Just as the realm shifted, Leon saw a face similar to his father's, but it wasn't in chains, nor was he in a cage like the others.
The person moved like sound among the chained ones, almost as if chasing after Leon and the giants.
But as soon as he passed by the reptilian humanoid, the realm shifted into a different place altogether.
There, they stood at the base of a giant tree; its leaves shimmered in a golden hue.
Every rustle of its leaves was like a song to the ears. Leon's eyes closed instantly, letting him savor the gentle rattle like a king in need of solace.
Even as his eyes shut, they drifted across the vast land. Every corner, tree, wind, and blade of grass seemed to obey an unseen power.
Every tree they passed had its own melody; every blade of grass they stepped on vibrated like a harp string.
Then, as they stumbled upon a wall, Leon's eyes were forced open—cries, heat, and scorched air pierced him like a butcher's knife.
A gate appeared in the wall as the giants extended their arms towards it. Leon's eyes widened at the swelling formation of the gate.
In the vast distance beyond it, he saw fire—hotter than the sun itself. Every hair on his skin stood on end.
Leon turned to ask why, but before he could speak, he was pushed through the door.
As he landed, he saw countless people—too many for a mere human to count. He tried to shout, but when he turned, the door was gone.
Then, desperate for escape, he began carving his own path. For a moment, Leon stumbled upon countless doors, each one bearing a unique symbol and color, none of them repeated.
After passing fifty doors, his mind reeled as he saw three doors, all marked with the same 'Y' symbol. Yet upon a closer inspection, he noticed each one had its own distinct style.
Without hesitation, he opened the first one he stood beside.
The moment the door opened, all the other doors vanished. "What?!" Leon shouted as he whirled around.
"Why have the other doors disappeared? Should I enter and find out what has been stored inside?" He hesitated, then glanced back for a last time.
But in that final look, he saw the giants standing in the distance, smiling.
Even after turning away from their direction, their image still lingered in his vision—as if they had melted with lines in his eyes.
Sweat dripped from him as he debates on what to do—step through the door or close it and see what happens?
As he waited, his father's favorite quote echoed in his ears: "Whatever you put your mind to will come to pass. So, think good thoughts, and always treat every opportunity as a blessing—whether good or bad."
Leon closed his eyes slowly as he wipes away the tears from his eyes.
"Whatever happens, happens." As his voice faded, he stepped inside.
At first, everything seemed perfect. It wasn't as dark as the second realm, but its appearance was between the collusion of heaven and hell.
Nothing moved—no air, no sound, not even Leon himself. Everything remained stiff, like being sealed in a buried casket.
"Bam!"
Leon jerked his head toward the sound. His heart, mind, and legs trembled as if he'd just been dragged from the ocean's depths.
"What was that? I can't see anything moving, but can hear sounds coming!
Leon stayed frozen in his position, but his head kept snapping toward each new noise.
But on his last turn, something caught Leon's eyes—but it was too late to dodge. It slammed into him before he could do anything.
A fifteen-foot humanoid alien pinned Leon to the ground. As Leon's eyes opened after forcefully closing, he recognized the same being that had chopped off his head in his first vision.
As his gaze locked onto a shimmering sharp surface, Leon jolted awake, tumbling from his bed to the floor.
His breath came in gasps; his heartbeat was erratic. And when he glanced at the bed, it looked drenched, as if it had been pulled from the sea.
Pain wracked his body—his head, chest, legs, and arms. Heat radiated from him like steam in a bottle as blood seeps out from his eye socket and palms.
The pain was so intense that he couldn't lift himself for several minutes. "What's wrong with my body? How will I be able to write this entrance exam and get the chance to help my family?"
Leon wept, failing to rise after five attempts. Then, a voice echoed within him: "Don't force yourself too much. Do what you can."
He smiled faintly as the words faded. "I won't settle for 'what I can'—not until everyone is safe and stable."
Clenching his fist, he gripped the wood frame of the bed with one hand and braced the other as a pillar against the floor.
"I'll make sure everyone is stable. I'll specially make sure Lily and Mum get the same respect as the top elite's families!" He screamed as he struggles to raise himself again.
This time, he hauled his upper body onto the bed. But when he tried lifting his legs, they felt paralyzed.
"But it was just a dream!" As he remembered how the creature slammed him down in the dream, Leon roared, then used every ounce of his strength to stand completely.
His legs cracked, but still he forced himself upright, bathed, cooked like he always does, and headed for the exam ahead.
Yet as he reached the school's junction, Tiger and his gang blocked the path he was to take.
The two guys he'd beaten earlier now had bandages wrapped around their necks and arms.
"Don't worry—I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to congratulate you for being selected for the same exam I'll be taking. Remember this face, and try to run whenever we meet there!"
Tiger whispered in a slow, measured voice, while his eyes remained intensively locked with Leon's.
Lean smiled and replied in a soft, breathy, and yet controlled tone: "I'd love to meet you one-on-one there. I hope we get the chance for a real fight!" Then he smiled.
Even as Leon walked away, Tiger's gang muted their laughter, maintaining their composure—until Tiger boarded the same bus as Leon.