Depth of Dreams

Emily watched from the edge of the stands, her gaze fixed on Lady Athena as she calmly analyzed the battle and relayed key information. That sight alone was enough to make her feel inadequate. But she wouldn't let that stop her. If she couldn't stand at the front, then she'd support them however she could.

With resolve hardening in her chest, Emily leapt down into the arena.

Nate turned his head, eyebrows raising in confusion as he spotted her landing. “Have I seen you somewhere before?”

“That’s a story for another time,” she replied, her tone composed as a glowing magic circle appeared beneath her. Her staff rose from the light, radiating a soft blue glow as she gripped it tightly. “Focus on the enemy in front of you.”

Tenkan let out a low, sinister chuckle. “Oh? Another party member joins in? This is going to be fun.”

Before anyone could react, his presence vanished once again.

Nate

Tenkan disappeared. Again.

Nate gritted his teeth, stretching his senses to the limit—too late. The moment Tenkan reappeared behind Eden, sword raised to strike, Nate’s instincts flared. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, slamming a powerful kick into Tenkan’s ribs and sending him skidding back.

Eden followed up immediately, fists flashing as he delivered a brutal blow that launched Tenkan across the arena.

Amidst the crater of debris, Tenkan slowly rose, brushing dust from his shoulder. A smirk twisted across his face.

“Oh? You actually knocked me down this time,” he chuckled. “Last time you entered that form, you couldn’t even control yourself. Quite the improvement.”

Nate’s fists clenched. Still barely a scratch?

“Damn, how strong is this guy?” Owen muttered beside him.

“Far stronger than I am, at best,” Eden replied grimly.

Nate’s brows furrowed. “How many abilities does he even have?”

“He has two,” Eden answered. “One is what he’s using now. The other is a domain.”

Nate blinked. “A domain?”

Eden’s voice grew heavy. “A domain that manipulates fear and controls the minds of those within it.”

Tenkan let out a wild laugh. “Oh, Eden, why spoil all my surprises?”

Eden ignored the mockery. “Once you're under his control, it’s permanent. There is no escape.”

Tenkan’s laughter deepened. “If you think that’s twisted, you should talk about his domain. Eden’s real ability—‘Instant Death Domain.’”

The words sent a cold chill down Nate’s spine.

“Instant death…? What is that?”

Tenkan grinned. “Anyone who enters his domain dies. Doesn’t matter who. Even if it’s by accident.”

Nate’s stomach turned. A domain like that—how could it even exist?

“And if you think such an ability belongs to a knight…” Tenkan spread his arms. “You’re mistaken. These are Hero abilities.”

Nate’s eyes widened. “Heroes…?”

“That’s right,” Tenkan confirmed. “Eden and I—former Heroes. We came long before the Seven Holy Heroes you know today.”

Eden… a former Hero? Everything started to make sense.

Suddenly, a blue screen flashed before Nate’s eyes.

[System Notification]

[Available Domains:]

Ignil Domain

Evil Domain

Shadow Domain

Thunderstorm Domain

Chef Domain

Goblin Domain

[Requirement: Reach Level 89 to Unlock Domains]

Multiple domains? All with unique powers. But he couldn’t access any until he leveled up.

For now, he focused on what he could control.

“Owen, Eden—I think I figured out how his stealth ability works. Follow my lead!”

He concentrated. Tenkan’s real body left no mana trail… but there was something else—scent.

“Eden, to your left!”

Eden moved instantly, twisting into a precise kick.

His foot connected. Tenkan's body appeared mid-air, sent flying across the arena.

Blood sprayed as Tenkan hit the ground, coughing violently.

“How… how did you know where I was?” he rasped.

Nate smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Tenkan Shirayuki

Impossible. That wasn’t a guess—it was too clean. Too accurate.

He needed to be sure.

He vanished again, leaving a projection behind. But the moment he tried to reappear—

“I know where you are.”

The whisper cut through the air like a dagger. A smirk followed.

Then pain.

White-hot agony exploded in his stomach.

He looked down.

Nate’s fist was buried deep in his gut.

He fell to his knees, gasping for air, his vision flickering.

Who… is this boy?

Nate

Tenkan wheezed, barely holding himself upright.

But just as Nate prepared to press forward, Eden froze.

“Eden?” Nate called, confused.

Tenkan’s hand gripped Eden’s head—and in that moment, Eden’s body locked. His eyes widened—then dimmed.

“Shit…”

“Damn it… I got the wrong one,” Tenkan muttered, annoyed.

“What did you do?!” Owen shouted.

“I’ve taken control of his mind,” Tenkan said coldly. “If he falls to me… he’s mine forever.”

Then he vanished.

“Owen! Left, now!” Nate commanded.

Owen swung without hesitation.

A scream followed.

Tenkan stumbled back, blood gushing from his severed wrist. His left hand fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

“My hand!!”

“Nice shot, Owen!” Nate shouted. But his eyes turned back to Eden.

Eden was trembling, soaked in sweat, his body convulsing like he was at war with himself.

Athena

From the platform, Athena watched tensely. The fight was shifting—Nate was keeping up. He was learning. Exploiting weaknesses.

But Eden…

“Use that power!” she shouted to Nate. “The one you used on me! The one that let you enter my mind!”

Nate blinked, then grinned.

“Actually, yeah. That could work.”

He turned to Owen. “Think you can hold him off?”

Owen didn’t hesitate. “Go.”

Nate

He rushed to Eden’s side and placed a hand on his back.

“Let’s see if this works…”

Closing his eyes, he focused. The Shadow Panther gave him stealth, but that wasn’t what he needed. To enter a mind…

Evil Charm. The second ability.

Depth of Dreams.

Darkness enveloped him. His body faded. His spirit pulled inward.

When he opened his eyes, he stood in a city—a version of the capital—but older. Rougher. More broken.

Not a dream.

He was inside Eden’s mind.

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