Shattering the Sweet Dream
When he opened his eyes, the world had changed back into the verdant Green Forest.
The peaceful woods echoed with birdsong, warmed by gentle sunlight.
"Evan?"
There stood Lisa, gazing at Zien with a worried expression.
"Yeah."
Zien, now fully alert, marveled at it. Truly perfect scenario. Even knowing this world was fabricated, he felt a pull to stay. But looking at Lisa, he gave a bitter smile.
"What's so funny? Come on, let's go. Everyone's waiting." Lisa reached out with a bright smile. Zien simply watched her quietly.
In his past life, Lisa had been his childhood friend, comrade, and something even more precious. But Lisa was dead. She was gone now.
"Lisa."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Back then, I lacked resolve."
Zien spoke calmly.
"Resolve? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"The resolve to face it."
"Evan? What on earth..."
Zien shook his head at the bewildered Lisa.
"No, Lisa. My name is Zien. Not Evan."
That's right. This dream, this nightmare—it belonged to Evan.
Zien had no time to be bound by dreams of his past life. As soon as he made his decision, Lisa's expression shifted, her tone turning icy.
"What a shame. Made up your mind?"
"Yeah."
"If you wanted, this world could last forever. Maybe this time you'd save me?"
Lisa took a step closer.
Sunlight shattered around her, making her golden hair gleam radiantly.
"I know what your final words were going to be."
She smiled.
Zien murmured with a bittersweet face.
"So that's why you..."
She had said he wouldn't know unless she told him.
"You're not Lisa."
Shiiik.
His stigma glowed with light.
Zien stared at her with an inscrutable expression.
"Reality is cruel, and dreams are sweet."
Before he knew it, the Sword of Black Fragrance was in Zien's hand.
"But that doesn't mean we can ignore the truth forever."
Zien plunged his sword into the ground.
Craaaack!
The negation sword that severed mana denied the world itself.
The ground where the sword struck split open, the forest eroded, and the sky crumbled.
The things holding the world together shattered into fragments and scattered.
The dream scattered.
A pitch-black corridor.
"Urp!"
Memories and emotions flooded in.
Dizzy, Zien retched.
"Huh? Hey! What's wrong with you all of a sudden?!"
Isabel supported him. Unlike her wide-eyed shock, Zien glared at Illusion with narrowed eyes.
"You have... terrible taste in magic arts."
Eternity in the dream was but a fleeting moment in reality. Knowing the truth, Illusion gazed at Zien with genuine admiration.
"Unbelievable... My mana is at the level of a 6th-rank Saber."
The magic art Illusion had used was called Cloud Dream.
Magic Art that induces hallucinations in the target. The victim, enchanted by the dream's sweetness, wanders eternally like clouds, consciousness fading away.
"To overcome such a magic art with sheer mental fortitude... Impossible. What are you?"
Illusion scrutinized Zien closely. A student who had beaten Croa and withstood his magic art. Low mana, but no ordinary student.
"Find out for yourself."
"...Intriguing. So, was the dream I crafted sweet enough?"
"Sweet enough to worry about diabetes."
Illusion laughed at Zien's retort.
"Good. Let's resume the fight."
Illusion tapped the band on his wrist. Grasping and pulling at the space above it—
Zwaaak!
A rapier emerged with a terrifying screech. He aimed it at Zien.
"A mythic artifact from Zone 4. A sword superior to most magic tools."
Thud!
Illusion thrust with full force, pushing Zien back. No matter his swordsmanship, the physical gap was too vast.
"Guh!"
Zien couldn't yet withstand attacks from Illusion, who cloaked his body in mana. Each clash accelerated Illusion's assaults.
"Zien!"
Isabel urgently deployed a mana shield, but Illusion snapped his shoe—
Snap! Mana burst from his shoe, striking her. She slammed into the wall and spat blood.
"Eup...!"
"Now that I think about it... no need to capture her alive."
As long as he kidnapped her, even if Isabel died, Illusion was confident he could persuade the Mage Tower Lord.
"Worried?"
Illusion smirked at Zien. Unfazed by the provocation, Zien swung his sword calmly—slashing down, twisting, cutting, dodging.
Even simple motions in Zien's swordsmanship carried profound essence.
But his opponent was 6th-rank.
