Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

[Enter the World: Eludnir]

Location: City of Sleep
World Difficulty: Lv.23～Lv.54 (Dream World, 99% of the world areas have a difficulty of Lv.23～Lv.48, Nightmare Realm difficulty fluctuates greatly, minimum Lv.45, maximum ???)

World Origin: 0%.

World Introduction: [Eludnior was not inherently twisted. 1570 years ago, it was a bustling, vibrant metropolis where technology and art intertwined. Excessive exploitation of spiritual energy and accumulation of pollution had already sown the seeds of disaster beneath the surface of civilization. The environment was not physically deteriorating, but rather experiencing a spiritual "entropy"—collective anxiety, mental illness, and the dark side of the subconscious accumulated within the city's spiritual sphere.]

[One day 1570 years ago, all living beings in Eludniel and its surrounding area, in a fleeting moment, collectively fell into a shallow sleep that could not be awakened by external forces. Their bodies existed in the surface world like those of vegetable beings, while their consciousness was forcibly dragged into a dimension composed of collective subconsciousness—this was the initial prototype of the "Nightmare Realm." This day was known as "Sleep Day."]

In the initial days, the surface world descended into immense panic. The bodies of the Sleepers required life support systems, and urban infrastructure gradually collapsed amidst the chaos. Even more terrifying, the consciousnesses of the Sleepers struggled, trembled in fear, and devoured each other within the Nightmare Realm, accelerating the distortion of the realm and the birth of "rules." Nightmare creations began to materialize from the remnants of the Sleepers' spirits and their collective terror.

On the seventh day of slumber, the rules of the Nightmare Realm began to solidify, forming countless independent and dangerous "realms." Simultaneously, the ironclad rule that "death in a dream is death in reality" was confirmed. A large number of sleepers died in the initial chaotic realms, their physical bodies in the real world withering in sync. The surviving consciousnesses and a small number of "first-generation awakeners" who were not fully drawn into the Nightmare Realm on the day of slumber constituted the new population base.

For the next 1570 years, survivors searched for survival in despair. As 1570 years passed, a morbid "balance" formed in Eludniel. The surface world was a repressive but relatively safe fortress, while the underworld was an abyss of both danger and opportunity. Humanity fought relying on extraordinary mental power and modified mental energy. The undead (failed slumbering or deeply corrupted individuals) roamed the shadows of the surface world and certain realms, numerous and capable of reproduction. The world's life was built upon the suffering of countless slumbering beings and the ceaseless cycle of death. Civilization and technology regressed dramatically, but the understanding of mental dreams achieved a distorted prosperity.

[The Outer World: A refuge and logistical base for the "Awakened." A fragile social structure is maintained using legacy technology combined with limited amounts of spiritual energy brought back from the Nightmare Realm. The sky is perpetually gray and oppressive, and resources are extremely scarce, especially those necessary to maintain mental and spiritual stability.]

[The Inner World/Nightmare Realm: A treasure trove of resources and a trial by death. Twisted spiritual energy condenses into various rare resources, but acquiring them means fleeing from the clutches of supernatural rules and nightmare creations.]

[Brief introduction of each faction.]

[Salvation: An official organization dedicated to researching nightmares, rescuing the lost, establishing safe zones, and allocating basic resources. Symbolizing order and protection, but with limited power, it struggles to reach the deeper realms.]

[The Vatican believes nightmares are spiritual defilement or ancient curses, and combats them through faith and purification, actively venturing into high-risk realms to save souls. This is well-intentioned, but differs from the ideal of salvation.]

[Hell: Believes in the laws of nightmares, where the strong prey on the weak. They view nightmares as reality and consider hunting the weak and plundering resources as a path to evolution. Malice is one of the main threats posed by other entrants.]

[The Survivors: A neutral survivalist alliance composed of seasoned dream walkers. They neither actively rescue nor harm others without cause. Their core values ​​are selling verified, life-or-death information on rules and providing concealed bases. They believe only in survival itself.]

