They decided to take the elevator.

After discussion, they realized that the risk of encountering something while climbing the stairs was similar to taking the elevator.

In this strange place, avoiding danger was impossible. They might as well conserve their energy for when they really needed it.

Entering the old elevator, Mithra and Elise stood side-by-side as it slowly ascended.

"Have you remembered anything more?" Mithra asked directly.

"No. If Ms. Passerby is seeking information, don't rely on me," Elise replied dismissively.

"Fine," Mithra said, her gaze fixed on Elise's blades.

【"Elise's Claws": The claws of the ancient bird of sleep, once used to bring wakefulness or slumber to lost souls. They are an extension of her own being. One claw for "awakening," one for "sleep."】

Named weapons.

Mithra coveted them.

"Ms. Passerby, why are you looking at my weapons?" Elise asked, noticing her gaze.

"They're exquisite and sharp. Do they have a story?" Mithra asked, even though Night Eyes had already provided some information.

"They've been with me for a long time. Even though I've forgotten many things, they bring me a sense of familiarity," Elise said, playing with one of the blades.

The blade brushed against the elevator wall, leaving a mark.

"Compared to your weapons, I'm more curious about you, Ms. Passerby. Your weapons seem intimately connected to you. It's a kind of Flesh Transmutation, isn't it?" Elise asked.

"I don't know. My understanding of this body is almost limitless. The only thing I recognize is the surface," Mithra replied.

"Indeed. You're one of the few lucid dreamers I've encountered. Even in a dream, you maintain control,"

Mithra was surprised. "You can tell?"

"I'm your guide. I need to understand you. I need you to remain asleep, or you might disrupt this fragile dreamscape,"

"I'm trying,"

The elevator, moving slowly, reached the eighteenth floor.

Not their destination.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a long hallway.

Mithra pressed the close button, but nothing happened.

Looking outside, she saw that the buttons outside the elevator seemed to be pressed down by something invisible. The controls were unresponsive.

"Let's go," Elise said calmly, stepping out.

"Right," Mithra said, then smashed a button with her hammer.

The elevator seemed to malfunction, and the doors remained open as it began to descend.

Mithra and Elise saw a vague mass of flesh above the elevator, a human hand impaled on it, a terrifying smile on the face, which, after a fleeting glance, disappeared into the darkness.

Reaching the elevator, Mithra formed the Fire pattern and unleashed Burning, sending a wave of flames downwards.

Clapping her hands, she turned to Elise. "Let's go."

They ignored the elevator and entered the hallway.

Numerous figures were moving in the hallway.

Several stitched-up doctors and a group of people in nondescript clothing.

Although Mithra and Elise didn't approach, their conversation was audible.

"How did reporters get in? This deal has been going on for a while,"

"We've dealt with them. But it was chaotic, so we had to act quickly. We severed their limbs and left them in the elevator, we'll deal with them later."

"You idiots! Do you know why these reporters are here? They smelled something. This deal's been going on for a while; there must be a leak."

"But...but..."

"Think about how to cover your tracks. Ha ha, but we can help you deal with this. You understand the price."

"I knew you were up to something!"

"Deal or no deal?"

"...Let's do this."

Heavy footsteps approached.

"Head Nurse! The patient's escaped!"

"She's on the operating table! Did you give her the sedative?!"

"Yes, but she was a pre-arranged patient, and the flesh was provided by them. Something must have happened."

"What?" a shrill voice exclaimed. "Something happened to the newborn? Because of the mother and the things we provided?"

"Yes, but we can handle it…"

"No, take us there! We need to see this ourselves!"

The voice cut off. Mithra looked at Elise.

Elise spoke. "As I said, time, space, and logic are chaotic in dreams. Everything is determined by the dreamer's will."

Mithra nodded and walked confidently down the hallway.

Elise followed calmly.

Their footsteps attracted the creatures, who turned to reveal stitched-up faces.

They hadn't been speaking; their expressions were devoid of reason.

