Theo dreamt of a village.
The village was located between an enormous lake and a dense forest.
Currently in front of Theo, the chaos was unfolding.
In front of him, a 3-meters-tall abomination was roaming across houses, slaughtering everything it could find in its way. Its back was hunched, and giant sharp spikes were piercing through its spine and growing slowly. It even glowed with a ruby red glow from time to time.
Its whole body was like a creature that was burnt till a crisp. It made cracking noises as it moved around. The most horrifying part of it was its face. Its eyes were on two sides of its face, constantly moving independent from each other. Its lips stretched far, reaching down to its neck. Every time abomination opened its mouth, its whole neck and the face would split open, showing its sharp and numerous teeth, which shined with amber.
Its hands though inferior in terror still made anyone who looked at it have chills running down their spine. Its hands had long fingers and nails, stretching till it reached half the size of its arm. It's legs, on the other hand, looked a bit loose. It looked skinny and uncanny as its hands. It trembled from time to time under the weight of its body.
Around its belly, fat was building up, tearing black skin down. Soon, its belly skin tore apart as its intestines, flesh, blood and internal organs displayed themselves. However, from its belly a transfigured human like creatures with half of their body remaining and with some parts crushed got out, and they run off to everywhere. Abomination, on the other hand, got some of the transfigured humans, which looked rather incomplete and stuffed them back into its belly.
It was a terrifying sight to behold.
Theo, nevertheless, was shocked by the fierce nature of beast and horrifying look it had. He saw it tearing apart people like they were grass, and chewing their bloodied bodies for some time before gulping. Blood and flesh were always hanging from its mouth as it moved. Fire and destruction around it continued to expand, devouring everything in its way.
The children, teens, adults and elderly. No one was spared from their fate of death.
After bringing calamity to this village, the beast roared to the skies as its deafening, sharp, and chilling voice resounded around.
Then, the abomination directly looked at Theo with its left eye.
Theo felt as though its eye directly pierced into its soul.
At that exact moment, time started rewinding back.
Soon, after a day, chaos faded as village returned into its peaceful and lively state.
The sun rose as it descended again. The moon followed after the sun, chasing it as though they were playing a game.
After the 13 days, time finally slowed down as it slowly stopped completely resuming its usual pace.
At the same time, faint, feminine voice of spell resounded in Theo's mind again.
[Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your First Trial…]
'What did I just witness?'
'What was that creature?'
'What happened in the village to attract such a disaster here?'
'Is it really just an illusion and not a reality?'
Theo was traumatized by the scene he saw. So, Theo felt doubtful about everything.
It made him almost vomit the moment he was transported into his Nightmare Spell.
However, sudden change in perspective directed Theo's attention from previous event to present.
He was in the bedroom.
He immediately got up as memories of what happened still were engraved in his mind.
'13 days. I … have to get stronger in those 13 days. If I won't.' he paused, continuing after moments of hesitation 'I will die.'
'I haven't thought that nightmares would be so horrible. I didn't expect anything like this.' With this last thought Theo got up from his bed, examining his surroundings.
His face looked pale and grim. He looked at his hands and then at his cloth.
He was in pajama like clothes. Looking at wardrobe in front of him, Theo got near and opened it.
To his surprise, the variety of cloth owner of this body possessed was more than he expected.
So, he took cloth, which was most comfortable and easy to move with, from wardrobe.
After wearing it, he couldn't see how he looked by looking at mirror as he usually did before his transmigration because room didn't have any mirror. It was small detail yet it made Theo a bit stressed.
He first decided to see what kind of runes he got. Because, if he had attribute which helped him in fighting, he would have better chances against that abomination, and seeing your runes at the start of nightmare was most common and logical thing to do.
'So, you just think of runes?'
Suddenly, in front of him, runes appeared.
– – –
Name: Leo.
True Name: –
Rank: Aspirant.
Soul Core: Dormant.
Memories: –
Echoes: –
Attributes: [Twisted], [Otherworldly], [Natural Warrior].
Aspect: [Heroic].
Aspect Description: [Your heart seeks justice and equality. You are just another kid wanting to be a hero like one from the legends.]
– – –
Seeing his runes, Theo was left speechless. It was his first time seeing runes, and since it was a new thing to him, he was amazed.
Getting over his new experience, he started reading his runes.
'So, original name of previous owner of this body, which I occupied, is Leo. Good to know. Not a bad name.'
He marked name in his mind, and continued.
'Otherworldly? Twisted? What kind of attributes are they? I haven't seen one like this in the entire novel.'
'Natural Warrior?' He thought before his eyes shone brightly 'Jackpot! Looks like Gods listened to my request.'
Finally, his eyes landed on Aspect as his face showed clear disappointment looking at it.
'Seriously? When I finally got some useful attribute, they have to give me garbage aspect. Sunny was right. No bad Aspects my ass!'
After minutes of self-regret Theo decided that now he would just take look at description of his attributes and start his preparation.
[Twisted] – Attribute Description: "-#_@$#&^-"
[Otherworldly] – Attribute Description: "Your fate and any type of information on you is unknown to others. It is hidden in another world. In world where you originated from."
[Natural Warrior] – Attribute Description: "Your instincts and ability to learn anything ties to fighting are enhanced sharply."
'Those attributes are very useful I would say. Otherworldly can protect me from seers like Cassie, while Natural Warrior provides me with enough talent to learn fighting. I don't have any idea what Twisted does though…'
Theo didn't know what to feel about Twisted.
