Chapter 52

Chapter 52

In the morning, sunlight streamed gently through the window.

Lann opened his eyes to find himself not in the old site of the secret society, but in a cozy room where the sunlight filtered through the window, casting a warm glow on the bed amidst the floating dust.

The extraordinarily beautiful youth sat dazedly on the bed when he heard the bustling noises outside. Turning his head towards the window,

Arkham city was vastly different from before. Specifically, Lann saw numerous damaged buildings and greenery, with ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars rushing through the streets continuously.

A knock on the door was followed by Ogrer's voice from outside:

"Lann, good morning, it's time for breakfast."

Lann came back to his senses, thinking of the person waiting outside, his feelings slightly complex. After a quick wash, he went downstairs.

The house remained the same, with no changes to the decoration, as if all the strife outside had nothing to do with it. Lann smelled the aroma of fried eggs and bacon as Ogrer brought breakfast to the table.

Lann sat at the dining table, full of questions.

The long-absent soul-eating butterfly flew over from a vase nearby, affectionately fluttering around Lann. He looked down at the butterfly resting on his fingertip, now without the usual wariness and rejection.

Seemingly accepting his identity, Lann was more attuned to previously ignored details, like the sense of closeness emanating from the soul-eating butterfly. He recognized these butterflies; in that lifeless forest, only these black and red butterflies occasionally flew by, perfectly matching the desolate forest. They made their nests in the swamps of the forest.

"Have you sensed my identity?" Lann gently touched the butterfly's wing.

The butterfly affectionately stayed on Lann's fingertip, its antennae moving as if to kiss him. Lann casually placed the butterfly on his shoulder as an ornament.

Then he looked up at Ogrer, who was quietly eating across the table.

He had many questions he wanted to ask him.

Sensing Lann’s gaze, Ogrer silently put down his cutlery and sat up straight like a schoolboy.

"Pfft." Lann couldn't help but laugh at Ogler's guilty demeanor, his previously gathered momentum dissipating, unable to maintain a serious expression anymore.

The stagnant air started to flow again.

Lann lowered his head and wiped his face, sighing helplessly, "Ogler, you know my identity, right?"

Ogler nodded.

"We all come from the dream world, don't we?"

Another nod.

"Alright then." Lann covered his eyes and sighed. It was also his fault; thinking back, Ogler had shown many inconsistencies, such as agreeing with everything he said and ignoring all suspicious elements. These were all clues, but due to the strange sense of closeness Lann felt, he never took them seriously.

"Do you know what I really am?" Lann asked.

Ogler remained silent for a moment, then shook his head: "Sorry, I can’t say."

"Why not?"

"I’ve taken an oath of truth," Ogler's voice was hoarse, "I cannot reveal information related to you until the right time comes."

"...Is it because I haven't grown enough?" Lann pondered for a moment, considering typical plot twists in movies and TV shows, and ventured a guess.

Ogler shook his head and calmly said, "This way, even if I die, lose my sanity, or become corrupted, I won't betray any information related to you."

As Ogler spoke these words, his expression was remarkably calm. Lann slightly opened his mouth, feeling increasingly complex emotions.

Wait a minute, this statement... it's as if he’s really involved in something huge.

He recalled the brief memory that had surfaced earlier, where a mysterious female voice also mentioned not letting 'those guys' discover he had awakened.

Who are 'those guys'? His enemies? Evil gods? Ancient gods?

Lann put down his knife and fork, his gaze flickering as he stared at Ogler. He knew Ogler should have all the answers – the giant figure in his memory was likely Ogler.

"Alright, then I'll ask a different question. What kind of being are you? Can you answer that?"

Ogrer nodded: "I am a giant."

"A giant?" Lann looked confused, then suddenly recalled something, "Norse mythology? Ymir? The primeval giant?"

In Norse mythology, Ymir is the ancestor of all giants and the first living being. The name Ogiermier refers to Ymir as known by the frost giants. After Ymir's death, his body was used by the gods to create the world, a widely known tale in the human world.

However, Ogrer shook his head: "No, I am not the first giant, but rather the last."

Lann's expression was one of complete bewilderment, but Ogrer didn't seem willing to elaborate, speaking softly, "Regardless, I won't harm you. My mission is to protect you. However, if I act with all my strength, those beings will realize you are here."

"Those beings?" Lann was puzzled, "What beings?"

