After an enduring two-day stretch, Nephis lay unconscious, causing concern to the trio of friends who remained awake. However, a glimmer of relief washed over them on the third day when Changing Star finally regained consciousness. In that moment, Rin and Sunny found themselves perched atop the giant hand's index finger, gazing westward with a mix of warmth and excitement in their hearts. Victory was theirs – they were on the verge of returning home!

Rin was eagerly anticipating her return to the real world, excited about the significant boost in power that awaited her. This advancement marked a crucial step toward achieving her revenge, and she looked forward to experiencing Sunny's friendship in the real world. Moreover, the thought of her cosy bed, abundant scrumptious meals, and the luxury of endless hot showers added to her anticipation of embracing the comforts of reality.

The Duo had lowered their heads and glanced at Nephis

*You think she's alright?*

*I fear that she'll have some amnesia, we're being to hopeful, and my friend fate doesn't like that*

Rin smiled as she watch Nephi's who looked Normal for now

*You make it sound like its a person screwing with you*

*You never know, perhaps there are higher beings watching us and laughing at our shortcomings.*

Changing Star appeared to be doing well. She retained her familiar demeanor as Neph, tall, composed, yet somehow aloof, as if there were an unseen divide keeping her apart from everyone else. Rin couldn't help but feel a quickened pulse when the piercing gaze of her captivating grey eyes met theirs. As they exchanged smiles, Nephis' expression shifted, her brow furrowing before she dropped her gaze and posed her question in a monotone voice:

"Why are you two smiling?"

As they became aware of their wide grins stretching from ear to ear, one of them blinked, then attempted to casually shrug, pretending not to be affected by their overwhelming joy.

*Abort, abort! Divert her attention!*

*The hell am I supposed to do Sunny!?*

*Think of something, literally anything*

Finally rin spoke

"Look behind you."

*Nice one*

*I know right*

The captivating view to the west significantly contributed to their joyful spirits, making it quite reasonable to assert such a notion.

Neph gazed at the Duo, took a deep breath, and pivoted around.

In her backdrop, a towering city wall constructed from sleek, gray stone rose majestically over the contours of the immense crater.

This formidable barrier symbolized that every hardship they endured had purpose, and that their cherished aspirations were on the verge of realisation.

It embodied hope.

******

Soon after Nephis had finally come back to her senses, they prepared to leave the shelter of the giant stone hand. The morning had just begun, so there was plenty of time to cross the remaining distance and climb out of the deep and vast crater. If all was going to go well, they would meet the next sunset on top of the tall wall of the mysterious city.

Of course, numerous things could go wrong between now and then. But, for some reason, Rin felt optimistic and so did her friend.

This was a rare moment for both of their cynical, paranoid hearts.

Just as they had done before, Sunny and Neph took turns descending several dozen meters, carefully guiding Cassie down with the aid of the gleaming rope. Rin stood watch, vigilant against any potential monster threats while the others focused on their task. From Rin's vantage point, it appeared that Cassie's descent was smoother this time, a testament to their previous experience navigating down from the towering knight's statue. Their muscles seemed to ripple with unwavering strength, a stark reminder of the challenges they had overcome during their two months in the treacherous crimson labyrinth.

These past months had been a harrowing journey, a constant battle for survival against monstrous foes that surpassed anything a Sleeper should ever face. Yet, with each victory, they grew stronger, their bonds forged in the crucible of adversity. Rin couldn't help but wonder how many Awakened had endured such a grueling initiation and emerged victorious. When they finally returned to the realm of reality, she knew they would be hailed as champions, their names etched among the elite of their generation.

'Huh, that might actually be a problem.'

'eh I'll deal with the problems the future will throw at me… in the future'

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

*Hey Sunny?*

*Yeah*

*how you gonna explain surviving this place and still acting weak*

*blame everything on Nephis*

*That's not a bad plan actually i mean she is the top student in her batch of Sleepers in the Academy, and so on.*

*People would easily believe that a prodigy like her had been able — and willing — to carry three pathetic weaklings on her back all the way to the Gateway.*

*You plan on doing anything when we get back to the real world… hold on i known*

Both spoke at the same time

*Hot shower*

*Yep… *

Lost in their musings, they were completely unaware of time passing by. Before they knew it, they were already nearing the ground below.

Right before plunging into the velvety darkness of the mud, Nephis glanced at them and remarked:

"Stay vigilant."

She didn't need to give her a heads-up. Rin was well aware that the final leg of the journey could be the most perilous. It's a common trap for folks to let their guard down, thinking the worst is behind them. Many Awakened met tragic ends just when victory seemed within reach. I almost got strangled, too, thinking the danger had passed after crashing into that house.

Sunny gently guided Cassie down, observing as Neph assisted her in stepping out of the rope loop before gracefully joining them on the ground. Rin mirrored his descent, executing a nimble roll upon landing, and stood poised, ready to summon the widow's bane at a moment's notice—though, to their relief, no imminent threats lurked.

