Six days had passed since Ron and Dream had finally become closer, more open with each other. After the night they shared, something shifted—quietly but deeply. They now slept together, not just in habit, but as though they had been married for years.
Today was the wedding of Carter and Lia. The ceremony was vibrant, filled with laughter and celebration. Cheers erupted as the couple exchanged vows. Ron and Dream stood off to the side, teasing them like old friends who'd seen too much. It was a good day—maybe even perfect.
A few weeks passed in peace. Carter and Lia were now living happily together. Life in Hero Town had found a rhythm of joy again.
But not all was calm beneath the surface.
The cult that had once unleashed a ritual to bend reality was growing restless. Their prophecy had failed. They were told their wish would be granted in six days, but two months had passed. Desperation turned to madness. Ritual after ritual was conducted, but no answer came. Eventually, they gave up—at least on the surface.
---
The Next Morning
Ron and Dream went for a walk. The morning sun filtered through thick clouds, casting golden light over Hero Town's quiet streets. Dream, as always, wore full-body clothing, revealing only her deep, mysterious eyes. Only Ron ever saw her true form.
As they strolled through the park, Ron turned to her.
"Can you tell me how we met? The full story. From the beginning."
Dream paused, then inhaled deeply. "It was in a village," she said softly. "I was with my father and my twin sister. We were just staying there for a while. I met you. At first, I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone… but when my father saw you, he gave permission. That's all I can remember."
"Can you take me to that village?"
"I think it was near the Bermuda Triangle… The locals called it The Land of Bermuda."
Ron's eyes narrowed. "My mother mentioned a place like that. And… I saw it in a dream once. Still, how did I end up sleeping for hundreds of years without memory?"
Before Dream could answer, a violent pulse of Black Sorcery rippled through the Earth. The ground trembled. The birds vanished. And from beneath the earth—
A hand broke through and grabbed Dream's ankle.
Ron unsheathed his Blade of Vengeance, slicing the hand clean off. But it wasn't over.
A monstrous head emerged, and then hundreds—no, thousands—of bodies clawed their way up from the soil.
Ron and Dream locked eyes, connecting telepathically. In a burst of wind and magic, they flew into the sky. Dream vanished, tasked with something urgent by Ron.
Suddenly—time stopped.
Everyone—dead or alive—froze mid-motion. Only Ron could move.
He turned sharply toward the disturbance and flew.
---
In the sky, a cloaked man holding a glowing yellow stone stood alone. Ron hurled lightning—
The man dodged.
"How can you move while time is frozen?" the stranger hissed in a voice not entirely human.
Ron teleported behind him. But the man vanished—teleported as well. He reappeared above and began fleeing.
Ron gave chase, both of them blinking in and out of the teleportation dimension. Their battle was chaotic—fists, swords, and war cries echoing through distorted air.
But Ron was faster. Stronger.
The stranger paused in mid-air—Ron's chance. He teleported and struck. But the man grabbed Ron by the throat before he could land the blow.
Suddenly—daggers pierced Ron's back.
The enemy raised a blade, aiming for Ron's chest, but Ron teleported and kicked him hard in the head, sending him crashing through a series of buildings.
The man stood up, eyes glowing. He pointed his palm—
A dark beam surged toward Ron. Ron dodged—but the enemy used the moment to reappear behind him and stabbed him in the liver.
Blood spilled from Ron's lips.
But he gritted his teeth, grabbed the stranger's throat, and summoned a surge of light from his palm—
> [You have activated: Blade of Vengeance]
The blade appeared and impaled the enemy straight through the ribs.
Ron removed the enemy's hood—
No mouth. No nose. No ears. Only glowing yellow eyes.
The figure's glare released a searing light, forcing Ron to let go. The stranger vanished.
---
World of Dark Souls
The hooded figure arrived and handed the yellow stone to none other than… Dr. Thomas.
"So… you fought Ron," Thomas said, inspecting the stone. "Is he a threat?"
The being shook his head.
Thomas smirked. "Good."
---
Back in Hero Town
Time resumed. The dead vanished. It was all an illusion—a grand distraction.
Ron, weakened and bleeding, sat down on a bench.
Dream's voice entered his mind:
"Ron, come quickly."
Ron teleported.
Standing beside Dream was a mysterious woman.
"Hi. I'm Aurora. Nice to meet you," she said with a kind smile.
"She asked to meet you," Dream explained.
Ron nodded. "What do you want?"
"I'd like to include Carter, Lia, and your police friend Locki in this discussion."
Within minutes, they arrived.
---
Transcending Realities
Aurora stomped the ground twice—
The world around them dissolved.
They were inside a wormhole. Clocks and doorways drifted around them like stars.
Then, suddenly—they were in open space, surrounded by infinite floating crystals, each suspended a centimeter apart.
"These are timelines," Aurora explained.
"This is insane," Lia whispered.
"You are from the First Layer of Reality," Aurora said. "We're now between the First and Second. From here, your entire world looks… fictional."
"Fictional?" Carter asked.
"The Beyonders reside in the Second Layer. They view you—and even me—as mere stories. They're called Narrative Gods."
"Are they a threat?" Dream asked cautiously.
"They can be," Aurora answered, "if angered."
---
The Garden Beyond
They arrived in an infinite garden. A long table appeared, and they all sat.
Aurora remained standing.
"There's a powerful sorcerer trying to dethrone the Watcher of the Universe," she began. "To do so, he's collecting the Seven Stones. He also seeks to revive a Cosmic Entity."
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"Something that transcends all space, time, and dimensions."
"We're too weak to fight something like that," Lia said.
Aurora shook her head. "You all have dormant powers. I can help you awaken them."
She handed Carter an address. "This person will help you."
She chose to personally train Lia and remain with her. Dream was already powerful—and pregnant, though only Ron knew. Aurora respected that and didn't ask her to fight.
Ron and Locki would train in a Time Chamber outside all layers of existence. Four years would pass inside, while only two passed outside.
---
Farewells
Ron pulled Aurora aside.
"She's pregnant. Dream. Please… don't let her fight."
Aurora nodded solemnly.
Ron and Locki entered the void together after saying their goodbyes.
Carter returned to Hero Town. Lia began training.
The real war was about to begin.