Bari found himself in a space between dream and reality. It was an endless black void illuminated by a myriad of stars. Between those stars, countless strings of silver light were woven into a beautiful and inconceivably complex net, forming various nexuses and constellations. It was truly breathtaking.
Somehow, Bari understood that he was seeing the inner workings of the Nightmare Spell. He could not help but remember his tutors' words — that the Nightmare Spell was something people were still trying to uncover the secrets of. It reminded Bari of the inner workings of a human body, but that was just his perspective. The best answer they had come up with was that there was no way to know. The Spell was neither alive nor dead; neither sentient nor mindless.
To Bari, it felt more like a function than a creature.
Bari was in no mood to ponder the inner workings of the world. He was eagerly awaiting his boon.
As Bari awaited the Spell's appraisal, his first reward, however, had nothing to do with it.
[You have received a Memory: Strider's Earrings]
A wide grin spread across Bari's face as he heard the Spell's announcement.
He would keep these not only as his first-ever Memory, but as a reminder to never let anyone mock his family again — Nightmare Creatures or people.
Bari was elated. A Memory of an Awakened Terror — which meant the Memory itself was of the Awakened rank.
From what he had learned from his tutor, there were seven ranks to everything in the Spell. These ranks were, in order of growing power: Dormant, Awakened, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Sacred, and Divine (with the exclusion of Nightmare Creatures, who were ranked as Dormant, Awakened, Fallen, Corrupted, Great, Cursed, and Unholy).
It finally hit Bari: he had slain an Awakened Terror — something unheard of. Creatures of that class had six Soul Cores, possessed area-of-effect powers, used advanced strategies, and were highly dangerous. He guessed that its area-of-effect power was its illusion — fabricating a perfect world, one that made sure its victims never left.
This put a sour taste in Bari's mouth, but he knew he had killed it. He had the Memory to prove it.
Bari wanted to summon his Memory to prove his thoughts right, but the Spell was done with its appraisal.
Here in the void, its voice didn't sound subtle and familiar anymore. Rather, it seemed like the universe itself was speaking. Bari held his breath, listening attentively.
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[The youngest to ever have been brought into a Nightmare. A boy with keen insight and an unshakable will was trapped in a beautiful illusion fabricated by a beautiful spider, in a terrible world. He gazed upon the world, and willed it to break, his might unshakable. Destroying a creature born from the tears of a Daemon.]
[You have defeated an Awakened Terror: Mirage Strider.]
[You have erased the tears of a Daemon. You have received its blessing.]
[You have achieved the impossible!]
[Final appraisal: Glorious. Your will is unshakable. Your insight truly knows no bounds.]
To say Bari was satisfied was an understatement. To be given such praise only meant a greater boon, and if it helped him protect his family, then he would accept it in a heartbeat.
After all, his overall power was still dependent on the rank of his Soul Core, which would remain Dormant until much later. But the rank of the Aspect itself would do wonders for his overall potential.
[Dreamer Bari, receive your boon!]
[You have been bestowed a True Name: Will-Born.]
It was to be expected. He was not only a legacy, but the son of Broken Sword and Smile of Heaven.
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
Bari was annoyed. Due to the illusion, he was unable to discern if he was in a Nightmare, and unable to check his runes. Even after breaking free from Mirage Strider's mental attack, it was already too late. He had beaten the Nightmare.
Bari crossed his arms and mentally said, "Yes."
[Dormant Aspect True Insight is evolving…]
[New Aspect acquired.]
[Aspect Rank: Divine.]
Bari's eyes widened as he spoke: "Divine!?"
[Aspect Name: Eyes of Genesis.]
The only thought that rang in Bari's mind was one his father would surely disapprove of: "Who the fuck is Genesis?"
Confused, Bari summoned his runes and found the lines describing his Aspect.
Aspect: [Eyes of Genesis]
Aspect Rank: Divine
Aspect Description: [You have been granted the divine Eyes of Genesis as a gift by a Daemon, in gratitude for your kindness in erasing its tears. Your eyes hold plenty of strange and wondrous powers that allow the user to perceive beyond the limitations of reality, essence, and eventually time. This is absolute comprehension. Your eyes do not simply see — they reveal the truths of the world.]
Innate Ability: [Unique Being]
Ability Description: [You are unique, one of a kind. Outside fate's reach. Usually, beings such as yourself would be hated by fate, but Weaver holds a fondness for those who are kind to its kin. You are neither human nor Nightmare Creature — truly unique. You can absorb all the Soul Essence of a Nightmare Creature and human you have slain. In doing so, you have a small chance of gaining one of their positive attributes. Duplicated attributes will be boosted]
That's… a lot to process. Who's Weaver? Positive attributes? Are there negative ones? Or only those I see as negative counts?
What does it mean to have a Divine attribute? I've never heard anything higher than Sacred — and that was only because Father had one.
He grinned. Doesn't matter. I'll figure it out on my own.
[The First Seal is broken.]
[Awakening Dormant powers…]