(NARRATION) “Wait, wait, wait, you killed more than thirty thousand people?” Steven asked bewildered.
Nathaniel, meanwhile, merely looked away and cleared his throat.
“Let’s get past that.
There are more important matters.
I mean, by what you said, you caused an entire tribe of people to go extinct.” In response, Steven shook his head and protested.
“Sure I did, but I don’t remember any of it, so that was past me.” “Yeah, he’s been coping about it for a while.” Sammy added simply.
The four of them were currently sitting on a bench, waiting for the titanic red gates to open up.
“Oh, has he?” Nathaniel gave Sammy a smile for the assist and turned to Steven.
“Look, it’s fine, really.
I mean, at least we accomplished something.
Sammy just got bullied and barely managed to finish the Nightmare.” “You foul little two-faced, cock-sucking, ratchety-ass fuckface!
I help you out and you throw me under the bus!” Sammy jumped from his seat and went over to Nathaniel.
Who was already preparing to run, and the curious thing was that the world around Nathaniel slowed down while he was thinking about running away.
“OHH, enough already!” Amy also got up from her seat and pushed her palm against Sammy’s chest, holding him back.
“Listen here, we’re all in this together, all right?
So be good boys and behave.” Sammy furrowed his brows.
The moment he felt Amy touch him, he felt his strength almost leave him.
No, it wasn’t quite leaving.
Instead, it was as if his physical power was suppressed.
‘What the…’ Sammy frowned and decided to sit down with a huff, still managing to fall for the most obvious rage bait.
Amy nodded once he sat down and looked to Nathaniel, who she happened to see just about ready to bolt off.
“You know, you don’t strike me as much of a mass murderer.” She stated, and Nathaniel chuckled and shifted uncomfortably before sitting back down.
Amy sat down and sighed heavily, “Okay, so now that we’ve finished telling each other about our Nightmares, let’s focus on more important matters.” Deciding to be the one in charge this time, Amy looked to Nathaniel, who was the most well-versed in LOTM.
“So, what about the sect was mentioned in the novel?” All eyes focused on Nathaniel, which made him raise a brow.
Thinking it over for a moment, and entertaining the idea of maybe divining something about the sect, he simply shook his head, since he was more than certain that he wasn’t strong enough to divine anything regarding the secret organization as he was now.
Or maybe he’d even be caught, and who knew what would’ve happened then.
“Let’s see.
They proselytized faith in the Devil.
They committed many murders and believed in the god that was named the Dark Side of the…
actually, I’ll refrain from saying that.
They also believed that ‘He’ is the ruler of the Abyss and that ‘He’ is the devastator of the world who would corrupt and degenerate the real world’s entire universe.” After finishing, he pondered for a moment.
Steven, meanwhile, quickly digested what he said and blinked a few times.
“What if the other transmigrator simply took the name?” Nathaniel nodded and scratched his chin.
“Well, that’s a possibility, but if I remember right, they only focused on the Abyss Pathway.
But we all follow the neighboring Pathways, so he should be following Chained as well.” After thinking it over for a moment, he looked at them and spoke with a reserved tone.
“The Bliss Society would’ve been more appropriate.
Granted, it also had the Patriarch Pathway as…
we…
oh…” The others looked at him in confusion, while Nathaniel widened his eyes.
Sammy managed to observe his expression well, and due to his status as a Spectator, he realized what Nathaniel was thinking.
“Oh shit.
You think that the non-standard Pathways also have their own transmigrators?” Puzzled, Amy, Steven, and Nathaniel looked at Sammy with concerned expressions, and even without his capabilities as a Spectator, he knew that they were surprisedby the fact that he had managed to realize it.
Nathaniel coughed and nodded.
“Yeah…
Anyhow, if that’s the case, then there are a whole lot of problems we’re gonna have to deal with.
And well, if I’m right, then every one of us has a Great Old One slumbering inside us.” He made sure to give Sammy a sidelong glance.
“If it’s Adam, I’m afraid we’ll have to sacrifice you, Sammy.
No hard feelings, right?” Sammy grunted and gritted his teeth, “You really are confident about running away, aren’t you?” Nathaniel smirked.
“Naturally!” Amy chuckled while Steven was deep in thought.
After a moment, he decided to add on.
“Okay, so we also have the problem of whether there are others from the non-standard Pathways, but there’s a more pressing issue.” “Like?” the other three said in unison.
