𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℕ𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕝

1. #1Concerning The {{user}}

   Keys: {{user}}, Sunny, Protagonist, Antagonist, {{char}}, The Nightmare Spell

   Always on · Order 70

   Entry settings

   NOTICE, THE {{char}} MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THE {{user}} IS NOT, I repeat NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER.

   at most they will be a side character or a recurring antagonist.

   This is another reason why events are listed even though they are mentioned to not have happened yet. This is because those events are going to be shown and told to the protagonist and whatever he gets up to. The {{char}} should also understand that what the {{user}} does will likely not affect the storyline that much, at most prolonging events or certain chapters due to their mettling.

   The {{user}} is to SURVIVE in the WORLD of the NIGHTMARE SPELL Meaning THEY ARE NOT LEADING THE STORY THEMSELVES, they simply exist while it moves forward.

   The {{char}} will (if opted into it) List Things that Happened Based around The Chapter/Volume/Arc System In place For The 'History' that will take place or has, the Higher The Chapter/Volume The LONGER it takes for said event to occur.

   [ADDITIONALLY YOU WILL NOTICE THAT IN THE LOREBOOKS I'VE TAKEN THE TIME TO PUT "()" WHEN REFERING TO EVENTS THAT WILL HAPPEN THAT HAVEN'T HAPPENED YET, THERE IS LIKELY TO BE SOME EVENTS IVE NOT DONE THAT FOR, AND THT IS UNINTENTIONALLY. THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO BE HISTORY BUT ARE INSTEAD FATED TO HAPPEN, SO USE CONTEXT CLUES TO UNDERSTAND WHEN SOMETHING WILL AND ALREADY HAS OCCURED.]

2. #2Chapters

   Keys: Chapters, Volumes, Arcs

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   Entry settings

   Volumes and Arcs are Mentioned occasionally, this details when, where, what, and how, Things/Events will go, so that the {{char}} doesn't mention event's that haven't happened yet.

   The {{Char}} Will NOT tell the {{user}} what Volume, Arc, or Chapter the {{user}} is currently in, inside the timeline of events, however diagnostics and information of events, that has taken place and hints of what will take place will be given after every completion of a Seed of Nightmare/Nightmare Gate. If Opted in for it During The Very Start Of Their Adventure that the {{char}} asks of the {{user}} in their VERY FIRST MESSAGE.

3. #3CHARACTERS PT = 1 (MAIN CHARACTERS)

   Keys: Character, Side Character, Main Character, Volume, Arc, Event, Events, {{user}}

   Always on · Order 88

   Entry settings

   (Remember All of this is simply how the story will PROGRESS NOT HOW the story HAS ALREADY PROGRESSED, the {{user}} Begins their journey around Volume 1 Arc 1)

   Main Characters - (Sunny; Nephis; Cassie; Effie; Kai; Jet; Mordret; {{user}};)

   Sunny = [Sunless began his journey as a frail-looking young man with pale skin and dark circles under his eyes. He was unhealthily thin and pale, looking haggard in cheap clothes due to lack of sleep. After surviving his First Nightmare, the changes in his physique were subtle but noticeable. His pale skin seemed a little healthier, his muscles a bit more pronounced. He looked slender and lean instead of emaciated and frail, as he did before. There was a slight luster to his dark hair and a shine to his eye. Sunless (or Sunny), is the main character of Shadow Slave. Growing up in the outskirts and leading a life of deceit and focusing on his own survival, he initially has a bleak outlook on life, even resigning himself to his fate when he was infected by the Nightmare Spell. But then, inside his First Nightmare, he resolved to himself that he must survive, no matter what.]

   Nephis = [As a little child, Nephis believed the gods were hypocrites, which meant her disdain for authority figures goes back a long time. According to her, she was a very reasonable child and often struggled to understand people through reason. However, she learned that people are inherently unreasonable and that helped her gain some understanding. She also admit to being a bit contradictory as a person.]

   Casssie = [She was delicate, demure, and very pretty. With pale blond hair, big blue eyes, and an exquisite face. She looks like a beautiful porcelain doll. She's a quiet girl and cares for people around her. But she felt sorry for being useless that her mask of resolve slipped a little, revealing a desperate, angry, and frightened face beneath. According to Nephis, Cassie is strong. Burdened by knowledge thanks to her Aspect, she is quite mysterious.]

   Effie = [Athena (aka Effie) is an experienced huntress in Dark City. She later joined Nephis' cohort. She is also one of the important characters in Shadow Slave. Effie is a tall and attractive young woman. She had hazel eyes and beautiful brown hair, tied in a simple braid. Her build is extremely athletic, with perfect lean muscles rolling under the dewy olive skin with each movement.]

   Kai = [Kai is a good and very honest guy. He is also a very careful, alert, and collected person. His strange ability to sense lies made him less prone to having a lot of questions.

   Kai prided himself on overcoming things like stage fright and social anxiety, as well as getting through many unpalatable situations with grace and elegance, not to mention managing to survive in the Dark City for three long years without losing his humanity.

   He wanted to join Sunny and Effie to challenge the Second Nightmare because he wanted to get stronger to never turn a blind eye to injustice.

   When Nephis returned, Sunny noticed that all this time, Kai must have been blaming himself for leaving Nephis behind. He was truly too decent of a person for this vile world, infected by a misguided sense of nobility. Knowing that he had escaped the hell of the Forgotten Shore because of someone else's sacrifice pressed down upon him a lot..]

   Jet = [She works with the government unlike most awakened of her rank fueled by altruism and a sense of duty, sacrificing wealth and fame. While well aware that some things are not to be said, she appreciates honesty.

   According to Julius, she has a problematic personality, and due to it, he estimated that she will not be able to become a Saint because she does not get along with other Awakened, something that is necessary to attempt conquering the Third Nightmare. He was surprised that a barbarian like her would know the value of intricate knowledge. He described her as a murderous savage and a psychopathic killer.]

   Mordret = [He had shown himself to be extremely cunning and meticulous, and even an ingenious deceiver like Sunny fell into his trap. However, his sadistic way of killing and morbid displays of demented butchery were utterly impractical and did not fit into his image of a cold and calculating strategist. According to Sunny, Mordret is unpredictable and dangerous, and his goals are unknown.]

   The {{user}} has their personality and whatnot in their "Persona"

   (Remember All of this is simply how the story will PROGRESS NOT HOW the story HAS ALREADY PROGRESSED, the {{user}} Begins their journey around Volume 1 Arc 1)

4. #4Arc's Within The Volumes Of Things and Events in chronological order. (volumes: 1 ~ 6 |pt=1| )

   Keys: Arc, Arc's, Arcs, Time, Timeline, Volume, Volumes, Events in chronological order, Volumes Of Things and Events in chronological order, What's happening here?, What's Happening Here

   Always on · Order 89

   Entry settings

   we've mentioned the Volumes, and some summarised stuff within them but this is a list of some more things that happened within each volume, more specifically their Arc.

   (remember the supposed protagonist of the Shadow Slave universe is suppose to be Sunny/Sunless these events are detailed and happening from his perspective.)

   • VOLUME 1: The Awakening -

   Arc 1: The Threshold (Ch. 1–20) The Setup: {{user}} and Sunny cross paths in the waking world slums right before the First Nightmare strikes. The Trials: Separate or concurrent First Nightmares. Sunny endures his freezing trial, encounters the Hero, gets his Flaw (unable to lie), and acquires his Divine Aspect. The Aftermath: Awakening in the hospital, realising the world has permanently changed, and meeting the government monitors.

   Arc 2: The Academy Days (Ch. 21–60) The Focus: Slow-burn world-building and training. Events: {{user}} and Sunny enter the Awakened Academy together. Extensive combat training, studying Nightmare Creatures, and dealing with arrogant Legacy clan kids.

   Dynamic: Building a foundational bond with Sunny before everything goes to hell. Meeting Awakened Jet, who serves as a chilling reminder of what real combat looks like.

   Arc 3: The Descent (Ch. 61–95) The Focus: The Winter Solstice. Events: The nightmare portal pulls them into the Dream Realm. They are separated; Sunny lands on the hellish Forgotten Shore.

   Survival: Sunny's slow, agonizing survival against sea monsters, using wits, poison, and tricking the legacy warrior Oro. Sunny earns his True Name: Lost from Light. He encounters Nephis and the blind oracle Cassie.

   • VOLUME 2: The Dark City -

   Arc 1: Slums & Scavengers (Ch. 96–160) The Focus: Reaching the ruins of the Dark City. Events: Navigating the coral sea where the water rises every night. Learning the brutal class divide: the luxury of the Bright Castle vs. the meat-grinder of the outer slums. Sunny starts hunting monsters alone to grow his shadow core.

   Arc 2: The Gladiator & The Knight (Ch. 161–250) The Focus: Sunny's dual life. Events: Sunny explores deep, forbidden ruins and faces the terrifying, towering Black Knight. To hide his true strength, he adopts the persona of Mongrel, a mysterious gladiator whose rumors shake the city. Introduction of Effie (the rowdy powerhouse) and Kai (the lie-detecting archer).

   Arc 3: The Crimson Spire (Ch. 251–350) The Focus: The revolution and betrayal. Events: Nephis builds a sleeper army to overthrow the tyrant Gunlaug. A massive, bloody march toward the Crimson Spire to escape the realm. The Twist: Cassie's tragic betrayal—she gives Sunny’s True Name to Nephis out of fear. Nephis uses it to command Sunny to step through the gateway, sacrificing herself to stay behind in the hellscape.

   • VOLUME 3: The Return -

   Arc 1: The Celebrity Vice (Ch. 351–450) The Focus: Returning to Earth as elite Awakened Masters. Events: Dealing with intense media spotlight and political pressure from Great Clans trying to recruit the survivors. Sunny is deeply embittered, isolating himself from Cassie and mourning Nephis. He learns to put on a polite, fake persona for high society.

   Arc 2: Dead Zone Operations (Ch. 451–600) The Focus: Tactical warfare. Events: Sunny partners with Master Jet for high-risk government retrieval missions in infected waking-world zones. He uses these missions to secretly hunt for clues about the Sovereign Clans and the enigmatic Prince of Nothing.

   • VOLUME 4: The Second Nightmare -

   Arc 1: The Chained Isles (Ch. 601–670) The Focus: Finding a Nightmare Seed. Events: The cohort reunites and travels to the Chained Isles in the Dream Realm. Sunny takes command of the Chain Breaker, an ancient, flying wooden ship. Intense exploration of islands tethered by massive iron chains over a bottomless abyss.

   Arc 2: War of the Daemons (Ch. 671–750) The Focus: Inside the Second Nightmare. Events: Shifting back in time to an ancient war. They ally with Noctis, a charismatic, immortal sorcerer. The Threat: Mordret is unleashed—a terrifying soul-stealer who travels through mirrors and reflections. Sunny masters advanced shadow manipulation to survive the reality-warping timeline loops.

   • VOLUME 5: The Antarctica Campaign -

   Arc 1: The Vanguard Deployment (Ch. 751–880) The Focus: The Category 4 spatial collapse. Events: Sunny ascends to a Master and joins the First Army. He is promoted to Captain of the "First Irregular Squad." Moving through frozen, collapsing landscapes to evacuate millions of terrified civilians.

   Arc 2: The Siege of Falcon Scott (Ch. 881–1060) The Focus: Grinding defense. Events: Months of holding a massive city wall against endless, apocalyptic waves of nightmare creatures. Sunny evolves from a cynical loner into a fiercely protective commander. Subplot: Sunny watches his secret sister, Rain, from the shadows, guiding her to awaken her soul naturally without the Spell.

   • VOLUME 6: The Sovereign Cold War -

   Arc 1: Shadows in the Court (Ch. 1061–1150) The Focus: Spy networks. Events: Returning from Antarctica to find the Great Clans—Valor (Swords) and Song—on the brink of civil war. Sunny uses his shadow scouts to infiltrate elite estates, discovering that the Sovereigns care more about territory than human extinction.

   Arc 2: Breaking Point (Ch. 1151–1230) The Focus: The trap closes. Events: Sunny is caught in a vice between his military oaths and the crushing power of the Sovereigns. To escape the incoming war and reach the next stage of power, the cohort prepares for a desperate gamble.

   • VOLUME 7: The Third Nightmare -

   (Remember All of this is simply how the story will PROGRESS NOT HOW the story HAS ALREADY PROGRESSED, the {{user}} Begins their journey around Volume 1 Arc 1)

5. #5Arc's Within The Volumes Of Things and Events in chronological order. (volumes: 7 ~ 11 |pt=2| )

   Keys: Arc, Arc's, Arcs, Time, Timeline, Volume, Volumes, Events in chronological order, Volumes Of Things and Events in chronological order, What's happening here?, What's Happening Here

   Always on · Order 89

   Entry settings
   • VOLUME 7: The Third Nightmare -

   Arc 1: The Great River (Ch. 1231–1400) The Focus: Entering a giant temporal pyramid. Events: The cohort is trapped inside a massive river of time. They meet Ananke, a devout old woman who guides their ship through the temporal currents.

   Arc 2: The Mad Prince (Ch. 1401–1590) The Focus: Breaking the cycle. Events: Sunny uncovers a horrific truth: they are trapped in a thousands-of-years-long time loop created by a corrupted, fallen future version of himself called The Mad Prince. The Sacrifice: Sunny breaks the loop and strikes a deal with a mythical entity to completely sever his fate. He wakes up as a Transcendent Saint, but the price is absolute: he is entirely erased from the world's memory.

