You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

A dream beneath a dream, covered in snow, is like a bed from which one can never awaken. Rein, clutching the "Dream Bow Star Ripple," walked at the head of the way, his shadow stretching long across the cold snowfield. Fou followed behind him, glancing back every now and then to make sure Elsie hadn't been left behind.

The three of them proceeded cautiously, dodging hordes of Dream Beasts, and finally stopped in front of an ice crevice.

“There seems to be an entrance here.” Elsie bent down, her palms pressed against the ice. A faint thumping sound could be heard from beneath the snow, like the heartbeat of a giant beast.

“This pulsation… is not from a living thing, it is the pulse of the Heart of Dreams,” Fufu whispered, her eyes resolute yet flashing with a hint of fear.

“There’s no turning back, we have to go down.” Rein tightened his bowstring, his eyes fixed on the dark crack.

As soon as the words were spoken, the crack suddenly collapsed, swallowing the three figures.

They fell into a domed hall constructed of enormous ice crystals, surrounded by a dreamlike glow of interwoven deep blue and purple light. Dream crystals as thick as giant trees grew from the ground, layer upon layer, like a crystal forest.

At the very center, a colossal alien dragon, perched atop a crystal throne, slowly opened its dreamlike golden eyes.

“Dream Abyss Dragon—Kalizel!” Elsie’s voice trembled with fear. “Legend says it is the gatekeeper of the Heart of Dreams…and it really exists!”

The dragon opened its mouth and let out a deep roar, and a thick, dreamlike mist seeped out from the gaps in its scales, slowly enveloping the entire crystal forest.

"Don't retreat!" Rein drew his bow and nocked an arrow. The Dream Bow Star Ripple shimmered with a cold starlight in his hand, and the arrow pierced the air, aiming straight for the dragon's left eye.

"Roar--!!"

The arrow, trailing a meteoric trajectory, pierced the dragon's eye. However, it only tore through the outer layer of dream mist; its true scales, as hard as cold iron, did not harm its body at all.

Fufu quickly chanted the Icebound Domain incantation, her staff drawing a series of ice runes in the air: "Extreme Cold Seal - Snowfall in a Thousand Knots!"

A bone-chilling cold quickly enveloped the lower half of the Dream Abyss Dragon's body, instantly freezing its thick tail. But the next moment, its wings flapped violently, shattering the ice and whipping up sharp crystalline fragments.

"Rain, watch out!" Fufu rushed over and pushed him away, but a sharp shard of crystal cut her shoulder, and blood instantly soaked through her white cloak.

"Fufu——!"

Ray's pupils contracted sharply. He roared and charged toward Dream Abyss Dragon, gripping Dream Bow Star Ripple with both hands, transforming it into a short bow and slashing straight at the base of the dragon's wings.

"Elsie, unleash Spirit Wave!" Rein roared.

"Understood—! Spiritual Breath Purification: Fivefold Consecutive Breath!"

Elsie raised her staff, and five waves of spiritual energy overlapped on Rein's blade, slashing straight at the neck of the Dream Abyss Dragon with pure spiritual power.

"—Break!"

With a slashing sound like the sky being torn apart, a spray of blood mist shimmering with silver light erupted. The Dream Abyss Dragon let out a piercing scream, struggled and collapsed to the ground, causing the Crystal Forest to tremble violently.

However, it was not completely dead. Suddenly, its dragon eyes flashed with a dark red light, and dream mist burst forth from its entire body, rapidly engulfing the surrounding crystals and shattered ground.

"It needs to repair itself!" Fufu gritted her teeth, blood dripping onto the snow. She propped herself up with one hand. "We must completely destroy its core before it awakens!"

Rein stared at the shimmering purple crystal core on the chest of the Dream Abyss Dragon, a cold glint in his eyes: "Elsie, pour all your magic into me!"

"……it is good!"

Elsie gritted her teeth and poured all her spiritual energy into Rein's body. The Dream Bow Star Ripple then burst forth with intense light, as if it had gathered the stars of the night sky.

"—Fufu, use your last bit of cold power to freeze it completely!"

"Ice Crystal Forbidden Zone: Absolute Zero!!"

Fufu suddenly released her last bit of magic power, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. The entire domed hall instantly froze, and even the massive body of the Dream Abyss Dragon was bound by layers of extreme cold ice.

With a roar, Rein leaped into the air, his Starshine Blade slicing through the dream mist, piercing straight into the heart of Dream Abyss Dragon like a comet—

"Boom!!"

It was as if a clock tower had been struck by a heavy hammer in the dead of night; the enormous pulsation reverberated throughout the Crystal Forest, causing ice to crack and dream mist to swirl back. The Dream Abyss Dragon let out a final, mournful roar before dissolving into countless scattered points of light and vanishing completely.

The entire Dream Beneath the Dream began to collapse violently, and the Crystal Forest seemed to be engulfed by flames, collapsing piece by piece into endless darkness.