"The Outer Gods," Ogrer said succinctly, "They come from the cosmos and are invaders of the dream world."

"Will they pose a threat to me?" Lann asked.

This time, Ogrer hesitated for a long time before nodding.

Lann looked thoughtful, his emotions growing more complicated.

It felt as though he was entangled in a serious conspiracy.

"Right, and about what Soren said before about the stars returning to their correct path," Lann inquired, "What does that mean? Is the world heading towards destruction under the invasion of these gods?"

Ogrer nodded and added, "His statement about 'the stars returning to their correct path' is an ancient prophecy that has been circulating for a long time."

A headache began to set in.

Lann couldn't help but put on a mask of pain. As is well-known, such prophecies and divinations in Lovecraftian settings tend to come true. Without them, how would investigators go about saving the world?

But when it actually happens, it's still a headache.

Lann: "Can we know a specific time? Like, when will the stars align correctly?"

Ogrer shook his head: "It could be a long time from now, or it could be tomorrow. No one knows the exact date."

"Of course, it had to be this way."

Lann felt a headache coming on, this time out of frustration. He remembered how cautiously he had kept secrets in front of Ogrer, only to realize that Ogrer knew everything all along.

He thought about how he had been considerate towards Ogrer, hoping to keep him away from danger, only to find that the joke was on himself.

Thinking about it almost made Lann laugh out of irritation: "Is there anything else you're hiding from me?"

Ogrer pointed at Lann's forehead.

A few seconds later, Lann remembered that Ogrer had once drawn some symbol on his forehead. He couldn't help but reach up and touch it: "That symbol you drew on me, what did it actually mean?"

"I wasn't lying; it truly was for your safety," Ogrer explained.

Lann narrowed his eyes: "What exactly does it do?"

Ogrer shrank his neck slightly: "It conceals your aura, otherwise it would attract anomalies."

Anomalies...

Lann recalled his unusual 'affinity' with anomalies in the hospital, where almost every night, the doctors and nurses seemed to be especially fond of him.

And then there was the A-class anomaly, the soul-eating butterfly.

Lann looked at the butterfly obediently perched on his shoulder.

Initially, Lann thought it was a coincidence or perhaps that this particular butterfly anomaly was unique, but now it seemed there might be more to it.

"Why are anomalies drawn to me?" Lann asked curiously.

Ogrer looked troubled.

"Is this also part of what you can't disclose?"

Seeing Ogrer nod, Lann pressed his throbbing temple and closed his eyes: "Alright then."

It turned out he was the only one kept in the dark.

A headache ensued, feeling as though the ordinary yet beautiful life was drifting further away from him.

In the future, countless plots and schemes would emerge, and more ambitious figures like Soren would undoubtedly appear.

A warm touch then came from his forehead. Lann opened his eyes to see Ogrer looking at him cautiously, gently rubbing the spot he had just touched with his large hand.

It was like a large dog cautiously pawing at you after causing trouble, putting on a pitiful look, wondering if you had calmed down yet.

"Sorry," Ogrer earnestly apologized, "I didn't mean to keep things from you."

Lann stared at Ogrer without speaking, then after a while, he pushed away the untouched meal in front of him and walked upstairs.

He then closed the door of his room without hesitation.

Once back in his room, Lann leaned against the door, took a deep breath to dispel the negative emotions, and began to contemplate his next steps.

After this candid discussion, Lann had come to understand his identity – well, not quite entirely, but he knew he was not a mere mortal. Rather, he was a mysterious being from the dream world, and Ogrer, also from that realm, seemed to be his guardian of sorts?

However, this guardian was currently in a state where he couldn't easily take action. According to Ogrer, his powers were too flamboyant and impossible to conceal; any action he took would likely alert everyone to his presence.

Though unclear about his specific identity, based on the memories he had recalled and his control over the door between the real world and the dream world, it was evident that his role was no simple matter.

For now, his primary objective was to conceal his identity, ensuring 'those beings' didn't discover him, and to strengthen both his and the players' abilities to prepare for potential invasions by the Outer Gods and other impending calamities.

Lann was confident about enhancing the players' strengths; after all, even without his intervention, that group of players would keep leveling up and courting death.

Next on his agenda was to improve his own abilities.

Lann closed his eyes, entering the familiar space of the rift in dreams.

He observed the misty space and the stairs spiraling upward, his feelings complex.

