The moment we stepped through the gate, the landscape changed so drastically that I felt like a mere speck in a vast, ancient world. We stood inside an enormous cylindrical structure entirely made of wood, and as my eyes adjusted, I realized that thousands of wooden buildings lined the inner walls, towering toward a distant, dimly glowing ceiling. The light came from clusters of bioluminescent mushrooms clinging to the bark, casting a soft, eerie glow across everything. I finally understood—we were standing inside the hollow remains of the ancient Worldtree, a tree so colossal that entire citie had sprung up within its fallen trunk.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Mirella said, noticing my reaction, clearly amused.
All I could do was nod in awe. "We're really inside a tree?"
Mirella chuckled. "Not just any tree. This was once the third-largest Worldtree in the Second Plane. Legend has it that an ancient battle took place here thousands of years ago—between the Enforcers of Destruction and Death. That fight caused the tree to fall, and even though it's been centuries since, the Giants who lived here chose to remain inside its hollowed trunk. Over time, they built this entire city inside the remains."
We walked through the bustling streets, dwarfed by the immensity of everything around us. The air was thick with the scent of aged wood, damp moss, and the occasional hint of smoke from distant fires. I was struck by the scale of the Giants' craftsmanship, but there was something odd about it—though the city was thriving, I quickly noticed the scarcity of Giants themselves. Despite the massive architecture, most of the people wandering the streets were travelers and smaller folk.
As we navigated through the towering structures, Mirella suddenly stopped and turned to face us. "Well, I suppose this is where our paths diverge. I've brought you safely to the Fallen Worldtree, so my part in this is done. If there's anything else you want to ask before I go, now's the time."
I paused, considering for a moment before deciding to satisfy a growing curiosity. "It's a bit unrelated, but… what can you tell me about Dragonlords?"
Mirella raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the question, but she answered readily enough. "That is a random one. Dragonlords are essentially the natural protectors of their respective worlds. Each world can only have one Dragonlord at a time, and as long as they remain within their domain, they have near-absolute control over the somnium of their world. It makes them nearly invincible in their home territory. They don't usually intervene unless their world is directly threatened by another, which is why many of them are unknown even to the people living on their worlds."
I leaned forward, intrigued. "So it's possible to kill one? We came across the body of a dead Dragonlord."
Her expression darkened slightly. "Possible, but not advisable. There are very few documented cases of a Dragonlord being killed, and the consequences are severe. Usually, a Dragonlord dies when something else, takes their place as the protector of that world. Occasionally, a world will shift its favor to another being, allowing the old Dragonlord to fade away while a new one rises. But if someone manages to kill one directly… the consequences are dire."
"Dire how?"
"Killing a Dragonlord causes the somnium itself to turn against the killer. Those who commit the act are cursed to become Dreamless—twisted abominations, half-human and half-nightmare, forever tormented by the very fabric of dreams. The world also suffer, often becoming barren, as the natural balance is lost."
I hesitated, thinking back to Kran's obsession with the Dragonlord's heart. "What about their hearts? Are they really that valuable?"
Mirella gave a wry smile. "The heart of a Dragonlord is one of the most coveted treasures in all the planes. People have tried to kill Dragonlords for it despite the consequences. It's said to hold immense power, though no one has successfully acquired one in the last few hundred years. Too many risks, too few rewards. But if you're wondering whether —"
"So it's safe to eat?" I interrupted, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"Safe? Well, yes, after the proper preparations are made. The heart is potent, but without the right rituals, it could have… unintended effects."
(Now you believe me, right?) Kran's voice buzzed excitedly in my mind. (You're going to feast on that heart!)
"Just wondering," I said quickly, downplaying the interest. "I don't plan on killing any Dragonlords."
"Hmm, I should hope not," Mirella replied, giving me a long, appraising look. "Anyway, I really need to be on my way. There's someone I need to find, and my search hasn't been going well. This little break was a nice distraction, but I have to get back to it. I hope our paths cross again."
With that, she disappeared into a swirling vortex of blue light, just as she had first appeared. Rem and I stood there for a moment, blinking at the sudden departure.
"So… she could have used that inside the worlds too, huh?" I muttered.
Rem nodded thoughtfully. "I guess she just didn't want to rush us out. Maybe she was enjoying the company."
Kran hopped from my shoulder, his tiny metal wings buzzing with impatience. "Who cares about that? We're finally here! You can eat the heart now!"
Rem shot him a wary glance. "So you're really serious about this whole heart-eating thing, huh?"
Kran folded his arms indignantly. "Didn't you hear what Mirella said? It's completely safe!"
"Still," Rem countered, "what if something goes wrong? What if he turns into… I don't know, a Wormeater or something?"
"Don't scare him now!" Kran retorted, his wings buzzing irritably. "We didn't come all this way for nothing."
I shook my head. "Relax, I asked Mirella to be sure nothing like that would happen. Besides, we have time. If we're planning to take that test she mentioned, we could wait and see how it goes. It would definitely be a shortcut to the Land of Dreams."
Rem sighed but didn't argue. "I suppose you're right. Not many people try to make that journey anymore."
With the heart issue settled for the moment, we decided to explore the city. The streets were filled with a strange but alluring energy, a sense of history embedded in the very wood beneath our feet. We found a small restaurant nestled between two towering wooden buildings, and although I had no idea what the dishes on the menu were, the food was delicious. Kran, after inspecting his plate carefully to make sure it wasn't moving, devoured his meal with gusto.
