The Dreamer's POV

[00 Months: 04 Days: 05 Hours]

The valley stretched out before me, a desolate expanse of solitude that seemed to match the weight within my heart.

The silence enveloped me, broken only by the soft rustling of wind through the grass, and the steady rhythm of my footsteps echoing in the stillness.

I had been walking for about two hours now, and while the town of Terance was still a distance from here, I could say I had made sufficient progress.

'Plus, this place is a perfect spot, I suppose...'

As I halted my walk, my thoughts consumed by the path that lay ahead, a heavy sigh escaped my lips.

"You can come out now," I spoke into the silence, my voice carrying a quiet authority. "I know you're there, so there's no point in hiding."

The air remained still for a moment, a palpable tension hanging in the atmosphere. Then, as if obeying an unspoken command, three figures materialized from the shadows, their presence imposing and enigmatic.

The first among them, a young-looking man with a broad smile etched across his face, stepped forward. "Impressive," he remarked, his voice tinged with amusement.

"You truly are perceptive."

To be honest, I had sensed them since I left The Outpost. Their stealth was considerable but there was no point hiding from my <Immersion>. Since my Stats were now drastically higher than ever, and I evolved my <Focus> into <Immersion>, I could sense an invisible opponent as long as they were a few dozen meters from me.

'They're good. If it was the past me, I wouldn't have noticed at all...'

I was going to keep quiet and see what they would do, but after walking under their gaze for two hours straight, it got really annoying.

In the end, I decided to reel them out.

My gaze narrowed, suspicion flickering in my eyes as I assessed the trio that now surrounded me.

"What do you want?" I demanded, my voice laced with a hint of caution. I prepared myself for whatever confrontation awaited me, my senses sharpened and ready for action.

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The man who appeared to be their leader had slit-like eyes, and his face reminded me of a sly fox. His smile widened, and his slanty eyes opened slowly, showing a glint of mischief within.

"We would simply like to ask you some questions. We mean no harm."

Did he really expect me to believe that? They were stalking me for two hours straight. The unapologetic and downright intimidating facade they had on didn't seem friendly as well.

Plus, the tone he was using to speak clearly betrayed the words he uttered.

"My name is Nathan. What's yours?" He smiled, walking closer to me.

I remained vigilant, my guard never faltering as I scrutinized the strangers before me. "Why should I tell you? And you really shouldn't take a step closer." I pressed, my voice firm and unyielding.

Fortunately, my mask was on, so I could still hide my identity.

"Very well." Nathan, as he called himself, stopped in his tracks.

The other two figures didn't move at all. They simply watched in silence, allowing their leader to take care of the conversation.

'What could they want with me? Were they watching me since I arrived at The Outpost? I made sure to keep a low profile, though...'

My mind raced, analyzing their words and intentions. I knew better than to trust any word they could utter, aware that every interaction could hold hidden agendas.

Perhaps they had seen me fight all those monsters last night. If they were Survivors like me, that meant they could have Skills that would render my Concealment useless.

'Depending on how much they know, I might have to be a bit extreme...'

"What questions do you want to ask?" I inquired, my voice tinged with skepticism.

A mixture of emotions coursed through me – intrigue, skepticism, and a flicker of hope. My mind weighed the risks against the potential gains, contemplating the possibilities that lay before me.

'Even conversing with them can be very detrimental. This is shaky ground.'

"Lucy Fer. What is your relationship with her?"

"None. I don't have a relationship with her." I replied instantly, my eyes narrowed.

'Why are they asking about her? Did she send them? No, I don't think so. Maybe they're after her? Does that make me a target since we've interacted?'

There were a lot of questions that squirmed within my mind, further adding to my confusion.

Nathan's smile seemed to broaden as I gave my response, his eyes narrowing in delight "Oh dear... " He said, shaking his head slowly.

"You're a terrible liar, you know that? I know about your interactions with Lucy Fer, about the Dungeon of Stone."

My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of apprehension and frustration swelling within me. How did he know about my past encounters? And what was their true motive for seeking information about Lucy Fer?

'That means he knows about the other dead bodies. Depending on how this played out, I could be accused of their deaths.'

But what was Lucy's significance in all this? That seemed to be his angle. I tried my best to mask my troubled expression while keeping my emotions under complete control.

"Why do you want to know about Lucy Fer from me?" I questioned, my voice tinged with a hint of caution. "And who are you people?"

Nathan's grin widened, revealing a set of teeth that seemed almost predatory. "Welp, it's quite a long story, so don't worry about that," he replied, his voice dripping with sinister amusement.

"But I can assure you, I have my ways of knowing the truth. You might as well save yourself the trouble and tell me everything."

An unsettling realization settled upon me, a heavy weight of inevitability.

These individuals, with their enigmatic presence and hidden agendas, had no intention of leaving without the information they sought. They were prepared to do whatever it took to extract it from me.

I felt a surge of frustration, my patience wearing thin. "I've told you the truth," I said firmly, my voice carrying a note of defiance.

"I have no reason to lie to you, nor do I owe you any explanations."

After considering my options I simply decided not to give these strangers the information they desired.

I wasn't certain they would let me off once I was done divulging everything. Plus, I simply didn't want them to have the satisfaction of victory.

In the end, it was simply better to deny any relation to their target.

Nathan's expression darkened, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous intensity. "Very well," he muttered, his voice laced with a sense of resignation.

"I've tried to handle this civilly, but you've left me no choice."

A cold shiver ran down my spine as Nathan slumped his shoulders, his demeanor shifting with an unsettling calmness. He motioned to his comrades, a silent command that instinctively recognized.

At that moment, the world seemed to close in around me, the air thick with impending danger. I braced myself, ready to face the onslaught that awaited, my mind calculating the best course of action.

'This is how it would have ended anyway...'

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[A/N]

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