Kurai opened his eyes to a cold, metallic ceiling—the armored vault of the police station looming above him.
For a moment, he simply lay there, breathing.
Only now did he truly understand how much he had missed the real world. It felt… safe. Predictable. There were no horrors lurking in the shadows, no knights walking around him —well, not officially. Most importantly, there was no constant, suffocating fear of a slow and torturous death.
And his body—his body felt amazing.
The bone-deep chill that had haunted him throughout the Nightmare was gone. The pain that had gnawed at his wounded flesh day after day had vanished without a trace.
It was as if he had been reborn.
Kurai turned his head.
Not far from him, a man sat calmly in a chair.
He was strikingly handsome—light skin, sharp black eyes, and vivid red hair. Judging by his appearance, he was somewhere in his late thirties. His black uniform was neat and precise, polished leather shoes reflecting the dim light.
Kurai's gaze lingered on the insignia.
'Two stars…'
His thoughts drifted.
'That means he's an Awakened… yeah… definitely.'
The man noticed his stare and raised an eyebrow.
"So," he said, his voice calm but firm, "what exactly are you looking at, kid?"
Kurai blinked, then gave a small shrug.
"Nothing in particular. I was just thinking about my First Nightmare… my mind's still a bit unfocused." He paused, then added casually, "Though I have to say—I don't see many people as good-looking as you."
The man let out a quiet chuckle.
"That's not unusual. As the soul core develops, it refines the body—removes imperfections. Among the Awakened, especially the stronger ones, it's actually harder to find someone unattractive."
He leaned back slightly.
"Give it time. Live long enough, and you might end up looking just as good."
Then his expression shifted—more formal now.
"Since you're awake… welcome back to the land of the living."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"And congratulations. Surviving your First Nightmare isn't something everyone manages."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"The name's Jack. Awakened Jack—but you can call me Captain Jack. For the past three months, I've been part of the team assigned to monitor you during your Nightmare."
Kurai frowned slightly. "Three months…?"
Jack nodded.
"Yours was unusually long. One of the longest we've seen in this generation. After the first month, most of us assumed you wouldn't make it. By the third…" He exhaled softly. "We weren't even sure you'd wake up at all."
---
After a brief conversation, Kurai was sent to clean himself up. When he saw his hair and eye color change red to dark black.
The hot water washed away the last remnants of exhaustion. When he finished, he found a simple meal waiting for him. He ate quietly, savoring every bite.
Once he was done, Jack spoke again.
"Alright. Let's get the formalities out of the way."
His tone became official.
"As required by protocol, I need to inform you of a few things. Most of it is routine—but important nonetheless. First, regarding your Nightmare…"
He folded his arms.
"You're entitled to free psychological counseling. Whatever you experienced in there—no matter how severe—you don't have to deal with it alone. Your mind is just as important as your body.
He studied Kurai carefully.
"Would you like to speak to a specialist?"
Kurai shook his head without hesitation.
"No. I'm fine."
Jack didn't argue—just nodded.
"Very well. There are a few additional procedures, mostly involving family records, but…" he gave Kurai a knowing look, "those don't apply in your case."
He straightened slightly.
"That leaves one important decision—how you intend to prepare for your first journey into the Dream Realm."
Kurai tilted his head. "Is that all?"
Jack hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"I'll be honest with you—your timing is terrible."
Kurai raised an eyebrow.
"There are only five weeks left," Jack continued. "You're free to do whatever you want. No one's going to force you into anything. You could train… or you could waste the time entirely. Your choice."
A faint smirk appeared.
"Party, sleep, ignore everything—it's all allowed."
Then his expression hardened.
"But I wouldn't recommend that."
He leaned forward slightly.
"As a Sleeper, you have the right to enroll in the Awakened Academy. You'll get food, housing, and access to training classes. It's late in the year, so you won't learn much—but even a little preparation is better than none."
He paused.
"And more importantly… you'll meet the others. The people entering the Dream Realm with you."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Some of them might end up saving your life."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Jack asked,
"So—what's your decision? Want me to take you there?"
Kurai didn't hesitate.
"Yes. I'll go."
---
The Awakened Academy stood before him like an unbreakable fortress.
Massive red gates towered overhead, their surface reinforced with layers of metal thick enough to withstand unimaginable force. The entire complex resembled a city within a city—protected by towering alloy walls, a deep moat, and countless heavy turrets positioned with deadly precision.
Even the strongest Nightmare Creatures—colossal titans included—weren't expected to breach its defenses.
Snow drifted quietly from the sky.
The world felt still… almost frozen in time.
Aside from Kurai, only four others stood near the gates—likely new Sleepers, just like him.
Kurai glanced upward.
Clouds covered the sky completely.
'So I can't test it…'
He frowned slightly.
'I still don't know how painful the burn will be.'
A low mechanical rumble broke the silence.
The gates began to move.
A massive slab of reinforced metal slowly descended, forming a bridge across the gap. Kurai inhaled quietly, his gaze sharpening.
