Chapter 40: The Guardian of the Dream
The Guardian of the Dream
1. Doubt Turns to Action (Tom's POV)
Tom couldn't shake the feeling.
The dungeon win, the flawless fights, the world's constant corrections—it was all wrong.
And now, standing in front of his Hunter's Guild teammates, he realized he didn't belong here.
His life had never been this easy.
Something was watching him.
Something was keeping him here.
"We need to talk," he muttered to Stacy, pulling her aside.
She frowned. "About what?"
"You've noticed it too."
Stacy hesitated.
Then she whispered, "Yeah. Something's wrong."
Finally, they were on the same page.
But before they could dig deeper, a voice cut through the air.
A voice that sent chills down Tom's spine.
"My, my. You two are starting to ask the wrong questions."
They turned sharply.
A man stood before them.
Dressed in an elegant black suit, a smirk playing at his lips.
His eyes shimmered with unnatural gold.
Tom's breath caught.
He knew this man.
He didn't know how.
But he did.
"Who the hell are you?" Stacy demanded.
The man adjusted his cuffs. "A friend. Here to help you stay on the right path."
Tom's stomach twisted.
Because something inside him whispered the truth.
This wasn't a person.
This was the illusion itself.
Given form.
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2. A House That Talks Back (Diane's POV)
Diane paced the living room, her hands clenched.
The house had glitched again.
The dining table disappeared for an entire second before returning.
And now—
Now the house was speaking to her.
"Diane," a voice whispered.
She froze.
The voice was soft, familiar—but it came from everywhere.
"Stop searching," it murmured. "You'll ruin everything."
Her pulse pounded.
She spun toward the hallway—only to find Mike standing there, pale as death.
"You heard it too," she whispered.
He gave a slow nod.
The house was alive.
And it was warning them.
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3. A Name He Can't Ignore (Mike's POV)
Mike sat at the edge of the bed, his hands pressed to his face.
The whispers were getting stronger.
He heard Orion over and over again, like a ghost pressing against his mind.
But now—
Now, someone was sitting beside him.
He lifted his head slowly.
A woman.
Her face was blurred, her form unstable, but her voice was clear as day.
"Mike," she whispered. "Stay."
His chest tightened.
She reached out, her hand hovering over his.
"Your family is happy," she murmured. "Your children are safe. Your wife still loves you."
His throat burned.
This wasn't real.
It couldn't be.
But her touch—
It felt so warm.
And Mike wasn't ready to let go.
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4. The Guardian Makes Its Move (Tom & Stacy's POV)
Tom and Stacy stood face to face with the man in black.
"You're not real," Tom said.
The man chuckled. "Define real, Tom."
Stacy stepped forward. "What do you want?"
The man's smirk widened. "What I've always wanted. To keep you safe."
Tom clenched his jaw. "You're part of this illusion."
The man nodded. "I am the guardian of this world. My purpose is simple—to ensure you remain where you belong."
A chill ran down Stacy's spine.
"Like hell we're staying."
The guardian sighed, shaking his head.
"You misunderstand."
He snapped his fingers.
And the world froze.
Everything stopped moving.
The wind. The people. The sounds of the city.
Everything—except them.
Stacy's breath hitched. "What did you—?"
"I control this world, Stacy." The guardian stepped closer, voice calm. "And it will not allow you to break it."
Tom gritted his teeth.
But the guardian only smiled.
"You don't need to leave. You just need to forget."
The air shimmered.
And then—
A wave of pure, blinding white light slammed into them.
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5. The Illusion Fights Back (Group POV – Final Scene)
Diane collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath.
Mike fell beside her, clutching his head.
The house trembled, like reality itself was resetting.
Tom and Stacy staggered backward, their minds filled with static.
The guardian's voice was everywhere.
"Sleep."
The world swirled around them, pulling them back into compliance.
Their thoughts blurred.
Their memories faded.
The illusion was erasing their doubts.
And this time—
It might win.
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