Quiet closed in for a brief moment as the low hissing sounds rose from the seams in the stone floor and crawled upward along the walls.

The sound pushed into ears and chests while pink mist seeped more from the edges of the chamber. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

It had now filled the whole enclosed space, completely thickened the air and coated every breaths with a sweet, sticky film at the back of the throat.

Now, everyone’s face had now been clouded with the Euphoria mist.

Officer Jaren had asked Fateless a question. He wanted to know if Fateless exhibit the same symptoms others felt.

However, the young man has given him a reply he didn’t expect from him.

Fateless had said the exact truth.

Jaren gave a single nod. "Alright." He turned his back on Fei Ming.

His shoulders stayed squared while his jaw remained locked tight. Fingers curled once at his sides then straightened as the heavy warmth seeped deeper into his lungs.

He should have arrested this murderer.

However, Misfortune had warned him off earlier due to lack of evidence, yet every time his thoughts returned to Fei Ming the muscles across his back tightened harder and his breath shortened.

With only two time sequences left he could not force any advantage.

The hatred burned deep in his chest, grinding against his ribs with every inhale of the cloying mist.

His hands wanted to clench again but he kept them open at his sides, forcing the tension down through his arms and into his legs planted firm on the floor.

Staring at the officer’s back, Fei Ming clearly saw how this other man hated him.

This was no new news. One more couldn’t hurt.

Even the cosmics shits despised him for no reason. A mere mortal’s hate couldn’t do more damage.

He gazed toward the large obsidian throne at the far end of the chamber.

No one had taken the seat yet. The Euphoria Sovereign boss had not appeared.

To him, sitting there before its arrival would bring no gain.

The mist already filled lungs and dragged thoughts slower while adding weight to every limb.

Any temporary power would slip away under the growing fog.

Unless someone lost control enough to claim the seat anyway.

His own head felt lighter now, thoughts moving through thicker resistance, yet his body still responded when he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

The stone under his boots felt cooler than the warm vapor pressing against his face and neck.

Suddenly, Leone screamed. "Fuck it! Fuck everyone! I can’t take this anymore! Why isn’t anyone doing anything! Why are you all fuckers just standing here and not taking control!?"

He shoved past bodies with elbows jabbing into shoulders and backs.

Sweat already beaded on his forehead from the thickening mist.

When be reached the throne, he dropped hard onto the seat. "There! I did it! I don’t know why the hell everyone’s scared of sitting on the—" His body jerked as the vapor swirled denser around him.

Slump.

Leone slumped forward. Drool trailed warm from the corner of his mouth. The mist swirled thick over his entire frame and his chest rose in shallow pulls.

His arms hung loose at his sides with fingers twitching once against the stone armrest.

Ding!

[The Euphoria Mist has reached its thickest.]

"Finally!" Exclaimed a woman.

But then—

Everything exploded pink.

---

Coughing hard, Fei Ming rubbed at his burning eyes. The chamber had vanished.

He stood alone inside a dark void.

Only empty space surrounded him as his own breath sounded loud in his ears and his heart beat heavy against his ribs.

The air here felt different, cooler against his skin yet still carrying traces of that sweet stickiness on his tongue.

He turned slowly, muscles moving with slight delay from the earlier mist.

[ "Why, hello child." ] A large golden eye hovered ahead and fixed directly on him.

The glow from it spilled across warm light against his face and chest.

The eye curved into a crescent shape. ["Oh, my precious sweet child! I’m your greatest desire? I’m very delighted!"] The deep voice rolled out, a bit pleased, vibrating through his chest and bones.

The vibration traveled down his spine and into his legs, making his knees lock for a moment.

Fei Ming took another look at the giant eye.

His skin prickled along his arms. Sweat gathered at the base of his neck. "RiaKai?" He looked around again. "How am I here with you? Is this a trick?"

A second golden eye appeared and weighed gentle pressure against his chest. The contact felt solid and warm through his clothing. ["Child, I’m only a version of RiaKai. However, I am just as real as them."]

