Melissa paled considerably at Adam's revelation. Annabelle let out a weary sigh and got up to help Yusuf clean up the shattered pieces of the cup.

"I... I need a minute," Melissa muttered, standing abruptly.

As she walked out of the kitchen, Adam made to follow her, but she held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks. "No, Adam. I just need to be by myself for a bit."

A knot of worry twisted in Adam's stomach as he watched his mother disappear from the kitchen.

He knew the revelation about Dr. Taylor, a spy planted by his grandmother, had shaken her deeply.

His father had long held suspicions about the therapist, but Melissa had always defended her, never considering the possibility of her being a spy.

Adam had intended to keep this revelation from his mother, understanding the devastation it could cause.

He regretfully clenched his fist, remorse tugging at his conscience. He hadn't wanted to hurt his mother, but the truth had found its way out anyway.

Noticing his clenched fist, Annabelle spoke up, her voice offering a soothing contrast to the tense atmosphere. "Adam, don't worry. Your mother needed to know this, even if the truth is difficult. She needs time to process it all. You know your mum, she's strong. She'll come back from this stronger than ever."

Adam exhaled, trying to let go of the guilt. He nodded in response to Annabelle's words, though he still couldn't shake off his concern completely. He hoped that his mum would indeed be able to handle this shock, and emerge stronger in the end.

With a gesture from Annabelle, Stella swiftly swapped the tablet's display to the news.

The glaring, red "Breaking News" header immediately caught everyone's attention. It was the UBC, UK's biggest news network.

But something was off - the usual reporter, Miss Bradley, wasn't there. Instead, a different face appeared on the screen.

The new reporter, though professional, had a noticeable hint of sadness in his eyes. Adam found it strange - Miss Bradley had been the steady, reassuring voice of UBC for as long as he could remember.

Clearing his throat, the new reporter started to explain the situation. "Good morning, viewers," he began, his voice heavy. "I'm here today in place of Miss Bradley, our usual reporter who, unfortunately, has slipped into a coma."

The room fell silent as the gravity of the news settled in.

"And she's not the only one," the reporter continued, his voice just above a whisper. "Reports are flooding in from all over the world... People, seemingly healthy one moment, are still slipping into unexplainable comas."

The unsettling news continued, "These incidents all share one commonality: the victims had gone to sleep the previous night and have yet to wake up. All attempts to rouse them have proven unsuccessful."

The report cut to a montage of clips featuring various world leaders addressing their nations, the tone of their speeches varying from accusations of bio-terrorism to desperate calls for unity.

Some took the opportunity to cast blame on their rivals, while others were scrambling, trying to find any semblance of an explanation for the inexplicable.

Cutting back to the studio, the reporter continued, "Academics across the globe are just as baffled. Preliminary reports suggest no presence of any known viruses, bacteria, or signs of poisoning in the victims. The cause of these global occurrences remains a mystery."

As the report went on.

"Reports are also flooding in from individuals all across the globe, claiming they have awoken in a different world named 'Lenus,' situated within what they call the 'Dreamverse.'"

He paused, shuffling his papers before looking up into the camera. "These individuals speak of blue messages appearing out of thin air, akin to a computer game interface. They also mention experiencing character progression that aligns with the concept of 'leveling up,' a term widely recognized among video game players."

With a deep breath, the reporter continued, "In an unprecedented move, a self-proclaimed gamer has leveraged social media platforms to share their experiences and insights. This individual has compiled a guide aiming to assist others in surviving their first night in this 'Dreamverse.'"

As the news report neared its end, the reporter addressed the viewers with a grave expression, "Until we understand more about these incidents, it is recommended to stay vigilant and be cautious about your sleep. Your life might depend on it."

The room fell silent, the news report leaving everyone shocked. Adam could feel a knot forming in his stomach. He had hoped that the Dreamverse would take its time pulling people in, but that clearly wasn't happening.

His advantage was slipping away with each new person entering the Dreamverse. Every second counted. There was no time to waste.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

In all the chaos, they hardly noticed Melissa coming back into the kitchen. Her eyes were red, hinting at the emotions she was battling.

Seeing his mum's pain, Adam got up and gave her a comforting hug.

He pulled back, looking into her eyes, "We'll deal with Grandma, mum. We're in this together."

His words were more than a promise, they were a pledge. He was fed up with his grandma's games. He decided to face her head-on as soon as they were back in the Dreamverse.

‘I'm the one in control now. I have all the cards. She can either fall in line or I'll kick her out.’

"Thanks, Adam," Melissa said, her voice quivering a little. “Yusuf, I…”

"Mum, it's alright. What's done is done. Luckily, grandma doesn't know everything. She doesn't know about my 'Dream Child' title. So, don't stress, okay?”

Melissa nodded, visibly relieved by Adam's reassuring words.

Adam observed the effect his words had on his mother, breaking the heavy silence that hung in the air.

"I never anticipated so many people getting pulled into the Dreamverse so quickly," he confessed. "We have a rough estimate of how many are in comas, but we're clueless about the survivors and their progress."

