Real Dream: Infinity

The door shut behind William. His hands moved swiftly as he rushed to take off his shoes, leaving a trail of dirt on the floor that he didn't bother to clean. He ran to his room, his breath ragged as he dropped his backpack beside the bed. His chest rose and fell uncontrollably, not just from the effort of running but from the whirlwind of thoughts racing through his mind.

What the hell was that?

The scene he had witnessed before running home replayed in his head like an echo: the deafening sound, smoke rising into the sky, the destroyed vehicle, two abnormally fast shadows being chased by guards, injured people in front of the casino, and the Reapers advancing straight into the chaos.

An Emergent lost control? No, no—besides, to cause that much damage, it had to be at least a Luminar. That vehicle was far too durable for a mere Emergent to destroy.

With a quick motion, he turned on his computer. The bluish glow from the screen illuminated his tired face as his fingers flew over the keyboard, entering search terms. Keywords, combinations of phrases—anything to find something, anything, that would help him decipher what he had just witnessed.

Finally, a headline caught his attention:

"Helios Tech Official Statement on the Incident in Solaris' Northern District."

William clicked immediately. A hologram emerged from the screen, projecting the image of a virtual spokesperson: a male figure with a serene, calculated appearance, flawless features, and a hypnotic tone of voice. Although it was a hologram, Helios Tech's technology had perfected every detail to make it seem human—the movements of its eyes, the occasional blink, even the precise pause before speaking, all designed to capture anyone's attention.

The spokesperson began with a slow, grave yet reassuring tone:

"At Helios Tech, our top priority has always been humanity's safety and progress toward a brighter future."

A brief pause. The hologram's face seemed to reflect a subtle solemnity, programmed to convey empathy.

"The recent incident in the northern district has deeply affected us. We are here to clarify the facts and assure you that Helios Tech is taking all necessary measures to prevent something like this from happening again."

The hologram leaned forward slightly, as though sharing an intimate secret with its viewers.

"Earlier this afternoon, an unregistered Emergent, operating outside Helios Tech's protocol, manifested abilities beyond any previous record. The Anomaly Containment Unit was swiftly deployed to protect civilians."

An unregistered Emergent. Not a rogue one… but no unregistered Emergent would make waves in Solaris, let alone a Luminar. That would be suicide… William's thoughts churned. Was it some kind of personal revenge? They only mentioned one unregistered Emergent… but it looked like a fight broke out before the Reapers arrived. If it was a Luminar, they should've easily completed their goal. Why go so far? Who were they fighting?

William felt his stomach twist as he listened. Each word felt more false than the last.

"Regrettably," the spokesperson continued with carefully measured gravity, "during this operation, one of our brave agents from the Anomaly Containment Unit lost their life in the line of duty. This individual gave their life to prevent a greater tragedy."

William's heart sank at those words, as though someone had dropped an unbearable weight onto his chest.

Lost their life? An agent from the Containment Unit? That doesn't make sense… none of this makes sense.

His mind raced, searching for any logic that could explain what he had just heard.

The Reaper who was with those two… acted on their own? No, that's absurd. Reapers don't act alone. Never. They're trained to follow strict orders, to function as an extension of Helios Tech itself. Acting without permission is inconceivable—a direct violation of their very protocols.

Besides, it was impossible for an unregistered Emergent to defeat a Reaper. The idea was ridiculous. Reapers were practically invincible—forces designed to neutralize any threat. William was acutely aware of their destructive power: men and women capable of demolishing entire buildings, cutting through armor like paper, and withstanding attacks that would obliterate any ordinary human.

You'd need to detonate a bomb in front of one to kill them… but there was no such thing! His indignation swelled inside him. The hologram's serene face now felt like a mockery. Do they really expect anyone to believe this?

A cold sweat trickled down his forehead. The feeling of being manipulated was overwhelming.

The spokesperson paused, lowering its gaze for a brief moment—a gesture that seemed spontaneously human.

"We honor their sacrifice and recognize their bravery. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, we will not be releasing further details about this incident."

William clenched his fists as his gaze remained fixed on the hologram. What the hell really happened?

