**Chapter 1 Summary:**
Anima, a high school student living in a tropical beach town called Central City, has been haunted by the same recurring dream his entire life. In the dream, he encounters a mysterious man with wings as black as death and hears the ominous word repeated: _"Traitor, traitor, traitor."_ Despite his efforts, Anima is always pulled toward the figure but never manages to reach him.
Determined to understand the dream's meaning, Anima aspires to become a dream walker—someone capable of navigating and interpreting their dreams. His father, Soulani, encourages him to speak with Mr. Kiran, one of the school's dream-walking instructors.
On his way to school, Anima meets his two closest friends, Vera and Eros, who are also entry-level dream walkers. Although they support him, there are things Anima feels he cannot fully share with them. The trio stops by their usual pastry shop before heading to class, where their interactions reveal their playful friendship and distinct personalities.
Later, Anima discusses his dream with Mr. Kiran, revealing that the dream hasn't just persisted for a year—it has plagued him his entire life. This revelation shocks everyone, hinting that Anima's connection to the dream and the mysterious figure is far deeper than anyone realized.
### **Chapter 2 Summary:**
Anima confides in Mr. Arakin, sharing the full extent of his lifelong dream. He reveals that the mysterious dream has followed him since birth, always beginning in an empty white room that feels like his own soul. The man with blue hair and black angel-like wings only began appearing a month ago, though a similar figure with brown hair had appeared in his dreams intermittently since he was ten.
As Mr. Arakin presses for details, Anima explains how the recent dreams feel more vivid and intense, as though the figure is actively pulling him closer and trying to communicate, though the dreams always end with the haunting chant: _"Traitor, Traitor, Traitor."_
Eros jokingly suggests the figure might be a fallen angel, but Vera, deeply rooted in her faith, dismisses the idea, believing that angels cannot fall. Mr. Arakin also rejects the possibility, stating that even if fallen angels existed, they would have no reason or ability to communicate with a human like Anima.
The group speculates further, with Vera proposing the figure might be a deity reaching out to Anima. Mr. Arakin finds this theory intriguing and introduces the idea that perhaps _fate itself_ is involved. He explains that fate is a real, active force in their world—powerful enough to have caused the "Five Rejections of the Universe," mysterious events that corrected the course of history.
Mr. Arakin then speaks of an entity even greater than God, known as _The Absolute_—a twelve-dimensional being that predates all existence. The Absolute transcends all concepts, possessing infinite knowledge and power across countless universes and timelines. It is said to be the origin of God and the architect of balance in the multiverse.
The possibility that Anima's dreams could be connected to such an unfathomable force stuns him and his friends. Mr. Arakin concludes their conversation by telling Anima he is ready to begin his trial to become a dream walker, but first, he must fully understand the responsibility and dangers of walking the dreamscape.
The chapter closes as Anima prepares to step onto his destined path.
### **Chapter 3 Summary:**
Mr. Arakin begins teaching Anima the fundamentals of dream walking and the journey that lies ahead. He explains the **Dream Walker's progression system**, using a diagram of a seven-layered tree, where each layer represents a level of growth and power. At the bottom is the "Non-Walker" stage, which represents an ordinary human. Passing the first trial will mark Anima's departure from humanity, beginning his evolution into a mythological being.
Anima learns that all dream walkers must choose a **Dreamer type**, a mythological pathway that determines their abilities. Vera is on the **Dragon pathway**, and Eros has chosen the **Griffin pathway**. Anima's pathway will be chosen for him after his first trial, selected from seven legendary beasts: Phoenix, Dragon, Griffin, Cerberus, Minotaur, Kraken, or Basilisk.
Mr. Arakin introduces the concept of **"Vision,"** the unique soul power each dream walker manifests. He details the first three levels—Beast, Monster, and Guardian—each granting greater strength, speed, and mythical abilities, but also posing the risk of losing one's humanity. The higher levels remain **forbidden knowledge,** inaccessible to lower-ranked dream walkers, as they require mental strength beyond human capacity to comprehend.
When Anima asks about Mr. Arakin's own rank, he is shocked to learn that Mr. Arakin is a **Level 1 Phoenix-type Dream Walker**, making him extraordinarily powerful.
Anima then accepts the conditions for his first trial. A portal opens beside the classroom, leading to his **personal dream world**—a space crafted from his soul. Vera and Eros offer their support, with Vera giving Anima a protective blessing and a kiss for good luck.
Stepping through the portal, Anima finds himself in a vivid recreation of his **old childhood home.** As he explores, memories stir within him. In his father's room, he encounters a younger version of his father holding a baby—Anima's infant self. Beside them is a woman with pink hair, her face obscured and unrecognizable.
Despite this, Anima instinctively knows: **it is his mother.**
His first trial has officially begun.
### **Chapter 4 Summary:**
Dreams can unlock memories buried deep within us—memories we often wish to forget. As Anima steps further into his first trial, he finds himself confronting something his mind had long suppressed: the memory of his mother.
Though Anima has no conscious recollection of this woman, his soul screams at him to run, to get away. The overwhelming instinct to flee becomes unbearable, forcing him to leave the room in panic. Back in the real world, Mr. Arakin, Vera, and Eros monitor Anima's heart rate and realize something is terribly wrong—this level of distress shouldn't occur during a first trial.
Determined to face whatever his soul is resisting, Anima re-enters the room, pushing past the deafening cries in his mind. The more he forces himself to stay, the more violently his soul protests. Ignoring the mental barrage, Anima watches scenes unfold from his forgotten past: his father, his baby self, and a woman with pink hair—his mother.
Anima witnesses the day his mother left. She abandoned him and his father for another man, and though the words are muted, he remembers hearing her final apology: _"Forgive me, darling."_ Rage consumes him. His suppressed hatred for his mother surfaces in full force—hatred for her smile, her absence, her choice to leave. In his fury, Anima grabs a knife and chases her, eventually stabbing her through the heart—yet no blood spills.
His mother, shocked but calm, speaks to him gently: _"I'm sorry. Please, come find me."_ She kisses his forehead and lovingly calls him _"my miracle."_ Anima is left stunned, but before he can react, the world around him shatters.
A sudden flood of water drowns the scene, and Anima is transported to a violent ocean in the middle of a storm. Amid crashing waves and roaring thunder, a colossal pink dragon appears, its roar shaking the very air around him.
The true battle of the first trial has begun.
### **Chapter 6 Summary: The God of Miracles**
Miracles.
They are extraordinary events—things that should not happen—moments where one should be dead but isn't. People call these miracles acts of divine intervention. Some believe they are gifts from God. Others say they are simply luck. But the world knows balance. For every miracle, there must be a curse.
But these miracles were not gifts from God. They came from someone else—a man who called himself a god.
This is the story of that man.
The man who gave out miracles.
After the Third Rejection of the Absolute, the world had endured the brutal three-way war between demons, angels, and humans. The angels were wiped out. The demons fled to a sealed realm. Humans barely survived, but at the cost of nearly everything—97% of the human population perished.
Among the survivors was a young boy named Roman. At just nine years old, Roman had lost his entire family to the war. No home, no family, no hope. His heart was crushed. Even as he entered a foster home, nothing could replace what was gone.
One night, Roman wandered into the forest alone, beneath a sky shimmering with stars. He found himself by a vast, glowing ocean, its surface reflecting the brilliant starlight. Standing in the water, Roman whispered his deepest wish—to dream with his family again, to be together like before.
As he wished upon a shooting star, he recited the prayer his mother had taught him:
_"May the man who shines light and purity and grants miracles be with you."_
In that moment, a mysterious man appeared. He had black hair and glowing deep purple eyes that radiated like the night sky.
The man introduced himself as _Mr. Asmodeus—the god of miracles._
Roman was amazed. He believed instantly. When Mr. Asmodeus offered to bring back his parents, Roman eagerly led him to their graves.
The villagers, still scarred by the war, were suspicious. They warned Roman there was no such thing as a god of miracles. If there were, he would have answered their prayers long ago. But Roman pleaded, desperate to believe. The villagers, with nothing left to lose, gave him a chance.
Before their eyes, Mr. Asmodeus waved his glowing hand. In a flash of yellow light, Roman's parents came back to life.
The village was stunned. It was real.
A true miracle.
