Adam's consciousness was yanked back to the waking world with brutal force, his body convulsing as searing pain tore through him. It felt as though his very soul was being ripped apart, only to be painfully stitched back together, piece by agonizing piece. It seemed as if two opposing forces were each vying for control over his soul, warring with each other over the fragments. The sheer intensity of the agony was unbearable, rendering him incapable of forming coherent thoughts.

Gradually, one side gained the upper hand, as more fragments of his soul found their rightful place. The pain began to subside, although it still gripped him fiercely. Each reassembled piece provided a slight measure of relief, but the torment remained, a constant reminder of the ordeal he had just endured.

"Agghhhhh," Adam clenched his teeth, doing his best to endure the worst part of the pain. His soul would have been completely destroyed if not for his unique trait, and it was the only reason his parents wouldn't find him dead in his sleep.

As the pain diminished to a level where he could think, Adam's mind raced, fragments of memories from the night before surfacing from the haze. His breathing grew labored as the recollection of Lancer's death struck him with full force.

The ache in his soul intensified as emotions of loss and grief threatened to engulf him.

As soon as he could muster the strength to speak, Adam choked out a whisper, his voice trembling with emotion. "Lancer... I'm so sorry."

Tears welled in his eyes as the image of his fallen companion, the drone that Zara had tasked him with awakening, his first squad member who was quickly becoming a friend, the one who had sacrificed himself to save him, haunted his every thought. The pain, both physical and emotional, weighed heavily on him, a stark reminder of the cruel reality he now faced without Lancer by his side.

Adam's heart clenched in his chest as waves of guilt washed over him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had failed Lancer, and that somehow, he should have been able to prevent his death. He knew deep down that he couldn't change the past, but the weight of his guilt threatened to suffocate him.

Overwhelmed by the pain and grief of Lancer's death, and knowing he was powerless to bring him back, a deep rage began to build within Adam. He couldn't accept the fact that Lancer was gone, and his anger boiled over in an uncontrollable fit of fury.

Adam struggled to his feet, the pain momentarily forgotten in the face of his overwhelming wrath. He looked around his room, his vision clouded by a red haze. His eyes locked onto the first object he could find, a vase perched on a nearby shelf. With a guttural scream, he grabbed it and hurled it against the wall, the shattering of the vase doing little to quell his rage.

He stormed around the room, his anger driving him to destroy anything within reach. Books were ripped from shelves, their pages torn and scattered like confetti. A chair was sent crashing into the wall, its legs splintering on impact. The toys he had outgrown were scattered on his floor, broken into many different pieces. Adam's room was quickly transformed into a battlefield, a testament to the chaotic whirlwind of emotions that surged through him.

Adam's tantrum continued, each broken item only fueling his anger further. He was furious at the world, at the goblins, and at himself for not being able to prevent Lancer's death. The room soon resembled a warzone, a stark reflection of the turmoil within him.

Eventually, Adam's energy waned, his body trembling with exhaustion and the pain that still lingered. He collapsed to the floor, surrounded by the wreckage he had created. Breathing heavily, he stared at the chaos, his anger slowly giving way to a crushing sense of loss and despair.

"Lancer..." he whispered, his voice raw and broken. "I promise, I will avenge you. I will make them pay." And with that solemn vow, Adam's determination to honor Lancer's memory was set in stone, a fire ignited within him that would not be extinguished until justice was served.

Hearing the commotion from Adam's room, his parents, Melissa and Yusuf, exchanged worried glances. They rushed in, only to be confronted with the sight of the room in disarray, concern etched on their faces. Amidst the wreckage of shattered glass, toys, and broken furniture, they found their son sitting, his face a mixture of anger and despair.

"Adam!" Melissa exclaimed, her voice trembling. "What happened? Are you alright?"

Adam wiped away his tears, struggling to find the words. "Lancer... he died in the Dreamverse," he choked out, his voice barely above a whisper.

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His parents exchanged a confused glance. Adam had died before in the Dreamverse, but he hadn't reacted this intensely in a long time. Yusuf placed a comforting hand on Adam's shoulder. "Son, why did this affect you so much? And who is this Lancer?" he asked gently, his eyes filled with concern.

Adam took a shaky breath, trying to calm himself. "Lancer is the drone Zara gave me. I was supposed to lead it and help it awaken, but I failed. And because of me, Lancer died." He blamed himself heavily for Lancer's death, and fresh tears began to flow.

