Night had fallen.

Some creatures had surrendered to a deep slumber, while others retained their nocturnal nature. Among them were the chosen Dreamwalkers.

CRACK.

A bespectacled mage entered the dream of an old man who wished for nothing more than a peaceful sleep before his final moments. Nafi had entered with the man's consent. His duty was simple: hunt down the demons that invaded dreams.

“I’m sorry, Grandpa. I come in peace.”

A hideous demonic creature had corrupted the centre of the old man’s dream, making it difficult for him to cross the bridge before him.

Nafi raised his hand and formed a familiar sign.

Water began to gather around him.

Then, with a surge of magic, it twisted into the shape of a dragon.

The demon roared and thrashed against the water dragon, its claws tearing through the swirling currents. Water coiled around its limbs like living chains, tightening with every struggle and dragging the creature to its knees.

“Get off, you demon!”

Nafi thrust his hand forward. The dragon surged with him, slamming its massive body into the creature and sending a wave of water crashing across the dreamscape.

The demon snarled and broke free.

It lunged.

Nafi barely had time to react before another creature emerged from the shadows behind him—a ghoul with sunken eyes, jagged teeth, and rotting claws raised above its head.

BANG!

The gunshot echoed across the dream.

The ghoul's head snapped backwards as it was knocked off its feet. Its body dissolved into a cloud of black mist before it could touch Nafi.

Nafi turned around.

Annadare stood behind him, her gun still smoking.

“I got your back!” she said, blowing casually on the tip of her gun.

In the waking world, the old man’s heartbeat was weakening as he lay connected to a life-support machine. His family had gathered around him, quietly preparing themselves for his final moments.

But the Dream World told a different story.

While his loved ones waited for his passing, a battle raged within his dream. The Dreamwalkers fought desperately against the demons corrupting his peaceful slumber, buying the old man precious moments before his time finally came.

Nafi was almost out of mana.

With his magic running dangerously low, he had no choice but to rely on physical attacks. A swarm of ghouls closed in around him, snarling and snapping as they clawed their way across the dreamscape.

Nafi drew his rod and swung.

THWACK!

One ghoul went down.

He struck another across the head.

THWACK!

Another fell.

One after another, Nafi battered the ghouls back, but melee combat was hardly his forte. His movements were becoming slower, his breathing heavier, and the swarm showed no signs of stopping.

One of the ghouls suddenly lunged at his leg.

Nafi jumped back just in time. Its teeth snapped shut inches from his ankle.

“Shoot! That was close.”

He glanced at the remaining swarm.

Annadare sighed.

“I have to bring out the big gun.”

She reached for her weapon scrolls and unrolled one with a flick of her wrist.

The parchment glowed.

A rocket launcher materialised in her hands.

Nafi stared at it.

Annadare grinned.

“Now we're talking.”

The explosion tore through the swarm, sending the remaining ghouls scattering into clouds of black mist.

Then, silence.

Above them, a warm light began to shine at the peak of the dreamscape. It grew brighter with every passing second, washing away the darkness left behind by the demons.

Nafi looked up.

The dream was ending.

“Finally…” he murmured. “Grandpa can cross the rainbow bridge now.”

For once, there was no grin on his face.

Annadare lowered her weapon and looked toward the old man, who stood quietly on the other side of the bridge. His expression was peaceful. There was no fear in his eyes anymore.

“And it's our time to go,” she said softly. “If we stay any longer, they'll find us unconscious in the waking world.”

Nafi gave the old man one last glance.

“Take care, Grandpa.”

The old man smiled.

The light swallowed the dreamscape.

In the waking world, the old man's heartbeat slowed.

One final breath escaped his lips.

And then—

beep.

The monitor went silent.

His family gathered around him, grieving the man they had loved.

But somewhere beyond the boundary between life and dreams, an old man had crossed a bridge beneath a peaceful sky.

The Dreamwalkers had done their job.

They had given him a peaceful final dream.