Mr. Asmodeus promised to help everyone—to grant miracles to all. Climbing atop a tree, he declared himself to the world:
_"I am the god of miracles, the man who challenged the cursed traitor, the one who wishes for the light to shine on everyone, for purity, forever."_
His eyes gleamed with divine power. A glowing yellow bow formed in his hands, strung with threads of brilliant blue energy. Drawing the bow, he fired a single arrow into the sky.
_Countless_ blue arrows appeared, lighting up the heavens.
_"muʿjiza lil-jamī — A miracle for everyone!"_
As the sky rained miracles, Mr. Asmodeus smiled.
_"I would save everyone."_
And so, the story of the man who gave out miracles began.
### **Chapter 7 Summary: The Second Trial – The Village of Light**
Back in the present day, Anima found himself approached by a little girl tugging at his shirt. Her name was **Sera**, and she needed his help—her parents were gravely ill. Although Anima was confused—wondering why a child appeared in his soul's trial—he followed her to her village.
On their way, they chatted, and Anima began questioning why this situation had manifested. He never cared for strangers, never helped others—so why would his trial show this?
When they arrived, Anima noticed a statue in the village that oddly resembled him. Sera explained that the statue honored **Mr. Miracle**, the hero who saved the village and billions of lives after the Great War. Strangely, the story connected to someone Sera's ancestor had met long ago.
Inside Sera's home, Anima found her parents on the verge of death. Feeling powerless, he suddenly received a message:
**"Congratulations, you are qualified to be a Dream Walker."**
Shocked, Anima accepted. His **Dream Bar** appeared, displaying a video game-like status screen. His pathway was **Dragon**, his vision was called **The Miracle**, and his mana and other stats were visible. It seemed like destiny was unfolding before him.
Activating his power with "Vision on," Anima healed Sera's parents instantly—performing a miracle. Sera and her family were overjoyed, and Anima, still confused, wondered why this trial felt so real. Even the villagers acknowledged the portal that appeared, offering him food and thanking him sincerely.
Before he left, Sera gifted Anima a **friendship bracelet** and asked a life-changing question:
_"Would you save the entire universe or sacrifice it to save the person you love?"_
Without hesitation, Anima answered:
_"I would save the person I loved."_
As he completed the second trial, Anima laughed at the option to continue the remaining ones. Proud and excited to have become a Dream Walker faster than Eros, he was ready to move on—until **black energy** suddenly engulfed the room.
There, sitting confidently on a black throne, appeared **the figure from Anima's nightmares**.
A man with pale skin, short blue hair, a metal claw for an arm, a jacket of black feathers, ten black wings, and piercing light blue eyes—the presence that haunted Anima's dreams.
The man introduced himself as:
**"Cassius. The Fallen Angel. The Angel of Abysses. The Great Betrayer."**
Anima's journey had just taken a much darker turn.
## **Chapter 8 Summary: True Fear and the Great Betrayer**
We all have fears—whether it's death, pain, or losing those we love. But what does _true_ fear feel like?
At this moment, **Anima** found out.
For the first time in his life, Anima experienced paralyzing, soul-crushing terror. His body trembled, his breath was uneven, his heart raced like it was trying to escape his chest.
Standing before him was **Cassius, The Great Betrayer**, the man from his recurring dreams.
Cassius introduced himself as the **Fallen Angel**, the **Angel of Abysses**—a figure whose power was incomprehensible to Anima. The fear consumed Anima to the point he started _repeating Cassius's name uncontrollably_, spiraling into madness as his mind tried to process what was in front of him. He clutched his head, screaming in agony.
Cassius smiled.
"Who allowed you to think of my name? Oh well, I'll let it slide this time, Pretender."
The unbearable pain suddenly vanished. Anima, finally able to breathe, snapped out of his terror. He demanded answers, even throwing a pocketknife at Cassius—who simply made it vanish.
Cassius confirmed his identity and explained **one horrifying truth:**
- _Anima was never supposed to recover his sealed memories in the first trial._
- _Cassius had interfered, unsealing them himself just to mess with him._
Even more shocking—**the second trial wasn't a dream. It was real.**
Sera, her parents, the Village of Light—they all existed. The friendship bracelet on Anima's wrist was real. Cassius had manipulated the trial to **fast-track Anima into becoming a Dream Walker**, skipping the remaining trials on purpose to keep him from discovering too much.
Cassius laughed, mocking Anima's confusion and fury.
He called him "Pretender" over and over, hinting that Anima had used deception before—pretending to be a god to gain favors.
When Anima asked why he was being targeted, Cassius cryptically told him to "**go beyond the leveling system**" and "**enter the shattered dreams**" to uncover the truth, especially about **his mother's fate.**
As Cassius faded away into darkness, he left Anima with one final, chilling farewell:
"Until next time, _Mr. Miracle._"
The chapter closes, leaving Anima standing alone, now aware that his trials, his memories, and possibly his destiny have all been manipulated by the fallen angel who knows far more than he lets on.
## **Chapter 9 Summary: The Return and the Secret**
Anima woke up, confused and still processing what had just happened with **Cassius, the Great Betrayer.** He now knew he was officially a Dream Walker, but the idea of _becoming a god_ still didn't make sense to him.
The Betrayer told him to **"pretend" to be a god**—the _Pretender Method_—but Anima didn't fully understand how or why.
There were too many unanswered questions:
- What did it mean to "pretend" to be a god?
- Why was skipping the rest of the trials so important?
- Why couldn't he tell anyone Cassius's real name?
But right now? **Anima just wanted a break.**
Suddenly, his friends **Vera and Eros** were calling out to him, trying to wake him up from the white void. A portal opened, and Anima figured it must have been Mr. Arakin helping him out. He stepped through.
Back in the real world, it was **October 2nd, 2050, 1 PM.**
Anima had been unconscious for **three whole days.**
Vera hugged him immediately, Eros mocked him as usual, and Mr. Arakin was there to check on him.
They told him his dad was at work, and they had already covered for him with school.
When asked about the trials, Anima downplayed his experience at first. Vera and Eros shared that their own trials had been terrifying but survivable. Mr. Arakin reminded them they had **two weeks until their first Dream Walker mission** and mentioned a camping trip planned for next week—a chance to relax and catch up.
Anima realized he had to decide: **how much should he share?**
He didn't want to endanger his friends but also didn't want to carry this alone.
So he took a risk.
Anima: "Do you guys know what the Pretender Method is?"
Mr. Arakin was immediately curious, and Vera and Eros were confused.
Anima explained: **the Pretender Method is a way to level up faster by pretending to be a god to gain favors from other gods.** Normally, leveling takes _thousands of years_, but this method shortcuts the system.
Mr. Arakin acknowledged the method but seemed surprised Anima knew about it.
As Eros and Vera were about to leave, Anima stopped them.
Anima: "Wait, there's one more thing. I met him."
Everyone turned back.
Anima: "The man whose wings are painted black, whose hair is blue."
Their faces instantly shifted from curiosity to **complete shock.**
Anima: "...The Betrayer."
The chapter closes on the weight of those words.
## **Chapter 10 Summary: Forbidden Names and Vision Powers**
Anima tells Vera, Eros, and Mr. Arakin that he met _the man_—the one with **black wings and blue hair**.
His presence was so overwhelming it shook Anima to his core.
Vera and Eros immediately realize the weight of what Anima is saying.
When they ask for his name, Anima refuses to say it—because **knowing the Betrayer's real name is deadly forbidden knowledge.** If he told them, they would die on the spot.
Anima explains that the figure called himself:
- A **Fallen Angel**
- The **Angel of the Abyss**
- **The Great Betrayer**
He also told Anima that to meet his _true self_ (not just an avatar), Anima would have to **"become a god" and go beyond the leveling system.**
Vera and Eros are shaken by the idea of a fallen angel still existing, but Mr. Arakin quickly regains composure and tells everyone to settle down. He then suggests that since Anima opened up, **it's time for everyone else to do the same.**
Mr. Arakin reveals his own Vision power:
- His power is tied to a **golden ring with a blue orb**.
- The ring grants him the **ability to control light**.
Using his power, he creates a **floating chalkboard in the air** and begins teaching them the deeper truths about their world.
Before the lesson, Mr. Arakin asks each of them to explain their Vision abilities:
### Vera's Vision:
- **Power Name:** The Shape
- **Ability:** Can shape, reshape, and manipulate objects, even mid-air.
- **Example:** She reshaped a book into a perfect circle.
### Eros' Vision:
- **Power Name:** The 7 Color Wheel
- **Ability:** Channels the power of the **7 deadly sins** (Sloth, Pride, Wrath, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Greed).
