Whispers of the forgotten

Morpheus stood in the training grounds, clad in a full black armor that gleamed faintly under the dim light. His sword, the Shadow Blade, was strapped to his back, radiating a cold, mysterious aura. He was prepared to enter the First Dimension, where his true strength would be tested.

German stood beside him, explaining the rules with deliberate care. "To enter the First Dimension, there are three essential conditions. First, you must have successfully completed the Third Dream. Second, you must be at least of the Third Ethereal Tier. And lastly, you'll need a Dimension Crystal."

Morpheus raised an eyebrow in curiosity and asked, "What is a Dimension Crystal?"

German offered a small, knowing smile and replied, "It's an incredibly rare artifact that allows its wielder to travel between dimensions. Without it, no one can cross the dimensional barriers. Each dimension has its own crystal, and you cannot enter the Second Dimension without obtaining its crystal by succeeding in the First."

As German continued explaining, Morpheus suddenly felt a shift in the atmosphere. His gaze instinctively turned to the sky, where an awe-inspiring yet terrifying sight began to unfold. The Black Sun and the Red Sun were aligning in a surreal and ominous display. The horizon glowed with a mix of crimson and dark shadows, filling the air with a palpable sense of foreboding.

German's tone grew firm. "This alignment is no coincidence. It's a sign that the gateway to the First Dimension is ready."

He handed Morpheus a small, oval-shaped crystal that shimmered faintly in hues of twilight.

"To activate the First Dimension, you must infuse a part of your ethereal energy into this crystal," German explained. "Once you enter, you'll face challenges that only your strength and willpower can overcome. Remember, the only way to reach the Second Dimension is by surviving this one and obtaining its crystal."

Morpheus took the crystal in his hands, closed his eyes, and focused. He felt his ethereal energy coursing through him and directed a portion of it into the crystal. The moment his energy flowed into it, the crystal erupted with a blinding purple light, illuminating the entire area.

A swirling temporal portal began forming in front of him—a vortex of ethereal energy spiraling at impossible speeds, glowing with hues of violet and silver. Suddenly, the portal pulled him in with immense force, leaving him no chance to resist.

As Morpheus disappeared into the portal, German stood still, staring into the now-empty space where the light had shone moments earlier. He let out a heavy sigh, his face a mix of hope and worry. In a soft, almost inaudible voice, he murmured, "I hope you survive, Morpheus. This world is unforgiving, even to the strong."

Entering the First Dimension - The Oasis of Souls

As the portal consumed Morpheus, he felt as though he were being swallowed by a black hole. His body seemed to tear apart and reassemble repeatedly, as if he were hurtling through space and time at incomprehensible speeds. Everything around him was pitch black, save for faint cracks of light that flickered randomly, tracing chaotic patterns in the infinite darkness.

Then, abruptly, he found himself standing on a surface that appeared to be pure white water. Everything was eerily still and silent, as if time itself had paused. He looked around but could see no end to the vast, black expanse surrounding him.

A Surprising Encounter

While Morpheus tried to make sense of his surroundings, he noticed two other figures appearing a few steps away. When he focused on their faces, his breath caught in shock.

"Isaac? Rosemary?" he exclaimed, disbelief evident in his voice.

Isaac and Rosemary stared back at him, equally stunned. The three of them exchanged silent, uneasy glances, the tension and surprise hanging heavily in the air.

Morpheus recalled German's words:

"Sometimes, three random individuals can be drawn into the same dimension."

It all made sense now. This meeting wasn't planned—it was a result of the mysterious rules governing this dimension.

"It seems we'll be facing this together," Isaac said at last, breaking the silence.

"This is unexpected, but we have no choice now," Rosemary added calmly.

As they greeted each other and attempted to assess the situation, a deep, resonant voice broke the silence. It was calm yet carried an undeniable aura of authority and dread:

"Welcome, contestants. You have entered the First Dimension - The Oasis of Souls. Only the strongest will survive here."

The three exchanged nervous looks as the voice continued:

"Before you begin your journey, verify your information. Speak the word: 'Page.'"

"Page?" Morpheus repeated uncertainly.

Suddenly, transparent screens appeared before each of them, hovering in the air as if conjured from nothing. The screens displayed detailed information in a design eerily reminiscent of the video games Morpheus used to play in his previous life.

The Page: Contestant Information

Morpheus glanced at his screen and read aloud:

First Dimension: The Oasis of Souls

Name: Morpheus

Age: 18

Class: Ethereal Shadow

Tier: Third Ethereal Tier

Stats:

Strength: 15

Agility: 18

Speed: 20

Health: 17

He stood frozen, staring at the screen in disbelief. "This… this is just like the video games from my past life," he thought, astonished.

Meanwhile, Isaac and Rosemary were also staring at their screens, their expressions mirroring Morpheus's shock.

"What is this? How can it display our information like this?" Isaac wondered aloud, inspecting his stats.

"It seems to be a system for evaluating us… perhaps this is how this dimension operates," Rosemary suggested, her voice calm but contemplative.

---

The Challenge Ahead

As they tried to process this revelation, the ominous voice returned:

"Prepare yourselves, contestants. The challenges ahead will test every ounce of your strength, intelligence, and will. If you hope to survive, you must work together… or against one another. The choice is yours."

With that, the voice faded, leaving the trio in an uneasy silence. What lay ahead was still unknown, but one thing was certain—this dimension would show no mercy.