The world tore itself apart.
Klaus plunged through a current of black water that burned and froze at once. His wings snapped in and out of existence, his blood roared like fire, and with each heartbeat, he felt years slip away.
[DREAM-WEAVE] Entry Confirmed: Ashen Citadel.- Lifespan Consumed: 3 Years.Remaining Lifespan: 52 Years, 11 Months.
He hit stone hard enough to crack it. Dust and ash filled his lungs. When he staggered upright, the world had changed.
A colossal fortress rose around him, its towers shattered, chained to the sky by rivers of molten silver. Ash fell like snow. The ground breathed faint screams that clawed at the mind.
The Ashen Citadel.
His shadow wolf padded beside him, eyes burning like stars. His crow circled overhead, wings scattering sparks of voidfire. The Chitinbeast clone skittered across the ground, hissing.
[Lucifer]: "Welcome, Crown-Bearer. A palace for corpses, a throne for kings. But hear this: every moment here bleeds more of your life. Unless… you kill enough to take it back."
Klaus clenched his fists. "Kill to live. Sounds fair."
First Blood
The ground cracked. Ash erupted, and skeletal warriors crawled free—twelve in total. Rusted swords dragged behind them, armor fused to bone. Their eyes glowed with icy flame.
[SYSTEM] Dream-Foes Detected: Ashen Revenants (x12).
The wolf growled, the crow shrieked, and Klaus's fangs itched for blood.
"Perfect test."
He surged forward, wings flaring. His Chitinbeast clone tore into the nearest revenant, mandibles cracking brittle bone. Klaus ducked a sword swing, then smashed his claws through a skull.
The revenant collapsed into ash.
[SYSTEM] Target Defeated.[DEVOUR] Trait Acquired: Bone Reinforcement (Basic).[SHADOW CLONE] Revenant Added (x1).
[DREAM-WEAVE] Lifespan Reclaimed: +6 Hours.
Klaus froze. His wristband ticked upward. The stolen years trickled back.
He grinned, baring his fangs. "So every corpse buys me time? Then all I need is slaughter."
[Lucifer]: "Careful, Crown-Bearer. That taste is sweet, isn't it? But honey rots the teeth. Kill too greedily and you may find the years stolen back when you wake."
Dance of Shadows
The revenants swarmed. His wolf slammed into two, snapping necks. His crow blinded one with void sparks, its skull crushed by Klaus's claw strike. His new revenant clone swung a rusted blade into its own kind.
Every kill brought more time:
[DREAM-WEAVE] Lifespan Reclaimed: +4 Hours.[DREAM-WEAVE] Lifespan Reclaimed: +8 Hours.
The tally rose, climbing higher. His chest ached with manic laughter.
But one sword slipped past, slicing across his ribs. Klaus hissed, blood spraying. Instinct burned through him—
[SIMP SYSTEM: Resonance Skill Activated — Healing Light.]
Golden radiance spilled from his palm. Flesh stitched itself back together, steam hissing off silver skin.
He exhaled. "Pathetic C-Rank skill… but it keeps me alive."
[Lucifer]: "See? Even the weakest charms, milked properly, can feed your empire. Keep her close. Drain her belief. Every drop is profit."
Breaching the Door
At last the final revenant fell, collapsing into black dust. The fortress gates pulsed, glyphs unlocking like chains loosening.
[SYSTEM] Enemy Wave Cleared.[DREAM-WEAVE] Net Lifespan Restored: +1 Day, 8 Hours.[QUEST: The Citadel's Door — Completed.]Reward: Dream-Seal (C-Rank).
A black coin materialized in his hand, etched with burning runes. It pulsed with unstable power.
[Lucifer]: "There it is. A seal to carry trinkets into reality. Costly, yes—but tell me, Crown-Bearer, what throne is built without sacrifice?"
Klaus closed his fist around it, wings trembling. His first key to true wealth.
The Warden
The air froze. From within the Citadel gates, a shadow stirred.
A colossal figure stepped out, clad in cracked silver armor. Its helm was bound in chains, and in its grip rested a glaive of molten stone. The ground trembled with each step.
[SYSTEM ALERT] Dream-Warden Detected: The Chainbreaker (B-Rank).Defeat to acquire Dream-Seal Upgrade (B-Tier).Reward: Lifespan Gain (Projected): +3 Days.Penalty on Failure: Forced Exit. -2 Years Lifespan.
Klaus's crimson eyes burned hotter. "Three days' life for killing you? Looks like I'll be younger when I wake."
His wolf snarled. His crow shrieked. His revenant and Chitinbeast clones shifted into formation.
[Lucifer]: "Careful, Crown-Bearer. You've tasted the sugar of reclaimed years and already think yourself immortal. But remember—time flows one way, unless you cheat. This is your first true gamble. Win, and you'll rise. Lose, and you'll crawl back weaker, older, broken."
The Warden raised its glaive. The Citadel itself shook.
Klaus spread his wings, silver feathers igniting with black flame. He lowered his stance, claws gleaming.
And then he charged.