Although he had already suspected something upon noticing the different paths in the dream rift compared to Edmund and others, he had refrained from dwelling on it, reluctant to accept the truth.

But now, the answer lay before him, undeniable and inescapable.

Lann gazed down at his hands, slender and fair, untouched by labor – the hands of a pampered youth. He couldn't comprehend why, if he were akin to an Outer God, he felt no trace of power?

The sensation of controlling the door had also vanished. Lann looked up at the second platform that appeared, along with the previous sensation of 'ascending'.

Could it be that these platforms and his powers were related? Just as humans needed to descend to lower platforms to gain more power, he needed to ascend higher to unlock his own?

Several white lights approached, and Lann, looking closely, was surprised to find that the number of solid white lights had increased.

Initially, only Edmund's light was solid, but now two more solid white lights had appeared, making a total of three circling around him.

If he wasn't mistaken, the other two should be Algie and Karens.

What happened to them? It's like they suddenly turned from nominal believers into true believers.

Speaking of which, Algie seemed to have successfully awakened from his madness, which means...

Lann looked up at the newly appeared stairs and platform, thoughtful. It seemed likely that the appearance of the platform was related to 'believers'. Could it be that only true believers, and those who advanced to new levels, would allow him to rise to the next level?

Very likely.

Lann ascended to the first platform and then cautiously to the second.

The second platform appeared slightly smaller than the first. Like the first, there was a stone table in the middle with two items on it. Lann walked straight to the table without any trials.

Of the three light points that had been revolving around Lann, one seemed eager, landing on one of the items, guiding Lann.

Lann looked closely and couldn't help but feel astonished.

It was, somewhat resembling a call bell for ordering, the kind you press to make a sound, and then a waiter appears.

He remembered Algie's ability was something similar to gathering information, so why was this here?

Looking at the white light point that remained on it.

Lann couldn't help but press something.

Ding-dong~

A crisp ringing sound echoed throughout the misty space.

Ten minutes earlier.

Police Station

Archie woke up in the medical room of the police station. The duty doctor, noticing the movement on the bed, stood up abruptly: “Thank God, Dr. Archie, you’re finally awake. If something had happened to you, the Chief would have gone mad.”

Archie held a unique position in the police station, being brought in as a psychological consultant, which the Chief claimed was his most brilliant decision.

Everyone in the station knew that Dr. Archie was there primarily because his childhood friend worked there; the Chief just benefited from Albert's influence.

“Where am I...?” Archie’s memory was still fixated on the confrontation with Soren, sensing that a lot had transpired afterward.

“You’re in the medical room of the police station. Someone called the station after finding you collapsed on the road. It was really dangerous. If no one had called, considering the chaos outside, it might have been too late.”

“What’s happening outside now?” Archie asked urgently.

The duty doctor promptly turned on the TV in the medical room.

“...Live report from the streets of Arkham. Viewers can see multiple buildings collapsed, a series of car accidents, and several citizens have unfortunately died in the accidents and due to hallucinogenic drugs.”

The usually elegant female presenter wore a gas mask, diligently reporting from the scene.

“Hallucinogenic drugs?” Archie looked perplexed.

“Yes, the TV station found the culprit behind this disaster. Apparently, a pharmaceutical company operated against regulations, accidentally releasing a large quantity of hallucinogens. These drugs spread through the air across Arkham City, causing people to see monsters, but it's all hallucination,” the doctor explained. “The pharmaceutical factory has been sealed off, and all employees detained, facing endless sentences.”

Hallucinogens...

Archie’s eyes twitched. He didn’t believe the disaster was a figment of imagination, especially the scenes that followed. But now that the media had unified their narrative, it was clear that a major force was manipulating public opinion.

“I know you’re doubting this too,” the doctor noticed Archie's peculiar expression and whispered mysteriously, “Did you also see that door and the presence of the 'Gatekeeper'?”

Algie was taken aback and looked at the doctor: "Do you mean you also…"

"Actually, to tell you the truth, it seems like everyone in Arkham had the same dream," the doctor said with a wink and nudge. "Before the official response, many people were discussing it online. They matched the details of their dreams – all having the same dream featuring a giant door, a massive hand behind it, monsters, and a gatekeeper. Clearly, this is out of the ordinary."

"Could it be that the entire Arkham dreamt the same thing?"

Archie nodded, "I had the same dream too."