Then he stepped forward.
---
The Sleeper section of the Academy was smaller than expected, located in the southern district and surrounded by training grounds and open fields.
The building itself was modern and minimalistic—most of its structure hidden underground. Only a few levels rose above the surface, their white alloy walls gleaming softly.
Kurai followed the directions on his communicator and quickly found his assigned dormitory.
Inside, he paused.
The room was… comfortable.
A soft bed, a sturdy table, a dresser, even a private bathroom. Everything looked new and carefully designed. The air was clean, the temperature perfectly controlled.
One wall displayed a lifelike image of a snowy park—an artificial window so realistic it almost felt real.
Several sets of Academy uniforms had already been prepared for him.
Kurai changed, then stood in front of the mirror, studying his reflection.
After a moment, he raised his hand and summoned the runes.
At last, he had time to properly examine them.
New attributes.
Multiple memories.
And four echoes.
---
Dark-Brave Attribute Discription: [If the user possesses the will to win, they gain strong resistance against mental and elemental attacks.]
Master of the Sword Attribute Discription:[Any object wielded as a sword becomes a weapon of absolute dominance.]
Bloodlust Attribute Discription:[Your blood carries life and power—it can guide you.]
Lord of Darkness Attributes Discription: [You command the darkness, and it answers your will.]
True Darkness Attribute Discription: [Your darkness is pure, dense, and absolute.]
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Echo: Soul EateR
Echo Rank: Awaken
Echoe class: Monster
Echo Discription: [A man lived a simple and happy life. One day, a sudden terror appeared and destroyed everything around him. Unable to escape, he was trapped as a ghost, wandering without rest until his final death.]
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Echo: Soul EaTer
Echo Rank: Awaken
Echo class: Monster
Echo Discription: [A farmer lived peacefully, working day by day. One day, an unknown terror arrived and took his life. His soul could not move on, leaving him trapped as a ghost until he slowly faded away.]
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Echo: Soul Devourer
Echo Rank: Ascended
Echo class: Devil
Echo Discription: [A king was consumed by greed and lost his sense of justice, becoming a cruel tyrant. Soon after, a deadly plague spread across the land, turning people into monsters and destroying the kingdom he once ruled.]
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Echo: Soul Lord
Echo Rank: Ascended
Echo class: Terror
Echo Discription: [A man who hated flowers and beauty lived a cold and distant life. His actions drew the attention of the Queen, and he was eventually captured. In the end, he died, leaving behind only a dark story.]
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Memorie: Ghostly Sword
Memorie Rank: Awaken
Memorie class: II
Memorie Type: weapon
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Memorie: Bloodly Black box
Memorie Rank: Awaken
Memorie class: II
Memorie Type: storage
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Memorie: Ghostly table
Memorie Rank: Awaken
Memorie class: I
Memories Type: Tool
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Memories: The ARMOR
Memorie Rank: Awaken
Memorie class: IV
Memorie Type: armor
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Memorie: Soul Ring
Memorie Rank: Awaken
Memorie class: II
Memorie Type: tool
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Memorie: Soul Encrypt
Memorie Rank: Awaken
Memorie class: IV
Memorie Type: charm
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Memorie: Soul Water
Memorie Rank: Awaken
Memorie class: I
Memorie Type: tool
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Memorie: Stone Shield
Memorie Rank: Awaken
Memorie class: II
Memorie Type: shield
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Memorie: Ghostly Eyes
Memorie Rank: Ascended
Memorie class: IV
Memorie Type: weapon
---
After reviewing everything, Kurai dismissed the runes and left his room.
The cafeteria wasn't far.
He grabbed a meal and sat alone, eating in silence. The warmth of the food was comforting—but the thought of his upcoming appointment lingered in his mind.
With a quiet sigh, he finished and stood.
Reluctantly, he made his way to the administrative offices.
---
The room he entered was small but neat.
An administrative worker sat across from him, offering a polite smile before immediately beginning.
"As part of standard procedure, you are eligible for psychological counseling," the worker said. "Any trauma you experienced during your Nightmare can be addressed professionally. Would you like to proceed with that?"
Kurai shook his head. "No."
"Understood." The worker nodded, unfazed. "Then let's move on. Could you describe your Aspect?"
"It's… dark-aligned."
"I see. And the nature of your ability—would you classify it as combat, sorcery, or utility?"
Kurai hesitated briefly. "Sorcery… I think."
"Can it directly harm others?"
"Yes."
The worker made a note, then looked up.
"That will be all—"
Kurai suddenly spoke.
"I also received a True Name."
The worker froze.
"What…?" he asked, visibly startled. "Would you be willing to share it?"
Kurai met his gaze calmly.
"Brave Knight."
Silence filled the room for a brief moment.
Then, without another word, the interview ended.
---
Back in his room,
Kurai undressed and lay down.
Within seconds, sleep claimed him.
---