I looked around. I could see trees, grass, and an ocean in the distance. I looked at the World Map; we were in the dream world.
"Where do we go now?" asked Hassan.
"Around the coastline," I said.
We walked along the coastline for about a few minutes.
"Look over there," said Muriel. "A cave."
I looked towards the mountains rising towards the west, and there was indeed a cave.
The corridors of the cave were wide enough for the wagon to fit in. As Falshion pulled us through, we were attacked by monsters- skeletons, big iguanas, mudmen, animated empty suits of armor, and metal slimes. I used the Chaos Dance to confuse enemies, while Hassan did a Double Slash, Muriel used the Flame Breath skill to breath fire, Chamoro cast Boom and Snowblast, and Barbara cast Infermore and Healmore. Across the way, we saw a man at the counter.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This is an inn," he said.
"An inn?" asked Barbara. "Why would you be operating an inn here in a cave full of monsters?"
"Good business," the man replied.
We continued on our journey, collecting a small medal along the way. It was not long before we saw light. We approached the light, and we were outside.
We emerged out into a desert, even as the sun was setting.
"Look over there," said Chamoro. "There's a town."
I looked towards the west and I saw a cluster of buildings.
It was clear where we would go next.
oooooooooooo
"What a dump," said Hassan.
I had to agree. The place was a dump. It was just a bunch of buildings. the ground was not even paved- just the bare desert sand. The place was called Calcado. The people were complaining about the well running dry. There were other people talking about a Land of Happiness.
"Land of Happiness," said Muriel. "We'd better check it out."
And so we did. We learned that there was this island that appeared to the west during a full moon, and that would take us to the Land of Happiness. Searching around the town, we found wayfarer's clothes and a small medal.
In the weapon store was this traveling warrior. He weas adorned in armor and carried a broad sword.
"My name is Mahamed," he said.
"Have you heard of the Land of Happiness?" I asked.
"I suspect the Land of Happiness does not exist."
"Why so?"
"It's too good to be true."
We purchased some equipment upgrades, such as battle axes for me and Hassan, a moon folding fan for Muriel, a silver breastplate for me, and a shell armor for Chamoro.
We then looked out, and found out the sun was setting. I had heard that it would be a full moon this night.
oooooooooooooo
Nightfall came, and the full moon shone above us.
"I think Mahamed is right," said Barbara. "This Land of Happiness is too good to be true."
"We should check it out," I said.
And we went to the west. Just off the western cape, there was this island, with a wooden bridge connecting it to the cape.
"Hello there," said this man standing on the other side of the bridge. "Welcome. You wish to go to the Land of Happiness."
"Of course," I said.
"All are welcome, sirs and madams."
And so we boarded the island. There was this little building in the back.
Inside was this tavern. Drinks were being served by comely women. The place was packed, some of the people we recognized from Calcado.
Including one man.
"You said you thought the Land of Happiness," I said to Mahamed.
"I've got to check it out," he replied. "Something just isn't right."
"Us too."
I went to the bar and started having a few drinks. I began to feel this buzz. After a while, the bartender asked if I wanted to rest, and I accepted.
oooooooooooo
I woke up and found myself back in Lifecod.
"Was it all a dream?" I asked.
It was a typical day there.
One time Rand came to talk to me.
"We've got to talk," he said.
"What's up?" I asked.
"You really got to move on."
"But I've got nowhere to go."
"You're an outsider; you're not one of us. Just because Tania found you wounded on the mountainside doesn't make you one of us. You need to leave."
ooooooooooooooooo
"Wake up!" I heard.
I looked up and found myself in a place that did not yet look familiar.
I looked more and I saw two demons.
"Come with us," they said.
I remembered where I was; I was in a tavern on an island going to the Land of Happiness. But the presence of these demons indicated that the Land of Happiness was anything but.
All of us were marched off the island. After walking for about twenty minutes, I could see a castle ahead, a large stone structure.
The front room of the castle had this huge pit. There were so many people in the room, all guarded by demons and monsters. some of the people were already turned to stone!It was clear to me who was behinf this Land of Happiness myth.
"Here is our ruler, Jamiras!" announced this demon.
And then this demon appeared. He appeared to be this giant bird. He was clearly Jamiras.