"Indeed." The doctor nodded confidently, "There must be a great secret behind this. Perhaps gods and demons really do exist. Oh no, they must exist. That dream is the proof. It was a deity that saved Arkham, ha, I'm going to the Catholic church tomorrow. I feel like I'm going to become a devout believer."

"But it wasn't a Catholic god who saved Arkham, it was Lan."

Archie instinctively wanted to object, but he barely held back, remembering Lan might not want his identity revealed.

"Otherwise, he wouldn't have shrouded himself in light at that gate."

"Such a secretive being wouldn't want to be exposed to the eyes of strangers."

Archie suppressed the urge to argue with his colleague and continued to ask, "Was there anything else besides me?"

"Hmm? Besides you, there seemed to be another person. But he was from the Inspection Bureau, wasn’t he? They took him away. Nothing else," the doctor recalled. "By the way, why were you there? It's just an empty space due to a government planning error."

However, Archie didn't quite catch what he was asking, murmuring, "No one... How can that be."

"There were people everywhere."

"In that battle, Lan and Soren's forces fought so fiercely. It's no surprise the aftermath resembled hell. How could there be nothing?"

"And what about Albert? Where did he go?"

Instinctively, Archie thought of entering the Dream Gap to use his abilities to find out.

"But the Dream Gap can only be entered at midnight, and it's not time yet."

"After a brief chat, the doctor left Archie to rest. Lying on the bed, Archie pondered whether advancing to the second layer of the Dream Gap had changed his abilities, then he closed his eyes."

"And entered the Dream Gap."

"Archie looked around in confusion at the surroundings filled with gray mist."

"Wait a moment..."

"How did he get in here???"

Archie was filled with confusion. He had tried entering during the day before and had obviously failed. His father's notes had also confirmed that the Dream Gap could only be briefly accessed at midnight.

"But why can he enter during the day?"

"Clearly, if it's not a mutation in himself, then the issue must lie with Lan."

Archie looked around. The fog of the second layer of the Dream Gap had dispersed, restoring visibility to normal levels. At least, the platform was now free of the madness-inducing mist.

"But that was all."

Archie felt bewildered. Wasn't it said that with each layer entered, both his origin power and physical capabilities would expand and strengthen?

"Why can't he feel it?"

Archie wandered back and forth on the second-level platform, not sensing any signs of a delayed reward. Eventually, he stopped at the stairs leading to the third level.

"With each layer descended, the surrounding light grew dimmer, as if slowly walking into an abyss."

"This discomfort became more apparent the further down he went."

"Should he try going down?"

Unseen by Archie, a figure in black clothes slowly emerged from the mist behind him, silently approaching, hand raised to push Archie into the abyss.

At that moment, a clear bell rang out.

"Ding-ling~"

Archie whirled around sharply, finding nothing behind him, utterly empty.

……

Lan curiously tapped the summoning bell.

"Ding-ling~"

"And then?"

Lan suddenly looked up, the fog in front of him roiling. A figure in black, a faceless person, emerged from the mist.

Lan and the faceless figure locked eyes for a moment. The figure turned to run, and Lan, momentarily stunned, instinctively grabbed another object from the stone table and threw it.

"Thud!"

The faceless person was struck down, unable to rise. Only then did Lan check what he had thrown.

It appeared to be a scepter, made of black wood, with silver, serpentine lines crawling over it, forming patterns that looked like eyes or perhaps leaves.

As the faceless person lay twitching on the ground, silver threads began to emanate from his body. The scepter stood up on its own, seemingly absorbing these silver threads.

The faceless person howled in agony, desperately trying to escape back into the fog. But even the fog seemed against him, dissipating wherever he went.

Gradually, the faceless person stopped moving, his body withering away.

Lan watched this scene from a distance, bewildered and unsure. He remembered Archie mentioning that his power involved questioning a faceless being, and failing a question could result in the loss of an organ.

"Wait, could this faceless person be Archie's power? Did I just destroy Archie's ability??"

With this thought, Lan instinctively reached out to stop the scepter from absorbing the unknown silver threads. Remarkably, the scepter obediently returned to his hand.

"But it seemed too late. The faceless person was almost gone, leaving only a black robe. As Lan pondered how to rectify the situation, the scepter seemed to realize its mistake. It flickered with silver light, and a touch of golden glow fell upon the black robe."

