Unknown
[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Aldric!]
Not knowing what to expect, Aldric's mind was on high alert.
The darkness he saw from closing his eyes did not let up even though he knew his eyes were open. He focused on his feet and could feel the earth. Cold-biting air wrapped around his naked body.
He used his dark vision and looked around the space. It was a cavern. Edged rocks lined the walls.
"Not another damn cave!"
He looked to the ceiling he noticed it.
A monstrosity of a spider. Massive and hairy. Its grotesque maw was unclosing.
Keeping his calm.
He immediately equipped his armour and blade. [Malice Of The Deep] and [Cragborne Armor] formed from the small lights in the darkness.
His instincts screamed at him to dodge. Jumping into a roll, the armour and weapon slowly formed around him. He had to survive the next 15 seconds.
DODGE
DIVE
DUCK
This was the longest 15 seconds of his life. He could feel something wrap around his body and something meet his palm.
'Death thrust'
Without even thinking he pierced his sword towards the torso of the spider.
A large cavity formed near the heart of the spider as it collapsed with blue liquid gushing from the hole.
[ You have defeated an Awakened beast, Cave Spinner]
[Your soul grows darker.]
A small sprite of darkness left the body of the spider and entered Aldric's body through his heart.
Aldric took a deep breath and relaxed. He surveyed the area and looked for any immediate danger.
"Clear."
Aldric was wrapped in his [Cragborne Armour]. Thick hide-like plates covered his body. It was plated over a tight bodysuit. An overall dark black armour set with a lighter black cloak of similar design. The details on the plates and cloak made it look like he was wrapped in the hide of a real troll. It fitted snugly around his body. His shoes were big boots with thick soles. Fashioned the same way.
"I can finally use it." Aldric said.
You might be wondering why this armour didn't make an appearance in the final battle of his nightmare. He simply didn't have the soul essence to summon it.
Feeling the air current and its source, he noticed a large hole in the back wall to his left. Keeping [Insight] in his mind he felt no dangers and followed through.
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Aldric had travelled for a very long time. He had come across numerous nightmare creatures of the same rank and dispatched them with all his efforts. He was getting used to fighting nightmare creatures as a sleeper. The best thing was something he noticed in the Academy. [Insight]'s effectiveness has increased severalfold now that he can keep up with its signals. His body has caught up to his mind.
Aldric was still stuck in the dark. He chose not to summon [Unwavering Spark] because he didn't know what it would attract. He was now looking for a place of shelter. Somewhere safe to sleep.
He came across a small burrow in a corner of the cavern. After clearing it of 2 spiders, Aldric dismembered and prepared the corpse. He deemed them safe to consume as they weren't poisonous. With only one entrance, he placed the corpses around the hole to act as a natural barrier.
Equipping a charm, Aldric was ready to rest.
[Charm of Balance]
[Memory Description: Gifts the user balance in their temperature.]
A simple charm that would allow him to sleep in unknown conditions.
It would keep him cool in the heat and warm in the cold.
It wouldn't survive extreme conditions but it helped against that pestering night cold.
Downing his meal with a water flask he bought from the store.
[Water Basin]
[Memory Description: A flask used to hold water in a drought. It can hold a limited amount of water.]
Aldric had been told that the limit was the volume of a home. He would not have to worry anytime soon. He was sure to fill it completely when he left.
'This is only for drinking water. Nothing else.' Aldric decided.
These were the memories he bought from the store. He didn't know if they were from the government or other awakened but he didn't care. Aldric was happy with the trade. The weapon memories he had were of no use to him.
Aldric fell asleep for the first time in the dream realm.
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Aldric's armour was completely covered in blood and cuts. His blade was still as sharp as ever.
Ever since he left that shelter that first morning, he hadn't caught a break. Making his way deeper into the cavern, Aldric came across awakened monsters. The increase in a core increased their strength and durability. It was more challenging than earlier however he was adapting. The biggest challenge was prolonged fights. Other creatures might attack you right after you just killed one or even join in.
He had to double back to the shelter to rest and recuperate.
Only for the path to be filled out once again.
Aldric was getting stronger. More confident and more efficient. His experience as a hunter during his first nightmare was proving its worth. Allowing him to find the best way to kill a beast he had killed before.
It was hard being alone. Aldric was understanding how important a cohort was. They watched your back as you slept. Kept you company in the dark. Ate meals together.
"It makes sense."
He was unlucky to be alone.
Where his luck shined was with the rank of creatures he was fighting. They were no more than a rank above him and weren't higher than a monster in soul cores. Aldric was grateful for his luck. But he knew it wouldn't last forever.
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30 long days have passed since Aldric entered the dream realm. He kept time with a method he was taught at the Academy. He still didn't know where he was. Was he in a cave near Ravenheart? A cave near Bastien?. There were no landmarks to be found in a dingy dark cavern system.
As Aldric got stronger and more efficient, he gained more ground moving forward.
'Status'
Name: Aldric
Rank: Dreamer.
Dark Core: Dormant
Dark Sprites:[108/1000]
Memories:[Unwavering Spark],[Cragborne Armor],[Malice Of The Deep],[Cavedweller Garms][Water Basin][Charm Of Balance]
Attributes: [Insight][Clear Mind][Destined]
Aspect:[Made In Abyss]
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Abilities:[Dark Well]
Aspect Ability Description:[You can manifest the Darkness within.]
He had figured out how he gained dark sprites. He realised it was the same as Sunny. He gained 1 Dark Sprite for every core a creature had with a 2x multiplier if it was one rank above him. Having a lot of time to himself since he arrived here, he found out the reason why he had 58 from the first nightmare.
"It seems that all humans have a 10x multiplier. Killing Ralt awarded me with 10 Sprites and killing the awakened elder awarded me 20 Sprites as he was a rank above me."
It made sense. Humans had the largest capacity for darkness after all.
The Darkness available for him to manifest grew by a large amount. The increase in Sprites was truly reflecting an increase in strength.
He was now entering a large open area that was lit by light green flames along the ceiling. The torches holding the green flame were equally spaced out all across the space. To his left and right were similar entrances to where he came out of.
In front of him was a humungous statue. It was over 10 metres tall. Close to the height of a telephone pole.
It was a stone statue adorned with the face of a beautiful woman. She was the definition of beauty. She was in a relaxed pose wearing a dress that was billowing out. The statue was etched in such a way that it brought the women to life. As if she was a real woman petrified in stone.
"Like a Goddess." Aldric said mesmerised by the visage and craftmanship.
"Hmm...."
"Hmm...."
Small murmurings echoed in Aldric's ears. It was the type of sound where you could not tell whether it was in your head or your ears.
'What the hell is that sound?'
All this while 8 pairs of eyes were locked on to him from a distance.
************
Author's note here.
Will be writing these from now on if I remember.
Does anyone know what the sound is?
Maybe even recognise the statue?
Good luck will probably update tomorrow wrote too much today
Could someone review the story, Would help a lot to recommend it.
Thanks for reading!