The Deceitful One

In the Dreamworld, Bryan exited Detective Watson's house and stood on the lawn with a slightly dazed expression. This was the very place where Detective Watson used to teach him hand-to-hand combat.

Thinking back to those simpler times, Bryan couldn't help but smile faintly, a smile filled with grief and reminiscence.

He suddenly had a thought as he turned back around to look at the house. He mumbled under his breath, "I wonder if little Amy will accept me as her teacher when she grows up?"

Amy was not even a year old and had already lost her father. Hence, Bryan decided in his heart that he would be to Amy what Detective Watson was to him, a teacher and a father figure.

Deep down, Bryan strongly felt that this was his responsibility and he wanted to be able to live up to it.

Sensing Bryan's thoughts, Benny who was sitting on his shoulder, spoke mentally, 'The girl has a high affinity with illusion magic!'

Bryan was taken aback, "Benny, you can even feel something as elusive as a person's magic affinity!?"

Benny nodded, 'Inside the Dreamworld, my powers and senses are exponentially boosted. So, yes! I can confirm that she has a high affinity with illusion magic and perhaps even…'

"Even what?" Bryan inquired.

'Perhaps, she could even practice dream magic!' Benny replied with bright eyes, 'After all, illusion and dreams are very closely related.'

Bryan thought about it deeply and felt that it made sense. However, it would be very difficult for someone, even for him, to practice dream magic because no such Path has ever existed in the history of this world!

It would be completely up to him to pioneer into uncharted territory and create the Dream Path!

Bryan thought with a pensive expression, 'It would take years, perhaps even decades of research and experiments to even remotely succeed in this endeavor.'

The ideal age for a person to become an Apprentice was 16-18 years old. That meant Bryan had at least sixteen years to research and create the Dream Path.

In the end, a sigh escaped his lips, "How can creating a Path be so easy… But I'll do my best, nonetheless. Through trial and error, I'm bound to make some progress at the very least."

Bryan felt this way because he knew he had a special connection with dream magic as well as the Dreamworld. Otherwise, he would have never been able to arrive at this fantastical world every time he advanced.

"One step at a time…" Bryan muttered under his breath as he walked towards the main exit of Detective Watson's house compound.

Benny hesitated for a few moments and asked mentally, 'Bryan, what are you planning to do now?'

"We're leaving for Nadir with Victor and his two students in a week," Bryan replied, "So, I wish to spend some time with the Strike Team members before I leave. I also want to check up on Jamie's siblings at the orphanage."

'What if…' Benny proposed, 'What if I told you I have a way to permanently cure the curse affecting your eyes?'

"What!?" Bryan froze in his footsteps, "Benny, do you mean it!?"

The only thing currently stopping Bryan from exacting his revenge was his physical disability. This was the very reason why he was so dependent on Victor.

But if Benny had a way to cure him, then he wouldn't have to stick with Victor. He would much rather prefer working alone. Because deep down, Bryan had severe trust issues after being betrayed by Ron.

'Yes, I mean it!' Benny then lowered his head and asked softly, 'D-Do you trust me?'

Bryan was taken aback. He then suddenly realized why Benny would ask him such a question. It was because even Benny realized that he would have problems trusting others after Ron's betrayal!

Bryan grabbed Benny by his shoulder and gave him a warm hug, "Benny, I may not trust anybody else in this world. But you…I trust you with my life.

"I can feel your thoughts and emotions just as you can feel mine. Then why would I not trust you? When all I can feel from you is your love, warmth, and concern for me?"

Benny's eyes began to water, 'Bryan…'

Bryan smiled warmly, "It's us both brothers against the world, remember?"

'Mmh!' Benny nodded vigorously as he nuzzled his head again Bryan's chest. The latter smiled warmly as he continued to hug him.

A few moments later, Benny looked up at Bryan and stated mentally, 'Then, let me take you to a place. I want you to meet someone!'

"Who?" Bryan inquired curiously.

'It's Uncle Octopus!' Benny replied with bright eyes, 'He had told me before that you'd require his help. At the time, I didn't realize what he meant. But now I finally do!'

Bryan was greatly shocked! He had heard Benny mention this 'Uncle Octopus' to him many times but whenever he had asked Benny about him, Benny would always dodge the question.

