In the forested expanse of the Dreamscape, amidst towering ancient trees, Dorothy, in her dragon form, soared gracefully, scanning for hidden knowledge that might exist within the Dreamscape.
"Haven’t given up~ Turn into a dragon~ Head to the league~ Find some friends~"
Humming a lighthearted tune, Dorothy glided through the forest where tiny orbs of light floated about. She touched these orbs, attempting to read the information within. However, most contained trivial matters from ordinary people’s lives—mundane and varied. After sifting through these fragmented pieces, Dorothy felt her mind cluttered and disorganized, dampening even her mood for humming.
In particular, the fragments carried many dark and painful emotions from the common people’s harsh lives in this era. This oppressive content left Dorothy unsettled, prompting her to halt the indiscriminate collection of information, which felt akin to swallowing everything whole without discernment.
‘Damn it... My mental strength is running low... and I haven’t found anything useful…’
Dorothy silently grumbled. According to the Dream Seeker’s Chronicles, maintaining a mimicked form in the Dreamscape required mental strength. The stronger one’s mind, the longer they could sustain their form and have more time to explore.
Currently, Dorothy had yet to transcend the ordinary, her mental strength was merely that of an average person, giving her limited time to maintain her mimicry. About ten minutes had passed since she entered the dreamscape, and she was already feeling faint and disoriented—clear signs of mental depletion.
‘Just ten minutes each night isn’t enough. I can’t explore much distance at all… Do I really need to advance as soon as possible?’
Dorothy pondered with some frustration. At that moment, she noticed something happening in the distance.
…Elsewhere in the Dreamscape’s Forest, a hunt was underway. Hyenas were in hot pursuit of their prey: a white fox. The gap between them narrowed with each passing moment.
“Give it up, little one ahead. Stop running, hand over the mystic knowledge you found, and explain the origin of your mimicry spell properly. Maybe we’ll let you go. Otherwise, when we locate your dream cocoon, losing your mimicry will be the least of your worries…”
One of the hyenas shouted in a common tongue. In response, the white fox’s voice rang out, light and ethereal.
“Shut up… you bandits…”
“Hmph… Take her down,” the lead hyena growled coldly. It, along with several companions, suddenly surged forward. The white fox, attempting to evade a pounce, tripped over a tree root and tumbled to the ground. The hyenas seized the opportunity, lunging toward their fallen prey.
But just then, a distant, resonant sound echoed through the forest.
Deep... ancient... solemn... timeless...
The sound reverberated across the forest, as though carried from the far reaches of time and space.
This anomaly immediately caught the attention of both the hyenas and the fox. They turned toward the source of the sound, and what they saw left an indelible mark on their memories.
From the shadowy depths of the forest, a massive figure emerged, spreading vast wings. It was a form out of myths and legends. The imposing shape closed in rapidly, its enormous presence bearing down on them.
The hyenas froze in place, staring blankly. After a moment, the lead hyena stammered out in disbelief.
“D-dragon? You’ve got to be kidding me… A dragon?! How could there be a dragon in this forest?!”
Dragons were supposed to have gone extinct long ago, existing only in obscure histories. No creature in the forest had retained a draconic form, let alone a dragon mimicry. Could it be an illusion? A projection from memories of ancient creatures preserved in the dreamscape?
Yes, that must be it!
The nonsensical sight rendered the lead hyena momentarily speechless as it searched its memory frantically for explanations. Nearby, another hyena anxiously asked.
“Lord Avery, the dragon is coming this way! What do we do?!”
The hyena leader, addressed as Avery, steadied itself and gazed at the approaching colossal shadow. Then, it spoke calmly.
“Relax, everyone. There’s no way a real dragon exists anymore. Even in the dreamscape, it’s impossible. This must be a projection from residual ancient memories, likely from the dragon race. Strong beings often leave such imprints in the dreamscape, but they’re harmless…”
Clearing its throat, Avery raised its voice to address the others.
“Gentlemen! Fortune smiles on us tonight! We’ve encountered a projection of ancient dragon memories. It’s coming toward us. When it gets close, jump and strike it together—it’ll dissipate like other image projections, leaving behind a cluster of memory shards. This is the jackpot! Ancient race memory fragments could hide powerful mystical knowledge!”
Avery’s proclamation immediately resonated with the group. The hyenas nodded and murmured.
“Ah, so that’s it. Lord Avery’s wisdom is unparalleled.”
“See? No way there’d be a dragon here. It’s just a projection.”
“Ancient memory shards? That’s worth a fortune if sold…”
Excitement grew among the hyenas. They were all aware of the value of ancient race memories. As the dragon approached, they crouched low, ready to leap at it. The enormous form drew closer, skimming just above the ground, its massive body radiating an overwhelming sense of dread.
Finally, the gray-black dragon reached the hyenas. Avery shouted, “Attack!”
At the command, the hyenas sprang up, their claws and teeth aimed at the dragon’s rocky scales.
Then… everything crumbled.
The dragon’s vast form collided with them, sending them flying amidst screams. Two hyenas were smashed against trees, disintegrating into shimmering motes of light. Another was crushed under the dragon’s claws before it could rise.
Turning its long neck, the dragon locked its gaze on the last fleeing hyena.
‘It’s not a projection! Not a projection! What’s going on?! That thing isn’t a projection?! When did dragons appear in this forest?! Is it really…’
Avery’s thoughts raced in terror as a sharp spike pierced his small body, pinning him in place. His mimicry disintegrated into shimmering light.
The dragon, shaking off the glowing residue from its spiked tail, tilted its head and mused in confusion.
“What’s with these guys? I was just passing through and didn’t even do anything, yet they attacked me? With their size? Are they insane? You’re hyenas, not honey badgers!”