Adam looked at his family, eyes full of determination. "We need to start recruiting. We've got a unique advantage and we can't let it slip."

Yusuf was quick to express his worries. "Adam, we should tread carefully. If we rush this, people might start getting suspicious."

Annabelle, on the other hand, seemed to share Adam's urgency. "We can't wait forever," she said firmly.

"Once the governments around the world start creating their safe zones, do you really think people will pick us over them?"

"We could tell people we're not a cult," Stella suggested, trying to find a solution.

Melissa shook her head. "We can't mislead people. We all saw the message when we first entered the Dreamverse, remember? It clearly said we joined the Immortal Dream cult. If we recruit someone, they will find out the truth."

Adam decided to put the matter to a vote. "All in favor of expanding our recruiting efforts?"

All hands shot up except Yusuf's.

Yusuf sighed, resigning to the decision. "Okay, but let's try to avoid any more unstable people joining the cult... God, I can't believe I just said that."

"Alright," said Annabelle, ready to move forward. "Let's start planning. I know a few advertising agencies we can work with to get our message out."

Adam nodded, "That's a good idea. And what about that gaming team that visited yesterday? They might be a good addition."

"Definitely," agreed Annabelle. "They looked promising."

"Also," Adam added, "let's see if any members of our security team are interested. Their skills might be useful."

“I’ll get started on marketing.” Annabelle got up leaving the kitchen.

Finally, Melissa, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness, asked, "Adam, would you be able to coach me? I chose the warrior class and... I could use some help with the spear."

A sense of warmth spread through Adam as he realized his mother had chosen the same weapon he had used previously.

‘Shame I can’t use the spear in the Dreamverse anymore. Well, I’ll do my best to help mum master it. Maybe she can go further with it than I did?’

He gave her a reassuring smile and nodded. "Sure, why not." The commitment from his family, despite all the uncertainties, solidified his determination.

---

Yusuf's prompt call to his assistant resulted in an assortment of wooden training weapons making their way to their home gym. The once regular fitness area transformed into an active training ground, humming with anticipation.

Fresh from his physical test, Adam could feel the palpable surge in his strength and stamina, his stats now fully accessible on Earth.

Adam knew he was now thrice as strong and swift as an average male. This pushed him into the territory of Olympic athletes.

An average human male could reach running speeds of about 8 MPH. For Adam, that number tripled to an astonishing 24 MPH, only a few notches below the world record for the 100-meter sprint at 28 MPH.

What set Adam apart further was his endurance. He could maintain these intense speeds for significantly longer durations. This was due to his stamina and endurance also being enhanced, three times the average of a male adult.

His improvements were comprehensive. Strength, speed, stamina – all three core physical attributes had received substantial boosts.

Adam could hardly blame his parents for their disbelief and awe. After all, they were witnessing their eight-year-old son perform feats of speed and strength that would put professional athletes to shame.

His newfound prowess was as astonishing as it was terrifying, a potent reminder of the extraordinary reality they were now part of.

Stella, in particular, wore an expression of pure envy. She pouted at Adam, a playful edge to her voice as she protested, "That's not fair! Why don't I have access to my attributes?"

Adam couldn't help but tease her, "Oh come on, Stella. Strength and Dexterity aren't even my highest stats."

This earned him a playful shake of Stella's fists. "Quit rubbing it in!"

His parents stood nearby, their expressions soft as they watched the playful exchange between Adam and Stella.

His attributes tested he turned to his mother, “Mum you wanna start?”

Melissa eagerly picked up a spear. Her eyes filled with a determination that reflected her readiness to embrace their new reality.

Adam took it upon himself to help her get comfortable with the spear. He scrutinized her stance, giving pointers and sharing his knowledge on effective spear usage while everyone watched.

Feeling more confident with the spear in her hands, Melissa proposed, "I think a hands-on approach will help me grasp it better. How about a sparring match?"

Adam responded with a friendly nod, "Absolutely, mum. Let's see what you've got!"

The atmosphere was light as Adam stepped forward to select his own spear from the rack. With a playful smirk, he made a quip that had his family chuckling. "Brace yourself, mum. I'm pretty good with the spear."

His hand reached out to grip the smooth wooden handle of the spear, anticipation brightening his eyes.

But the moment his fingers made contact with the weapon, his world shattered.

A searing agony ripped through his very being, as if a thousand blades were slicing through his soul.

The pain was so intense that it felt like his very essence was being torn apart.

The spear slipped from Adam's grasp and crashed to the floor, forgotten in the wake of his suffering.

He stumbled back, clutching his hand to his head.

His vision blurred, a kaleidoscope of colors dancing before his eyes, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still. The once-cheerful atmosphere in the room had transformed into a stifling void of silence and disbelief.

Adam's family stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock and concern. They had never seen him in such excruciating pain before.

A guttural scream erupted from Adam's lips, a primal cry that echoed through the gym, resonating with the sheer torment he was experiencing.

It was a sound that sent shivers down their spines, a sound that seemed to pierce through their very souls.

"Adam!"

Adam collapsed to the floor, body convulsing in anguish.