Alex’s room was a sanctuary of stories. Shelves overflowed with dog-eared novels, their spines cracked from countless readings. Posters of epic battles and enigmatic characters plastered the walls, a testament to a life spent in the embrace of fiction. A laptop sat open on the desk, its screen glowing with the latest chapter of The Weaver's Legacy, a web novel that had captivated Alex for months.

  Alex leaned closer, eyes scanning the lines of text, heart racing with each twist of the plot. The protagonist, a cunning strategist, was on the verge of uncovering a prophecy that could change the fate of the world. Just as the revelation was about to unfold, the screen flickered. Alex frowned, tapping the keyboard, but the image distorted further, warping into a swirl of colors.

  “What the—?” Alex muttered, reaching for the power button. Before their finger could make contact, the room plunged into darkness. A sudden, searing pain shot through Alex’s head, and the world tilted violently.

  When Alex opened their eyes, the familiar comfort of their room was gone. Instead, they lay on a cold, damp floor, the air thick with the stench of mildew and decay. Iron bars crisscrossed the small window high above, casting thin shadows across the stone walls. Panic surged as Alex scrambled to their feet, only to be yanked back by the weight of chains binding their wrists.

  “Where… where am I?” Alex’s voice trembled, echoing in the confined space. Memories of the flickering screen and the sudden pain flooded back, but nothing made sense. This wasn’t a dream; the chill seeping into their bones was too real, the shackles too heavy.

  Footsteps approached, heavy and deliberate. Two figures appeared outside the cell, their faces obscured by helmets. One of them, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, sneered as he unlocked the door.

  “Another one for the Nightmare Trial,” he grunted to his companion. “Hope this one lasts longer than the last.”

  Nightmare Trial? The words sent a shiver down Alex’s spine. They sounded ominous, like something out of the stories Alex loved—but this was no story. This was real, and Alex was trapped in it.

  The guards hauled Alex to their feet, dragging them down a dimly lit corridor. Alex’s mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening. Was this some kind of reenactment? A prank? But the rough stone walls and the guards’ grim expressions suggested otherwise.

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  As they passed other cells, Alex caught glimpses of hollow-eyed prisoners, their faces etched with despair. One of them, a gaunt man with wild hair, reached through the bars, his voice a desperate whisper.

  “Don’t go… the nightmares… they’ll consume you…”

  Alex’s heart pounded. Nightmares? Was that what the trial was? Some kind of test involving dreams? But before they could ask, the guards shoved them forward, through a set of massive doors and into a cavernous chamber.

  At the center of the room stood a shimmering portal, its edges crackling with dark energy. The air around it seemed to warp, as if reality itself was bending. Alex’s breath caught in their throat. This was no ordinary portal; it felt wrong, like a tear in the fabric of the world.

  The scarred guard smirked, pushing Alex towards the portal. “Time to meet your fate, slave.”

  Slave? The word hit Alex like a blow. They were a slave here? How? Why? Questions swirled, but there was no time to ask. The guards’ grips tightened, and with a final, brutal shove, Alex was hurled through the portal.

  The world dissolved into chaos. Colors bled together, sounds warped into a cacophony, and Alex’s body felt weightless, then impossibly heavy. Just as suddenly, everything snapped back into focus.

  Alex landed hard on uneven ground, the impact jarring their bones. They were in a desolate landscape, the sky a sickly shade of red, the earth cracked and barren. Twisted trees loomed in the distance, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching for the heavens.

  A notification appeared before Alex’s eyes, floating text that only they could see:

  Welcome to the Nightmare Realm. Survive the trial to earn your reward.

  Alex blinked, the words sinking in. Nightmare Realm? Trial? This was like something out of the web novels they loved, but the danger was real. The air was thick with menace, and in the distance, a low growl echoed.

  Fear gripped Alex, but so did a spark of determination. They might not understand what was happening, but they knew one thing: they had to survive. And if this was a game, or some twisted version of one, then maybe their knowledge of stories could help.

  As Alex took a tentative step forward, the ground trembled. From the shadows emerged a hulking figure, its eyes glowing with malice. Alex’s heart raced, but the floating text appeared again:

  Enemy Weakness: Fire

  Fire? Alex glanced around frantically. There was no fire in sight, but perhaps… A memory flashed—a trick from a novel where the protagonist used friction to create a spark.

  With trembling hands, Alex grabbed two rocks from the ground and struck them together. Sparks flew, catching on a nearby patch of dry grass. The flames grew, and as the creature lunged, Alex thrust the burning grass towards it.

  The beast recoiled, screeching in pain. Emboldened, Alex pressed the attack, using the fire to drive the creature back until it fled into the darkness.

  Panting, Alex dropped the smoldering grass. They had survived, but this was only the beginning. The Nightmare Realm stretched out before them, full of unknown dangers. And beyond that, a world where they were a slave, bound by chains and mystery.

  But Alex was not without hope. The floating text, the hint about the enemy’s weakness—it was like a guide, a whisper from the stories they loved. Perhaps, in this strange new world, their love for tales could be their greatest weapon.

  With a deep breath, Alex steeled themselves and took another step forward, ready to face whatever came next.