The trio exchanged apprehensive glances, proceeding cautiously toward the slowly advancing grey wall. Sunny eventually signaled for Rin and Nephis to halt, turning his attention to something specific. Rin sensed his curiosity, knowing he wanted to inspect the statue that had saved them from the perilous depths of the cursed sea.

Perched on the slope of the colossal crater, slightly tilted, stood a monumental statue of an elegant woman draped in a light, flowing robe. Once a symbol of beauty and grace, she now bore the marks of time. Her slender form, with a slim waist and delicate arms outstretched to the skies, suggested an eternal embrace.

However, the passage of years had left its mark; one of the arms lay broken, only the shoulder remaining intact. Fortunately, the other arm still stood tall, serving as a sanctuary for the four Sleepers in their desperate moment of need.

*Seven stars just as i thought*

*There's some lore here*

What intrigued them the most, however, was the intriguing similarity between the massive knight and the elegant woman – both mysteriously devoid of their heads. Rin found herself pondering whether these imposing stone figures were originally crafted without faces, or if some tumultuous event later claimed their heads in a burst of destructive fury.

*.seven severed heads guarding seven seals,*

*Youre talking about Cassie's vision right?*

*Yeah*

*You're not coming back here anytime soon if we return to the real world right?*

*What do you think i am Rin? Insane?*

*Nope just checking*

The Dream Realm boasted numerous regions, each more enchanting than the forsaken wasteland of the Forgotten Shore.

*To hell with this place!*

*Couldn't agree more*

Expressing quiet thanks to the statue that had rescued them, they turned in the direction of the setting sun.

As they neared the nearly vertical stretch of the slope, a perilous event unfolded. Just as Sunny was on the brink of placing his foot on a broad stone concealed in the mud, the stone unpredictably shifted and careened to the side.

A chilling roar echoed through the vast expanse of the enormous crater, sending shivers down her spine. With a sense of dread creeping in, Sunny instinctively leaped back, gripping his sword tightly. Rin mirrored his reaction, while Nephis and Cassie also braced themselves, ready for whatever threat might emerge.

Yet, as the moments passed, there was no sign of movement in the muddy ground. No monstrous creature emerged to threaten them, no terrifying abomination reached out to drag them into the depths below.

*What made that roar?*

*I'm not really sure*

As Rin tried to make sense of the situation unfolding before her, she caught sight of Sunny gazing down at a seemingly ordinary stone. However, upon closer inspection, it became evident that there was something unsettlingly different about it – the damn thing was actually gnawing on his shin!

To her astonishment, the seemingly innocuous stone had transformed into a nightmarish creature, its surface adorned with a menacing array of sharp teeth. Awkwardly rolling towards Sunny, it made a clumsy attempt to sink its fangs into his tender flesh.

It seemed as though the creature could have easily severed Sunny's leg, but fortunately, the sturdy leather boot of the Puppeteer's Shroud proved too resilient for its jaws. Instead, it resorted to futilely munching on the leather in a display of impotent frustration.

While the scene appeared painful, there was little immediate danger posed by the bizarre encounter.

*Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Get this thing of f- OW!!*

Rin stifled a chuckle, pressing her hand against her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

*You think this is FUNNY??*

*No not at all*

A slight giggle escaped her lips

*Then why are you laughing???*

Rin's gaze lingered on the stone for a moment before she lifted her head, shooting a playful glance at Nephis. Despite her usual poker face, their shared history allowed her to pick up on the subtle amusement mirrored on Nephis's expression.

"Uh…"

Sunny grimaced as he flexed his muscles, lifting his trapped leg skyward and giving it a vigorous shake in an attempt to dislodge the pesky stone. But no luck. The stubborn creature, with a roar that echoed through the air, only intensified its efforts to sink its teeth into Sunny's shin. Its stone-like jaws seemed ready to crack under the strain of its relentless assault.

*You should keep it as a pet*

she joked

*It's TRYING TO CHEW OFF MY LEG!*

*I guess there are losers even among their kind too*

*If you laugh one more time, I'm gonna shove this stone up your-*

Sunny shook his head in disbelief as he let the shadow enfold the Midnight Shard, guiding the blade's tip down towards the voracious stone. The tachi faced initial resistance, but it ultimately triumphed, penetrating and splintering the monstrous stone form.

In its dying throes, the peculiar creature clung to its tenacity, attempting to take a final bite at Sunny. It met its demise with a defiant spirit, persisting until the very end.

*You've got to be kidding me*

Rin looked over confused till he sent a peek of his memories to her and it showed the spell sending her a message

*[You have slain an awakened monster, Rolling Stone.]

[Your shadow grows stronger.]

[You have received a memory Ordinary Rock]*

Observing an unfamiliar expression crossing Sunny's face, Nephis inquired with genuine curiosity:

"What's wrong?"

He looked at her and blinked a couple of times.

"Uh… I just received a Memory."

Changing Star raised her eyebrow and said in an uplifted tone:

"That is great. What type of Memory?"

Sunny scratched his head, and then answered:

"Uh. It's a… rock? An ordinary rock…"