"Go!! Don't look back!!" Rein grabbed Fou with one hand and dragged the exhausted Elsie with the other, and ran wildly toward the Heart of Dreams.

In the aftermath of the Dream Abyss Dragon's demise, countless cracks appeared in the Heart of Dream Origin, radiating a holy yet dangerous glow.

“Touch it, and I can leave here…!” Fufu whispered, her consciousness almost fading.

Without stopping, Rein suddenly raised the broken blade and slammed "Dream Bow Star Ripple" high into the center of the Dream Source Heart.

boom--!
A pure white light instantly engulfed the three people's vision, and the feeling of weightlessness was as if they were falling from a great height, with the world spinning rapidly before their eyes.

As the light faded, they fell into a snowfield that was both strange and familiar. The cold wind carried the scent of pine needles, and they could hear the familiar sound of the ice on Snow Dream Lake gently cracking.

"...We're back." Fufu lay in the snow, her eyelashes frosted with white, but she couldn't help but smile.

Elsie curled up beside her, clutching Rein's hand tightly, exhausted but relieved: "Phew... at least... we made it out alive..."

Ray remained silent, gazing up at the quiet moon hanging overhead, letting the cold wind brush against his hair.

Unbeknownst to them, although the Dream Beneath the Dream had been sealed, the ancient power of dreams still lingered deep within Snow Dream Lake. And what awaited them next was a storm from the capital and even more treacherous undercurrents…

But at least for now, the three of them lay side by side on this familiar snow and ice, breathing in the real chill, hearing their heartbeats, and feeling that they were still alive.

This moment is enough.

The bright morning light poured down from the high walls of the capital, white doves circled on the spires of the clock tower, the streets were not yet filled with noise, and occasionally the sound of iron hooves pounded on the bluestone slabs, splashing up a lot of dew.

Rein, Fou, and Elsie staggered back to the north gate of the capital just as dawn broke. The royal guards at the gate, seeing the three covered in wounds and their clothes tattered, were initially taken aback, but then immediately rushed forward: "My lords... what happened to you..."

Rein raised his hand, casually brushing away the frost and snow from his body, his voice hoarse but firm: "Let us through, we're going to the Royal Holy Medicine Tower."

"Yes!" The guards immediately made way for the main road, and someone hurried off to report to the royal city.

Along the way, the early-rising residents looked at the disheveled yet grim squad with either awe or curiosity.

Soon, the bronze doors of the Holy Healer's Tower slowly opened in the dawn, and white-robed priests and healing sorcerers rushed out, carefully helping the three inside. At the top of the Holy Healer's Tower, in a circular healing room adorned with rune chandeliers.

Fou lay on the soft snow fox fur bed, one shoulder wrapped in layers of clean silk bandages. Her face was pale, but her breathing was steady. She opened her eyes and saw Elsie beside her, also with an IV drip of magic crystals, looking haggard but sleeping peacefully.

Meanwhile, Rein leaned against the window alone, gazing at the royal capital's street scene in the morning mist, twirling his nearly broken "Star Ripple" between his fingers. His gaze was as deep as a frozen pool, and he remained silent as the priests of the Holy Healing Tower cleansed the remaining Dream Domain Cold Poison from him.

A moment later, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Go in," Rein whispered.

The man who walked in was a tall, slender man wearing a black feathered top hat and a long purple robe that trailed on the ground. He wore a silver eagle badge on his chest, representing the highest inspector of the Royal Capital Magic Investigation Bureau.

"Your Excellency Night Raven..." Upon seeing this, the priests bowed and quietly withdrew.

Night Raven walked up to Rein, his expression somber yet tinged with barely concealed fanaticism: "I never imagined you would actually return alive from the Dream Beneath the Dream. And I never imagined even the Dream Abyss Dragon would be..."

"Enough with the nonsense." Rein raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife. "We risked our lives to seal away the Dream Beneath the Dream, but what about the support you promised? When will the Royal Capital Magic Investigation Bureau deliver on its promise?"

Upon hearing this, Night Raven coughed lightly, took out a black token covered with intricate inscriptions from his pocket, and respectfully handed it to Rein.

"This is the highest-level authority token of the Investigation Bureau. With it in hand, your team can directly dispatch manpower and resources below the fourth level of the Investigation Bureau, whether in the capital or on the border."

Rein took the token, glanced at it coldly, and then turned to place it on Fufu's bedside table: "Fufu is in charge of using it, don't make me worry about it."

Night Raven glanced furtively at Fou, noticing her weakly stroking the token with her fingers and a slight smile on her face. A chill ran down Night Raven's spine: "There's one more thing… Your sealing of the Dream Beneath the Dream this time was too commotion; it attracted the attention of the Northern Earl's family…"

“Let them come to me,” Rein interrupted him, his voice as cold as falling snow.

The crow opened its beak, but ultimately said nothing more and could only respectfully retreat.

