The Dreamer's POV

[00 Months: 15 Days: 15 Hours]

After exiting the cavern, the first thing I did was unsummon my minions.

Their formidable presence had caused quite a bit of tension among the troops, and with the threat inside the cavern neutralized, they were no longer necessary.

I ordered the troops to rest and take a moment to gather themselves. They had been on high alert for the past hour, and it was clear that they needed time to recover.

A collective sigh of relief echoed through the group, and they quickly dispersed, seeking solace in the stillness of the night.

Theo, who had cleverly disguised himself as a regular soldier, managed to join our meeting under the pretext of taking a break.
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I have to give him credit for his quick thinking; no one even raised an eyebrow as he walked over to us.

Under the cover of darkness, we began our meeting.

Drius, Benard, Theo, and I huddled together, our faces illuminated by the faint glow of the moon.

I explained everything that had transpired in the cavern, also telling them of my encounter with Endo, the Captain of the base. Of course, I left out the part where I had tested the limits of my current strength under the influence of <Carnage>, and how Endo, despite his best efforts, had been no match for me.

In fact, one could say I exaggerated things a little in order to make it seem like I had suffered a lot more than I did.

'The more they think I suffered, the bigger the reward.' That was my rationale.

The details of my confrontation seemed to have a profound impact on Drius and Benard, their expressions becoming graver with each passing moment.

The most satisfying part, personally, was when I had to tell them about Eugene.

I'd found him...or rather, what remained of him, locked in a box. His body had been dismembered, and his head was caved in.

It was a sight too gruesome to fully describe, but I did so anyway.

As I broke the news of Eugene's fate, a look of surprise overcame the faces of Drius, Benard, and Theo.

They had always presumed that the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance would need Eugene alive. After all, he was their ticket to ruling the Lyma Region.

But as I saw it, the alliance might not need someone as volatile and greedy as Eugene.

He was a ticking time bomb, and dealing with his tantrums and unpredictable nature would be more of a headache than a boon.

In fact, they might have already had another candidate in mind.

My gaze unconsciously settled on Theo, who was listening intently, his face pale.

If I thought about it, Theo was an excellent choice for a puppet ruler. He was well-liked, respected, and had the blood of the Lyma family coursing through his veins.

'Plus, he's the actual heir…'

Being a child also made him very impressionable and easier to control.

All they would need to do would be to dispose of the current Duke, and somehow get a hold on Theo. With Theo under their control, he could be their perfect puppet, able to do their bidding without suspicion.

I could almost see it in my mind's eye - the scheme unfolding as planned, the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance controlling the Lyma family and, by extension, the entire Lyma Region.

It was a chilling thought, one that made my blood run cold.

If a Survivor was actually involved with the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance, that meant their control over the Lyma Region would grant them even more of an advantage.

That person would skyrocket in influence and power!

Considering how it had just been two weeks since we arrived at Mage'Earth, it was incredibly frustrating to learn that someone had already come this far.

But it was also a thought that evoked a deep sense of satisfaction within me.

'The bastards didn't succeed.'

I stopped the from getting their prized rewards, dealing a heavy blow to whoever was in charge. That gave me the satisfaction I needed.

With a grim smile, I looked around at my allies.

I had worked too hard to let anyone else take control of the Lyma family. After all, no one was better suited to pull the strings than me.

'It's a shame, though…'

Regret lingered at the back of my mind as I contemplated the events of the day. I had achieved my goal of dismantling the enemy's base, but the spoils were not as I had hoped.

The levels I gained were not as significant as I'd expected.

'Just 3 Levels? That's a loss in my book.'

I suppose not every expedition can yield an abundance of experience points, but this was on another level of underwhelming.

"Mikey, when will we be returning to the Estate?" Theo's question broke my train of thought.

"First thing tomorrow," I responded without hesitation.

Despite the disappointment, I held on to the hope that the actions taken today would yield some tangible benefits in the long run.

And that hope was completely legitimate.

As the meeting ended, we all set up camp. The crackling fire provided a semblance of comfort against the ominous darkness that surrounded us. Soon enough, everyone else drifted off to sleep, their tired bodies seeking much-needed rest.

However, sleep eluded me.

I lay on my back, staring at the inky black sky above me, the silent stars twinkling down like a thousand watchful eyes.

I should have been savoring the moment, relishing in the satisfaction of a mission completed and a threat averted. Yet, an inexplicable unease gnawed at my insides, casting a shadow over my victorious mood.

It was as if I could sense something looming on the horizon. A storm brewing far away, its winds destined to batter the shores of my tranquility.

I didn't know what it was, or where it would come from, but I felt its presence, an impending sense of dread that caused my skin to prickle.

This uncertainty, the not knowing, it frustrated me to no end.

As I lay there, beneath the unblinking gaze of the stars, I could feel it eating at me somehow.

'Is… something wrong somewhere?'

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[A/N]

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