Its description was blank.
Attribute was simply unknown to Theo.
Hence, Twisted joined ranks of his Aspect in regard to regret he felt about them getting them.
So, finally throwing all of it in the back of his head, he opened the door, which led to hallway from his room.
At that right moment, someone got near, speaking in warm manner.
"Echo! You are finally awake. I was about to wake you up. But, looks like I don't have to. Let's go. Don't make me wait next time. I'm your grandpa after all."
Hearing it Theo noted that owner of his current body was boy named Echo. Then he turned to look at person who talked to him.
'Holy shit. How in the hell is this grandpa so jacked!?'
In front of Theo, tall old looking man was standing with grey beard and hair showing his age. His stature was straight as his muscles were clearly stretching his clothes. His skin was smooth without any impurities in most of the areas. His looks were out of this world.
Calming from his initial shock, Theo composed himself in his mind as he forced smiled and said back to the old man, "Good morning grandpa. How you been doing?"
Seeing his grandson's attitude old man's face brightened as his tone became more playful and warmer.
"That's what I like to see. Not your usual tired attitude towards me. Sigh. I know that I might overdue with your training. But still, I do it for your own good. You will definitely thank me later!"
With last sentence old man hit Theo lightly in his back and leaned over getting his hand over his shoulder.
"I know that you want to become a hero. But not everyone is born as hero. Heroes are made by the choices they take, by their will to never give up, and by never losing hope despite difficulties. So, you have to work hard, choose right decisions, and get stronger as you travel around world if you really want to become a hero."
Those words were sincere and filled with experience old man himself had experienced.
Listening to those words, hope, which was as small as little spark, started to grow until it grew to size of whole forest inside heart of Theo, occupying one third of it in its flames. Those words made Theo smile genuinely, feeling a sense deep closeness with this old man.
While Theo and old man were having their time chatting, some woman from the downstairs called them. She shouted loud enough for them to hear.
"Echo! Honey! Dinner is ready. Come before it gets cold."
Theo instantly understood that it was his grandma from her voice. It had tone which most old people would have. So, he looked at his grandpa, and he rushed downstairs.
Watching Echo being such energetic today, old man lost himself in his thoughts.
'He had grown so much since that day. I wish I could see his smile earlier.' After he went into deep thought remembering one of the most important events of his life, getting back to reality he continued to talk to himself in his head 'Well, let's not think about it. Right now, what is important is to keep safe against attack of abominations, and meal which I'm about to eat.'
He licked his lips and rushed as fast as Theo from downstairs.
---
Downstairs in first floor.
Old lady with similar grey hair was sitting in round table, which had three chairs. In first Echo was sitting as he ate meat and some vegetables prepared by old lady. Next to Theo old lady was attentively sitting, while observing how delightfully Theo was eating meal, she had personally prepared herself to him.
Finally, noticing arrival of old man she looked at him with raised eyebrows as she asked.
"Honey why were you so late?"
While scratching back of his head, old man answered back.
"I was just lost in my thoughts."
As though she had already heard this answer for thousand times, old lady sighted, signaling him to sit in the last third chair.
Old man sat at his seat and enjoyed his meal, which was same as Theo's.
While eating, three of them chatted, talking about lots of things.
Soon they finally finished meal with some tea and sweet fruits.
With his belly full Theo's was unwilling to move. But old man persuaded him to go for walk with him.
Theo first thought of it as way to get more familiar with his new environment. However, he eventually found himself enjoying every bit of it. He was joyful as his face unintentionally revealed genuine smile.
Theo didn't think that having just a walk would bring him so much joy. Because he didn't have any grandpa. His grandfather from mom's side got divorced when Theo wasn't even born. His grandfather from his dad side, in contrast, was with his wife until his death. Sadly, he died of old age in 1999 before Theo was even born. From time to time, when he visited his grandmother, his grandmother would mention him, saying that she loved his bravery. In fact, he had actually participated in WWII as soldier until end of war. He even had injury in his leg. Despite that, he still lived fulfilling life.
Till this day, Theo remembered the day he swore to protect everyone like his grandfather, while wearing his grandfather's uniform from war with countless medals on it. He treasured those memories in deepest part of his heart. Always, remembering from time to time, which helped him with anything he faced in his life.
"Hello? Hello!"
Old man said, trying to get Theo out of his lucid state. So old man started shaking him him, seeing no result from his words.
Theo quickly got back to reality.
"Echo what were you thinking about so much?"
Theo answered with gentle smile.
"Nothing."
"Okay. But, don't do that again. I thought that something might have happened to you."
With it their conversation changed subject very quickly.
Old man didn't pressure him nor did he try to mention it again. He knew that everyone had their own world to live on and sometimes people would just stop and look back, reminiscing about old times. Even if old man tried to ask him again Theo would just lie to him.
***
It was already afternoon and Theo was in same house again, after a walk. Coming back, he trained with old man, working on building his body and refining his muscles.
While training, he learned that his so-called grandpa was actually Ascended and his flaw was that he was vulnerable to too much water.
Also, Theo learned on how to train by a lot. Compared to before, Theo noticed that information related to fighting he absorbs and is able to use has become double if not triple, of what he had before.
In the present, old man had sent him to have a nap. So, forgetting every horror he had seen Theo closed his eyes as he finally relaxed and slept.
[Finally finished with this chapter. Sorry guys, I was trapped in Exam Realm. So, I could not write often. But, now I'm out of Exam Realm, I can release chapters faster. See you! :]