The Dreamer's POV

Time Left: 30 Days, 4 Hours]

<Current Number of Participants: 5,101>

~WHUUUUSSSHHHHHH!!!~

As the bright light dimmed and the howls of thw wind ceased, I was finally able to open my eyes and absorb the environment that now surrounded me.

I found myself within a wide, straight passageway. The walls were pure white, almost blank, save for the black lines that separated each brick.

The flooring was designed the same way, and this monotonous look gave the passageway a creepy vibe, but also produced a bright ambiance.

Perhaps the bricks had some sort of special properties that made it glow, but the entire area appeared moderatly bright despite there being no evident source of light around.

'Well… it is what it is.' My thoughts trailed as I calmly assessed my surroundings.

The passageway began from where I started from, and behind me was a blank brick wall. That meant I could only mean forward.

I couldn't be certain of anything here, so I had to maintain my guard.

'Fitz didn't mention anything about traps in the treasure room, but just to be sure, I'll constantly keep <Immersion> and <Visualize> active.'

That way, things wouldn't turn awry too late into the game.

Besides, since my Energy Level would be automatically recovered by my Grand Energy Recovery Necklace, I had nothing to worry about.

'I should also activate <Dragon Eyes>, just in case…'

There could be things that required my attention that ordinary senses wouldn't be able to pick up.

With only three Skills activated, my Energy consumption wasn't too great, and since the necklace had been recently upgraded, it was going to recover more Energy than I would be losing.

'At least the whispers have stopped. That has made me more sleepy, but it's still a relief.'
Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

The excitement of getting treasure was enough to keep me awake.

After activating my Skills, it was finally time to begin the hunt. And by hunt… I meant walking down the passageway.

******

[Moments Later]

Walking for several minutes got boring, so at some point I picked up the pace by running.

Activating <Turbo>, and eventually <Teleport>, just to cover as much distance as possible, drained my Energy Level to a considerable extent, but it wasn't anything I had to worry about.

After all, contrary to my worry, there were no traps.

It was just a straight line of nothing. Nothing but boredom.

At some point, I began to doubt the existence of any treasure at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps this was just a way to waste my time, designed by the System.

'It makes sense, now that I think about it.'

The System said we'd be rewarded after the Floor was cleared, right? That means we might not be meant to get any rewards before then.'

Maybe this was just a way to capitalize on the greed of participants and cause them to waste their time in futility.

'I've already cleared all the Quests. I've also completed the Requirements, except killing the Whispering Treant. By all qualifications, I should be able to clear the First Floor very soon if I just stop now.'

There was alos the fact that I had no recollection of any future-seeing book or world-changing power existing on the First Floor.

It all sounded too good to be true.

Plus, the corridor had no traps, despite what you'd expect of a place that supposedly had godly powers to share with whoever found it.

It was all so… suspicious.

'Too convenient.'

The only reason why there would be no trap in such a place like this would be if…

"... This place is the trap!" I gasped, my eyes widening at the realization.

I had spent close to thirty minutes just running for no reason at all.

Thirty minutes, wasted on this fruitless venture!

'How long would others have taken before they realized this? I can't be certain, but… what of those who didn't fall for this, to begin with?'

I thought I would have a head start thanks to the items and minions I had at my disposal, but it was perfectly possible that there were others with an even bigger advantage than me.

'What if I lose the Early Clear Reward because of this? I have to hurry back!'

It was a good thing I had saved the location when I first arrived in this place. I could just use <Teleportation> to return to the entrance.

Or… to return to the surface and face the Whisering Treant.

Yeah, that made more sense.

"I should get out of here…" The more I said or thought it, the more… uncertain I started to become.

What if… just what if there was treasure just a little further?

What if I could actually find something if I kept going forward?

'What the hell, Mikey? You can't think that!'

This was the mentality that gamblers had. It usually cost them everything. I couldn't succumb to the same problem.

I couldn't allow myself to be decieved by the prospects of rewards.

'Think of it rationally. It makes no sense! Why would there be a reward for seeing the future and changing the world on the First Floor, where literally anyone can have such a power?'

It made no sense, right?

'I should just return to the surface. I should just… I should… I…'

ARRGHHHHH!

In the end, I couldn't ignore it—the inner nudging I had to keep going forward.

"What the hell is wrong with me? Fuck!" I screamed as I resumed running, utilizing <Teleportation> and <Turbo> in tandem to propel me forward.

It was stupid, I know.

There was a higher chance that this was simply a waste of time.

If this turned out to be a bust, I could potentially lose out on the Early Clear Reward.

All of these things were clear, yet something kept driving me forwad.

It was so instinctive.

So primal.

And I let myself be a fool and listen to it.

Hoping that it would be right!

"A-ahh…"

My lips quivered and my eyes widened as I came to a halt.

"... I was wrong."

After traversing the hallway for just a few seconds more, I was confronted with the end of the corridor.

At the end, there were two doors waiting for me.

One of them was labeled [Dream]

And the other? Yes… it was none other than [Nightmare].

With these two doors standing in front of me, I couldn't help but be paralyzed as I leaked out the only thing on my mind at this point.

"What… is the meaning of this?"

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[A/N]

Y'all must have thought he should leave the corridor, right?

Haha!

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!