Shanaoya's figure vanished within this nightmarish realm.
Chu Yan did not believe for a moment that the regrets in her heart had been assuaged; such a notion was impossible.
At best, those regrets were merely relegated to a lesser position within her heart, preventing them from troubling her spirit.
No matter the circumstances, regrets could never be transformed into perfection; that would be a form of self-deception.
It was akin to a withered, bumpy backside—no amount of divine intervention could alter its lack of beauty!
"Hmm? Why haven't I 'logged out' yet?"
Chu Yan found himself perplexed, gazing around in confusion.
After that last flame, the images of Shanaoya's memories had been completely consumed.
All that surrounded him was a monotonous void, an abyss of darkness, akin to a starlit night sky devoid of stars, profoundly empty and silent.
It appeared that Shanaoya had successfully returned to the present; perhaps her physical form had already awakened in reality.
Yet, Chu Yan discerned no sign of his own escape from this place!
"Uh-oh, could it be that I must endure the psychic pollution of nightmares as well?"
He attempted to move within this space, reaching out to explore his surroundings.
According to prior information, touching those bubbles would cause the most unbearable nightmares from one's psyche to resurface.
Even the deceased Connice had not escaped that fate; it seemed likely that he, too, would have to contend with such experiences.
But what was Chu Yan's nightmare?
He genuinely had no idea.
Perhaps the deities had deemed his past life too arduous, granting him an easy start in this one. In the span of over a decade within this world, Chu Yan had—
Embraced a life of carefree abandon!
If this nightmarish realm could indeed unearth memories he had yet to perceive within himself...
...it would be quite an intriguing prospect.
As he continued to move, Chu Yan's body began to emit photons.
His form radiated a phosphorescent glow, which gradually dissipated, akin to the waning of some energy.
"Am I finally able to 'log out'? No, my body is shrinking."
His clothes became oversized, until they utterly failed to fit, slipping down from his slender shoulders, leaving Chu Yan unable to even keep his shirt in place.
He glanced at his ten-year-old physique, igniting a flame at his fingertips in an attempt to illuminate his surroundings.
With the glow, a shadow emerged ahead.
It was not his own form; the shadow appeared abruptly from a certain position, as though an unseen entity was seated there.
Chu Yan's eyes could not confirm its existence, but the interplay of light and shadow hinted at its presence.
This was likely the reason he could not leave the world of nightmares.
"Hey, brother, are you looking for me? Feel free to say it directly!"
With no avenue for escape and an audacious spirit, Chu Yan approached the intangible presence with a light jog.
As he neared, the silhouette cast by the flames grew clearer, no longer merely a distant line.
The shadow on the "wall" displayed an alluring contour, splendidly voluptuous.
Upon reaching the side, the silhouette's prominent curves stood proud and towering!
Regrettably, Chu Yan still could not discern her true form.
Just as he stood there, bewildered and at a loss, a delicate, intangible hand grasped his small one, extinguishing the dragon flame.
Chu Yan's vision plunged into darkness; the woman's shadow vanished with the extinguishing flame, but her true essence materialized in the impenetrable gloom!
This woman was taller than the average female; though seated, the now diminutive Chu Yan found his forehead barely reaching above her ribcage.
Before he could lift his gaze to discern her features, she slowly extended her arms toward him.
The embrace possessed an irresistible strength; Chu Yan's instinct was to retreat, but despite several steps back, he found himself rooted in place.
As his head sank into the softness of her form, Chu Yan abruptly relinquished his resistance, awaiting whatever fate would befall him.
**"The incomplete key to controlling power is yours…"**
The woman spoke, her language archaic and obscure, the syllables strange and unintelligible.
Yet within Chu Yan's mind, alien symbols materialized, flowing like tadpoles, ultimately transforming into meanings he comprehended.
This was not because he had previously mastered this language, but rather because the woman was imparting its significance to him.
Then, she vanished.
A key manifested in the palm of Chu Yan's hand, its handle adorned with unfamiliar symbols, though only the corners gleamed with light; the rest remained dull and lifeless.
"What on earth is this? At the very least, shouldn't there be a manual?"
Chu Yan stared blankly at his surroundings, reigniting the flame, attempting to glimpse the shadow once more to ascertain the woman's current position.
However, as the light flared, that silhouette had vanished.
Fortunately, Chu Yan's own body began to dissipate as well.
"It seems I should be able to return."
...
"How should we handle these nobles? I believe it would be prudent not to act rashly; we ought to eliminate them all, or there may be repercussions later."
The female officer inquired, offering a measured suggestion.
In the streets of Extreme City, several forbidden ones convened to discuss matters.
Three days had passed since the Blood Moon had faded, and everything had returned to its usual rhythm.
The sea breeze was briny and pungent, occasionally carrying the tumultuous air from the Void Sea.
The sky was overcast, eternally shrouding the world in despair.
Yet, thinking back to the clarity preceding the Blood Moon's arrival, the distinctive beauty of this Sea of Death border appeared markedly more appealing.
Shanaoya wavered, musing:
"If we keep these nobles alive, the news of that Black Ice Dragon descendant's demise here will inevitably leak; they must be executed."
In truth, such a revelation was only a matter of time, but they could not afford any witnesses to implicate them.
Janet sighed, "It would be wonderful if the young lord could awaken normally; his greatest concern is ensuring obedience in the Sea of Death. This is a genuine opportunity to achieve unity."
The female officer, Omega, maintained her serious demeanor, asking, "Have we not consulted that necromancer regarding his soul?"
"We did, but the diagnosis revealed that his soul is in excellent condition; his inability to awaken stems from unforeseen circumstances. However, she is more interested in the symbols appearing on the young lord's face, which are currently being examined in the underground library, having put the matter of the young lord on the back burner."
"Alas!"
Thinking of that fellow Chu Yan, Shanaoya could only sigh.
Since their encounter in the dreamworld, she had successfully left and awoken alone on the desolate shore.
However, after half a day of waiting, she had seen no sign of Chu Yan awakening. Only when the Blood Moon vanished did she reluctantly carry him back to the castle.
After numerous confirmations, it became evident that he was physically unharmed.
Even the secluded nun had been dragged out by Shanaoya to ascertain his condition.
Yet still, they gleaned nothing.
His deep slumber had become a riddle.
With no choice but to join her fellow "inmates" in the castle, Shanaoya began to manage the simple affairs of Extreme City.
All the surviving nobles were now confined.
They awaited Chu Yan's awakening for a definitive word regarding the fate of these individuals.
She declared, "Everyone has spent enough time outside; let's return and rest."
The group collectively returned to the castle, each to their respective chambers.
Shanaoya shed her snug, form-fitting knight's attire, donning a nightgown as she nestled into bed.
She turned to gaze at Chu Yan several times, yet he showed no signs of awakening.
Shanaoya pulled his head over, resting it against her bosom; this had become the most comfortable sleeping position she had discovered in recent days.
Suddenly, she felt a gentle nibble, and her voluptuous form stiffened.
Shanaoya looked down at Chu Yan, feigning anger as she remarked, "Could you at least greet me before you start nibbling?"
Chu Yan, with innocent sincerity, replied, "Good morning."
"It's already good afternoon."
Shanaoya rolled her eyes in exasperation, yet a long sigh of relief escaped her lips, and she finally felt at peace.