On what he knew to be his last day on Earth, Kane felt an overwhelming sense of tiredness and drowsiness, a profound weariness that settled deep within his bones. He moved with a sluggishness that belied his usual energy, each step requiring a conscious effort. He prepared himself, both mentally and physically, for the final time, gathering his resolve and bracing himself to endeavor into the Dream Realm, the mysterious and perilous realm that awaited him beyond the veil of consciousness. A strange mix of trepidation and anticipation churned within him, a nervous energy that he tried to suppress with deep breaths.
Kane thought to himself, a silent monologue playing out in the theater of his mind, "So, this is it, huh? The culmination of everything. The moment of truth. I hope, with every fiber of my being, that I don't end up landing in the Dream Realm anywhere near Nephis. That would complicate things more than I can possibly imagine right now." The thought of encountering her, the heir of the Immortal Flame Clan, the daughter of Broken Sword, sent a shiver down his spine, a cold premonition of potential conflict.
After these final, contemplative moments, he went directly to the cafeteria, seeking the familiar comfort of routine and the company of his newfound acquaintances. He found Sunny and Cassie already there, seated at their usual corner table. He approached them, a faint smile playing on his lips, and offered a greeting. "Morning, Cassie, morning, Sunny," Kane said, his voice a little rough from the lingering fatigue.
Both of them replied in unison, their voices carrying a note of subdued cheerfulness, "Morning." Then, Cassie suddenly turned towards Sunny, her delicate features softening with a warm smile, and said, "Happy Birthday, Sunny."
Sunny, who had been focused on his food, was visibly taken aback by the unexpected greeting. He looked up, his expression a mix of shock and confusion, his eyes widening slightly behind his stoic facade. "Uh... Thanks," Sunny replied, his voice a low rumble, a hint of genuine surprise coloring his tone.
Kane, remembering the shared information from the previous day, added his own well-wishes, a genuine smile gracing his lips. "Happy birthday, Sunny," Kane said, his voice sincere.
Sunny, still somewhat surprised but clearly pleased by the gesture, offered a rare smile in return. He inclined his head slightly towards both of them and replied, "Thanks to both of you."
After the somewhat subdued but heartfelt birthday exchange in the cafeteria, Instructor Rock, his voice booming and authoritative, assembled everyone in the Sleeping Center, the large hall where the Sleepers prepared for their journey into the Dream Realm. However, instead of leading them to the usual sleeping pods, Instructor Rock guided them to a different, more somber place. They were led to a separate chamber, a room filled with an unsettling silence, where several people sat motionless and peaceful in wheelchairs. Their eyes were vacant, their expressions serene, but there was an unnatural stillness about them, a chilling absence of life.
Instructor Rock, his voice grave and solemn, explained the fate of these unfortunate individuals. He showed them the grim reality of what happened to those who died in the Dream Realm, the horrifying truth that their bodies remained on Earth, shells devoid of their souls, trapped in a perpetual state of living death. Kane, observing the hollows, felt a cold dread creep into his heart. The sight of these empty vessels, these silent reminders of the ultimate price of failure, was a sobering and deeply unsettling experience.
Kane thought to himself, a grim determination hardening his resolve, "Nice motivation, Instructor Rock. I would never, under any circumstances, allow myself to end up like that. I will survive, no matter what it takes." The image of the hollows served as a stark warning, a chilling reminder of the stakes involved, solidifying his resolve to succeed.
After the unsettling meeting with the hollows, Kane and Sunny, both feeling the weight of the experience, immediately went to meet Teacher Julius. They sought him out to express their gratitude for the Wilderness Survival class, the knowledge and skills they had gained proving to be invaluable, even before they had set foot in the Dream Realm. They thanked him for his dedication, his unorthodox teaching methods, and the wisdom he had imparted.
After their meeting with Julius, as they walked away from the classroom, Kane, ever pragmatic, broached a subject that had been on his mind. "Sunny," Kane spoke, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, "If we happen to meet in the Dream Realm, let's team up. It would be advantageous to have someone I know watching my back, and vice versa."
Sunny, however, remained true to his prickly and independent nature. He paused for a moment, his expression unreadable, and then replied with a bluntness that brooked no argument, "Let's not meet up."
Kane was momentarily shocked by the curt refusal, taken aback by Sunny's seemingly dismissive attitude. But he quickly understood the harsh and pragmatic nature of the other Sleeper, recognizing that Sunny likely preferred to rely solely on his own abilities. Kane, though slightly disappointed, didn't dwell on it. He simply shrugged internally and moved on, accepting Sunny's decision without further comment.
After their brief but revealing interaction, everyone, including Kane, made their way to the sleeping pods, the strange and futuristic devices that would transport their consciousness into the Dream Realm. Kane, standing before the pod, its smooth, metallic surface gleaming under the dim lights of the Sleeping Center, looked at it with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. This was it, the moment of transition, the point of no return.
Kane took a deep breath, steeling himself for the unknown, and said, his voice a low murmur, a challenge to the universe itself, "Let's see what you have for me, World. Show me what you've got." With that, he stepped inside the sleeping pod, the door closing behind him with a soft hiss.
As Kane settled into the pod, the familiar, disembodied voice of the Nightmare Spell echoed in his mind, a cold and impersonal greeting that marked the beginning of his journey.