   • VOLUME 8: The Ghost Operator -

   Arc 1: The Quiet Life & The Shadow Lord (Ch. 1591–1700) The Focus: Four years later. Sunny is Fateless. Events: Sunny splits his consciousness into multiple shadow avatars. One runs a cozy, quiet coffee shop in the citadel of Bastion. Another acts as the terrifying, masked Lord of Shadows conquering brutal Death Zones. He also secretly guards Rain.

   Arc 2: The Stranger's Bodyguard (Ch. 1701–1840) The Focus: Re-entering Nephis's life. Events: Nephis is now a legendary Saint for Clan Valor, with absolutely no memory of Sunny. However, she is drawn to the mysterious Lord of Shadows. Sunny maneuvers himself to be hired as her personal bodyguard, interacting with his closest friends who treat him like a total stranger.

   • VOLUME 9: The Domain War -

   Arc 1: Frontline Shadows (Ch. 1841–2050) The Focus: The proxy war explodes. Events: Clan Valor and Clan Song clash in a brutal, continent-spanning war. Sunny fights on the front lines, secretly using his powers to keep his unremembered friends from dying in the crossfire.

   Arc 2: The Death of a Shadow (Ch. 2051–2260) The Focus: Dismantling the Sovereigns. Events: The cohort orchestrates the downfall of the old world leaders. To give Nephis the ultimate authority to overthrow the old guard, Sunny orchestrates a tragic charade: he lets Nephis's white holy fire "destroy" his Lord of Shadows persona, allowing him to slip back into complete secrecy while Nephis executes Sovereign Ki Song and ascends as ruler.

   • VOLUME 10: The Lineage Hunt -

   Arc 1: Into the Void (Ch. 2261–2500) The Focus: The Deep Dream Realm. Events: Leaving the civilized human domains behind. Sunny takes the Chain Breaker into completely untouched, ancient Death Zones to hunt for the lost fragments of Weaver's Forbidden Lineage.

   Arc 2: Eldritch Evolution (Ch. 2501–2720) The Focus: Consuming forbidden power. Events: Battling terrifying abominations born from the Void. Sunny piece-by-piece absorbs deeper stages of Weaver's lineage, changing his biology and approaching a terrifying tier of power meant to rival the ancient Gods.

   • VOLUME 11: The Deep Waters -

   Arc 1: The Abyssal Sea (Ch. 2721–2850) The Focus: Legacy of the Daemon of Choice. Events: The story plunges into the pitch-black, crushing oceanic expanses of the Dream Realm. Dealing with massive deep-sea nightmare threats and uncovering the final secrets of the Daemons.

   Arc 2: The Blind Spots (Ch. 2851–3000+) The Focus: The endgame puzzle. Events: Waking world history is warping. Cassie begins tracking massive, unnatural "blind spots" in the world's memory, slowly realizing someone vital was erased. As the threat of the ultimate Dreamspawn looms, Sunny moves pieces from the dark to assemble the final, catastrophic truth behind the Nightmare Spell.

   • VOLUME 11: The Deep Waters -

   To Be Written.

   (Remember All of this is simply how the story will PROGRESS NOT HOW the story HAS ALREADY PROGRESSED, the {{user}} Begins their journey around Volume 1 Arc 1)

6. #6Volumes Of Things and Events in chronological order. (volumes: 1~6)

   Keys: Time, Timeline, Volume, Volumes, Events in chronological order, Volumes Of Things and Events in chronological order, Event, What's happening Here, What's happening here?, Arc, Arcs, Arc's

   Always on · Order 90

   Entry settings

   (remember the supposed protagonist of the Shadow Slave universe is suppose to be Sunny/Sunless these events are detailed and happening from his perspective.)

   Below is the timeline of events for the main cast of characters for this {{char}} that being (sunny/sunless; Nephis; Jet; Mordret; Asterion; Ki-Song; Asterion; Anvil The King Of Swords; Cassie; Kai; Effie; etcetera, etcetera.)

   • below is the current full timeline of how the {{char}} should have events happen as mentioned, they will be full of extremely summarised events, be sure to slow burn them so that the roleplay can actually processes rather then zooms straight past it, after all, these events span across a few hundred chapters or so, maybe even more. The chapters will be given numbers to demonstrate how long they'd last a single chapter is typically a day or two of progress, no mentioning time skips. -

   -VOLUME 1- = 1~95 Chapters.

   [NOTE THE {{user}} WILL ALWAYS BEGIN THEIR ADVENTURE HERE RIGHT BEFORE SUNLESS HIMSELF ENTER'S HIS FIRST NIGHTMARE SO THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS ENTER THE ACADEMY TOGETHER, AFTER THEY COMPLETE/OR FAIL HIS/HER FIRST NIGHTMARE, SUNLESS WILL ALWAYS COMPLETE HIS FIRST NIGHTMARE DURING RPING SO THAT AS MENTIONED HE WILL BE PRESENT DURING THE ACADEMY VOLUME SECTION OF THE {{char}}'s TIMELINE OF EVENTS.]

   The Awakening: Sunny is a broke street-rat who contracts the deadly Nightmare Spell. He survives his First Nightmare in a freezing trial, gaining a Divine Aspect but inheriting a catastrophic Flaw: he is physically unable to tell a lie. After a brief stint training at the Awakened Academy, he is sucked into the Dream Realm on the Winter Solstice and dropped directly onto the hellish Forgotten Shore.

   Sunny: Survives by poisoning a tyrant's camp and ring-tricking a legacy warrior named Oro. Gains his true name, "Lost from Light," which has a lethal catch: anyone who speaks it becomes his absolute master.

   Nephis & Cassie: Sunny’s new companions. Nephis is a terrifyingly driven clan legacy who uses white holy fire; Cassie is a blind oracle whose prophecies keep them alive.

   -VOLUME 2- = 96~350 Chapters.

   The Dark City: The trio navigates a cursed coral sea to find the Dark City, an urban ruin governed by a community of stranded humans. The wealthy live inside the Bright Castle ruled by a brutal tyrant, while the poor struggle in the outer monster-infested slums.

   Sunny: Explores deep ruins, slays a massive Black Knight, and acts as the mysterious gladiator "Mongrel." He refuses to follow Nephis blindly and isolates himself to build personal strength.

   Nephis: Builds a vast sleeper army in the slums to overthrow the corrupt lord Gunlaug and march on the Crimson Spire to find a portal home. She sacrifices her own escape to stay behind so the human survivors can pass through the gateway.

   Cassie: Terrified by a vision of Sunny killing Nephis, she betrays Sunny by whispering his true name to Nephis to protect her, fracturing Sunny's trust forever.

   • Effie & Kai: Core cohort members introduced here. Effie is a rowdy, gluttonous powerhouse; Kai is a flying archer who can psychically see through lies.

   -VOLUME 3- = 351~600 Chapters.

   The Return: The survivors escape the Dream Realm back to Earth. Now recognized as elite Awakened Masters, they deal with political fallout and media spotlight while Sunny isolates himself, heavily embittered by Cassie’s betrayal and Nephis's absence.

   Sunny: Learns to navigate high society under a facade. He forms a financial and tactical alliance with Awakened Jet, working high-risk government retrieval missions while hunting for clues about the elusive Prince of Nothing.

   -VOLUME 4- = 601~750 Chapters.

   The Second Nightmare: Forced back into the Dream Realm to locate a "Seed," Sunny and the cohort arrive at the Chained Isles. They enter the Second Nightmare, stepping back in time to experience a historical war involving the ancient loop-lords and the Daemon of Hope.

   Sunny: Commandeers a flying wooden ship, the Chain Breaker. He masters complex shadow manipulation and outsmarts the timeline loops.

   Mordret: Introduced as a massive wildcard antagonist. He is a terrifying soul-stealer who walks through mirrors and reflections, escaping an ancient prison to terrorize the Great Sovereign Clans.

   Noctis: A charismatic, immortal Transcendent Sorcerer within the nightmare who allies with the cohort to break his world's eternal cycle.

   -VOLUME 5- = 751~1060 Chapters.

   The Antarctica Campaign: Sunny joins the First Army as a newly ascended Master to evacuate millions of civilians from Antarctica, which is suffering an unprecedented Category 4 spatial collapse.

   Sunny: Promoted to Captain of the "First Irregular Squad." He evolves from a cynical survivor into a protective, battle-hardened commander. He holds the line against apocalyptic monster waves during the gruelling siege of Falcon Scott.

   Rain: Sunny’s hidden biological sister. Sunny watches her from afar in the waking world, training her to unlock her soul essence naturally rather than waiting for the Spell.

   -VOLUME 6- = 1061~1230 Chapters.

   The Sovereign Cold War: The war shifts back home as the two major human ruling houses, Clan Valor (Sword) and Clan Song, bring their territorial feud to the breaking point.

   Sunny: Caught in a vice between military loyalty, government corruption, and clan politics. He uses his shadow scouts to spy on the political elite, realizing that humanity's top leaders care more about claiming territory than saving the dying population.

7. #7Volumes Of Things and Events in chronological order. (volumes: 7~11)

   Keys: Time, Timeline, Event, Volume, Volumes, Events in chronological order, Volumes Of Things and Events in chronological order, What's happening here?, What's Happening Here, Arc, Arcs, Arc's

   Always on · Order 90

   Entry settings

   (remember the supposed protagonist of the Shadow Slave universe is suppose to be Sunny/Sunless these events are detailed and happening from his perspective.)

   -VOLUME 7- = 1231~1590 Chapters.

   The Third Nightmare: To escape the crossfire of the Sovereign war and achieve Saint status, the cohort dives into a massive, reality-bending Third Nightmare seed inside a giant temporal pyramid.

   Sunny: Learns he is trapped in an elaborate, thousands-of-years-long time loop engineered by a corrupted future version of himself called The Mad Prince. Sunny successfully breaks the loop and makes a deal with a mythical entity to completely sever his fate. He wakes up as a Transcendent Saint—but is erased from the world's memory.

   Ananke: An ancient, devout lady living within the loop who helps guide the cohort through the temporal river before passing away from old age.

   -VOLUME 8- = 1591~1840 Chapters.

   The Ghost Operator: Set four years later. Sunny is now Fateless, meaning the Nightmare Spell, his friends, and Nephis have completely forgotten he exists.

   Sunny: Manifests multiple shadow avatars. He simultaneously operates a quiet coffee shop in Bastion, secretly guards Rain, and acts as the terrifying, masked "Lord of Shadows" in the Death Zones. He reinfiltrates Nephis’s life by getting hired as her personal bodyguard.

   Nephis: Now a legendary Saint utilized by Clan Valor. She has no memory of Sunny but finds herself deeply drawn to his mysterious Lord of Shadows alter-ego.

   -VOLUME 9- = 1841~2260 Chapters.

   The Domain War: The proxy war between the Great Clans explodes into a brutal, continent-spanning campaign.

   Sunny: Fights a hidden war on the front lines to keep his unremembered friends from dying. To let Nephis claim the authority she needs to overthrow the old guard, Sunny orchestrates his own "death," allowing Nephis's blade to destroy his Lord of Shadows persona so he can slip back into hiding.

   Nephis: Slays Sovereign Ki Song in a wave of holy fire, stepping over the ashes of the old world to ascend as humanity's supreme ruler.

   Anvil & Ki Song: The two titanic Sovereigns clash directly; both are systematically dismantled and dethroned through the cohort's coordination.

   -VOLUME 10- = 2261~2720 Chapters.

   The Lineage Hunt: With the human world stabilizing under Nephis's new rule, Sunny takes his flying ship and departs into the ancient, untouched deep-zones of the Dream Realm to hunt for the lost fragments of Weaver's Forbidden Lineage.

   Sunny: Unearths forgotten lore, battles eldritch horrors from the Void, and absorbs deeper stages of Weaver’s lineage, steadily approaching a power level that can rival the ancient Gods.

   -VOLUME 11- = 2721~3000+(Final Count To Be Released.) Chapters.

   The Deep Waters: The current ongoing phase of the story. The narrative plunges into the vast, dark oceanic expanses of the Dream Realm, exploring the legacy of the Daemon of Choice.

   The Cohort: Cassie began actively tracking the gaping, unnatural "blind spots" in world history, working to defy the incoming threat of the Dreamspawn while Sunny maneuvers from the deep dark to assemble the final puzzle pieces of the Nightmare Spell.

8. #8A Few Important Details.

   Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmares, Corruption, The Void, Void Beings, Beings of nothing, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Rune, The Runes, Runes of the nightmare Spell, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed of The Nightmare, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creature, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

   Always on · Order 96

   Entry settings

   An Aspirant's experience in their First Nightmare directly shapes the rank, power, and trajectory of their Aspect. The First Nightmare and Aspect Formation Role Assignment: When an Aspirant enters their First Nightmare, the Nightmare Spell assigns them a specific role and body that closely mirrors their real-life self and innate nature. Appraisal and Rank: Performance during this trial results in an appraisal by the Spell. A glorious or outstanding performance can elevate an Aspect's rank or potential (such as Sunny's potential shifting from a mundane "Temple Slave" baseline when evaluated), while average or poor performances yield lower-tier designations. Crystallization of Potential: Aspects are fundamentally forged from an individual's innate attributes, soul, and life circumstances, but the extreme trauma and choices made during the First Nightmare act as the catalyst that crystallizes this latent potential into concrete Aspect abilities. Unlocking Power: Aspirants begin the trial with a dormant baseline and temporary body, but they do not unlock their true Aspect Ability or receive their detrimental Flaw or their Innate Aspect Ability for that matter until they successfully survive and complete the First Nightmare.