[Other factions: Free Scavengers, Black Market Merchants, Research Society, Cult of Despair, etc.]

……

[Promotion Quest: Rules Apprentice]

Difficulty level: Lv.45
Mission Information: Survive and decipher the core rules and logic of at least three different types of Nightmare Realms.

Mission Requirements: Spend a cumulative total of more than 24 hours in each target area and ultimately escape safely. Successfully collect at least one high-quality resource from the core resource point in each target area.

Task period: 10 days

Quest Rewards: 10 Large Soul Crystals, 5% increase in Spirit Resistance.

Task penalty: Unable to start subsequent quests, promotion failed.

After closing the world introduction, Lin Yi had a general understanding of the world.

A civilization forcibly dragged into an eternal slumber, its former glory long since crushed, leaving only desolation and pervasive oppression.

For thousands of years, civilization has been in decline, its vitality built upon the suffering of countless slumbering souls and the ceaseless cycle of death.

The power system of this world is vaguely described in the introduction, only mentioning "extraordinary spiritual power" and "modified spiritual energy".

Lin Yi habitually tried to release his senses to explore his surroundings. His senses had barely left his body for less than ten meters when a chaotic and disordered "noise" suddenly crashed into him.

That was not a sound, but a collection of the sleeper's negative consciousness, carrying a strong corrosive quality, attempting to assimilate his wisp of perception.

Lin Yi grunted and decisively severed that wisp of spiritual power.

He felt a slight tingling pain in his brain, the aftershocks of the chaotic forces that had impacted his mental state.

Spiritual pollution is everywhere, constituting the so-called safe zone of the "surface world".

Any outward projection of spiritual power is like navigating a murky, filthy swamp; a slight misstep could lead to being swallowed up by negative consciousness accumulated over millennia.

About fifty kilometers away, in another area of ​​the Sleeping City, completely swallowed up by the shadow of a massive building.

The narrow alleyway's entrance was half-hidden by collapsed concrete blocks and rusted metal pipes. Only a few slivers of pale gray light occasionally peeked through the broken windows high up, barely outlining the uneven ground and peeling paint on the walls.

Three figures, like stains seeping from the shadows of ruins, gathered at the entrance of the alley.

Their clothes were so worn that their original color and texture were no longer discernible. They were soaked in thick oil and unidentified stains, turning a nauseating grayish-black color, clinging tightly to their bodies like shrouds.

But what is truly striking are their exposed limbs. The leader is relatively tall, and his left arm disappears completely below the elbow, replaced by a crudely welded metal prosthesis.

The joints are rudimentary bearing structures, lacking proper cushioning and flexibility, and every movement is accompanied by a subtle but grating metallic friction sound.

The other person's cheek had an unnatural grayish-white metallic sheen, and an electronic eye was embedded in its socket, scanning the surroundings.

The last person had a hunched back and walked in an odd way. With each step, a faint gear-like sound came from his spine, indicating that his back had undergone some kind of brutal mechanical reinforcement.

They are the scum of the city of slumber, hyenas on the outermost edge of a small power, or more accurately, scavengers that are not even hyenas, scavenging for food in the cracks.

The aura emanating from them, a sense of being crushed by life and forcibly pieced together from scraps, could be smelled from a great distance.

Just minutes ago, a figure that seemed out of place amidst the ruins turned and disappeared into the depths of the alley.

The figure was petite, wrapped in a gothic dress that was exquisitely crafted even in dim light.

Against a backdrop of rusted iron, concrete, and despair, the smooth satin surface is like a priceless antique porcelain piece suddenly found in a junkyard, exuding a deadly allure.

In this ruin, such fine clothing is like a piece of fresh meat thrown into a pack of hungry wolves.

Three pairs of eyes were fixed on the darkness. The next second, a silent exchange was completed in the greedy gazes and the savage grin that revealed yellow and black teeth.

The man with the metal claws at the head licked his chapped lips, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of lewdness and predatory desire.

He gestured with his chin toward the alley, and the other two immediately understood, their faces also showing cruel smiles.