[Welcome to Dream Realm, Kane!]
Suddenly, Kane found himself plunged into a disorienting darkness, a blind and chaotic environment. He was surrounded by the salty, briny taste of seawater, the cold, wet sensation enveloping him completely. He was underwater, with no immediate sense of direction or orientation.
Kane thought, his mind racing, a surge of frustration mixed with a hint of grim amusement, "Crap! What is it with my luck? Of all the ways to enter this place, I had to drop into the middle of the ocean. At least all those hours of learning swimming from that crazy Wilderness Survival class are finally going to pay off."
Luckily, thanks to the rigorous training he had received from Teacher Julius, Kane was a competent swimmer. He immediately oriented himself and began to swim upwards, his muscles burning as he fought against the pressure of the water. Finally, his head broke the surface, and he gasped for air, his lungs filling with the sweet, fresh oxygen.
Kane, treading water, saw the sky above him, a vast expanse of blue, and scanned his surroundings, desperately searching for any sign of land. But there was nothing but water in every direction, a seemingly endless ocean stretching to the horizon. The vastness of the sea, the sheer scale of his isolation, was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Kane started to search for land frantically, his heart pounding with a mixture of hope and fear. He swam in a circle, his eyes scanning the horizon, but there was no land to be seen, no hint of salvation. Just the endless, unforgiving expanse of the ocean.
Suddenly, a movement in the water behind him caught his eye. He turned around, his blood running cold, and saw a sight that sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through his veins. A huge, monstrous creature, its form obscured by the murky depths, was moving towards him. He could only see its massive tentacles, thick and powerful, undulating in the water.
Kane, his survival instincts kicking into high gear, reacted instantly. He saw the enormous tentacles and, without hesitation, swam aside with all his might, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the terrifying creature. He didn't know what it was, but he knew he wanted to be as far away from it as possible.
To his immense relief, the creature didn't seem to notice him. It continued to move forward, its massive form disappearing into the depths, leaving Kane alone in the vast ocean once more.
Kane, his heart still pounding, his body trembling from the encounter, thought, a shaky sigh escaping his lips, "It didn't mind me. Thank goodness for that. I don't think I could have faced that thing in my current state."
After conserving his energy, taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart, and trying to regain control of his shaken mind, Kane resumed swimming, his movements now more deliberate and measured. He swam for what felt like an eternity, his muscles aching with fatigue. Finally, in the distance, he saw a platform, a small, solid structure rising out of the endless ocean.
Kane, his hope rekindled, immediately swam towards the platform with renewed vigor, his tired limbs finding a second wind. He swam with all the strength he could muster, his eyes fixed on the distant platform, his only chance of escape from the vast and unforgiving sea.
Finally, after what seemed like an endless struggle, Kane reached the platform. He went to the platform and, with a final surge of energy, pulled himself up onto the solid surface, his body collapsing onto the rough, uneven texture, his lungs heaving with exhaustion.
As Kane lay there, gasping for breath, his body trembling from the ordeal, he saw another figure on the platform. It was Sunny, clad in dark-colored, practical garments, his expression as stoic and unreadable as ever. Kane, despite his exhaustion, managed a weak smile.
Kane, still catching his breath, said, "Nice to meet you again, Sunny. Looks like we're both having a great time in this… paradise."
Sunny, his usual composure momentarily broken by the unexpected encounter, was visibly shocked to see Kane. But beneath his stoic exterior, Kane could detect a mild happiness, a subtle relief at meeting a known person in this strange and dangerous place. Immediately, Sunny, recovering his usual demeanor, said, his voice dry and sardonic, "We meet again, Kane. But please, for the sake of my eyes, wear some clothes."
Then, and only then, did Kane realize his own state of undress. He looked down at his naked body, his face flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. He had been so focused on survival that he hadn't even considered his lack of attire. He quickly summoned his [Silver Plates], the armor materializing around him, encasing his body in its protective embrace.
After summoning the armor, Kane, his embarrassment fading, turned to Sunny and asked, "Any idea where we are? I have absolutely no idea so far. One moment I was in a sleeping pod, the next I was swimming for my life."
Sunny, his expression equally bewildered, replied, "Same as you, I have no idea. This place is completely alien to me."
Kane, unsurprised by this turn of events, thought, a wry smile playing on his lips, 'As expected. My luck goes crazy as usual. Dropped into the middle of nowhere, with nothing but a giant tentacled monster for company.'
After a few minutes of uneasy silence, the two of them taking stock of their strange surroundings, Sunny, ever pragmatic, broke the silence. "Shall we team up for now, then? Since we've met each other first in this bizarre dream realm, it might be beneficial to have a temporary alliance, at least until we figure out where we are and what we're dealing with."
Kane, considering the offer, nodded in agreement. "Sure," Kane said, his voice firm. "A temporary alliance sounds like a good idea. At least we won't be completely alone."
As time progressed, Sunless and Kane, standing on the small, isolated platform, watched the strange and surreal landscape around them. The sun rose in the sky, a pale and unfamiliar orb, casting an eerie glow over the water. As the sun climbed higher, an even more bizarre phenomenon occurred. The sea, instead of remaining constant, began to recede, the water level dropping steadily. After some time under the strange, alien sun, the sea had completely vanished.