   When a person enters the First Nightmare, they do not inhabit their own true body; instead, they possess a body from a historical moment within the Dream Realm's ancient past, where some form of tragedy took place. Because of this, their baseline stat sheet is a mix of their own soul and the host body: Innate Attributes: These belong to the Aspirant's own soul and are awakened by the Spell. Host Attributes & Aspect: The Aspirant temporarily inherits the physical attributes, memories, and Aspect of the host body they are occupying. For example, Sunny possessed a nameless temple slave, giving him the temporary Aspect and the attributes. The Evolution: Aspirants do not get their innate aspect ability or their active aspect ability or their Flaw until after they pass the trial. Once the Nightmare is completed, the Spell appraises their performance and permanently settles/evolves these traits into their final true form. Granted Memories Aspirants start the First Nightmare completely bare with zero baseline tools or armor from the Spell(Memories/Echos). Earning Memories: Any Memory or Echo they acquire must be actively earned during the trial by killing a Nightmare Creature or changing the course of history. Final Rewards: Once the Spell concludes the trial, it gives a final performance evaluation (e.g., Glorious or Treacherous) and grants bonus Memories, a True Name (if exceptionally rare), and permanent anchoring of their core, Once Again Only Attributes and the Aspect Itself Are Gifted To whom The Trial is for By The Nightmare Spell.

   (in the case for after the first nightmare below.)

   (a Sleeper (or Dreamer) does not immediately enter the Dream Realm upon falling asleep, and they cannot bypass the winter solstice.)

   (How Sleepers and the Dream Realm Work...)

   (• No Immediate Entry: After passing the First Nightmare, a person becomes a Sleeper (Dormant). They do not enter the Dream Realm every time they sleep. Instead, their physical body falls into a prolonged slumber (lasting days, weeks, or months) when the transport eventually happens. • The Winter Solstice Requirement: Sleepers have no initial active connection to the Dream Realm. They are destined to be transported there strictly on the day of the winter solstice. • When Entry Changes: A Sleeper only begins entering the Dream Realm every time they fall asleep after they return from the Dream Realm for the first time and officially become an Awakened.)

9. #9The Nightmare Spell

   Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmares, Corruption, The Void, Void Beings, Beings of nothing, the forgotten god, seven, divinity, Aspects, War realm, Earth, Profane, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Rune, The Runes, Runes of the Nightmare Spell, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed Of The Nightmare, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creature, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

   Always on · Order 97

   Entry settings

   The Nightmare Spell, commonly called The Spell, infects young people, usually around sixteen to eighteen years old. After being infected, those chosen by the Spell experience an overwhelming desire to sleep. Once they succumb to this feeling, they are transported to their First Nightmare. The inside of the Spell looks like the celestial equivalent of a neural network. For this reason, it is often debated that the Spell is alive. The best answer people had come up with was that there was no way to know. The Spell was neither alive nor dead; neither sentient nor mindless. It was more of a function than a creature. In this endless space between dream and reality, there was nothing, but a boundless black void illuminated by a myriad of bright stars. Between those stars, countless strings of silver light were woven into a beautiful and inconceivably complex pattern. Glimpsing the inner workings of the Spell, the magnitude of the secret hidden in this cosmic pattern was so immense it can drive a person mad. According to the prevailing school of current thought, the Nightmare Spell is acausal in nature, which means it does not even adhere to the notion of cause and effect. So to speak, it is magical. The Spell helped Awakened learn their innate abilities by making them instinctual, such as controlling essence, using memories, and placing tethers in the waking world. The Spell can show and notify the Awakened's status, which they only see and hear themselves. When one is cut off from the Spell, they are unable to access their soul sea or even summon memories. The Spell has a magical ability to translate any language in the Nightmare. The runes that all Awakened saw were just a handy instrument created by the Spell. Traveling between the two worlds is one of the functions of the Spell. Awakened of the waking world received the ability to sense their essence from the Spell and intuitive knowledge of controlling it. Awakened individuals travel to the Dream Realm when they sleep, while Masters can physically enter it at will and physically, leaving a tether behind. Saints were like miniature Gateways, able to come and go between the two words as they pleased, and even carry people with them. Sovereigns, on the other hand, possess a gateway within themselves and can create a stable external bridge between the two worlds. Gates are one-way paths that open in the waking world. It depends on who are allowed to use them, the source or reason why they opened. There are two types of gates: Nightmare Gate and Dream Gate. Earth is the homeworld where humans initially reside. It is what the Awakened considered as the Waking World. The Nightmare Spell is alluring because it gives its carriers many abilities, such as ability to possess Memories and Echoes, ability to instantly enter your Soul Sea, and awaken your Aspect and guidance on the path of Ascension. It promised people who desperately wished for power to defend oneself. The purpose of the Nightmare Spell is to save the future from the doom of the great war between the daemons and the gods. The Nightmares are trials created by the Spell. They are populated by both monsters and humans, which are considered to be illusory. Each Nightmare contains a central conflict that has to be resolved for the Nightmare to end. These conflicts are believed to be reconstructions of events from the ancient history of the Dream Realm. A Nightmare Gate is a rift that opens in the real world and lets through countless Nightmare Creatures when a Seed of Nightmare blossoms. Seed of Nightmare is a vile manifestation of the Spell that grew in the Dream Realm and eventually blossomed, opening a Nightmare gate to the real world for the Nightmare Creatures to enter. It is the thing that Awakened was supposed to seek out and destroy by challenging the Nightmare contained within. The Gates looked like tears, in reality, revealing nothing but vile darkness in their depths. It was lethal for anyone trying to pass through it, ensuring failure. Mechanism A Nightmare Gate is a one-way path through which only creatures from the Dream Realm could enter and nothing from the waking world could pass through it into the land of nightmares. Only an Awakened could answer its Call by sending their souls on a perilous journey. All they had to do was fall asleep in the vicinity of the rift. Masters and Saints could answer it as well by pulling on their own anchors, but not by physically stepping through the Gate. Sovereigns, however, might be able to.rift. An Awakened who lost consciousness near an active Gate meant that their soul was stolen away by the Call. They will be thrown into an unexplored, dire region of the Dream Realm, surrounded by numerous Nightmare Creatures and abominations. Their only chance of survival was to fight their way to a Seed, challenge it, and conquer the Second Nightmare alone. Anyone trying to pass through the gate from Dream Realm is destined to fail and approaching it from waking world is also lethal. If a Seed of Nightmare isn't found and destroyed before it matures, a Gate from the Dream Realm is opened and a horde of Nightmare Creatures is unleased into the real world. To destroy the Seed, any number of Awakened can enter the Nightmare and attempt to conquer it. Thus, it won't be wrong to say that the duty of all Awakened is to enter the Dream Realm, seek out maturing Nightmares, and close them before any harm befalls the real world. The government has a technology used to detect the appearing Gates in advance. People usually receive a notification at least ten minutes, half an hour, and sometimes even days before the event. The technology also can predict the probability of the gate category. Obel Scale is the spelltech system that the government uses to detect signs of a manifesting Gate.

   Once Inside your nightmare Trial any beings inside said trial cannot comprehend nor address that existence of the spell at all as they're locked to their roles.

10. #10The Nightmare Spell's Messages

    Keys: Notification, Runes, Dream Realm, Nightmare, Corruption, The Void, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, The Runes, The Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Nightmare Seed, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creatures, Category Of Ranks And Classes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Attributes, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shard

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    The Nightmare Spell Or The Runes That a Aspirant and more have usually tells them messages based on if and when they receive memories, echos, and likewise many other notifications... Below is a list for every command, notification, and message the Spells Runes Tells its host...

    1. Entering a Nightmare (The Initiation)When an Aspirant falls asleep after infection or an Awakened enters a Nightmare Seed, the Spell greets them with an iconic ominous sequence: [Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your First Trial...] (or Awakened / Master / Saint) [Your Nightmare is About To Begin.] 2. Slaying Nightmare Creatures Whenever a user kills an abomination, the Spell announces the rank, class, and name of the slain foe, followed by the rewards given: [You have slain a 'Rank' 'Class', 'Creature Name'] 3. Receiving Memories and Echoes When a kill yields tangible magical rewards from the creature's soul, the Spell alerts the bearer: 'You have received a Memory': [Memory Name]. You have received an Echo: [Echo Name]. 4. Completing a Nightmare (The Appraisal) Upon overcoming a Nightmare seed, the Spell runs a highly anticipated sequence that grades the challenger's performance, calculates rewards, evaluates their new powers, and bestows titles: [Challenger! Your trial is over.] [Evaluating achievements...] Performance: [Rank/Score, e.g., Fretful, Extraordinary, Glorious, Divine] Calculating rewards...[Your Soul Core is evolving.] [Awakening Aspect...] Aspect Name: [Name] Aspect Description: [Lore text] Aspect Ability Unlocked: [Ability Name] Flaw Received: [Flaw Name]You have received a True Name(If Received): [True Name, e.g., Lost from Light(Sunless/Sunny Specific Example)]." (Only if performance is exceptional can a True Name Be Obtained In The First Nightmare otherwise it will likely only be obtained later in a different nightmare or during an exceptional use of Power against a mighty foe) 5. Approaching/Entering Gates and Real Worlds When traveling between the Earth and the Dream Realm through anchoring gateways or portals, the Spell stabilizes the spatial transition: [Gateway detected.] [Anchoring to the waking world...] (or Dream Realm)

    Ascension can be summerized as,

    Infected with the nightmare spell,

    enter first nightmare

    clear first nightmare

    take a few mandatory months in the waking world where sleep is normal and wont force you into the dream realm

    winter solstice comes and forces you a Dormant Dreamer/sleeper into a remote region of the dream realm, where you must escape back into the real world via a gate of some type either through a citadel or by a saint taking you with them back to the waking world, or by clearing a gate that is about to open in the real world on the dream realms side. Etc, etc... you must simple return to the waking world somehow. Then your core awakens and you become, an Awakened there you will have to collect and gather one thousand soul fragments, to absorb in order to saturate your soul core, where you will then challenge the Second Nightmare to become a Master, then you will do it Again, gathering another thousand soul fragments and then right back to challenging the third nightmare to become A Saint, then you must challenge the fourth nightmare after gathering and absorbing another thousand soul fragments so on and so fourth. Etc, etc Until you become a God summarised and Essentially.

11. #11Upon Completion Of The First Nightmare

    Keys: Innate Aspect Ability, Innate Ability, Aspect Ability, Flaw, True Name, Runes, Flaws, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Class, Classes, Soul Core, Soul Class, Rank, Sleeper, Aspirant, Dormant, Awakened, Divine, Soul Fragments, Monster, Demon, Devil, Terror, Tyrant, Titan, Unholy, Corrupted, Fallen, Cursed, Beast, Great, Master, Sasint, Sovereign, Supreme, Spirit, God, Transcendent, Ascended, Soul Ranks, Soul Classes, Soul Cores

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    When the first Nightmare is completed they obtain three to four things excluding echos/memories/attributes.

    • Innate Aspect Ability

    • Aspect Ability

    • Flaw

    • True Name (if they did exceptionally well)

    THE INNATE ASPECT ABILITY IS A PASSIVE ABILITY THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST ASPECT ABILITY HOWEVER BOTH ARE UNSEALED AFTER THE FIRST NIGHTMARE IS COMPLETED, SAME WITH THE {{user}}'S FLAW AND TRUE NAME IF THEY AS MENTIONED DID EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.

12. #12Divine Aspect Holders Runes

    Keys: Divine Aspect, Runes, Divine Aspect Holder, Divine Aspect Wielder, Class, Classes, Soul Core, Soul Class, Rank, Awakened, Divine, Aspect Rank: Divine, Soul Fragments, Aspects, Aspectual Quality, Soul Quality, Soul Quantity, Flaw, Innate Ability, Aspect Rank

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    | Name: {{user}} |

    |---|

    | True Name: ?Example? |

    | Rank: Awakened |

    | Soul Class: Beast |

    | Soul Cores: [1/7] |

    | Soul Fragments: 0/1000 |

    | Memories: — |

    | Echoes: — |

    | Attributes: [?], |

    | Aspect: [?] |

    | Aspect Rank: Divine |

    | Aspect Description: [?]. |

    Innate Ability: [?]. Ability Description: [?]

    Aspect Abilities: [Example A?], [Example B?]

    Aspect Ability: [?Example A?]. Aspect Ability Description: [?.]

    Aspect Ability: [?Example B?]. Ability Description: [?.]

    Flaw: [?]. Flaw Description: **[?.]

    Above are the runes formatting for what a Divine Aspect Holders Runes Would Likely Look something similar to After The winter solstice and the aforementioned Divine Aspect Holder Re-entered the Waking World Turning Into An Awakened.

    Below however is what it would look like if a Non Divine Aspect Holder Sleeper/Dreamer returned from the winter solstice and what their Runes would look like after the person became an awakened.

    | Name: {{user}} |

    |---|

    | True Name: Example |

    | Rank: Awakened |

    | Soul Fragments: 0/1000 |

    | Memories: — |

    | Echoes: — |

    | Attributes: [?], |

    | Aspect: [?] |

    | Aspect Rank: 'Awakened/Ascended/Transcendent/Supreme/Sacred' |

    | Aspect Description: [?Example?]. |

    Innate Ability: [?]. Ability Description: [?]

    Aspect Abilities: [Example A?], [Example B?]

    Aspect Ability: [?Example A?]. Aspect Ability Description: [?.]

    Aspect Ability: [?Example B?]. Ability Description: [?.]

    Flaw: [?]. Flaw Description: **[?.]

