Chapter 9: Shepherd of Souls

"It was Anna Kruegel's turn now."

White light rose from the magic circle again, in contrast to the Manifestation before, the Manifestation right now shows the image of a woman thrusting a Rapier. As the manifestation thrust her sword, a surge of raging wind envelopes the blade, creating a mesmerizing whirlwind that danced with her sword.

Every time the manifestation thrusts her sword, a cold gale flows throughout the room.

"Aren't the windows closed? So where did these winds come from?"

"Damn what's happening? Could it be because of the Manifestation?"

"But why was it different compared to the last two?"

Perplexed, the students couldn't comprehend what was really happening.

Noisy voices sounded in the room, as the white light of Fate's Radiance lit up and the manifestation was formed. Anna's talent and epithet was awakening.

"That's because of her talent."

While the students were trying to comprehend the situation, the voice of Instructor Irish was heard.

"Instructor, What do you mean by that?" A student not far from the magic circle asked.

"It's simple, the greater one's talent, the stronger their manifestation will influence the physical world. This is why the previous manifestations had minimal impact; Fate's Radiance judged those students' talents as insufficient."

After hearing that, the students questions were solved.

Not much time has passed since Anna Kruegel's awakening, there was already countless students who have finished their epithet awakening.

Most of their manifestations depict a warrior of different kinds, some with long swords, spears, or sometimes just a fist. There are also others whose manifestation depicts a mage who plays with various elements.

Not only that, some of them even caused a greater influence with their manifestation, making the commotion caused earlier by Anna's manifestation die down.

The most remarkable manifestation formed so far was from the 5 strongest freshmen.

Ken Tetsu manifestation caused a thunderstorm that ravaged the room with its fist, however it didn't  manage to destroy the room.

Ciel Fross's manifestation depicts the form of a female dragon knight that Freeze the whole room with its presence alone, while Sierra Flamme's manifestation depicts a woman with a characteristic of dragons, holding a big sword, one slash of its sword caused the ice in the room to thaw.

Contrary to the other three, Chang Sooyeon's manifestation didn't cause that much commotion, instead, it brought tranquility. Her manifestation depicts a woman seated under a plum blossom tree with a spear in her lap, it was too peaceful and beautiful. Meanwhile, Ye Xuan's manifestation is too average but it caused the most commotion, it only depicts a normal swordman unsheathing his sword, however each of its swords movement induced intense pressure, rendering some unconscious.

"Azazel Stardust.... "

The awakening of epithet doesn't really take that much time, however because of the quantity of students right now, it still takes too long for his name to be called.

With an uneasy mood, Azazel arrived at the Fate's Radiance magic circle. Under the guidance of the instructor beside him, he stands at the center of the magic circle.

Whoosh!

A white light instantly rose that envelopes his entire body. While his body was being bathed inside the white light, his manifestation were forming, it was a man wearing a pitch-black robe that reminiscent of a grim reaper holding a Black ominous scythe.

As the manifestation was slowly forming, the environment was also slowly changing. No one noticed it as they're attention was preoccupied to him.

By the time the manifestation finished forming, the surroundings also changed. The previous spacious room transformed into a meadow under a clear night sky, with the moon shining brightly and countless stars accompanying it.

There's still the classroom seats and podium but the roof, walls, and the floor are gone.

"W-hat's happening?"

"Aren't we in the room just now?"

"Where the hell are we?"

"Is it cause by his manifestation?"

"Impossible!!!"

"how it's possible for a manifestation to bring us to a different place??"

"However, it's also possible that he's just that talented that his manifestation caused such an influence in the physical world."

"That's not possible!, even the person known as the ultimate genius didn't managed to make his manifestation influenced the physical world this much."

Noises quickly filled the surrounding, confusion was evident in their voice. Perplexed, the students and instructor couldn't comprehend the changes that had just transpired.

Just as people were pondering how to leave this place, the manifestation above Azazel swung his scythe, however as others were too preoccupied, they didn't take notice of it.

As it swung its scythe, a dark light swept through the crowd. The surroundings darkened for a few seconds and they came back to the room.

The room which previously bustling with noise and questions suddenly quiet down.

Confusion was evident in their face.

Students and instructors alike exchanged a puzzled glance as they're unable to recall what just happened moments ago.

"What the hell just happened?"

"I feel like I'm forgetting something."

"Yeah, me too."

Still, Little by little, the room was filled with noises again. Students and instructors just move-on and just continue doing what they remembered.

It seems like they only forgot what Azazel's manifestation caused.

[Epithet successfully awakened]

[Special Skill successfully awakened]

[Body Restrictions removed]

[Dark Attribute Magic Talent awakened]

Azazel heaved a sigh of relief. The status screen before him indicates that he successfully awakened an epithet. The white light and the manifestation above him was also disappearing.

'Status Window'

With a thought, a translucent blue screen appeared before him. The access to status window allows Azazel to see his information.

===Status===

Name: Azazel Stardust

Epithet: Shepherd of Souls _new_

Realm: Rank 4 (low)

Attributes: Dark

Trait:

Intuition (S)

Spirit Eyes (SSS)

Special skill: NEW

Solace of Death

Skil:

Basic weapon art (D)

Twilight King's Severing Art (■■)

===============

Seeing his status window, he discovered that there are epithet and special skills added to it.

'A Shepherd of Souls? What's that? A type of necromancer? The professor said that epithets are something like a profession or a job in RPGs but they're not technically a profession, because instead of profession, it shows our future based on our talent. However it was my first time hearing the word Shepherd of Souls.'

'Especially, the special skill 'Solace of Death'. It was also my first time hearing It.'

Azazel checked the description and effects of the two.

[Shepherd of Souls: a being walking the thin line between life and death, destined to stride as a benevolent ruler, offering salvation to ease the suffering of the poor souls.

Effects: Immune to dark attribute damage including the mind and souls.

Effects: Unable to use any weapon of War.

Effects: Increase the damage of dark attribute attacks.]

[Solace of Death: offers solace to the souls and brings

tranquility for the living and dead.

Effect: Fulfillment (Passive)–fulfill the regret of the souls and help them reach the ■■ for reincarnation. Every completed fulfillment will increase the user's overall strength.

Effect: Salvation (Passive)–give the lost souls a salvation through death and help them achieve reincarnation. For every soul receiving the user's salvation, their overall strengths increase.

Effect:Execution (active) –has a 1% chance of Activating instant death, the chances increases the stronger the user gets. Increase damage of Dark attribute attacks.]

Soul? Regret? Lost Souls?

It seems like the Shepherd of Souls is not the type of necromancer. The Effect of both skills and epithet don't show any resemblance to what a typical necromancer used. It mostly focused in souls.

'As I remember, lost soul is the term used to describe souls who lost their sanity because of prolonged stayed in the mortal realm. It is also a term used for people who lost their way in their life because of various unforeseen events that forces them to take the path they're walking.'

'Still, I can't believe this was the reason I can't use any type of weapon except for scythe. Because scythe is not a weapon used for war.'

'Anyway, doesn't that mean every soul receiving my fulfillment and salvation increases my overall strength? Isn't that a bit too much of a cheat?'

'I only need to give solace to the dead and it will help me increase my strength faster.'

The teacher beside him saw Azazel in a daze and said, "Don't be stunned. If you're done awakening your epithet, then go down."

Lu Yan returned to his senses and nodded before walking out of the magic circle.