- Currently, he can only access **Sloth** (Orange), which **reduces his speed but increases his defense.**
### Anima's Vision:
- **Power Name:** The Miracle
- **Ability:** So far, Anima knows he can **heal sickness and wounds.**
- The full potential of his Vision is still unknown.
Mr. Arakin is intrigued by Anima's power but keeps moving forward.
Anima makes a classic Anima moment by mixing up continents.
Eros: "You're so stupid."
Vera: _Grabs Anima's hand_ "It's fine."
(Anima blushes.)
Mr. Arakin coughs and brings them back on topic.
Finally, Mr. Arakin draws on the chalkboard and begins explaining **the structure of their world and the existence of the 5 realms.**
Mr. Arakin: "First, let's start off with the Shattered Dreams."
### **Chapter 11 Summary: The Five Realms and a Deadly Mystery**
Mr. Arakin explains the concept of the **5 Realms** to Anima, Vera, and Eros—realms that hover over Earth and are gateways to entire universes.
He starts with the **Shattered Dream**, a realm where all dreams that end get shattered into pieces and form **Corrupt Dreams**—monsters only accessible to Dreamwalkers at Level 4 and beyond.
The trio learns that the realms aren't just nearby spaces but whole universes existing on the **5th plane of existence**, part of a complex 7-layered pyramid of planes.
Mr. Arakin promises to explain the deeper cosmology later on their upcoming camping trip.
The Shattered Dream is dangerous—monsters there can mess with your mind and soul, but killing them grants **dream fragments** essential for leveling up.
After some playful teasing and banter, Mr. Arakin senses something wrong and ends the lesson early.
As Vera, Eros, and Anima part ways, the story shifts to a new group of boys at the same school—Timmy, John, and James—who dare to explore a forbidden ravine called **God's Valley**.
A mysterious giant golden hand with a red-eyed pupil appears, and Timmy and John are struck by beams of light, with James terrified and missing.
The police investigate the scene with Mr. Arakin involved, confirming two boys are dead and one is missing.
Later, Vera, Eros, and Anima, playing Valorant, see the tragic news in their school chat group, shocked and saddened.
Anima hopes it's just an accident, but the mystery of God's Valley has begun.
---
**Prologue ends here.** The story is set—mysteries deepen, the stakes rise, and the true nature of the realms and Dreamwalkers await.
**Chapter 12: The Lantern of the Moon Goddess**
A week had passed since the God's Valley incident. Anima and his friends went about their days as usual—school, work, play—everything seemingly normal. They lived in a quiet corner of Miami, Florida. But what about everywhere else? Were people really going on with their lives as if nothing had happened? Of course not. Things were shifting, changing.
For a moment, let's shift perspective—far away in Australia, three Level 6 Dreamwalkers were searching for a secret artifact deep within the Abyss.
---
**Jackie:** "Hey, yeah, I'm sure this artifact is here."
**Lyros:** "I'm certain. My GPS keeps pinging at this location."
**Taris:** "Okay, if you say so, I trust you. But damn, it's hot as hell here."
They stood in the Abyss, a realm deep beneath Australia. It was like stepping into another world—stormy skies with black clouds, temperatures soaring above 200 degrees. Lightning flashed, the ground was cracked ash and concrete, everything cloaked in darkness. Far ahead loomed a massive black castle, barely visible through the haze. That's where the artifact lay: the **Lantern of the Moon Goddess**—a dream shard fragment considered ALS (Above the Leveling System). It was said to hold the missing half of the Moon God's power.
---
The group trekked through the barren terrain—mountains, storms, but no monsters. Nearing the castle, suddenly a creature appeared: a 10-foot-tall ogre, its body covered in eyes glowing red and yellow.
**Lyros:** "Jackie, look out!"
Jackie barely dodged a deadly beam from the ogre.
The trio's Vision powers were mostly supportive:
- Lyros's _Reacher_ was a GPS-like watch on his arm that tracked artifacts and powerful beings—the more advanced, the more precise.
- Jackie's _Cage_ created protective shields around allies.
- Taris's _Rod_ wielded a green energy fishing line that drained mana from enemies.
---
**Taris:** "Vision on."
His green eyes glowed as he shot the energy line into the ogre.
**Ogre:** _"Rahahhahahahhaha!"_
The ogre fired another laser beam—they dodged.
**Jackie:** "Damn bastard!"
**Lyros:** "Jackie, put your cage down!"
Jackie raised a glowing shield around them.
Lyros pulled out his special axe, _Level Up_, an artifact from the Minotaur Pathway. It had a unique ability: if an enemy was exactly one level higher than the wielder, the axe would temporarily boost the wielder's level to match.
With a swift strike, Lyros sliced off the ogre's head.
**Jackie:** "Nice job, let's go!"
**Taris:** "Good shit, Lyros."
**Lyros:** "Let's move!"
---
They entered the castle, Lyros's GPS buzzing wildly for the Lantern. The halls were empty—no monsters, no traps, no chests.
**Taris:** "This place is creepy. Nothing here—no monsters, no artifacts. Is your GPS still picking up anything?"
**Lyros:** "No, just the artifact signal."
**Jackie:** "Well, that was easy. Let's grab it and get rich."
Their goal had always been simple: get rich, quit Dreamwalking, and live comfortably. The Lantern was rare and powerful—worth billions if sold. They didn't know the true level of its rarity or power. It was pure luck the GPS even detected it.
---
Down a staircase into a freezing chamber—an extreme contrast from the scorching Abyss above.
**Jackie:** "Talk about a weather change. It was blazing hot, now it's freezing down here."
**Taris:** "Whatever. Let's grab the artifact and get out."
**Lyros:** "Just across this hallway."
They found it—the **Lantern of the Moon Goddess**. The entire room glowed purple with its immense power.
**Jackie:** "Holy shit. I can feel power surging through this lantern."
**Taris:** "We're gonna be rich. Let's go."
---
They celebrated, relieved after their long quest. But then—
A chill ran down their spines. They all turned around, speechless, frozen in place.
**???:** "Hello there. You seem to have something I need.
**Chapter 13: The Jester's Game**
A word couldn't be uttered; before they could even think, they were dead.
**???:** "I forgot to ask your names, my apologies."
The three adventurers were dead. They all had families in this world. People debate if fate is certain or if it could be changed. Would God be so cruel to murder these people? If fate is predetermined, then why such a cruel fate? Things people couldn't explain—they could only hope and pray for what misfortune may come. If fate could be changed, then why wouldn't people do anything about it? The real question was, why would people accept cruel fates? Only the gods themselves knew.
The figure grabbed the artifact and put it into his inventory.
**???:** "Lantern of the Moon Goddess."
**???:** "Finally, I have what I need to go south."
"South" was not about direction on a map, but a shift in his pathway.
**???:** "Well then, I should get back up there before I encounter any more humans. Truly didn't mean any harm—unfortunate, truly this wasn't meant to happen. Unfortunately, the second any person gazes in my direction, they die. It was a mistake, how impetuous of me. I should have been more careful, but I didn't expect any human to find this castle, let alone here. Humans are becoming more advanced, stronger, aren't they? Maybe the gods up there were right—they could be a problem, but it would still take millions of years for them to reach our heights. By then, we will be far above. I doubt they pose much of a threat."
In this world, there are four main "Umbrellas": the mythology pathway, the angel pathway, the demon pathway, and the circle of gods. Every pathway except the circle of gods has four directions: north, south, west, and east. Each direction has seven levels, and above them is an ALS, a god hovering over. For normal Dreamwalkers, it is forbidden to go west, east, or south—only north, where the seven mythology pathways exist. Even angels, demons, and gods have dream cores and are Dreamwalkers. After all, it is the power of God.
**???:** "O God, may I utter my name? Forgive me for this sinful behavior."
**???:** "I'm Jason, the first and only son of God."
Jason spoke with compassion and charisma, smiling.
**Jason:** "I'm the ALS of the angel pathway! The man who headed north! But now I shall go south and change my direction. Thank you for everything, God! How lucky I am to be your son! How lucky I am to be just like you! How lucky I will be to become just like you! How exciting! Now I shall return above and feast with the rest of the gods!"
And with that, Jason returned home.
---
Back in Miami, Florida, a couple named Danny and Lucy lived a normal life. They weren't Dreamwalkers. They owned expensive jewelry, especially the rare and costly "Dark Matter" set—the kind the government auctioned off.
Danny was a worker; Lucy, a nurse.
