The Dreamer's POV

Chapter 78: Dark Foreboding

[00 Months: 04 Days: 06 Hours]

'Using <Dream> would have been the best way to resolve all of this, yet it never crossed my mind.'

I could have been more prepared for the ambush against me. I could have gotten more intel from the enemies. I probably wouldn't have suffered any injuries.

And despite all those benefits, why was I only considering them in retrospect?

Why?

I was panicking, sure, but <Visionary> allowed me to be capable of rational thoughts even then. So why didn't I think of the single best alternative to wrapping up the problem?

'Could it be...?'

It was at this point that I realized what had happened to me. It was a subtle change that had been growing ever since my encounter with Lucy Fer, one I hadn't really considered until now.

'I... ever since I decided to grow stronger... I haven't used <Dream> even once.'

And that was due to one single reason.

'I don't want to die.'

My desire to live must have overridden any consideration for the benefits of using <Dream> in the most ideal situation.

'I see. So by growing stronger, I've become less likely to use <Dream>.'

It wasn't particularly a loss, all things considered. I still had the <Dream> Skill as a safeguard. Still... it was a bit regrettable being unable to fully take advantage of the whole situation properly.

~DING!~

<You Have Received 0 Currency>

{Sufficient time has elapsed since the death of four Candidates. Since User was the last to come in contact with them, you have been allotted their Currency}

<Total Currency in User's possession: 2,085 C >

"H-huh?!"

They were all such high-class players, yet none of them had any Currency? How believable was that?

"Unless..." My eyes widened as I arrived at a realization.

'Their Currency is being managed by The Alliance.'

I was the last to come into contact with them. The System said so as well. If that wasn't the case, I could have suspected that someone beat me to the reward.

'But the System doesn't lie. None of them had any Currency.'

That wasn't the most painful part of all this, though.

"I can't get any loot because everything was eviscerated due to the blast." In essence, I had gained nothing from this whole exchange.

In contrast, whoever set off that bomb on Lucas had probably gained a lot in terms of information about me. They knew my abilities, and even the fact that I could summon Demons to do my bidden; a trump card I had hoped to hide until later.

'Damnit! I wish I had used <Dream>.'

My victory felt too hollow the way I saw it.

No Currency. No Loot. No Information.

I lost secrets about myself. I lost Mr. Stone. And... I got injured as well. All things considered, I had received the short end of the stick.

'There's no use complaining, though...'

Whoever this mastermind was, I had to admit he was one step ahead of me. Bitching about it wouldn't give me any advantage whatsoever.

'The only thing I can do now is improve myself and surpass the current me.'

I had to obtain more trump cards and learn more about this world; anything at all to provide me with more leverage.

'I lost this round. I just have to make sure it doesn't happen again.'

***********

[MEANWHILE...]

In a room adorned with opulent furnishings, bathed in soft light, a man stood by a grand window overlooking a sprawling landscape.

His well-combed white hair cascaded down to his shoulders, a stark contrast against his perfectly tailored black suit.

His handsome features exuded an air of sophistication and power, accentuated by his piercing blue eyes that glowed with an otherworldly intensity.

In his hand, he held a crystal glass filled with crimson wine, savoring each sip as his gaze fixated on a distant point.

As the man savored the taste of the wine, a shadowy figure materialized in the room, blending seamlessly into the background.

The sudden presence did not startle him, for he was accustomed to such silent intrusions. He turned slightly, a smile curling up on his lips as he acknowledged the shadow's presence.

"What happened?" he inquired, his voice smooth and commanding. "Why has the roster of my subordinates been reduced by four?"

The shadow bowed respectfully, its voice a mere whisper in the hushed room. "Sir, the four members of Squad D, including their leader, Lucas, had to be forcefully extinguished. There was concern of a potential leak of information."

The man's smile deepened, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. "I see..." he murmured, swirling the wine in his glass thoughtfully.

"And what of Lucy Fer? Were they able to track her down or gather any useful information?"

Both he and the shadow before him knew of their group's efforts to track down Lucy Fer, the current 2nd Ranked individual in the Leaderboards.

Even when he sent her a special message, one that cost quite the Currency, she never responded.

He had never seen someone ignore him so much before. Consequently, her efforts to undermine his authority made him want her more.

And if that wasn't possible, then...

The shadow shifted, its voice tinged with deference. "Regrettably, my lord, our investigation led us to a dead end. They were only able to trace Lucy Fer to one individual, a man whom she spared in a Dungeon. Lucas and three of his subordinates lost their lives while attempting to gather further intelligence on this person."

"Oh?" A spark of curiosity danced within the man's eyes as he turned to face the shadow directly.

"Tell me, who is this individual?" he inquired, his voice laced with intrigue.

The shadow hesitated for a moment, the weight of its words hanging in the air. "After extensive surveillance and investigation in the town where he resided, we discovered his name to be Rael."

"Hmm?"

The man's blue eyes widened slightly, his thoughts racing as he pondered the significance of the name.

"Rael, as in Mikey Rael... the Ranker from the Leaderboards back then?" He murmured, the name resonating in the silence.

He spoke the name softly, as if testing its weight upon his tongue. "Could it be the same person?"

But how was that even possible? Even ignoring the fact that no Mikey should have been on the Leaderboard Rankings, the man couldn't tolerate the same person surfacing once more in his business.

"I thought that first time was just a fluke. A butterfly effect resulting from messing with the future. But to think he is thriving even now. Why...?"

A sigh escaped his lips, tinged with frustration and uncertainty. "Things are not progressing as I had anticipated," he whispered to himself, a hint of contemplation in his voice.

"Someone like him shouldn't be relevant in this world."

Shaking off his musings, he straightened his posture and cast a dismissive wave of his hand. "Never mind," he murmured.

"Tell me, did you take the necessary precautions in the town? Did you remove all evidence?"

The shadow nodded, its voice tinged with satisfaction. "Yes, my lord. We eradicated everyone present and reduced the town to ashes. There is no trace left behind."

A wide, satisfied smile spread across the man's face, a glimmer of malice dancing in his eyes. He raised his glass in a silent toast to the shadowy figure before him.

"Good job," he praised, taking another sip of his wine.

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"No loose ends."

As the scene drew to a close, the man in the regal room stood in a moment of quiet triumph, his plans unfurling with calculated precision.

His name was Francis... and he was the one and only head of 'The Alliance.'

The truth remained veiled in shadows, and the game was far from over.

"Mikey Rael, huh...? I can't allow you to change too much."

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[End Of Arc 2: The Tower Of Trials Arc]

<New Arc In Progress...>

{Arc 3: The Great Expedition Arc will resume shortly.}

~Thanks for reading this far. The journey is just beginning!~

Cheers!