Eldritch Horror Theatre

The light was dim, the silence absolute.

Forgoing his earlier advantage, Fu Qian had used an overwhelmingly intense shock to send Eldest Miss Wen back to bed in a single second. Now, he finally had his wish: revisiting an old haunt.

Just as expected, a change in circumstances completely shifted how he saw the world.

After officially joining The Corridor's collective, even this stagnant, gloomy scenery somehow felt much more welcoming at first glance.

It was still that same long hallway, still those same five differently shaped doors. Where he had once sensed only a sinister strangeness, he could now appreciate an air of immortality about them.

His only regret was the absence of a certain stalwart figure. His former guide, veteran problem-solver, and renowned low-profile lurker, Brother Persuader, was nowhere to be seen.

The entity's impassioned cry of "do not bully a young person in poverty" still echoed in his ears. Yet, despite an old friend coming to visit, there was no hearty laugh to honor this reunion nearly a sixth of a year in the making.

But Fu Qian was hardly a man lacking in patience or sincerity. Standing vigil in the snow to await a master was child's play to him.

He didn't speak. He didn't move. Feeling his left arm grow increasingly energized and that welcoming sense of integration deepen, Fu Qian simply stood there in silence, not even sparing a glance for the doors beside him.

"You... lunatic!"

Finally, that long-awaited voice flowed into his mind like a warm current.

Jointed limbs, a gray carapace, sharp bristles, and colorful wings.

Paired with robust abdominal muscles dragging across the ground, a figure slowly materialized beside a door just a short distance away.

With such a majestic presence and bold words, who else could it be but the long-absent Brother Persuader?

Fu Qian immediately broke into a delighted smile and strode forward to greet him.

"Don't tell me you aren't aware of your own situation."

Unfortunately, the Persuader's entirely human face was twisted into an exaggeratedly stern expression, scolding his friend's recklessness.

"And you're actually still acting so brazenly here!"

"Not at all. Of course I know my situation."

Touched by such concern, Fu Qian blinked in mild surprise before smiling and shaking his head.

"Tier 2."

...

"You actually..."

With those words, the Persuader's Dao heart finally wavered. Staring in Fu Qian's direction, he stumbled two steps backward.

He clearly had his suspicions, and now they were confirmed.

At the same time, it seemed he was completely unaware of the conversation that had just taken place in the dream.

"That's quite a reaction, Brother Persuader. Are you worried I might turn on an old friend?"

His smile fading slightly, Fu Qian narrowed his eyes.

"We've known each other for so long. Is my character really that untrustworthy?"

"I believe you... provided you keep your distance."

Alas, Brother Persuader had weathered great storms and drifted through Nightmare states more than once. Faced with such earnestness, he was completely unmoved.

"Your advancement is genuinely surprising. What I can't understand is why you insisted on dragging me out."

Pinning Fu Qian with a stern glare and forcing him to halt at a safe distance, the Persuader shook his head and finally cut to the chase.

"Are you worried I'm pulling strings behind your back again? Aren't you giving me a little too much credit?"

"It hasn't even been that long since you completely screwed me over last time. Do you think I'm like you, with some special existence backing me up?"

"Not at all. I was just revisiting an old haunt, and feeling a bit lost about my future, I thought I'd seek Brother Persuader's esteemed advice."

Chuckling at the Persuader's accusations, Fu Qian waved a hand to tell him to relax.

From the outside, the Persuader looked almost exactly the same as their last meeting.

But his point made perfect sense. After falling for the Warehouse's entrapment operation and getting severely played, there was no way he was having a good time of it.

Judging by the passage of real-world time, his recuperation period hadn't been long at all. The extent of his recovery was bound to be bleak.

...

"Reaching my current heights was purely a stroke of luck. And you're being too modest, Brother Persuader. I don't know how many people would kill for your platform."

When the Persuader merely offered a silent sneer in response, Fu Qian gestured at their surroundings and tossed out a counter-compliment.

"Not to mention, we're all on the same side now. We ought to support each other and advance together."

"The facts prove it... my assessment of you back then was spot on."

Glaring daggers at him, the Persuader finally seemed triggered by the phrase "same side."

"Even if you managed to scrape by a couple of times, with your particular brand of madness, you were destined to become a part of this place eventually."

Amidst his harsh critique, he cast a glance at the two items in Fu Qian's hands.

"Interesting Items, though. You don't look entirely unprepared."

"But do you really think those two things are enough to help you escape? I can only say you're underestimating the situation."

"Are you even aware of your true situation—aside from reaching Tier 2, that is?"

Seeing Fu Qian instantly puff up with pride and prepare to boast, the Persuader hurriedly slapped on that qualifier.

"What situation? I'll just do it again."

And he finally got his wish. The man's attention was successfully diverted to the question, though his swagger remained entirely undiminished as he hoisted the Iron Cage for display.

"I got out smoothly enough back then—even while dragging you along for the ride. Now my strength has increased, and I've come fully prepared—"

"Is this really the time to play dumb and lie to yourself?"

Unsurprisingly, he drew a sneer before he could even finish his sentence.

Brother Persuader sneered repeatedly, ruthlessly puncturing the Thug's new clothes.

"Since you're throwing around phrases like 'same side,' I refuse to believe you haven't realized the fundamental difference between this time and the last."

"Before, you were like bait on a line, able to be yanked out of the water at any moment. Now, we are fish with no fundamental difference between us."

"I can't even fathom how you pulled it off. How did you manage to sink this deep in such a short amount of time?"

"Even compared to me, there's hardly any difference anymore."

"Oh?"

Fu Qian looked genuinely invested in his old friend's well-being.

"So exactly how much of a difference is there?"

...

Unfortunately, framing the question like that made it sound distinctly like mockery. At the very least, Brother Persuader's expression soured considerably.

"Regardless, you are of no value to me now."

But he was still a prideful entity and wasn't about to swallow the insult quietly. He immediately fired back.

"Based on what just happened, it looks like you deliberately shattered that dream. Were you worried I would use you again, just like last time?"

"Heh... I can only say you flatter yourself."

"I can sense you've actually done well, taking control of the dreamscape in an extremely short time. But I can tell you with absolute certainty that it's still far from enough to help you truly escape."

"You don't even need to worry about me prying into your privacy. I don't know the details of the dream. Through a minor connection in The Corridor, I merely knew you were in there and had a rough idea of your condition, that's all."

Amid his undisguised sneers, the Persuader delivered his closing statement.

"Setting aside my condition, you are no longer worth my attention."

Oh...

As his old friend prattled on, Fu Qian listened attentively, even offering a slow nod.

"Then why are you hiding?"

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