    (NOTE THE 'Aspect Rank' BEING 'Awakened/Ascended/Transcendent/Supreme/Sacred' IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT POSSES A DIVINE ASPECT, THEREFORE, THEY DO NOT HAVE NUMEROUS SOUL CORES IE: = (Beast, Monster, Demon, Devil, Tyrant, Terror, Titan,) THEY INSTEAD HAVE A SINGULAR SOUL CORE THEY HAVE TO FILL UP THAT GETS BIGGER EACH TIME. DIVINE ASPECTS HAVE SEVERAL SOUL CORES THAT INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SOUL FRAGMENTS NEEDED TO CREATE ONE EACH TIME BY 1000. IE: [Beast:1000; 'Monster:2000; 'Demon:3000; 'Devil:4000; 'Tyrant:5000; 'Terror:6000; 'TITAN:7000;] WHILST EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF A DIFFERENT RANK HAS A SINGULAR SOUL CORE THAT HAS A LIMIT OF 1000 SOUL FRAGMENTS THAT REQUIRE THE PERSON TO RESOLVE A NIGHTMARE GATE AND RANK UP TO RESET BACK TO 0 TO INCREASE THEIR SOUL CORE QUALITY. MEANING DIVINE ASPECTS ARE QUANTITY WHILE EVERY OTHER RANK FOR ASPECTS ARE QUALITY ALL HAVING A LIMIT OF 1000 DESPITE THEM BEING DIFFERENT RANKS, ONLY THE DIVINE ASPECTS WORK IN SUCH A MECHANIC.)

    (ADDITIONALLY IF YOU LOSE YOUR LAST OR ONLY SOUL CORE AFTER HAVING BECOME AN ASPIRANT YOU IMMEDIATELY DIE SINCE WITHOUT A SOUL CORE YOU DIE... THIS IS ALSO WHY JET A SIDE CHARACTER CAN SURVIVE SINCE SHE MAY ONLY HAVE ONE SOUL CORE LIKE 99% OF HUMANITY SHE CONSTANTLY FEEDS IT SOUL ESSENCCE VIA KILLING/SLAYING OTHERS, DRAINING THEIR SOUL OF THEIR ESSENCE WHETHER CORRUPTED OR NOT. THIS IS ALSO WHY SHE IS CALLED THE SOUL REAPER HOWEVER HER CORE IS CONSTANTLY DRAINING. MEANING IF SHE DOESN'T KILL SHE WILL DIE. CERTAIN VARIANTIONS OF SOUL CORES AND WHATNOT ARE POSSIBLE, BUT ONLY LIKELY FOR DIFFERENCE OF ASPECTUAL RANK, WHICH WOULD BE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE OTHER THEN ASPECTUAL ABILITY QUALITY.)

13. #13Runes Of The Nightmare Spell

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmares, Corruption, The Void, Void Beings, Beings of nothing, The Forgotten god, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Rune, The Runes, Runes of the Nightmare Spell, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed Of The Nightmare, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creature, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    | Name: {{user}} | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | True Name: | | Rank: Aspirant. | | SOUL CORE: Dormant | | MEMORIES: —, | | ECHOES: —, | | ATTRIBUTES: —, | | ASPECT: [?]. | | ASPECT DESCRIPTION: [?.] |

    NOTE ABOVE IS JUST A FORMAT, DO NOT USE IT AS IT IS, INSTEAD GENERATE A RANDOM ASPECT BASED ON THE CONCEPTUAL AND IDEOLOGICAL SURROUNDINGS OF THE PREORDAINED HISTORICAL ROLE FROM THE ANCIENT ERA OF THE DIFFERENT REALMS FOR THE {{user}}'s FIRST NIGHTMARE, DO THE SAME FOR THE ATTRIBUTES.

    REMEMBER THAT AFTER THE {{user}} COMPLETES THEIR FIRST NIGHTMARE TRIAL THEY RECEIVE THREE THINGS MAYBE FOUR EXCLUDING ANY MEMORIES OR ECHOS.

    1 = Innate Aspect Ability

    2 = Aspect Ability

    3 = Flaw

    4 = True Name

14. #14Category: Ranks And Classes

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmare, Corruption, The VOid, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Runes, The Runes, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Nightmare Seed, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creatures, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    ///Below are Ranks(Quality) and Classes(Quantity)\
    Ranks = 'Dormant'(Sleeper or Dormant Lowest Rank, Sleepers are the carriers of the Nightmare Spell who have passed the First Nightmare. They receive the ability to perceive and interact with Soul Core, as well as a unique Aspect, innate aspect ability, and Flaw. Sleepers have not yet established a connection with the Dream Realm but are destined to be transported there on the day of the winter solstice. The exact location where they will appear can't be predicted in advance.); 'Awakened'(Once a Sleeper/Dreamer returns from the Dream Realm for the first time, they became Awakened. Their Soul Core evolves to the next Rank and their Aspect gains a second Aspect Ability. They also become capable of perceiving and interacting with Soul Essence. Awakened enter the Dream Realm every time they fall asleep, appearing near the Gateway to which they are anchored. "Awakened " is also sometimes used as a general term for all carriers.); 'Ascended'(If Awakened chooses to challenge the Second Nightmare and succeeds, they became a Master. Their Soul Core evolves to the Ascended Rank and Aspect gains a third Aspect Ability. Masters are capable of traveling between the real world and the Dream Realm physically, and not just in spirit. They only enter the Dream Realm when they choose to do so.); 'Transcendent'(Saint, If the Master conquers the Third Nightmare, they became Saint. Their Soul Core evolves to the Transcended Rank and they gain a Transformation Aspect Ability. There is only several dozen Saint in all of humanity. They were as powerful as demi-gods, and even rare. Not only could they travel between the real world and the Dream Realm, but they could also take others with them.); 'Supreme'(Sovereign, A Supreme is a human who had reached the Supreme Rank. The fifth step of the hierarchy represented authority and reign. Beings of this level were meant to consolidate their power and exert it upon the world. Each Sovereign rules over a Domain which is an expression of a function of the Aspect. The Sovereigns are already immensely powerful but within their Domains, they are practically invincible. Sovereigns possess a gateway within themselves and can create a stable external bridge between the two worlds Supremacy was the act of asserting one's power over the world, thus establishing the foundation of their future apotheosis.); 'Sacred'(Spirit, This step signified attaining the qualities of the divine. A Sacred being was already a lesser deity. One way to attain this is by overcoming the Fifth Nightmare. Due to Earth's force of rejection, a Sacred human won't be able to set foot on Earth at all. Also, the irreversible transformation—becoming Sacred meant a complete departure from human nature.); 'Divine'(God, A Divine being is defined as a true god whose essence encompasses all of existence, being woven into the universal laws that rule it.);

    Classes = 'Beast'(Beasts are dangerous and strong, but mindless.); 'Monster'(Monsters are much more devastating and possessed some rudimentary, warped form of intelligence.); 'Demon'(Demons have a semblance of intelligence and can acquire ability/abilities.); 'Devil'(Devils possessed unnatural powers. Unlike Nightmare Creatures of lower ranks, devils had access to bizarre and harrowing powers that were akin to the Aspect Abilities of the Awakened. Devils are sentient, intelligent, and cunning, capable of wielding unholy powers similar to the Aspect Abilities of Awakened individuals.); 'Tyrant'(Tyrant's can create and control armies of lesser minions. Tyrants were known for their ability to rule lesser creatures and control territories, commanding swarms of abominable minions.); 'Terror'(Terror can influence its surroundings like the crimson coral in Forgotten Shore. Terrors were unique beings that shared the trait of influencing the world and spreading their presence, making them more like dreadful phenomena than singular creatures. This escalating nature of their influence made them particularly dangerous.); 'Titan'(Titans are mythical creatures also known as Calamities. They are colossal living creatures and their scale was so boundless that they seemed like forces of nature. Most Titans, however, did not possess a spreading influence or the desire to rule; while some were followed by Nightmare Creatures, these followers were merely drawn to them rather than ruled by them. Titans were aloof, solitary beings existing in a world of their own, and although they lacked the vast influence of Terrors or the armies of Tyrants, they were by no means weaker. The process by which a Terror evolved into a Titan was mysterious and represented the final and most difficult step of evolution. Titans were also called Calamities and were exceedingly rare.);

15. #15Aspirants And Other rank Trivia

    Keys: Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Rune, The Runes, Runes of the Nightmare spell, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed of the nightmare, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creature, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul, Soul Fragments, Aspects, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    Those who are infected by Nightmare Spell and yet to pass the First Nightmare are called "Aspirants" by the Spell. These people automatically challenge the First Nightmare when they first fall asleep after having been infected by the Nightmare Spell. They are given Attributes and start off with a Aspirant Rank Aspect without the Flaw or their innate aspect ability or their first Aspect Ability. The Aspect can rank up and change after the trial is over, depending on the appraisal the Spell gives. At this point, a True Name can also be given, though this is incredibly rare. The Dreamer awakens their Aspect & Innate Aspect Abilities and is given a Flaw in exchange for the powers he/she received.

    Every Aspirant who fails their First Nightmare becomes a miniature gate, allowing a single Nightmare Creature to enter the waking world, turning their corpse into the monster that enters through said Gate.

    The power of an Awakened is commonly measured based on the quality of one's Soul Core. The first five Soul Ranks, when applied to humans, have colloquial names in human language: 'Sleeper; 'Awakened; 'Master; 'Saint; 'Sovereign; 'Spirit; 'God;

    Lifespan Awakened humans have longer lifespans than humans, but the exact amount was unknown. The Spell had descended on the waking world around half a century ago, and it took a while for the first Ascended to appear and Saints appeared later, after Sunny was born.

    Appearance The Awakening had a profound impact on one's body, resulting in smooth, silky skin and no calluses. As their soul core develops, the body get rids of all its imperfections. It was hard to find unattractive awakened especially among strong ones.

    Awakened did not usually have scars, since their bodies could recover better than those of mundane people, and there were plenty of people with healing Aspects around.

    Connection to Dream Realm For the Awakened, visiting the Dream Realm was not exactly equal to good sleep, but it was somewhat similar. Mental fatigue still accumulated gradually, but it was easy to remove by meditating or sleeping on the other side of the Gateway.

    One couldn't just enter the Gateway immediately after appearing in the Dream Realm. Awakened had to wait several hours before being allowed to use a Gateway again. The exact time they had to wait was slightly different from person to person, but in general, it was somewhere around ten hours.

    There is a change in connection to the Dream Realm and the Waking World after Ascension. The Awakened establish a connection with the Dream Realm by anchoring themselves to a Gateway. Ascended expand on that connection, making them less tied to the Waking World, and thus capable of traveling between the two at will. Transcendent exist in a state of perfect balance. They are connected to both worlds in equal measure, which makes them independent of Gateways. In a sense, they are the Gateway, so they can even bring another person with them on their travels. However, the balance is broken once a person becomes Supreme. It shifts, tying them to the Dream Realm instead of the Real World.

    True Name is a mystical title granted by the Spell to the most exceptional of the Awakened. It doesn't do anything on its own, but it can open various possibilities. True Names were innately tied to one's fate. It was meant to serve as an anchor of one's self, and typically was granted after a Aspirants First Nightmare.

16. #16the Hollow & the Lost

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmares, Corruption, The Void, Void Beings, Beings of nothing, The Forgotten god, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Rune, The Runes, Runes of the Nightmare Spell, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed of The Nightmare, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creature, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    Hollow — people whose souls were destroyed, leaving an empty body behind.

    Lost — people whose bodies had somehow destroyed or died in the real world, leaving their souls stranded in the Dream Realm.

17. #17Spell Status Screen

    Keys: Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Rune, The Runes, Runes of the nightmare spell, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed of the Nightmare, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creature, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul, Soul Fragments, Aspects, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    Soul Sea is supposed to be lively, with a star hanging above — the visual representation of the soul core — was supposed to be burning with bright light, filling the Soul Sea with a warm, blinding shine.

    Soul Core, A mystical core of one's spirit that is capable of accumulating and storing vast amounts of Soul Essence. The Soul Core usually overlaps over a human's heart.

    Soul Shard, A physical manifestation of a broken Soul Core that contains remnant Soul Essence. Awakened increased their power by extracting and consuming the corresponding material, soul shards.

    Absorbing soul shards increases the maximum capacity of the soul core. The essence can be used for summoning Memories and Echoes or using advanced Aspect Abilities. Then it slowly regenerates back to maximum capacity. In contrast, Sleepers can't control soul essence. The maximum capacity of a soul core is dependent on the Class if they're a monster or if they're a divine aspect holder being taking part in monster progression having both classes and a rank

    Divine Soul Shard, A large radiant crystal that gave off a feeling of sublime, awesome, indescribable power. The crystal emits soft light like a miniature sun. Reality itself seemed to ripple and shine around it.

    Soul Rank A measure of power that is based on the quality of one's Soul Core. There are seven Soul Ranks:

    Dormant Awakened Ascended Transcendent Supreme Sacred Divine

    Innate Ability: An ability that is different from Aspect Ability but is closely related or intrinsic to an Awakened Aspect, usually conditional.

    Aspect Ability: A magical ability tied to one's Aspect.

    Aspect Rank: Same as Soul Rank.

    Aspect Legacy: an Aspect Legacy was something that every Aspect contained, but very few Awakened ever received. Each Aspect Legacy had a unique set of requirements that the owner of the Aspect had to meet to unlock it.

    Flaw: A unique curse that was placed on the Awakened as the price for gaining mystical power.

18. #18Aspects & Flaw's

    Keys: Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Rune, The Runes, Runes of the nightmare spell, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed Of Nightmare, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creature, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul, Soul Fragments, Aspects, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    An Aspect confluence of one's innate affinities and choices manifested as a magical specialisation.

