Dreams are not always good

Terramare, Coastal City. Monday, November 3, 2129,10:00 PM.

30 years later

As the sunset over the horizon. The movement in the city increased in measure, in an orderly manner, people went out to their duties like any other beginning of the week, but for Ismael Echeverría it was not another normal day. Near the narrow paths of a sidewalk, the silhouette of a boy no older than 17 years ran nimbly dodging obstacles.

"Hey, be careful!"

In a sudden movement, his body collided with one of the garbage containers, as he approached the other to avoid the pain. He jumped nimbly over the obstacle, narrowly avoiding it but unfortunately ran into a clothesline full of wet steal.

"Sorry!." He retorted as he ran off a wet press and in the process pushed a cart of fruit.

"Hey, brat!"

"It had to be you again!"

"Sorry."

"Go back to quiz ruffian!"

Letting out a laugh, Ishmael quickened his pace. It was refreshing, the cold air in the morning, any boy his age would be preparing to enter school, he on the other hand did not have such a privilege being an orphan like many others after the so-called great restructuring, he lived in the orphanage together with many As the.

He was born after restructuring in what used to be called Veracruz, a city in the extinct Mexican country. Now named Terramare, he didn't know the whole story, of the past and what little he could find out was through the news and the matron's stories the world was very different in the past.

Now children idolize superhumans. The guilds are the main exponents, of each country having the power within the power to which they belong, technology had advanced so much that now, the world of dreams became the engine and pillar of the new world. Curiously, this did not prevent the classic problems of thinking human beings from being eradicated.

The violence.

Discrimination.

The racism.

Not only did it not become extinct, but it was transformed. Now if you do not have powers you are an abnormal, social outcast, and a little worse than a slave in a society where everyone is special someone who does do not fit into it.

Unfortunately, Ismael counts among this percentage.

A normal human.

"I'm arriving late." Stopping, at last, Ismael entered the small apartment.

A small space, enough to hold a bed and the kitchen. The largest space in the place is occupied by the VR cabin: Lamegeton like everything else related to the world of dreams has become dispensable in daily consumption, the world of dreams is the provider of wealth and the goal of all to be able to out of poverty. Ismael, after so much sacrifice, had been able to buy a resold cabin a few years ago.

Thanks to his work. Despite all, he had a dream, in this world only the meaning of the word had completely changed. And like all the others, Ismael also had one.

He wanted to be Empowered.

Nothing big, he had no dreams of being the best. Or having this fight against the world to be able to stand out and tell everyone I'm here, no similar drama, Ismael was a simple person, he had ambitions of course, like any human but he was also realistic.

He did what he could, despite the taunts of others. Having been entering the dungeons for 3 years in a row but never being able to wake up and become an Empowered, which was weird in itself since it was normal to know that anyone who had enough experience points could wake up successfully but as always there are exceptions.

Of all the people in the world, he had to be that exception.

"I'm home."

Leaving the backpack in a corner, he went to the small water dispenser. Taking a few seconds to cool off, he walked to his bedroom and turned on the cabin.

The door rose together with still a creaking sound.

He entered and closed the booth.

Inside is a virtual panel unfolded in front of his eyes. Taking from his pulse to a routine normal check, confirming that he was free of abnormalities, the starter motor fired.

Letting out a sigh, with determined eyes he gave the start order.

"Command: Start of Dreams."

Along with a variety of strange sounds his entire world turned white.

Following, Ismael felt as if he fell from the sky at a great speed.

When the color returned I was in the middle of a long meadow.

The beauty of the place was impossible to describe in words. So many contrasts making long conjunction of feelings, everything felt real it could be cut and he would be bleeding, he could feel the air flooding his lungs, every fiber inside him danced in resonance a smile slid across his lips.

"Welcome to the world of dreams."

——

WinterSkay. City of Beginnings, Tuesday 4, November. Solar year 3019. 5:00 Am.

WinterSkay.

The first continent within the world of dreams. Mostly known for being the home of the city of beginnings, the first stop for first-timers, a city with a colorful and lively atmosphere.

It is also known as the place where legends were born.

From high-ranking players to the most famous legends in the world of dreams. The protectors, five brave warriors chosen by the Uranfänglich guardian spirits of the universe and war heroes.

Each wearing a color of the rainbow.

The leader, carrying the winged dragon of infinity wearing red armor.

Followed by the blue one, carrying the Sky Monarch Griffon.

The black, carrying the impregnable centaur.

The pink one, carrying the Phoenix of reincarnation.

And finally the yellow, carrying the transforming unicorn.

All legends.

And one of the most coveted classes within the world of dreams. Since only 5 lucky ones would have a chance to become a protector.

One could only imagine the waves this created both in and out of the dream world.

But even after 30 years, no one had found even a single clue. That it would lead to the class change mission, much was discussed in the forums on this subject, reaching the consensus that such a task was impossible, if it were not for the game showing that it was possible, tracking and finding the hidden evidence no one would have believed possible.

Naturally, this was far from mattering to Ishmael at the moment. As he walked through the entrance to the city of the beginning, even at this hour of the morning there was a lot of activity.

Taking a look, all he could see was beginning players who were extremely rare to meet with high ranks. After all, there were over 40 new continents unlocked and no one who wanted to become famous would waste their time in this city.

"Member requested, Empowered level 20 minimum 15 for a raid on the dungeon of the beginnings!."

"Hey, hey! If you're a healer class or creepy, join our group!"

"Intermediate dungeon, forming group for the raid, you think you are capable enough!"

"It is requested..."

Ignoring the chorus of voices, Ismael entered the dungeon of the beginnings.

The flow of people began to decrease once reaching the entrance. Even so, several newbies or people were challenging her for the first time, usually, it wasn't much of a challenge at least for other people the minimum level an Empowered started with was 10.

Ishmael on the other hand.

He was at level 0, he hadn't increased even after three years of relentlessly grinding. The only good fortune for which he still lingered were the dream crystals, these had a medium respawn rate in the dungeon.

Being able to exchange them for money was the reason Ismael could afford the VR canine: Lamegeton.

A quiet life, if you don't count the problems he has to deal with in his daily life.

"Look there."

murmurs.

"Isn't this child the weakest Powered there is?"

"Hahaha, yes he is."

"Man, how sad to be so close to heaven but at the same time so far away."

"Listen, that you can only get into this dungeon is pretty pathetic to crawl through the mud for a few dream crystals."

"He Comes to Another Attempt to Retrieve Leftovers."

"Yes, this older brother is considerate that I left a few for you to eat, be grateful hahaha."

"Hahaha..."

Yes, just something constant in his life that he had learned to ignore.

As he entered the dungeon the light began to dim, the shadows of the place slid down the walls like an endless blanket of absolute darkness.

Armed with a pickaxe.

He finally reached the room of crystals. The beasts had already been cleaned by Empowered before he entered, only the same one was in the place since no one would enter only for leftovers that appeared every day.

Especially without strong Boosts who will take care of the beasts.

Only desperate guys like Ishmael could do such a thing.

A world full of riches, but hidden behind it, misery, anger, and despair.

Just another day, in the world of dreams.