Steven cleared his throat like a wise man.
“So we know that there is most certainly a man who is following Abyss and Chained.
I know he picked a secret organization that focused more on Abyss, but hey, it’s still speculation whether he’s following just one.” He put one finger up, followed by another.
“There’s also the question of where Goddess of Origin is, and who knows if she transmigrated at the same time as…
okay, let’s not call him ‘that guy.’ Let’s call him…
Abby.” This earned a couple of raised brows, but no one commented.
“So, Abby transmigrated about five years ago.
However, I doubt that a newly transmigrated person would be capable of starting a secret organization, so he might have transmigrated much earlier.
And well, he may have cultivated his soul and become an Awakened, or maybe even a Master.
Let’s hope he isn’t a Saint.” Steven leaned back and sighed, putting a hand over his forehead.
“And then comes the question of whether the non-standard Pathways have their own users.” Amy decided to interject.
“There is the possibility that the Goddess of Origin hasn’t even transmigrated.
Maybe she’ll transmigrate later on.” Sammy, meanwhile, thought of something as well.
“So, let’s say that Abby also read SS.
So, wouldn’t the news of other Sleepers having True Names catch his attention?” “Well, we just won’t reveal them.” Nathaniel waved his hand dismissively, while the other two agreed.
Sammy just looked at the gates and snorted, “Yeah, okay, we know this…
But the other three don’t…” “…” Silence settled over them like an anchored ship, and not a single one of them responded.
Instead, in frightening unison, they turned their heads to Sammy.
Sammy backed away in his seat uncomfortably and grimaced.
“What?” A solid two minutes passed in silence.
Then the three of them looked toward the gate with lost and bewildered expressions.
In unison, they cursed.
“Motherfucker.” “Fuck.” “Merda.” *** Liam sat on a chair by the wall with his arms crossed, his eyes scanning the area.
There was no one around except for Damian, who was sitting to his right.
The little ceremony that Instructor Rock had given had ended about seven minutes ago, and they were still undergoing the interview process.
Sunny, who was the first to go, didn’t even bother saying bye or even acknowledging the three of them.
He was the first one called in, and after he finished, Martin was the next to go.
They had actually Awakened at the same time back at the police station, and so they reunited and went to the Academy together, along with Sunny.
Just remembering the awkward silence at the gates, where Damian tried to make conversation with Nephis and Sunny, was painful.
So after he had given up and was sufficiently ridiculed by Martin, he was insistent on pouting.
So Liam wasn’t going to bother getting him out of his bad mood.
Instead, he thought about how he would be able to make his Aspect sound simple.
After all, it was rather extraordinary.
Name: Liam Mallory True Name: Inheritor of a Desecrated World Rank: Dreamer.
Class: Beast Soul Cores: [1/7].
Soul Fragments: [22/1000].
Memories: [Gilded Brand], [Suffused Light].
Echoes: — Attributes: [Fated], [Spark of Divinity], [Purposeful], [The Cycle], [Sixth Sense].
[Fated] Attribute Description: “The strings of fate wrap tightly around you.
Unlikely events, both good and bad, are drawn by your presence.
There are those who are blessed, and there are those who are cursed…
but rarely both.” [Spark of Divinity] Attribute Description: “Every fire starts from a spark.
Somewhere deep within your soul, a radiant spark shines with divine light.” [Purposeful] Attribute Description: “When driven by a steadfast purpose, you grow stronger.
The stronger the purpose, the greater the strength gained.” [The Cycle] Attribute Description: “You have claimed the Lineage of Beast God.” [Sixth Sense] Attribute Description: “Your senses are unnaturally sharp, and your intuition is powerful enough to be considered a sixth sense.” Aspect: [Oldest Wish].
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Description: [A long time ago, Weaver dreamed of a free world, one in which Fate wasn’t predetermined.
And yet, even in death, Weaver was incapable of achieving such an outcome.
They continued to plot, however, and so with their plan came about your existence, making you a bridge between that which is happening and that which is to happen.] Innate Ability: [Free Soul].
Ability Description: [Your soul belongs nowhere, giving it truly bizarre and mystical properties.] Aspect Abilities: [Fate Connection].
Aspect Ability Description: “You can connect things together, and the things connected will share the same outcome.
However, the probability of forming a connection depends on the power of the desired target.” Sequence: [Sequence 9, Monster] Digestion (1%/100%).
