reconsider what he knew about himself. 'True,' he thought, 'I was supposed to die. Surviving was an improbable situation, and it only happened because of the intervention of a dead god.'

He looked at Effie, still pondering what she had said, and spoke with a more serious tone: "Now that you mention it, it does make sense. I really should have died. But... since I can't talk about what happened because of the spell, you'll have to see for yourselves."

"So, that means you're both blessed and cursed," Seishan said, tilting her head as she processed the revelation. "It makes more sense now how you managed to survive. If fate intervened, it explains how you've stayed alive."

If [Fated] was his innate Attribute, then the other two came from the [Temple Slave] Aspect. [Mark of Divinity] was more a less straightforward — it was supposed to allow passage into certain sacred places inside the Dream Realm and enhance several types of sorcery. Since there were no sacred places in sight and Sunny's Aspect had nothing to do with sorcery, it was useless, too.

[Child of Shadows] was a stranger one. He had never heard of it and had no idea what it was supposed to do — at least not until the sun hid behind the mountain and the sky began to darken. To his surprise, Sunny found himself able to see perfectly in the darkness, as though it was still as bright as day. This ability alone was nothing to scoff at, and it was quite possible that shadows would reward him with some other, yet unknown, gifts.

"Uh," Saint Cor exclaimed, thoughtfully. 'If these shadow abilities evolve, he could become a formidable assassin. After all, he already has a natural connection to the shadows. It would be excellent if his link with Jet could bring him into the government.'

Morgan turned slightly, her eyes fixed on Sunny, who was positioned behind her. "I'm really curious about your abilities, Sunny. I'd like to know how they've evolved, but unfortunately, you can't talk about them. Well... your companions can." Her gaze shifted to Nephis and Cassie, assessing them with renewed interest.

"You know what his abilities are, don't you?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with expectation.

Nephis nodded, leaving Sunny somewhat nervous at the thought of her revealing his abilities to the group. He sighed internally, trying to calm himself. 'It doesn't really matter,' he thought, 'even though it's uncomfortable getting recognition from the great clans, my abilities aren't anything too special. Either way, they'd eventually be revealed. The real issue would be if they discovered my Aspect, and I was forced to become a slave. Calm down... one thing at a time. Breathe and focus on what's happening right now.'

Morgan smiled, noticing Sunny's tension and eager to learn more about his abilities. Maybe he could be useful for her own plans.

"So, what are these abilities like?" she asked, with a hint of impatience in her voice.

Everyone in the room paid attention, curious to learn more about the boy being displayed and trying to figure out why they were witnessing his fate.

Nephis, however, maintained her firm stance and replied in a controlled voice, "It's not my place to tell. Besides, there's no guarantee the spell won't silence me."

"Hahaha," Morgan let out a laugh, somewhat surprised by Nephis' firm response. "Alright, you're right."

With that, Morgan turned forward again, her eyes returning to the screen. The others also directed their attention back to the display.

'Finally something good. I wonder if…'

"Stop the caravan! Prepare to camp!"

Following the head soldier's order, the slaves stopped and fell to the ground, shivering and exhausted. The small clearing where the road widened was somewhat protected from the wind by a protruding mass of rock, but it was still too cold to rest with ease.

The soldiers got busy herding the slaves into a tight circle, forcing them to share warmth, and lighting up a large bonfire in the center of the camp — although not before tending to their horses. The heavy wagon carrying food, water and other cargo, to which the main chain was firmly affixed, was pushed forward to block the wind. While looking around, Sunny noticed the young soldier from before watching the mountain with a complicated look on his face.

'What a weirdo.'

'He probably had already figured out about the tyrant by then... I wonder why he didn't say anything,' Sunny thought, narrowing his eyes as he re-evaluated the young man before him.

Kai, noticing Sunny's anger, leaned slightly toward him and asked, "You really don't seem to like him. Even now, you're looking at him in a strange way. Is there a reason?"

"Yes, of course there is," Sunny replied with a hint of coldness. He knew Kai found it unlikely that Sunny would hate someone without reason. But, after a brief moment of reflection, Sunny mentally corrected himself. 'Wait, I've hated several people without any reason. So if he thinks I would hate someone without cause, he's completely right.'

"And what would that be?" Kai pressed, curious.

"There are several reasons, but the main one is his hypocrisy," Sunny said, his words laced with disdain.

Kai nodded in understanding, even without knowing all the details. He knew that sooner or later, he would see the truth.

