"Hey," Murky blurted out, his voice echoing in the silent street.
His eyes widened in surprise and anticipation as he stared at the glowing screen in front of him.
Ding!
He didn't expect to get notification in just a day.
The screen displayed the ranking, showing the top one hundred players, including Murky himself. It captured his attention completely.
[ Rankings! ]
[ Champion: StupidLove - 5,055 points.
[ Rank 1: Devil_Whale - 455 points.
[ Rank 2: Land_Dominator - 370 points.
[ … ]
As he scanned the list, he realized something that hit him like a powerful wave.
The top one hundred and one, along with the other players, would have to wait for one agonizing month before they could access the coveted nightmare realm again and get a life fragments.
The top one hundred had it a bit better—they only had to wait for three grueling week.
The elite top ten had a little respite as they could enter after two weeks. And then, there was Murky—the undefeated champion, the best player.
He would have to endure just one week before he could dive back into the game.
The realm was a part of the famous server in the incredible game, 'Taming Thousands of Dragons.'
Confusion and intrigue swirled in Murky's mind, tangling his thoughts in a web of perplexity.
"I am the champion?"
Murky mumbled, but he had anticipated this because of Snow White. The only thing he didn't anticipate was the gap, Murky was dumbfounded by the gap.
However, he had a question.
Before he opened the ranking, there was an invitation for another nightmare, what is that for?
Why did he receive this unexpected invitation once again?
What mysterious forces were at play here?
He furrowed his brow, narrowing his eyes as he desperately searched the screen for answers.
"A new nightmare, huh?"
He muttered, his voice filled with bewilderment, skepticism, and curiosity.
"We've barely escaped one era, and now we will be thrown into an entirely different nightmare again?"
Meanwhile, his mysterious chauffeur—a captivating young woman with a complexion adorned with earthy tones, her black curls flowing elegantly, her eyes emanating a fierce and alluring intensity that reflected her Southeast Asian heritage—gazed at him through the rearview mirror.
Her voice, gentle and attentive, broke the silence, interrupting Murky's thoughts.
"Yes, young master sir?"
She asked, her words flowing like a babbling brook.
Without waiting for his response, she continued in a soothing tone.
"Sir, unfortunately, we can't take you home at this moment. However, we've been entrusted with the task of escorting you to a private Smilodon Family hotel—a safe and peaceful haven—where you can seek refuge and explore the realm of nightmares, if only you wish to, young master sir."
Lost in his own thoughts, Murky initially nodded silently to the mysterious lady driver, acknowledging her words. But as his mind cleared and he became aware of his surroundings, he realized the need to speak up.
However, before a word could escape his lips, uncertainty gripped him.
The driver's mention of a protected sanctuary—a beautiful hotel that would offer him solace amid the otherworldly nightmares—wrapped around him like a comforting embrace, easing his fears and doubts.
"Yes, I truly need a shelter," Murky murmured, his voice filled with a mixture of resignation, relief, and vulnerability.
"Wandering aimlessly through dangerous streets would be a futile endeavor, without rest and filled with unknown perils. It's better to check this new nightmare invitation to a safe haven."
After what seemed like an eternity of staring at the captivating screen, Murky suddenly noticed the vehicle gradually coming to a stop, as if yielding to the passage of time.
Initially unaware of his surroundings, he snapped back to reality as the driver turned her head, her intense gaze meeting his.
Her melodious and decisive voice broke the silence once again, carrying a sense of finality.
"Young master sir, we have arrived at our destination."
Her statement echoed in Murky's consciousness, prompting him to reply, albeit with a brief pause to gather his thoughts.
"Oh," he managed to say, his voice trailing off with a mix of astonishment and anticipation.
The mysterious driver stepped out of the car with a graceful and smooth motion.
She effortlessly walked towards Murky's door, her slender body moving with ease. When she reached the door, she extended her delicate hand, her eyes shining with a captivating charm.
Clack!
With great respect, she skillfully opened the door, revealing a world of luxury and service that Murky had only dreamed of.
"Young master sir."
The way she attended to his needs and showed him such deference left Murky momentarily speechless and overwhelmed.
It was a rare and unexpected twist of fate that he couldn't help but enjoy.
"This…"
He wondered if it was because of his recently discovered and changed genes, which had given him newfound confidence and charm.
