"This can't be. It doesn't make any sense. If he can use it just a little he should be able to improve, so what exactly did I miss?" Oneiro was sitting with closed eyes in the lotus position and trying to replicate Ethan's case.
"And while it was true that he is the first to breakthrough the first rank of mental power while still being on the awakening rank, it should still be sufficient to use his mind power."
"Could it be because of my dream world? Nah, that also can't be it. Epimetheus also broke through the first rank here and he used his telekinesis instinctively, and with all due respect to this psycho, he is far less telenet to this genius in front of me."
Oneiro started to grow frustrated. The past 10 days he did nothing besides study Ethan's situation. One of the big advantages to the dreamworld was that he could bend the rules of physics and logic and achieve results not possible in reality making it easier for his researches.
"What am I missing?" Oneiro grew frustrated.
"I can't keep going like that. Maybe I should just take a walk, to free my mind."
Oneiro did not really need to pack anything, but as if it was engraved in his bones, he opened his palm and a sword, only 140 cm in length, manifested inside it. If one looked closely the one would be engravings on the 70 cm short blade that extended to the hilt itself. Some would say that it looks unproportional and that no one would be able to fight with it. But for Oneiro the sword had a completely different meaning.
Oneiro looked at the sword, his mind drifting deep in the past.
Memories flooded back to him. A vivid recollection of a burning forest, ruined trees, and flying creatures spewing mana attacks filled his mind. The devastation was overwhelming, and the scene was marred by the sight of lifeless bodies—children, wives, mothers, the elderly, and the young—all indiscriminately taken by the merciless invaders. There was no mercy, kindness, or sympathy in those marauders, only destruction and death.
"DON'T LOOK BACK AND RUN. ONLY IF YOU ARE ALIVE WILL YOU BE ABLE TO TAKE REVENGE. DON'T LET OUR DEATH BE IN VAIN." Those were the desperate cries that echoed in the air that fateful day.
It was on that day, he lost his tribe. Only a few survivors o…. well that's a story for another time.
Oneiro took a deep breath and closed his eyes once more. "I found a seedling that could be the key to our revenge," he whispered, the names of his loved ones escaping his lips like a solemn oath. "Mother... Father... Sister Lily... Sister Nora... Brother Aaron... I will make them regret the day they were born. They will live a life full of endless torment, and I will make them suffer, , and suffer."
The weight of his vow hung heavy in the air as he continued to meditate on the memories of that tragic day.
At that moment, the dream world began to darken. Ethan found himself in the midst of a fierce battle with a gigantic two-headed python, but something was terribly wrong. The python began to disintegrate before his eyes, and panic set in.
"What?!" Ethan exclaimed as he looked up at the darkening sky. The world around him was rapidly turning black, and confusion and anger surged within him. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, ONEIRO?!"
Ethan's furious roar echoed in Oneiro's mind, and he instantly realized his grave mistake.
Ethan's relentless hunger had driven him to the brink of madness. Over the past few days, the hunger had grown stronger and stronger, clouding his thoughts and causing a persistent headache. In this dream world, where one hour felt like four days in reality, the sensations of hunger and the pounding headache were excruciatingly real. For ten days, Ethan had endured this torment without respite.
This relentless suffering was now exacting a heavy toll on his mind. It made it nearly impossible for him to focus and concentrate properly. His growing aggression, fueled by the maddening hunger, only added to the chaos, rendering him incapable of effectively wielding his abilities.
"It's all part of your training," Oneiro's voice echoed in Ethan's mind. "You're losing more and more of your mind. If you keep losing your concentration, I will be forced to end this training session. Your body needs nutrients; otherwise, your headache won't lessen. You have a choice: either you continue training with this pain, or you leave this world."
Oneiro couldn't bring himself to reveal his earlier mistake. He would have to share his plans for revenge with Ethan at a later time.
Staring at the sword in his hand, he questioned himself, "Is it truly right to place such a heavy burden on this young boy's shoulders? The weight of his family, his world, and now the weight of another world. Is this the path I want to tread?"
In a rare moment of vulnerability, Oneiro remembered his own family, a loving and supportive group who had shared his hopes and dreams. The memory of their deaths was etched deeply in his soul, the brutality of their loss a constant source of grief. "TAKE REVENGE, BROTHER!" his siblings had urged on the frontline, their voices echoing in his mind to this day.
Oneiro took a deep breath, the weight of impending decisions bearing down on him. The guilt for what was about to happen nagged at his conscience, but he knew there was no turning back. In that moment, his resolution became firm: "No matter the cost, I will have my revenge. If it means burdening and manipulating others, then so be it!"