There were no words, only the faint "snip" of metal rubbing against leather as the dagger was drawn.

The three hyenas, with their backs hunched and their steps extremely light, slipped into the alleyway one after another.

The alleyway, like the throat of a giant beast, completely swallowed their greedy figures.

Gulu stood quietly at the deepest part, her back to the only entrance, her exquisite gothic dress resembling a black datura blooming in the rotten soil.

She lowered her head, seemingly studying an inconspicuous dent in the ground, her slender fingers casually twirling a strand of lace at the hem of her skirt, her posture exuding a leisurely air that seemed out of place with her surroundings.

Footsteps echoed at the alley entrance, and three greedy gazes were fixed on Gulu, sweeping over her slender neck, her bare, pale arms, and finally settling on her expensive dress.

"Hehe, little sister, all alone?" The man with the metal claw arm spoke first, his voice rough and laced with undisguised malice.

He blocked the alley entrance, his tall figure almost completely blocking the only light source, casting a huge shadow that enveloped Gulu entirely.

The other two tacitly spread out to the left and right, forming a tight encirclement triangle with no blind spots.

"You're dressed so nicely, your family must take good care of you, right?" the man with half a metallic face chimed in, his scarlet electronic eye humming softly as it scanned Gulu's body. "Uncles will take you to find your family, okay? Let them... make it up to us properly."

The hunchbacked man with the modified spine didn't make a sound, only emitting a series of strange "hoho" sounds from deep in his throat. He deftly flipped the dagger in his hand, his eyes fixed on Gulu.

Gulu remained with his back to them, not even pausing the fingertips that were fiddling with the lace trim.

This utter indifference was interpreted by the three thugs as extreme fear and cowardice, which further fueled their sadistic desires.

The man with the metal claw arm grinned maliciously, his patience exhausted.

"I don't know how to praise!"

He took a step forward, and the rough metal claw reached straight for Gulu's slender shoulder, intending to drag her over like a chick.

The other two also moved at the same time, one dagger binding her arms and the other stabbing straight at her calf. The three worked together seamlessly, clearly not for the first time.

In their view, the next second this "little lamb" in the expensive dress would collapse to the ground amidst screams.

Like a frame of a movie that has been fast-forwarded, leaving only a blurry black afterimage in the same spot.

puff!
The hunchback remained frozen in place, still in the posture of lunging forward to strike.

A thin red line quietly appeared on his neck, then quickly expanded, and warm liquid spurted out.

Before he could even utter a sound, his body collapsed forward, crashing heavily onto the slippery ground. He twitched twice and then lay still.

The man with the metal face reacted the fastest. He let out a strange cry of shock and anger, and instinctively swung the dagger in his hand fiercely in the direction where the dark figure had appeared.

However, in Gulu's eyes, his movements were as slow as a snail's crawl.

The man with the metallic face felt a chill on the side of his neck, followed by a slightly numb sensation, and then the feeling of warm liquid gushing out. His strength was instantly drained from his body.

His outstretched arm fell limply to his sides, his vision was quickly swallowed by darkness, and his body slumped forward.

In a single encounter, both men were killed.

"Monster! It's a fucking monster!" The prosthetic man blocking the alley entrance finally snapped out of his shock. The sight of his companion's sudden and gruesome death terrified him, and his greed and ferocity were completely crushed by the shadow of death.

His only thought was to escape, to flee this alley, to escape this terrifying being in human skin.

Gulu tilted his head slightly, his gaze as if he were looking at a flying insect trying to break free from a spider web.

The alley was very short, and the prosthetic man's fingertips were almost touching the relatively bright light at the alley entrance.

puff!

The dagger pierced his spine with unparalleled precision from the back of his neck, instantly severing his central nervous system.

The sharp blade pierced his trachea and esophagus in an instant, and a small, cold glint of light shone from the front of his throat, accompanied by droplets of blood.

The man's running motion suddenly stopped, as if all the strength in his body had been instantly drained away.

