The Golden Hour.
Sunday stood on the skybridge with his hands behind his back, watching the crowds flow past in an endless stream.
He was thinking about Robin's words—someone had seen through their plan and was making preparations in the shadows for some unknowable purpose.
No… perhaps they were making preparations openly.
Sunday lifted his head. A small sun hung high over the Golden Hour, so blatant it was almost provocative.
At that moment, a purple raven flew over and landed on Sunday's shoulder.
"What are you thinking about? Did your sister sway you?"
The Dreammaster's voice was low and hoarse.
His avatars were spread throughout the Dreamscape; more than half of the Oak Family consisted of him alone.
The conversation between Sunday and Robin just now had been fully within his sight.
"No." Sunday shook his head, his expression heavy. "I'm just wondering who told Robin those things."
How could he possibly be easily persuaded? Something he had already resolved to do—if mere words could shake him, it would be laughable, even if those words came from his sister.
If someone wanted to prove him wrong, then they would have to defeat him head-on.
What truly worried him was that omnipotent figure lurking behind the scenes, who had inexplicably set their sights on Robin.
He wanted to create a dream world where everyone was happy—and that would also be a world where his sister Robin would never be hurt.
"I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Your ideal will exist through the power of Order." The Dreammaster sounded deeply gratified, then said confidently, "You don't need to worry about that fellow hiding in the shadows. He does have some ability, but I'll drive him away."
"Oh?"
Sunday's eyes widened slightly as he asked with some curiosity, "You've found him? Who is it? That guest who captured the Stellaron Hunters?"
Aventurine of the Interastral Peace Corporation had already been ruled out by him as a threat. With two Cornerstones in their hands, turning the tables would be nearly impossible.
The Astral Express Crew didn't seem likely either—they appeared to have only grasped the surface of the matter.
Only Sol Mercer remained shrouded in mystery. Sunday was almost certain this person had ulterior motives.
"That's right. You guessed correctly."
The Dreammaster looked up at the sky, his eyes narrowing slightly. "A clown who deludes himself into playing god, craving a heroic entrance to harvest faith."
He let out a derisive chuckle and said, "How naive. So-called faith is worthless before a Path."
"He's quite good at finding helpers—An Emanator of Nihility who shouldn't even exist, trying to unite multiple factions together."
"With such combined strength, they really could cause us some trouble."
As he listened to the conversation between Sol Mercer and Acheron, uncertainty churned in his heart.
After all, it seemed that the Emanator of Nihility spoke to Sol on equal footing—and was even faintly suppressed.
This was an absolute thorny enemy, not easy to deal with.
But at such a critical moment, he had to prop himself up and give Sunday some confidence, so that the plan to revive Order could proceed.
Once Dominicus was summoned, that would be the power of an Emanator as well. Combined with the home-field advantage of the Dream of Ena, it would sweep away all threats.
"But I feel like he won't be easy to handle."
Sunday thought of Sol Mercer casually capturing the Stellaron Hunters that day.
The Stellaron Hunters were no simple figures—the IPC had practically gone so far as to deploy an Emanator to capture them, and perhaps already had, yet still failed.
No matter what, someone who could make the Stellaron Hunters unable even to flee was anything but ordinary.
And then there was that sun in the sky, which the Family had exhausted every method to eliminate without success—it looked like a massive ticking bomb.
If you added an Emanator of Nihility to that, plus a bunch of other forces like the Interastral Peace Corporation and the Astral Express Crew…
Yeah… the pressure is immense. The path toward realizing his ideal was bristling with thorns.
Sunday couldn't help but suspect that the Dreammaster was exaggerating. That was not an enemy easy to deal with.
"Rest assured. I'm already meeting with them. I'll drive them away very soon."
Seeing that something was off with Sunday's state of mind, the Dreammaster forcefully tried to reassure him.
That's right—Sol Mercer's side was not easy to provoke.
But neither was he, someone who had lived through countless ages.
Suddenly, darkness fell before the Dreammaster's eyes. The raven he was possessing dropped to the ground, feathers scattering as they fell.
"What's wrong with you?"
Sunday bent down and cupped the raven in both hands.
The raven's pupils had lost focus, its wings hanging limply.
Sunday nudged the bird's head. There was still no response.
No… it's dead just like that?
Sunday's expression turned grave, disbelief flooding his senses.
Just moments ago, the Dreammaster had assured him everything was foolproof—and now he was suddenly dead?!
What was going on?
He recalled how the Dreammaster had just said he was going to drive away Sol Mercer and the Emanator of Nihility.
And yet… he had failed this quickly.
Sunday suddenly sensed something and snapped his head up. A massive gap tore open in the sky of the Dreamscape.
Destructive aura coiled around the opening, revealing beyond it a hollow expanse of the Memoria domain.
"It's not just the Golden Hour that's been damaged—other dreamscapes too."
Sunday frowned deeply.
The battle definitely hadn't taken place in the Golden Hour. It had happened in another dreamscape entirely.
Just what had happened?
...
Not long before, at the Dream's Edge.
All structures within the Dreamscape were constructed by Dreamweavers, and this was precisely a district that had yet to be completed.
Because it was unfinished, the place looked like rows of dull, gray, half-abandoned concrete buildings.
Between some buildings, those set close together were connected by stairways. Others were separated by hundreds of meters, with pinball machines used to travel back and forth.
The overall layout was tangled and complex, dizzying to navigate.
"This is the route to Dreamflux Reef?"
Acheron walked along the stairs, somewhat curious.
She had followed Sol and Black Swan all the way here, winding through countless turns.
To her embarrassment, she no longer remembered the way back at all.
If Dreamflux Reef was hidden through such a route, she suspected she would never find it without a guide.
"Not exactly. Dreamflux Reef lies in the depths of the Dreamscape. To reach it, one must die within the dream."
"Or use a Memokeeper's special method. Simply walking there is impossible."
Sol stopped on the rooftop of an empty building.
"Then why are we here?"
Acheron frowned slightly.
"To deal with a hidden hand—and to show you my sincerity."
Sol turned his head to look at a bluish raven and said indifferently, "Use whatever tricks you have. You won't get another chance."
"..."
The Dreammaster was momentarily stunned.
Wait… who exactly is the villain here?
===BREAK===
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