"Then, a bulge formed beneath the black robe, growing larger until a man’s head, bearing a striking resemblance to Archie, emerged."

Lan: "???!"

"As the man fully emerged from beneath the robe, Lan couldn't help but fall silent."

"A human face, lion's body, eagle's wings, and a bull's tail."

"Isn't this the mythical creature Sphinx from the legends?"

"Thank you, my lord, for rescuing me from that dire situation," the creature spoke. "My name is [Sphinx], as you see, I am the origin of Archie Hayes."

Lan: "?"

"How come he understands each word, but not when they are put together?"

Lan: "You are Archie’s origin power? Then what was that just now...?"

"That was nothing but a shameless thief!" Sphinx said angrily, pacing restlessly with its lion's paws. "Ever since Archie broke through the first layer of the Dream Gap, that faceless man shamelessly stole our power. He has been covetously eyeing our body, masquerading as Archie’s power. This way, we would unsuspectingly pose questions to him. And he, a thief, only needed to take Archie’s heart to replace Archie in this world!"

"This was too much information for Lan, who rubbed his forehead. 'Firstly, if the faceless man isn’t Archie’s power, what is he? And how could he access Archie’s Dream Gap?'"

Sphinx opened its mouth to answer but no sound came out. Sheepishly, it said to Lan, "You have to solve my riddle before I can give you information."

Lan: "...Alright, go ahead."

"What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening, yet has no legs at night?"

"Such a classic Sphinx riddle," Lan almost didn't need to think: "Humans. As infants, they crawl on all fours, walk on two feet as adults, and use a cane in old age."

"Correct!" The Sphinx beamed, its expression almost sycophantic, and said without hesitation, "That creature is an oddity, ranking between C and B level by human standards. As for why it could appear in Archie’s Dream Gap..."

"That's because the Dream Gap isn't an isolated space; it’s interconnected!"

Lan's pupils contracted slightly.

He then recalled the hospital scenario they had experienced before. Soren had experimented by connecting the dreams of the hospital staff, creating a vast enigma.

Later, the anomaly in Arkham City, the surrounding fog, was also strikingly similar to the Dream Gap, suggesting that humans are not isolated from each other.

"However, the Dream Gap consists of separate platforms, surrounded by an abyss and fog that induces madness. Hence, everyone subconsciously believes they are alone in the Dream Gap or that each person's Dream Gap is a different space, a different dream."

"But who said that?"

"Now, Sphinx’s answer completely overturns this existing notion. The Dream Gap is actually a connected space, and most importantly, oddities can appear in it!"

This revelation filled Lan with intense unease, akin to suddenly being told that his house couldn't be locked, leaving it open to burglars at any time.

"How did it get here?" Lan asked. "Just ask your riddle."

Sphinx: "What book can’t you buy in a bookstore?"

"A will." Lan quickly deduced the answer.

"It came through the fog," Sphinx promptly revealed the answer.

"The fog..." Lan murmured, recalling that both Edmund and Archie had mentioned the Dream Gap's progression: first through the staircase, then onto the platform to face trials.

"As the staircase descends, strange whispers grow louder. Prolonged exposure to these whispers can cause disorientation, even loss of sanity, leading to a fall into the abyss. Returning to reality, it takes time to recover from this negative energy and continue the quest."

"Generally, the first two layers' stairs are not the most dangerous; it's the trials on the platforms that are perilous. The first layer is known as [Fear], the second as [Madness]."

"The third layer's information is unknown. According to them, the staircase merely tests one's mental state. As long as one ignores the voices in the fog, there's usually no issue."

"Could it be different starting from the second layer?"

Lan felt he was on the verge of realizing something, a memory that seemed to be there yet just out of reach, like being separated by a thin sheet of paper.

He stretched out his hand, and two dice appeared, spinning on their own.

Inspiration: Success

Information flooded Lan's mind, and he blurted out, "Everyone's Dream Gap is connected through the fog. Humans can't pass through the fog, but oddities can. From the second layer of the Dream Gap, humans enter deeper layers of dreams, realms where oddities linger. The deeper one goes, the more and stronger the oddities encountered."

Sphinx looked at Lan in surprise, blinking rapidly in affirmation.

"So that's how it is."

Lan eyed Sphinx cautiously, "You say you're Archie's origin power? How can you know more than the person himself? What exactly are you?"

"It's a misunderstanding, my lord, I truly am Archie's origin!" Sphinx said grievously, "As for why I am like this... What's the closest sphere to us?"