The longer the fight dragged, the more Zien's body broke down. His clothes tore to rags, blood flowing from endless wounds. Body and mind reached their limits.
Impossible to win with my current power.
The duel between student Zien and 6th-rank Saber Illusion persisted only due to the latter's interest and mercy.
Zien eyed the pitch-black walls and floor, like covered in black tiles. The artifact barrier, Heavenly Net. Without destroying it, escape was impossible. Illusion found it curious.
"Even in this situation, you're abnormally calm. As if you're used to it."
It was natural, considering the crises from his past life. Sabers of old were intimate with death—comrades or foes, it was always near. Zien's past life had always stood at the vanguard.
There must be a way. A way to break out of this...
Zien steadied his breath and assumed stance. Seeing this, Illusion lowered his rapier.
"Talent? No... You have something special. It'd be a shame for a Saber with such potential to die."
Illusion looked down at Zien with smug confidence.
"When we reach the truth, strong Sabers like you will be invaluable."
"...Truth?"
"Yes. The truth of the Gates. With it, we'll create a world free of pain and death—an utopia. Our leader has the power and right."
Zien clicked his tongue in disbelief at Illusion's words.
"All that cloud-grabbing nonsense, and it's just hallucinations."
"...Maybe so. But it's an eternal dream. What's wrong with that? Does it matter to you which is real?"
Madness laced Illusion's calm voice.
"My world holds all sweetness. What I chose isn't worthless truth, but fulfilling lies."
Zien fell silent.
Yeah, I saw it clearly.
The hallucination Illusion created. A dream more vivid than reality. Zien was lost in subtle sentiment.
"I'll spare you, so hand over the Mage Tower Lord's daughter. My final mercy."
Illusion's brand of compassion.
He was cold, but no murderer. With humanity sharing the common enemy of Gates, he had no desire to kill strong Sabers without reason.
"...Fine. Deal."
Isabel staggered up, ankle injured.
"Isabel."
"I'm okay. Don't Sabers prioritize efficiency...?"
Her calm voice belied her trembling. Just a hallucination, but Lisa's shaking hand, that faint tremor, lingered with Zien.
Sabers.
For humanity's sake, children grew up too fast. At ages not yet adult, they had to face death with detachment, uttering "I'm fine."
"Yeah. You're right."
But Zien knew. "I'm fine" wasn't always fine. Mature words didn't make one mature.
"Sabers prioritize efficiency. But that doesn't mean—"
It was never about sacrificing others to survive.
"It's never an excuse or reason to abandon comrades." Zien gritted his teeth. Repeating the same mistake would render reclaiming his memories meaningless.
If only I could use Black Fragrance's magic art...
Property that severs various powers like magic, mana, internal energy, etc., used in each zone.
In the illusion, Zien had swung Black Fragrance to cleave the world.
But in reality, Zien couldn't use his magic tool. Due to synchronization rate.
Unprecedented 97% synchronization. Past life experience made Zien's sync with Black Fragrance too high. Higher sync strengthened tools but increased mana cost.
His current body had too little mana—even the weakest magic art was impossible.
Just once. If I can draw up mana once, I could shatter this barrier.
"I've given you enough time. Your answer?"
Illusion tapped his wrist band. The rapier surged forth in light form.
Pocket? Zien slowly recalled. He'd watched exam footage to give Chris feedback. Isabel had definitely...
"Ah!"
Zien turned. Isabel's wrist had the same band as Illusion's. Mage Tower standard pocket. Desperate situation, but Zien saw possibility in that band.
"Isabel."
Injured, but thanks to Croa's artifact, Isabel had unintentionally conserved mana.
As long as no mistakes... it's a viable plan.
No. It will succeed.
"Got the artifact from the exam?"
"You... planning to fight?"
Isabel eyed Zien painfully. Body covered in wounds, mana depleted. No chance of victory in her eyes.
"Trust me."
Zien handed her his phone.
The barrier blocked signals, but messages displayed.
Isabel bit her lip, then tapped her band instead of replying. Light poured out, forming a red gem. She handed it to Zien.
"You know the activation word?"
"Yeah. One shot."
As their exchange ended, Illusion shook his head.
"That's your choice?"
Using inscribed skills, he could crush them instantly. He hadn't—purely due to Zien's potential.
"Foolish."
Illusion gripped his rapier, assuming stance. As courtesy to one who endured his magic art, he'd yield first strike.
