Adam's sleep was not entirely peaceful. It was visited by a familiar face, a girl from his past. Emily. She was the kind, vibrant girl who had known him before his world shattered, when laughter came easy and his parents' presence was a constant warmth. She had seen him transform from a happy child into a cold, distant shell after their death. And yet, she was the only one who had persisted, reaching out even when he pushed everyone away.
In the dream, Emily's voice was soft, laced with a familiar concern. "Not everyone is your enemy, Adam. Please... live for my sake."
The words echoed in his mind as he jolted awake, the image of Emily's face burned into his eyelids. Her voice still resonated in the quiet confines of the tent. He blinked, the unfamiliar surroundings slowly coming into focus. He was in the Red Zone, but for a moment, he felt Emily's presence, a warmth in the cold emptiness of his new reality.
Red Goblins at the Gate
"Good morning, Adam," Lyra's calm voice greeted him, a stark contrast to the lingering emotional resonance of his dream.
Before Adam could even fully process the dream, or the meager peace it offered, Lyra's tone shifted, becoming more urgent. "Analysis complete. You are currently surrounded by multiple intelligent creatures. Red Goblins. They are concealed within the dense foliage just beyond the tent's perimeter."
Adam's heart leaped into his throat. He strained his senses, activating his Mana Vision. Through the shimmering, mana-repelling barrier of the tent, he could faintly discern irregular, low-mana signatures hiding amongst the trees—hunched, predatory forms, their crude weapons barely visible.
"They cannot penetrate the Mana-Repelling Tent," Lyra assured him, "but they are highly intelligent. They perceive your presence and are actively waiting for you to emerge. They view you as potential prey."
Adam sighed, a long, weary exhalation. Just when he thought he could have a moment of respite, another threat loomed. His life, it seemed, was a relentless string of predicaments, no matter the world he was in. The memory of Emily's plea, "Please live for my sake," suddenly felt less like comfort and more like a heavy responsibility. He was alive, yes, but surrounded.