It was late at night, and Kevin was making final preparations for his journey to the Dream Plane.
Actually… what's the point of preparing anything? You can just sleep in bed and get in. All the tricks you've prepared outside won't be of much use!
Lily was exhausted from the past two days, and she needed to recharge for her full-moon evolution in a few days. So, she retired to her room before nine o'clock that evening, leaving Vivian and Y'zaks busy with Kevin in the living room. Vivian prepared a large pot of medicinal food, supposedly meant to boost energy and vitality. She supervised Kevin as he gushed over two large bowlfuls. Then, with intense concern, she looked at him, "How's it going? Feeling better?"
Kevin smacked his lips. The strange taste of the food numbed his tongue, but seeing Vivian's earnest expression, he felt embarrassed to refuse, so he nodded. "Yeah, it's working. I feel as energetic as if I'd just woken up early..."
"More, then!" Vivian was delighted. She snatched the bowl and scooped two more spoonfuls of the dark, oily porridge from the pot. "Let me tell you, the herbs in this are unknown now, not even by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. This recipe was written down by Li Shizhen when he passed through a small village. Drink it to invigorate and calm your spirit. Going to the dream plane is essentially a nightmare. As long as you maintain a stable mental state, even the most severe nightmare won't be a problem." Kevin quickly waved his hand, asking Vivian to take the bowl away. "That's enough! If I drink any more, I won't be able to sleep at all. And you guys, don't be so nervous, okay? I'm just going to sleep..."
"How can I not be nervous?" Vivian placed the medicinal meal on the table. "I've heard that the dream plane isn't just a simple dream. So many people have died there. Raven 12345 only promised you a non-death experience, but even half-death isn't considered a complete loss!"
Even Vivian could say that, so you can only imagine how widespread Raven 12345's reputation for bad behavior has become. "If only my blood magic worked on you," Vivian sighed suddenly. "Many vampire magics target the mind, definitely more effective than having you drink these things. Why doesn't blood magic work..."
Even Raven 12345 couldn't explain this question, and Kevin certainly couldn't explain it either. He could only chuckle and brush it off. Y'zaks took the opportunity to speak: "Let me try to use our magic to shield you."
Kevin waved his hand: "Don't bother. My body is immune to magic, so even the buffs my teammates give me can't be used. What a bad physique..."
"How do you know if you don't try?" Y'zaks was stubborn. He had to test anything he thought of. Regardless of Kevin's words, he simply wrote a dark green rune in the air and patted Kevin on the back. "...Wasn't it working?" Kevin was completely stunned for a moment. Once he realized the great demon had instantly unleashed its magic, his mind suddenly cleared, and his awareness of his surroundings heightened to a level he had never experienced before. He still didn't know what mental power was, but he was certain the runes Yzaks had cast on him had definitely stimulated his mental power! "I'm not talking about magic immunity..." Kevin was surprised by his brief mental boost, but even more surprised that he wasn't immune to Yzaks's runes. A few seconds later, he remembered what Raven 12345 had said. "Partial immunity... I remember, that crazy bitch said I was partially immune!"
"So you're not immune to demonic power?" Vivian stared at the scene in surprise, her brows furrowed. "Then be careful next time. Don't think you're truly immune to magic. It's no fun being tricked by other demons. Not all demons are as friendly as the big guy."
Kevin nodded repeatedly and stood up. "That's it. I'm feeling better than ever. I'm going to sleep now. Vivian, don't you sleep late tonight? Then you can help protect the area. Raven 12345 said that connecting to the dream plane occasionally triggers unusual phenomena in the surrounding area. Please observe and note anything you find. I'll report to Raven 12345 when the time comes." Vivian readily agreed, and Y'zaks, scratching his bald head, smiled. "I'll help keep an eye on it for you, too. I'm quite interested in your world's 'Dream Plane,' but unfortunately I can't enter, so I can only observe from the side."
Kevin thought to himself that he was finally a big shot. Look, I haven't even returned to my room yet, and I already have vampires and demons guarding me. How powerful must one be to be afforded this privilege? But as he reached the door with such swagger, he sensed something was amiss. After a moment's reflection, he turned back and said with a mixture of laughter and tears, "Well, I'm going back to my room to sleep. Could you two please stop looking at me like you're watching Jing Ke cross the Yishui River with such expressions..."
Vivian and Y'zaks uttered "oh," and bowed their heads solemnly. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the living room took on the air of a wake. Kevin: "…"
Knowing he couldn't continue communicating with them, he shook his head and returned to his room. He lay on his bed, adjusting his mindset according to Raven 12345's instructions, silently repeating the self-hypnosis phrases. He placed the data terminal beside him, awaiting the arrival of the dream plane.
Half an hour later, the door opened, and Kevin emerged in his pajamas, arms swung. Vivian and Y'zaks stared at him in surprise: "Landlord, is this all?!"
Kevin scratched his face awkwardly: "…I need to go to the bathroom. Those two bowls of soup were incredibly potent."
Vivian: "…"
After satisfying his urgency, Kevin returned to his room and continued to lie down. Half an hour later, he finally realized something. Vivian's medicinal food and Y'zaks's magic had indeed strengthened his mental strength, but they also had a synergistic effect: they refreshed his mind!
What bad luck! He couldn't sleep!
"If I had known I didn't have many reliable people around me, I shouldn't have let them mess around!" Kevin suddenly stood up, but finally lay back down. What good would running out do now? Would Vivian knock him out with a punch? Or would Y'zaks hypnotize him with magic? Regardless of whether it would work, this forced sleep induced by external force wouldn't allow him to enter the dream plane...
Kevin tossed and turned in bed, finally feeling helpless and touching the data terminal next to his pillow: "Call Raven 12345."
Dialing 00000012345 on a cell phone wouldn't get through to that psychopathic woman; only internal equipment like a data terminal could connect to the dedicated line. Luckily, Raven 12345 was on duty this time, apparently even without a night's rest. Soon, her chattering voice echoed in Kevin's mind: "Hey, Kevin, you've already been to the dream plane? So soon?"
"Not yet. I'm having a problem. I can't get in..."
Raven 12345's voice was surprised: "Can't get in? Didn't I tell you about psychological adjustment and self-suggestion techniques? At the very least, the data terminal can help you with guidance."
"That's not the problem. I can't sleep."
Raven 12345: "...Fuck! Can't you be more reliable?"
Kevin really didn't want to be judged like that by a psychopath, but reality forced him to explain the whole thing with a dry laugh. Raven 12345 was speechless for a long time after hearing this, finally uttering: "What kind of people are you surrounding yourself with... What kind of people did I find?"
"So..." "Don't worry, I'll find a way," Raven 12345 said with great vigor. Kevin's spirits lifted instantly, thinking this woman was finally willing to use her goddess powers for something serious. But the rest of the sentence went like this: "I'll sing you a lullaby..."
Kevin couldn't recall what happened after that. He only remembered that the moment Raven 12345 opened its mouth, his vision went dark.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw a vast prairie.
Two moons, one large and one small, hung in the sky. A cool breeze blew across the prairie under the night sky. Above him were brilliant yet unfamiliar stars. All around him were scenes he had once encountered. Kevin realized he had successfully entered the dream plane, and... in the same place he had last seen.
A faint wolf howl echoed from nowhere.
"Meow!" Kevin exclaimed in shock. "This dream can't be split into two parts! Is it just continuing from the last time?"