Have you ever been too immersed in a dream that you, yourself, couldn't wake up?
Yes.
Even if you wanted to.
Dreams can become so real that your... brain tends to subconsciously acknowledge the visions you see as your own reality.
Trapped in an endless vision. Unable to get out.
As to how you'll be able to wake up...
You would need to encounter a certain trigger...
Something that will pull you back to reality.
…
… ...
Every dream ends with its own unique trigger.
Often, it would be completely random.
It could be a friend,
a stranger you walk past by,
a cat you saw before you crossed the street,
something completely random...
like a colorless apple,
a strong sensation,
an unforgettable feeling,
it could even be just a single word.
Something that you would pass by, and the next thing you know...
You're awake.
You're back in reality.
Or so you thought.
…
… …
… … … ...
All that stands between us and the sanctuary we've all been longing for are these fuckers that took away everything from us. Are you gonna let them humiliate your lives again?!
『No!』
They took away our homes... took away our loved ones… even our freedom! They ate us… raped our daughters… enslaved our kind… crushed our very souls… and now, as we stand. They are even trying to take that little bit of humanity that's left within us...
…
But little do they know that we will never break… and with every bit that they take away from us, we'll take away a huge part of them. For every soul they took from us, we will send a hundred of them to hell!
This is the moment of truth, people.
Show me your strength!
Show me your determination!
Show me your will to LIVE!
CHARGE!
...
… …
… … …
We need to break through!
Maintain the frontlines! Cast the first batch of support spells now!
…
Clear!
Go. Go. Go.
William, what the hell are you doing?!
I told you we got your back; just go all out and make a mess out there.
Just go crazy.
We got you, kid.
...
… …
… … …
Shit! There are too many of them!
We're surrounded. We need to break through, or else we're all gonna die here.
Bombard them now!
...
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… …
… … …
*BOOM!*
More are coming from behind!
Shit. They're swarming us. We're gonna be wiped out at this point.
Cable, Rex, Fisher! Save as many as possible. Provide Cover! We need to fucking push through.
...
Come here, kid. At this rate, all of us are gonna die down here. We’ll launch the last set of spells we have to create a diversion.
I want you to lead the others and steamroll your way towards our goal. The sanctuary should be just a few blocks after we exit the tunnel.
Don't worry. We can still-
Even though you're strong, it wouldn't make much of a difference. They already have us surrounded. Even the iron fortress we cast is about to break.
But...
Go and lead them out of this hell hole!
That doesn't make sense. We still have a lot of--
Don't you dare disobey orders now! We can handle this. Just go and save these people. We'll catch up with you in no time.
*Thud*
Go on, kid. Even time couldn't kill me. What makes you think I'll croak this time. Besides, Captain over here is gonna go all out. It will be a waste if this old man isn't here to see it.
But…
Look, just go. We're running out of time already, and you're squabbling isn't helping much either, is it? Don't crush everyone's hope, will ya?
I…
JUST GO!
...
… …
… … …
Keep it up. We're about to exit the tunnel.
Move faster. The tunnel is about to collapse!
Wait, what's that...
It's a trap! Everyone STOP!
EVERYONE STO---
*BOOM!*
No!
...
… …
… … …
Mom! Dad! Are you both alright? Just hold on, okay? I still have a few options here. This should be enough to keep you both going.
Wha...wa...what are you doing?!
You know it's not enough. Damn kid. When are you gonna grow up!
Just go, honey. Remember that we always love you… *cough* *cough*
My wife… WHAT ARE YOU STANDING HERE FOR?! LEAD THEM TO THE SANCTUARY, YOU STUPID PIECE OF SHIT!
Dad… I…
LEAVE NOW
Come on, William. We need to go NOW!
GET AWAY FROM ME! I CAN STILL SAVE MY PARENTS! GET AWAY FROM ME! GET AWAY FROM MEeeeee.....
WILLIAM, THIS IS NO TIME FOR DISCUSSION. WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE HERE IF WE DELAY ANY-...
*Splash!*
That son of a bitch almost sneaked out from behind. Come on!
COME ON!
…
… …
… … ...
The Refugee is just a few blocks as soon as we exit this tunnel. Everyone, run straight ahead and don't look back!
*Slash*
Keep going!
*Splash*
*Boom!*
…
… ...
We're getting wiped out!
