The cold wind from the underground tunnel seemed to linger, yet the icy chill in Ethan's palm remained. The archive key lay quietly in his pocket, pressing like a shadow against his chest, heavy enough to make his breathing slightly labored.
But he didn't show it. On the contrary, a faint, almost imperceptible smile lingered at the corner of his mouth."Karl, you know… I feel like a thief sent to crack a safe."
Karl said nothing, his eyes fixed ahead, his expression as stone-cold as ever. He could sense the key radiating a resonance that defied explanation.
—Until the ground suddenly trembled.
"Boom—!"
The entire block's lights went out instantly. The air twisted violently, as if someone had torn it apart like rough fabric. A crack appeared in the sky, a gaping black maw, deep and menacing.
"Damn… this can't be a coincidence," Karl muttered under his breath.
Ethan tilted his head to look up, a mix of unease and inexplicable excitement flickering in his eyes."Looks like the side effects of the key are even cooler than I imagined. Like pressing the wrong switch… and accidentally opening hell itself."
As the crack widened, the block fell into an eerie silence. Then, an invisible wave swept across the street. Buildings, signage, even the asphalt began to distort. Walls liquefied into grayish mist, light and shadow intertwining, gradually forming a landscape that didn't belong to reality.
"The nightmare world… it's spilling out," Karl said, horrified.
From the crack, not only mist but also blurred human figures slid down. Their forms twisted, faces indistinct, like crumpled memories stepping out from the void into reality. Some opened their mouths, but no human sound emerged—only a harsh whisper.
"Key… the key…"
The whispers echoed directly in Ethan's mind. His heart jolted as he realized these voices were not hallucinations—they were linked to the key.
He let out a cold laugh."So you're the real safe-keepers? Next time, maybe knock politely first."
"Ethan!" Karl shouted, swinging his weapon. The energy blade cut through the mist, slashing incoming phantoms into fragments. Yet the remnants didn't vanish—they reformed into even stranger shapes.
Ethan drew his weapon, moving with a casual elegance, a trace of untimely levity in his posture."Relax. I've been itching to practice anyway. Can't let these guys think I'm just a Bureau agent living off my mouth."
The crack expanded further, devouring the block. Reality seemed to be peeled away like a curtain, revealing the spreading illusory realm behind it.
In the distance, the city's lights blurred, replaced by towering black spires. The ground cracked, fissures revealing indescribable eyes, coldly observing everything.
"This isn't just energy overflow," Karl said gravely. "It's—an entire illusory realm invading!"
"I get it." Ethan flicked the mist-stained blood from his blade, his face suddenly serious. The playful, sardonic smile sharpened under the night."The key isn't just a tool to open the archive… it's a 'coordinate.'"
Karl's brows knitted tightly."Coordinate? Coordinate for what?"
"Coordinate to reality's entry point," Ethan said quietly.
As his words fell, the sky裂 crack violently blossomed, tearing open like a massive black maw. The entire block instantly sank into complete illusory transformation.
High-rises twisted into shadowy monstrosities. Streets became fractured mirrors, each step feeling like walking on trembling glass. Screams from the crowd turned into faceless shadows, devoured by the nightmare.
Ethan exhaled sharply, gripping his weapon, a cold smile curling on his lips."Alright… looks like we won't be clocking out tonight."
Karl glanced at him."You always manage to spout nonsense at times like this."
"Of course," Ethan grinned, eyes glittering with danger."If I don't joke around a bit, I'm afraid I'll go mad too."
Moments later, the two stood back-to-back in the collapsing illusory realm, facing the nightmare remnants swarming from all directions.
And above them, the crack in the sky continued to widen.