The voices and images were probably staged elements of the dream.

The creatures growled and charged. Mithra ignited her hammer, activating Control Object to make it fly towards the monsters.

Elise spread her arms, her blades extending like wings.

A silver light flashed, and Elise, moving even faster than Mithra, swiftly dismembered the creatures.

Mithra's hammer struck the remaining creatures, and flames engulfed them.

Mithra pulled open her shirt. "Maw?"

No response.

But perhaps it was simply exhausted and wanted to rest.

Mithra didn't blame it.

Elise's attacks were brutal. Her movements, accompanied by silver light, were far from the delicate dance often associated with female fighters.

【Sleep Technique: A honed skill used to swiftly subdue targets. Upon activation, it instantly identifies the most efficient killing method, combining delicate movements with powerful strikes, capable of even stripping away divinity. The Sleep Technique is the gentle and merciful side of the ancient bird of sleep.】

It wasn't a miracle but a skill born from her own strength, and Night Eyes had given it a high rating.

Standing amidst the gore, Elise turned, her expression unchanged, her blades still stained with blood, her gaze on Mithra.

Mithra sheathed her hammer and, standing amidst the burning corpses, extinguished the flames on her hammer.

"Let's go. Upstairs."

"This hospital must have been for treating illnesses,"

"Yes, that's one way to look at it,"

Mithra and Elise searched for the stairs on the eighteenth floor. Elevators and stairs were usually together, but not in this dream.

"Why would this happen in a hospital?" Elise asked.

"Who knows? Human nature, I suppose," Mithra replied.

They found the stairwell. Mithra didn't open the fire door immediately.

Lost in thought, Mithra pushed the door open slightly. A blood-soaked arm instantly grabbed her hand.

Through the crack, disheveled, blood-soaked black hair appeared, and a wide, terrified eye stared at Mithra.

Swish!

Elise severed the hand with a single blow. Then, she kicked the door open, sending the woman sprawling.

The door swung open, revealing a blood-soaked stairwell. The smell of blood and decay was overwhelming. Blood covered the floor, and countless newborn faces were visible.

"Rough climb from the first to the eighteenth floor," Mithra stepped into the blood, crushing several newborn faces without a second thought.

The woman struggled to her feet, and Mithra, activating Reinforce Body on her hammer, struck her.

Bang!

The woman's head exploded against the wall, creating a gruesome spray. The wall caved in, cracks spreading like a spiderweb.

"Don't worry, I'll find your child," Mithra said, sheathing her hammer and cleaning the blood off with Ignite, then extinguishing the flames.

The blood gathered around the woman's still-twitching body.

Elise stepped forward. The Sleep Technique glowed, and the woman was silently dismembered.

The silver light enveloped her, and the writhing flesh gradually calmed.

But Mithra noted that their activity hadn't completely ceased; they seemed to be asleep.

A fascinating power.

"Let's go, Ms. Passerby," Elise flicked her blades, cleaning off the blood, and turned to Mithra.

Despite her considerable skill, she prioritized Mithra's will and rarely acted independently. As she had said, she was merely a guide and an assistant.

Mithra wondered how powerful Elise would be without her restraint.

Judging from Night Eyes, perhaps as strong as a Wandering God.

They continued, reaching their floor without stopping.

Unlike the dilapidated but relatively well-lit lower floors, this floor was dark and ominous.

The posters on the walls had been torn; the mothers' pictures were shredded, but the babies' photos were grotesquely distorted.

A chilling gaze fell upon Mithra. She turned and saw a newborn's face.

The baby's body seemed incomplete, its muscles underdeveloped, one arm and one leg missing. Insect-like limbs sprouted from its back, clinging to the ceiling.

Its neck stretched, and its head turned, facing Mithra.

"Sheng?" Mithra asked.

"...Why the hell is it you again?" the baby said, its voice faint.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. Something went wrong while I was handling your… offering," Mithra said apologetically.