I know! JUST KEEP RUNNING AND TRY YOUR BEST TO STAY ALIVE!
*Boom!*
…
… …
… … ...
There's the Shelter. Come on!
OPEN THE GATES QUICK!
HELP! HELP! PLEASE, ANYONE HELP!
SOMEBODY OPEN THE GATES!
PLEASE! There are people down here...
*Slash*
Shit! They still caught up to us…
HOLD YOUR GROUND! HELP SHOULD BE COMING SOON!
We're gonna be wiped out at this rate...
Just scream harder!
Help!
Please!
Anyone!
*Sob* *Sob* Please help…
*Screech!*
...
… ...
The gate is finally opening. Come on!
We...
We made it…
*thud*
WE MADE I-
It's not over yet! Quickly close the gates! Some of them might get inside!
Shit. Here they come. Prepare for battle.
There are too many of them…
Are we gonna die just like this?
*BOOM!*
*Slash* *Slash* *Slash* *Slash* *Slash*
He wiped a third of them in just a single move…
Look! They're finally retreating!
We're saved!
Thank you so much, sir… Thank you… Thank you…
…
… …
… … … ...
No need to thank me, everyone… This is Sanctuary, after all. 'Grin'
I don't like the feeling of this…
*Slash*
Everyone sa… sa-
ve… yourselves...
He's a har...
vester...
...
Bingo!
…
…
… … ...
HAHAHAHAHAHA! YES!
THAT'S IT! THAT'S IT!!!!
Sacrifice more blood for this sanctuary that you people call.
HAHAHAHA! YE...--
Whoops. *Grin* You sure got guts, kid.
What? Say something. OH, DON'T BE SO SERIOUS, YOU POOR CHILD. Do you think you can kill me with the toy you're holding over there?
...
HERE! Let me help you.
*Stab!*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
YES, THAT'S IT!
STAB ME! I SAID, STAB ME!
*Stab!*
AGAIN!
AGAIN!
AGAIN!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
*thud*
I don't understand… *Sob* *Sob*
Why...
Please tell me...
Those people…
Everyone sacrificed themselves just so we could make it here…
EVERYONE!... Even my pare..nts…
Wha-ha... Ha.. hy!…
*thud*
*Sob* *Sob*
Do you think that you're the only one that lost somebody?! HAHAHAHA!!!!! HOW FUCKING NAIVE! You made it here, yet you're far more blind than anyone that I've ever met.
It's BECAUSE YOU'RE WEAK!
It's because you're too...
*SLAM*
fucking!
*SLAM*
Weak!
*SLAM*
DO YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS SACRIFICED A PART OF YOURSELF TO GET THIS FAR?!
I HAVE SACRIFICED MY FRIENDS! MY PARENTS! MY WIFE, MY CHILDREN
I HAVE SACRIFICED MY HUMANITY TO SURVIVE
DO YOU KNOW WHY?
HUH?! DO YOU KNOW WHY?!
*SLAM*
*SLAM*
*SLAM*
…
DO YOU KNOW WHY I'M FAR STRONGER THAN YOU ALL AND WHY ALL OF YOU ARE AT MY MERCY RIGHT NOW?
IT'S BECAUSE I DID EVERYTHING TO SURVIVE.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU… ALL OF YOU! ARE AT MY MERCY AND NOT ME.
EVEN IF I HAVE TO BECOME THE DEVIL.
EVEN IF MADNESS EATS ME ALIVE AS I DEVOUR MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. I WILL DO IT OVER AGAIN.
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
Even if I have to kill your parents all over again. I WILL DO IT.
That's right. Your parents, your relatives. Your friends. All of your fucking loved ones. ALL THE ONES THAT YOU HOLD DEAR.
*whisper*: Over and over again, I will even do it in front of you if that's what it's gonna take.
!!!
*Stab*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! THAT'S THE SPIRIT!
*SLAM*
*SLAM*
*SLAM*
HAHAHA, OH, HOW LOVELY THE WORLD IS!
… …
… … ...
Ple...aa… see…
Just kill me…
Please…
KILL YOU? OH NO NO NO! WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN!
No… please…
Please don't…
PLEASE, I'm begging you...
NOOO-OOO-OOoo.....……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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*Ring!*
*Ring!*
*Ring!*
And just like that, I woke up.