"Wait, what? Ethereal? Uhmmm, Forge? Why does it sound like I've heard this word before? Wait... my offensive skill, Ethereal Lash. And in that dream... Ethereal Forge? And now... Ethereal Wind? What the fu*k is going on?" Arvian mumbled, his voice dripping with confusion.
"What's the connection?"
He stared at the system screen, tapping his fingers against the side of his head as if trying to piece the puzzle together.
His eyes blinked rapidly, the confusion etched on his face resembling that of a baffled child lost in thought.
"By the whispers of the ethereal winds, I call upon the Dream Realm to unite our minds," he muttered loudly, his voice carrying a sense of urgency and conviction.
As the words left his lips, an unexpected surge of energy coursed through him.
His body began to glow, the light intensifying with every passing second as if the very air around him was responding to his call. The glow grew brighter, surrounding him in an aura that shimmered like a cosmic force awakening within.
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[System Notification: Dream Realm Connection Request Sent]
[SYSTEM]:
A connection request has been sent to your teammates.
[Request Sent]:
Teammate 1 (Astrea)
Teammate 2 (Darius)
[Waiting for Responses]:
The teammates will now receive a notification asking if they wish to connect. Once they agree, the Dream Realm connection will be established.
◇_______________◇
And all of a sudden, the world around him dissolved into nothingness.
He stood in a dreamlike world, where everything was covered in black and purple and whirled with a mystical mist.
Up above, the sky was a work of art: constellations danced across the horizon, stars glistened like strewn diamonds, and galaxies spiraled in the distance.
Beneath him, the ground was a limitless space, translucent but sturdy enough to support his weight, and it glowed dimly with an unearthly brightness.
The entire scene felt like stepping into the cosmos itself, a place where reality and dreams converged.
Suddenly a circular table of obsidian appeared in front of Arvian, with three finely carved chairs, their edges glimmering slightly as though illuminated by stars.
Astrea appeared right in front of him, her eyes wide with surprise, and Darius appeared to his left, looking just as confused.
"Wow," Astrea finally managed to say, her voice laced with awe. "You summoned us here, Master Arvian?"
"Yeah," Arvian responded with a smirk. "I did this... through the system."
"I want to tell both of you something," Arvian began, his tone firm. "All of us should meet in person at Azmaris Academy."
Darius furrowed his brows, confusion evident. "But why Azmaris? What's there?"
After a brief pause, Arvian responded in a softer tone. "I don't know... but that's what my heart is telling me."
"And I have no idea when the Unhuman Mission will be assigned by the system," Arvian added, his gaze shifting between Astrea and Darius.
"That's why we need to regroup at Azmaris Academy as soon as possible. If we're together, we can tackle the mission more effectively."
"And there's something I need to clarify when we meet at the academy," Arvian said, his expression turning serious and grim.
He gave them both a sharp look while speaking firmly. "Start heading for Azmaris Academy using the System Map. If anything goes wrong, try to connect with me through the system. Stay cautious."
"And there's something I want to clarify there," Arvian said, his expression turning serious and cold.
He glanced at both Astrea and Darius. "Start heading toward Azmaris Academy using the system map. I'll see you both there soon."
Suddenly, the dream-like world began to fade, and in an instant, Arvian found himself back outside the hut.
"Ahh, I need to hurry..." Arvian muttered as he pushed himself forward, his legs still weak but determined.
He made his way through the dense forest, the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds accompanying his journey. After a while, he spotted an old man gathering firewood beneath a large tree.
"Hey, Gramps!" Arvian called out, his voice hoarse but steady.
"Was it you who saved me?"
"Oh, you are awake!" the old man said, his voice a mix of relief and surprise.
"Thanks for saving me," Arvian said quickly, nodding in gratitude before passing the man and continuing through the dense forest.
After a long walk, he reached the edge of the forest.
A wide green field opened up in front of him, revealing a breathtaking scenery that captured his attention.
The ground was lush and vibrant, contrasting with the dark forest he had just emerged from.
A vast city with imposing, magnificent buildings could be seen in the distance; it was a sight he had never seen before.
From where he stood, he could see the high-rise buildings, but the city appeared to be partially underground.
Far ahead, just a portion of the academy could be seen, rising up into the sky with an impressive height that left Arvian in awe.
"Wow!!"
But suddenly, the screen interrupted his peaceful moment, materializing in the air before him.
◇_______________◇
[System Notification: Unhuman Mission - The Market of Souls]
[SYSTEM]:
You have been assigned an Unhuman Mission. This task is beyond the boundaries of morality and will challenge your very soul. Failure or hesitation will come at an unimaginable cost.
[Mission Objective]:
You are to enter the bustling Mercarim Market in the heart of Valdran City.
In the midst of the crowd, you are to slay a certain number of innocent people without being detected.
These individuals are unaware of their fate and hold no power or significance to your mission other than the need to fulfill the task.
Your objective is to eliminate them, as they hold the key to unlocking a dark power necessary for the trial's progression.
[Failure Consequence]:
If you fail to complete this mission or hesitate in carrying it out, you will be transported to the Realm of Eternal Torture where:
1 hour in the real world equals 10 years of suffering in this realm.
You will be subject to endless psychological and physical torment, reliving every moment of guilt and regret.
Your pain will be amplified the longer you resist, and the realm will twist your mind and soul, potentially breaking your sanity forever.
[Warning]:
The task is unfathomably evil. The consequences of failing to comply are far worse than anything you have endured before.
If you hesitate or show mercy, the Realm of Eternal Torture will consume you with regret, and your humanity will be lost forever.
◇_______________◇