Flaw: [Trouble Magnet] Flaw Description: [The more luck you experience, the more terrible the next misfortune you suffer will be.] His Aspect was most definitely a bizarre and frightening one.
Just looking at its description made him dizzy.
And thinking about the implications of what the metaphorical bridge meant was confusing.
‘A bridge between what is happening and what is to happen…
mhm, not a clue.’ While he thought about it, he heard a strange sound.
Strange noises had been constantly plaguing his mind after awakening, so he ignored it.
Instead, he focused on his flaw.
Lost in thought, the strange sound grew closer.
However, he didn’t focus on it, instead he focused on Damian, who was looking at him with a bewildered expression.
No, not at him.
‘Beh—’ Before he could fully turn around, he felt a force send him reeling backward, and he fell to the ground with a loud thud.
“HEY!
WHAT THE HE…
huh?” Damian stood up abruptly and got ready to tear the stranger off his friend.
However, he noticed the appearance of the man.
He had long black hair that was golden at its roots.
Damian instantly recalled the countless edits of ASG from TikTok, and while he was still processing it, he looked past the stranger.
Behind him, following with quick speed, though not as recklessly, were two guys and an eerily beautiful girl.
They soon approached and looked down at the ASG lookalike with mixed emotions.
Damian meanwhile had a dumbfounded expression on his face.
Nathaniel looked from the two on the floor and then at him.
He smiled in response and put a hand in the air, as if expecting a high five.
“Yo, Mr.
Capitalist!
Long time no see!
And well, oh well, it seems that you’re finally suffering the fate of us brokies!” Damian gave him a strange look before a hoarse, raspy laugh left his mouth.
“Hah…
ha.
I see that you’re as insufferable as usual.” After he spoke, he raised a hand and gave Nathaniel a hard high five.
Nathaniel looked behind Damain and at the empty chairs.
Seeing that no one else was sitting there, his face grew grim.
“Did you meet up with Martin?” he asked, to which Damian merely nodded before pointing his thumb to the left.
“Yup, he’s in there, y’know, doing the interview or i guess it’s an assessment as well.” Nathaniel nodded quickly and got closer to Damian.
He was a bit confused, however, he grew surprised at what Nathaniel whispered to him.
“Don’t tell anyone you got a True Name.” He let go and effortlessly pulled Sammy off Liam, who was extremely confused and bewildered.
He then shook him.
“Hey, look, I get that he’s your boyfriend or whatever, but calm down.
Also, tell him about the thingy.” Sammy had faintly teary eyes.
However, as soon as he heard that whisper, the faint tears were gone, and he was about to retaliate with an insult.
Before he could, Nathaniel simply let go of him and went through the door.
*** (Five Minutes Prior) Martin was seated in a small office, sitting across from an administrative worker.
She was a charming young woman with brown hair and pleasant brown eyes.
Her skin was flawless ivory, apart from a small beauty mark sitting on the edge of her lower lip.
She was very friendly and started the interview right away with a smile.
“Hello, Sleeper Martin.
I would like to formally congratulate you on your successful Nightmare.” Her friendly smile was so practiced that, if Martin didn’t know better, he would’ve thought it was genuine.
The worker took out a digital notepad and began to set it down.
“Now, as per protocol, you are free to take psychological counseling.
I’m sure your Nightmare wasn’t pleasant.
Please know that there is no shame in asking for help.” Martin gave a pleasant smile and nodded.
“Yes, I understand, but I will refuse, thank you.” She nodded with a smile that hid most of her emotions.
She then used her finger to scribble something onto her digital notepad.
“Okay then.
Well, if you’re willing to share some things about what happened in your Nightmare, you could earn contribution points.
After all, Nightmares are unique parts of history, so who knows?
Maybe you can provide important information about certain parts of ancient history.” Martin thought about it for a moment before he smiled.
‘Hmmm, I guess a bit of aura farming wouldn’t hurt.
I’ll just tell the truth like Sunny, in a way that is truthful but a bit exaggerated.’ Clearing his throat, Martin nodded.
“Well, let’s see.
I was placed into a city that was ruled by what people called a Sovereign.
Apparently, that’s what human Supremes are called.” After waiting a bit for her to write that down, he continued.
“The body I was in had a brother named Azarax.
He was just a normal human.
However, he was apparently undergoing a natural Awakening.
