Bonus Chapter #1: untitled Part 1

After the events in the alternate universe involving Ouroboros, Arth returned to his base of operations.

Days slipped by relentlessly as Arth immersed himself in investigating the identity of the enigmatic figure. Rest and relaxation were luxuries he hadn't afforded himself, driven by a singular obsession with solving this mystery.

At the moment, Arth lay sprawled on his desk, exhaustion evident in the dark circles under his eyes. His computer hummed faintly in the background, casting a dim glow that flickered as another alert activated.

"Another one?" Arth groaned, prying his eyes open. "I can't even catch a break."

Checking the newly activated coordinates on his monitor, he muttered to himself, "Japan?" as the location illuminated on the map.

Forcing himself upright, he staggered unsteadily, his vision blurring momentarily. A nearby table caught his weight just in time to prevent him from hitting the floor.

The Space-Time Voyager gazed at the intricate board he'd constructed, strewn with clues and scribbles attempting to unravel Ouroboros' identity. He stared at the web of connections intently.

"Who are you?" he murmured aloud, a mixture of frustration and exhaustion in his voice.

Determined to continue, Arth attempted to gather his strength. Yet, even as he fought to stay upright, his body finally betrayed him. He collapsed onto the floor, succumbing at last to the inevitable pull of sleep.

Despite his title as the Master of Time and Space, Arth remained human—mortal and fallible. Unlike his divine mentor, he bore the burdens of mortality, a guest in the realm of gods with only borrowed power. For now, sleep offered a much-needed reprieve.

---

Let’s turn our attention to someone else—a familiar face, an acquaintance of Arth who had once been an ally in his journey.

Enshū Railway Line, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

“Excuse me, ma’am,” a man’s voice interrupted, tapping the shoulder of a woman staring out of the window. “You can’t smoke in here.”

The man pointed at a “No Smoking” sign displayed in Romaji.

The woman pulled a stick from her mouth, revealing it to be a lollipop. The exaggerated way she licked it created the illusion of smoking.

“My apologies,” the man muttered, retreating in embarrassment.

Turning back to her window, the woman began narrating in a quiet voice. “My name is Kim Ji-yoo. You might have heard of me—I’m an Occult Investigator, currently on a case here on this very railway.”

She pulled out her phone, scrolling through articles as she spoke. “As tempting as it is to indulge in the rich culture of Japan, duty calls. And this duty involves a mystery I can't resist.”

Kim paused when she found what she was searching for—a story that had captivated the internet for years.

“Kisaragi Station,” she whispered, summarizing aloud the chilling tale:

"In 2004, a girl named Hasumi boarded a late-night train in Japan. The ride started normally but soon veered into the surreal. The train skipped her stop, traveling through dark tunnels and desolate landscapes until it arrived at an unfamiliar station: Kisaragi Station. The place didn’t appear on any maps and wasn’t part of any official train line.

Hasumi tried to get help, posting desperate updates online, but soon her messages stopped. Witnesses spoke of ominous drums and approaching footsteps before she vanished without a trace.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Rumors persist of other late-night travelers finding themselves at Kisaragi Station, some returning shaken but alive, others disappearing forever.

I want to know what’s behind this anomaly. Who—or what—controls it? Why do some escape while others are lost? Most importantly, how can we stop it from taking more victims?"

Kim's fingers paused over her screen, her curiosity burning brightly.

"But I have a theory," she mused, turning her gaze to the horizon. "Dreams. I wonder if I can access that dimension on my own."

Pulling out a medicine container, Kim swallowed the contents in one gulp. “Please,” she murmured, her voice trembling slightly, “just let me sleep peacefully, for once.”

As her eyes grew heavy, she leaned her head against the train window and, for the first time in a long while, slipped into a dreamless sleep.

---

Arth awoke in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by dense fog and the gentle lapping of water. He was on a boat drifting along a fog-shrouded river.

“You’re finally awake,” a voice echoed. Arth turned to see a man standing at the helm of the boat, his silhouette barely visible through the mist.

“Who are you? How do you know my name?” Arth demanded, narrowing his eyes.

The man smirked faintly. “I am Hayashi. Like you, I carry a title, but I’d rather keep it to myself. Your reputation precedes you, Arth.”

“Where am I?”

“This is your psyche, manifested in a dream,” Hayashi explained. “Each of us has a similar place. It’s tied to the multiverse, as our dreams shape reality.”

Arth scanned the foggy expanse. “If this is my psyche, why is everything so vague?”

Hayashi’s gaze pierced through the mist. “Your mind is like a river, endlessly flowing yet shrouded in fog. You’re driven forward by the current of time, unable to see what lies ahead or what you’ve left behind. The fog isolates you, hiding clarity and connection, leaving you to drift aimlessly.

“Yet,” he continued, “there are moments when the fog lifts, when light pierces through, offering a fleeting glimpse of purpose. But just as quickly, the mist returns, and you’re lost once more.”

