บท 9: Rewards
[Prepare for appraisal...]
Tyrel shifted to another plane, and he stared at a black space. Many stars dotted the firmament, connected by thin stripes of light, creating the patterns of alien constellations. Tyrel looked at the sight with lifeless eyes and spoke.
"Why did you bring me to this world, Nightmare Spell? There are plenty of people in your world who can do weavers purposes. Why didn't you let me stay dead? Why revive me?"
No answer came. Instead, the spell spoke.
[You have received a Memory: Accursed Core]
"I got a Tier-Seven Awakened Memory?" Tyrel's eyes widened.
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[A pitiful man from another world was rescued by a selfless Noble Creature. As time passed, they grew closer, close enough for her to see him as her pup. They faced many enemies, had a wholesome time, suffered together, and learned much about one another. In the end, they faced a ferocious foe. One so powerful it rended the earth and consumed it for essence. Together, they persevered, and in the end, the Noble Creature and the man were injured. The Noble Creature was selfish for once and forced him to kill her. The horrifying foe let the pitiful man live for its own entertainment. Ultimately, its arrogance was its downfall, and the pitiful man had the last laugh.]
[You have defeated over a thousand dormant beasts, monsters, and demons.]
[You have defeated an anomaly dormant devil, Amorphous Knight.]
[You have defeated an anomaly dormant devil, Nebulous Fox.]
[You have defeated countless dormant and awakened humans.]
[You have defeated dozens of awakened beasts, monsters, and demons.]
[You have defeated an awakened titan, Accursed Wyrm.]
[You have achieved the impossible!]
[Final Appraisal: glorious.]
'Why is there only one world? Usually, it says something extra afterward.'
[Dreamer Tyrel, receive your boon!]
'Wait, what's my boon?'
[You have been bestowed a True Name: Plague of Rot.]
'Wait a minute... I have a true name?! Why?!'
[You're Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
'Of course. Perhaps you could give me a gift for snatching me away from the afterlife?'
[Dormant Aspect Whisperor of the dead is evolving...]
[New Aspect acquired.]
[Aspect Rank: Divine.]
'What?! I have a divine rank aspect?!'
[Aspect Name: Soul Necromancer.]
Tyrel summoned the runes.
Aspect: Soul Necromancer.
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Description: [You are a wondrous existence. Able to access and cross between the world of the living and dead. One who can bring back souls or erase their existence. You long to be protected by guardians of your own making and choosing. Your guardians will be bestowed with some of your attributes. Your guardians are bound to your will, unable to disobey any command.]
Innate Ability: [Plane Walker].
Ability Description: [Explore the world of the living and dead. Create vessels and revive select souls of your choosing or destroy others for a chance to gain rewards. Those you revive must have the same rank as you or lower.]
'What?! So I can talk to the gods?! I can know the secrets of the world?! I can revive people?! How?! Wait... The souls I revive will be enslaved?!'
[The First Seal is broken.]
[Awakening dormant powers.]
Tyrel groaned in relaxation. He lay backward as he felt his body be reconstructed. Waves of energy pulsed through his flesh and bones. At the center of his chest, a soothing warmth intensified. For about five minutes, his body changed before the feeling faded.
His surroundings changed, and he found himself in a giant space. The sky was white as marble, and down below, it was as black as night. A bright green star shone, with a ring of small objects orbiting it.
'This must be my sea of soul.'
Tyrel squinted and realized the ring was the treasure trove of Memories he had and his two Echoes.
'I have so many. Woah!'
The spell pulled Tyrel out of the sea of soul.
[Awakening Aspect Ability...]
'I'm not sure what the aspect ability could be.'
[Aspect Ability Acquired.]
[Aspect Ability Name: Corpse Fusion.]
Tyrel summoned his runes.
Name: Tyrel
True Name: Plague of Rot.
Rank: Sleeper
Necrotic Core: Dormant
Necrotic Fragments: [70/1000].
"So I have my own core type. Cool."
Memories: [Tendon Ballista], [Antler Pike], [Accursed Core], [...]
Echoes: [Amorphous Knight], [Nebulous Fox].
Attributes: [Anomaly Progenitor], [Necrotic Frame], [Necrotic Healing], [Necrotic Blood].
Aspect: [Soul Necromancer.]
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Abilities: [Corpse Fusion.]
Aspect Description: [Use the remnants of your foes to strengthen your Guardians. They will acquire all the abilities of the sacrificed remnants. You can only fuse remnants into a guardian once, and they must be the same rank and class.]
'That sounds amazing! Wait, I fear what my flaw is. I got something so powerful...'
[All power has a price.]
[You have received a Flaw.]
[You're flaw is: Necrosis.]
Tyrel read the runes.
Flaw: [Necrosis.]
Flaw Description: [Your body suffers from the same rot you inflict. Eat raw corpses to keep it at bay.]
'My flaw isn't that bad for having a divine rank aspect. All I need to do is eat raw meat. I'll choose sushi, so I'm not seen as gross by other people. Sushi tastes delicious, too.'
[Wake up, Plague of Rot!]
The void disappeared.
***
Tyrel opened his eyes.
Tyrel saw an armored ceiling and walls. His eyes looked at his body. It was restrained to a chair that looked like a mix between a hospital bed and a torture device.
'I'm in the Shadow Slave world. I should probably stay away from the main cast. Sunny has the fated attribute, and the horrors he faces are too dangerous. In fact, I should be a lone wolf.'