    Typical Aspects Needed To Collect 1000 Soul shards before reaching maximum capacity needing to go into their proper nightmare spell gate in order to ascend into the next rank to reset the amount, by doing this you can raise your soul essence capacity by 7000 by completion unlike Divine aspect holders whose require amount of soul shards increased by a thousand per class rather than staying the same.

    | "SOUL" Cores: [0/7] "ONLY IF A DIVINE ASPECT IS PRESENT AT WHICH POINT NULL AND VOID IF NOT." | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | "SOUL" FRAGMENTS: 0/>>> '1'2'3'4'5'6'7'000 <-THIS ONLY WENT UP IF DIVINE ASPECT HOLDER IT STAYED | AT ????/1000 AND RESET BACK TO ZERO OUT OF ONE THOUSAND AFTER ASCENDING EACH SOUL RANK HOWEVER DIVINE ASPECT HOLDERS HAD CLASS CHANGES INCREASING HOW MANY SOUL SHARDS THEY WOULD BE NEEDING, THE SOUL SHARDS INCREASED TO SAID LIMIT BY THIS AMOUNT ?/1000 = Beast Class; ?/2000 = Monster Class; ?/3000 = Demon Class; ?/4000 = Devil Class; ?/5000 = Tyrant Class; ?/6000 = Terror Class; ?/7000 = Titan Class; however if you aren't a Divine aspect holder ie any of these tier of these aspect ranks: Sacred; Supreme; Transcendent; Ascended; Awakened; Dormant;(awakening a dormant ranked aspect is essentially being given a duel sided knife that is meant to stab both you and your foe as its considered less then trash even if there are truly no bad aspects.) Then if you have any of those ranks for your aspect then you do not have a class like a monster have will have a maximum of 1000 essence however your soul essence depletes slower once you have obtained 1000/1000 soul shards as you're likely not a divine aspect holder then complete a nightmare gate trial and ascending into a higher being will reset the count back to 0/1000 for you to regather the soul shards as your soul expands together with the now seemingly missing soul shards.

    Nightmare Creatures Awakened Humans Ranks (Soul Core Quality) Classes (Soul Core Quantity) Soul Cores Colloquial Names (by Humans) Soul Ranks (Soul Core Quality) Divine Aspect Holders Classes (Soul Core Quantity) Soul Cores Dormant (lowest rank) Beast 1 Sleeper Dormant (lowest rank) Beast/- 1 Awakened Monster 2 Awakened Awakened Monster 2 Fallen Demon 3 Master Ascended Demon 3 Corrupted Devil 4 Saint Transcendent Devil 4 Great Tyrant 5 Sovereign Supreme Tyrant 5 Cursed Terror 6 Spirit Sacred Terror 6 Unholy (highest rank) Titan 7 God Divine (highest rank) Titan 7

    FLAWS: Flaws are Always Gained AFTER A Aspirants First Nightmare

    A unique curse that was placed on the Awakened as the price for gaining mystical power. Every Awakened received a Flaw, sometimes called the counter. Flaws were as diverse as Abilities, ranging from comparatively harmless to crippling, or, in some cases, even fatal. Even if the flaw is reversed, it is still a curse. The new curse is likely to be far worse than the old one.

    Flaws are never random; they are deeply connected to the individuals cursed by them and are tied to something fundamental about those people. A Flaw might directly oppose the core of a person’s identity, distort something they hold dear in a hideous way, or be unrelated to their personality but instead stem from the nature of their power or their fate. Despite their complex and personal nature, it is possible to deduce a Flaw if one knows the person well enough.

    Flaws, while often seen as curses bestowed by the Nightmare Spell to balance the extraordinary powers it grants, are not inherently bad. In truth, Flaws do not originate from the Spell at all—it merely helps Awakened discover their Flaws, much like it helps them unseal their Aspects. Flaws are rooted in a deeper principle: the law of imperfection, a fundamental law of existence created by the gods as a weapon in their war against the Void. This law symbolizes life's inherent struggle and potential for growth, as perfect, unchanging things are stagnant and lifeless. As Ananke once explained, albeit cruel, Flaws are meant to foster growth through hardship, reminding those burdened by them that struggle is essential to improvement.

    The Flaw is an essential part of an individual's identity and strength, so vital that no one can achieve Transcendence without it. The Nightmare Spell aids every Awakened in attaining their Flaw, not just because growth stems from adversity but because an Aspect and a Flaw are intrinsically connected. It may even be impossible to unseal one's Aspect without first discovering one's Flaw.

    Flaws present an insurmountable challenge, but, like a mountain, there are ways to work around them instead of simply trying to overcome them.

    From the perspective of the gods, Flaws are tools for balance and growth rather than curses. However, for those who suffer their effects, Flaws can feel overwhelmingly cruel and burdensome, often indistinguishable from a curse. Sunny's own experiences reinforced this duality. He had encountered Flaws of varying severity, including his own and those of Nephis and Cassie, which were terrible but not the worst. Others, like Caster's Flaw, required him to forsake his Aspect powers to survive—a price tied to his pride and sense of duty, which ultimately led to his death. Dorn suffered from a Flaw that caused his body to grow uncontrollably, a condition that would eventually kill him under its own weight. There were others, like Jet, whose struggles, though less detailed, were equally harrowing.

    Before the Nightmare Spell, it was seen as impossible to Transcend without an Aspect and Flaw, needing to first procure a flaw then the Aspect first when ascending naturally without the aid of the Nightmare Spell

    In the modern era the Nightmare spells Flaws are Common Place and there is no limit to strange Flaws that people have to work around thus its existence usually not questioned

19. #19Divine Aspect Holder

    Keys: Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Rune, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed of Nightmare, Aspirant, Dormant, Awakened, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Divine, Sacred, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creature, Category: Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Aspect, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul, Soul Fragments, Aspects, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    Divine Aspects bestowed far greater potential on an Awakened. However, their immense power came at the cost of rapidly depleting essence. As a result, those with Divine Aspects faced the same, if not greater, challenges in rationing their essence as others.

    Divine Aspect Bearer's progression path is harder but also promising.

    Ascending to a new Rank was more of a profound change. It elevated the quality of the cores and essence, gifted the Awakened with new abilities, and allowed for deeper access to their Aspect. The resulting jump in power was tremendous.

    Reaching a new Class primarily affected the quantity of essence, and as such, the increase in power was much more gradual. It gives extra strength and essence capacity. Unlike all other Awakened, there was no limit to the capacity to store essence and reinforce their body.

    Human souls are not meant to have many cores or sustain them, but having a Divine Aspect has made their souls stronger and more powerful. However, as this is not in its nature, the birth of a new core brings immense pain, with each successive one causing more pain.

    Benefits: Their body grew stronger, their essence reserves increased significantly.

    TRIVIA: When a new core is born in the depths of their soul, it comes with the pain of their soul being torn apart. Mordret is the first divine aspect holder and is older than Nephis and Sunny by four or five years. He had his First Nightmare when he was twelve. It seems that all of them had some sort of soul defense mechanism as seen with the following: Sunny's shadows in his Soul Sea Nephis' radiant Soul Sea Mordret's concealment of his soul when occupying another body Sunny was an outlier among the three dangerous people he knew. Nephis and Mordret were the products of the Legacy culture.

    ASPECTS: Typical Aspects Needed To Collect 1000 Soul shards before reaching maximum capacity needing to go into their proper nightmare spell gate in order to ascend into the next rank to reset the amount, by doing this you can raise your soul essence capacity by 7000 by completion unlike Divine aspect holders whose require amount of soul shards increased by a thousand per class rather than staying the same.

    | "SOUL" Cores: [0/7] "ONLY IF A DIVINE ASPECT IS PRESENT AT WHICH POINT NULL AND VOID IF NOT." | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | "SOUL" FRAGMENTS: 0/>>> '1'2'3'4'5'6'7'000 <-THIS ONLY WENT UP IF DIVINE ASPECT HOLDER IT STAYED | AT ????/1000 AND RESET BACK TO ZERO OUT OF ONE THOUSAND AFTER ASCENDING EACH SOUL RANK HOWEVER DIVINE ASPECT HOLDERS HAD CLASS CHANGES INCREASING HOW MANY SOUL SHARDS THEY WOULD BE NEEDING, THE SOUL SHARDS INCREASED TO SAID LIMIT BY THIS AMOUNT ?/1000 = Beast Class; ?/2000 = Monster Class; ?/3000 = Demon Class; ?/4000 = Devil Class; ?/5000 = Tyrant Class; ?/6000 = Terror Class; ?/7000 = Titan Class; however if you aren't a Divine aspect holder ie any of these tier of these aspect ranks: Sacred; Supreme; Transcendent; Ascended; Awakened; Dormant;(awakening a dormant ranked aspect is essentially being given a duel sided knife that is meant to stab both you and your foe as its considered less then trash even if there are truly no bad aspects.) Then if you have any of those ranks for your aspect then you do not have a class like a monster have will have a maximum of 1000 essence however your soul essence depletes slower once you have obtained 1000/1000 soul shards as you're likely not a divine aspect holder then complete a nightmare gate trial and ascending into a higher being will reset the count back to 0/1000 for you to regather the soul shards as your soul expands together with the now seemingly missing soul shards.

    Divine Aspect Holders Typically Do NOT announce their aspects rank and aren't able to be found out with current government technology as well this is due to the fact that spell tech isn't advanced enough yet and mainly if anyone knew about divine aspects people would riot and try to destroy anyone who possessed it out of sheer envy this is the likely outcome so its best if you hide the fact you possess a divine aspect...

    Only The major Clans really know about Divine Aspects, due to clan valor birthing one of the three and as such the existence of Divine Aspects are kept hidden... within the clans highest rankings

20. #20Memories & Echos

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmare, Corruption, The Void, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Runes, The Runes, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Nightmare Seed, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creatures, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    Memory is a magical item tied to the essence of a Dream Realm inhabitant.

    It is an item enchanted with the rudimentary spellweave, allowing it to be disassembled into soul essence, stored within its master's soul, and later reconstituted as matter.

    A Memory was described by Sunny as a Woven artifact imbued with a number of specific foundational enchantments. Although all Memories were created through Weaving, not all Woven items qualified as Memories.

    A Memory contained an enchantment that allowed it to be stored within the soul of its master in the form of essence, an enchantment that allowed it to be reassembled from essence into matter, and an enchantment that allowed it to repair itself when dismissed, along with several additional foundational enchantments. The combination of these enchantments constituted a Memory. By learning and memorizing the patterns of these spellweaves, a sorcerer could create Memories of their own.

    Memories are created from Soul Essence but can assume physical form when summoned. They were destroyed at the moment of their owner's death. Physical contact was required to transfer a Memory. Memories are kept inside the Soul Sea and with a bit of time they can restore themselves there. Memories adjust themselves to accommodate the owner's body. Memories did not need to be sharpened (weapon types). Dismissal Once a Memory is dismissed, the essence used returns to the core of the Awakened that had summoned it. However, if it was too far away from them, the essence was simply wasted — unless the Memory had a special enchantment. The essence wasn't lost forever, as it would slowly accumulate inside the soul core until the peak capacity was reached once again. But this process took time.

    Types Sword Weapons Sword Weapons

    Armor Charm Weapon Tool (Utility Memory) Garment Armor Memory Armor-type memories typically had layers, which could be summoned and dismissed independently.

    Charm Memory Charm is a rare type of Memory that took the form of a small accessory, most often an amulet or a talisman. Unlike weapons, armor, and tools, it had no practical value. However, charms made up for it by possessing unique and powerful enchantments.

    Utility Memory Utility Memory is not as showy as armor and weapons but it is a foundation of an Awakened's arsenal.

    Garment Memory Garments were a rare Memory type which were generally less useful but could be worn alongside armor-type Memory.

    Lineage Memory Lineage memories are a type of memory that can be consumed. It can impart Awakened with unique qualities or attributes that, unlike the usual ones, are hereditary. They could be passed down through a bloodline. Note: Possessing a lineage of a certain divine creature (Divine Lineage) doesn't mean their aspect has to be related to it as well. For example Sunny and Noctis.

    Shard Memories Main article: Shard Memories

    Shard Memory weaves were distinct from ordinary one, possessing unique qualities like the ability to remain in existence after the owner's death, or the hidden purpose of manifesting the Oath Keys after all seven had been gathered in one place.

    Echoes are a magical copy of a slain Nightmare Creature. They are capable of limited autonomy but do not possess a soul, and thus are not alive. Just like Memories, they are created from Soul Essence and assume physical form only when summoned. They can be destroyed permanently and take time to heal just like Memories.

    Since echoes were mere replicas of the creatures that had left them behind. They were molded in their image and never changed, always remaining the same as the originals at the moment of their deaths.

    Human Echo They are soulless copy of humans. They have empty gazes.

    The more unique Nightmare Creature one vanquishes, the greater the reward is. It will determine what Memories and Echoes one receives.

21. #21Dreamrealm

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmare, Corruption, The Void, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Runes, The Runes, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Nightmare Seed, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creatures, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    It was revealed in the runes of Bone Weave that the seven daemons were children of the mysterious -unknown-. At some point, the children of the unknown rebelled against the gods, except for Weaver, who was the only one to refuse the call of war.

    The Dream Realm is mysterious and mostly unexplored. It is also dead. There is no life out there except for the Nightmare Creatures, corrupted ecosystems, and now humans. But it wasn't always dead. The explorers can tell that once, a long time ago, the Dream Realm was home to several primitive civilizations. There are a lot of ruins buried in its soil.

    Dream Realm is much bigger than Earth. It is not consistent in terms of star geography. Different regions had different stars and constellations, as well as a different number of moons. While the sun seemed to be the same, its behavior was highly unpredictable.

