It was a starry night. Alka sat at the bow, gazing into the unseen darkness.
The cool night breeze, carrying a salty, damp scent, blew across her face, and the faint sound of music reached her ears.
Hearing the sound, Alka smiled and gently patted the deck below her.
"Okay, it's okay. We'll be done with the Zehai soon, and then things won't be like this anymore. Don't worry."
The song was gentle and joyful.
"It's okay."
Because of the Zehai's environment, they had been operating there for so long, and naturally couldn't remain aboard the Dawn of the Sea.
This made the Dawn of the Sea, which had been wandering around the sea, feel very lonely.
Alka comforted her.
For an unknown amount of time, in the endless darkness, only the Dawn of the Sea flickered faintly, moving across the sea, intertwining with the Zehai next to it.
"Okay, I'm going to bed."
After saying that, he patted the deck, stood up, and walked towards the poop.
In the lookout, Pororo, who was on alert, heard the noise below and looked out.
Back in his room, the moment Alka lay down on the bed, he fell into a dream.
He opened his eyes within his vast dream bubble.
Rising from the faintly glowing grass, Alka habitually glanced around.
His dream remained unchanged.
The towering crystal pillars were filled with intertwined energy. As Alka's dream kingship grew more and more stable, it began to automatically generate energy and infuse it.
In the dream world, birdsong and small animals began to appear.
The entire dream world was no longer as lifeless as before, but was brimming with a new kind of vitality.
Alka crouched down, moved away from a rabbit that had bumped into his foot, and then floated out of the dream.
He quickly broke through the bubble and emerged.
Outside lay his royal palace, the construction of which was nearing its final stages.
The moment Alka emerged, Hirvi stepped through the air and reached his side, nudging him with his crystal antlers.
Alka patted his antlers and looked down, at the kingdom he had built.
Various, twisted, and bizarre diamond-shaped buildings filled the entire dream space.
These buildings were constructed of silver metal, often adorned with crystal-like decorations.
Ornate yet simple.
Various white mists swirled around them.
The mist-like creatures that inhabited the dreamland circled around these buildings, resting and playing.
These crystal buildings vary in shape, yet maintain a unified style, making it difficult to discern their specific purpose by their appearance.
However, these buildings can generally be divided into three types. One type generates cloud-like energy.
This cloud-like energy can be absorbed by the mist creatures within the realm, strengthening them or performing other functions under their control.
For example, it can strengthen the entire realm or provide a protective barrier.
These are versatile structures, capable of a variety of functions.
They can be used for attack, defense, strengthening, or even shaping and serving as housing.
Other structures interspersed within the realm primarily amplify the power of the mist creatures and transmit it to reality, repairing and stabilizing chaotic realities.
These can amplify the power of a mist creature by approximately five times. Some enhanced versions, used by sixth-stage physical creatures, can amplify it by ten times, allowing them to precisely and rapidly repair reality.
The smallest and most inconspicuous of these buildings looked just like the first type, also producing mist.
Of course, this only seemed obvious to those unfamiliar with the situation. For those familiar with the situation, these buildings were the most heavily protected, producing mist-like creatures from scratch.
They could be simply thought of as incubation pools.
Of course, there weren't just three types of buildings; it was simply because Alka's kingdom was filled with mist-like creatures.
Different dreams had different buildings for the creatures.
Antlers rose from Alka's head, and mirror-like patterns appeared on his face.
Sensing the changes around him, Alka could clearly sense that after using Mirmi's simulated state, his strength had greatly increased.
He could fully utilize his various abilities here, and he could also quickly restore himself through the surrounding buildings.
A shadowy creature, clad in a black robe, appeared before Alka, its robe flickering. It bowed slightly. "King, everything is complete. Only the last step remains."
Alka nodded, and Hirvi, standing beside him, immediately carried Alka on his back.
With a leap, he stepped onto the void and ran off into the distance.
As Alka moved closer, more and more mist-like creatures began to gather around him.
More and more mist-like creatures began to move closer to Alka's destination.
In the very center of the royal court, a circular platform, made of interlocking crystal and silver metal, floated.
Above the crystal, a throne constructed of white mist, a mixture of silver metal, and fragmented crystals.
It was clear that the throne was fashioned to fit a human form.
Hirvi, dragging Alka with him, landed on the platform with a leap. Then, with slow steps, he led Alka step by step to the front of the throne.
The deer knelt on the ground, and Alka dismounted.
One after another, mist creatures ascended the crystal platform.
These mist creatures were all at levels 5 or 6, standing on either side according to their strength.
A closer look revealed over 20 level 6 mist creatures.
The number of level 5 creatures reached over three digits.
He hadn't known when his kingdom had become so populated with mist creatures.
The remaining mist creatures that followed him crowded densely around the disc, as if they were immersed in a sea of mist.
One could even see various light and shadow creatures dotted among the vast mass of mist creatures.
Alka took a deep breath and slowly sat on the throne.
"King, condense your authority."
He nodded, and the kingship of the dreamland began to gather once more.
As the royal power converged, the entire royal court seemed to be energized.
A white mist, tinged with tiny specks of black light and shadow, gathered in front of Arka like a vortex.
Followed by a pink haze and a flood of gold and silver energy.
The countless mist-like creatures around them waited in silence, and the entire dreamlike royal court was utterly silent.
This cloud-like gathering of energy possessed a share of the power of every creature in this realm.
Finally, the gathered energy began to weaken, and the vortex of energy calmed. Shadow Robe gently extended his hands, made of light and shadow.
Bending down, he stretched his hands straight, raising them above his head.
Gently, he lifted the fallen object.
It was a crown.
The circular crown was adorned with floating crystals, a silver edging, and a shroud of white mist.
Wisps of black light could still be seen, swirling through the mist.