Melissa's heart ached as she wrapped her arms around her son, trying to console him. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Adam," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "I wish there was something we could do to help."

They sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of the situation settling on their shoulders. Adam sniffled, attempting to regain control of his emotions. "I should've been more careful. I should've been the only one to die since I can come back from death, unlike Lancer. It's all my fault."

Yusuf shook his head, his voice firm. "Adam, you can't blame yourself for everything that happens in the Dreamverse. You did your best, and sometimes, that's all we can do."

After a few moments, Adam managed to regain control of his emotions and looked at his parents apologetically. "I'm sorry for waking you both up," he said softly, his voice still shaky. "I just... lost control for a bit."

Melissa reached out and gently squeezed her son's hand, offering him a reassuring smile. "It's alright, Adam. Don't worry about it. We're here for you, no matter what."

His dad, trying to lighten the mood, cracked a joke to ease the tension. "Well, at least now we know what you'd be like if you were a rock star throwing a tantrum in a hotel room," Yusuf said, managing a weak smile.

Adam let out a small, humorless laugh, but his heart wasn't in it.

Melissa, still concerned, asked, "Adam, do you want painkillers?"

Adam shook his head and replied, "No, I deserve the pain."

Melissa's eyes filled with concern. "No, Adam, you don't deserve to be in pain. I'm sure Lancer wouldn't want you to suffer like this."

Adam stared at the floor, unconvinced. "I don't know, Mom. I just... I can't help but feel responsible. I was the one who chose Lancer. I wouldn’t be feeling this way if it was a random drone that died. But, I've spent a lot of time with Lancer, bonded with him, and now…now he's gone."

Melissa cupped her son's face, forcing him to look her in the eyes. "Listen to me, Adam. You are a kind, brave, and selfless young man. I can’t say I fully understand what you're up to in the Dreamverse, but I'm sure Lancer was aware of the risks. He wouldn't want you to blame yourself or to be in pain. What he would want is for you to keep going, to keep fighting, and to keep trying your best no matter what."

Adam blinked back tears, searching for some semblance of comfort in his mother's words. "I... I just miss him, Mom. I miss him so much."

Melissa pulled him into a tight embrace, her own tears falling freely now. "I know, sweetheart. We all miss those we've lost. But we have to remember that they live on in our hearts, in our memories, and in the stories we share. And one day, we'll see them again."

Yusuf nodded in agreement, joining his wife and son in the embrace. "Your mother's right, Adam. You can't let this loss consume you. You have to keep living your life and honoring Lancer's memory by being the best person you can be."

The family held each other for a while, letting their shared grief and love envelop them. Gradually, the tension in the room began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of togetherness and understanding.

Finally, Adam pulled away, wiping his eyes. "Thank you, mom, dad. I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

Melissa smiled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her son's forehead. "We'll always be here for you, Adam. No matter what."

Yusuf patted Adam's back, his eyes filled with pride. "Now, how about we get some sleep and tackle this mess in the morning? Tomorrow is a new day, and we'll face it together. In fact, I think it might be good to have a family outing together. I'll let my assistant handle the business for the day. Can you make some time for tomorrow, honey? I know you have that client…"

Adam could see the hesitance on his mother's face, so he replied, “No need, Dad. It’s fine. Let Mom go to her client. I've already made her miss her meeting once. I'm not going to do it again. I'll be okay.”

Yusuf responded, “Are you sure?”

Adam nodded, grateful for his parents' support. They left his room, each carrying their own share of emotional exhaustion. As Adam lay down in his bed, he couldn't help but think of Lancer and the adventures they'd shared in their brief time together. He knew he had to move forward, but he also knew that he would never forget his first subordinate and his friend.

The goblins would pay for what they had done to Lancer, and they would experience the relentless pursuit of someone who was immortal. Adam's mind raced with plans to obliterate the goblins, knowing that the conflict would be fraught with casualties on both sides, but unlike the goblins, Adam would keep coming back to exact his vengeance.

With a heavy heart, Adam closed his eyes, allowing the darkness to envelop him. As sleep claimed him, he made a silent vow to honor Lancer's memory, to continue fighting in the Dreamverse, and to help the hive in Lancer’s place.

And deep down, he knew that Lancer would be proud of him especially when he skewered Skab on his spear.