"Damn you," Sheng cursed.

"We killed your mother... I think it was your mother," Mithra gestured towards the stairwell.

Elise's eyes widened.

Although it was true, and Mithra's tone was sincere, her words seemed cruel and implicated her as an accomplice.

"It was her... I never knew her. A poor woman. I'm responsible for her death," Sheng said grimly.

"Can you let me go?" Mithra waved her hand dismissively.

"I wish I could. Damn it! I'm dead, and I still run into you here. You're relentless!" Sheng gritted his teeth.

"This isn't the afterlife," Elise corrected.

Sheng glanced at Elise. "Then why am I here? This mother, desperate, became a target for the Chrysalis. Impregnated with Chrysalis fragments, she gave birth to me, an incomplete monster, in this hellhole of a hospital. A bunch of immoral bastards,"

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Before Elise could begin her explanation, Mithra interrupted. "Think of it as your own puppet show."

Sheng's face showed confusion. "So you tormented me while I was in a daze? You almost scared me to death when you appeared downstairs."

"That's why I didn't want to come in. This is your dream. They say you can just make yourself wake up," Mithra said.

"...I can't. I'm just wandering here. I can't go anywhere else. I'm stuck like this," Sheng shook his head, his elongated neck swaying.

Elise spoke. "You've remained awake, haven't you? You're not lost in the dream?"

"I was a bit dazed at first, but seeing her woke me up," Sheng replied.

Elise frowned. "So you're not the dreamer, or perhaps, not entirely."

Bang!

A loud crash echoed nearby. A tall, stitched-up figure in black clothing tossed a bed onto the floor, looking around, slowly approaching.

"Who's that?" Mithra asked.

Sheng was also startled. "I don't know. I haven't seen him before."

Suddenly, the figure's gaze locked onto them.

A grotesque smile appeared on its face as it quickened its pace.

【Dream "Chrysalis": A Wandering God's will that enters a dream through contact with its host, manifesting and borrowing suitable forms within that dream to seize control. It seeks to regenerate, but its power is limited by the dream, yet this dream is partially its own domain.】

"It's a puppet, no, a Chrysalis," Mithra said.

Numerous tentacles suddenly sprouted from the stitched-up figure's back, coalescing into wing-like structures and fluttering.

Fleshy spikes shot out from the tentacles towards them.

Elise reacted first, her blades deflecting the spikes.

But the Chrysalis lunged at her feet.

A vortex of Ki Attraction appeared, redirecting the Chrysalis's attack. Mithra's hammer struck the creature.

Bang!

The Chrysalis reacted swiftly, easily blocking the blow. Its arm transformed into a large blade, slashing at Mithra.

A small, brown knife sliced across the Chrysalis's neck. Mithra and Elise attacked simultaneously, a white hammer and a silver blade striking its chest.

Bang!

A surge of power. The Chrysalis was thrown back, sliding across the floor.

Sheng dropped from the ceiling, resting on Mithra's shoulder, his neck returning to normal.

"Isn't it your god? Why is it attacking us?" Mithra asked casually.

"...It's the god I want to become, but it's the one who led me to this," Sheng said, his voice grim, his eyes filled with despair.

The Chrysalis stood again. Mithra silently sheathed her hammer.

The impact had confirmed her suspicions: even the dream Chrysalis possessed the "Wandering God privilege," high resistance to non-Godly miracles.

Although she had struck it repeatedly, it had only been stunned, not injured.

Elise's Sleep Technique, however, had inflicted clear damage. Its chest was torn open, its flesh writhing, but the wounds didn't heal easily.

"Ha ha... ha ha ha..." The Chrysalis laughed, its mouth stretching widely, revealing healthy, white teeth.

Swish!

The Hunter Greatsword emerged from Mithra's shoulder, startling Sheng and Elise.

Mithra grabbed the greatsword and drew it.

She still couldn't separate them. When she considered the hierarchy of weapons, the Hunter Greatsword was undoubtedly a key member of her arsenal.