**Danny:** "Wow, don't you look beautiful."
**Lucy:** "Says you, honey."
**Danny:** "Your blonde hair is gorgeous. How lucky am I to have you as my wife?"
**Lucy:** "Oh, how lucky I am to have you."
That night, they went to sleep and dreamed they were dreaming...
---
Silence.
---
Then, in Lucy's deep slumber, she dreamed of a dark, black room. A flickering figure appeared, slowly approaching...
Until—
**BANG!**
Suddenly, she would never wake up again.
Danny awoke to a noise.
**Danny:** "Lucy?"
He turned to see his wife dead, blood streaming from her head, lifeless.
**Danny:** "LUCY!! LUCY, LUCY, LUCY!!! NO! WHAT HAPPENED? HOW?"
Turning, he saw a figure about 4'10" tall, with a round stomach, wearing a red and blue jester costume and hat. Its face was a white mask with yellow X's over the eyes and a mouth smeared with red lipstick.
**Danny:** "Wha-what are you? What do you want? O God, may I utter your name? Please save me!"
**Jester:** "O God, may I utter your name? HHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHA! Don't make me laugh! God? That man is long gone!"
The jester laughed manically like a clown.
It flickered, and Danny died—blood leaking from his brain.
The figure rummaged through their jewelry stash and took the black jewels.
**???:** "You can call me Jester."
Maniacal laughter echoed through the basement as Jester threw the jewelry on the ground.
**Jester:** "Son, come to me now! Son, hear my voice! Come to me now!"
The chant repeated but failed.
**Jester:** "Damn you! Come hear my voice! You bastard! You made me like this! Come to me now!"
---
Anima turned on the news to see the tragic story of Danny and Lucy.
**Anima:** "Dad, come here."
Soulvani sat beside him.
**Soulvani:** "Yeah, I saw. What a tragedy, really."
**Anima:** "Things are getting stranger, aren't they?"
**Soulvani:** "Well, yeah, but nothing new. We live in a strange world."
They smiled at each other.
**Soulvani:** "Time to get to school now, buddy."
**Anima:** "Yeah, I know."
Anima headed to school.
**Chapter 14: The Shadows of Murder**
The next day had arrived. It was October 9th, 2050—a Monday. Next week would be the camping trip. Eros, Vera, and Anima had all returned to school. They attended their classes as usual. English class had just finished with Ms. Susie. Lunch arrived, and Anima, Vera, and Eros headed to the park where they usually ate.
They sat casually, eating and talking, until someone came running toward them.
**???:** "YOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHAT'S GOOD GUYS! HOW YOU BEEN?"
**Vera:** "Hello there, Elio. How have you been?"
Eros chuckled.
**Eros:** "Hahaha, how have you been, Elio?"
Anima wore a frustrated look.
**Anima:** "You've got to be kidding me."
---
Meanwhile, two detectives were investigating the murders of the couple Danny and Lucy. The married couple, known as Carina and Amal, were examining the crime scene. The neighborhood was usually peaceful, so this was the first crime in years—especially a first-degree murder.
Neighbors had reported screams during the night. Two neighbors had checked the house, only to find both victims dead. Danny and Lucy were well-liked in the area.
**Amal:** "So, what do you think about this?"
**Carina:** "It's a very odd killing. No signs of forced entry or theft. The neighbors said the door was locked when they arrived, and apparently, they rushed over after hearing the screams, but the man was already gone. Nothing was stolen."
**Amal:** "Look at their bodies."
**Carina:** "Huh?"
**Amal:** "There's a tiny, perfect hole where their brains should be. No bullet residue or blood. The deaths seemed seamless. I don't understand the killer's intent. Let's ask neighbors if anyone had issues with Danny and Lucy."
The detectives asked around but found no leads until they spoke to a neighbor who was good friends with the couple and helped manage their valuables—mainly jewelry.
**Neighbor:** "That's strange. Nothing seems missing."
**Carina:** "Oh man, that's a bummer."
**Amal:** "So the killer murdered them and left? But why such seamless killings? This might be more complicated than I hoped."
**Carina:** "Are you sure we've checked all their jewelry? Maybe there's something valuable missing? Anything that could be a motive?"
**Neighbor:** "Now that you mention it, they had an expensive set of black jewels—black diamonds, very rare. I don't think they kept them with the regular pieces. You should check if those are still there."
**Amal:** "Any idea where?"
**Carina:** "Wait, look over there."
Carina noticed the bottom drawer of the jewelry stash was slightly ajar.
**Neighbor:** "That means someone touched it."
Carina opened the drawer to find a secret compartment.
**Amal:** "Looks like we found a lead."
**Carina:** "Yup."
Inside, black dust covered the empty space.
**Carina:** "Thank you for your help."
**Amal:** "Thank you!"
**Neighbor:** "No problem, detectives. Ask anytime."
---
Back at the park…
**Anima:** "Elio, go away, please."
Elio was 5'4", skinny, nearly bald, wearing blue Nike shoes, a purple Nike tech outfit with matching pants, black eyes, and large eyebrows—someone Anima despised more than Eros.
**Vera:** "Anima, stop being rude."
Vera puffed up her cheeks.
**Anima:** "Elio, what do you want?"
**Elio:** "What I want is to be a RAPPPERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
**Anima:** "You want to be a rapist? Yeah, I figured as much."
**Vera:** "Anima!"
Vera bonked Anima on the head.
**Anima:** "Owwwwww! Sorry."
**Elio:** "Why you always hating, man? Come on, Anima, we're buddies, bro. Let's rap some songs together."
**Anima:** "Over my dead body."
**Eros:** "Loser. Elio is lowkey right, he's just chill."
**Anima:** "_Sigh_ Sorry, I meant what do you want? Why are you here?"
**Vera:** "To hang out, of course."
**Elio:** "Of course, man."
**Eros:** "Well, since Anima is the group leader, he gets to decide if you're here or not."
**Anima:** "I'm NOT the group leader, bro."
Vera blushed.
**Vera:** "I mean..."
**Anima:** "Come on, Vera. And fuck you, Eros."
**Eros:** "So?"
**Anima:** "If it's up to me, we decide with a fight."
**Vera:** "Of course, Anima, you never change."
Vera smiled.
**Anima:** "I'm not fighting."
**Eros:** "Cuz you're a bitch."
**Anima:** "Alexander is going to fight him."
Eros and Vera were silent.
**Eros & Vera:** "You've got to be kidding me."
---
Night fell.
Jester was in Las Vegas.
He stood atop a sign, watching a big screen reporting the murder he committed.
**Jester:** _maniacal laughter_
He pulled two parts of his jester hat apart.
**Jester:** "Soon it will all be over, isn't that right? It will all fall. All of it. You will all pay. I'm insane. I will show you who is insane—all of you!"
**Jester:** "Isn't that right, Cassiusssssssssssssssssssssssss!"
---
**Chapter 14 End**
### **Chapter 15: Phantom Forces**
**The wind started to blow.** An unshakable presence had entered the field. The ground shook. Everyone paused for a moment—
Then he finally appeared.
**Alexander:** "What's good, guys?"
Alexander was a boy with ocean-blue eyes, spiky, broken hair with a ponytail behind him. He was about 5'10", wore a white, unbuttoned shirt revealing his abs, and black Air Force Ones. Another one of my friends from school.
His teacher was Mr. Brian—another Dream Walker, just like Mr. Arkin. Alexander was a **Level 6 Dream Walker**, strong enough to wipe out a continent if he really wanted to.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention—Elio is a Level 6 Dream Walker too. Which means... yeah. They're both terrifying.
**Vera, disappointed:** "That's even low for you, Anima."
**Eros:** "Oh well, whatever this loser wants."
**Elio:** "Yo, Alex! So Anima wants me to fight you, huh? Oh well, bring it on!"
**Alexander (smirking):** "Sure. Come."
A crowd began forming.
**Eros:** "Look what you started."
**Anima:** "My bad, twin."
Within minutes, **half the school** was gathered in the park. It was packed.
**Vera:** "Jeez, Anima. You never change."
**Eros:** "Everyone back up! They're about to clash—MOVE!"
Everyone gave them space.
**Crowd:** "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
**Elio:** "I'm _Superstar!_ The main character! Number 1 on the charts after I beat your ass!"
Alexander smirked, arms crossed.
**Alexander:** "Confident. I like that. Come at me."
And then—silence.