Soon, the bonfire was blazing. The stronger slaves tried to find their way closer to the fire, while the weaker ones, like Sunny, were forced to sit at the outer end of the circle, with their backs freezing in the cold. Of course, any movement was encumbered by the fact that they were still shackled to the chain. That's why the familiar broad-shouldered slave ended up just where he started despite all of his efforts to get closer to the flame.

"Damn Imperials!" he hissed, clearly irritated.

The soldiers walked among the slaves, giving them water and food. Sunny, just like everybody else, received a few sips of icy water and a small piece of rock-hard, moldy bread. Despite its unappetizing look, he forced himself to eat the whole thing, just to be left as hungry as he was before.

By the looks of it, he wasn't the only one.

"That sounds disgusting. Even in the Dream Realm, what we eat is better than that," Cassie commented, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

Sunny nodded, sharing the same sentiment. "Yes, it was horrible trying to survive with hunger."

Effie, grumbling a bit, couldn't help but be thankful for the small fortune of being sent to a place where, at least, there was food. "At least I didn't have to deal with that."

The shifty slave that had been walking behind him looked around in anguish.

"By all the gods, they used to feed me better even in the dungeons!"

He spat on the ground, desperate.

"And most of us innocent men in the dungeon were there waiting to visit the gallows, too!"

"That's the cruelty of humanity. They kill people and enslave innocents for no reason at all," Kai commented, his voice heavy with frustration and disbelief.

Saint Madoc shook his head, disapproving of the young man's naivety. "You're mistaken, boy. There's always a reason, but those reasons are rarely noble. They do it for power, for ambition, to show dominance... There are thousands of reasons, all selfish. The reasons don't have to be just. The truth is, while humans like to consider themselves rational, they are little more than irrational animals. The only difference is that they have domesticated themselves and hide their true natures beneath a thin veneer of civility."

Cassie frowned, still trying to process this new perspective on the world, a view that had been dismantling her sense of humanity since the nightmare seed infection. "But that doesn't mean everyone is like that. There are people who remain true, who fight for justice," she said, her voice mingling hope with uncertainty.

Saint Madoc gave a slight, sarcastic smile. "Yes, such people do exist. But they are the exception, not the rule. And even the righteous, when pressed, can reveal a side they themselves didn't know they had. In the end, power corrupts, and fear turns even the most just of men."

Morgan, observing the exchange, smiled with a hint of cynicism. "Deep down, everyone is capable of cruelty. What differentiates people is merely the opportunity and what they have to lose."

Sunny, hearing Morgan's words, felt compelled to respond. There was something about the hypocrisy of the great clans that always bothered him. He turned to her, his voice tinged with skepticism and disdain. "Sometimes, even those who commit atrocities convince themselves they are good or that they have just reasons for their actions. I'm sure these imperialists falsely claimed they were acting on divine orders," he said, staring at Morgan.

Morgan maintained her calm smile, neither confirming nor denying Sunny's words. "You're right," she finally said, with a touch of irony in her voice. "But what really matters is who wins in the end, isn't it? History is always written by the victors, and they have the power to shape the narrative as they wish."

Saint Cor, who had remained silent until then, nodded in agreement with Morgan's words. "Indeed, the pursuit of power is the true nature of men. In the end, they always find a way to justify their actions, no matter how selfish or cruel."

Kai, still reflecting on what he had heard, responded with a bitter tone. "And it's that same justification that allows atrocities to continue. When history is shaped by the victors, who is there to tell the truth?"

Morgan tilted her head slightly, still smiling. "Truth is just a matter of perspective. What is true for one is a lie for another. In the game for power, those who control the narrative control the truth."

Saint Cor added with a darker tone. "And those who control the truth control the future. That's why power is so coveted. It's not just about the present, but about who will have the final word."

Beastmaster, who had been silently observing the discussion, finally spoke, her deep voice resonating through the room. "As Madoc said, no matter how much they try to hide it, humans are still animals. They like to kill, hunt, and expand their territory. Their reasons always come down to one: primitive instinct."

Cassie, unwilling to accept this cynical view of humanity, shook her head and questioned, "Then why do we have doctors? Why does charity exist? Why do we invent trade and peace?"

Nephis shook her head, her expression showing a mix of disapproval for Cassie's naivety. "Cassie, you need to accept reality. And as for your questions: doctors exist to prolong life, giving humans more time to fight and compete. Charity is the carrot on a stick, a tool of social control disguised as benevolence. Trade creates and perpetuates hierarchies between the rich and the poor, between producers and consumers. And peace? It's an illusion. What we call peace is merely a truce, an interval between wars, a time when humans need to replenish their strength before resuming their eternal struggle. If you want a clear view of humanity's future, imagine a man killing another. Forever. Our species is the cancer of this planet."