The Chrysalis spread its arms, embracing the void.

Boom!

The hallway walls shattered, and a torrent of flesh surged towards them.

Mithra and Elise dodged, and the Chrysalis struck again.

The ceiling and floor transformed into flesh, engulfing them.

Then, blades flashed, flesh tore, and Mithra and Elise, covered in blood, burst from the wreckage.

Elise, moving faster than Mithra, unleashed a flurry of attacks. The Chrysalis transformed several of its arms into blades, its movements agile. Despite being cut, it withstood Elise's assault.

Suddenly, eyes sprouted across its body, and it realized Mithra had vanished.

A powerful figure appeared behind it. The flowing mane and bestial stance were intimidating.

The Chrysalis turned, and the Hunter Greatsword fell upon its shoulder.

Like slicing through butter, the seemingly dull blade effortlessly severed it in half.

Mithra remained in human form. But after that single strike, she realized something was amiss. Using only Hunting Shadow, her beastly nature was surging far faster than usual.

Swish!

The severed Chrysalis flesh rapidly regenerated. Sheng's body, except for his face, transformed into small whips that lashed out at the Chrysalis. Elise's blades followed.

This constant interruption hampered the Chrysalis's regeneration. Mithra paused, raised her sword, gathered energy, and, with a flash of light, opened the eyes on the blade.

Hunting Blade.

This wasn't a simple cut. Most of the Chrysalis's flesh was obliterated by the energy.

Its body collapsed. But the smile on its face remained.

The floor trembled and softened. The surroundings began to change. Eyes opened in the walls, looking at them.

The humanoid Chrysalis sank into the flesh. Then the flesh pulsed more violently.

"What's happening?" Mithra gasped, her breathing heavy.

"A higher will is trying to forcefully take over the dreamscape," Elise said grimly.

Sheng looked around, his infant body resting on Mithra's. He seemed anxious.

"You're the original dreamer. If you don't want your dream to change, fight it," Elise said, turning to Sheng.

"But that's a god! I'm just… You want me to fight it like this?!" Sheng exclaimed, turning to Elise.

"You…huh? Ms. Passerby, what's wrong with you?" Elise noticed something was wrong with Mithra.

Mithra's shoulder-length hair had grown to her waist, turning white and dry, like a beast's mane.

Mithra's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes flickered between human and bestial forms.

"Beast mode?" Elise's eyes widened. "You just used bestial power?"

"Yes. You didn't say using beast power here would be so fast," Mithra said, looking at her increasingly sharp claws.

Elise paused. "Normal beasts don't transform this quickly…"

"Go, Sheng. If you can't beat it, don't try, but tell us what is essential. What will quickly end this," Mithra said.

Sheng, after a moment of silence, replied, "The neonatal ward."

"Let's go," Mithra said, looking at Elise.

Elise's expression was unreadable, but she nodded.

Following Sheng's directions, Mithra and Elise moved quickly through the changing hospital towards the neonatal ward.

"You were in this hospital? As a newborn?" Mithra asked.

"There was a special ward for children with problems—those with defects, or whose families had problems. They would be placed there,"

"Ultimately, they became part of the 'Chrysalis'," Mithra continued.

"Yes. I received the Chrysalis's power before birth. My mother, briefly possessing some of it, tried to escape, but she couldn't. She was killed; I was taken," Sheng explained.

Flesh surged towards them, threatening to engulf them.

Mithra sheathed the Hunter Greatsword, now wielding two Night Worship Swords. She moved swiftly.

And Elise, a whirlwind of destruction, was even more terrifying.

Covered in blood and gore, Mithra casually wiped it away. "How do you know all this? Did the Chrysalis's power accelerate your development?"

"I didn't know this until I entered this dream. I've gradually started remembering. I think it might not just be my dream…"

"What do you mean?" Mithra asked. Sheng didn't immediately reply.

Suddenly, as they passed a room, they heard a commotion.

