Chapter 26: The Truth Beneath the Nightmare

Words : 1011 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 26: The Truth Beneath the Nightmare While writhing and screaming, Shiao Yi realized what had just happened—he had walked straight into a trap meant for teleporters. Only after the pain began to dull was he able to look around. What he saw shocked him. He was the only one who made it back. This mission was supposed to be a five-person jump. But the other four hadn’t escaped. They must have been caught in that trap. Which meant... they’d been broken down at the molecular level. Disintegrated. "So that’s what a single number ability users looks like? How pathetic." A cold voice spoke above him. The commander stood there while staring down with cruel, sharp eyes—as if looking at a rat, or a dog. "You’ll take responsibility for the failure of this mission." Shiao Yi couldn’t even stand from the pain, and the commander was already tearing off his uniform. Without mercy, he whipped Shiao Yi’s bare skin with an electric lash—again and again. He was taking out his anger over the failed mission, venting all of it through that whip, not stopping until he felt satisfied. It was the commander’s fault. He had overlooked the possibility of a teleporter trap being in place. That failure was on him. But Shiao Yi couldn’t say that. Not out loud. His stomach and back were torn open, skin split, blood spraying from the wounds. But Shiao Yi’s body had been enhanced—regeneration was part of his modifications. By the next day, he’d be recovered enough to go on another mission. The commander knew this. And that’s why he didn’t hold back. "Ugh... ah... ngh..." Shiao Yi woke up to the sound of his own groaning. A dream—he must have remembered the shock of falling into that strange trap. His whole body was soaked with sweat. Then, he felt a gentle hand stroke his hair. "You alright? You were having a nightmare." A calm, deep voice whispered close to his ear, and an arm wrapped around his body. When Shiao Yi turned to look up, a pair of blue eyes met his, filled with worry. For a second, he couldn’t understand where he was or what was happening. His mind was still confused. "Did you have a bad dream? It’s okay now, Shiao Yi." The man—handsome enough to make anyone stare—spoke softly and then leaned in for a kiss. Still dazed, Shiao Yi didn’t react in time. His mouth opened without resistance, allowing the other man’s tongue to slide in easily. By the time Shiao Yi snapped back to himself, it was already too late. He was caught in the middle of Dominic’s hungry, intense kiss. Right. Last night—no, it was already today—he had ended up sharing the same bed with this man. Dominic’s kiss was hot and sweet, like it was pulling all the pain from Shiao Yi’s nightmare out of him. Why is this man always so gentle with him? It was dangerous. He felt like he was slipping, like he might start to believe it meant something more. Dominic pulled Shiao Yi into his arms. Shiao Yi could feel the warmth from his body. The heat started building inside his own as well. But then— The image of deep blue and purple vines flashed in his mind. And the corpse of a person who had been trapped by them. Shiao Yi pushed Dominic’s body away. "Dominic. I have something to report. I want to tell you what I saw." He got dressed and sat down in a chair across the table. Then he began to explain, in as much detail as possible, everything he had seen beyond the forest. Shiao Yi didn’t know magic, so all he could do was describe exactly what he witnessed. He wasn’t sure how useful that would be, but after listening to the whole story, Dominic’s face turned serious. The warm sweetness from earlier had vanished completely. Now, his eyes held the cold sharpness of steel. Shiao Yi looked at him with admiration. He’s so dependable. This was the perfect image of a commanding officer. His superior... It didn’t hurt to think that to himself, just in his heart. Dominic brought Shiao Yi with him to the medical room. They both looked toward the man from Dalmasca, who was lying on a bed. His head, chest, and leg were wrapped in bandages. The healer Sayu came in and said the man would probably wake up soon. "As soon as he wakes up, we’ll begin questioning him. Be ready," Dominic said. He and Shiao Yi then left the room. "Let’s get something to eat first. Shiao, I’m sorry to ask this, but I need you to join the interrogation. You’re the only one who actually saw the scene. Just be aware—it might get unpleasant. So eat with that in mind." "There’s no need to worry. I’ve been ready for that since the beginning. I also have a few things I want to ask him. And there’s no need for torture—I can tell when someone is lying." "What? What do you mean by that?" Dominic turned to Shiao Yi with wide, shocked eyes. Shiao Yi looked up at the tall man beside him. He had already made up his mind—this man was his superior now. He would trust him with everything. "I’m a telepath. I can hear people’s thoughts. And I can also send my thoughts like this." Shiao Yi sent a telepathic message directly into Dominic’s mind. He could clearly see Dominic’s reaction. The man was shaken, visibly startled, unsure of what to do. "You can see all my thoughts? Then, I can’t hide anything from you? Even my..." "Don’t worry. I don’t read everything." Shiao Yi spoke out loud, trying to reassure him. Everyone had secrets they didn’t want others to know. Shiao Yi didn’t want to peek at those either. But once people found out he was a telepath, they always became afraid and avoided him. Among the gifted, it was the most disliked ability—but also one of the most useful in the military.

Chapter 26: The Truth Beneath the Nightmare

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