The Creatures that We Are

For days, Gao Yang isolated himself in his room. The dream behind the Gates was too perfect, and though he hadn't surrendered to despair, fear began to creep in. He might lose himself before finding a single flaw.

Still, he refused to yield. He turned to meditation, seeking another escape: perhaps the key lay in rejecting all information and interference from the dream. He stopped speaking to anyone, retreating into silent contemplation.

Days blurred together. He could sit motionless from dawn to dusk, experiencing a serenity unlike anything before. The question of reality versus illusion grew distant, no longer tormenting him with frustration or anger. Nothing could touch him.

Three nights into his isolation, a knock broke his meditation. He intended to ignore it, but the knocking persisted. With a quiet sigh, he commanded the automatic door to open.

Can stood in the doorway in her pajamas, her eyes red-rimmed as she struggled to speak.

“Yes?” Gao Yang asked.

Can sniffed, then forced out the words: “What’s the three syllables Can said?”

Gao Yang fell silent, chest tightening.

“Newbie…” Can rubbed her eyes. “Your dream’s full of twists and turns, I couldn’t help but get drawn into it. I skipped parts that seemed unimportant and tried to get to the end. I didn’t expect things to get so heavy…”

“You should ask yourself, Can.”

Can blinked. “I don’t know the answer. How should I know?”

“She is you,” Gao Yang said in earnest.

“We’re both named Can.” She shook her head with a smile. “But she’s not me.”

“If you were her, what would you have said?” Gao Yang opted for a different question.

Can bit her lower lip, lost in thought. Finally, she looked up. “I truly don’t know. I can’t think of anything.”

Realization struck Gao Yang.

Right, how would she know? She’s just my dream.

And why would I have the stupid idea of making the ones in the dream notice something’s wrong and come to realize that they are only part of the dream so as to create a hole?

That’s never going to happen.

This Can will never become self-aware like that. She’s just a product of my dream. Even if she does have the thoughts, it won’t be her own thoughts, but what my perception makes her think.

When I believe this to be only a dream, the dream is already the flaw. How am I going to find a flaw within it?

Am I never waking up?

Did I die the moment I opened the Gates of Closure?

Is this consciousness just the final spark of my dying mind, preserved forever in the museum of time?

If I can never wake up from this dream, is it any different from reality?

Wait, can it be that I haven’t been able to wake up or spot a flaw because this world is real, too?

This isn’t a dream, but the world behind the Gates of Closure!

A parallel world, the escape route the Gates offer to those from the Mist, granting them new lives!

That’s entirely possible!

Have you forgotten, Gao Yang? You came from another parallel universe!

This isn’t a dream! You transmigrated once more!

This time, your consciousness crossed into this world and took over Liu Li’s body.

The real Liu Li should’ve died from Jupiter Viruses. When your consciousness entered this world, you took over Liu Li. That was how he woke up miraculously after being unconscious for so long.

The Mist World inside the Gates and this world outside—they're both real!

If this isn’t a dream, you shouldn’t treat everyone like NPCs. They are all beings of flesh and blood.

And you shouldn’t live your life so passively. That won’t be fair to Liu Li.

At least try to find your way back to the Mist World!

No, no, NO. This isn't right at all!

This must be a dream. The creator of the dream is leading me to think this way, to make me take things seriously.

The more seriously I take everything, the easier I’ll become immersed in the dream and thus trapped!

Yes, it’s all fake! I’m not falling for it…

“Gao Yang!”

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang in his head.

“Who is it?!” Gao Yang spun around in shock. “Who’s calling me?!”

“Newbie, are you…alright?”

In mere seconds, the serenity had drained from Gao Yang's face, replaced by raw panic and pain.

Hesitant, Can stepped forward and said, “Newbie…”

“Don’t touch me!” Gao Yang slapped her hand away, stumbling backward, “You’re fake! You don’t exist! You’re dead! I got you killed! You needn’t remind me of that!”

Can knew Gao Yang was talking about what happened in the dream. For some reason, she suddenly felt a heartwrenching pain. She burst into tears.

“You’re sick, newbie. Calm down. Don’t allow the negative emotions to take over you. It’s dangerous…”

“Shut up! SHUT UP!” Gao Yang growled desperately. “You’re just my imagination. I’m not falling for it, I’m not!”

Can thought back to Vermilion Bird’s instructions. She had assigned Can to Liu Li out of concern that his condition would worsen.

“I’m sorry, newbie…I have to calm you down…”

She took out the sedative she had on her and took off the cap, rushing up to Gao Yang.

“Don’t touch me!”

That triggered Gao Yang. He was going to push Can away, yet Can disappeared all of a sudden.

She went invisible. It was the superpower she gained after becoming a Jupiter Traveler.

Gao Yang started. Two seconds later, a sharp sting bit into his arm.

His strength evaporated. He tried to speak, but darkness already clouded his vision. He plummeted into nothingness.

…

“Agh!”

Gao Yang jolted upright on a sofa, his face itchy with dried tears.

“Gao Yang?”

He looked to the side to see Little Qing Ling sitting by him with a questioning look on her face. “You okay?” she asked.

Gao Yang looked around. They were on the plaza of the isolated island on the edge of the Mist. Under the gloomy sky stretched the gray-blue ocean. The bonfire burned and crackled with embers.

“I…” Gao Yang said hoarsely. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Less than two hours. How are you feeling?”

Gao Yang looked down at his hands. He felt lightheaded, like there was cotton in his head, slowing his thoughts and veiling his perceptions.

“Did you have a nightmare?” Little Qing Ling asked worriedly.

Gao Yang nodded.

She leaned closer. “What did you dream?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Gao Yang.” Little Qing Ling frowned slightly. “There’s something wrong with you.”

“That so?” Gao Yang said distractedly.

“Yeah, you’re down and lost. That won’t do. Cheer up. We’re facing a difficult battle tonight—”

“Doesn’t matter,” Gao Yang cut her off. “This isn’t real. It’s only a dream within another dream. Whatever I do would only be a farce.”

Little Qing Ling smiled after a pause. “You’re slow, Gao Yang. How did you only realize now?”

Houseau3's Thoughts

Getting trippy...

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!