Novels2Search

Chapter 2 : The Stranger

----------------------------------------

Luna's Character Design [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1002054148616900630/1190183767457935400/Untitled62_20231226235338.png?ex=65a0e002&is=658e6b02&hm=584f0ea7ebfa4f84667906a8802a0bc7a605a2b00e5705c102cda3de44827354&]Ryu smiled and took a sip of his coconut drink. He felt a wave of relief and joy wash over him as he savored the sweet and refreshing taste. He yelled, "Cheers for the long awaited good dream!" He laughed cheerfully as if all of his problems were washed away by the clear white water. He wanted to enjoy more of this precious vacation so he played in the beach. He built a huge sand castle with intricate details and decorations. He drank alcohol for the first time from the hut, feeling a pleasant buzz in his head. He felt free and happy, like a child again.

"Wooh! This is what life's about!" he happily shouted, raising his glass to the sky. He felt the sun warm his skin and the breeze caress his hair. He heard the waves and the birds. He smelled the salt and the flowers. He felt alive.

He then remembered about the app and wanted to test the other functions. He was curious and adventurous, always eager to try new things. He said to himself, "Store? Hm... I wonder what can I buy from it. It would be great if I could buy a lifetime supply of good night sleep." He chuckled at his own joke, knowing that it was impossible. He clicked on the Store option and a list of items and scrolls greeted him.

"Woah, there's a lot of items being sold here." he said, impressed by the variety and quantity. He then proceeded to look at the things in the store. The store contained many artifacts and scrolls. They all looked unique and cool, but Ryu didn't know why they were sold there. He was skeptical and practical, always questioning the usefulness and value of things. He said, "As if swords and spears would be able to match gun's firepower. Why bother buying scraps?" He dismissed the items as useless and outdated, preferring modern and efficient weapons. He was about to close the store after finding out that it didn't sell guns or modern weapons, when something in the store caught his attention. It was different from all the things in the store.

"Trading Center..." he mumbled, intrigued by the name and the appearance. It looked like a small device with a screen and a keypad. He wondered what it did and how it worked. He was smart and analytical, always wanting to learn and understand things. He said, "Weird, this is the only thing in the store that is not a weapon nor a scroll. I wonder how much is it." He clicked Buy, wanting to know what currency the app accepted. He was surprised and confused by the message that appeared on the screen. It said, "Do you want to buy ? Upon confirmation, 1 Dream Coin will be deducted. (Discount has been applied for new Lucid Surfer) "

Ryu thought for a while and then clicked on Yes. He said, "Well, it does sound useful." He hoped that the Trading Center would be worth the Dream Coin, which he knew was rare and valuable.

Before he could even check the purchased item, someone from behind him said, "Hm? It really is a newbie area." He was startled by the sudden voice from his back. He turned his head and yelled, "W-woah who's there?! " He was defensive and angry, always ready to fight and protect himself.

First Encounter [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1002054148616900630/1190183777444581436/Untitled63.jpg?ex=65a0e005&is=658e6b05&hm=f2b4ede8047a1e67c42cbbd01dd557f287a7d53b050f3b812bf522e34aebfc5d&]

A girl who seemed to be in her teenage years greeted him. She said, "Oh, sorry if I scared you." She smiled apologetically, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. She had white short hair, which greatly complimented her bright blue eyes. Her smooth and pale skin paired with her slim body suited the beach as if she really was taking a vacation. She tapped the end of her white dress and introduced herself to him.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Hi, I'm Luna. Kim Luna." she said with a bright smile. She slightly bowed her head, showing respect and politeness. She then asked, "May I know your name?".

Ryu squinted his eyes, full of suspicion on his face. He didn't trust her, or anyone for that matter. He had been alone and isolated for too long, having no friends or family to rely on. He said, "Who are you? How did you get here?"

Luna said, "I told you, I'm Luna. Kim Luna. And I got here by using the Link option. You know, the one that lets you invite other surfers to join you." She explained patiently, but there was a hint of sarcasm in her voice. She was amused and annoyed by his ignorance and hostility.