**Elio:** "VISION ON!"
**Alexander:** "Vision on."
The crowd went silent.
Elio **dashed** forward—fast, like lightning. He swung a powerful kick, but—
**No contact.**
**Elio:** "What the hell?"
He tried again. **BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.** Blows rained down. But nothing hit. He couldn't touch Alexander.
The problem wasn't that Elio **missed**.
It's that he didn't understand **why** he couldn't hit.
Elio was part of the _Minitour Pathway_, built for close combat. His Vision—**Adapt**—let him overcome anything he understood.
But... he couldn't figure this one out.
**Alexander:** "What's wrong? You look frustrated."
**Elio:** "Damn bitch, what's with you?"
Alexander hadn't moved. Still standing. Still smirking. Still untouched.
Then—he moved his hands to his waist.
The ground **shook**. Leaves and rocks began to float.
**Elio:** "What the..."
**Alexander:** "I'll show you my Vision power."
**Alexander:** "**Phantom Forces**."
---
The world **shifted**.
The sky turned grey. The crowd vanished. The ground looked translucent—shadows crawling underneath like living snakes.
A **dream space**.
**Elio:** "Where the hell am I?!"
Alexander's voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere:
**Alexander:** "This is a realm of phantoms. In here, you can't touch me unless I _let_ you."
**Vera (watching from the outside):** "He activated Phantom Forces... It's over."
**Eros:** "Elio's good—but he's not _that_ good."
In the dream realm, Elio's fists clenched. His Adapt glyph spun in his eyes.
**Elio (thinking):** _It's like... I'm not in sync with him. Like our frequencies don't match. I can't exist on his plane._
Then suddenly—the glyph **locked in**.
**Elio:** "I GOT IT."
He launched forward again. But this time, he didn't aim for the front. He **feinted**—then bounced off the space itself, moving behind Alexander—
**Contact.**
His foot **grazed** Alexander's shoulder.
A hairline **crack** spread through the dream space.
Alexander's eyes widened for the first time.
**Alexander:** "...You adapted that fast?"
**Elio:** "I may be dumb, but I'm the BEST kind of dumb."
Alexander raised his hand—
**BOOM.** Elio was **blasted** backwards, flying across the phantom realm.
**Alexander:** "One touch isn't enough."
**Elio (grinning, bleeding):** "You talk too much."
---
**To Be Continued...**
### **Chapter 16: A Mortal God**
Alexander was not like everyone else.
He was a man with a goal—one that seemed small, arrogant, foolish even.
But to him, it mattered.
He wanted to be the strongest.
But not by evolving.
Not by becoming some monster.
Not by shedding his humanity.
No...
He would **remain mortal**.
In this world, no one was truly human for long.
Dream Walkers slowly lost themselves—bit by bit, piece by piece.
They gained horns. Wings. Extra limbs.
They became gods or beasts, but never human again.
Alexander refused.
He **lied** about his Pathway. He had none.
He would go **nowhere**—not north, not east, not west, not south.
He would walk forward, but **never upward.**
Never to divinity.
Only as a **man.**
The _Circle of Gods_ was a Pathway untouched in **millions of years.**
Not a path _to_ godhood, but a path _for_ gods—those born divine.
But Alexander? He wasn't born a god.
He was walking that path anyway.
To walk it as a mortal meant one thing:
**Every god in the circle would see him as a threat.**
There were 25.
And if he kept walking—he'd have to fight every single one.
Would he survive?
---
### **Alexander: Phantom Forces**
The ground **shook**.
His presence was heavy—felt across the continent.
Normally, fights between Dream Walkers didn't happen here.
They took place in the _Dream Plane_—a realm designed for such clashes.
Fighting on Earth was **illegal**—a threat to everyone nearby.
But this fight? This fight broke every rule.
That's why the students were so riled up.
That's why the teachers were already on their way.
Pebbles floated in the air.
Rocks defied gravity.
Something massive was building.
**Alexander:** "You wanted to know what's wrong, Elio. Why you couldn't understand. Why your Vision failed. I'll explain my powers right here."
**Elio:** "You take me for some fucking dumbass?"
**Alexander:** "Yes. I do."
Elio clenched his fists, biting his lip. Blood almost dripped from his palms.
**Alexander:** "Well... adapt to this."
**Elio:** "Damn you."
**Alexander:** "Looks like that pride of yours hurts."
Still smirking.
**Alexander:** "My ability? I have two ghosts. One blue. One red. Tiny colored dots."
> Blue is **speed**.
> Red is **force**.
**Alexander:** "The reason you couldn't hit me is because I dropped your **speed to zero** right before contact. My ability has a 5-meter radius. And you couldn't see them because they exist in the _Phantom Plane._"
**Alexander:** "Get it yet?"
Still motionless. Smiling.
**Elio:** "Blah blah blah. Just sounds like more yapping."
Elio charged.
But this time—he didn't strike.
He moved.
**ZOOM.**
**ZOOM.**
**ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM—**
He darted around Alexander in a blur.
Faster. Tighter. Circling. Reading.
Until finally—
**BAM!**
A clean hit.
Elio's right leg smashed across Alexander's cheek.
Alexander staggered.
His expression **finally changed.**
**Elio:** "Yeah. Wiped that smirk off your fucking face."
**Alexander:** "Wow. I did explain my ability. I guess you're not _completely_ stupid. Though, the way Eros described you, I thought you were the reincarnation of _Nicolae Ceaușescu_."
**Elio:** "?"
Confused.
**Alexander:** "You forgot one thing. My Vision's range is **5 meters**."
**Clap.**
Sound **disappeared.**
Elio's ears went numb.
He couldn't even hear his own heartbeat.
Then—
**BOOM.**
Alexander was behind him.
His red phantom applied **5x force** into his punch.
It connected clean on Elio's back.
**BAAAAAAM!**
Elio was sent flying.
Through trees. Through mountains.
He crashed under a mountain, an explosion erupting from impact.
Dust clouded everything.
Elio stood—limping, bleeding.
**Elio:** "Da—"
Before he could finish, one of the **floating rocks**—which had no gravity seconds ago—suddenly launched forward.
Alexander had **increased its force by 10x**.
He flipped it like a coin.
**ZOOM—BANG!**
The rock **pierced Elio's side**, knocking him down and sending him through even more terrain.
**Elio:** "Cough... cough..."
Blood spilled from his mouth.
He collapsed.
Lying there, staring up at the sky.
**Elio:** "Ah... man."
Alexander walked toward him.
Stoic. Calm.
He held out his hand.
Elio stared at it... then took it.
**Alexander:** "GGs."
**Elio:** "GGs."
---
**Chapter 16 End**
### **Chapter 17: The First Dream Walker**
There are stories told around the world about the first **Murderer**.
Two brothers.
**Vigil** and **Marcus**.
They existed at the beginning of all existence.
Together, they played.
They laughed.
They lived in peace and harmony.
They were inseparable.
Each night before sleep, they'd whisper the same words:
> "Until death do us part."
Two brothers who loved each other.
But that all changed...
when **she** entered the picture.
Her name was **Victoria**.
Long black hair.
Sparkling green eyes.
A body so divine it could quiet stars.
---
**Vigil:** "Good night, brother."
**Marcus:** "Good night."
And just like that, the day ended.
Simple.
Peaceful.
A quiet moment for a man whose sins had not yet come to light.
---
The next day, the brothers walked through the desert.
They passed a great body of water and drank from it.
Then through a raging sandstorm, step by step—
Until they reached their destination:
**The Jungle.**
**Vigil:** "Looks like we arrived, brother."
**Marcus:** "Wow… What a beautiful forest! I can't believe how huge it is!"
They entered it together—another step in their long journey.
Time **skipped.**
Suddenly, they stood atop a great mountain, surrounded by ancient stone hedges.
**Vigil (thinking):** _What just happened?_
**Marcus:** "Look, brother! I'm on top of this stone hedge!"
**Vigil:** "Hey, Marcus, I see you."
Another time jump.
Now, they were in a vibrant **garden**.
Floral colors bloomed everywhere.
And at the foot of a massive green tree—
A **dead minotaur**.
A spear in Vigil's hand.
Blood soaked the blade.
Vigil clutched his head, eyes wild with confusion.
**Vigil:** _What's going on with me?_
He turned to Marcus—who was filled with joy.
**Marcus:**
> "Brother, you're amazing! I would've died without you.
> You saved my life!
> You're a true hero, through and through!"
Vigil said nothing.
