Rio waited outside the door, listening for the final hiss from the other side before he walked away. His long jacket flustered as he walked, his steps silent. The academy’s teachers watched him go with quiet reverence and a tinge of fear.

‘How annoying,’ he muttered under his breath. Rio left the academy behind and stepped back into the artificial world.

Rio much preferred the dream realm over the city. Mundane people went about their days, and Rio entered a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Sipping a cup of steaming tea was a man with galaxy eyes.

“Rio,” Shane said. Rio slipped into the seat across from the master and poured himself a cup.

“How did it go?” Rio took a sip before answering.

“How sure are you that the memory will help?”

“Very. I’ve seen how it will bolster Nico’s growth.” Rio touched his earring.

“I should have given him a weapon, at least. Ocean’s Wrath, maybe.”

“You would actually part with that silver stick?” The two casually talked, leaving the business for after their stomachs were full.

“Is Song still giving you a hard time?” Shane smiled thinly, peering at Rio. His aspect was useless against Rio’s soul.

“Not really. I get to run around putting out fires in both worlds. Honestly, it’s like I’m working for the government.” Rio ordered some noodles with a creamy sauce.

“What about your other front?”

“Nothing. I haven’t been able to find the seed.” Rio reported.

“Shame. Caesar was really hoping to get three new saints for the government.”

“You can tell that man to--”

“Language. The Golden Saint can hear you.” Rio went silent. ‘Damned aspect.’ It was inconvenient for talking privately in the Waking World. Still, it was due to the Saint that mundane organized crime was nonexistent in NQSC.

“How about your…other project?” Shane touched the table, and a lyre appeared in a flash of sparks. He strummed the rightmost string, letting the deep hum resonate. Everything was the same once the hum died down, except that the restaurant noise was gone.

“My leads have brought me to the Storm sea, outside of Song’s influence,” Rio sipped his tea again, letting the unpleasant thoughts drift away. “I’ll be leaving later this month.”

“Is she really hunting for those cores?” Shane’s demeanor changed, his eyes becoming menacing.

“No doubt about it. Would it be hard for me to borrow your island for a while?”

“HAh, only if you owe me one.”

“I’ll make due,” Rio responded flatly. He looked around for a moment before finishing his tea. “Couldn’t you have used this at the beginning?” Shane shrugged innocently.

“What a troublesome person.”

“I’m not as bad as some people I know.” The man strummed another string, and Rio felt essence going into the lyre this time. “I know you wanted to spend quality time with your best friend, but down to business.” Rio rolled his eyes, and Shane strummed the following string. The outside world dimmed, and it became hard to see outside of the area under the effects of the lyre.

“Why all the secrecy?”

“The clans have been using diviners to glance at information from the government. Most of which they know, but some that is best kept under wraps.” Shane put his communicator on the table and opened a projection. The globe spun slowly, revealing dozens of red and orange dots on the populated and abandoned continents.

“Several years ago, North America fell to a category five gate. Before which, the Obel scale failed. Sort of a prelude to the disaster,” Shane solemnly explained. “The number of unforeseen or incorrectly labeled gates are increasing. We believe this is the advent of another disaster. While our information is limited, there is no doubt this will be proportional to North America’s disaster.” “Operation Atlas has been approved.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Rio stopped mid-bite, and his blood ran cold. ‘Operation Atlas?!’ The abandoned project of a decade ago. It was a novel idea of creating weapons of war from nightmare creatures. A navy, ground force, and perhaps even an airforce that would allow the millions of mundane people to fight alongside the awakened in the dream realm. It was the definition of bringing a bigger gun.

Rio asked in a hoarse voice. “Seriously? Are they mad?” The horror that fell from the sky all those years ago was still fresh in his mind.

Shane shrugged again, “Who knows. But Saint Krelm is pushing for the plan.” Shane sighed, rubbing his temples. “In all honesty, the research on making machines from monsters is still elementary. It’s like something out of movies.”

“How does this involve me?” Rio asked out of formality, the answer appearing in his mind before Shane continued.

“You’re a likely candidate for the vanguard of the expedition. Operation Atlas is the subjugation of the whole dream realm by blitzkrieg.” Shane’s eyes blazed.

“Blitz… what?”