And good thing he was, after all, the entire city was in desperate need of soldiers since it was at war.” He waited for a bit again.
The worker even seemed genuinely fascinated.
She finished writing that down and looked to him.
“Oh?
And what did you do to finish the Nightmare?
Did you help out in the war?
Or maybe this Azarax?” Martin smiled joyfully.
“Of course i helped.
I even guided him with some knowledge that I gained from a…
book.
And well, after he became an Awakened, he was in a very weakened state, so naturally I used his own sword to lop off his head.” The worker blinked a few times, and the smile on her face grew a bit taut, like a bow string that an archer was too weak to maintain.
“Aha…
I see.” She looked at the notepad and saw that what he said was true, which made her smile falter even further.
She scribbled it down and cleared her throat.
“Umm…
and was that…
everything?” Martin laughed like an old lady who had heard a child say something ridiculous and responded with a smile.
“Oh, of course not.
While he was Awakening, everyone else was out of the castle fighting.
And well, there was an intricate system of gears and other things that held the intruders out of the city.” He clapped his hands and laughed.
“So I threw his strong Awakened body into it and jammed it.
And of course, I then used the sword to dismantle an integral part of it.
Thus, it was broken, and the entire city was left wide open.” The worker grew horrified and couldn’t hold her smile anymore, but Martin continued.
“Anyway, rivers upon rivers of blood flowed, and even a few injured soldiers of our city came back to keep me safe, so I killed them while they were distracted.
Then, after so many of his subjects died, the ruling Sovereign was weakened, and the opposing Sovereign killed him, thus ending my Nightmare.” Every time he spoke, the worker looked to the side, and sure enough, everything he was saying was true, which made her even more terrified.
After he was finished the poor worker was trembling, and her face was much paler than a minute or two ago.
“I see…
I am happy to see that you were so…
resourceful.” She wrote everything down, and Martin gave a shit-eating grin.
‘Pffft, I see why that short, ratchety-ass shadow keeps doing this.
It’s so fun.
Now let’s see how much paler she can get.’ Moments passed, and her trembling stopped briefly.
“All right…
now then, regarding your Aspect…
would you like to…
tell me about it?” There seemed to be a bit of hope that he would just say no and leave her be.
However, Martin had no desire to.
“Of course.
Let’s see, I have two Attributes that basically just make me strong and also very talented in fighting.
Uh, I also have an Attribute that makes unlikely things happen to me, both good and bad.
I then have one that makes my soul bear a spark of divinity.
And last but not least, I inherited War God’s lineage.” Before the worker could even speak, he brought up a hand to stop her.
“But of course, I’m not done.
My innate ability basically make it so that all the damage I endure will naturally strengthen me and make me more resistant to it, making it a form of adaptation.
As for my Aspect Ability, it just makes me capable of turning anything I wish into a much more powerful and deadly version of itself.” Leaning back in his chair, he then simply raised his chin.
“Of course, I don’t wanna tell you my flaw.
I hope you understand.” She laughed uncomfortably at the joke and scribbled down what he said.
Of course, she wasn’t going to bother asking him about its rank, since it was more than likely Supreme.
“Oh right, one more thing.
I also rec—” Before he could finish, the door behind the Sleeper burst open abruptly.
Honed by countless hours of combat, the worker got out of her seat and into a fighting stance.
However, she stopped abruptly as no abomination had barged in.
Instead, a young man with handsome facial features walked in.
His gaze instantly locked onto the young Sleeper and looked relieved for some reason.
That relief, however, disappeared soon.
Sleeper Martin looked back in bewilderment, and as he was about to ask something, the young man abruptly yanked him out of the chair with tyrannical force.
“Oh my, this young man here seems to have, uhhh, spoken with a minor!
We will take him for a moment for questioning!” Sleeper Martin grew horrified as he looked at the young man with spite.
“What the hell are you o—” Before he could finish, he was thrown outside the office, and the young man smiled like a gentleman and closed the door.
All that the worker could do was look on in bewilderment.
Her mouth was agape, and a strange hum just left her mouth.
“Ah, uhh…
what the Spell is happening?” _______________________ Author’s Note: Fun lil chap, anyway next chap the rest of the Aspects will be revealed and i’ll make an aquxiliry chap.
Also be sure to leave some comments to motivate me!
Next chap is on Friday.
Good day to yall :)!