Superhumans of the Dome City
Chapter 210 - 210 2 Entering the Dream_3

210: Chapter 2 Entering the Dream_3 210: Chapter 2 Entering the Dream_3 Ah Ce realized that he was standing in a deep, dark tunnel, with countless burning torches on either side illuminating the space.

He tried reaching out for a torch and found that he could easily take it down.

The torch he took down displayed scenes of memories, a relentless stream of his past narrations in front of others.

Undoubtedly, Gongsun Ce was a chatterbox.

The torch was bright enough; taking it with him should be able to light up a large swathe of darkness.

He continued to observe his surroundings by the firelight, discovering that below each torch was a small sign: “Superpower User,” “Helpful,” “Kind-hearted,” “Otaku,” “Strong”…

“All fake, they’re all fake.

All just illusions…”

Muttering to himself, Gongsun Ce hung the torch back.

He walked deeper into the tunnel, and with each step, a beam of light was extinguished.

When he reached the end, all the flames had disappeared.

Using his eyes, gradually adjusting to the darkness, he could barely make out another door at the end of the tunnel, a door carved into the stone wall.

There was a small stool in front of the door, on which sat a person he knew all too well.

He couldn’t make out this person’s features in the dark, but Gongsun Ce immediately understood who it was.

“Big brother, guarding the door?”

The figure in the dark replied languidly, “Yeah, I’m here to guard the door for you.

There are precious treasures inside, so we can’t let just anyone enter.”

“Wow, thanks a lot.

Big brother, could you also answer some questions for me?

Why haven’t I seen Orianna and the others in my heart, yet Qiluo, whom I’ve only known for a few days, is present?”

“That’s because you haven’t seen them for a long time.

Dreams are related to memories.

Even if the friendship with a buddy from three years ago was deep, it’s not as clear as that with friends you see every day.

It’s like how you came here riding on a Biochemical Kangaroo.

Why would you ride such a thing?”

The last time Gongsun Ce had seen a Biochemical Kangaroo was in January of this year.

An incident in an experimental lab trying to mass-produce bioengineered animals resulted in three thousand Biochemical Kangaroos leaping onto the streets of Sky City, starting one energetic boxing match after another with the celebrating Superpower Users, bringing a unique festive atmosphere to the airborne city.

He had to admit that the agility of those animals had left a deep impression on him, second only to the unpleasant taste of their meat.

“I get it.” He walked towards the door in the stone wall, “I’m off then, thanks, big brother…”

The youth in the darkness reached out to stop him.

“Ah Ce, this is a door meant for the real you.

Those who don’t even want to look at themselves can’t enter.”

Gongsun Ce frowned, “Big brother, can’t we make an exception…”

“There’s nothing to discuss.

Go back, look in the mirror, you choose.”

Gongsun Ce took off his glasses and meticulously cleaned them for a full half-minute before putting them back on.

“Okay.”

Suddenly, the torches that had gone out shined brightly again, illuminating Mo Yuankai’s face, as well as the stone door at the end of the tunnel.

The stone door was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the light and allowing him to clearly see his current appearance.

The person in the mirror laughed wildly, his eyes filled with arrogant self-regard.

The Gongsun Ce in the mirror wore an extravagantly embroidered black outfit with golden trim, and a cape with a red base and black backing draped behind him; his deliberately grown-out hair was tied into a ponytail at the back of his head, and his face appeared much more youthful than it was now.

This image was undoubtedly completely different from his present self, with the biggest difference being hair color: the current Gongsun Ce had signature gray hair, while the person in the mirror had hair black as the night sky.

Gongsun Ce reached back and touched the ponytail and cape.

With an expressionless face, he remarked, “Looks like a ridiculous clown.”

Everything in the tunnel was lit up, except for Mo Yuankai, who still sat in a dark corner, hiding his true face.

He said with a laugh, “Don’t be like that, Ah Ce.

I think it looks quite stylish.”

“I know that’s also one of my own thoughts, but thanks anyway.”

Gongsun Ce reached for the mirror door.

The moment he touched the mirror’s surface, a blinding light attacked his eyes—

·

When the light subsided, he found himself back in the old building where he began.

This time he was on the 7th floor, in front of room 7, but what he saw was no longer the door to his room in Sky City.

Before him stood a bronze-colored security door, fitted with an anti-theft mesh between the iron bars, evidently several years old.

Through the mesh, one could see another door behind it, a grayish-white one with an upside-down “Fu” character sticker and several cartoon stickers applied by children.

A faint smell of cooking oil lingered in the stairwell, and outside, the piercing chirp of cicadas could be heard, mingled with the jarring sound of piano practice—probably the neighbor’s kid upstairs…

These unforgettable yet familiar impressions gradually awakened the memories buried deep in his heart.

Gongsun Ce suddenly realized why there was this building deep in the desert.

It was the place he had lived the longest from birth to adulthood, the old residential building he had not seen for nine years.

This was Gongsun Ce’s home for ten years.

“…Makes sense.”

The Superpower User took out an old key with a tinge of sadness and returned to his true home.

Tentatively, he called out, “Dad, Mom, I’m back!”

No one responded.

Gongsun Ce pulled out his pocket watch; the time was five in the afternoon.

He remembered that his parents would be out working at this hour and it would be a while before they returned.

The house looked exactly the way it did when he left: the newly replaced sofa, the old television used for years, the peony painting on the wall, the small square table piled with remote controls and books…

He looked around, almost wanting to sit there and wait for his parents to come home.

But the Superpower User had no amnesia; he hadn’t forgotten the purpose of his dream.

Gongsun Ce reluctantly turned away and grasped the doorknob to his room.

Intuition told him that this was the deepest he could reach in this dream.

“Huh…”

Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the final door.

There was a small bed by the wall, above which was a bookshelf crammed with fairy tales, and beside it stood his desk, still displaying the various toys he loved as a child…

His room was indeed just as he left it, with only one extra thing.

One extra person.

A mature woman was sitting at the desk with her back to him.

She wore a deerstalker hat, a dark blue shirt and black trousers, and over them, a brown trench coat.

Her silver hair cascaded down her back, as pure and beautiful as fresh winter snow, capturing his gaze completely.

Upon hearing the sound of the door, the woman turned around and looked into Gongsun Ce’s eyes.

Their gazes met briefly then separated, because Gongsun Ce instinctively lowered his head.

She looked exactly the same as before, those gray eyes utterly identical to the ones in his memory, almost leaving Gongsun Ce breathless.

The silver-haired woman stood up from her seat and spoke calmly.

“It’s been a long time, Ce.”

Gongsun Ce stuttered, at a loss for words.

“It’s been so long, Miss Alandia, I…I’m really surprised, truly.

I never thought I’d see you here.”

His speech quickened, pouring more emotion into his words.

It was a feeling distinct from surprise and joy.

“I…I’m sorry, I’m a bit nervous.

I’m at a loss.

I really don’t know what to say.

I mean…”

Gongsun Ce clenched his fists tighter, glaring at the woman before him, and with an unprecedented fury, he yelled.

“—Get out of my heart, Dawn Knight!”