As we ate, Rem leaned back and asked, "According to Mirella, there's still a month until the test. What are we going to do in the meantime?"
Kran perked up. "We'll start the preparations for eating the heart! That'll take a few days at least."
I didn't want to rush it, "we do have time, so we should explore and make sure we're ready before we begin."
The heart was still on my mind, but for now, it felt good to take a break and enjoy the calm before whatever challenges awaited us next.
---
After settling into a inn for the night, Rem and I separated into our own rooms. exhaustion finally caught up with me. As soon as I entered my room, I collapsed onto the bed, letting sleep claim me. The last few days had been nothing short of chaotic, and I was ready for a break.
(Well… I guess you're not going to like what I'm about to say,) Kran's voice echoed in my mind, pulling me into my mindscape before I could fully relax.
I groaned inwardly. The familiar training grounds of my mindscape appeared around me, the ethereal landscape where I'd spent countless days training, even though only hours passed in the real world.
"Come on, can't I rest for a bit? I haven't had a good sleep in days," I muttered, already anticipating Kran's response.
(Your body's resting, and that's enough. I'm making sure you crush everyone in that test coming up, so forget about slacking off.) Kran's determination was palpable.
And so, my hellish training began once again. As much as I wanted to protest, deep down, I knew I needed it. After my battle with the nightmare in the manor, I realized just how far I still had to go. I wasn't nearly strong enough.
That Incubi… Noa said it wasn't even one of the stronger nightmares, but it was still more than enough to push me to my limits.
"So how strong was it, exactly?" I asked, half curious, half frustrated.
(It was an Incubi—just above the midpoint of nightmare strength,) Kran explained.
"Enlighten me, then. What are the other kinds?"
(There are six categories of nightmares. The weakest are Phantasms. They're basically nuisances, barely more than shadows. Anyone with even a little control over somnium can take one of them down. They're mindless and swarm in groups like pests.)
(Next up are Night Terrors. They're a step above Phantasms, acting more like wild animals. Stronger, faster, and more dangerous, but still not highly intelligent. A decent fighter with orange-level strength can handle one.)
Kran's casual tone made it sound simple, but I knew that even a red level strength was no joke.
(Then we have Mares, the most commonly encountered nightmares. They're smarter than animals but not by much. They usually act alone and hide from direct confrontation, but when cornered, they're a real threat. Still, they pale in comparison to Incubi.)
I nodded, absorbing the information.
(Incubi are different. They're smart enough to blend in with humans, and that makes them dangerous. Just like the one you fought in the manor. It was no joke. Incubi can be as strong as a blue- or indigo-level Wanderer, and they can be hard to spot if they're trying to hide.)
"So I wasn't fighting something exceptionally strong, but I still couldn't win," I said, a bit of frustration creeping into my voice.
(I wouldn't say that. Incubi are a serious threat, especially as a first encounter. But hey, it's not all bad—you survived, and now you know where you stand.)
"Yeah, I guess it was a wake-up call," I admitted. "So what about the stronger nightmares? You said there were six categories."
Kran's tone shifted, becoming more serious. (Beyond Incubi, we have Revenants. They're powerful nightmares that control hordes of weaker ones. A single Revenant can command an entire army of nightmares and has the strength to rival a violet-colored Wanderer. Their ability to control other nightmares makes them a force capable of wiping out small worlds.)
I felt a chill run through me at the thought of a nightmare that could wipe out an entire world. It made me remember the monstrosity that destroyed my own world. "And the last one?"
(Primordials,) Kran said, his tone dark. (They are near-invincible. Primordials are the embodiment of collective fears—nightmares of concepts themselves. They don't just feed off fear; they are fear. If a Primordial is summoned, it brings devastation on a scale that can obliterate entire worlds. Some of the most notorious ones, like the Primordial of Death or Darkness, could overpower even a Dragonlord. They're nearly unstoppable.)
I swallowed, trying to imagine what that kind of power would look like. "How strong are they, exactly?"
(Multiple black- and white-colored Wanderers would be needed to take down even a weaker Primordial, like the Primordial of Birds or something that's not that scary. The stronger . But don't worry about it too much—Primordials are all locked away deep in the First Plane, and summoning one requires an enormous price to be paid. It's incredibly rare, and I doubt you'll ever encounter one.)
"Sure, I think you just jinxed it," I said with a smirk.
(Don't be ridiculous,) Kran snapped. (Now quit stalling and get back to training.)
I sighed, pushing my exhaustion aside. Training with Kran in the mindscape was brutal, but after hearing about the horrors that existed in this world, I knew it wasn't enough to just be good anymore. I needed to be ready for anything. And the test ahead wasn't going to be easy.
"Fine," I muttered. "Let's do this."
And so, my mindscape training continued, with Kran pushing me to my limits, ensuring that the next time I'd be ready.
---
As Ashborn trained in his mindscape, a dwarf somewhere in the Fallen Worldtree stirred from a quick nap.
"Ah, what now?" the dwarf grumbled, stretching as he sat up.
(---)
"Ah, so you've felt him nearby, have ya? The one you've been on about?" The dwarf shook off his grogginess, his face lighting up with understanding. He stood, straightening his armor and cracking his neck.
"Well, now! About time," he said with a laugh, energy building as the excitement of the moment kicked in. He looked out over the city below, the vast wooden structures built into the walls of the fallen Worldtree.
He had dozed off on one of the giant glowing mushrooms hanging high above the city. Its soft light bathed the area in a gentle glow.
"...As soon as I find my way down!"