The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 29: Arrangements

After two nights of exploration, Lumian discovered that the number of monsters in the outer regions of the dreamscape ruins was far fewer than he had imagined.

After taking down the skinless monster, the shotgun-wielding monster, and the one with the black mark, he circled the area but found no more targets to hunt. All he discovered were a few pieces of flesh that still squirmed to some extent, their only likely purpose being as food.

However, Lumian had long realized that he didn't need to eat in the dreamscape.

Every time he entered, he was full of energy and didn't feel hungry. After exploring or fighting for a while, as his spirituality depleted and fatigue set in, he would experience a slight hunger, but it was so mild that he didn't need to replenish energy.

When this hunger became harder to ignore, it often coincided with his spirituality and physical strength being nearly exhausted, leaving him extremely fatigued and in need of exiting the dreamscape.

After eating and "resting" in the real world, he would enter the dreamscape again, brimming with energy and without any sense of hunger.

During his exploration, Lumian searched through various collapsed buildings while observing the surroundings, uncovering some coins, but not much—altogether they didn't even amount to a Louis d'or.

As for anything with text, he only found a few small blue books.

With no other choice, Lumian decided to venture deeper into the ruins.

He slowly advanced through the pale gray fog, dark surroundings, and the collapsed or remaining walls.

Suddenly, he noticed a set of shallow, peculiar footprints.

It was hard to even call them footprints because the left one was normal, but the right one looked like a handprint.

Another monster? Lumian followed the prints quietly, not forgetting to scrutinize his surroundings, mentally preparing for different battle scenarios suited to various environments.

Finally, he heard some movement and stopped advancing, instead circling halfway around and climbing to the top of a collapsed building, using the chaotic, heavy stones to conceal his body.

Carefully, Lumian peeked out, looking toward the source of the sound.

In the middle of a barren land, devoid of any debris, stood a figure that might not even be considered human.

At a glance, "it" seemed human, but a closer look revealed numerous incongruities:

Two eyes were positioned where the nose should be, with the mouth above and a pair of ears below. The nose was embedded near the temples, one leg and one arm emerged from the shoulder area, and similarly, there was a leg and an arm extending from the waist down. The whole entity seemed like a haphazard assembly of different human parts.

In an instant, Lumian understood why the footprints he had been tracking appeared the way they did.

At that moment, the monster was wearing the kind of brown short jacket and dark blue trousers typically worn by the lower-class citizens of Intis, without shoes or a hat, pacing back and forth on the barren land.

Lumian didn't rush to hunt it but observed patiently.

Before long, the monster raised its arm, assuming a pose with its body bent backward, its head almost touching the ground.

Impressive flexibility, great for dancing... Lumian sneered inwardly.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the monster indeed began to dance.