“Lightning war. Hit them fast with everything we can muster. As a government official, I am asking you to help humanity subjugate the dream realm.”

“This is trouble.” Rio denied the invitation. “There is no way that we can overcome the nightmare creatures. The Hollow Mountains alone hold Great nightmare creatures of different classes. The sky will have more. And great beasts aren’t the end; damned unholy things are possible.

“Don’t be so hasty. The first monster made ship won’t launch for a couple of years. Krelm only approved the Atlas; now, the groundwork needs to be done. There won’t be any major movements now, but the project is underway.” Shane strummed the last string on the lyre, and everything went dark.

“Krelm is planning on forming a team of masters to conquer their third nightmare. After that, he’ll lead them personally for the charge,”

“Against Valor and Song’s backs?” Rio looked at Shane dumbfounded. “First he defects from Song, now this. He is more than just mad.”

“Maybe that’s why we call him the Golden Saint—the pinnacle of chivalry.” Shane chuckled at his own words. The current candidates are Master Jet, Me, Gwen, you, Kendricks, and Helianthus.” He cracked a smile. "I think you know why you’re on this list, Cursed Master of Song. Two years. You’ll give me your answer about this grand war then. Gwen and I will be very lonely if you don’t join.”

“It’s suicide.”

“It’s a plan,” Shane countered. "There really isn’t anything else we can do. The spell is crushing in on us from all sides. Sooner or later, we will make a last stand, be it in the dream realm or the waking world.”

The lyre vanished, and the world returned. The restaurant’s regular din remained the same, and nobody realized what had happened beside them. Shane stood up.

“Talking to you was nice. See you around,” Shane waved and left the restaurant, whistling an off-key tune. ‘He left me to pay the check. Damn snake.’

Even as night crept in, the city’s activity remained at similar levels. Rio watched the lights brighten in the dark from the moving train. The number of dots decreased as the train entered the richer parts of the city.

Rio stepped off and walked down the lonely streets, his baggy clothes picking up the brisk air. He always disliked the nights in the city. They were just as bright as the day, but for different reasons. They were too bright. Running his hand down the weather stone wall, Rio opened an old gate.

A mansion built from deep blue stone rested somberly at the end of a paved path. The other mansions were brimming with life and light, and the sounds of people were loud and apparent. Despite the courtyard’s blatant neglect, the doors still retained their rich golden-red color.

Rio’s footsteps echoed the empty halls, and the tapestries swayed as he passed. The largest room in the building had the only sound in the area: a soft flow of water from a fountain spilling onto the floor.

The room had polished blue marble floors and columns disappearing into the dark overhead. A glass box was resting at one end of the room, bathed in pale light. Rio stepped through the flooded floor and stood above the person under the glass.

“Hey mom.” Rio tapped the glass lightly and sat down. “Nico went into the dream realm today.”

A motionless woman with almond skin was resting on a dark silk mattress. She wore a simple black dress with wide sleeves. A black web slithered over her pillow. She looked like a maiden waiting for her true love to return, like in the books she used to read to Rio.

But he knew no such ending was coming, for the woman was hollow, in a sense. Her beauty was only on the surface. It was several minutes before Rio spoke again.

“Don’t worry. I taught him how to survive. He’ll return safe and sound. I even loaned him a memory. Pretty generous of me, right?” He got up and threw an ascended shard to the fountain. The crystal dissolved into the water, and the coral fountain glowed.

“I won’t be able to visit for a while. Hopefully, Nico will be back once I finish, and we can talk again.” After giving the woman a long look, he left. Rio patted the fountain.

“Keep her safe,” he whispered. Rio’s body shimmered, and he vanished, leaving the room tranquil once more.

Name - Riollo

True Name - Anathema River

Aspect - [Water of Curses]

Rank - Supreme

Attributes: [Black Waters] immune to soul damage and mind attacks [Looking Glass] peer into other’s souls [Maddening Sight] facing you for too long makes people suffer from unreasonable fear.

Abilities - [Fearful Manifestation][Charing Redemption][Wade the Acheron]

[Fearful Manifestation] Manifests the fears of both humans and beasts

[Charing Redemption] Healing by internal fire.

[Wade the Acheron] Imbue a powerful curse into your blade and strike the enemy's souls.

Flaw - [Fade the Film] Every foe you slay shall steal your memories.