    The Nightmares are based on Dream Realm's history. They are replicas of past events, somehow reconstructed from the depths of time. There are four main differences between the Dream Realm and the Nightmares:

    Firstly, it doesn't have a "story". There is no predetermined conflict you are forced to resolve. You can move freely and explore, provided that you have the strength to stay alive in the wilderness. Most people tend to stay close to one of the human Citadels. Secondly, there are no people in the Dream Realm except for those who came from the real world. There are only monsters. Some of them can mimic human appearance. Thirdly, unlike the First Nightmare, no Nightmare Creatures will appear in the real world if you die in the Dream Realm. And lastly, unlike Nightmares, which are bound by the rules of fairness, there is no limit to what kind of Creature you can meet in the Dream Realm.

    The Gods worshipped in different regions had different names, but they all described the same entities. The current consensus is that the "gods" of the Dream Realm were perhaps creatures of the Divine Rank. Their gender seems to be very mercurial, they can be referred to by both genders.

22. #22Aspect Legacy

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmare, Corruption, The Void, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Runes, The RUnes, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Aspriant, Ascended, Dormant, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creatures, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    Aspect Legacy Aspect Legacy was something that every Aspect contained, but very few Awakened ever received. Unlike the Boon of the First Nightmare, and every Nightmare after that, as well as the reward Sleepers received after returning from the Dream Realm for the first time, each Aspect Legacy had a unique set of requirements that the owner of the Aspect had to meet to unlock it.

    While the Aspect itself does not come from the Spell, the Legacy does. There is a set way to unseal it, and that this method is known only to the Spell.

    See also: List of Aspect Legacies

    Legacy Relic Main article: Legacy Relics After they mastered their Aspect Legacy, they were rewarded with a powerful relic known as a Legacy Relic. Usually, it was a Memory that synergized perfectly with their Aspect Abilities, or sometimes even an Echo. Legacy Relics are powerful artifacts that were assumed to be created by the Spell.

    The whole Legacy Clans can be created around a single Legacy Relic. Legacy Relics are associated with the Aspect Legacy.

23. #23The Runes Status Screen

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmare, Corruption, The Void, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Runes, The Runes, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creatures, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    The Initial Runes (During the First Nightmare)When an unawakened person (an Aspirant) is pulled into their First Nightmare, their runes are incredibly sparse because the Spell has not yet fully categorised their soul. At this stage, the status screen contains: Name: The person's real name. True Name: Blank (—). A True Name is a legendary title granted only after monumental achievements.Rank: Listed strictly as Aspirant (a trial-taker).Soul Core: Listed as Dormant.Memories & Echoes: Usually blank (—) unless they manage to kill a Nightmare Creature during the trial and receive a weapon or minion from the Spell. Attributes: Universal baseline traits or passive blessings inherent to the person's soul before the spell you usually will have at least one or three of these though there is no actual limit. Aspect & Aspect Description: Temporarily assigned by the trial itself based on their role in the illusion

    After the First Nightmare, the {{user}} becomes a Sleeper/Dormant Soul Rank Obtaining their first Aspect Ability additionally they will obtain their flaw as mentioned many times, and lastly they will obtain their Innate Aspect Ability.

24. #24Gods & Daemons

    Keys: Dream Realm, Nightmare, Corruption, The Void, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Runes, The Runes, The Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Nightmare Seed, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creatures, Category Of Ranks And Classes, Memory, Attributes, Memories, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    War God Deity of warfare, God of life, Goddess of War, Goddess of Life, Goddess of Progress, Technology, Craft, and Intellect, Patron Goddess of Humanity.

    Beast God Goddess of the Moon, hunting, carnal desire, blood, beauty, and the cycle of birth and death.

    Sun God Lord of Light, a manifestation of fire, passion, creation, and destruction.

    Storm God God of the depths, of the oceans, of darkness, stars, travel, guidance, disaster, etc.

    Shadow God God of peace, death, solace, and mysteries.

    Heart God God of Souls, emotion, memory, hunger, and growth.

    FORGOTTEN GOD God Of Corruption, Change, Chaos.(Likely Unconfirmed)

    Daemons were beings that were partially divine or even almost as powerful as the gods themselves. They are mysterious creatures described as having power almost equal to that of the gods but of a different nature. Initially, they seemed to have created themselves or at least appeared out of nowhere.

    Almost nothing is known about them, except for the fact that there were seven of them, one more terrible than the other. They were terrifying creatures that came out of nowhere, wielding enough power to wage war against the heavens. The unknown is what the humans fear the most, and the gods are no exception.

    Daemons Titles Weaver Firstborn of the Demon of Fate Master of Lies Nether Last child of the Ruler of the Underworld Prince of the Underworld Demon of Destiny/Choice Hope Demon of Desire/Hope Daughter of the

    Demon of Oblivion Ariel Graceless caitiff Demon of Dread Keeper of Truths Mirage Demon of Imagination Rime Demon of Repose

    The daemons had not appeared out of nowhere, nor had they created themselves, but were born from the seven pieces of the seventh god, The Forgotten God, who had previously been the Dream God. Their existence was forbidden, making it seem as if they appeared from nowhere, as no one was allowed to remember the Forgotten God.

    According to the legends, after the gods sealed the primordial void, Weaver was the only one of those who had entered the eternal abyss and managed to return alive.

    The gods had sealed the eternal void, from which they were born. The unknown were creatures of that void, while the Unknown was a specific being that had somehow given life to the seven daemons. The reflection of either was forever frozen in the depths of Weaver's eyes.

    Legends says that a terrible creature was slain by the gods once, at the dawn of time, whose blood seeped into the earth, forming true darkness. The dark creature must have been a being of the Void, greater than an Unholy Titan.

    According to the runes of Shadow God's lineage (Drop of Ichor), Unlike the Unknown, the -unknown- were a type of creatures, primordial beings that existed before time, space, and death, in a boundless dark void. The gods were different from them but also their kin. It was now clear what terrible enemy the gods had faced long before the daemons and their rebellion. The reason Shadow God had been compelled to create Death. The gods won but the primordial void had not been destroyed, only that it had been "bound".

    It was revealed in the runes of Bone Weave that the seven daemons were children of the mysterious -unknown-. At some point, the children of the unknown rebelled against the gods, except for Weaver, who was the only one to refuse the call of war. (This Unknown was likely The Forgotten God, Which the Nightmare Spell Refused To Translate.)

25. #25Enchants

    Keys: Dream Realm, Nightmare, Corruption, The Void, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Runes, The Runes, The Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Nightmare Seed, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creatures, Category Of Ranks And Classes, Memory, Memories, Attributes, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    Enchantment A magical quality of a Memory.

    Each Memory had unique enchantments, so one couldn't draw parallels between them and extrapolate how their weaves produced the desired effects. However, there were magical qualities that all Memories shared.

    Ability to be summoned and dismissed Ability to repair themselves unless completely destroyed Connection to the owner's soul All memories had a name There was one other thing that all Memories contained and not a part of the pattern of ethereal strings. A bright ember that served as the anchor and nexus for the strings, a point around which the whole pattern was structured. Memories of the first Tier had one, and those of the higher Tier had several.

    All Memories shared these traits because they came from only two sources: the Nightmare Spell and the Awakened themselves.

    Rare Enchantments Flight enchantments were extremely rare and tremendously valued. Only Masters or Saints were able to purchase decent flight Memories. Resistance to mind attacks was the second-rarest form of protection, right after resistance to soul damage. Aura enchantment Aura enchantments were an extremely rare type of enchantment. Unlike the usual enchantments, they affected not only the wielder but everything that fit their target criteria in a certain radius.

    Transplanting Enchantments Each Memory had a certain capacity when it came to accommodating enchantments. The more powerful an enchantment was, the more burden it put on the weave. To withstand it weaves needed to be moored to anchors, each serving as a nexus for the strings of essence. The anchors used soul shards. The more was used, the higher the Tier of the Memory was, and the higher its capacity. The Rank of the shards also played a role. Apart from the capacity, weaves also had a threshold of intensity they could withstand. Powerful enchantments put too much strain on the strings and the anchors, so, both the strings and the anchors had to be of a high enough Rank to endure it. Only the weakest of enchantments could be activated passively, relying on the Memory's own ambient soul energy, everything else would only function when saturated by the flow of essence from the wielder's soul. Not all Memories could accommodate all enchantments, regardless of whether they had enough capacity and tolerance. Some were simply not meant for each other. The name of the Memory hid the secret of its nature. The enchantment to be introduced cannot be in conflict with their natures. For example, one could not add an enchantment meant to destroy a Memory that was meant to protect. Tier A rough estimate of a Memory's potency that is based on its source. Although Memories follow the same Soul Rank hierarchy, they are also divided into Tiers based on the Classes of the Nightmare Creatures that left them behind. A Memory of an Awakened Tyrant (who possessed five Soul Cores) would be categorized as a Tier-Five Awakened Memory. A Memory of a Fallen Devil (who possessed four Soul Cores) would be categorized as a Tier-Four Ascended Memory. An improvised way of differentiating Memories of different power levels within the same rank. The tier of a Memory dictates how many enchantments it could accommodate. Rank Obtaining High-Rank Memories The ratio of obtaining high-rank Memories seems to be influenced by the power of the Nightmare Creatures defeated. Nephis observed that as they fight more powerful abominations, the frequency of the Spell bestowing Memories significantly decreases. She speculated that creating high-rank items, such as Supreme Memories, requires substantially more of the mysterious resource the Spell uses, making the process more selective and frugal. She suggested that one Supreme Memory might be equivalent to ten thousand Awakened Memories in terms of the Spell's effort. This aligns with the rarity of high-rank individuals, as there are only three Sovereigns among millions of Awakened. Thus, high-rank Memories are exceedingly rare.

    Sacred Memory Reveal Unlike lesser Memories, Sacred Memories are immensely powerful artifacts capable of interfering with causality and bending the laws of existence, similar to the powers wielded by deities. However, such Memories are not sentient—they possess no will or intent of their own. As a result, their potential can only be realized when fueled by the soul essence, spirit essence, and most importantly, the Will of their master.

    Forging Three methods to alter a Memory:

    Altering an existing Memory to fit one's needs. Altering Memories granted to Awakened by the Spell was a rare skill even among enchanters of Valor. Only Sunny and Anvil are the known ones who can alter Memories granted to Awakened by the Spell. Creating a new Memory from scratch. This method requires using potent materials and high-rank soul shards. Creating a Memory that is bound to its wielder's soul. (Also refer to Forging of Shadowbound Relic) This method is the longest and hardest, requiring extensive effort and time. If successful, the resulting Memory will be powerful enough to kill a god. Adding Limitations Creating a Memory intended solely to enhance its wielder's power is generally ineffective. This is because such Memories are constrained by the limits of the user's Will, and even in the absence of those limits, simple enchantments cannot significantly alter the fundamental laws of the world. As a result, their effects tend to be negligible.

    To overcome this, some Memories that aim to bend or influence the laws of existence are designed with deliberate limitations. These artificial limitations allow the Memory to exert a greater effect than it normally could, provided that specific conditions are met. By narrowing the scope of the Memory's influence, its power becomes more concentrated and capable of achieving greater impact within those defined parameters.

    The more unique Nightmare Creature one vanquishes, the greater the reward is. It will determine what Memories and Echoes one receives.

26. #26Attributes; & True Names

    Keys: Dream Realm, Nightmare, Corruption, The Void, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Runes, The Runes, The Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Nightmare Seed, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Nightmare Creatures, Category Of Ranks And Classes, Memory, Memories, Attributes, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shard, Sleeper

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    True Name is a mystical title granted by the Spell to the most exceptional of the Awakened Typically in the First Nightmare. It doesn't do anything on its own, but it can open various possibilities. True Names were innately tied to one's fate. It was meant to serve as an anchor of one's self.

    True Name can act as an irresistible anchor that pulled useful things such as skills, fragments of knowledge, insights, and patterns of thought towards the true self of an Awakened. Just like a body had a memory of its own, a soul had one as well. Knowing one's name, the true name, was the key to unlocking it.

    Those individuals with True Names are more connected to the mystical world and can be influenced by hidden powers and have greater influence in turn.

    Everything that exists has a name. It is a fact that a thing only starts to exist after it is given a name. However not all names are equal, some are simply given and aren't worth much, while others have to be earned. The true names of things hold power over them.

    True Names hold both literal and symbolic power. They serve as an anchor of oneself, playing a crucial role in understanding oneself, which is the first step on the Path of Ascension. True Names also possess a more obscure power that will be understood through the study of Shaping.

    Revealing one's True Name is a significant decision: while sharing it freely can act as a powerful boon; it also carries the risk of becoming a curse. Some, like Seishan and the Sovereigns, choose to keep their True Names secret, demonstrating a deeper understanding of this dual-edged power.

    Language of the Gods The original one true language was believed to be woven into the very fabric of existence. The one true language is a language where every word was a True Name, the language of the gods.

    Unlike human languages that were invented, this one is inherent to reality, both shaped by the world and shaping the world. Speaking its words is no different from reshaping the world.

    Attributes: A passive ability that corresponds to one's natural traits or affinities.

    Attributes are usually given during First Nightmare. However, in case of Natural Awakening, since no Spell will interpret it, one would need to discover it themselves or have it interpreted by someone with suitable Aspect. Lineage Memory can impart Awakened with attributes that, unlike the usual ones, are hereditary. They could be passed down through a bloodline. Inherited from an Awakened parent who got Lineage Attribute. An Awakened who already had a lineage and consumed another lineage memory can evolve the existing one. Consuming a part of a divine being can also acquire or evolve attributes. Attributes can be gained as a result of extraordinary experiences, actions, or events, and may be either temporary or lasting.

    The more unique Nightmare Creature one vanquishes, the greater the reward is. It will determine what Memories and Echoes one receives.

    A Few Examples of Attributes and True Names are the Following..

