Zuko and Jim had already left the very next day after Zuko's brothers arrived. Jim had tried to talk to Kael, but Kael absolutely refused to return home.

  Drayen staying here had influenced him even more to remain.

  In frustration, Kira scolded both Drayen and Kael about the seriousness of the situation. But neither of them were truly asking for her help. Drayen was even confident that he could completely fix his identity on his own. In the end, Kira could only let them do as they pleased.

  It was already night.

  Kael showed no hint of sleep on his face. Worry was written all over him. He had no real plans when he declared he would stay. But when he remembered his home, his expression turned ugly.

  He clicked his tongue and murmured silently,

  “It’s better to die here than go there.”

  Kael’s family issues were not simple. The only person he had ever felt close to like family was Instructor Miller.

  And now he was dead.

  His eyes involuntarily grew watery. Drayen was fully asleep, so Kael felt comfortable venting his emotions silently.

  He glanced at Drayen to confirm he was sleeping.

  “Sigh… this guy sure knows how to sleep.”

  Strangely, Drayen wasn’t worried about staying in the Nightmare Realm at all.

  He turned his face away after confirming Drayen was deep asleep.

  But suddenly — a murmur.

  Kael turned back.

  Was he pretending to sleep?

  Drayen’s face looked extremely ugly. His eyes were closed, but he was muttering something. The words were unclear.

  His hands were moving slightly — barely noticeable unless one paid attention. His upper body looked like he was struggling, while his lower body lay completely limp.

  The muttering grew louder.

  “Drayen.”

  “Hey, wake up, buddy.”

  Kael began shaking his body.

  In his nightmare (Dream), he was no longer Drayen.

  He was Rael.

  Just a twenty-year-old boy.

  The sharp smell of disinfectant filled his nose. Machines surrounded him. A monitor beeped steadily. A blood bag hung beside him, the drip feeding slowly into his veins.

  His head throbbed. He couldn’t fully open his eyes.

  A doctor stood nearby, checking his chart.

  The man sighed.

  “Only twenty… and permanently paralyzed.”

  Paralyzed?

  The word exploded inside his mind.

  Before even opening his eyes, he tried to move.

  His hands responded.

  His shoulders responded.

  But his lower body—

  Nothing.

  No sensation.

  No response.

  “I’m only twenty… I’m paralyzed?”

  He tried to force his legs to move.

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  They didn’t exist. He couldn't feel them. He felt emptiness

  Then—

  He opened his eyes.

  And the reality changed.

  Suddenly—

  A loud gasp.

  Drayen’s eyes shot open, filled with terror — completely devoid of hope. He was breathing heavily.

  Kael involuntarily stepped back.

  He bumped his leg against the bed. “Oww—what happened? You scared me.”

  Drayen didn’t answer. He continued breathing heavily, scanning his surroundings.

  He was still here.

  He tried moving his legs.

  For a brief second, they felt out of control — which frightened him even more.

  Kael stayed silent. Before he could speak again—

  “Hey, Drayen. Drayen. Are you listening?”

  Drayen muttered, “Drayen… Drayen…”

  “So I am Drayen. This is reality.”

  For a moment, it had felt like his life as Drayen was the dream.

  He had just experienced one of Rael’s past memories.

  Coming back felt disorienting.

  He tried moving his legs again. This time, they obeyed.

  Kael grabbed his shoulder, about to speak—

  But Drayen had already composed himself.

  He forced a smile. It looked very natural.

  “I’m fine. Just had a stomach ache.” He laughed lightly, holding his stomach.

  If Kael had seen only that smile, he might have believed it.

  But he had seen everything before that.

  Still, Kael didn’t push.

  “Why lie to me? If you don’t want to tell the truth, just say so.”

  He didn’t curse like he usually would.

  He simply lay down and went back to sleep, leaving Drayen alone.

  Drayen took out the cigarette he had bought and placed it between his lips.

  Kael noticed that Drayen’s hands were still shaking slightly.

  He chose to ignore it.

  Giving him space.

  ---

  The next day, Drayen and Kael went to the training grounds where Zuko used to practice. It didn’t have an official name — just an open field anyone could use.

  Today, however, it was crowded.

