The sky had finally stopped breaking.
The air warmed again.
Dust settled across the abandoned factory yard like gray snow.
Metal twisted back into shape.
The cracks in the sky faded like ripples on water.
The Dreamquake was over.
But the danger wasn't.
Yin Lie held Qin Mian in his arms.
Her body was light—too light—like the world had forgotten to let her grow.
Her head rested weakly against his chest, her breath soft and uneven.
She was awake.
Barely.
But awake.
And she was exhausted in a way no human should ever be.
Chen Gu rushed to Yin Lie's side, eyes wide with worry.
"How is she?"
Yin Lie adjusted her gently.
"She's alive. But she's drained. Every time she uses her power without meaning to… it hits her like a wave."
Thorne stumbled toward them, still shaking from the Dreamquake.
"Can we leave now?! Please?! Before reality decides to snack on us again?!"
Kai stood several meters away, arms crossed, silent.
Her gaze was sharp, unreadable… and heavy.
She spoke finally.
"You survived the first awakening. Impressive.
But the Directorate won't let you walk out of the city with her."
Yin Lie didn't look at her.
He looked at the horizon.
Beyond the cracked rooftops and rusted towers stood the outer walls of the city—
the barrier between the controlled world…
and the empty lands beyond.
It was far.
But not impossible.
"We're leaving," Yin Lie said simply.
"And where will you go?" Kai asked, voice flat.
"Beyond the walls? Into the ruins with no supplies? No shelter? She won't last an hour without support."
Yin Lie tightened his hold on Qin Mian.
"Then I'll make sure she lasts."
Kai frowned slightly.
"She's a walking qu—"
Yin Lie snapped:
"Don't call her that."
Kai stopped speaking.
Her jaw clenched, but she didn't argue.
Chen Gu stepped between them quickly.
"That's enough. We all know what she is, but right now she's a scared girl who needs protection."
Qin Mian stirred.
Her eyes opened a little—soft, glowing faintly with leftover dreamlight.
She whispered:
"Lie…
where are we going…?"
Yin Lie lowered his voice, gentle.
"A safer place."
"…outside…?"
"Yes."
She glanced weakly at the open sky—
still trembling from her first look at its brightness.
"Will it hurt…?"
"Maybe a little," Yin Lie admitted.
"But I'll be with you."
Her fingers curled around his shirt.
"…thank you…"
It was barely a whisper.
But it was enough.
Chen Gu pulled a map device from his bag.
"The western gate is closest. But it's also the most heavily monitored. Cameras, drones, patrols."
Thorne raised his hand nervously.
"I vote the north gate. Less guards, more broken fences. Very escape-friendly."
Kai cut him off.
"North gate is a death trap. Scavenger gangs roam the outskirts there. You take her through that territory, she'll be dead before midnight."
Thorne mumbled, "Cool cool cool… love this optimism…"
Kai looked at Yin Lie again.
"Your best option is Gate 3. Abandoned. Use the drainage tunnels. You'll come out behind the outer wall."
Yin Lie narrowed his eyes.
"You're helping us?"
Kai sighed.
"I'm injured. I won't win a fight like this, and honestly…"
She glanced at Qin Mian—
at the fragile girl holding onto Yin Lie like he was the only thing anchoring her to the world.
"…I'm not sure killing her is the answer anymore."
Chen Gu blinked in surprise.
Even Thorne looked confused.
Kai turned away sharply, as if annoyed at her own words.
"Don't misunderstand. The Directorate already sent the kill order. More agents are coming. If you want to live, you have twenty minutes, maybe thirty, before reinforcement squads sweep this sector."
Yin Lie nodded.
"We're leaving now."
Kai looked back once.
"Lie…"
Her voice was low.
"Don't let her lose control again. If she does—no one will be able to stop it."
Yin Lie didn't answer.
He just tightened his grip on Qin Mian and started moving.
Kai stepped aside.
She let them pass.
Qin Mian's head rested on Yin Lie's shoulder.
Her breath warmed his neck in small, uneven bursts.
Every step seemed to take a piece of his strength—
his ribs screaming with each movement,
his broken wrist throbbing,
blood soaking into his clothes.
But he didn't slow down.
Chen Gu ran beside him, giving directions.
Thorne kept scanning the sky for drones.
Yin Lie only focused on the girl in his arms.
"Lie…" she whispered.
"Everything feels… strange."
He brushed a loose strand of hair from her face.
"You'll get used to it."
"…It's heavy."
"What is?"
"Breathing."
Yin Lie smiled softly.
"That's because the world is real now."
She blinked slowly—
as if those words were too big for her to understand.
"Real," she repeated quietly.
Her eyes closed again for a moment.
But then she opened them—
slowly—
to look at the sky once more.
Her voice softened.
"…It's big."
Yin Lie laughed under his breath.
"Yeah. It is."
"It makes my chest… tight…"
"That's normal."
"…and warm."
"That's also normal."
She reached a trembling hand toward the sky—
but halfway up, she lost strength.
Her arm fell.
Yin Lie caught it gently.
"Don't push yourself."
She whispered:
"Will it… stay… if I close my eyes?"
"What?"
"Will the sky disappear again?"
Yin Lie shook his head firmly.
"No. It's not a dream. It won't go away."
She closed her eyes, relieved.
"Good…
I don't want to lose it again…"
Yin Lie pressed his forehead to hers for a moment.
"You won't. I promise."
The drainage tunnel came into view ahead—
a rusted metal pipe wide enough for two people.
Chen Gu pointed urgently.
"That's it. Go. Go!"
Yin Lie nodded and started toward it—
But Qin Mian suddenly flinched.
Her grip tightened painfully on his shirt.
Her breathing quickened.
"Lie…
something's coming…"
Yin Lie froze.
Chen Gu spun around.
Thorne screamed, "AGAIN?! WHAT IS IT NOW?!"
Kai's voice echoed from behind them:
"MOVE—! We're out of time!"
Because from the sky above,
dark shapes were descending—
Directorate drones.
Heavy ones.
Armed ones.
Yin Lie cursed under his breath.
He pulled Qin Mian closer, heart pounding.
"Hold on."
Qin Mian whispered, terrified:
"Lie… don't let them take me… don't let them put me back in the dream…"
Yin Lie tightened his arms around her.
"I won't."
And with the first drone siren rising above them—
he ran.
Chapter 68 Completed