Tyrel looked to the side and saw a beautiful woman sitting on a cheap plastic chair.
She had short, raven black hair and icy blue eyes. Her skin was as white as snow. She was wearing a dark blue uniform.
His eyes widened, seeing the three-star insignia on her shoulder. He quickly turned away and shivered. 'She's Master Jet! I need to be careful... She can kill me easily.'
"Why are you shivering?" She asked.
Tyrel spoke. "It's nothing."
Master Jet's left eyebrow raised. "I won't pressure you to answer."
Tyrel smiled. "Thanks, miss."
Master Jet smiled. "No problem. Welcome back to the land of the living. Congratulations on surviving your First Nightmare, Sleeper Tyrel."
Tyrel continued to shiver.
Master Jet stood up and approached the bed. She meticulously undid the restraints holding Tyrel in place.
"I am Ascended Jet. You can call me Master Jet. For the past week, I've been on watch duty due to your nightmare."
"I-It's nice to meet you, Master Jet..." Tyrel's mouth quivered and turned away.
Master Jet looked at Tyrel and sighed. "You're a bad liar, Tyrel. I can tell you fear me from your body language."
Tyrel's face turned pale.
Master Jet undid the last restraint. "I'm not going to hurt you, Tyrel. Why would I do that?"
Tyrel paused and sat up. "Because you're so much stronger than me..."
Master Jet pats his shoulder. "Just because of that? That doesn't make sense. You're stronger than normal people. Would you go on a rampage just because you're stronger?"
Tyrel shook his head.
Master Jet smiled. "See. Just because people become stronger doesn't mean they become evil. Your fear is irrational."
Tyrel nodded and stopped shivering before turning away, hesitating.
Master Jet sighed. "What's wrong?"
Tyrel turned toward her and asked. "Can I get a hug? I feel very sad."
Master Jet froze for a moment before answering. "Sure. Come here."
Tyrel got up from the bed and looked up at her before hugging her and laying his head against her chest. He felt arms wrapping around him as well.
"I'm not very good at comforting people. But be strong. Life will get better." Master Jet advised before hugging him tighter.
Tyrel's eyes watered. "It's so hard, Master Jet."
Master Jet sighed and pat Tyrel's back. "You caught me in a good mood. I'll hug you as long as you need, okay?"
Tyrel nodded as he sobbed in Master Jet's embrace. "T-Thank you."
Master Jet smiled. "You're welcome."
For a few minutes, she hugged him.
"Are you feeling okay now, Tyrel?" Master Jet asked while patting his back.
Tyrel smiled. "I am. Thank you for being so kind."
Master Jet let go, backed up a step, and smirked. "You're welcome. However, you smell bad. Go take a long shower."
"Okay, I will."
***
Tyrel listened to the sound of the shower water hitting him. He thought back to his nightmare, how it was terrifying yet wholesome. He stayed in for a while before turning it off and drying off.
'What do I look like?'
Tyrel looked in the mirror and saw he had black hair and grey eyes. His frame was still 5 feet tall.
'I'm really short. Even Sunless would be taller than me.'
Tyrel got dressed and headed toward the Cafeteria. 'I hope I'm not around at the same time Sunless is.'
Tyrel arrived in the cafeteria, and Master Jet was at one of the tables. Three trays of hot synthetic food lay before her.
"Help Yourself."
Tyrel nodded and thought. 'I wonder how that tastes. I've never had synthetic food before.'
Tyrel sat next to Master Jet and calmly and politely ate. It tasted bland to him, but that was better than eating corpses.
A few minutes later, he finished and spoke. "I finished Master Jet."
Master Jet nodded and replied. "As per protocol, I'll inform you on a few things. And as for your nightmare."
Master Jet sighed.
"I can tell you suffered dearly based on your state earlier. You are entitled to receive free physiological counseling. You need help. Do you want this?"
Tyrel shook his head. "The stuff that happened in my nightmare needs to stay hidden. I prefer no one know, but I know about it."
Master Jet nodded. "Okay."
Tyrel spoke. "Where did I come from again?"
Master Jet lifted her right hand, placed it on her forehead, and shook her head. "You're from the outskirts. Did you get amnesia?"
Tyrel replied. "It's complicated... Um, is there any other information you are obligated to tell me?"
"Well, some are having to do with your family. However, I've read your file, and it doesn't apply to you. The only thing left is to decide how to prepare for your first journey into the dream realm."
Master Jet smirked.
"I don't know if you're the luckiest man on earth. But you have a year before you enter the dream realm. You can spend this time however you wish."
Tyrel thought. 'Woah. I have so much time.'
Master Jet. "But I would advise you against that. As a Sleeper, you are also entitled to enroll in the Awakened Academy. You'll be provided with food, lodging, and a wide choice of preparatory classes. You'll have plenty of time to learn many skills to aid you in the dream realm."
Tyrel asked. "Is there a way to kill nightmare creatures too? I want to get soul fragments."
Master Jet paused for a moment. "Yes, there is. But only if a gate opens near you. I doubt you want that, right?"
Tyrel shook his head. "I don't want that."
Master Jet grinned. "Back to the topic. The most important thing is you'll get acquainted with most of the people who will enter the dream realm with you. Some of them might become your companions for life."
Tyrel thought. 'I doubt that very much.'
"Do you want me to take you to the academy?"
Tyrel nodded. "Yes, I do."
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