**Marcus:** "Brother? Are you okay?"
Time skipped again.
A woman stood before them.
Long black hair.
Green eyes that shimmered like emeralds.
**Victoria.**
**Vigil:** "What is going on with me?"
**Marcus (yelling):**
> "ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?
> YOU WERE MY BROTHER!
> AFTER EVERYTHING I DID FOR YOU—
> YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME?
> AFTER ALL THOSE ADVENTURES!?"
**Vigil:** "What are you talking about?"
Years had clearly passed.
Time blurred.
**Marcus:** "AGAIN! You ignore me!"
**Vigil:** "MARCUS, WAIT! LET ME SPEAK—"
**Marcus:** "BROTHER, I LOVED YOU!"
**Vigil:** "MARCUS—JUST SHUT UP FOR ONCE!"
**Marcus:** "VIGIL—"
**Victoria:** "Guys, stop!"
Then—
**Steel.**
A knife was buried in Marcus's chest.
Vigil's hands trembled.
His brother's blood was on them.
He looked into Marcus's eyes.
The light was fading.
**No.**
**No. No. No. No. No. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—**
---
**Vigil:** "Good night, brother."
**Marcus:** "Good night."
---
Again, the desert.
Again, the water.
Again, the jungle.
Again, the time skips.
Again, the garden.
Again, the death.
Vigil was trapped.
A **dream loop** that repeated for eternity.
No one knew.
No one saw.
No one could understand.
But one day they would.
He would be known for many things.
He would be called:
> **The First Murderer.**
He would become:
> **The Dreamer.**
> A cosmic nightmare born in the deep void.
But above all...
He would be remembered as:
> **Vigil, The First Dream Walker.**
---
**Chapter 17 End**
### **Chapter 18: Church Robbery & Cosmic Whispers**
It was after school on **October 10th, 2050**.
The fight between **Elio** and **Alexander** had happened during lunch.
They both got in trouble, but only received a warning—
> "No more dangerous fights on school grounds."
The day moved on. But a bigger problem lingered.
**Money.**
**Eros** and **Vera** had part-time jobs, but even that wasn't enough.
As the group walked together, they brainstormed.
---
**Elio:** "Guys, hear me out… what if we start a band, sell tickets to our shows? We could go on tour or something—it'll be sooo lit!"
**Eros:** "No one is watching that shit."
**Anima:** "Seconded."
**Vera:** "Stop it, you guys are so mean!"
She puffed up her cheeks.
**Alexander:** "I have an idea."
**Anima:** "And that would be?"
**Alexander:** "…Let's rob a church."
Silence.
Everyone just stared at him—expressionless.
---
**30 minutes later.**
They were **at a church.**
---
**Cosmic nightmares.**
They're stories kids tell during sleepovers.
Urban legends whispered in tents, or over flashlights under the stars.
Tales of **space deities**, **unseen horrors**, and **cosmic watchers**.
To most, they're just myth.
But not to **Detective Felisa**.
He lived during the Second Rejection.
And he believed.
Truly believed.
That **nightmares**—real, cosmic nightmares—existed out in the stars.
He had no proof. Only gut. But it was enough.
Today, many still call him the **greatest detective of all time**.
But when it came to the cosmic? The unknown?
> "A curious cat who thought too big."
> Or was it… an **unsolved mystery**?
---
**Vera:** "I can't believe we're actually doing this. Oh God, forgive me for my sins."
**Anima:** "Relax, Vera. Most churches are scams anyway. They just steal your money for… weird priest shit."
**Eros:** "Shh. Keep it down, loser."
**Alexander:** "Everyone… on my mark."
A group of **nuns and priests** in white passed by.
They walked toward a glowing **circle** of robed figures in all-black, murmuring some ancient chant.
---
**???:**
> _"Ḫe₂-il₂ e₃-me e₃-ša₄ he₂-gal₂… he₂-il₂ sa₂-ga e₃… me-te-na ḫe₂-il₂ mu-un-de₃ e₃… Zi-gal e₃-me… U₄-gal₂ mu-un-de₃…"_
The chant repeated.
Over and over.
Like a broken cosmic prayer.
**Alexander:** "Dawg… what are they even saying?"
**Anima:** "Hello?? Are we going or what?"
**Alexander:** "Oh—right. Everyone ready?"
They all nodded.
**Alexander:** "3… 2… 1… GO!"
---
They sprinted through the side entrance, slipping past the chanting cult-like figures.
They crept down the side hall into a small, locked room.
The **donation box** sat there, full of bills and coins.
---
**Vera:** "This feels so wrong."
**Eros:** "Then don't look at it. Just grab the cash."
**Anima:** "Yeah, let's dip already. These people are creeping me the hell out. What even _is_ that language?"
**Eros:** "Whatever it is… I don't want to know. Grab it all."
The chanting grew louder.
A **deafening rhythm** that echoed through the church walls.
---
**???:**
> _"Ḫe₂-il₂ e₃-me e₃-ša₄ he₂-gal₂… he₂-il₂ sa₂-ga e₃… me-te-na…"_
---
**Elio:** "Okay guys—let's run. Now."
**Alexander:** "Back exit. No one stop. Just run."
**Vera:** "If I have to, I'll use my shape to break the door."
**Eros:** "Elio, stuff the money in your jumper."
**Elio:** "Why me, bro?"
**Anima:** "Quit whining. Just do it. I feel like I'm getting cursed just standing here."
**Elio:** "Ugh—fine."
He shoved wads of cash into his hoodie.
---
**Anima:** "Alright, go, go, go! Alexander—count us down!"
**Alexander:** "Okay… 3… 2—"
Before he could say _1_, all of their expressions turned to **shock**.
Right in front of the exit…
**Someone appeared.**
---
**???:**
> "Going somewhere?"
---
**Chapter 18 End**
chapter 19: The Nightmare Stander**
After sneaking into a strange church to steal donations, Anima and the crew are caught off guard by a mysterious man in black named **Christian St. Marcus**. He's pale, smiles too much, wears an upside-down cross, and claims to be the "priest" of this place—though it's no ordinary church.
Christian reveals he doesn't worship the gods everyone knows. Instead, he serves something much worse: **cosmic nightmares**—beings stronger than gods, born from the deepest parts of the mind.
He shows them a **diagram** of a place called the **Reverse World**, split into seven tiers. Each level contains powerful entities, with one name catching everyone's attention:
**Vigil** — also known as _The Dreamer_, the first dream walker, and the one whose dreaming fuels reality itself.
Christian says Vigil is still asleep, stuck in a cursed dream loop after killing his brother. But his dreaming powers created the dream-walking system. If he wakes up? Everything ends. The _Last Dream_.
Christian's goal? **Wake Vigil up**—and erase all dream walkers.
He calls their abilities corrupt. He wants to "save" them by making them fully human again. But things get personal when he insults Anima's father—an "Anomaly" born without a dream core—and drops a secret about Anima's mother.
Furious, Anima threatens him, and the group jumps into battle.
Elio attacks first, but Christian easily deflects it. His powers are beyond what they expected—he reveals he's a **Level 1 Dream Walker** of the **Phoenix Pathway**, and he summons massive crosses from the sky to kill them.
Just before the crosses strike, a **black portal** opens.
A towering figure walks out—wrapped in bandages, hands in pockets.
**Malachi** has arrived.
With a flick of power, he saves the group, seals them in a black atom-sized bubble for safety… then transforms into a massive **black serpent**—a **Basilisk**.
Christian, now raving with excitement, transforms into a **blazing phoenix of light**.
The final shot:
**Basilisk vs Phoenix.**
The real fight is about to begin.
**Chapter 19 End.**
**Chapter 20: The Battle of the Blessed and the Cursed**
Malachai, born with a rare and powerful "Lucian's Factor," has an open dream core that lets him draw limitless mana—making him both incredibly blessed and cursed. By 17, he's reached level 1, an unheard-of feat, and earlier even reached level 4 at age 12. Despite his immense power, Malachai was forced to endure mysterious and grueling trials as a baby because of his open core.
Christian, now a dazzling white phoenix and a Level 1 Dream Walker of the Phoenix Pathway, faces Malachai—who has transformed into a massive black Basilisk. These two mythic beings, among only 14 Level 1s across all pathways, clash in a titanic fight, unleashing immense power that obliterates the chanting cultists nearby.
Inside the black bubble where Anima and friends are trapped, they anxiously watch and hope Malachai prevails, knowing that facing Level 1 forbidden knowledge could have killed them if not for Malachai's timely intervention.
