The transition was like falling through ice. One moment Min-ho was in his warm bedroom; the next, the air was thin, freezing, and smelled of ancient copper.
He stood in the center of a black sand wasteland. Above him, the sky wasn't a sky at all; it was a swirling vortex of deep indigo and violet stars. This was the Slumber Realm.
'It's different this time,' Min-ho thought, looking at his hands. 'I can actually feel the grit of the sand. I can feel my own pulse.'
Usually, he was just a spectator in his dreams, running until he woke up in a cold sweat. But now, he had total control.
[Notice: Synchronization at 0.1%]
[Target Spotted: Rank F Scavenger Hound]
A low, guttural growl vibrated through the air. From behind a jagged pillar of obsidian, a creature emerged. It looked like a wolf, but its skin was translucent, showing glowing purple veins, and its eyes were hollow pits of white fire.
It didn't wait. The hound lunged, a blur of shadow and teeth.
"Shit!" Min-ho yelled, throwing himself to the side.
In the real world, he was average. His stats were bottom tier. But as he rolled across the black sand, a strange sensation washed over him. His movements felt lighter. The hound's leap, which should have been too fast to track, looked like it was moving through honey.
[Time Dilation Active: 110x]
[Your perception has been adjusted to the Slumber Realm's flow.]
'If I can see it, I can hit it,' he thought.
As the hound landed and spun around for a second strike, Min-ho didn't run. He planted his feet and channeled every bit of frustration he'd felt into his right fist. He remembered the breathing technique he'd read about in the history books—the one the First Awakener used.
He took a deep breath, and for a split second, the air around his fist distorted.
"Get lost!" Min-ho roared, swinging a desperate counter-punch.
CRACK.
His fist collided with the hound's skull. The impact sent a jolt of electricity up his arm, but the monster didn't just fall; it shattered. Its body turned into a cloud of purple mist that swirled around him before being absorbed into his chest.
[First Kill Confirmed.]
[Experience Multiplied by 110x.]
[Strength +5, Agility +3]
[Synchronizing progress to physical body...]
Suddenly, a massive weight hit him. It felt like his muscles were being torn apart and sewn back together with steel wire. The pain was blinding.
"Argh!" Min-ho gasped, falling to his knees. His skin felt like it was on fire. 'System... stop... it's too much...'
[Synchronization Complete. Waking up.]
Min-ho's eyes snapped open. He was back in his room, staring at the ceiling. He was drenched in sweat, and his heart was hammering against his ribs like a caged animal.
'Was it just another dream?'
He sat up, and the first thing he noticed was the sound. He could hear the hum of the refrigerator downstairs. He could hear the neighbor's dog barking three houses away. His senses were screaming.
He looked down at his hands. They were shaking, but they looked thicker. More defined. He gripped the edge of his wooden desk and squeezed.
Crrr-ack.
The solid oak splintered under his fingers like it was made of dry crackers. He stared at the damage, his jaw dropping.
'No way... it actually happened,' he thought. 'The training... the stats... they stayed.'
Knock. Knock.
"Min-ho? Are you still sleeping?"
His sister Min-ah's voice came through the door, followed by a playful kick against the wood. "Mom says dinner is ready. Come on, Lazy-ho! If you don't hurry, I'm eating your portion of the beef stew!"
Min-ho looked at the shattered corner of his desk, then back at the door. His body felt energized, overflowing with a power he shouldn't have.
"I'm coming!" he called out.
He stood up, and for the first time in his life, he didn't feel tired. He felt like he could sprint across the city without breaking a sweat.
'If one hour of sleep gave me this,' he thought, a slow, dangerous grin spreading across his face. 'What happens if I sleep for eight?'