Ryu said, "Link option? I don't remember inviting anyone. Especially not a stranger like you." He said coldly, but there was a hint of fear in his voice. He was afraid of being hurt or betrayed by others, having experienced too many nightmares.

Luna said, "Well, you didn't invite me personally. But you did leave your dream open for anyone to join. You see, when you create a custom dream, you can choose to make it private or public." She said calmly, but there was a hint of pity in her voice. She felt sorry for him, knowing that he was a newbie and a loner.

Ryu said, "I did? I don't remember doing that." He said honestly, but there was a hint of regret in his voice. He wished he had paid more attention to the settings, and made his dream private. He wanted to have some peace and privacy, not some unwanted company.

Luna said, "You probably didn't pay attention to the settings. It's okay, it happens to a lot of newbies. Don't worry, I'm not here to harm you or anything. I'm just here to explore and have fun. And maybe help you out a bit." She said kindly, but there was a hint of mystery in her voice. She had a hidden agenda, and a secret motive. He knew she was not just a random surfer who stumbled upon his dream.

Ryu said, "Help me out? With what?" He said curiously, there was a hint of doubt in his voice. He didn't know what she could do for him, or what she wanted from him. He didn't know anything. But he was about to find out.

Luna said, "With your dream, of course. You see, I'm a veteran surfer. I've been using the app for a long time, and I know a lot of things about it. Things that you don't know yet. Things that could make your dream experience better and more enjoyable." She said confidently and there was a hint of excitement in her voice. She was looking forward to sharing her knowledge and experience with him, and to seeing his reactions and responses.

Ryu said, "I don't know about that. I'm contented with this dream already." He said stubbornly, but there was a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Luna looked at Ryu with a mix of pity and amusement. She knew he was a newbie, and he had no idea what he was missing. She said, "Well, it's up to you. But just so you know, custom dreams are not unlimited. You can only create one with one dream coin. And you only managed to make one because you're a newbie." She hoped he would listen to her, and join her in exploring the wonders of Dreamer's Paradise.

Ryu frowned and scratched his head. He was confused and curious, and he didn't like it. He said, "So you mean if I don't get another dream coin, I won't be able to experience this heaven again?" He couldn't believe it. He loved this dream, and he wanted to stay here forever.

Luna sighed and shook her head. She knew he was stubborn and naive, and he needed a push. She said, "Yeah, and FYI, dream coins are so hard to get." She then turned around and started to walk away from Ryu. She said, "I guess it's enough lesson for today. Your dream is about to end." She smiled and winked at him. She said, "See you around......Oppa?" And then she disappeared out of thin air. She left him a clue, and a challenge. She wanted him to follow her, and to find her.

Ryu stared at the empty space where Luna was. He was shocked and intrigued, and he felt a surge of adrenaline. He wondered who she was, and where she went. He wondered what she meant by Dreamer's Paradise, and how to get there. He wondered if he would see her again, and what she would show him. He wondered a lot of things, but he had no time to think. A voice suddenly spoke out of nowhere and said, " is about to time up. Please leave the dream or you will receive a penalty." Ryu panicked and looked around. He forgot how to leave the dream. He grabbed his phone and opened the app. He furiously searched for the quit button, but he couldn't find it anywhere. He heard the voice counting down, and his heart pounded faster and faster. He felt nervous and scared, and he wanted to wake up.

The countdown reached zero, and Ryu woke up. Ryu felt a sharp pain in his head. It felt like his head was being split open from the inside. He screamed and dropped his phone. He clutched his head and curled up on the ground. He felt agony and despair, and he wished he was dead. The nurses in the hospital heard his scream and ran to him. They saw him lying on the floor, writhing in pain. They tried to help him, but they couldn't do anything. They gave him a painkiller, and hoped it would work. They felt sorry and helpless, and they wondered what was wrong with him.