A chilling aura of death filled the house. Everywhere except the staircase was engulfed in a raging sea of fire — molten flames twisting like snakes, licking up toward the ceiling.
The blazing light made the place feel like an oven, and soon Emma's cold sweat turned into hot sweat.
From beneath the inferno came the shrill cries and agonized screams of the damned, clawing at her chest like invisible hands trying to squeeze the life out of her.
So terrifying. So terrifying!
Somebody help me—Emma doesn't want to die! She doesn't want to go to hell.
> "No… I don't want to die! Daddy, please help me… I won't be bad anymore. I swear I won't!"
Tears streamed down her face as panic and regret filled her heart. At that moment, Emma truly understood the value of life.
But… was there still a chance for her?
> "Emma, it's too late. Evil little brats like you—how could they ever change? Come with me. Maybe next time, you'll be a better person."
Levia's voice echoed as she drew closer step by step. The nightmare from before resurfaced in Emma's mind, her whole body paralyzed by fear. Her limbs felt like cotton; she couldn't move at all.
Goodbye, world.
Levia's face suddenly loomed right in front of Emma's—Emma's eyes rolled back.
> "Emma! Emma! What's wrong? Wake up!"
In reality, Levia had heard Emma struggling and crying in her sleep. She rushed into the room and found the girl twisting in agony, caught in a nightmare, so she shook her shoulders frantically to wake her up.
Emma's eyes snapped open—only to see Levia's face right there.
With a gasp, she immediately fainted again.
Emma's last thought: She's still chasing me!
> "Hello? Mr. David? Something's wrong—Emma fainted!"
Levia called Emma's father, urging him to come home right away.
Not long after, David arrived, calling out his daughter's name again and again, praying she'd be okay.
---
> "Come on! My dream manipulation skills are still top-notch!"
Barry grinned, clearly pleased with himself. For his "performance," he humbly gave himself ninety-nine out of a hundred points—because, you know, there's always room for improvement.
That dream should've done it. Surely, it taught Emma the meaning and preciousness of life.
Maybe he even had a knack for teaching.
At least, right at the edge of life and death, Emma had shown a desperate will to live—and sincere regret for her past cruelty.
A crooked tree has to be straightened early, or it'll just grow more twisted. Since Barry had run into her, he might as well "trim" her a bit.
Guiding someone to goodness, he thought, was harder than punishing the wicked—but with his intellect, he was confident he could pull it off.
Watching David carry Emma away, Barry didn't follow. There was no need. The lessons from those few dreams had already taken root.
Education had to be gradual; you couldn't just force it all at once.
He decided to end it there, letting Emma process everything she'd learned today.
Silently, Barry seemed to fall asleep, lying motionless under the bed.
Then, from the shadows beneath, a hand identical to his own reached out and pulled the sleeping scarecrow—his dream projection—down into the dream realm, keeping his real body from being left behind.
Barry's body had now fully adapted to existing inside dreams. Even when awake, part of his consciousness always remained in that world, maintaining the dream's stability.
---
Back in his own dreamscape.
Barry returned to his body, lying on his back in a glowing rice field. From him sprouted long tendrils that wrapped around the golden stalks, slowly absorbing their faith energy bit by bit.
Hard work. Focus.
Every bit of effort added up to progress.
After a long while, he finally released a deep breath, brushing his fingers against the cross pendant on his chest. A cloud of shimmering, translucent butterflies appeared, circling around him.
The halo above him shone a little brighter, its gentle glow washing away tension and distraction.
Ah… stronger again.
All thanks to his relentless dedication.
Clenching his fists, he felt the dark power coursing through his body. If unleashed, he was sure—two punches, and Freddy Krueger himself wouldn't stand a chance.
His strength had improved a lot.
Judging by the dream's time flow, it must've been late at night in the outside world.
Perfect for another adventure.
> Croak!
His "embodiment of rage" burst from the dream realm, setting off on yet another spontaneous journey.
He wandered aimlessly for what felt like forever, until—finally—something called to him.
Without hesitation, Barry surged forward, drawn toward the "fate bubble."
A familiar crash came next—a plane going down—but this time, Barry was prepared. He opened vents across his body, inflated himself like a balloon, and drifted down gently instead of crashing.
Lightning flashed and thunder roared, a few sparks catching on his straw limbs—but the rain quickly doused them.
Since this wasn't a desperate trip and he'd landed safely, his "rage form" still retained full power.
He reattached the torn straw, expelled the rainwater from his mouth, and slithered forward like a serpent.
Now, he found himself on a street before an ordinary red-brick house.
Thunder boomed overhead, rain pounding hard enough to blur his vision.
The dream's owner was inside that house.
Barry coiled his body and raised his long neck, his cold, triangular eyes locked on the second-floor window.
The window was cracked open.
A breeze fluttered the curtain—and then, a small figure appeared, reaching out to close it.
> Crack!
Lightning ripped through the clouds, flashing bright white for just an instant.
In that instant, Barry saw it—
Behind the little girl stood a shadow, tall, cold, and wrong.
He could smell the evil.
---
Why again?
Why were all the people connected to him somehow born wicked?
No. Impossible. Absolutely not.
He, Barry, was pure-hearted!
He refused to believe it. Emma had been an accident, sure—but this? This couldn't just be another coincidence.
There had to be some kind of misunderstanding.
That's what he told himself, anyway.
Either way, since he was already here, he might as well take a look.
Gripping the rough brick wall, Barry climbed up easily, lifted the window, and slipped inside.
> Don't be afraid, kids, he thought smugly. Uncle Barry is here to save the day.