The man felt as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant. His body staggered forward due to inertia, and then fell heavily forward like a chopped tree stump.

The heavy metal prosthetic limb slammed to the ground with a dull thud.

He did not die immediately; the severed spinal cord took away his control of his body, but he retained the pain and consciousness.

Gulu squatted down, reached out and pinched the connection between the man's nape and the metal prosthetic shoulder. Due to the brutal modification surgery and long-term wear and tear, a ring of somewhat ulcerated skin folds had formed there, and the rough rust marks of the metal joint could be seen at the edges.

The man's body convulsed violently uncontrollably. He wanted to scream, to curse, to beg for mercy, but his pierced throat could only produce incomprehensible gasps.

"Hmm, it seems to hurt." As if confirming something, Gulu applied slight pressure with his fingertips, his nails digging into the swollen, red flesh.

"Uh...ah..." The man squeezed out a broken moan, cold sweat mixed with blood sliding down his throat.

"You just said you'd take me to find my 'family'?" Gulu's voice remained calm. "Tell me, which 'family' do you belong to?"

As Guru spoke, a small, thin-bladed dagger appeared in his other hand without him even noticing.

With a deft twist of the blade, a coin-sized piece of skin tissue, attached to a bit of dark yellow fat and the rusted edges of the metal interface, was completely peeled off.

Blood beads instantly seeped from the edge of the wound, quickly gathering into a thin line that flowed down his dark neck, mixing with the blood spurting from his throat.

"Ugh—!!!" The man's body jerked violently, like a fish out of water, and the hoarse sound in his throat suddenly rose, turning into a shrill and distorted sob.

The excruciating pain assaulted his remaining consciousness, yet he was unable to release it even slightly through physical movement.

"Don't shout so loudly," Gulu's tone even carried a hint of reproach. She casually tossed the piece of flesh, still warm from her body, onto the ground beside her, her gaze falling on another skin fold on the man's back where it was connected to the spinal modification.

"Answer my question. Which organization do you belong to?"

The thin blade fell again, this time targeting the spine near the lumbar vertebrae.

The tip of the knife precisely probed into the tiny gap between the metal and the flesh, and gently pried it open.

"Ah—! No…uh…" The man's screams turned into intermittent gasps, each accompanied by a gush of bloody foam gushing from the knife wound in front of his throat. The intense pain caused his electronic eyes to flash wildly, the red light rapidly flickering, his vision a blur of blood and the cold hem of a gothic skirt.

“Speak.” Gulu’s voice was not loud, the blade hovering below his other shoulder blade, where there was also a rough modification interface.

“Black…Black Teeth…is from the Black Teeth Gang…” The man squeezed out a few words through his teeth, his voice filled with the heavy sound of blood frothing, “Let…let me go…please…” The last word “please” was drowned out by the surging blood froth.

"The Black Tooth Gang?"

"Never heard of you. What do you usually do? Like today, picking up 'trash' in the alley?"

"Yes...yes..." The man was in so much pain that his consciousness was blurred, but he was forcibly pulled back to reality by a new wave of excruciating pain, his mind teetering on the brink of collapse.

He felt like a piece of meat on a chopping board, being dismembered.

"We...are responsible for scavenging...and guarding the premises..."

"Scavenging? What good stuff can you find in a garbage dump?" The tip of the knife moved to his relatively intact arm, gently sliding along the lines of his biceps. The cold touch made every hair on the man's body stand on end.

“The valuable ones are all down there, aren’t they? So, how did you all get down there?”

The next second, the blade pierced the man's arm flesh without warning.

The force was precise, the puncture was not deep, but it just happened to pierce the nerve bundle.

She began to slowly drag the blade, making a thin incision in the muscle.

"Dream device!" The man finally broke down; the excruciating pain and impending death crushed all his resistance. "Only... only gangs with the device... can... can send people down!"

The movement of the thin blade ceased, leaving only the man's heavy, desperate breathing and the dripping sound of blood in the alley. (End of Chapter)