"This child is interesting. He's naturally compatible with the god's flesh. Perhaps, that's the key. They haven't found a suitable host for the god's arm yet,"

"But is it because his mother died while holding him? This kid has quite the temper,"

A crash echoed.

"You! What are you doing?!" A nurse's voice.

"There are normal children here! And our colleagues! You killed them?!"

"Ha ha, the baby's hungry. Time for feeding,"

"What are you doing?! No! Our deal… Aah!"

The sounds of flesh being crushed overwhelmed all other sounds.

Elise frowned.

Mithra remained impassive.

Sheng said nothing.

Only one door remained.

Mithra no longer cared about the hospital's layout. The dreamscape seemed to be spiraling out of control, and this intact door was likely Sheng's last refuge.

Smashing the door open, they entered a room. The sounds of flesh from outside vanished.

Before them stood Sheng's mother, the grotesque woman they should have killed on the stairs.

"The key to this dreamscape is her, the most significant symbolic figure in the hospital," Elise said, having already suspected this from Sheng's earlier story.

The woman's vacant expression twisted. Her mouth transformed into insect mandibles, and flesh propelled her to her feet, though she still moved unsteadily.

Mithra's Night Eyes still detected the "Dream 'Chrysalis'" designation. The Chrysalis had found another host.

Elise didn't hesitate to attack.

Both clashed and then Elise was thrown back by a powerful force.

Regaining her balance, she realized her form was blurring.

Mithra used her sword to block the Chrysalis's attack. Even with some of the Night Hunter's power, the sword's impact was limited.

The Chrysalis, noticing Mithra wasn't using the Hunter Greatsword, focused on inflicting damage.

Mithra was quickly injured, and the Chrysalis seemed to have an endless supply of flesh.

Sheng tried to help, but his small form limited his effectiveness.

The Chrysalis raised its arms to block their attacks, its blades coalescing into two massive, heavy blades that smashed down on them.

Bang!

Mithra was sent flying, like a broken doll.

Fortunately, she had absorbed most of the impact. Even so, Sheng was nearly severed by the attack.

As Mithra struggled to get up, she noticed Elise's condition. "Miss Forgetful, what's wrong?"

Elise frowned. "Something's taking my power, trying to force me out of the dreamscape. It's almost successful. I'm just a guide, clinging to you, an outside force; I'm not strong enough to resist."

"So you're saying you're going all-in at this point?" Mithra finally regained her footing, but the Chrysalis attacked again.

After a brief struggle, Mithra was sent flying.

Elise tried to catch her, but Mithra passed through her, embedding herself in the wall.

Flesh oozed from the wall, clinging to Mithra.

"I apologize, Ms. Passerby…"

"No, it's fine," Mithra said. "Maybe I can fight better without you, Miss Forgetful."

As she spoke, dark energy emanated from her body.

A normal person would be helpless at this point, unless they were willing to sever a limb. But Mithra preferred a more decisive approach.

Sheng crawled to her side, severing the fleshy tentacles clinging to her, his eyes showing fear, bad memories flooding back.

He forced himself to say, "Go crazy. Grab me."

"Huh?" Mithra was surprised.

The Chrysalis attacked. Mithra grabbed Sheng and dodged, but the creature swiftly moved, launching fleshy projectiles that pierced them both.

"What are you going to do with me?" Sheng asked, blood trickling from his mouth.

Mithra realized something.

"You are…"

She rolled on the ground, grabbing one of Sheng's limbs.

Sheng's despairing gaze remained unchanged. "I hate you. I hate this world. I don't belong to Planet Blue's society, nor Dreamland. Even this puppet show of a dream isn't truly mine."

"You terrify me, but your hatred gives me comfort. If I must believe in something, then I'll believe in you, you self-proclaimed, rational lunatic,"

"Use me to kill it."

Elise's eyes flickered, her empty memories unable to process what she was witnessing.

