In her perception, specks of vibrant light danced amidst the monochrome world, signifying the dreams still in progress. These diverse dreams were the only vitality within this withering world.
After the dreams ended, those shapeless lights would morph into forms that should have been deeply imprinted on the dreamer's mind yet were forgotten, becoming faded remnants cast down upon this withering landscape, adding layers to the continent.
However, the Hero's quest was not for such ordinary dreams.
Forbidden knowledge, too, was drawn to the light of reason, bringing along the remnants of Nightmares, drifting to the side of these dreams or even entering directly into them.
Under the influence of the Nightmare remnants, even the most beautiful and positive dreams could turn into terrifying Nightmares that make one afraid to sleep.
The Hero's goal was to dive into those uniquely colored dreams before their masters could comprehend the knowledge or be eroded by it, proactively becoming the possessors of that knowledge.
"——Found it." Suddenly, the Hero's gaze became intense.
Amidst various warm and peaceful colors, there was one dream drenched in an out-of-place hue.
[Nightmare's Color (Nature)]
1. Ominous black (Terror)
2. Crimson red (Bloodshed)
3. Dismal gray (Depression)♛
4. Malicious Chaos (Curse)
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
[Nightmare's Level (highest 53, +difference/2=34, above 53 would be the Nightmare itself)]
Slowly, the Hero's search for her steps halted upon the black and white earth.
Although the scene before her did not entirely match her expectations, from her previous brief exchange with the Great Hunter, she had gained some initial understanding of the Dreamrealm.
Due to the limited time, she only grasped the basics, with the rest being memorized by rote, but this information was enough for her to make certain judgments based on the situation.
In this desolate continent formed from countless abandoned dreams, things capable of "activity" were extremely rare, aside from the spiritual beings like Nightmares born from the accumulation of many thoughts; the only things that could be called active were those dreams not yet fully ended.
Dreams were signified by "colors" starkly different from the black and white world.
This "color" is not an objective color but an impression upon perception, varying according to the observer.
For example, if someone associates blue with melancholy, then sad and oppressive dreams would appear blue in their perception; if someone sees blue as a symbol of clarity, then those lighthearted and joyful dreams would emit a blue halo in their eyes.
At this moment, the swath of gray enveloping the Hero's vision was the despondent dream she had found.
[Male/Female♛ — Age♛]
2d100=d100(52)+d100(85)
[Because of what is there depression?]
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
Although the Sergeant's expression was not optimistic when reporting the results, his slaying of the Nightmare Sage was not falsely exaggerated.
The Nightmare Sage, before its death, not only lost a significant portion of its memories but its body was also shattered into pieces by the rampant Magic Power, scattered throughout the Dreamrealm.
Even if it could successfully reincarnate, it would take a long time to regain its former Strength.
However, although the Nightmare Sage's death in the real world almost went Silent, stirring less commotion than even the Goblins, as a Fantasy Species, its death clearly had a more profound impact beyond surface indications.
Just like the situation before the Hero, the remnants of the Nightmare had already invaded some citizens' dreams, causing the originally harmless dreams to expand and distort.
Nightmares excel at magnifying the negative emotions of humankind, feeding on them, even if only remnants remain. However, the stature of Fantasy Species continues to influence the surrounding dreamscapes, causing them to become anxious and restless.
The dream enveloped in dense grey before the Hero, although not life-threatening to its owner, will probably result in extreme fatigue and discomfort upon waking from such an eroded dreamscape.
Sleep is a guarantee for human survival, and even the Hero now cannot manage to stay awake indefinitely.
If these remnants are left to proliferate unchecked within the dreamscape, in the long run, they might indeed lead to some unfortunate accidents.
"Let's take a look inside..." the Hero murmured softly, her gaze focused for a moment before she stepped towards the grey dreamscape.
[Nightmare (Depression) LV38]
[Hero's Intervention]
After leaving her own dreamscape, the Hero found the first dreamscape affected by the Nightmare's remnants upon the Withered Earth. She intended to dive in directly to inspect, but things did not go as smoothly as she imagined.
Border City had just experienced a knighthood ceremony celebration, and most dreamscapes were suffused with peaceful or joyous colors. Therefore, this grey-shaded dream seemed strikingly out of place to the Hero's Perception.
She tried to reach into it, but a firm sense of Refusal came, halting any further advance.
The dreamscape's owner rejected her visit.
Dreams are a private domain, and it is natural for the subconscious to not desire the inner self to be scrutinized. Yet, the intensity of the Resistance startled the Hero, as if she could feel the prick of needles at her fingertips.
Without trying to force her way in, the Hero stood still, neither advancing nor retreating, simply touching the grey dreamscape, letting the pricking pain persist.
"It's okay, it's all right..."
Her voice was light and Soft, like consoling a frightened little animal.
Under the Hero's soothing, the prickling pain on her hand gradually receded, the dreamscape's grey color also seemed to fade slightly, and the Resistance was no longer as strong as before.
[Dreamscape's Resistance]
Although she was merely comforting without using any actual Strength or Magic, to the dreamscape's owner, these words of no practical significance also became like sweet rain after a long drought.
The once intense aversion swiftly waned, and the gates of the dreamscape gradually opened before the Hero.
[The dreamscape's owner is—]
1. A Noble young lady crushed under the weight of family upbringing.
2. A commoner young lady who has to take care of a disabled family member ♛
3. A solitary young girl whose parents died in a Magic Creature Assault
4. A young girl subjected to domestic abuse
9. The fatigued Fourteenth Princess
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
Sensing the hostility retreating, the Hero breathed a sigh of relief and cautiously stepped inside.
After a short pause, the grey dream dissipated, revealing the Hero's figure once again in place, along with the Nightmare's remnants now wafting black mist.
Under the Hero's soothing, the dreamscape's owner was already at peace.
If not for a direct Nightmare or other Magic Creatures Assault, the dream world is not particularly dangerous.
The dreams of ordinary people, no matter how terrifying, are unlikely to harm Professionals with stronger spiritual power, and not all dreams of those with certain strength are precarious nightmares.
If one does not delve too deeply into another's psyche and merely observes, there is no chance of Counterattack, and the dreamscape's owner may not even know someone has visited their slumber.
After all, a dream is just a dream, an illusion and fleeting reality that will be forgotten upon awakening.
Recalling all she had just seen, the Hero sighed softly, fell into silence for a long time, and then refocused her attention on the remnants of the Nightmare.
[Nightmare's Remnants]
D100+34=d100(74)+34=108