When I first received the Memory, it was of the Sixth Tier. It was only after filling every slot of the 'Defeated Enemies' that it evolved, gaining the enchantment that allowed it to bind with my soul. The armor had recognized all those deaths as enemies I had defeated and slain.
Well, the Spell had judged them the same way.
As I reflected on this and celebrated my small victory, the Sun weakened drastically. Bit by bit, I watched it vanish, and with it, the overwhelming power that had seized my body began to fade. It wasn't just lethargy or exhaustion; it was devastating.
I felt my senses slipping away.
First, I lost the sensation of my body.
Then, slowly, the scents vanished, followed by my sight. Finally, my hearing faded into nothingness.
Nothing remained but the void. And from that void, a voice emerged.
The Spell whispered
[Wake up, Orion! Your nightmare is over.]
[Prepare for appraisal…]
I found myself 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.
This was the Nightmare Spell. It was beautiful, magnificent, and yet, it gave me a profound sense of safety and comfort. Finally, after a full week, it was over. I could truly relax.
Well, relax and listen to the voice of the Spell.
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
"A Prince came to a cursed land where there is no sun or warmth and the stars died long ago, in order to return to his homeland. He carried neither honor nor morals, but bore a poisoned blade for the people of this land. He slew everyone before him—not through strength, but through deception and cunning. In the end, he stole the efforts of this land's heroes, and instead of their sacrifices becoming a blessing to light this world, they became a curse that slaughtered all who dwelt within You are the Thief of Light, the Prince of Ruin."
[You have slain...]
[You have slain...]
[You have slain...]
The Spell continued for what felt like an eternity, reciting everyone I had killed and everything that had transpired within the Nightmare. Among them, distinct names stood out: The Heroes of the Forgotten Shore, the Cathedral Knight, the High Priestess Pattista, the Vessel of the Sun, and the Spawn of the Vile Thieving Bird.
After an age in that void, it finished reciting the names. For a moment, I thought it was doing this to make me feel guilty. Hahaha, how cute. My ass feels guilty.
[You have received the blessing of the Beast God.]
[You have achieved the impossible!]
[Final Appraisal: Glorious. Your deception is boundless.]
For some reason, I felt as if the Spell was resentful toward me. Despite killing many through the ritual, I had also slain many Dormant and Awakened humans relying on my own power. Tch, forget it.
[Dreamer Orion, receive your boon.]
[You have been bestowed a True Name: The Victorious One.]
In that moment, I exhaled a breath I didn't know I was holding. I had been terrified of receiving a foolish or terrible name. Ignoring the name for now, the rewards continued.
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. evolve Aspect?]
I took a deep breath and said, "Yes."
[The Hollow Beast of Dormant Appearance is evolving.]
[New Aspect obtained.]
[Aspect Rank: Divine.]
[Aspect Name: Celestial Fox.]
At that moment, I felt that everything I had done—all the pain and suffering—was worth it. A Divine Aspect. This had always been a source of anxiety for me, but now, it didn't matter. I had obtained the highest rank. All that remained were its abilities. And while I didn't know what they were yet, I was confident in my intelligence; I would make the absolute best use of them.
I focused on the runes and summoned the Aspect information.
Aspect: Celestial Fox
Rank: Divine
Description: [The Beast God created many creatures; some for beauty, some for strength, and others for their unique abilities. Yet none truly satisfied her. Finally, on a night when the blood moon rose full, inspiration struck her to create her greatest masterpiece. From her own power and blood, she wove a seven-tailed beast designed to bring destruction and death. This was her greatest weapon in the War of Perdition.]
Innate Ability:[ Victor's Will]
Description: [The greater your victories, the greater your power becomes]
Hmm... The Aspect description was enigmatic, while the Innate Ability was incredibly simple. What did "victory" mean to this power? Did it mean defeating enemies, killing them, or victory in a general sense—winning at anything?
Before I could ponder further, the Spell's voice interrupted.
[The first seal is broken.]
[Awakening dormant powers…]
The moment the voice ceased, I felt it. It was as if something was waking up inside me, coiling to break free. It wasn't painful or jarring; it was strange and exhilarating. It felt as though my soul was being shaken awake, infused with a new and alien energy.
This energy didn't come from an external source; it erupted from the depths of my soul, from a place I never knew existed—as if it had been there all along, sleeping. Every cell of my being was filled with power. My emotions became clearer and sharper, and then my body began to change.
It felt like a star was burning in my chest, sending waves of heat slowly toward my stomach, shoulders, arms, and legs. Under that heat and pressure, my bones, muscles, organs, and blood vessels were being reconstructed. It was a magnificent sensation, like being born again. I felt my strength, speed, and vitality transforming.
With every second, the transformation deepened. It lasted for moments I wished would never end. Finally, the heat subsided, retreating back into my chest. For a few fleeting seconds, under the weight of that lingering warmth, I felt invincible.