The Chrysalis roared and attacked. Mithra casually waved her hand.

A white light flashed. A massive gash appeared in the Chrysalis's expanding flesh, stopping its charge.

The white light was sometimes like the skin of a baby, other times like ice-cold flesh.

It moved with the fluidity of a living creature, yet its sharp edges were like a cold weapon.

The whip-like blades retracted, pointing downwards, forming a staff.

The hilt was a pale, infant-like hand, almost as if it was held upside down.

The weapons she had stored within her body were now manifesting in the dream, becoming her allies.

【Unnamed God-Killing Weapon: A miraculous weapon forged from rare metals and minerals. Its unpredictable flesh power is intertwined with its intricate structure, transforming its shape as needed. The power of a Wandering God is its foundation, fueled by the hatred of an incomplete being.】

【—"I cannot become a perfect god. That was but a reptile's foolish dream. My monstrous birth and flawed form deny me a place in this world. So I will curse, I will hate... I apologize for breaking my oaths."】

Mithra gently touched the cold staff.

"So Its real name is... 'Abhorrence'."

In Night Eyes, "Unnamed God-Killing Weapon" instantly changed to "Abhorrence."

The Chrysalis, after a moment, stood again. It was almost unrecognizable, except for its long, dark hair.

Numerous whip-like blades erupted from its body.

Mithra moved her sword.

Swish!

The Abhorrence's blades unfurled and separated, transforming into whips that, under Mithra's control, became a blur of motion.

The clashing sounds echoed.

Mithra yanked the whips again. The blades instantly appeared before the Chrysalis, piercing its flesh and transforming into hooks!

Retracting, she pulled herself towards the Chrysalis.

The Chrysalis's large blades slashed down, aiming to cut her.

Mithra shifted her body, extending her left hand.

Rip!

【Price: You have lost your left hand…】

Reaching the Chrysalis, Mithra forcefully pulled the Abhorrence staff from its body, tearing away a large chunk of flesh.

She immediately inserted the newly formed Abyssal Hand into the wound. The Abhorrence staff transformed into a spinning saw blade and pierced the Chrysalis.

The Chrysalis shrieked in agony as its flesh pulsed, but to no avail.

Black tentacles burst from its body, the pale blades within transforming into a grinder.

The Chrysalis struggled, its flesh swelling, trying to consume Mithra.

"Hungry…!" The maw, seizing the opportunity, extended its tongues.

Powerful tongues scraped away the flesh, the maw consuming it, preventing it from interfering with Mithra's movements.

Finally, thanks to the combined efforts of the Abyssal Hand, the maw, and the Abhorrence staff…

Mithra tore outwards with both hands.

Bang!

The Chrysalis exploded like a bursting bubble.

Mithra stood calmly amidst the falling debris.

The Abyssal Hand and the maw fought over the remains. The pale blade retracted, returning to its staff form, supporting Mithra's unsteady stance.

Elise's form solidified, the scene likely seared into her newly awakened, empty memory.

【Event —— "Hunting the Wandering God"】

【You hunted a Wandering God in a dream, gaining power. It seems reptiles aren't good at daydreaming.】

【Choose one of the following three gifts and their prices:】

【Humble Remains: You obtain a "humble and lowly" "body." Price: Its will remains.】

【Infinite Trial: You experience the training of the undying army and learn their power. Price: Is it truly just an experience?】

【Abyssal Darkness: You obtain a unique miracle, wielding the power of the abyss. Price: The abyss treats everything equally—humans, beasts, and gods.】

Surprisingly, the selection hadn't appeared when she killed Sheng, only triggering after killing the "Dream Chrysalis."

It seemed the appearance of a gift depended on whether the target was identified as a Wandering God by Night Eyes.

She looked at the three options.

Was the first option a fixed choice? Was it meant to be given to her regardless?

She wasn't interested in that strange option.

She already had enough things vying for her attention. Another unknown entity would be a hassle.