Arth sighed, slumping slightly. “We’re going to be here a while, aren’t we?”

---

Meanwhile, Kim Ji-yoo’s dream had taken her to a familiar yet surreal scene. She stood on the backstage, clutching a guitar, as if preparing for a performance.

“You’re ready, Kim?” asked a bespectacled man she instantly recognized as Warren, her producer.

She nodded but felt a pang of unease. “Something’s wrong,” she thought. Turning to Warren, she asked cautiously, “What year is it?”

He paused, checking his phone. “It’s May 4th, 200X.”

Kim’s breath caught. “No… this can’t be real.”

Without warning, she shattered the guitar in her hands as she struck it on the ground. “Why am I reliving this day?!” she shouted.

“Kim! That was expensive!” Warren yelled, his voice tinged with panic.

“This performance doesn’t matter anymore!” Kim retorted coldly. Muttering an incantation under her breath, “Papyeon! Malgeum!” She shouted as she shattered the illusion around her, revealing an empty, decrepit train station.

Her eyes fell on the sign: “Kisaragi Station.”

A male voice broke the silence. “You’ve shattered your dream.”

Kim turned to see a young boy in a traditional Japanese school uniform. He smirked slightly, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

“I’ve had enough nightmares about that day,” Kim replied sharply. “There’s no point in re-living it.”

---

Back in the fog-filled realm, Arth observed Hayashi carefully, the man’s calm demeanor concealing something deeper.

“You’re trying to save someone,” Arth noted, piecing together glimpses of Hayashi’s psyche that flashed before him. “Someone important to you.”

Hayashi gave a faint nod. “You could say that.”

“And yet, you’re here helping me. Why?”

“Because she promised me something in return,” Hayashi replied, his voice steady.

“Who?”

“A certain Celestial Witch,” he admitted.

“Sera…” Arth whispered, almost to himself.

Hayashi leaned back slightly, his gaze distant as he recounted the memory of their meeting.

---

Months prior, Hayashi had been traveling between dreams when he was abruptly pulled into an unfamiliar domain.

The space was ethereal, unlike anything he had encountered. Shimmering lights swirled in the air, and the ground beneath him seemed to ripple like liquid glass.

“Welcome to my domain, Yumeshibo Hayashi,” a melodic voice greeted him.

Before him stood a woman wearing a witch’s hat and an elegant gown. Her heterochromatic eyes glowed faintly under the brim of her hat. She exuded an aura of quiet authority and mystery.

“How did you know me?” Hayashi asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.

The woman smiled faintly, gesturing toward a chair. “Your reputation as the Dream Strider precedes you. Sit, please.”

Reluctantly, Hayashi complied, taking in his surroundings as the woman sipped a steaming cup of coffee paired with a slice of strawberry cheesecake.

“I brought you here for a reason,” she continued. “I understand how much dream striding means to you, and I can offer you something precious—a spell that might help you save someone dear to you.”

Her words hung in the air like a tempting lure. Hayashi is more than intrigued to listen on what the Celestial Witch can offer on his quest.

---

Returning to the dreamscape, Arth’s curiosity deepened. “So she asked you to help me in exchange for this spell?”

“That’s right,” Hayashi confirmed, adjusting his posture.

“Then let’s not waste time. Take me to Japan—it’s my next destination,” Arth said with determination.

Hayashi smirked faintly. “Traveling through dreams isn’t as simple as you think. But lucky for you, I happen to know someone dreaming in Japan right now.”

He closed his eyes, and his left eye began to glow, its iris adorned with intricate patterns resembling forget-me-not flowers. Reaching for a monocle, Hayashi clipped it over his glowing eye before transforming his attire into a more formal ensemble: a white blazer over a dark blue shirt and violet tie, paired with white trousers. A gradient violet-blue cape draped from his left shoulder, adorned with delicate floral patterns.

Arth couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “What’s with the transformation? You look like a mahou shoujo.”

Hayashi shot him an exasperated glare. “First of all, it’s called a character setting. Second, I’m a guy, you idiot.”

“Relax, I’m just lightening the mood,” Arth replied, stifling another laugh.

“Work on your sense of humor,” Hayashi muttered before turning serious. “Let’s go.”

---

The duo traversed multiple dreamscapes before finally arriving at their destination.

“We’re here,” Hayashi announced as they stepped onto the eerie, desolate platform.

Arth glanced around uneasily. “This place gives me the creeps. Are you sure the Time Cog is here?”

A familiar voice cut through the silence. “Well, well. Fancy seeing you here, Arth.”

Arth turned, startled. “Kim? What are you doing here?”

Kim smirked, leaning against a nearby pillar. “I could ask you the same thing.”

The tension in the air was palpable as the three stood at the enigmatic Kisaragi Station, their paths converging in a place that defied reality.

---

Chapter 8: untitled Part 1 end