The hologram raised its eyes again, resuming its confident, reassuring stance.

"We want to make it clear that this situation was an exceptional anomaly—a unique case that does not represent a threat to the general public's safety. Helios Tech is already implementing additional protocols to ensure events like this do not occur again."

The Helios Tech logo—a silver diamond surrounded by blue glimmers—appeared next to the spokesperson, spinning slowly.

"At Helios Tech, we do not fear change; we adapt to it to move forward."

The transmission ended with a subtle sound, leaving William's room in an almost oppressive silence.

For a few seconds, William didn't move. His mind, usually quick, was stuck in a cycle of denial and frustration. He felt a mix of guilt, helplessness, and something else he couldn't quite identify.

Finally, he slumped into his chair, running his hands through his golden hair and gripping it tightly.

"An anomaly, huh…" he murmured to himself.

The "official" statement felt anything but official to William. It was a facade, a mask to hide the truth. And while he didn't have all the answers, he knew Helios Tech was hiding far more than it was revealing.

Determined, he left his room and headed toward the basement of his house.

***

When William entered the institute the next day, the frigid air that had burned his lungs earlier that morning was forgotten. He wore a white hoodie stained with thin black ink-like streaks, dark pants, and an untucked white shirt underneath. His padded high-top white sneakers, adorned with shifting black stars, completed his outfit. Despite feeling exhausted, he had managed to leave home early and, for the first time in weeks, arrived on time.

The Helion Red Diamond Institute embodied everything Helios Tech represented: cold perfection and impersonal efficiency. The white walls gleamed under artificial light, and the reflective floor amplified the echo of every step. The desks in the classrooms were aligned in perfect rows, each equipped with a slot for students' personal computers.

William passed a group of students in the hallway who barely glanced at him. In this place, everyone was too preoccupied with their own achievements and goals to pay attention to anyone else.

When he reached the classroom, he saw the other students settling into their places. Each was plugging in their personal computers, portable devices they had brought from home. Some had ultra-thin screens with custom designs; others, more compact and functional models. These devices weren't just tools for studying but extensions of each individual—a reflection of their personality and resources.

William dropped his backpack onto his seat and, after setting up his computer, lifted his gaze. For the first time in a while, he allowed himself to observe his classmates.

To his right, Clark stood chatting with Marcus as they watched a video on his computer—a replay of last week's best Dominion moments. The screen displayed a participant leaping off a massive metallic structure, surrounded by swirling blue energy that twisted like serpents around their body. Upon landing, the energy expanded in a perfect circle, knocking down nearby opponents.

"Check that out!" Marcus exclaimed, adjusting his square glasses that reflected the screen's light. "Inferno Edge is simply the best. No one else makes an entrance like that."

"Yeah, but you can't deny that No Limits was insane in the final," Clark, a short, slightly chubby boy with brown hair, said enthusiastically. He gestured exaggeratedly, trying to imitate the fighter's moves. "He literally took everyone down without any weapons!"

William, lost in thought, couldn't help but catch snippets of the conversation. He turned his head slightly toward them, just enough to see both boys leaning over the screen, engrossed.

"Do you like Dominion, William?" Marcus suddenly asked, turning toward him with a curious smile. It was clear they didn't expect William to join the conversation, but the chance to talk to someone as enigmatic as him was too tempting.

William looked up from his desk and shrugged.

"I don't watch it much."

The answer was brief but enough to grab their full attention. Clark turned entirely, forgetting about the video.

"Seriously? Come on, everyone watches Dominion. It's, like… the only exciting thing happening these days." He paused, evaluating William as if trying to figure out why someone wouldn't be interested.

"Yeah, didn't you even see the final?" Marcus pressed. "No Limits literally broke the In rules! He completely surpassed his physical limits!"

William studied them for a moment, his brown eyes shining faintly under the classroom's artificial light. There was something distant in his gaze, as if he were somewhere else entirely. Finally, he let out a faint smile.

"I don't see the point of getting so excited. In the end, they're all just following a script."

The room seemed to fall silent for a second as both boys processed what he had just said.