Back in the dreamscape battleground—a purple sky dream world—they trade taunts about madness and power. Christian reveals Malachai's "blessing" of endless mana is also a curse: Malachai's uncontrollable power caused the death of all 72 members of his family, hence the bandages he wears.
As their battle intensifies, darkness suddenly falls, and the fury of god manifests with a deafening roar.
**Chapter 20 End.**
**Chapter 21: The Collapse and Aftermath**
A deafening noise causes the entire dreamscape and all existence across multiple planes to collapse into total darkness. Then a bright light appears, and Anima finds himself in what seems like a dream—a midnight beach with his house nearby. Confused and disoriented, Anima recalls the disturbing words Christian said about his father being an anomaly and his mother visiting him in secret for 15 years.
Anima encounters familiar friends and children who look older, but soon meets a mysterious boy named Roman who leads him to a stone statue rising from the sea surrounded by pillars. Then, Anima is face-to-face with his mother, Valeria Augustus, whose sudden appearance ignites intense emotions. She tells him he's in a partial perfect dream walk and promises to explain everything later before vanishing.
Anima wakes up in reality, relieved Malachi won the battle, and checks his phone for a message confirming the victory. He asks his father for a private talk.
Meanwhile, a badly wounded Christian—now human again—laments his loss and the loss of his Dreamer shard. Suddenly, a towering figure with dark blue eyes, six black wings, and a metal arm approaches. This is Cassius, the "Fallen Angel" and "Angel of Abyss," who mocks Christian's defeat and reveals Malachi took his shard, likely passing it to Vera.
Cassius hints at a repeating history and promises readers an even grander fight ahead. He seizes Christian's body for his own use, ending the chapter with ominous mystery.
**Chapter 22: The Story of the Anomaly**
Anima and his father, Soulani, have a serious conversation where Anima asks about the meaning of "Anomaly"—a term Christian used to describe Soulani as someone born without a dream core, which apparently leads to execution at birth.
Soulani begins to tell Anima a story set during the Fifth Rejection, a significant historical event. He explains that before the Third Rejection, all humans were born with dream cores, but after that, some babies were born without them, an extremely rare condition. These individuals were called "Anomalies" and were considered dangerous and unfit to live.
The story focuses on a boy named Luther Carlos, born without a dream core, who would grow up to challenge the gods and the world itself. Though initially dismissed as just another Anomaly, Luther Carlos's existence would change history forever.
The chapter ends with the ominous note that Luther would one day oppose the gods and seize control of the world.
**Chapter 23: The Birth and Early Life of Luther Carlos**
Two parents, Jacob and Lisa Carlos, have a son born on September 7th, 1820, with grey eyes and white hair named Luther Carlos. Despite their normal backgrounds and non-dream walker status, Luther is identified by doctors as an "Anomaly," born without a dream core—a rare condition.
Though initially accepting of Luther's condition, his parents reassure him that he is blessed to be free from the dangers of dream walking.
Soulani explains to Anima that he learned this story from a diary given by an old retired dream walker who runs an antique shop near their home.
Luther grows up on a farm but questions why he cannot dream walk like others. His parents explain that dream walking is dangerous and that being unable to dream may be part of who he is.
Despite this, Luther desires to dream and interact with others' dreams.
He is smart and thoughtful, and he starts keeping a diary to record his experiences and insights.
He decides to name it "King Luther's Diary," unaware of the great impact he will have in the future.
The chapter closes with a sense of destiny as Luther prepares to walk west and change the course of history.
**Chapter 24: Luther's Arrival in Egypt and the War for the Book of Light**
At age 16, Luther Carlos journeys toward Egypt, seeking answers about why people dream and fight. His white hair and grey eyes stand out as he walks through harsh desert winds toward the modern world.
He arrives at Maat Sesh, a town torn by war between the locals and the invading group _Akādheeb maḥkīyah_. Amid the chaos, Luther encounters a wounded child named Lucas and offers him healing with a potion.
Lucas explains the conflict revolves around the coveted "Book of Light," hidden in a temple controlled by the enemy faction. This book holds mysterious secrets that the attackers desperately want, guarded by the town's chief.
Luther decides to protect Lucas and resolve the conflict. When confronted by hostile _Akādheeb maḥkīyah_ soldiers who attempt to use dream walking powers against him, Luther's unique nature prevents their magic from working.
Drawing his purple blazing sword and donning blackish-purple armor, Luther swiftly defeats the aggressors with deadly precision.
As tension escalates, Luther unleashes a powerful purple aura, an intense pressure radiating from his body, marking the activation of his enchantment:
**Enchantment 12: Shatter the dreams of those who seek the blood of the innocent and refuse to accept that they're guilty.**
Purple flames shaped like the number 12 scatter throughout the town, obliterating the enemy forces in a flash of light.
When the dust settles, the war noise ceases, and the town falls silent. Lucas realizes the enemy has been wiped out.
Luther's chilling declaration confirms the fate of the invaders:
**"They're all dead."**
**Chapter 25: The Book of Light and Crossing Into the Heavens**
The members of _Akādheeb maḥkīyah_ were all dead, vanished without a trace, leaving the war-torn town stunned and awestruck. The people of Maat Sesh believed a divine miracle had saved them—a blessing from the God of Miracles, their protector.
Joyous cries and celebrations filled the streets, but only one child truly knew the truth behind the miracle: Lucas.
He saw Luther—not a god, but a man with burning resolve and an unshakable purpose.
As Lucas guided Luther to the golden pyramid temple, their conversation revealed deeper truths:
**Lucas:** "Why do you save people?"
**Luther:** "Because it feels good. Because helping others fills my heart with joy."
Lucas, inspired, revealed his own dream of becoming a hero, admiring Luther as his second greatest inspiration after Superman.
Inside the temple, Luther summoned the **Book of Light** with his enchantment and uncovered its cryptic secrets—seven mysterious names, coded entries, and the mythological pathway known as **The Heavenly Pathway**.
The book held a vital message for anomalies like Luther: where others must walk north, he could walk **west**—an uncharted direction, a path open only to those without dream cores.
Lucas offered himself as a **controller**, a bridge for Luther to access this forbidden path.
Moved by the boy's faith and sacrifice, Luther accepted, unlocking luminous pathways and crossing into the heavens—a realm beyond mortal understanding.
His soul ablaze, Luther vowed:
> "I shall bestow death on those who do not plead guilty!
> I shall cross into the heavens and rule the world as a man who can't dream!
> I shall destroy those who shatter the dreams of others!
> I shall kill the devils of these worlds and sit above it all!"
No words could describe what came next. The diary fell silent.
But one truth remained clear—
**On September 7th, 1840, the 5th Rejection began, and Luther Carlos rose to claim dominion over the world.**
Chapter 26: Echoes of the Miracle Man October 11th, 2050
Eros just returned home, exhausted.
Eros: Sigh, I'm tired as shit.
He reached for a cold drink, but something felt wrong—his head spun painfully.
Eros: Probably just a headache...
He settled on the couch, turned on the TV, and sipped his water. The news blared in the background.
News Reporter: A man was found dead this morning in his flat. Detectives Carina and Amal suspect the same attacker from the couple attacked days ago...
Eros's eyes grew heavy. As sleep took him, strange words whispered in his mind:
Purple mist and blackened tide,
A man who walks where time won't bide.
With purple eyes that see too far,
A shadow lost where echoes are.
He does not belong, not here, not then,
A whisper lost, again, again.
The future is past, the past is the key,
A circle unbroken, a fate yet to be.
Step forward, step back, it's all the same,
The echo remains, but so does the name.
Turn from the hourglass, shatter the sand,
He was not meant for this broken land.
The miracle man.
Anima: So what happened after Luther took over the world? How was he defeated?
Soulani: He wasn't.
Anima's face twisted—shock and confusion.
Anima: Wh-what do you mean?
Soulani: It's been a secret for years. The government says he died of old age, but that's just a story.
Anima: That doesn't make sense. How could someone that powerful just die like that?
Soulani: Mr. Kiran will teach you about going "west," but how Luther became a dream walker despite being an anomaly... I don't know.
Anima: So you don't think he really died?
Soulani hesitated.
Soulani: No, I don't. I know he's still alive.
Anima's eyes widened.
Anima: How do you know?
Soulani: Because I feel a connection with him—like he's still out there. He lived longer than most, but he was mortal. When he was weak, they sealed him away. Maybe preserved him somewhere.