"Greetings," said Jamiras. "Though Maou Mudo has fallen, the demon clan will survive. I have assumed the role of lorship over all demons in the two worlds! And we shall start by sacrificing these humans. Humanity's reign over the worlds will soon be history."
I drew my battle axe and approached the demon lord.
"Not if I can help it," I said, with my companions behind me.
"Such a feisty one," he said. "I shall sacrifice these myself."
Jamiras started the attack by swinging at me. And he hit hard, almost as hard as Mudo did. I swung with my battle axe, while Hassan used the Power Up and Berserk skills, Muriel cast Increase to increase our defense, healed with Halemore and breathed fire with the Flame Breath skill, and Chamoro used the Gent Cane to heal and cast Boom. Jamiras had his own attacks, such as using his fire claw to throw fireballs, breathing fire upon us, swinging at us, or simply slashing us with the fire claw. I had to stay on my toes just to avoid the brunt of Jamiras's attacks.
The battle raged on for a long time. I could feel myself being exhausted from the constant attacks from this demon lord. I then felt a hot blast of fire.
I fell down. I was spent.
I then looked and saw Hassan charging at Jamiras.
His battle axe connected with Jamiras's chest.
The demon lord fell, mortally wounded.
"Were you the ones who killed Mudo?" he asked. "Urrgh! Master...Mmmmrr."
Jamiras fell, dead.
The petrfied people were suddenly unpetrified, and they came out of it.
"I was right," said Mahamed. "This Land of Happiness was just a lie started by demons to gather human sacrifices."
"We were lucky we came along," said Hassan. "Otherwise you'd have been sacrificed."
We saw these puffs of light heading up. These were the souls of those who were sacrificed. They were now free to leave.
"I am the Medal King," said this man who was dressed like a king. "You have broken the seal. Turn in your small medals for rewards."
And so we left the castle.
ooooooooo
When we went back to the island, we saw this old man at the steering wheel.
"I figured out how to run this thing," he said. "I'll sail us back to Calcado."
We went into the tavern.
"jamiras took over when Mudo was defeated," said one of the intended human sacrifices. "Who's gonna replace him."
"You might want to get some rest," said this old man. I agreed. I was exhausted after that fight with Jamiras.
ooooooooooooo
"Wake up," I heard.
I looked up and saw not a demon but an old man.
"The villagers said they will giveyou this island," he said. "It's the least they can do after rescuing their people."
I was elated. We could sail the dream world!
oooooooooo
Before setting sail on the oceans of the dream world, I cast Return to go to Shiena, and then headed west.
At the place where I first fell into the real world was this huge stone castle. This could only be the Medal King's castle.
The caslte had two levels. A scholar mentioned that Jamiras sealed the castle because of the treasures contained within. A slime on the upper level told us that the castle was destroyed long ago in the real world, but continued to exist in the dream world due to people's memories.
And then of course we aspoke to the Medal King himself, freed from Jamiras's imprisonment. I gave him our fifteen smal medals which we collected during our journeys.
"You have fifteen small medals," said the king. "I therefore give unto you the Staff of Punishment. Collect twenty-five medals total and you shall have the Ruby of Power."
We then left to castle and returned to Dhama Shrine.
oooooooo
We went to Dhama Shrine to change character classes. I became a Goof-Off, while Hassan became a fighter. After that, we returned to Calcado.
Upon retunring to Calcado, we boarded the floating island.
"Will this island really float on the oceans?" asked Muriel.
"If it worked for the demons," I replied. I took the steering wheel.
And we sailed off the coast of Calcado, heading out to the wide open oceans.
Not surprisingly, marine monsters attacked us in the dream world's oceans as they did in the real world's oceans. There were these marine slimes, these giant prawns, these elementals shaped like water waves, these sea ghosts, these eels, and then octopi in jars who shot arrows. Hassan's Sweep Kick skill was useful in tripping enemies, preventing them from attacking.
Anyway, we came across this small island with a hut. We set anchor next to the coastline and went inside.
"There are these four legendary armaments," said the old man living in the hut. "Your jounrey begins by walking down a staircase."
So there was another staircase. We went bnack to the floating island and sailed south, battling the sea monsters along the way.
After a few hours, we came across this island. We boarded the wagon and Falshion pulled us onto dry land.
"I see something," said Chamoro.
I saw it too. It was another staircase, heading down.
"What are we waiting for?" asked Barbara.
And so Falshion pulled the wagon down the stairs.