Chapter 2

Infinite darkness swirled in all directions. Theron's surroundings trembled slightly from the pressure of the darkness on his body.

"uhm…I can't say this feels pleasant, even though it seems I don't actually have a body here." Theron gazed at his translucent hands thoughtfully.

[...Your soul is undergoing fundamental adjustments to fuse with a dark wraith.]

"phew, honestly, I expected some pain to be involv-AHH!" Theron gasped; a prickly sensation could be felt on every inch of his body, followed by a stabbing pain.

"Bastard! Thi-this is fucking agonizing!"

[I cannot be a bastard because I'm technically not a living being; I'm a manifestation of Tenebrous' power that gained living characteristics, effectively developing sentience.]

Theron persistently bore the piercing, prickling sensation as he attempted to glean information from the swirling runes, which, to his surprise, had gained sentience.

"Do you have a name?" he probed.

[No, Tenebrous didn't bestow me with a name. Since I only interact with Tenebrous, a name is unnecessary.]

Theron raised his now translucent eyebrows at the swirling runes made of darkness.

"But aren't you interacting with me now? Then, by your logic, a name is needed. I wonder, what should I call you?"

['He' only tasked me with guiding you…]

Theron snapped his fingers. "I know!"

[You know?]

Theron grinned, his translucent form shimmering slightly in the infinite darkness.

"A myth originated a few thousand years ago of a primordial being associated with the night, mystery, and darkness. I will bestow upon you the honor of such a name. From now on, you are Nyx. A fitting name for a being such as yourself, don't you think?"

The life-like runes made of darkness froze for a second before responding.

[If I am to guide you correctly, I suppose a name is needed for better efficiency…very well, you may call me Nyx.]

Theron noted that the runes looked a bit more erratic than before.

'it likes the name, how cute.'

[Tenebrous' realm is better known as Realm of Darkness- a mystical world of eternal night where all inhabitants have an affinity for darkness. Tenebrous reigns supreme in the realm as its god and king. He is the embodiment of power in the realm. Theron, Realm of Darkness is the best option among the six celestial realms.]

Theron could feel the pressure on him lessen and the stabbing sensation dissipating gradually.

'At last, it seems like my soul adjustments are ending.'

"celestial realms… Why is Realm of Darkness the best option?"

[The dominant powers presiding over the other celestial realms range mostly from being, at best, cruel to outright evil. Our benevolent god is an exception.]

'Benevolent? Our concept may differ on that one. So far, all I've seen from 'him' is ruthlessness and trickery.'

"What do you mean by dominant powers? They are gods, are they not?"

[...Some of them are, yes.]

"some of them? So the rest are what exactly?" quickly to catch on.

The swirling runes froze as if contemplating what to say next.

[...Enemies.]

Sensing the tenseness from Nyx, Theron steered the conversation in a different direction.

"What can you tell me about a dark wraith?"

[dark wraiths are one of the inhabitants of Realm of Darkness. They are considered at the bottom of the food chain. They are generally seen as pests, unable to retain consciousness truly, and thus aren't able to form complex thoughts. They are slaves to their instinct, which is to steal life force. Usually, they steal a smidge of life force and escape, satiated enough until the next time their hunger strikes. Indeed, a weak, mindless existence that bears no actual significance in the grand scheme of things.]

'...'

"Are there any abilities it can use?"

[Certainly, dark wraith has four abilities.

-Umbral form: the wraith achieves a semi-corporeal state while interacting with the physical world to a degree.

-Minor Illusions: The ability to create fleeting illusions from darkness.

-Drain: can siphon life force from living beings, gradually weakening them.

-Frost: dark wraith has a slight affinity for the dead. A chilling aura can emanate from within, having a subtle frost effect on the surroundings.

-Minor Illusions: The ability to create fleeting illusions from darkness. ]

Theron immersed himself in deep thoughts, trying to gauge what he had to work with.

'based on the first ability, Umbral form, it is safe to assume that when the ability isn't activated, I can't interact with the physical world…'

'if the standard for a dark wraith is mindless with no sense of consciousness, won't using their ability be inefficient in and of itself? A normal dark wraith won't be able to form complex illusions just because it cannot think of such complexity. It's a good thing I will retain my consciousness. They remind me of mosquitos from earth…'

[The celestial realm's inhabitants are all about survival of the fittest, and that is because of one crucial aspect of life- Evolution. Evolution is gained once a being from a specific race slays a certain number of creatures from another particular race. These rival races are called nemesis. For example, let us take your case: a dark wraith needs to slay 50 NightWolves to evolve, and vice versa; a Nightwolf needs to slay 50 dark wraiths to evolve further. Every race has its nemesis- that is an undisputed fact. They are destined to compete eternally for supremacy. Once you evolve, your race changes; hence, your nemesis also changes.]

'How gruesome…why couldn't I be reincarnated in a world of peace? what kind of messed up world was I dragged into…" Theron lamented.

The darkness pressing on Theron suddenly dispersed in all directions, creating a low booming sound that affected all nearby swirls of darkness to change their patterns. Theron gazed at the minuscule, barely noticeable changes to his surroundings quietly.

[...it seems your soul adjustment is over. You will now be transported and fused onto the body of a dark wraith. In the celestial library, which you will find yourself in, Black Wizard Aldred is the guardian. He holds all authority. If I may add, try to be in his good graces; he is mighty, and you are about to spend eternity together… at the very least, try to get along.]

Theron waved off Nyx's suggestion with a smile full of teeth. "Nyx, if we are to be friends, there are a few things you need to know about me. I'm a very likable person. I even managed to befriend a group of deranged cultists!"

[...]

The translucent figure of Theron, a very average-looking fellow who lacks any distinctive features or striking attributes, faded away swiftly from the space of infinite darkness.

The swirling life-like runes rearranged itself once again.

[He may be right; I find him pleasant.]

A heavy, ethereal sigh resounded across the entire expanse of darkness.

"It is either that or my company is that much lacking. keep an eye on the wretch…Nyx"

The life-like runes named Nyx moved chaotically, unbecoming a unique being such as itself.