The silence that followed Nephis's words was thick and heavy.

A few steps away from them, where the paved road ended and sharp rocks began, a scattering of bright-red berries were growing from the snow. Sunny had noticed them before, clustering here and there along the road, and even noted how pretty those resilient things looked contrasted against the white. The shifty slave's eyes glistened as he tried to crawl towards the berries on all fours.

"I would advise against eating those, friend."

It was the gentle-voiced slave again. Sunny turned around and finally saw him in the flesh for the first time. It was a tall man in his forties, lean and strangely handsome, with a dignified look of a scholar. How a man such as him ended up a slave was a mystery. Yet there he was.

"You and your advice again! What?! Why?!"

The scholar smiled apologetically.

"These berries are called Bloodbane. They grow in the places where human blood was spilled. That's why there's always a lot of them along the slave trade routes."

"So what?"

The older man sighed.

"Bloodbane is poisonous. A few berries might be enough to kill an adult man."

"Curses!"

he atmosphere in the room remained heavy after the intense discussion, the tension still palpable in the air. However, dwelling in this state wouldn't lead anywhere. Deciding not to prolong the sense of discouragement, the group chose to move past the previous conversation and continue forward.

"By the way, I didn't thank you, Master Jet, for your advice to enroll in the wilderness survival classes. Thanks to that, I managed to survive," Sunny said, expressing his gratitude.

Master Jet was momentarily surprised but quickly broke into a smile. "Oh, I'm glad to hear that. I only gave a small piece of advice; it was you who figured out what your worst enemy was in your nightmare."

"Even so, if you hadn't advised me, I wouldn't have managed to survive. I learned many things, especially how to swim... and I ended up being thrown into the middle of the sea in the Dream Realm."

Effie complained, lamenting her luck. "I regret not taking that class. It would have been much easier to find food and know what I could eat or not."

Kai laughed, sharing his own experience. "Ah, I was lucky enough to land in the Citadel."

"Lucky bastard," Sunny grumbled. 'I was thrown into the middle of the sea, and he landed right in a Citadel? Where's the justice in that?'

Kai smiled, as if apologizing, while Sunny made a small disapproving face. Without saying anything more, he turned his attention back to the screen, trying to focus on what was happening.

The shifty slave flinched back and glared at the scholar.

Sunny did not pay them a lot of attention.

Because, while looking around, he finally recognized the site of the camp as the place where, in his vision at the start of the Nightmare, the bones of the slaves were buried under the snow. And he was willing to bet that whatever it was that killed them all was going to happen soon.

As if to answer his thoughts, a thundering noise rang from above.

And in the next second, something massive came crashing from the sky…

Morgan smiled, satisfied. "Finally, I was starting to get a bit bored waiting for action, but it seems like it's finally going to start."

Everyone was excited, knowing that the real test was about to begin. The memories shown so far seemed more like a small introduction.

Seishan, curious, agreed, "I wonder what kind of creature you faced?"

Beastmaster, with a mischievous smile, added, "I wonder what the chances are that your attribute sent a creature worse than expected for your first nightmare."

Sunny froze for a moment, surprised by the insight of the question. These people were indeed dangerous, capable of deducing so much from a small piece of information. It scared him.

Beastmaster, noticing Sunny's reaction, smiled even more. "Although you can't give us direct information, your body language reveals everything. I'm looking forward to seeing how strong this creature is."

Morgan nodded, her eyes shining with a mix of curiosity and recognition. "True, if that's the case, your attribute is really dangerous. To be able to influence things so much is impressive, although I'm sure you only survived because of it."

Sunny straightened his back as he took a deep breath, mentally preparing for what was to come. 'Finally, the moment has arrived. This is where it all began, where I took my first steps to becoming what I am today. The time for revelation is approaching.'

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he pondered how to avoid being controlled. He believed he had found a solution, at least while they were all trapped in that room. Curiously, the answer might lie in the very origin of what brought them there.

It was said that the Nightmare Spell had a life of its own, and Sunny had seen firsthand something that seemed to be the consciousness of the spell, an entity he had always perceived as cold and mechanical, almost like a robot. But now, he wondered: why was he specifically chosen to be revealed? And what if he tried to communicate with this consciousness?

With this thought in mind, he made an attempt in his thoughts: 'Nightmare Spell, are you listening to me?'