"The Earth."

"It's because you endowed me with sentience!" Sphinx answered, "As for my knowledge, it's not my own. It's the power granted by the dream realm. We communicate according to the questioner's level and dimension, and then express the answers given by the dimensions through the ritual of 'solving riddles'."

"We?" Lan narrowed his eyes, "Why do you use 'we'? Origin powers should be unique to each individual, right?"

Sphinx was about to answer but regretfully lowered its head: "I've answered three questions already, I must go."

As its figure gradually became ethereal, before vanishing, it said, "I look forward to our next meeting. Please believe, I have no ill intentions. I am Archie, and Archie is me."

Watching Sphinx disappear into the fog, Lan furrowed his brow. He seemed to have gained a lot of information, but the mysteries only deepened.

As an origin power, wasn't [Sphinx] a bit too strong? Why would Archie's origin be this? Did he have some secret of his own? Why did the oddity appear in Archie’s Dream Gap right after he passed the first layer? Oddities usually roam below the second layer, and the stairs of the first and second layers aren’t supposed to have oddities.

Was it a coincidence? Or was it orchestrated?

Lan's mind was filled with questions. He looked down at the summoning bell in his hand, trying to press it again, but this time it made no sound.

It seemed to have a cooldown period.

Lan turned to look at the scepter floating in the air. The Sphinx had mentioned 'bestowing sentience,' which must have been something this scepter did earlier.

He gestured towards the scepter, and it automatically appeared beside his hand. Tentatively holding the scepter, he felt its cool touch, perfectly fitting his palm.

Just like the dice earlier, the scepter’s purpose and information automatically appeared in Lan's mind.

[Shepherd’s Scepter (Fallen)]

[Effect: Absorb sentience, bestow seeds of sentience. Perhaps try it on plants; it might bring surprises.]

[Description: This scepter is in a sealed state, currently only its most basic function is unlocked. Due to an unknown event, it has undergone some changes, but it’s still usable. After all, what would a shepherd be without a forest?]

Absorb sentience and then bestow it?

Lan fell into deep thought. He recalled how the scepter struck the oddity, and the oddity's reaction upon falling. If the faceless man truly was a C-level or higher oddity, it seemed too easily defeated.

Or perhaps, does this scepter have a restraining effect on oddities?

This would require further verification. Lan wandered the second layer for a while longer, observing the lights of Edmund, Archie, and Karen.

"All three seemed to be fine. Clarence was busy directing his subordinates around the block, Edmund was still asleep, and Archie was writing a report at the police station."

"I'll see how Edmund is when he wakes up, to check if he's recovered from the madness."

"Lan thought to himself, then opened his eyes, exiting the Dream Gap."

"With something on his mind, Lan opened the door, intending to use the restroom, but was startled to find a huge figure sitting outside."

"'Ogler, what are you doing here?'"

"Ogler, being so large, blocked a significant part of the doorway even while sitting. Hearing Lan's movement, he stood up abruptly, stammering, 'I-I'm waiting for you…'"

"Under Lan’s puzzled gaze, Ogler extended his fist, about one and a half times the size of Lan’s hand, then flipped his wrist and spread his fingers."

"In his palm lay a small yellow daisy."

"'I'm sorry, please don’t be angry.'"

"Lan stared at him, suddenly recalling a memory from the dream world's forest."

"In that silent forest, devoid of any normal plants, let alone delicate flowers, Lan had once casually mentioned that apologizing with flowers seemed more sincere (in the human world)."

"Since then, every time Lan was upset, no matter the reason, the giant would go searching for flowers, sometimes for a day, sometimes for three. When Lan awoke from his slumber, he would first see a towering figure sitting beside him."

"As he came to his senses, he would be presented with the wilted flower and an apology."

"Lan hadn’t been very angry in the first place; he was more upset with himself for not noticing Ogler’s many flaws. The big guy didn’t know how to hide; his mistakes were glaringly obvious. But Lan hadn’t thought it through, as if subconsciously he never believed Ogler could hurt him."

"He took the small daisy, smiling, 'Flowers are too easily obtained in this world; I won’t cool off that easily.'"

"Ogler’s face instantly showed utter shock, like a veteran gamer confused by a new update after a long hiatus from gaming. Lan then said, 'Unless you let me do one thing, then I’ll forgive you.'"