In the dream once more. Teresa upped the level of stress. I thought I could fight back against the main monster for once, but instead I ended up with the sight of my arm twisted and hanging on by the skin with bone sticking out.

The simulated pain made me fall to my knees and tears began to blur my vision. I rolled away with my limb dangling as the monster attempted to grab me.

The creature was a spindly humanoid figure that seemed to be made up of obsidian colored needles.

I assumed it would be as fragile as glass when I tried to punch it. For my troubles, I ended up getting my arm impaled by the needle monster's penetrating spike fingers. It then turned its hands into a drill shape while still holding onto my hand.

Now, I was on the run and having to drag a useless limb through it all. The surroundings of this dream were unlike the forest, void, or mansion areas I was used to.

Rather, it was a sight I hadn't seen in a long time. Metal grates made up the flooring and steaming pipes created the illusion of walls. I wasn't sure what the escape scenario was this time.

The monster proved to me this wouldn't be a nightmare I could just brute force.

I eventually ran into a sign with an arrow that read 'gravitational compactor'. I went in the direction it pointed.

There was a dropped supply bag on the way. I bent over to search the bag and found an explosive looking object.

What was a bomb doing in an industrial plant with advanced utility machines? I grabbed it and disregarded the absurd.

Tearing off the strap from the supply bag, I tied a knot around my torn limb to help me run more comfortably.

The pipes behind me would rattle with steam spewing out within ear shot. I couldn't tell if I was being chased, or if the metal grating under my feet was being vibrated by the pressure flowing through the pipes.

Screeching metal filled the pipe corridor I was in. The route to the the compactor was just ahead but the sound of the metal shrieking got louder in the direction I was headed.

I really didn't want to keep going anymore, but I pressed on. My hand began clutching hard onto the rod like explosive I took from the bag.

There was only a corner turn left before I encountered whatever it was that was making the noise that rang across the corridor.

As soon as I determined the source of the sound to be a cracked pipe, a sudden chill spread across my spine. I ducked and rolled over the shoulder of my torn arm. The pain was sharp and constant.

That was the right move, the needle monster was set to strike before I moved out of the way.

I had trouble standing back up while the monster menacingly approached in a slow gait.

I pulled the pin on the explosive and ran towards the next fork in the path. One path continued with the metal grating, the other had a stairway and another compactor sign.

I dropped the explosive and dashed up the stairs. I turned to see the monster approach the bomb and stand there. Right after I threw myself to the side after reaching the top of the stairway, the sound of shattering concrete and pipes bursting echoed in the room I landed in.

Stumbling as I got back up, I walked back into the stairway to see that the grates had bent as if they had been sucked into a vortex and the pipes similarly looked like they were pulled in towards the fork. Overall the explosive, no it was a self contained implosion device, left a bottomless hole where the path used to be.

I felt a thumping coming from the ground I was standing on, I could hear a piston approaching.

The walls of the room I climbed into were still around and stretched down vertically into an endless dark pit. I saw with the orange lights that lit up the area, the needle creature was picking into the wall furiously as it scaled the concrete foundation.

I didn't wait for the monster to climb up, I ran further into the room and located what seemed to be the impact collider. It was the device used for gravitational impact. It was behind a translucent alloy wall.

The way it worked was the moment the start button got hit the air directly between the top portion and bottom portion of the device became enclosed. Its mass would dramatically increase and pull in any object in the room to be crushed, hence the name, gravitational compactor.

I crossed through the compactor room as quickly as I could then entered into the control room.

The control panel was instantly recognizable, it had an assortment of buttons and sliders for stabilizing the field as it developed.

I didn't wait to get started. I pressed the field deployment button, and no sooner did the monster walk in. The concentration needed to operate the compactor was stressful enough without the threat of the monster. I only had the one hand to work with as well.

The claws of the creature began to twist and spin as it attempted to break into the control room.

Luckily for me, the room was built to endure harsh conditions. It was especially necessary when considering the amount of power used by the compactor, and the straining force on the integrity of walls from the compactor once active.

The gravitation process gradually sped up, the monster's body began to look like it was getting vacuumed. The desperation in the monster's thrashing let me know it was definitely getting harder to knock on the wall.

The wall gave out before the monster did, and I ended up nearly getting my head impaled. I reacted by putting up my strapped arm, only for it to become twice shredded.

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Unfortunately, there was still enough arm attached to me for the monster to latch on. The monster attempted to use me as leverage to enter the small hole and finish me off without getting sucked into the compactor.

I had no choice in my mind, the arm wasn't going to heal right anyway.

Loosening my firm placement on the ground, I removed the strap around my neck which made my arm flail out. The deformed and bloody mess dangled and moved further into the hole the monster made.

The monster was now at the mercy of the tendons and nerve endings it callously cut through earlier.

The pain was unbearable but I braced myself to do the unthinkable. I began slicing through my flesh using the sharp edges left by the monster's breach in the wall.

A needle spear nearly struck onto more of my skin, I shifted right in time to dodge it.

Finally, the little skin left snapped. The monster was sucked into the range of the compactor and uniformly got torn apart by the unstoppable force.

I felt my body becoming icy. The blood dripping out of my arm had formed a pool on the floor that was rapidly expanding.

It was over but this was the end for me too. I sunk into the pool of blood.

After what seemed like an eternity of drowning in my own blood, I ended up in Teresa's room again.

"That was pretty harsh."

"Was it?"

"Heh. I can assume you took inspiration from that stuff I told you about last time?"

"Of course! I was wrong to say it wouldn't interest me, but it also made it possible for me to finally make some better frightening material that you'd find familiar enough to believe."

