The plains stretched endlessly ahead of them.
Tall grass swayed with the passing wind, brushing softly against their legs as Rynelle Aeris and his team walked deeper into the Outer Plains of the Tier 1 Dream Realm.
At first—
Everything felt peaceful.
Too peaceful.
---
Kael walked slightly ahead, spear resting across his shoulder.
"…Still nothing."
Soren narrowed his eyes, scanning the distance.
"…That's exactly what worries me."
Elric walked at the rear, ever watchful.
"Maintain formation."
Rynelle remained silent.
His perception felt sharper here.
Different.
The air carried strange threads.
Unnatural threads.
Dead threads.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
---
Then—
The wind shifted.
Not naturally.
Not gently.
But violently.
Like something was pushing against it.
---
Soren stopped first.
"…Wait."
Kael froze.
"…You feel that too?"
Elric's voice lowered.
"Everyone ready."
---
Rynelle turned slowly.
His eyes locked toward the horizon behind them.
And then—
He saw it.
Movement.
Hundreds of movements.
No—
Thousands.
---
The tall grass began collapsing.
Flattening.
Rolling like waves.
Something was coming.
And it wasn't small.
---
Kael whispered.
"…What the hell is that…"
Soren's voice tightened.
"…Too many."
Elric raised his sword.
"Combat formation!"
---
Then—
They emerged.
Not beasts.
Not creatures.
Not living things.
But things that used to be alive.
---
Hundreds of twisted bodies rushed toward them.
Beasts in shape—
But wrong in existence.
Eyes hollow.
Bodies cracked.
Movements stiff.
Unnatural.
Dead.
Soulless.
Coreless.
---
Their flesh looked dry and grey.
Cracked like stone.
No aura.
No mana.
No life.
Just empty movement.
Empty hunger.
---
Kael shouted.
"WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS—?!"
Elric answered instantly.
"Unknown entities!"
Soren clenched his daggers.
"…They don't feel alive…"
---
Rynelle whispered quietly.
"…Coreless."
The word left his lips naturally.
As if he somehow already understood.
---
Then—
They attacked.
All at once.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
Without strategy.
Just numbers.
Endless numbers.
---
"MOVE!"
Elric rushed forward first.
His blade slashed downward.
CRACK.
One creature split in half.
But—
No core dropped.
No light appeared.
Nothing.
---
Kael thrust his spear.
BOOM.
One creature exploded apart.
Still—
Nothing.
No shattered core.
No energy.
No reward.
---
Soren dashed between them.
His daggers cut through multiple enemies.
Bodies fell rapidly.
Yet—
Still nothing.
---
Rynelle raised his hand.
"Elemental Weaving."
Threads formed instantly.
Wind threads sharpened.
Then released.
SHHHHHK.
Several enemies were torn apart at once.
Bodies scattered.
Dust rose.
---
But—
Still nothing.
No shattered cores.
No fragments.
No reward.
---
Kael shouted in frustration.
"WHY AREN'T THEY DROPPING ANYTHING—?!"
Elric gritted his teeth.
"…Keep fighting!"
Soren dodged sideways.
"…There are too many!"
---
The swarm didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
They just kept coming.
Endless.
Relentless.
Mindless.
---
One creature lunged toward Kael.
He blocked quickly.
CLANG.
The creature's claws struck his spear shaft.
Its strength was unnatural.
Dead strength.
Unfeeling strength.
---
Kael growled.
"DIE ALREADY!"
He spun his spear—
And crushed its skull.
CRACK.
The body fell.
Motionless.
But still—
Nothing dropped.
---
Rynelle's crown floated above his head as his armor shimmered faintly.
Threads formed again.
"Elemental Weaving."
Multiple bindings shot outward.
"WEAVER BIND."
Dozens of threads pierced through enemies—
Binding them tightly.
Then—
Crushing.
CRACK.
Bodies collapsed under pressure.
---
Still nothing.
Not even a single shattered core.
---
Soren shouted.
"This is pointless!"
Elric replied immediately.
"NOT POINTLESS—!"
His blade struck another creature.
"—SURVIVAL!"
---
More enemies flooded forward.
Hundreds.
Too many.
Far too many.
---
Dust filled the battlefield.
Grass flattened.
The earth cracked under constant impacts.
---
Kael panted heavily.
"THIS IS STUPID—!"
He crushed another enemy.
"—WE'RE NOT GAINING ANYTHING!"
---
Rynelle's breathing became heavier.
Mana consumption rising.
Fatigue building.
Still—
No rewards.
No progress.
Just endless fighting.
---
Then—
One creature leaped toward Soren from behind.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
---
"LOOK OUT!"
Rynelle reacted instantly.
"Weaver Step!"
He vanished—
Appearing beside Soren instantly.
Then—
SLASH.
His ethereal sword cut the creature cleanly in half.
---
Soren exhaled sharply.
"…Thanks."
Rynelle nodded.
"…Stay sharp."
---
But deep inside—
Frustration was growing.
Burning.
Rising.
Because this fight—
Felt meaningless.
---
Minutes passed.
Then more minutes.
Still fighting.
Still killing.
Still nothing gained.
---
Kael slammed his spear into the ground.
BOOM.
Multiple enemies shattered.
He roared loudly.
"WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT MONSTERS ARE THESE—?!"
---
Elric responded through gritted teeth.
"CORELESS BEASTS!"
The realization struck them all.
"…They grant nothing."
---
Silence hit them briefly between clashes.
Then frustration followed.
Heavy.
Annoying.
Exhausting.
---
Soren spoke bitterly.
"…So this whole fight is worthless?"
Elric shook his head.
"…Not worthless."
He cut another beast.
"…Training."
---
Kael growled.
"…Training my ass."
---
Rynelle remained silent.
But inside—
Something shifted.
His eyes hardened slightly.
Because this fight—
Wasn't about reward.
Wasn't about growth.
Wasn't about shattered cores.
---
It was about survival.
Stamina.
Endurance.
Mental strength.
---
And that realization—
Made him continue fighting.
Without complaint.
Without hesitation.
---
The swarm kept coming.
Still endless.
Still relentless.
Still worthless.
---
But one thing became clear—
This Dream Realm—
Would not give rewards easily.
And sometimes—
It would give nothing at all.