And now, Benny was telling him that this 'Uncle Octopus' was finally willing to meet him! Although Bryan was a little apprehensive about this, he decided to trust Benny.

After all, Benny had told him earlier that whenever he would come to the Dreamworld, this mysterious person would always look after him. This person was also the one who had taught Benny how to utilize his powers.

But Bryan wasn't shocked about the fact that he was finally going to meet this mysterious person whom he'd heard so much about.

What he was actually dumbfounded about was the fact that this 'Uncle Octopus' knew that he would require his help!

Bryan looked at Benny incredulously and asked, "Benny…just how powerful is your Uncle Octopus?'

Benny stretched his paws wide open in an exaggerated manner, 'VERY!!!'

'I'm not sure exactly how strong Uncle Octopus is, but according to human's ranking system, he should be a High-String Transcendent at the very least!' Benny added mentally.

Bryan's mouth was wide open and his body began to tremble in sheer disbelief, "High-String!!? Benny, are you telling the truth?"

Benny nodded confidently, 'Yes, of course! It's only natural for Uncle Octopus to be this strong. After all, he's one of the five guardians of the Dreamworld!'

"Five guardians…" Bryan muttered in shock. He stood there in a daze for a very long time.

'Bryan!' Benny called out to him mentally.

Bryan snapped out of his daze and muttered, "If he's as powerful as a High-String Transcendent as you say he is, then he can definitely help me. But…why would he help me in the first place?"

'Isn't it obvious?' Benny looked at him in confusion, 'It's because you're my brother. Besides, Uncle Octopus has always had an interest in you.'

Bryan was instantly on guard against this mysterious person. Benny read Bryan's thoughts and began to giggle, 'Don't worry, Bryan. He would never try to harm you.'

"Why do you think so?" Bryan asked dubiously.

'It's because you were acknowledged by the motherland!' Benny replied.

Bryan thought back to the time when he first entered the Dreamworld with his physical body. He vividly remembered how the sky had changed to a shade of purple when he had arrived.

At the time, Benny had mentioned to him that this was a phenomenon that meant that the Dreamworld had acknowledged his existence!

However, Bryan was still on guard against this mysterious powerhouse. After all, this person was supposedly a High-String Transcendent and he was merely a Rank 1 cripple.

Benny could only sigh as he realized that he wasn't able to change Bryan's mind. In the end, he stated, 'Let's go to his domain! You have to see it to believe it.'

Bryan thought about it for a long time, but ultimately he agreed. After all, this was a chance at curing himself. If he remained the way he was, he would never be able to avenge his teacher!

In the end, he decided to trust Benny, "Okay, which way?"

Benny chuckled, 'If we walk the distance, it would take us weeks to reach.'

"Then how do we go?" Bryan asked in confusion.

Benny jumped from Bryan's arm and stood at a distance away from him. Bryan was about to ask what he was doing but right at that moment, Benny's entire body started to glow with a terrifying black light!

Bryan was dumbstruck when he observed this with his spiritual sense. This was the same black light that he had seen when he had injected his spiritual force inside Benny's egg for the very first time.

In but a few moments, the black light receded. Bryan extended his spiritual force to observe what had happened. And when he did, he was shocked out of his wits!

Benny had transformed into a creature that was completely unrecognizable! He was no longer that small cute cat from before. Currently, Benny was already taller than Bryan!

His body resembled that of a black panther, except he had four yellow eyes that were shining with an otherworldly intelligence, and in place of his tail were four black tentacles!

This was the same form that Benny was born with when he hatched from the egg, except he was now a dozen times bigger.

"B-Benny…is that really you?" Bryan asked in disbelief.

Benny, on the other hand, ran towards Bryan and began to lick his cheek, causing his entire face to become wet, 'Of course, it's me!'

Bryan couldn't help but chuckle as he wiped the saliva off his face, "It's you, all right!"

He then got on Benny's back and the duo sprinted away from the city at extremely high-speed. All of a sudden, Bryan thought of something and asked Benny mentally, 'By the way, Benny. Does your Uncle Octopus have a name?'

Benny asked back, 'He goes by many! Would you like to know his honorific name?'

"Yes," Bryan replied.

Benny replied solemnly with a hint of excitement visible in his eyes,

'The Sleeper of R'lyeh,

'Him Who Lies Dreaming,

'Lord of the Watery Abyss,

'Cthulhu!'