"I want to see it for myself!"

Somnus had gained a packet of information from Visdre. This contained a large amount of mental energy. But this mental energy surrounded the information and experienced entropy.

When Somnus had 'swapped' souls with Atesh. He had used most of the remnants. It didn't help that he currently lacked a proper energy field. He directly used the pendent to syphon out the excess energy generated from his soul. It was serving a similar purpose to his mental energy server in F554. But it obviously was less powerful.

"Contracts."

"I guess the real target of my contracts is my body in F554. I am just an existence with loose connections to the main body."

"In the future. When I conquer the multiverse. I will not have to worry about such low settings and consumption of resources."

Somnus had some big plans. He just wondered if he would be able to realize his dreams.

"Well... I'm getting ahead of myself. I'd be satisfied just conquering this universe. I suppose I don't really want 'control' of it. I just want the perspective of a higher being. I don't want to be limited to simple human emotions and goals."

"While others strive for longevity, wealth, or love."

"I know how easy it is to get tricked following such a path. I escaped the fate of Atesh. But just like that entity said. Contracts aren't a one sided deal. If I can do such a thing to an existence, a stronger one could do the same to me."

Atesh talked with his family about his desire to explore the world. They thought he was going into a phase and forbid him.

Atesh didn't give up. His birthday was coming up. He would use the gifts and money received due to it being a special event to fund his journey.

His parents could order him around at 17. But at 18, he was an adult that could make his own decisions.

3 months later...

[ECHO]: Stage 92 - 57%

During this time. Somnus had fully accepted his new identity. He had 'locked' in. The visualization technique became more complex with every night he slept. He was building a grand image over time.

He was given a small inheritance of money for his 18th birthday.

He bought a boat and hired professionals. He packed enough supplies to last him a year.

He got advice from experts and established a route. He then bid his father farewell as he went on his journey.

1 month later...

"The forbidden fog is up ahead!"

Somnus was quite surprised to see this fog. Because he found that even his senses were warped by it. Just like the others that entered it. They became lost.

[ECHO]: Stage 128 - 67%

Somnus had planned to be out at sea for a long time. Besides water, his supplies could last. The boat was quite big. But he wasn't prepared for the mysteriousness of the fog.

Luckily, he had time to think of a solution.

"This fog clearly distorts the senses and feeling for direction."

Somnus looked at his compass. It was moving crazily.

"GPS is also useless..."

The captain spoke to Atesh.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Should we head back?"

Somnus sighed.

"How do you plan on doing that? We are lost. The only option left is to go forward! I'll figure something out..."

1 week later...

[ECHO]: Stage 135 - 5%

Somnus's visualization technique now had 135 layers.

He could feel his consciousness transforming. But being out at sea in confusing fog had taken a toll. But compared to infinite darkness. It wasn't so bad.

He just had the urge to be on land.

"Look at those... we've been going through a loop..."

They had thrown some empty barrels off to try to map out the area. They were doing everything to find a way forward. But it was a useless attempt.

Somnus frowned.

"Damn. I was really expecting to run into something supernatural besides this fog."

"Was my intuition wrong this time? Have I put myself in a dead end?"

"We have enough supplies for a few months..."

"But my body isn't transformed by mental energy, I cannot survive off the souls of others. I don't even have any souls under contract."

Somnus had tried using his esteemed name with his crew. But there was no reaction. His hidden existence clearly wasn't strong enough to receive souls from another universe.

"If only I could use mental energy..."

"When have I ever been in such a hopeless situation? Perhaps when I was being devoured by the abyss..."

"Devouring abyss..."

"Devouring abyss!"

"I'm an idiot. Why am I looking at problems from the perspective of a normal human? I'm not one! I am a being which has been banned from nonexistence. The abyss itself rejects me!"

"It is time that I reminded 'it' why."

Somnus remembered when he had once sat on a throne in his source castle. He was anything but ordinary! He had once thought of a plan. A plan he had basically forgotten.

I am Visdre Mallaichte. If you are reading this. I am already dead. But I am a symbol. I can never truly die. A symbol of what? I am a master. Dreams are the key. Never underestimate the hidden. There are places I can't go and things I can't do.

The perspective of reality is cursed. There are various laws and secrets. But I have no interest in them for now. I have a plan that requires help.

These words were never meant to be read. Within them lies my essence. I will soon enter hibernation. This is for my own enlightenment. A risk, a gamble.

Why risk everything? Why push myself to the limit? There is only one reason.

I am Somnus.

The Master of Dreams.

Somnus remembered the brief information he had typed in his source castle. This illusory 'paper' was turned to metaphysical ash.

He had sacrificed this and gained something legendary. What was it?

"My new 'key' is under construction."

Somnus remembered his black book. The artifact that made him special. He believed that as long as that existed. He would be shackled. He was eternal. But, so what?

So he destroyed his artifact!

"My artifact became my prey. It could transform into fog and integrate with my spiritual body."

"I used my source castle as the prison for my artifact. I used my declaration as the master of dreams to destroy it and face the full force of the abyss with with my naked existence."

"I did something most would never do!"

"Because my plan is far more legendary."

Somnus looked at the endless fog.

"Do you have any idea who I am?!"

The people on his boat looked at him in confusion... He was always mumbling to himself. But he randomly shouted 'Do you have any idea who I am?'. They thought the situation had gotten to him. The stress was driving them insane as well. But they had been paid well for the risk.

One of them touched his shoulder to calm him down. But he soon had goosebumps. A shiver went down his spine as he felt danger.

"You!?"

He fell down to the ground as the eyes of Atesh turned black.

Somnus held out his hand.

"You cannot have destruction without creation. My action of severing my fate with eternity. I will now manifest something equal to such sacrifice!"

The wind started to pick up around Somnus.

"What is he doing? How is he doing that!?"

Somnus held out his hand and a golden paper appeared and wrapped around a white orb. It fell into his hand. On this paper was his declaration as the master of dreams. The short excerpt he had written before facing the abyss.

This was a manifestation of an ability he had gained.

The paper ignited like it had in the past and it turned to nothingness.

The wind became crazy and the boat started to shake heavily. In his hands a vortex started to form. It was as if it was entering his hand and then disappearing. The fog started to get sucked in.

"Devour!"

Just like when he had devoured the abyss and became rejected by reality. He pulled off the same feat here! That legendary image. He had recreated it!

[ECHO]: Stage 369 - 97%

The energy particles that powered the world level formation which trapped mortals. Making them not know of a wider world.

He was absorbing the energy source! A few things started to change. His visualization technique sped up and he added multiple layers in an instant.

His 'crew' was holding onto the sides of the boat as it threatened to capsize. They felt as if their souls were being sucked out of their bodies. But they just barely held on.

Somnus's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he collapsed.

The boat stabilized as everyone looked at him as if he was a monster. The captain noticed that the fog had cleared! But all they could see was endless sea. But the compass and navigation equipment seemed to be working.

"We crossed the forbidden lands..."

"This is new territory!"