Time stretches out when we sleep, huh?

  “Or when we are dead,” Professor Soren added. “Sorry, it’s easy to hear your thoughts when we’re in your dream.”

  “It’s fine. I’m actually relieved I can have more time to practice like this.”

  Shortly after falling asleep, Lyra found herself in a lucid dream, with Professor Soren explaining it was a magic-made dream to help her practice her homework.

  “So, are you also sleeping right now?” Lyra asked the professor’s mirage.

  “Well, I’m not exactly Professor Soren. To be precise, I’m a fragment of his ego, embedded into the Dummy Sphere along with the spell to construct this dream. You can also call me an Artificial Intelligence, so you can call me AI (eye) if you want.” The mirage explained, bearing the professor’s likeness, from his attire to his mannerisms.

  “So, what are we doing now?” Lyra looked around. They were in an underground dungeon, with tree roots spreading across the walls and flowers emitting dim blue light. She’d expected a classroom, with Dummy Spheres for practice.

  “Imagine a weapon of your choice first, since we’re in a Dungeon Run.” A strange suggestion, but a bow materialized in Lyra’s hand. She drew the string, and an air arrow appeared between her fingers, like her usual magic hunting bow.

  “Defeat the rats in this room.” The mirage instructed as three giant rats emerged from the ground.

  Lyra shot three arrows. The rats screeched briefly before dissolving into silver smoke.

  “Good. Choose your reward.” Three holographic boards appeared.

  [??]

  [Level 1 - Buff: Lighter feet for dashing. +10 feet per leap.]

  [??]

  [Level 1 - Buff: Split arrow into three.]

  [??]

  [Level 1 - Buff: Harden skin and increase defense. +10% defense]

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  I choose ??, it's important to be mobile in a hunt.

  The ?? board lit up and dissolved. Lyra found she could hum the ?? rune into her feet, feeling as if gravity lessened.

  “Let’s move to the next room.” They teleported to another dungeon room. The scenery was similar, but three giant dragonflies patrolled near the ceiling.

  Lyra shot a dragonfly. The others noticed, and one lunged.

  ??

  She hummed the rune, leaping forward, dashing ten feet. She aimed at the dragonfly she’d evaded and hit it in the back.

  Buzzing wings sounded behind her. The other dragonfly’s fangs pierced her left shoulder.

  The pain was minor, but annoying. She leaped away, head-shotting the remaining dragonfly.

  Another set of reward holograms appeared.

  [??]

  [Level 2 - Buff: Move farther. +15 feet per leap]

  [??]

  [Level 1 - Buff: Slow projectiles. -10% speed in 5 feet radius]

  [??]

  [Level 1 - Curse: Slow enemies. -10% movement speed]

  I was hoping for ?? after that bite. But ?? will do.

  “By the way, how much is time stretched?” Lyra asked, readying her arrow.

  “Maximum 400 times, like the dead experience.” The professor’s mirage conjured a settings window. “But we’re not in a rush, 40 times is fine.”

  This is quite fun.

  Lyra stopped talking. He can read my mind anyway.

  “It’s supposed to be fun. It’s a Game interface. And this type of game is called Roguelike.”

  Is this the professor’s creativity? Or knowledge from another world?

  Silence. The mirage didn’t know, or didn’t want to say. Lyra shot a horde of goblins.

  “The next room is the boss room. Get ready. Think ‘Open Status’ to see your Runes.” The mirage announced after they cleared ten rooms.

  Open Status

  A Status Window appeared.

  [Player: Lyra Nereis]

  [HP: 154/300]

  [??]

  [Level 3 - Buff: Double leaps. +15 feet per leap]

  [??]

  [Level 2 - Curse: Slow enemies. -15% movement speed]

  [??]

  [Level 3 - Buff: Increase damage. +15% damage]

  [??]

  [Level 2 - Buff: Increase speed. +10% speed]

  [??]

  [Level 1 - Buff/Curse: Air Runes stronger, Earth Runes weaker. ±10%]

  Let’s go.

  They teleported to a large room. A ten-foot humanoid figure with four wings stood in the center.

  A Harpy Queen.

  The Harpy Queen spread its wings and dashed toward Lyra.

  ??, ??… Oh no…

  Reacting to the Queen’s speed, Lyra tried to slow her with ??. But she reflexively added ??, a habit from previous rooms. The gravity curse applied, but weakly.

  ??, ??

  She leaped, but the Queen’s claws struck her. The pain was excruciating, and more as she moved.

  The Harpy Queen’s claws would ensure heavy bleeding to any flesh it touches. The bleeding would be amplified whenever Lyra moved. The further she moved, the more she bled.

  Blood lost and dizzy, Lyra saw the Queen’s claws aimed at her head…