In that brief moment, Murky savored the feeling of being cared for by his own family—the family that had neglected him for so long, leaving him longing for a sense of belonging.
"Ah, it doesn't matter," he muttered with a relaxed breath.
As Murky gracefully stepped out of the car, the female driver quickly took out a sleek walkie-talkie from her pocket.
She pressed the button and activated the device with a swift motion. Then, she spoke into it with urgency and importance, her voice traveling through the airwaves, "VIP personnel, VIP personnel."
Murky stood tall, taking a moment to adjust his perfectly tailored clothes, while the driver bowed again, showing respect and deference.
"Sir, I have made sure that everything is prepared flawlessly, so you can enter smoothly," she said with great dedication and sincerity.
Murky acknowledged her gesture with a slight nod, his presence carrying weight, and confidently walked towards the entrance of the luxurious hotel.
As Murky stepped into the lavish interior, his observant eyes immediately noticed a line of people standing in perfect formation, displaying deference and admiration.
Although he had always known about the powerful reputation of his Smilodon family, the grandeur of this spectacle surpassed his expectations.
"Perhaps my seclusion and the limitations on my visibility have prevented me from fully understanding the extent of my family's influence," Murky quietly pondered, his words softly murmuring.
The extravagant welcome party, seemingly arranged solely for his benefit, felt like a dream, a surreal manifestation of his esteemed status.
"Really impressive," he murmured with a chuckle.
The deep satisfaction he felt from seeing these individuals bowing in reverence solely because of his presence resonated within him.
As Murky approached, he was greeted by a group of well-dressed individuals—a manager, guards, and stewardesses—who warmly welcomed him.
"We greet young master Smilodon 24th young master, sir!"
Murky was dumbfounded, in his mind, he couldn't help but chuckle softly, knowing that these people had no idea of his true position in the family, a neglected one.
Only those at the top of the main branch truly understood. And there were only a few who knew he even existed, thanks to his skillful ability to hide from prying eyes. But now, he felt it was time to reveal himself.
He declared with determination, "The time for secrecy is over."
Murky decided that it's time, earlier in the camp he was scared because there are probably people from the main branch, but here? He doubted they would waste their time visiting here.
After enjoying their warm greetings for a moment, Murky realized he needed to get moving.
"Alright, nice place, time to check the new nightmare that the public nightmare notified me about."
Time was precious, and he couldn't waste it. He picked up his pace, driven by a strong sense of purpose.
Suddenly, two individuals in black suits appeared, blocking his way.
"Sir, young master, wait…"
"Huh?"
Murky was briefly surprised and wondered if they knew his true identity. But their gestures towards his coat made it clear that they were concerned about the garment he had obtained in exchange for his school uniform during his encounter with the mysterious woman.
As Murky handed over his coat, he noticed the visible relief on the faces of those around him, realizing the significance of this exchange.
A person dressed in a pristine white suit approached him cautiously, speaking with a mix of nervousness and reverence, "Sir?"
In their trembling hand, Murky saw a sophisticated scanner.
Thoughts raced through his mind as he considered the balance between keeping his whereabouts a secret and his upcoming departure from his family.
Ultimately, he decided to allow the scan, fully aware of the potential consequences.
Beep! Beep Beep!
Encounters with esteemed members of the family were rare and important, always accompanied by the risk of encountering impostors.
To mitigate this risk, the family had implemented scanning mechanisms to verify the genetic connection between those seeking entry and the prestigious lineage they claimed to represent.
As the scanner beeped, indicating a positive match, the person in the white suit stood in disbelief, their mouth hanging open.
A radiant smile gradually spread across his face, expressing sheer astonishment and joy.
"Young master sir, please follow me," he exclaimed.
Finishing the scan, they now confirmed that this person was indeed a true Smilodon royal family member.
Murky nodded silently in response, choosing to keep his words to himself, enveloping himself in an enigmatic aura.
The others present instinctively understood his silence as a natural trait, a reflection of his elevated status. In their eyes, his position required no external validation or endorsement.
With that everything became smooth, he entered a large, outside was surrounded by Nightmare Soldiers, making sure that if Murky ever entered a nightmare and failed, there would be someone to murder his Catalyst being.
Lying in the bed Murky stared at the public server once again, "New nightmare? Let me see…"
Murky wanted to know why, even when he already competed one nightmare, there:s another one that appeared.