Anima: That's... terrifying.
Soulani: Yeah. And since I'm an anomaly, I know what it means. It's a miracle we're even alive.
Anima: Speaking of miracles, was Luther a hero?
Soulani chuckled.
Soulani: He created the trial system, the dream walker programs, brought high-level dream walkers to teach... He did a lot. Whether he was a hero? That's for you to decide.
Anima: If anomalies have been killed since Luther, then how are you—and I—even here?
Soulani: That's the million-dollar question. My grandma said it was a miracle no one noticed me at birth. I don't get it either, but hey, here we are.
Anima: A miracle.
That word echoed deep in Anima's soul—the power of his vision, his miracle.
Anima: One last thing. What really happened to Mom that night? And why have you been seeing her behind my back?
Soulani: It's complicated. She's fine. She's a dream walker like you—level 4. She's been through a lot. I wish I could tell you more, but you have to trust me. It'll all make sense in time.
Anima said nothing, laying down with rage simmering inside—not at them, but at the unanswered questions driving him forward.
His resolve would push him deeper into the heavens.
Chapter 26 end.
Chapter 27: Shadows of the Miracle Man Detectives and dream walkers Carina and Amal discuss the possibility of a rogue dream walker behind recent murders. As Amal investigates, he encounters a mysterious jester figure who harbors a deep grudge against someone named Cassius. Later, Amal finds an unsettling poem in a library book that reflects hidden truths about demons and angels. While walking home, Amal uses his dream walking vision "Seeker" to detect something terrifying near a damaged church. Meanwhile, Vera struggles with her feelings for Anima and secretly visits him at night, conflicted and vulnerable. Before falling asleep, she hears a haunting chant about the "miracle man" — a mysterious figure connected to time and fate, hinting at darker truths to come.
**Chapter 28: Awkward Morning**
Detective Amal uses his Seeker ability to investigate a mysterious, ominous presence resembling a jester or demon near a damaged church. Meanwhile, Anima wakes up to find Vera unexpectedly in his bed, leading to a hilariously awkward and tense situation as they try to avoid being caught by Anima's dad. Both characters are caught between tension and confusion—Amal with the dark threat looming, and Anima with the unexpected feelings stirring between him and Vera.
**Chapter 29: The Pretender Method**
**Summary:**
Anima, Vera, and Eros share a lighthearted yet revealing morning together, full of teasing and awkward moments. Over breakfast and on their way to school, their friendship and feelings deepen. At their favorite pastry shop, the retired dream walker Logo shares critical knowledge about the dangerous "Pretender Method," a risky way to gain favor with the gods by pretending to be one of them. The trio receive their official code names—Mrs. Shape, Mr. Sin, and Mr. Miracle—marking a new step in their journey as dream walkers.
Chapter 30: The First Murderer and the Endless Dream
Summary:
This chapter reveals the tragic story of Vigil and Marcus, two brothers who once shared an unbreakable bond until Victoria, a mysterious woman, came between them. Through fragmented time jumps and dreamlike sequences, Vigil is trapped in a looping nightmare of betrayal and loss after Marcus is fatally stabbed. Known thereafter as the First Murderer and the First Dream Walker, Vigil becomes a cosmic figure lost in eternal suffering. However, a turning point arrives when a mysterious figure named Mr. Miracle appears, promising salvation but hinting at a great cost. As nightmares begin to fracture the dream realm, an epic shift in reality looms.
**Chapter 31: The Jester's Shadow and Anima's Heart**
**Summary:**
Amal encounters a mysterious and terrifying figure resembling a clown or jester, suspected to be the culprit behind recent murders. As Amal tries to identify the entity with his dream walking ability "Seeker," he finds no answers and a tense standoff escalates with the appearance of weapons and gunfire. Meanwhile, Anima struggles with overwhelming new feelings of attraction and confusion, leading him to seek therapy with his friend Eros. Anima's emotional turmoil is relatable and humanizing amid the dark, supernatural events unfolding around them. By the end, Anima pursues a new part-time babysitting job, possibly marking a new chapter in his personal growth.
**Summary of Chapter 32:**
Anima takes a babysitting job at Carina's house, where he discovers files related to recent murders and a mysterious incident at God Valley. Meanwhile, Amal faces off against a terrifying jester-like "demon" who evades his gunfire and reveals unpredictable, supernatural powers. After a brutal fight, Amal is gravely injured and teleported to a hospital, while the jester taunts him cryptically about their connection.
**Chapter 33 Summary:**
A man lies trapped in a void of darkness and silence, haunted by echoes of "BLEED" and "TRAITOR." Lost in an abyss of nothingness, he begins to perceive color and sound, especially the desperate cries of a soul begging for help. Suddenly, Cassius appears — the man's son — holding a mysterious book. Cassius explains that two souls are trapped in one body: the man's and the restless spirit of Raymond, a long-serving jester the man once killed. Cassius offers to restore the man's senses and mobility in exchange for helping Raymond's soul find peace. The man's body bleeds and transforms, merging with the jester's husk, forcing him to confront his true nature and the consequences of his past. Cassius condemns the man for his failures as husband, father, and more, before banishing him to entertain the world in torment.
**Chapter 34 Summary:**
It's a Friday afternoon in Miami's Central City. Vera, Eros, and Anima prepare for a trip to Central Mall to buy camping equipment. The mall is massive, lively, and just a short walk away. After grabbing drinks, Anima and Eros browse clothes, witnessing a strange fight over pants before reuniting with Vera, who bought perfume.
They locate the camping supplies on the 5th floor, with Vera stopping briefly to choose a suitcase. She debates between a bright crimson and a midnight purple suitcase but feels uneasy about the crimson one. While deciding, she meets a mysterious woman named Rebecca, who seems to have an unsettling vibe, especially around the crimson suitcase.
After their shopping, the trio heads to the food court and then back home, ending the day with Friday night games. Vera ultimately picks the midnight purple suitcase, avoiding the creepy crimson one, which Rebecca takes away.
Meanwhile, in a dark void, a silent jester contemplates how to reach Cassius, focusing on what Cassius desires most. The jester conjures an image of a boy named **Anima Augustus**, using fire magic to make it real — setting up a mysterious connection.
chapter 35 summary
On a full moon night in Central City, Dr. James rushes to save a patient suffering an unexplained cardiac arrest. Despite initial panic, Dr. James identifies a toxic substance in the patient's heart and stabilizes him. He then heads to the hospital's underground lab where scientists are developing a cure for a mysterious disease called "Gray Fog" that blocks people's dreams and can lead to coma.
Dr. James accesses a secret, dark 9th layer beneath the hospital, described as an endless abyss. There, he confronts a mysterious figure and reveals his true form as Janus — a supernatural persona with white hair, red starry eyes, and a distinctive outfit. The chapter ends as Janus prepares to face the mysterious figure, suggesting a hidden battle involving dark magic and the fate of the hospital's patients.
Chapter 36:
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**Chapter Summary:**
It's a bright Saturday morning in late summer. Anima wakes up late and chats with his dad about plans to go to the beach with friends Vera and Eros. Though Vera and Eros are still upset with him from a prank he pulled pretending to be a hacker, they meet up at the beach. After some playful teasing and a volleyball match where Vera and Eros compete fiercely, they relax and talk.
Anima tells them about strange, loud noises he heard coming from the ocean earlier, but when he checked, nothing was there. Suddenly, the ocean begins to rise dramatically, forming a towering pillar of water. From it emerges a massive creature resembling a dinosaur. Anima instantly recognizes it as the Loch Ness Monster.
Chapter 37:
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**Chapter Summary:**
The huge Loch Ness Monster-like creature emerges from the ocean and roars ferociously, shaking the entire beach. Anima scans the monster and realizes its level is far beyond theirs, making it extremely dangerous. The monster lashes out with its massive tail, forcing Vera, Eros, and Anima to defend themselves. Vera creates a sand wall with her vision to block the attack, but the monster's roar destroys it, injuring her.
Eros uses his vision skill, the Color Wheel, specifically the "Lightweight" ability, to enhance his sword and manages to sever the monster's tail with a powerful 360-degree slash. However, the energy drain causes him to pass out, and Vera catches him with her sand vision.
The monster becomes even more furious, and its eyes start glowing ominously. It charges a powerful white beam attack with its mouth, preparing to blast the beach — where Anima's house and his father are located. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as the destructive beam is about to be unleashed.