"Yeah, it's been a while since I really felt like I was in a pinch like that. Doesn't help that I hate high altitude catwalks. I have a thing against heights."

"Indeed. At the start of this nightmare you were quite cocky, huh?"

"I'll admit I thought I had everything figured out. I believed somehow I could take it on."

"Now you understand the purpose isn't to just give you something to overcome with force. You've begun to make it a habit to just accept pain first."

"Yeah, if I wanna stay alive I gotta understand what I'm dealing with first. I should keep my distance and figure something else first and always stay cautious for an opportunity to present itself. If that doesn't work there's no shame in running away entirely to fight another day. I get the lesson, but you'd be right about me not having the right mentality from the get go."

"You really don't play the role of a child very well. You describe your thinking too consciously."

"What can I say, not everything is a new lesson when in my mind and heart it sort of just clicks."

"Don't you think your old man form is more fitting then? "

"No way, I'm starting to get used to being myself. I'm still just a little boy in a complicated situation. I just think it's easier to not hide this complicated side of me from you."

"I'm grateful that you find yourself trusting me. In spite of all these nightmare shenanigans. It doesn't feel as empty here."

"Empty? You've got what looks like an infinite amount of books. Surely one of them offers you entertainment."

"You are correct that there are many, but they are most certainly not infinite. Nor entirely enthralling."

"Ah. So, you've read through them all, huh?"

"That is correct. It would be nice to add more to the collection, but that might be impossible."

"Why's that?"

"I don't know how to bring anything into the room. I only know how to conjure fears and form the connection to your dreams. Anything else is more or less beyond me, unfortunately."

"Maybe there's a way."

I stood silently and rubbed my dream self's chin.

"What are you brewing in that old man mind of yours?"

"Your father didn't do anything special when he left this dream with that book he wrote, right?"

"No he just woke up and he left along with the book... Are you seriously assuming it's that simple?"

"I haven't even said it yet."

"You're going to fall asleep with something in your hands aren't you?"

"Yep."

"What makes you think that would work?"

"Well if I remember a certain horror film about a dream demon correctly it's possible to bring stuff into a dream if you can take it out."

"Film?"

"Ah. Sorry, I can feel the tugging feeling, I'm about to wake up. I'll be sure to grab some stuff and I'll tell you more about what used to be my entertainment in my old life."

"I'll be waiting then."

She let out a sigh. It's unfortunate, but the longer I was trapped in a nightmare the less time we had.

I stretched out my arms and got out of bed. Another morning in this new world and life of mine.

Unlike the past year or so and even the few years I lived preceding today, I wasn't required to wake up so early. However, now that I was in the morning session with my eldest siblings it was a necessity.

"Young master, oh fantastic, you're ready."

The maid came in to ensure I was awake and prepared to head to father's lesson.

I didn't want to keep them waiting either.

"Did you rest well, Fred?"

"Yes, Father."

"Good, uh, concerning your studies I think it would be beneficial for you to see the progress of your siblings. This will also work for them to make up for the yesterday."

"Alright."

My father held my hand as we walked out to the courtyard training field to meet with the rest of my siblings. They were stretching, I wasn't sure why. Magic doesn't really have much in the way of straining your body. At least that was my assumption at the time.

I noted that there were two guards standing in the shade with a pile of replacement dummies. They weren't around by the time of my usual lesson.

"Another day shines on us my children."

"Morning, Father."

All three of my siblings stood up straight and waited for Father's next words.

"Kraimer, what did you want to practice today?"

"Father, I would like to continue advancing my skills in gravity magic."

"I understand, make sure you don't over do it. And you Darvy?"

"I'll be concentrating on perfecting my earth spell's deployment, Father."

"Yes it is still unrefined but I believe in you. Barrett will you continue to practice that fire spell of yours?"

"That would be right Father."

"Very well. As you can see Fred is joining us today. I'd look for you three to demonstrate your spells."

"Yes, Father."

They answered in unison.

"Kraimer, go on, take as long as you need, it's about technique not just speed."

"Alright. Hoh, gravira!"

Kraimer put out his hands and in opposite directions of up and down, then at the end crashed them both together. The dummy he had targeted had split in half from the torso and been partially crushed.

I couldn't help but find his gesture as way too telegraphed.

"Good job, try to focus on keeping the bottom field stable, it should fall in tact to the ground then. Your turn Darvy."

"Got it, gairaga!"

Darvy made an equally complicated gesture that reflected what his spell was doing. He twisted his arms before extending them apart then quickly crossing his fingers between each other. The dummy he aimed at was swallowed by a hole in the ground. The hole spun and started to chip the dummy until it finally enclosed and spun a single time while covered.

"It's getting faster without losing its stability, nice work. Barrett?"

"Mhm. Igraga!"

Barrett's move was the most wasteful of the bunch. I felt bad about thinking this but it was true. She spun around with a ball of fire and then launched it in such an obvious way. Although, I couldn't deny the effectiveness of the spell as it hit the dummy, the dummy burst into a consuming flame and then broke apart as the fire finished consuming it in a matter of seconds.

"Well done, Barrett."

"Thank you, Father."

Was that a joke? Like steak? I thought.

"Frederick, would you like to demonstrate your own abilities? It's okay to do something simple if you'd like."

"Is it okay I try something Father?"

"Go on."

Up until this point I had also done a gesture with every spell. It was never necessary, I believed this at the time. If I could use the mana alone to do what I wanted then what does it matter if my body stood still? I questioned myself.

Spewing out mana from my body was simple enough, I pictured the next step for what I had in mind. I wanted to make a contained explosion that'll match Barrett's spell's final effect.