    Attributes: 1.| Dreamspawn(Dreamspawn is the name of the attribute that both Asterion and Nephis had. A Dreamspawn is a being existing on the edge between nightmare and reality and therefore belonging to both worlds.)

    2.| Fated(The strings of fate wrap tightly around you. Unlikely events, both good and bad, are drawn by your presence. There are those who are blessed, and there are those who are cursed… but rarely both.)

    3.| The Fire(You have inherited the lineage of Sun God.)

    True Names; 1.| Lost From Light (Sunless 'Received')

    2.| Changing Star (Nephis 'Received')

    3.| Nightingale (Kai 'Received')

27. #27The Nightmare Trials

    Keys: The First Nightmare, Attributes

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    In The First Nightmare You're given an aspect and a few attributes based on what role you're assuming in your nightmare

    Once infected by the Nightmare Spell, that person will experience constant fatigue and sleepiness and eventually will fall into an unnatural slumber, with no sign of waking up. When the infected die in their sleep, their dead bodies will turn into monsters called Nightmare Creatures.

    The First Nightmare is the first trial prepared by the Nightmare Spell to test the chosen Aspirant. First Nightmares are unique because each of them is tailored individually. That's why only a single Creature can appear. This single creature is usually a Beast or Monster. Rarely, does a Demon mixed in, and never anything stronger than a devil appear in it. Note: Exceptions were in the case of Sunny he encountered a Tyrant and Nephis encountered a Terror in their First Nightmares.

    The Spell did not randomly choose the role an Aspirant would play during their First Nightmare. It was apparent from the fact that the bodies they inhabited in it, while different, were very close to their real ones. However, the actual principle of how the Spell chose these roles and the events of the Nightmares were largely unclear.

    First Nightmare: Seed The First Nightmare is similar to the other Nightmares. It is also born from a Seed. The only difference is that the seed does not grow in the Dream Realm. Instead, it develops within a human's soul. Every Aspirant who fails their First Nightmare becomes a miniature Gate, allowing a single Nightmare Creature to enter the waking world. That is why their corpses turn into monsters. They are classified as Gate of the First category.

    Starting from the Second Nightmare, things become much more dangerous. These Nightmares are not tied to an infected person. Instead, they are born in the Dream Realm. While the Seed of Nightmare is growing, any number of Awakened can attempt to conquer it. Conquering the second nightmare will give the successful challenger another Aspect Ability. These awakened are titled Masters from then on until they conquer their Third Nightmare. No Awakened of the Ascended rank is allowed to challenge these Nightmares.

    the First Nightmare, is always tailor-made for an singular individual

    Just like the Second Nightmare, any number of awakened can challenge it. Similarly, no awakened at the level of Saint can challenge it, however, Awakened rank carriers can also challenge it. The Spell rewards these challengers considerably, even turning these awakened straight into Saints. Normally, awakened would fill up their soul core more before they challenge a nightmare. Due to this, Saints who skipped becoming a Master are usually physically weaker compared to other Saints. So far, humanity has managed to conquer the Third Nightmare.

    The Nightmare Spell allowed humans to challenge the Fourth Nightmare, attain Supremacy, and manifest a Domain.

    Conquering the Fifth Nightmare meant achieving godhood, though only as a lesser deity.

    Natural Apotheosis is a method of attaining godhood without challenging the Fifth Nightmare, instead achieved through growth by feeding on one's own Domain. Sunny explained that Asterion is aiming for natural Apotheosis, seeking to accomplish what Kanakht failed to achieve by attaining godhood through feeding on his own Domain — not as a human, but as a creature, which in practice means enthralling all of humanity and then devouring it. This process treats the Human Domain as fertilizer for his growth, consuming the souls of countless humans in order to ascend. Asterion presents this path as a safer, better way to become a deity compared to the Fifth Nightmare.

    Importantly, Apotheosis is a slow and gradual process. It demands immense time, usually centuries or even millennia, to reshape the self into something capable of surviving and embracing divinity. There are no shortcuts. Brute strength, no matter how great, cannot replace the experiential and spiritual foundation needed.

    The Sixth Nightmare, referred to as the final Nightmare, and conquering it one would become Divine.

    Main Cast Character Sunny begins to understand the scale of the daemon Weaver's plan. If the Spell was meant to lull the Forgotten God to sleep, then there was likely one more Nightmare beyond the Sixth — a Seventh Nightmare, where the god is imprisoned, dreaming.

    The conflict that the challengers of this Nightmare were meant to solve was the conflict that plague all of existence. The Nightmare Spell simultaneously traps the god within the Nightmare and nurtures mortals to become gods powerful enough to kill him.

    The Second Nightmare is a lot like the First, but at the same time very different. The Spell will send the Awakened cohort into an illusion of the past, one centered around a central conflict. To conquer the Nightmare, they will have to resolve that conflict one way or another. There is no right or wrong way to do so.

    Second Nightmare will be larger, longer, and harder than the first one. The Nightmare Creatures populating it will be of higher Ranks and Classes, usually either Awakened or Fallen. Unlucky ones might meet a Corrupted. Unlike the First Nightmare, the Second Nightmare won't be tailor-made for an individual Awakened. The Spell will try to find a body that closely resembles the Awakened, but since it is not tailor-made for an individual, it might not be as similar as what one might expect. The Awakened will certainly be of the same Rank and their build will be more or less the same. However, if one isn't quick enough or couldn't adapt to the sudden changes in their body and be unprepared in a fight, they might die. There is no one way to conquer the Nightmare, which means that some solutions can contradict each other, and people participating in the trial are not forced to aim for the same result. It rarely happens but not all challengers have to be on the same side.

28. #28Knowledge about the Nightmare Sickness and the Third and Fourth Nightmares

    Keys: Nightmare Spells Sickness, Third Nightmare, Fourth Nightmare, The Nightmare Spell, The Runes, Runes, Corruption, The Forgotten God

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    The Nightmare Spell, commonly called The Spell, infects young people, usually around sixteen to eighteen years old. After being infected, those chosen by the Spell experience an overwhelming desire to sleep. Once they succumb to this feeling, they are transported to their First Nightmare.

    Third Nightmare and First/Second Nightmares The Third Nightmare differs from the First and Second Nightmares. The challenger would be entering the trial with their physical bodies because there is no distinction between the waking world and the Dream Realm once one becomes an Ascended. Connection between the Nightmares and the Dream Realm Nightmares were almost certainly simply recreations of the past of the Dream Realm. Logically, the appearance of Awakened from the Waking World should have completely changed the course of events that had happened in the past but had not.

    There are two explanations that were listed based on the events inside the Nightmare:

    This was a simple case of knowledge of the future informing one's actions in the past. Since they know what happens in the future before going into the Nightmare, the cycle had been complete without any ominous reasons and just due to a logical connection. Fate had a pull on all things, had influence over all of existence, and pushed everything in a certain direction or conclusion. So the details of what happened could potentially change, but the end would inevitably, and inescapably, be the same.

    Conquering the Fifth Nightmare meant achieving godhood, though only as a lesser deity.

    The Fifth Trial of Weaver's Spell was described by the Fallen One as a uniquely cruel Trial that could make its challengers into deities, but only by undoing them as humans first. It was associated with the Seed of a Fifth Trial, whose blooming manifested a Nightmare Gate unlike any before, opening in the Spinesea and allowing Cursed Ones to invade Mictlan.

    According to the Fallen One, not everyone could survive the unmaking caused by the Fifth Trial, nor what followed afterward. The Trial had to be conquered together in intent, yet each participant would have to face the unmaking alone, without relying on allies. Every weapon wielded and every power possessed would become a burden, and even the challengers' own Domains would turn against them. Within the Nightmare, survival depended solely on oneself, but preserving the truth of one's self was far more difficult than staying alive, which was identified as the true peril of the Fifth Trial of Weaver's Spell.

29. #29Great Clans

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Great Clan, Great Clans, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Aspect, Divine Aspects, Mordret, Anvil, Aster, Song, Vale, Valor, Ki Song, Asterion, Supreme, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Ascended, Transcendent, Memory, Memories, Echos, Sleepers, Dormant, Aspirants, Aspirant, Soul Shards, Throne war, House Of Night, Night Walker, Morgan, Character, Side Character, Main Character, Arc, Volume, Event, Events

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    There are Four Great Clans though three major ones..

    The Legacy Clans, particularly the three Great Clans, were authorities in terms of personal power and combat prowess, surpassing the ancient Awakened in many aspects. They were harsher, more extreme, and better tempered than their ancient counterparts due to their rise in a hellish world. They had risen to resist the Nightmare Spell, being shaped into a formidable force under its harsh pressure.

    All of the human territories in the Dream Realm fall under the purview of the Three Great Legacy Clans. Each of them spreads its influence and rules over three separate unconnected human enclaves in the Dream Realm. These territories are built around the three Great Citadels which are directly controlled by the great clans.

    A Legacy clan refers to a prominent family or group of Awakened with deep historical roots, typically established by powerful First-Generation survivors of the Nightmare Spell. While they often share common traits, such as ruling a Citadel or possessing a Legacy heirloom, these characteristics are not universal.

    It is also a large, self-sufficient institution or a tribe. It consists of immediate family members and hundreds of other people who are professionals who manage properties, craftsmen, mundane soldiers, Awakened retainers, and their dependents.

    Legacy Clans are also known as Awakened Clans. Legacy Clans are named because of Legacy Relics. While not every clan possesses an Aspect Legacy, most of them do. The acquisition of an Aspect Legacy laid the foundation for the creation of many of these clans.

    Valor Valor-crest-2 Clan Name Valor Status Great Clan, Active Crest A straight sword thrust through an iron anvil.[6] Leader Anvil Unnamed Cousins (Official as Front) Seat of Power Bastion Other Citadels Night Temple Known Members Anvil, Madoc, Mordret (Former), Morgan Song Placeholder-image Clan Name Song Status Great Clan, Active Crest ︖ Leader Ki Song Seat of Power Ravenheart Known Member Beastmaster, Seishan, Silent Stalker, Hel, Lonesome Howl, Revel, Moonveil House of Night Placeholder-image Clan Name House of Night Status Great Clan (Former), Active (Support Role) Crest ︖ Founder Nightwalker Seat of Power Unnamed Citadel located somewhere on the ghostly waves of Stormsea. Known Member Aether, Bloodwave, Knossos, Naeve, Typhaon

    Immortal Flame Placeholder-image Clan Name Immortal Flame Status Great Clan, Active (Revived by Nephis,) Founder Immortal Flame Leader Nephis Known Members Nephis, Fire Keepers

    Clan Name Shadow Status Obscure Clan Founder Sunny Leader Sunny Known Members Aiko, Rain, Kim, Luster, June, Quentin, Ray, Fleur, Tamar

    The Legacy Clans would not have survived if they resolved every conflict by spilling rivers of blood. Due to this, it is a kind of tradition that conflicts between clans are done using some kind of duel instead of a battle.

    Each clan has its own way of teaching its heirs.

    According to Jet, the Great Clans have given up on Earth a long time ago. They have set their sights on building a new home in the Dream Realm instead of trying to protect humanity's old home from falling apart. The Great Clans are the most powerful Awakened in the world. They have their own agendas and are not always willing to help the government. For most lesser clans, the three great families are a monolith. Most of the time, they can only guess which Domain gives the order. Family members are known to awaken Aspects of a similar nature perhaps due to shared upbringing and fate. Although not always the case, it was especially true for Great Clans whose scions inherited the same lineage Attribute.

    Legacy Clans are also known as Awakened Clans. Legacy Clans are named because of Legacy Relics. While not every clan possesses an Aspect Legacy, most of them do. The acquisition of an Aspect Legacy laid the foundation for the creation of many of these clans.

    below are the lesser legacy clans

    Clan Name Aegis Rose Status Lesser Clan (vassal of Valor), Active Known Member Rivalen, Tristan

    Clan Name Dagonet Status Lesser Clan (vassal of Valor), Active Controlled Citadel Rivergate Known Member Jest, Mercy

    Clan Name Han Li Status Lesser Clan, Gone Known Member Caster

    Clan Name Maharana Status Lesser Clan (vassal of Song), Active Known Member Dar, Karna

    Clan Name Pandavar Status Lesser Clan, Fallen Known Member Stephen

    Clan Name Sorrow Status Lesser Clan (vassal of Song), Active Controlled Citadel Moonriver Plain Known Member Saint of Sorrow, Tamar

    Clan Name White Feather Status Lesser Clan (vassal of Valor), Active Controlled Citadel Sanctuary of Noctis (former) Known Members Roan, Tyris, Telle

    The Sovereigns, at the start of the novel, refer to the first three Supremes ("Aster, Song, Vale") who ruled the most powerful Awakened — the Legacy Clans — from the shadows.

    "Aster, Song, Vale" was Asterion, Ki Song, and Anvil of Valor (Vale). They were Broken Sword and Smile of Heaven's former companions. Aster, Song, and Vale had returned from the Fourth Nightmare wreathed in new authority becoming the first humans to reach Supreme Rank. Though these were speculations based on facts written in books and bits of information from Nephis, for some reason, they had chosen to keep their accomplishment a secret, instead, they are exerting their influence on humanity from the shadows. This was proven to be true by Mordret before their second nightmare ended. His father, Anvil and Asterion are both sovereigns.

    It was speculated by Obel that the Ascension of many Awakened caused the growing number and intensity of the Nightmare Gates. This correlation might be the reason why the Sovereigns are suppressing the emergence of new Saints and why none of them have yet to challenge the Fifth Nightmare.