’So this is all in my head?’ Fateless thought.

Both golden eyes drew closer together and squinted at him. Their combined light grew brighter and pushed harder against his face.

["Do you really desire to be me? Be as powerful as me? Great as I am, dear child? A god?"]

Fei Ming stayed silent. His hands clenched at his sides until the nails bit into his palms.

["Such a shame. Am I not worthy enough to be a model to you, child?"]

Shaking his head, he replied, "No." The movement felt slow in the void.

He took one step closer. Pupils now blown wide. "I never wanted a model. My dream was never to become exactly like you... but to kill the cosmic slugs. I want them all dead. Killed with my own hands."

[ "Is that so?" ] Two shadowy hands formed from the void and dragged him closer. Their grip felt cool around his wrists and upper arms.

They guided his own hands forward until his palms splayed against the glowing eyes.

The surface warm and smooth under his skin with a faint pulse that matched his own heartbeat. Heat traveled up his arms and into his shoulders.

RiaKai’s voice continued. ["Ambitious, aren’t we? Why wait?"] Their tone darkened. ["Do it."]

---

When the pink mist exploded outward. The blast caught Jaren in the side and flung him hard. "Ack!"

Pain flared sharp through his ribs as his body hit the ground and rolled across uneven earth.

Groaning, he pushed himself up on one arm.

His ribs ached with every breath. Opening his eyes, rows of flowers stretched under him in every direction.

"What is this place?"

Soft petals brushed against his face and neck with each movement of the light wind.

The strong sweet fragrance filled his nose with every inhale.

Underneath him, the ground felt soft and slightly damp. His clothes clung warmer to his skin from the earlier mist and the impact.

"Jaren?"

The familiar voice struck him. His chest tightened hard.

Gasping as he spun around, he saw her.

Grace stood among the flowers. Her long hair moved with the wind. Dress shifted around her legs. The sunlight caught on her skin and made his eyes sting for a moment.

"I’ve waited so long for you! Come here, Jaren!"

"...Gr-grace." Jaren ran to her. He couldn’t believe this. She’s here. She’s here. With him.

He stumbled once on uneven ground and caught his balance with one hand brushing flower stems.

Petals stuck to his palm. He kept running until he reached her.

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close, burying his face into her shoulder as sobs cracked from his throat. "Grace. My Grace. I—I missed you so much."

She hugged him tighter. Warmth from her body passed through his clothes and into his skin.

Her arms felt solid around his back. Hands held firm between his shoulder blades.

Tears ran down his face while he held on and his shoulders shook. His breath came in short pulls against her neck. "If this is a dream... I never... never want to wake up."

Grace pulled back enough to caress his cheek with her fingers.

Her fingertips traced the line of his jaw and wiped at the tears on his skin. "How do you like it? Our dreams being fulfilled. We always wanted to live in the Meadows."

Smiling through the tears, Jaren let out a shaky breath. His chest ached with each inhale of the flower-scented air. "I’ve always wanted a family, you know, Grace."

"Haha. Here we go again." She rolled her eyes with a laugh and threw her arms around his neck. Her body moved closer against his. "Yeah, I know. You’ve always talked about having kids."

She leaned in closer, voice dropping to a whisper against his ear. Her breath felt warm on his skin. "In here, we can make all our dreams—our desires—come true."

Jaren leaned in as well. His heart beat hard against his ribs. His hands tightened on her waist.

This must be real. It should be real.

Oh how many times he had these dreams and woke up to the unfair reality.

But just for a moment. A second. A clock-tick. He just wanted to believe this.

So he asked, "How many kids was it again, Grace? Just two, right."

"Yeah," Grace replied, lips nearly touching his. Her fingers slid into his hair at the back of his neck. "Just two."

The fragrance of the flowers continued to flow around them. Petals drifted against their arms and faces.

The wind moved gently through the field as Jaren held her closer and let the warmth of her body push away the last traces of pain in his ribs. "I never wanted two, Grace."