In a quiet city, where the streets were empty and devoid of life, people stayed hidden in their homes, afraid of catalyst beings or other unknown threat lurking outside.
Murky, a curious young man always seeking answers, sat in a car, his eyes fixed on the deserted street ahead.
The car started moving, driven by a determined girl, it's another girl, different from the girl earlier.
Through the open car ceiling and window, Murky saw a surreal sight—a landscape filled with metallic-looking structures that, upon closer inspection, resembled towering mushroom-like formations.
"Hmmm…"
These extraordinary buildings had windows that emitted a soft, otherworldly glow, casting a magical light on everything around, as bright as the moon itself.
Lost in his thoughts, Murky whispered quietly, his words blending with the gentle touch of the wind on his face.
"Could this dome somehow be connected to the nightmares that trouble us?"
His voice carried a mix of uncertainty and curiosity, drifting away with the breeze.
Leaning back in his seat, he let his gaze wander, fixating on the open roof of the car, which gave him an unobstructed view of the night sky—a beautiful canvas adorned with sparkling stars.
Longing for clarity, Murky focused on the bright screen in front of him, a portal to a complex system that held the potential to unravel the mysteries surrounding him.
With a furrowed brow, he diligently scanned the intricate interface, searching for a hint of insight that could guide him through the confusing path he was on.
Suddenly, a loud chime broke the silence inside the car.
Ding!
The system's melodic voice echoed, interrupting Murky's thoughts.
[ StupidLove, the player, had completed a new era nightmare and earned a gift of 1,000,000 life fragments. ]
Seeing that, the enormity of the reward amazed Murky, and his eyes widened in disbelief and wonder.
Although he didn't fully grasp the significance of the other rewards, he focused all his mental energy on remembering them.
However, it was the mysterious nature of the life fragments that troubled him the most, as they had an impact not only in the virtual world but also in reality itself.
"Hmmm… a million of life fragments," he mumbled, still feeling like he's just seeing things before his eyes.
In the dome where Murky lived, a unique form of currency called Life coins was essential for survival.
Each Life coin contained a single life fragment, seemingly insignificant to outsiders or those who hadn't experienced nightmares. But those who faced the nightmares or chose to avoid them soon realized that accumulating a substantial number of Life coins was crucial in the real world.
Murky knew It was because life coins are connected to their life.
It was common knowledge that not confronting nightmares granted a fleeting dream lasting only five days.
On the last day, they should confront nightmares because they would die and turn into a catalyst if they didn't.
At least, entering a nightmare would give them life fragments and other stuff if they managed to survive.
"So, there's really no choice. If one wanted to prolong their life or to keep loving without confronting a nightmare, they needed a minimum of ten Life coins, which could be exchanged within the vast network connecting the dome's residents."
Murky mumbled bitterly.
However, suddenly, his attention was drawn to the system screen, called nightmare server, aptly named and within was "Real World," suspended in the air.
[ Nightmare public servers:
[ Murky Smilodon - Real World - open.
[ StupidLove - Taming Hundred Thousand of Dragons - Wait for 24 Hours and 17 minutes. ]
The profound connection between this ethereal server and the physical world did not intrigued Murky.
It is public information that an ordinary person, without any extraordinary abilities, could deposit a Life coin in their own houses linked to the mushroom Dome.
With a sufficient supply of Life coins, one could trade for basic necessities—a shelter for protection from the elements, food to satisfy hunger, medicine for physical and emotional healing, and even defense against the constant threats that endangered their fragile existence.
"I'm sure, this dome is connected to this one floating in front of me," Murky mumbled silently, he felt like his curiosity was eating him alive.
As Murky delved deeper into his thoughts, a mix of fear and wonder flowed through him.
The place where the virtual and real worlds met held endless possibilities, but also uncertainty. It was a reality where dreams and nightmares blended together, blurring what was real and what was not. Murky struggled to understand his existence within the mysterious dome.
What is even the dome?
Shaking his head, he began to focus on the present.
"Wow, I can't believe how rich I am!"
Murky exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief and excitement.
The enormity of his newfound wealth overwhelmed him, filling him with joy. He realized that he now had the power to shape his life in ways he never thought possible. And even if he chose to avoid the dangerous nightmares, he could still live a life of abundance and normalcy.
The average person's life was only about twenty-five thousand years, a short time in the grand scheme of things. But Murky had a million life fragments, each representing a whole lifetime.
It was a number that was hard to comprehend. How many of these life fragments did he need to live just one day?
Only ten!
This astonishing realization meant that Murky could enjoy the wonders of life for a mind-boggling one hundred thousand days, yes!
Those long years!
Overwhelmed by his newfound fortune, Murky relaxed in the comfortable back seat of his car, crossing his arms behind his head.
He looked up at the starry night sky, captivated by the ethereal clouds illuminated by the moonlight.
They seemed like celestial orbs floating in a dark void, inviting him to dream and explore the endless possibilities ahead.
"I will definitely treat myself to countless enjoyment," he whispered, filled with excitement and contentment.
His imagination soared as he envisioned great wealth and extravagant desires materializing before his eyes, one after another.
But amidst his daydreams, a sudden thought interrupted his mind like a gentle whisper on the wind.
"Wait, didn't I promise to get revenge?"
Murky briefly struggled with this reminder of his past. However, the notion quickly faded away, disappearing like mist in the morning sun.
His desire for payback diminished, replaced by an intense curiosity that consumed him.
"Wait, I'm sure that even if I have these large sums of money, why would I need to give it to him or the government?*
He wondered aloud, his voice filled with both contemplation and awe.
As he pondered, caution replaced contemplation in Murky's mind. He thought about the potential consequences of using his vast wealth.
If he employed these life fragments, the vigilant Smilodon family might detect his actions. Not only that, it would inadvertently strengthen their hold on their vast territory, enhancing the massive mushroom-shaped infrastructures that defined their domain.
Murky had no intention of unintentionally helping his enemies in any way.
A mischievous smile appeared on his lips as a daring plan took shape.
"Haha! What if I join forces with rival families, using my wealth as a weapon to spite the Smilodon family?"
He contemplated, relishing the image of their shocked faces and the bitter taste of their defeated pride. It was a scheme full of promise, fueling his determination to forge a path that defied expectations.
However, before Murky could finalize his audacious decision, the screen in front of him flickered to life, casting a mystical glow on his face.
The air crackled with anticipation as the screen emitted a melodic chime, its piercing sound cutting through the silence.
Ding!
[ The player StupidLove is now eligible to enter the new nightmare. Shall we proceed? ]