Then there was the second option, "Infinite," which reminded her of Lebaance. The "undying army" likely referred to Lebaance's legendary army.

Experiencing their training and acquiring their strength seemed appealing, but the price was unsettling.

"An experience" implied some level of risk and potential suffering.

Considering Lebaance's forceful style, this option was likely to be the same.

The third option was also vaguely described: wielding the power of the abyss. Mithra knew about things related to the abyss—her severed left arm had been replaced by the Abyssal Hand, created by Jungo.

And she had experienced the side effects of the Abyssal Hand firsthand. The chaos in her mind had been incredible.

"Let's leave it for now," Mithra said, turning away from the choices.

Her left arm had regenerated; the Abyssal Hand had disappeared. The maw's tongues reached for some flesh, rumbling "hungry."

The maw was clearly conscious, but the recent weapon forging process had made it subdued. Children needed time.

Elise approached. Before she could speak, Mithra said, "The Chrysalis is dead. How do we get out?"

"It's not over," Elise said, "The control returns to the original dreamer once the usurper is destroyed."

Mithra displayed the Abhorrence staff.

"He wasn't the dreamer. I just realized. He was similar, which misled me. While he might be the source of this dream, he exists as a semi-lucid dreamer. He was simply a weapon forged in the outside world. He isn't the dreamer," Elise explained slowly.

"What? There's more? I thought we'd finished the boss fight," Mithra said, examining the staff.

"Given the scale of this dreamscape, the true dreamer is likely more powerful than this external will," Elise said, glancing down at the flesh on the floor, then at the staff in Mithra's hand. "It's truly remarkable that a weapon can maintain its existence in a dream, becoming a crucial tool,"

Mithra shrugged. "Then we need to find the true dreamer."

"Yes, the being who truly inhabits this dream," Elise said, looking towards the window of the empty room.

This was supposedly the twentieth floor of a high-rise building.

But looking through the window, they saw a courtyard.

Stepping through the window, they left the hospital. Before them was a small, dilapidated orphanage.

Mithra turned to see the hospital was gone, replaced by a path with mist on either side.

"This is the chaotic gap within the dreamscape," Mithra said.

Mithra walked into the orphanage, Elise following closely.

The orphanage was neglected. Weeds and bushes grew wildly.

As they walked, they heard light footsteps.

They paused. The sound grew closer.

"You are... 'Abhorrence', right?"

"Ah, you're a newcomer. Welcome. This might not be the best place, but… wait, what happened to your arms and legs? That's terrifying,"

"It's alright. Those scary aunties and uncles will teach me miracles! It's a really powerful ability; it can make your arms and legs grow back!"

Mithra and Elise glimpsed a child's form flickering in the bushes.

The sound faded. Mithra and Elise exchanged glances.

"The hospital, then the orphanage. The next stage of Sheng's life," Mithra mused.

This orphanage wasn't an ordinary orphanage. It was another hidden base of the Chrysalis organization.

Sheng had spent his childhood here, befriending others.

Mithra and Elise didn't linger. They reached the orphanage's main building, opened the door without any resistance.

They were relieved no one greeted them enthusiastically.

The small orphanage was cramped. Entering, they smelled mildew, and cockroaches scurried away.

Once inside, Mithra felt uneasy.

Although it looked like an ordinary orphanage, the dreamscape within was a maze.

Mithra's reduced sense of space made this difficult to navigate.

Unlike the hospital, however, there were no sudden monster attacks. Walking through the maze for a long time, they encountered little resistance.

Mithra retraced her steps, and even Elise, who hadn't been leading the way, couldn't help but stop her as she was about to re-enter a room they had just been in.

"What's wrong?"

"That's the room we were in just now."

"Oh. Got lost again," Mithra said calmly.

"You're hopelessly lost, Ms. Passerby," Elise sighed.

"Not exactly. I just don't know how to navigate mazes," Mithra clarified.

"Fine. Stay close. Getting separated here would be trouble," Elise led the way.