The day finally arrived.
Not slowly.
Not gradually.
But suddenly—
Like a dream ending too soon.
---
The entire academy woke before sunrise.
No alarms were needed.
No reminders required.
Because everyone knew.
Today—
They would enter the Tier 1 Dream Realm.
The place where training ended…
And survival began.
---
The sky above Somnara Grand Dream Academy glowed with early morning light.
Students gathered across the massive central plaza.
Thousands of them.
Standing in neat formation.
Each dorm group standing together.
Each team positioned with their assigned roommates.
Each face—
Serious.
Focused.
Prepared.
---
Rynelle Aeris stood beside his teammates.
Kael Vire stretched his arms slightly.
"…Feels weird."
Elric Morn adjusted his armor.
"…Anticipation detected."
Soren Vale checked his daggers.
"…Heart rate elevated."
Kael smirked.
"…Don't act calm, you're nervous too."
Soren sighed.
"…Obviously."
---
Rynelle remained quiet.
His expression calm.
His posture steady.
But inside—
His heartbeat had quickened slightly.
Because today—
Everything changed.
No more practice battles.
No more safe zones.
No more guaranteed survival.
---
Ahead of them—
A massive structure stood at the center of the plaza.
The Dream Gate.
A towering circular formation built from ancient black stone.
Runes covered its surface.
Glowing faintly.
Pulsing slowly.
Like a heartbeat.
Dormant—
But ready to awaken.
---
Teachers began walking between the student rows.
Each carrying small sealed containers.
One by one—
They stopped before their assigned teams.
Instructor Virel approached Dorm Room 4.
He held two objects in each hand.
"…Extend your hands."
Kael stepped forward first.
Instructor Virel placed a metallic band onto his wrist.
A scanning watch.
Then—
A small ring.
Simple.
Silver.
Elegant.
A storage ring.
---
Kael blinked.
"…Whoa."
Elric received his next.
Then Soren.
Then finally—
Rynelle.
The moment the ring touched his finger—
A faint ripple of mana passed through his body.
Instructor Virel spoke calmly.
"These are essential survival tools."
He lifted his wrist slightly.
"The scanning watch monitors life signs, mana stability, location, and threat detection."
Kael raised his arm slightly.
"…So it tracks everything?"
"Yes."
Soren examined his ring carefully.
"…Storage capacity?"
Instructor Virel answered immediately.
"Ten cubic meters."
Elric nodded once.
"…Sufficient for Tier 1 logistics."
Then—
Instructor Virel handed them a rolled parchment.
A map.
---
"This," he said,
"…is your Tier 1 Dream Realm map."
Rynelle accepted it carefully.
The paper felt unusual.
Not ordinary parchment.
Mana-infused.
Durable.
Resistant to tearing.
Instructor Virel stepped back.
"Protect it."
---
Across the plaza—
Other teachers repeated the same process.
Scanning watches distributed.
Storage rings equipped.
Maps handed out.
The air filled with quiet anticipation.
No cheers.
No celebration.
Only focus.
---
Then—
A figure stepped onto the elevated platform before the Dream Gate.
The principal.
Archmage Valendros.
The leader of Somnara Grand Dream Academy.
Silence fell instantly.
Absolute.
Complete.
---
His voice carried across the entire plaza.
Calm.
Deep.
Unshakable.
"Students of Somnara…"
He paused.
Looking across thousands of faces.
"Today marks your first descent into the Dream Realm."
A faint ripple of tension spread across the crowd.
---
Behind him—
The Dream Gate began to glow.
Runes ignited.
Lines of light spread outward.
The air vibrated faintly.
Mana density increased sharply.
---
The principal raised his hand.
"The Tier 1 Dream Realm is divided into layers."
A projection formed above him.
A floating image of multiple terrain levels stacked vertically.
"Layer One is the Outer Plains."
The projection shifted.
Wide open terrain.
Low vegetation.
Minimal threat density.
"This is where you will begin."
He continued.
"Layer Two is the Broken Forest."
The projection changed again.
Dense trees.
Uneven terrain.
Higher danger.
"Layer Three is the Ruined Valley."
Collapsed structures.
Stone debris.
Hidden threats.
"Each deeper layer increases risk."
Each deeper layer increases reward.
---
The principal paused.
Then continued.
"You are entering with a single objective."
He raised one finger.
"Collect Shattered Cores."
The projection shifted again.
Small glowing crystal fragments appeared.
"These are fragments of power extracted from defeated Dream Creatures."
He lifted another finger.
"Ten Shattered Cores form one Full Core."
The projection showed fragments merging into a single crystal.
"Ten Shattered Cores…"
He paused slightly.
"…equal one Full Core."
Murmurs spread across the crowd.
---
Then—
He raised his hand higher.
"To advance beyond Dormant Rank…"
His voice grew firmer.
"You must gather one thousand Shattered Cores."
The crowd froze.
Shock spread instantly.
"…One thousand?"
"…That's insane…"
"…That's so many…"
Kael whispered under his breath.
"…1000?"
Elric responded calmly.
"…Equivalent to 100 Full Cores."
Soren swallowed slightly.
"…Long-term survival required."
---
The principal continued.
"When you gather one thousand Shattered Cores…"
His voice deepened.
"You will become—"
A pause.
"…Awakeners."
The word echoed through the plaza.
Heavy.
Powerful.
Absolute.
---
Rynelle listened carefully.
His mind calculating silently.
1000 Shattered Cores.
100 Full Cores.
A long journey ahead.
Not days.
Not weeks.
Possibly months.
Or longer.
---
Then—
The principal gave the final instruction.
"You will enter the Dream Realm…"
He lowered his hand slightly.
"…in groups."
A pause.
"…with your roommates."
That meant—
No random teams.
No reassignments.
Dorm Room Teams remained permanent.
Kael smirked slightly.
"…Good."
Elric nodded once.
"…Team consistency maintained."
Soren exhaled slowly.
"…Acceptable."
---
Behind the principal—
The Dream Gate roared to life.
Light surged outward.
Runes ignited violently.
The circular formation filled with swirling energy.
Purple.
Blue.
Silver.
Reality itself seemed to bend.
The portal—
Had opened.
---
A massive vortex of light formed inside the gate.
The air trembled.
Wind surged outward.
Mana pressure intensified rapidly.
Students shielded their eyes instinctively.
Because this—
Was no training illusion.
No simulation.
This—
Was a gateway to another reality.
---
Instructor Virel stepped forward.
His voice firm.
"Dorm Teams…"
A pause.
"…Prepare to enter."
Kael tightened his grip on his spear.
Elric adjusted his shield.
Soren flexed his fingers slightly.
Rynelle remained calm.
But his heart—
Beat faster.
Stronger.
Sharper.
---
Ahead—
The first groups began walking toward the portal.
One step at a time.
No hesitation.
No retreat.
Only forward movement.
Only commitment.
Only destiny.
---
Kael grinned slightly.
"…Guess this is it."
Elric nodded.
"…Confirmed."
Soren exhaled slowly.
"…Beginning of survival phase."
Rynelle stepped forward.
The swirling portal reflected in his eyes.
Bright.
Endless.
Unknown.
---
And just before their group reached the gate—
The floating crown flickered faintly above his head.
visible to most.
But present.
Watching.
Waiting.
As if the Dream Realm itself—
Had noticed him.