Alyssa was so startled by Nina’s sudden docile behavior that her mind went blank. She stared dumbly at Nevias’s inexplicably radiant smile and Nina bowing before her. Then she lifted her gaze to the sky.
The cloudless expanse stretched pristine and washed clean, sunlight draping the entire grassland in a warm, golden glow.
*What a lovely day... Wait, no!*
Blinking back her daze, Alyssa lowered her eyes. She watched Nina bowing repeatedly to Nevias, murmuring in disbelief. Her face screamed pure shock.
“…I’m truly sorry…” Nina kept apologizing, as if she’d never stop until Nevias forgave her.
Such sincerity was almost moving.
“It’s fine,” Nevias said softly. She reached out and placed her palm atop Nina’s round little head. Her fingers sank into silky hair like sinking into a plush, comforting blanket. Gently stroking Nina’s head as if soothing a small animal, she felt the girl close her eyes blissfully. Nina nuzzled Nevias’s palm with a soft whimper, sobbing with relief. “Sniffle… sniffle… Thank goodness.”
After more comforting words, Nevias finally calmed the oddly behaving Nina. By then, Celia—the genius magic prodigy—had already chosen her gear:
A long elmwood staff, intricately carved with beautiful patterns. At its tip sat a transparent gemstone polished into a crescent moon shape. Faint ripples of light pulsed outward from it like concentric waves.
*Moonlight’s Prayer:* A staff carved from spiritwood nurtured by moonlight. Doubles the wielder’s magic power!
A simple description. This staff would be next to useless in anyone else’s hands—but Celia, already a formidable mage, could unleash its true potential.
*Double. A full doubling!* Celia never imagined such a powerful artifact existed.
*Though… this isn’t the real world,* she reminded herself. In reality, she’d never believe weapons could multiply power like this. Yet the moment her fingers closed around the staff, her magic surged—undeniably, impossibly doubled. Excitement sparkled in her eyes, so intense she didn’t even notice Nina’s strange behavior.
Only Alyssa remained unequipped. Nevias sifted through the remaining gear on the ground and finally selected a shield shaped like a small mirror. No bigger than a palm, it glowed with a soft, milky luminescence.
*Mirror Shield:* Though classified as armor, it differs from sturdy shields. Renowned for supreme magical defense, it reflects nearly all spells cast upon its surface…
Nevias placed the mirror shield in Alyssa’s hands. Now all four were armed.
“Good.” Yin snapped her fingers. The leftover gear vanished instantly.
“The game officially begins now. Be careful, everyone!” With a faint smile, Yin’s figure twisted as if sucked into an invisible vortex—and disappeared.
A fierce wind swept across the plains. The bright April sky darkened in an instant, heavy gray clouds piling up. Distant thunder rumbled.
***
Inside the distant castle.
The air rippled like liquid, forming a transparent vortex. Light flashed—and Yin, the Dream Administrator in her mini-skirted suit, materialized at the castle’s heart.
She sat cross-legged in a grand chair, one black-stockinged leg draped over the other. Resting her chin on her palm against the armrest, she frowned in thought.
“I started this fun game, but…” Yin sighed. “I haven’t even decided what to play.”
“Ah! Got it!” Her eyes lit up with golden sparkles.
***
Back on the suddenly stormy grassland, a thick beam of black light crashed down from the sky. As it dissipated, a hideous nine-headed beast emerged, its body wreathed in flames.
“This is…” Nevias’s lips twitched slightly as she stared at the creature.
*A Hydra. Also called the Demonic Realm Warden. When the Demonic Realm still connected to Hell, it stood alongside Cerberus as an invincible guardian.*
**ROAR!**
The beast lunged without hesitation. Nevias scrambled backward, hastily drawing her bow.
○
In pitch-black space, Agatha flicked her little whip—but the air froze solid before it fell.
She strained, horrified to find herself completely immobilized. Then, the girl lying on the ground—Celia—slowly opened her eyes and rose.
“How amusing,” Celia murmured, her delicate face relaxed, almost playful. “But did you really think you could control me? How…”
“…”
Agatha stared, bewildered. *Why is this happening in my own dream?*
“How naive,” Celia concluded. She plucked the whip from Agatha’s frozen hand, smirking down at the helpless Nightmare. “This thing… ‘Queen’… heh heh heh…”
Celia chuckled. Agatha’s mind screamed *danger*.
She silently called for Yin—but received no reply. *Right… I cut our connection earlier. Didn’t want her interrupting my fun.* Now she faced this nightmare alone.
Celia raised the whip high—then brought it down swiftly.
Agatha squeezed her eyes shut. No impact came. She peeked open to see a chilling smile on Celia’s face—a smile that made her blood run cold.
“Do you know,” Celia hissed, eyes narrowed, “you just dragged up some very unpleasant memories?”
The whip cracked down mid-sentence.
“Nngh—!” Agatha couldn’t even shut her eyes in time. She watched the slender leather bite into her voluptuous, mature body. Though paralyzed, her muscles locked rigid. Tears welled instantly as a pitiful whimper escaped her lips.