"Save that talk for after."
Zien placed his hand on Isabel's gem. No ordinary gem. Mystic artifact [Squirrel]. Its effect:
Mystic Artifact
Transfers stored mana to the caster. "Stored Acorns."
Shiiik.
The gem glowed, transferring mana to Zien. Not as much as Isabel used in the exam, but sufficient for him.
"Here we go!"
His stigma shone at Zien's shout.
"Urk!"
Mana surged into the sword at tremendous speed. Yet the sword remained still despite absorbing it.
"That's your magic tool?"
Illusion asked, intrigued. Given Zien's anomalies, expectations were natural.
"Yeah."
Zien briefly replied, raising his sword. Target: not Illusion, but the pitch-black barrier floor.
Thud!
He stabbed the ground. The sword melted into the floor like absorption. Reverse summoning from mana shortage. Not a drop left in Zien's body.
"Isabel! Now!"
"Ready!"
Clap!
Isabel, gathering max mana, clapped. Mana exploded from her gloves. Lowest stamina, but unrivaled mana in the academy.
Kwaaaang!
A massive fireball shattered the now-barrierless wall. Perfect joint operation in a split second. City nightscape glittered beyond the hole.
"The barrier... Magic... Severing... magic tool?!"
Illusion paled like a ghost. Black Fragrance didn't just sever mana—it erased the entire building's barrier.
The miracle of 97% sync. Illusion stared at the gaping wall.
"This is..."
He touched the area Zien's tool had struck to measure mana. At best 3rd-rank levels. But the magic tool's feat was worlds apart.
"You, what are you...?"
Illusion stared at Zien. He hadn't grasped 97% sync, but inferred over 80%.
"...Who are you?" Illusion's question pierced true. Zien's answer held deep meaning.
"I'm Zien Russell."
Zien wanted to fix every regret from his past life. But changing the past was impossible.
But.
The future was different. Changeable by current choices. Zien hoisted injured Isabel over his shoulder.
"Yah! Tickles!"
Isabel dangled from his shoulder.
Mana depleted, Zien sprinted to the wall on pure stamina.
"Kuh! Where?!"
Illusion stomped.
Shadows from his shoe spread claws toward them.
Gooooh!
But time held.
Zien looked down beyond the wall. Dizzying view. Night breeze chilled through his clothes.
"D-Didn't I mention my fear of heights?"
Down from his shoulder, Isabel swallowed hard.
"Later."
Thud.
Isabel and Zien fell beyond the wall. Reckless midair dive. Air pressure choked, sonic booms deafened. City lights pierced them in beams. Dizzying vertigo near unconsciousness. Isabel recalled Zien's words.
Of course just once.
Isabel gritted her teeth, focusing. Freefall naked. Blurring cityscape. Ground neared, sky receded. In that instant, she drew mana. Time to prove her talent.
Not yet. A bit more!
She recalled the phone note.
'Talk is easy!' Dizzying sight. Dizzying speed. No plans for midair suicide or such inefficient mana use. First and last in life.
Now! Now?!
Swaaak!
All body mana gathered in hands, Isabel fired. No tool, skill, or form—inefficiency's pinnacle.
But success.
Boom!
Aimed burst of massive mana cushioned the fall. They tumbled wildly on asphalt.
"Heh... Kuhuhu. We lived!"
Isabel laughed oddly. Ecstasy. No longer hellish Twin Towers or 30m drop. Just ground. She looked at Zien with teary gratitude.
"Hey, you alive?"
"Yeah. Still kicking."
Mana gone, bones fractured, countless abrasions. But alive. Zien smiled meaningfully.
Not worth the pay though.
Extracurricular for daily wage turned too eventful. Zien, battered, eyed Isabel.
"You'll be bedridden days. Thoughts?"
"Don't worry. I'll repay this debt."
Debt. Debt, huh.
Unable to move, but incurring debt from Isabel wasn't bad. Unintended, but her father Yubel terrified even Selphis, and she had academy-top mana.
Tried settling with money, it seems.
Tomorrow, she'd realize the weight of her words. Come to think, that band pocket was Mage Tower make? What coincidence.
Top-tier party member and 75 million coin pocket. Thus, Isabel looked even prettier to Zien.
"Don't feel burdened... Two small favors suffice for the debt."
Zien smiled as he finished.