**
A few days later, at the Heron Inn on Wangdu North Street.

This two-story inn, hidden in a back alley, is currently heavily guarded by the Magic Investigation Bureau and the Holy Medicine Tower. Rein's team has temporarily made this place their new base, as both the Imperial Palace and the Investigation Bureau are rife with undercurrents, and they prefer to avoid the eyes and ears of the powerful.

The stove inside was burning brightly, making the room warm and cozy.

Elsie, wrapped in a thick blanket and clutching a pot of hot milk, huddled by the fireplace: "Ha... at least I don't have to smell the healing potion every day anymore."

“But you should drink a few more sips, at least to save your almost frozen tail.” Fufu playfully poked the tip of his fox ear that was peeking out from under his hat.

"Ugh... Stop poking me..."

Fufu turned to look at Rein at the table, where he was engrossed in a map, marking several anomalies remaining on the outer edge of the Dream Below the Dream.

"Rayne, are we really going to investigate these places? We just crawled back from the brink of death..." Fufu leaned closer, feeling a little sorry for his haggard face.

“We must go.” Rein pointed to a canyon on the northernmost side. “The Dream Abyss Dragon is dead, but the remaining Dream Core energy is gathering here. If we let it grow, the next Dream Abyss Dragon might be even more terrifying.”

Fufu sighed, but still nodded: "Okay... then at least let us have a good meal tonight to replenish our energy."

Upon hearing this, Elsie's eyes lit up: "I want roast suckling pig! And honey berry pie!"

Rein pursed his lips helplessly: "You guys order, whatever you want to eat. Just don't make me carry you all out of the Holy Medicine Tower again."

**
As dusk fell, a sumptuous dinner completely dispelled the gloom that had accumulated over the past few days. The roast suckling pig was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the berry pie was sweet but not greasy. Fou even secretly slipped several pieces into Elsie's bowl.

At night, Fufu sat by the window of her room, watching the streetlights of the capital city gradually illuminate the night. On the bed behind her, Rein slept peacefully, still clutching the broken Starlink sword tightly in his hand.

"Don't worry, I'll fix Xinglian myself after all this is over."

She murmured softly, her gaze falling on the scarred bow under the moonlight, a stubborn tenderness flashing in her eyes.

**
The following day, the Northern delegation quietly arrived in the capital. Leading the delegation was none other than Satya Snowfield Ring, the newly appointed heir to the Northern Earl's family.

She was dressed in pure white knight's armor, her silver hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes were so cold they seemed to freeze people's hearts.

The first thing she did after arriving in the capital was to appear at the entrance of the Heron Inn.

"Let Rein out," Satya said coldly to the guards blocking the doorway, her voice as chilling as a gust of wind sweeping across the long street.

Hearing the noise, Rein pushed open the door and came out. Their eyes met, and an invisible wall of ice instantly formed in the air.

"Satya, you came quickly."

"You sealed the Dream Below the Dream without authorization, causing instability on the northern border. I must settle this score with you."

Satya approached slowly until their noses were almost touching. The surrounding servants and guards held their breath, fearing that a single misstep could provoke a fight.

Rein sneered, "Calculate it however you want, but if you don't deal with those remnants of dream cores, the next place to be destroyed will be your Northern Territory."

Satya raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching the fragment of armor on his chest. Her tone was calm but tinged with ruthlessness: "Then, from this moment on, my White Knights and I will fight alongside you until the Dream Core is completely destroyed. If you dare to retreat halfway... even the capital will not be able to protect you."

"Suit yourself." Rein impatiently brushed her hand away, turned to Fou and Elsie and called out, "Pack your things, we're leaving tonight, first to the Northern Canyon."

Fou poked her head out and made a face at Satya. Elsie obediently stuffed the snacks into her backpack, and the three of them quickly got ready.

**
The snowy night fell once again.

The newly formed team set foot on the frozen land of the North. Satya's silver hair fluttered in the night wind. She and Rein walked at the front of the team, one on each side. The moonlight reflected in their cold, hard eyes, but it also revealed their unwavering determination.

This is a new journey.

The wind howls, and unknown shadows lurk deep within the snow-covered plains. But as long as they still trust each other, the light of sword and magic will not be extinguished.

In early winter, the northern snowfields were as vast and desolate as the Dead Sea. When the wind blew, snow dust covered the figures. Rein and his group walked along the frozen mountain ridge. Satya, wearing a silver bearskin cloak, walked at the front, with the metal badge of the White Knights adorning her left shoulder, as cold as the snow beneath her feet.

Fufu huddled inside her thick fox fur cloak, her footsteps making a squeaking sound, and occasionally jogged a few steps to catch up with the group: "Miss Satya, aren't you cold?"

Satya didn't turn around, leaving only a chilling statement that could freeze your eyelashes: "The White Knight is not afraid of wind and snow."

Fufu pouted and stole a glance at Rein, only to see him silently following behind Satya, carrying the half-repaired Starlink. (End of Chapter)