Dream That was Never Real.

toward the massive, pulsating door. It felt alive, almost as if it were watching them, waiting for their decision. He glanced back at his companions, their faces a mixture of hesitation and determination. There was no turning back now.

With a deep breath, Ryuta pushed against the heavy door. A deep, guttural groan echoed through the void as it creaked open, revealing an overwhelming light that swallowed them whole.

---

Ryuta's eyes snapped open.

He found himself lying beneath a massive cherry blossom tree, its pink petals drifting lazily through the air. The soft warmth of the sun kissed his skin, and a cool breeze whispered through the grass. The scene was so serene, so perfect, that for a moment, he felt… at peace.

But something was wrong.

He sat up, scanning his surroundings. He was no longer in the black castle, no longer in the temple, no longer facing Joker. Instead, he was in a vibrant world filled with towering castles, endless fields, and a sky that stretched infinitely above him. In the distance, he saw a village bustling with life, children laughing, merchants calling out their wares. Everything felt too ideal, too perfect.

The others began to stir beside him. Alexia groaned, shielding her eyes from the brightness. Merlin rubbed his temples, looking as disoriented as Ryuta felt. Roy stretched, as if he had just woken from a long nap, and Zhen stood abruptly, scanning the area with narrowed eyes.

"Where… are we?" Skyler asked, voice laced with unease.

"I don't know," Ryuta admitted. "But something about this place isn't right."

Before anyone could respond, a familiar laughter echoed across the fields.

Joker.

His voice was playful, teasing. "Oh, heroes, did you really think it would be that easy? Did you think opening that door would

lead you to the truth? Oh, how naïve you all are!"

Ryuta's fists clenched at the sound of Joker's voice. It was everywhere and nowhere at once, like a whisper in the wind that sent shivers down their spines. The peaceful village in the distance suddenly felt sinister, as if the perfection of the scene was nothing more than a carefully crafted illusion.

"Show yourself!" Ryuta demanded, stepping forward. The others took defensive stances, their hands inching toward their weapons.

Joker's laughter continued, a slow, mocking chuckle. "Ah, but why would I do that? You see, you've already lost. This world? It was never real."

A sudden gust of wind blew through the field, and the once vibrant colors of the world began to distort. The sky turned an eerie shade of gray, the village in the distance flickering like a dying flame. The cherry blossom petals froze mid-air before crumbling into dust.

Merlin's eyes widened. "It's... falling apart."

Zhen cursed under his breath. "This was all just a dream. A lie."

Joker sighed dramatically. "Oh, you wound me! But yes, you are correct. This world was never real—just another one of my little tricks. A dream wrapped in a dream, all for my amusement. And you, dear Ryuta, fell for it beautifully."

Ryuta gritted his teeth. "Enough games. Where are we really?"

The world around them shattered like broken glass, and the momentary sensation of falling overtook them. Darkness swallowed them whole.

Then—

They woke up.

Ryuta's head rested on the cold, black table inside the castle they had built. His fingers twitched as he slowly came to his senses, the heavy silence of the room pressing down on him. Around him, his friends stirred, groaning as they, too, woke from the elaborate illusion.

Skyler shot up, breathing heavily. "What the hell just happened?"

Roy ran a hand through his hair, his expression grim. "We were tricked. Again."

Alexia's eyes burned with frustration. "Joker made us believe we were somewhere else, distracted us with a fake reality while he did—who knows what!"

Ryuta exhaled slowly, piecing everything together. "That door… it wasn't a way forward. It was a trap. A dream meant to keep us trapped in an illusion forever."

Zhen slammed a fist onto the table. "And we fell right into it."

Silence stretched between them, the weight of the deception settling in.