"A script?" Clark repeated, frowning. "Emergents and their abilities are real. What do you mean?"

William propped his elbow on the desk and rested his chin on his hand.

"Think about it: all those participants with flashy names and extraordinary powers are there to entertain you. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who wins or loses. Dominion only exists to distract us from what really matters."

Marcus blinked behind his glasses, clearly confused. Clark, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

"You're… weird, you know that?" Clark finally said, a mix of frustration and curiosity in his voice. "So what do you do with your time if you don't watch Dominion?"

William smiled, this time with a trace of amusement on his lips.

"I try to understand the universe."

The answer left both boys in stunned silence. Marcus shot Clark a glance as if seeking some kind of explanation, while Clark raised an eyebrow incredulously.

"Understand the universe?" Marcus repeated, clearly baffled.

"I'm kidding." William leaned back in his chair, his expression relaxed but unreadable. "I spend my time thinking, that's all."

Marcus let out a nervous laugh, while Clark leaned forward, apparently determined to unravel the mystery that was William.

"Look, you weren't always like this, were you?" Clark asked directly. "I mean, I've heard things. That you used to be different. More… I don't know, like us."

William didn't answer immediately. His eyes drifted to the computer screen, where the video continued to play. On it, a fighter nicknamed Iron Will, clad in gleaming armor, charged into a group of enemies, surrounded by an aura that made him seem indestructible.

Finally, William spoke, his tone calm but carrying something inscrutable.

"People change."

"Or at least they try to," he thought to himself.

Clark frowned, as if expecting more, but Marcus quickly jumped in.

"Well, you should give Dominion a chance," Marcus said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. "I promise it's more entertaining than… understanding the universe."

William let out a quiet laugh, just low enough that only they could hear it.

"Maybe I will."

In truth, William was only humoring them. He knew Dominion was far from a game.

Satisfied for now, Marcus and Clark returned to their video. However, as they focused on the screen, Marcus made an offhand comment with surprising seriousness:

"Have you noticed how amazing Inferno Edge has been lately? But Phoenix—the biggest rival of No Limits—hasn't shown up for weeks. That's weird, right?"

Clark nodded, biting his lip.

"Yeah, everyone's talking about it on the forums. It's like he's vanished. Something big must be going on."

William ignored the comment and continued observing the other classmates in the room.

At the far-left corner of the classroom, directly in his line of sight, a group of four students stood out amidst the monotony. They were… different. While most were absorbed in their holographic screens or speaking in hushed voices, this small group talked animatedly, exchanging ideas and laughing loudly, as if the world belonged to them.

From his usual seat in the back corner of the room—a strategic location that allowed him to stay on the sidelines, invisible, but with a panoramic view—William watched them out of the corner of his eye.

Thomas Riles, tall with messy hair that fell in untamed locks, seemed the natural center of the group. His firm voice carried above the laughter, and the carefree smile he always wore gave him an air of innate confidence. Ethan didn't lead because he wanted to; he led because everyone else simply gravitated toward him.

Naomi Fers, the only girl in the group, stood out not only for her liveliness but also for a pink streak that ran through her straight black hair, giving her a bold edge. She constantly adjusted her smart glasses, which projected tiny graphs onto the lenses as she spoke. At times, she seemed more interested in the data than the conversation itself, as if she needed to verify every claim before responding.

Alex Joven, the quietest of the group, leaned back in his chair with a relaxed posture and crossed arms. His dark brown hair fell messily over his face, but his eyes, always watchful, followed every word with silent intensity. Occasionally, he would nod slowly, as if carefully analyzing every statement before offering his agreement.

Cory Dales, robust with closely cropped blond hair, contrasted sharply with Alex's calm demeanor. He spoke with enthusiasm, punctuating his words with broad gestures that seemed to energize the group. His laughter was loud and clear, drawing smiles even from those outside their circle.

William observed them in silence, mentally categorizing them as "the brightest." And they were—he knew that well. Their conversations always revolved around complex topics, from the latest technology to absurd philosophical theories they invented themselves.

But just as that thought crossed his mind, the sound of the classroom door sliding open pulled him out of his thoughts.