Shadow Robe bent down, holding the crown. He strolled over to Alka's front.
Then, at his nod, he stepped to the side.
At that moment, Alka felt countless eyes watching him from beyond his kingdom.
The owners of these eyes were all immensely powerful, and their gaze alone made Alka feel slightly pressured.
Even within his dreams, Alka's power had already reached the fifth stage.
As the number of gazes grew, the pressure mounted on Alka.
"Put it on."
Hearing this, Shadow Robe slowly reached out and placed the crown firmly on Alka's head.
The moment the crown was placed on his head,
The entire kingdom seemed to be energized, instantly energized.
Each of the strange buildings began to flicker with light, spewing forth vast quantities of mist that surrounded them.
The buildings were instantly activated.
"Congratulations."
"New compatriots."
"New king."
"New friend."
Various disembodied voices, carrying varying degrees of majesty and emotion, echoed from beyond the realm.
These all came from kings outside the realm, watching this coronation ceremony.
Without exception, they were all dream kings.
In reality.
Atop the boundless ocean.
Countless powerful beings sensed the changes taking place in the world.
"The world has become a little more stable in this instant? What's going on?"
"New dream kings have been born."
"This is good news. The pressure has been reduced a lot."
Some were happy about this, while others were naturally annoyed.
"The world has become stronger again. I wonder who has done what again."
"This is disgusting! Wouldn't all my decades of hard work be in vain? Damn it!"
"Don't worry. It's been so many years since someone like this appeared. It's all in vain."
The discussions coming from all directions did not affect Alka, who had already been crowned and fully accrued the royal power.
The moment his royal power was solidified, he felt that the connection between his dream and his real body was no longer as fragile as before, but extremely stable.
In other words, a large gap no longer affected the stable connection between reality and dream.
Of course, if they wanted to widen the gap even further, they would still be there.
As Alka sat on the throne, feeling the power brought by the kings' authority and accepting the changes within, the surrounding dream creatures slowly faded away, leaving the central throne area.
Only Hirvi remained, quietly waiting beside it.
As Alka regained complete stability, the fragment of the divine power he had previously devoured was completely digested.
The power of this fragment of divine power became a part of Alka, and the essence of divinity flowed into Alka's body.
Accepting the transformation of this divine essence meant that Alka naturally became a divine creature.
This solidified his path.
The barrier between dreams and reality was no longer as thick as it once was for him.
His control over the power of dreams could be described as effortless, as if he were at the fingertips of his own arm.
Within his own kingdom, Alka could sense the power he could unleash, far beyond the simple fifth stage. Stage six? Even stronger.
In his own kingdom, he was the absolute king, and every environment became his strength.
Even the other dream creatures would help and support him.
Complete kingship was even more powerful than Alka had imagined, coupled with the power of the fragment of the godhead.
A match made in heaven.
After sensing the changes within himself, Alka opened his eyes. Looking at the fully constructed dream kingdom, he slowly rose from his throne.
Hirvi followed suit.
Shadow Robe, who had left at this moment, had returned to Alka's side without him noticing.
He looked at Alka and slowly asked, "Your Majesty, your dream power seems to be severely suppressed..."
Hearing this, Alka nodded, then waved his hand, saying, "It's okay. I know my limits. It won't be long before this situation is over."
Hearing this, Shadow Robe nodded in relief and took his leave.
Alka knew what he meant by "suppression." It was the Galaxy's rejection of the two treasures it already possessed.
The Galaxy's rejection prevented Alka from using the treasures simultaneously, clearly hindering his progress.
Furthermore, when he fully became a king and absorbed the power of the godhead fragment, the Galaxy's suppression also affected him.
However, there was no better means than the Galaxy right now. In reality, he still lacked the powerful attack power to deliver a decisive blow.
So, let's use it for now. Just as the Holy Mother said, there's no harm in using it temporarily.
This also prevents Alka from fully understanding and developing the treasure of the Galaxy.
But it won't be long.
Sofia and the others are already approaching the limit of the third stage. In a few months, they should gradually advance to the fourth stage.
At that time, Alka will be able to hand the Galaxy over to the more suitable among them.
If no one is suitable, that would be the most troublesome.
At that time, a choice must be made.
...
At this time, in the Giant Tree's habitat.
In this chaotic area, all sorts of people live together, and evil prevails.
On a quiet and desolate island.
Various small boats and small ships are parked around the island.
From the decorations on these boats, it can be seen that none of the people aboard are normal. Among them were small boats constructed from various forms of withered bones and flesh, and a boat fashioned from the undead bones of a giant fish.
‐‐There were also ordinary wooden boats adorned with various skulls.
‐‐There were also tattered, undead boats surrounded by the wailing and screaming of evil spirits.
‐‐Like these boats, the people and forces gathered on the island were all pirates, cults, and shadowy forces from the giant tree's habitat.
‐‐"Karuto, why did you bring us here if you don't continue to stop the flower fairy's revival?"
A motley group of people, accompanied by a large number of subordinates, gathered in the center of the island.
‐‐A faint blue flame ignited in the center of their circle, its eerie light illuminating their profiles.
‐‐It was a terrifying sight.
‐‐The speaker was a man with one eye blind and his mouth sewn shut.
"Idiot, stop your sarcasm here! A sealed mouth can't stop you from spouting nonsense, can it?" Kalutuo lashed out without mercy, turning around and launching into a barrage of abuse.
The blind man, his mouth sewn shut, seemed about to strike out in anger, but was stopped by a man beside him.
He was a middle-aged man, somewhat scruffy-looking, but standing among the group, he could be considered a normal person.
He wore ordinary clothes and had an ordinary appearance.
He looked at Kalutuo and asked, "Enough of the small talk. What exactly do you want to do by gathering us all here?"