  New Nightbornes filled the grounds, and the number of beast sellers had noticeably increased. The reason was simple.

  The Bright Moon will rise tonight.

  Everyone was preparing for the festival and the competitions held during the Bright Moon period.

  The Bright Moon was one of the most significant times in the Nightmare Realm. Every corner of the continent — not just Rock Apple Town, Houndswell, or even this kingdom — celebrated it. Across the entire world, competitions and festivals were held during this period.

  It was the brightest time in the Nightmare Realm.

  Kira still refused to speak to them, guide them, or offer any help. So for now, they were on their own.

  They didn’t head toward the mountains to hunt boars. There were only two of them now, and Drayen needed to practice his new ability — Basic Wing Thrust.

  After searching for a while, they finally found an open space in the field.

  Kael slowly transformed his hands into claws.

  “Now, ready to show your new ability?” he asked, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

  Drayen drew his sword from his back and stepped into a fighting stance. His fighting spirit flared.

  “I’m always ready…” he paused, then added casually, “after practicing the swings.”

  He laughed.

  Kael, who had expected a proper spar, clicked his tongue. “Boring bastard.”

  Drayen laughed shamelessly as he began practicing his swings.

  It wasn’t that he didn’t want to show off his new ability. But the Nightmare Essence he possessed was limited. It wouldn’t be wise to waste it without proper control first.

  He wasn’t like Kael.

  Kael had passives. And one of his abilities even carried Night’s Favor.

  Drayen had to be careful.

  After some time, the two stood opposite each other.

  Kael smirked.

  “Come at me.”

  Drayen didn’t hesitate.

  “Butterfly Walk. Basic Wing Thrust.”

  He activated both abilities simultaneously.

  [Butterfly Walk – 8 essence]

  [Basic Wing Thrust – 3 essence per thrust.]

  In an instant, he appeared in front of Kael. His arm shot forward like a bullet, the sword thrusting straight toward Kael’s chest.

  Kael reacted quickly. He stepped back, both hands already transformed into claws. The green-tinted blade collided with them.

  The impact rang sharply.

  His claws barely held the strike — cracks spreading across them from the force.

  Kael immediately retreated, creating distance.

  He glanced at his right hand. The claws there were heavily damaged.

  “Not bad,” he commented calmly. “You can finally handle Rockskin Boars.”

  Then he looked up, smirking.

  “But against me?”

  Drayen’s expression turned ugly.

  In a prolonged fight, Kael would definitely win.

  And Kael knew it.

  The next moment, Kael rushed forward head-on.

  “Do you think I need tactics with you? Hahaha!”

  He attacked wildly, claws tearing through the air.

  Drayen barely managed to dodge. Even when he blocked or slipped aside, shallow cuts appeared across his shoulders and back.

  This wasn’t just a difference in abilities.

  It was a difference in skill.

  Drayen wasn’t an extraordinary talent in using abilities. He was average.

  Previously, he had held an advantage over his teammates because of his boldness. He had already faced death once. That made him somewhat bold against Shadow Hounds, and even in spars with Kira he wasn’t afraid of injury.

  But that advantage disappeared when facing someone like Kael.

  Minutes passed. Drayen was sweating and was constantly pushed back. Kael was very skilled in the use of abilities, unlike Drayen. Actually, Kael had everything required to break through to Rank 2.

  The only thing holding him back was Rock Apple Town and the Rockskin Boars. Rockskin Boars were the nemesis of his ability. If he were in Houndswell, he would have already broken through to Rank 2.

  Drayen gritted his teeth as he fought back hard, but that only managed to push Kael back for a second.

  He tried out all his skills. He even attempted to use Bewildering Eyes, but Kael never looked directly into Drayen’s eyes. The one time he did and Drayen grasped the opportunity, it was useless.

  Bewildering Eyes never played with the mind — it played with vision. So Kael ignored his distorted vision and attacked even more fiercely, leaving Drayen unfocused, and Bewildering Eyes broke the next second.

  “I lost… huff… huff…”

  Drayen collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.

  Kael stood beside him.

  “Don’t worry,” he said casually. “You’ll finally be useful from now on.”

  His claws were bleeding.

  20× larger in surface area than Tellus. The updated and accurate mathematical scaling has been properly explained in Chapter 24.