Ethan couldn't have foreseen the challenges that lay ahead, nor did he know that his exceptional talent would make him a target so soon. Yet, an inexplicable instinct tugged at him, a sense of impending betrayal that he struggled to comprehend.
"Phuuu, I guess the headache is playing with my senses. Let's focus again," he muttered, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling.
And so, Ethan delved back into his rigorous training. At this point, he possessed the ability to vanquish around 200 different D-Rank Monsters simultaneously, a feat that would astound even the most seasoned experts. For a newly awakened individual to defeat even one D-Rank Beast was impressive; if word got out about his unparalleled talent, it would trigger a frenzy of people vying to become his mentor. The world outside would stop at nothing to claim him as their disciple.
After dispatching the D-Rank monsters with ease, Ethan felt ready for a more significant challenge. He reached out to Oneiro, his voice filled with anticipation. "Oneiro, don't you think I should be able to handle C-Rank monsters by now?"
However, silence greeted his query. Ethan couldn't help but wonder if Oneiro was upset because of his earlier outburst. He tried once more, a hint of concern in his voice. "Oneiro?"
Still, there was no response from his mentor, leaving Ethan in an unsettling silence that hung heavy in the dream world.
As Ethan continued his training in the dream world, his determination unshaken despite the silence from Oneiro, his mentor explored the dungeon outside of his senses' reach. Oneiro moved through various territories, encountering a wide range of formidable creatures. There were massive, two-headed venomous snakes, a majestic lion fiercely guarding a tree, a pack of wolves patrolling their domain, and numerous other creatures, each protecting their territories.
Yet, no matter how close Oneiro got to them, these beasts seemed oblivious to his presence, as if he were a mere breeze passing through. With hands behind his back and a calm demeanor, he moved through the dungeon like a seasoned scholar, observing and absorbing the sights.
Two hours passed in this manner, and Oneiro, who had been pondering Ethan's telekinesis issue, suddenly had a bold idea. "If he can't use his telekinesis, maybe I need to force his body to adapt..."
Just when Oneiro started to think about a solution to Ethan's problem, he seemed to have figured it out. Oneiro's mind worked feverishly, piecing together a potential solution to Ethan's telekinesis conundrum. "What if his mind is just too overworked?" he pondered. "It's similar to other telekinesis users who rely heavily on their mana, only to realize later that their mental power is equally vital. When I first found him, he was suffering from a mental attack."
Transforming into the size of a small fly, Oneiro landed in front of the majestic lion. "I suppose I'll take a seat on your head this time, oh King of the Dungeon. Hihihihi." He shrank even further until he was as small as a louse, and then his consciousness transferred back into his dream world.
Suddenly, the scene shifted, and Oneiro stood before Ethan once more. He declared, "Playtime is over."
*Snap*
With a snap of his fingers, the menacing beasts that had surrounded Ethan vanished into thin air. Ethan's confusion was evident in his expression. Had Oneiro, after four days of silence, finally decided to change his routine and communicate with him again?
Ethan looked in front of him with confusion. Did he after 8 days decide to change his routine and talk to him again?
"Before you start I am sorry!" Ethan did not give Oneiro a chance to speak and cut him off.
"I am sorry for my outburst a few days ago. I got a headache and my hunger got the better of me." Oneiro was confused. "I know that you warned me that my hunger could change me and I did not appreciate your ability to place me in a world in which I would be able to hone my skills. Therefore I am sorry."
Ethan's innocent gaze, devoid of hypocrisy, pierced into Oneiro's soul. He could see the sincerity in Ethan's eyes, and it only deepened the guilt that gnawed at his own conscience. It felt as if a thousand knives were cutting through his heart, a torment he couldn't escape. He grappled with the weight of his actions, knowing that he was about to subject Ethan to even more challenges and hardships. Yet, he also understood that Ethan was his last hope for achieving his own hidden agendas.
Inwardly, Oneiro resolved, "I will make it up to you, Ethan. But first, I will need to make you stronger and use you for my own agendas." His true intentions remained veiled behind a mask of cooperation as they continued.
"It's okay, don't worry. That's not why I am calling you." Ethan was shocked but did not interrupt Oneiro. "I might have figured out why you can't use telekinesis."
Ethan's excitement was palpable as he hung on to Oneiro's every word. "What do I need to do?" he asked eagerly, ready to take on any challenge that would lead him closer to mastering telekinesis.