Capítulo 5: spreading dominace 1
The Sleeper section of the compound was modest and located in the southern part of the Academy, surrounded by expansive training fields and parks. The building itself was low and modern, constructed with reinforced materials. Like many of the Academy's structures, most of it was buried beneath the ground, leaving just a few floors visible above the surface. The pristine white alloy walls and wide windows would have made it a beautiful sight in summer, standing out against the greenery.
Inside, the building was spacious and well-lit. Ares, Sunny, and the silver-haired girl were escorted to a large hall where a hundred or so young men and women—other Sleepers with the same unfortunate timing—were already waiting for the induction ceremony. The atmosphere was a mix of nervousness, excitement, and tension. Most of them were well-dressed, carrying suitcases or duffel bags, clearly having come from home, sent off by their families. The trio, in their simple police-issued clothes and empty-handed, were an obvious anomaly.
Ares glanced around. It was odd—Master Jet, who had once seemed like the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, no longer held that distinction. Here, beauty was common. The difference was the aura—Master Jet had the presence of a grim reaper or an undead lord, someone cold and powerful. The contrast between the masters and the Sleepers was staggering.
The trio split up. Nephis, ever the enigmatic one, was lost in her music. Sunny disappeared into the crowd, looking nervous, while Ares found a quiet corner to observe. From time to time, someone would approach him and start a conversation, but he quickly ended them, absorbing bits of useful information in return. Most people seemed stressed, trying to alleviate their worries by talking, but Ares quickly learned that it wasn't just the Nightmare Creatures that made this world dangerous—it was the people too. He could already sense that this world wouldn't last.
Among the crowd, a group of young Sleepers stood out, monopolizing attention. These were the "legacies," children from prominent families or powerful groups of Awakened, trained from birth to face the Dream Realm. Unlike outsiders or those from the outskirts, these individuals had been prepared for everything since they could walk.
In the center of them was a figure named Caster. A tall, handsome young man with brown hair and green eyes, his posture exuded the aura of someone who had undergone extensive training. Everything about him spoke of nobility and strength.
Another oddity was a quiet girl sitting alone in a corner. She was delicate, demure, and very pretty. Her pale blonde hair and big blue eyes gave her an almost porcelain-doll-like quality. It was strange that she was sitting alone despite her looks, but Ares didn't get the chance to observe her further before something caught his attention.
Sunny's plan had been going smoothly, up until now. She had been talking to various people, gathering information, and carefully cultivating the persona of someone obnoxious and foul-mouthed. Her reputation as a pervert was quickly solidified, and, while she was almost slapped once, she managed to avoid conflict by convincing others she had gone a little crazy after her first nightmare. In the process, she also discovered something about herself—she was rude, arrogant, and a little lustful, just a normal teenager in her eyes.
Her goal, however, remained clear: keep her True Name a secret. To do that, she needed to make everyone believe she was weak, pathetic, and unremarkable—someone who could never have a powerful Aspect. But she couldn't just announce that, so she had to make it convincing.
Sunny's dark eyes fell on a group of Sleepers clustered around a tall, confident young man—Caster. She overheard one of his companions speaking in awe.
"Ascended? You've received an Ascended Aspect? What… what was your Appraisal?"
Caster smiled humbly. "Oh, it was 'excellent.'"
Sunny, with a look of feigned confusion, stepped in front of the group. "Ascended? Excellent? That's it? What's the big deal?"
Her words immediately silenced the group. The Sleepers stared at her in shock, their expressions ranging from bewilderment to disbelief. Caster simply smiled politely, but it was clear that the situation had taken a turn.
Sunny grinned inwardly, her plan working perfectly—perhaps even a little too well.
Moments later, a tall boy, clearly infuriated, stepped toward her. "How dare you disrespect Caster! He's a Legacy, and you're just some rat who got lucky to be here!"
Sunny braced herself, waiting for the blow, but it never came.
Instead, Ares was suddenly there, standing between them. The boy's fist was caught effortlessly in Ares' palm, and he stood nonchalantly, as though it had required no effort at all.
"Try to touch her again, and I'll shove that arm up your ass," Ares said, his tone cold and casual.
The boy looked terrified, his legs buckling beneath him. He collapsed to the ground, his face pale, and he passed out, leaving a small puddle of his own piss behind.
The crowd stared, and a tense silence followed.
Caster quickly stepped forward, his polite smile still in place, though everyone could see the anger beneath it. "That's enough." He addressed Ares, his gaze sharp and calculating.
Ares met his stare without a hint of hesitation, smirking devilishly as they sized each other up for five seconds.
"I'm sorry for what my friend almost did," Caster said smoothly, though it was clear he was more concerned about saving face. "It was just a bit of banter. After all, we'll be in the same hell."
Ares turned away, lifting Sunny by the head like a puppet, and scoffed. "Put a leash on your dogs next time."
Without another word, he walked away, leaving Caster to simmer in his frustration.
As the crowd began to disperse, Caster muttered under his breath, "I'll remember this." The shame of being outshone by an outsider—an "outskirt rat"—was something he wouldn't easily forget. But the day would come when he'd make Ares pay for this humiliation.
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