At the same time,

Inside the workshop.

​​

The rhythmic sound of hammering finally ceased momentarily, before it was replaced by loud crackling noise followed by sparks that flew out all over the workshop. The automatons were in the final steps of completing the sentry gun. They had already finished making the bullets and had also installed the 'receiver' neatly on the back of the gun to hold the bullets within. ( Author's Note: Receiver is a container which stores bullets for the sentry/machine gun to use.)

The receiver was big enough to hold up to fifteen thousand rounds but right now it only contained around a thousand bullets. Which were more than sufficient for their master to test the sentry.

About half an hour passed and the sentry gun was finally completed but it looked like it could use some upgrades.

The automatons thought long and hard on the areas that required improvements and they could easily do. In the end, they decided to make the three barreled head of the sentry into a four barreled one. This not only improved the firing rate of the gun but also helped to improve accuracy.

They also changed the weapon stand of the sentry, as it was unlikely that the thin three-legged stand would be able to support the bulky weapon head along with the receiver. Also, they made a small shield and installed it in front of the barrel. The shield further increased the durability of the gun while also adding to its defence. They used the metal sheets that Arnold had shaped for all of these purposes and by the time they were done, it was already way past four in the morning.

After carefully inspecting the sentry for any other unforeseen flaws, they decided it was time to wake their master up.

One of them went ahead and knocked on the door of Arnold's bedroom but there was no reply. He tried again. The result was the same.

"Looks like Master is a deep sleep." One of the automatons informed the others, "I think, it'll be better to let Master rest. He is tired."

"I agree."

"Affirmative."

The other automatons chimed in.

"What should we do now? We have already completed the task given to us by the Master."

All of them went silent. They were not programmed like Talos who had the free will to decide his next action as long as it didn't involve placing dangers way.

These automatons instead solely depended on the commands of their master. Once they had completed the assigned task they could do one of two things. One, ask Arnold for another task and two, go to idle mode and wait for Arnold's next command.

"Following the protocol, if the master can't assign a task to us then we have to go into idle state and wait for his next command." The automaton who had knocked on Arnold's bedroom door said.

The other automatons nodded in agreement. Their glowing white eyes soon turned yellow as they activated the idle mode, right next to their master's bedroom door. Not knowing their master wasn't sleeping as soundly as they thought.

****

"I am back in my personal hell." Arnold let out a sarcastic comment.

There was no doubt in his mind that he was in a nightmare and was smirking through it all. He had lived through this exact nightmare a while ago, a week or so specifically. But he didn't have a nightmare ever since he slept with Nina, and now all of a sudden he was having a nightmare again.

In his nightmare, he was trapped inside a dark cave. He couldn't move his hands and legs without feeling the restriction of the vines that bind him to a circular pillar. His head was as clear, as ever. The only problem was, he couldn't use his abilities inside the dream which wasn't unusual.

As he was planning his next move, his back started to hurt from the first vertebrae of my spine to the tail bone. He had to get out of there. He knew the way to free himself, but he didn't want to.

"It's gonna pain like hell, isn't it?" He mumbled, his eyes scan left and right for signs of life. There were none. Only a couple of skeletons were tied next to him in a similar fashion as he was, "Hey, Larry and Barry! Long time no see? Not gonna lie, I rather not see you guys if I could. You're cool and all but, meh. I need to break my arm whenever I see you so I hope you understand."

Break his arm. That was the only way to get out of the situation he was in. Even though it was a nightmare, Arnold could feel pain like it was all happening in real life. That's why he was hesitant to break his arm.

Once, He had tried to wait inside the cave and do nothing but the pain which followed the stay was much worse than the pain he'd feel from a broken arm. If he didn't leave the cave soon, a forest troll would appear out of nowhere licking his rubbery green lips, all the while staring at him like he was a delicate morsel. And the next second, Arnold would be squashed by the troll so yeah... breaking an arm was a much better option.

He took quick deep breaths and gritted his teeth together. He didn't want to get the troll's attention by screaming in pain. Then he turned his right wrist inwards and kept folding it in as flat as possible while pulling at the same time. And soon... his wrist snapped but his hand comes right out of the clasp. The pain was unbearable but his job wasn't finished yet. He still needed to do the with the left but this time a muffled scream escaped through his mouth and soon the troll came running in.

"Oh shi-"

Before he could do anything, the troll swung its hammer at him, but it never hit him. Arnold slowly opened his eyes and saw the troll knocked out on the floor, a spear pierced through its hairy chest. Next to him stood a tall and beautiful woman, wearing a magical armour. She was the one who stopped the troll. But something was different about the woman... only her upper body was like a human-like while the lower half resembled a red serpent.

"A naga?" Arnold mumbled, still chained to the pillar.

"Why refuse me?" The naga replied, "You're welcome to stay with me in-"

Before she could complete what she was saying, darkness surrounded him. It was time for him to wake up.