The moment the panel appeared before Alex's eyes, the void surrounding him seemed to ripple even more violently, as if reality itself was being stirred.
The ground beneath his feet, filled with deep purple veins and cracks, trembled faintly before something burst from its depths with a sharp sound.
Fwish! Boom!
The object shot upward with a surge of energy, stopping just a few feet in front of Alex.
It floated silently in the air, spinning slowly, almost as if waiting for him to take it.
It was the Token of Nightmares.
Its image was that of a single opened eye, staring outward without blinking, its surface shimmering with an eerie purple hue.
It made sense, in a way, nightmares always watched, always lingered.
But Alex didn't waste time analyzing it.
With a smooth, practiced motion, he reached out and swept the token into his hand, gripping it firmly in his palm.
A long breath escaped his lips, the weight of the moment sinking into him.