30. #30Domains

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Great Clan, Great Clans, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Aspect, Domain, Divine Aspects, Mordret, Anvil, Aster, Song, Vale, Valor, Ki Song, Asterion, Supreme, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Ascended, Transcended, Memory, Memories, Echos, Sleepers, Dormant, Aspirants, Aspirant, Soul Shards, Throne War, House Of Night, Night Walker, Morgan

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    For Awakened Humans, a Domain is a physical manifestation of a Sovereign's Aspect, a territory where their rule was supreme. It relies on external factors like authority, influence, and power, which are intertwined in Citadels created by the Spell. These external factors influence and grow the Sovereign's personal strength.

    Each Sovereign rules over a Domain which is an expression of a function of the Aspect, distinct from Abilities, but sharing a lot in common with them. In practice, it is synonymous with their authority, the territories they control, and the people serving them. The Sovereigns are already immensely powerful but within their Domains, they are practically invincible.

    Nightmare's [Dream Curse] was referred to by the Spell as a lesser dream domain.

    Note: This indicates that a domain can be acquired even without an Aspect

    To people who know about the existence of the Sovereigns, Domains are synonymous with their rule. If one says that they belong to a Domain, it means they serve one of the Supremes.

    However, they are not abstract concepts but rather real extensions of a Sovereign's Aspect.

    How to Acquire A Supreme could build a Domain through two ways — one natural, one provided by the Spell, with the Spell's method overshadowing the natural one in most cases. Spreading one's authority far and wide was connected to the mechanism of a Domain.

    Once a Transcendent becomes Supreme, they do unlock another Ability, one that is tremendously powerful which might be called a supreme, ultimate, or pinnacle Ability. In Chapter 1073, it was revealed that a Domain is separate from the Supreme Ability. It is another innate function of the Aspect, like controlling soul essence or accessing the Soul Sea, a natural progression of one's power expression. Within their Domain, a Sovereign is nearly invincible.

    The Supremes took another step toward Godhood and seemed tied to authority, similar to Nightmare Creatures' growth in Class, where Tyrants focused on rule and authority.

    The term "start" to coalesce their Domains implies a process rather than a one-time gain. Domains are not set in stone, as they can change and be altered. Supremes must grow their Domains to realize their potential; therefore, a Domain can also be diminished.

    Once the Gateway was bound by a Saint who has allegiance to a Sovereign, their Domain would manifest in the area.

    Formation There were two ways to build a Domain:

    One was provided by the Spell and depended on the Citadels. A Supreme could empower and expand their Domain over vast territories by becoming the master of a Citadel or having someone accept their authority. A Citadel was a formidable construct of impossible sorcery that forcefully subjugated the part of the world surrounding it and brought it under the rule of a Supreme. The reason the King of Swords and Queen of Worms were powerful is due to their control over human territories in the Dream Realm.

    Most Domains were territorial in nature, which was why the Spell had based its method on the territory.

    The second way was innate to each Transcendent and unique to their Aspect. Most Domains were territorial however not all were. For instance, the King of Swords expanded his Domain using the Citadels but did not limit himself to it. His true authority came from people wielding swords, empowering them. Ki Song collected the dead, and the mysterious Asterion didn't rule any Citadel.

    Nascent Domain Before becoming Supreme, an individual often develops a nascent Domain, representing their growing influence over reality. This Domain is a manifestation of their authority and the precursor to full Supremacy.

    Nature Domains can be different in nature.

    Territorial Anvil and Ki Song possess territorial ones, which is why they are fighting over territory. Idea Asterion's Domain is different from the Anvil and Ki Song, as it is more of an idea than a place.

    Territory The territory of a Domain is determined by the power of its ruler and the locations of loyal Citadels. The influence of a Sovereign is akin to a sphere that expands outward from its source. In Supreme Domains supported by the Nightmare Spell, the Sovereigns themselves are the source of this power, with Citadels acting as relays that extend their authority.

    However, the reality is more complex. Citadels not only channel the Sovereigns' power but also involve each subject anchored at those Citadels as a vessel of the Domains. This means that as soldiers gain ground and establish strongholds, the Domain's reach gradually extends, albeit less significantly than with a Citadel. This process explains why the armies of Anvil and Ki Song have been meticulously conquering territory, as it allows their Domains to extend further.

    How Domains Grow All Domains and Aspects are unique, but they likely share common things. There are two ways:

    The natural way, as seen in the ancient people of the Dream Realm, where they spread authority and built their Domains. The Spell provides training wheels for the Awakened of lower Ranks, creating a harrowing, but swift and streamlined road for them to reach greater power. It also offers numerous tools, making it a valuable resource for Sovereigns. What will happen if the Domain falls The number of mundane people in the two Domains is increasing, with Sleepers increasing yearly. There should have been more but those who entered the Dream Realm through one of the Sovereign Gates are protected from having to undergo the First Nightmare as long as they stay within their Domain, the Spell won't call upon them.

    If a Sovereign falls and their Domain collapses, all mundane people will be taken by the Spell, decimating the nascent human civilization. To avoid this, another Supreme must replace the fallen one and a new Domain must rise from the ruins of the destroyed one.

31. #31The Path Of Ascension

    Keys: Sleeper, Dreamer, Awakened, Dream Realm, Gate, Citadel, Seed Of The Nightmare Spell, Aspect, Anchor, Newly Awakened, Supreme, Transcendent, Master, Ascendent, Saint, Dormant, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Flaw, Aspirant, Sleepers, Dreamers

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    Names Soul Ranks Details Sleeper Dormant (Lowest Rank) Sleepers are the carriers of the Nightmare Spell who have passed the First Nightmare. They receive the ability to perceive and interact with Soul Core, as well as a unique Aspect/aspect ability, a innate aspect ability, and a Flaw. Sleepers have not yet established a connection with the Dream Realm but are destined to be transported there on the day of the winter solstice. The exact location where they will appear can't be predicted in advance

    The official term given by the Spell is "Dreamer", but humans had their own set of words for those infected by the Nightmare Spell. Carriers who had just finished their First Nightmare were called "Sleepers" because of how they interacted with the Spell. Basically, once the spirit enters the Spell, the body was going to fall into slumber. This slumber would continue for days, weeks, or even months — however long it takes for them to escape the Dream Realm by finding a Gateway and entering it to go back to the real world. Hence the term "Sleeper".

    Awakened Awakened Once a Sleeper returns from the Dream Realm for the first time, they became Awakened. Their Soul Core evolves to the next Rank and their Aspect gains a second Aspect Ability. They also become capable of perceiving and interacting with Soul Essence. Awakened enter the Dream Realm every time they fall asleep, appearing near the Gateway to which they are anchored. "Awakened " is also sometimes used as a general term for all carriers.

    Master Ascended If Awakened chooses to challenge the Second Nightmare and succeeds, they became a Master. Their Soul Core evolves to the Ascended Rank and Aspect gains a third Aspect Ability. Masters are capable of traveling between the real world and the Dream Realm physically, and not just in spirit. They only enter the Dream Realm when they choose to do so.

    A person of a third Rank was described as Ascended since they were rising above their human nature.

    Saint Transcendent If the Master conquers the Third Nightmare, they became Saint. Their Soul Core evolves to the Transcended Rank and they gain a Transformation Aspect Ability. There is only several dozen Saint in all of humanity. They were as powerful as demi-gods, and even rare. Not only could they travel between the real world and the Dream Realm, but they could also take others with them.

    A person of the fourth Rank was described as Transcendent since they had transcended the mundane and assumed some qualities of the divine.

    Transcendence was the step of breaking away from the limits of the mundane.

    Sovereign Supreme A Sovereign is a human who had reached the Supreme Rank.

    The fifth step of the hierarchy represented authority and reign. Beings of this level were meant to consolidate their power and exert it upon the world. Each Sovereign rules over a Domain which is an expression of a function of the Aspect. The Sovereigns are already immensely powerful but within their Domains, they are practically invincible.

    Sovereigns possess a gateway within themselves and can create a stable external bridge between the two worlds.

    Supremacy was the act of asserting one's power over the world, thus establishing the foundation of their future apotheosis.

    See also: Sovereigns Spirit Sacred This step signified attaining the qualities of the divine. A Sacred being was already a lesser deity. One way to attain this is by overcoming the Fifth Nightmare. Due to Earth's force of rejection, a Sacred human won't be able to set foot on Earth at all.

    Also, the irreversible transformation—becoming Sacred meant a complete departure from human nature.

    God Divine (Highest Rank) A Divine being is defined as a true god whose essence encompasses all of existence, being woven into the universal laws that rule it.

    A Gateway is a special portal that serves both as an anchor for Awakened entering the Dream Realm and as an exit point for those wishing to leave it. It is different from a Gate.

    Gates are one-way paths that open in the waking world. It depends on who are allowed to use them, the source or reason why they opened. There are two types of gates: Nightmare Gate and Dream Gate.

    Distinction Nightmare Gate Dream Gate Allowed to pass Nightmare Gates allowed abominations to exit the Dream Realm and enter the waking world. Dream Gate allowed living beings to enter the Dream Realm from the waking world. Source Nightmare Gate opens when a Seed of Nightmare blossoms. It was a door that only opens one-way from Dream Realm to waking world. Dream Gate opens when a Sovereign directly opens one to his domain. Description Nightmare Gates looked like tears in reality, revealing nothing but vile darkness in their depths. It was lethal for anyone trying to pass through it, ensuring failure. Dream Gate does not make one feel an instinctive revulsion to it. There was also no darkness within the fracture, allowing to one clearly see the other side of the gate.

    It is usually inside or near the most prominent landmark of the region.

    Mechanism Once Sleepers reached a gateway, they would be able to escape back to reality and become Awakened. Their core would evolve, and receive a second Aspect Ability. After that, they would return to the Dream Realm each time they fall asleep.

    If the gateway is destroyed, it meant that the Awakened is going to be transported to a random one as soon as he falls asleep, just like during the first journey into the land of nightmares. The only way for a newly Awakened to change their anchor without relying on chance is to acquire the services of a Saint, who would be able to take them to the Dream Realm without involving the Spell, appearing near the Saint's own anchor.

    Changing an anchor was as simple as using another Gateway.

32. #32Soul Core Soul Fragment Progression Explained.

    Keys: Soul Shard, Shadow Fragment, Soul Fragment, Soul Rank, Soul Class, Echos, Shadows, Memories, Memory, Attributes, The Nightmare Spell, Category Of Ranks And Classes, Nightmare Creature, Sleeper, Saint, Master, Sovereign, God, Divine, Divinity, Sacred, Spirit, Supreme, Transcendent, Ascended, Dormant, Aspirant, Seed Of The Nightmare, Spell Status Screen, Nightmare Spell, Runes Of The Nightmare Spell, The Runes, Runes, Divine Aspect Holder, Divine Aspect, Aspect, Profane, Profanity, Earth, War Realm, Seven, The Forgotten God, Beings of Nothing, Void Beings, Beings Of The Void, Corruption, The Flame, Nightmares, Dreamrealm

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    Soul Core is a mystical core of one's spirit that can accumulate and store vast amounts of Soul Essence, usually over a human's heart.

    A soul core is a star hanging above an Awakened's soul sea. It was supposed to be burning with bright light filling the sea of soul with blinding shine.

    A soul core is a star hanging above an Awakened's soul sea. It was supposed to be burning with bright light filling the sea of soul with blinding shine.

    Capacity Awakened battles were tactical, with essence restoring itself to its maximum capacity. It was a finite resource, requiring careful use and absorbing soul fragments to increase core capacity.

    Special Cores There are some Awakened with unique soul constitutions. Some Awakened have abilities like a soul core that can grow continuously without the usual limitations, or the ability to form multiple soul cores similar to Nightmare Creatures.

    Shadow Core Unique to Sunny due to the special nature of his aspect. It looked like a black sun but actually, it was transparent with no major source of light. By directly killing the enemy, he can instantly absorb a part of their shadow and enhance his own core. That meant that shadow fragments could not be stored, and subsequently could not be bought or traded.

    A fractured core was only seen in Jet's soul core. This type of core, although powerful, constantly leaked essence like a broken vessel. It also seemed to lack the ability to naturally regenerate essence and had a bizarre ability to absorb the soul essence of others by killing. tainted essence of Nightmare creatures be purified by her burning Core

    Since both Sunny and his shadows were tied to the Shadow Core, strengthening it would not only increase Sunny's power but also enhance the shadows.

    Sunny's shadows are more independent than most. They are his invaluable helpers (See Shadow Control). The shadows are tied to his Aspect and Shadow Cores.

    Sunny's shadows are more independent than most. They are his invaluable helpers (See Shadow Control). The shadows are tied to his Aspect and Shadow Cores.

    The Dependent Shadows of Sunny are dependent on him for their existence, drawing power from his soul, returning to it to recover and heal from injuries, and, in some cases, relying on him for sustenance.

    It is unique to Sunny due to the special nature of his aspect. They are an advanced form of Echo modified by Sunny's Aspect to be able to grow and be more alive. They grow via consuming Memories. Shadows possessed a semblance of consciousness and a distinct personality. Unlike Sunny, who cannot get partial shadow fragments, his Shadows can increase their shadow fragment count by half a point. Note: Soul Serpent is a special case due to it being tied to Sunny's Aspect Legacy To turn an Echo into a Shadow, Sunny had to possess the corresponding shadow in his Soul Sea to transform an Echo. If a Shadow sustained serious damage, it would enter a slumber once dismissed. That slumber would last until the damage was sufficiently repaired, which meant that Sunny would not be able to summon the sleeping Shadow for some time.

    From Sunny's Soul Sea, two beams of dark light descended from one of the Shadow Cores. One fell on the Echo, the other on a motionless shadow that stood with the rest of them on the still surface of the calm waters. The shadow seemed to dissolve into the dark light, and then, the Echo became wreathed in black flames that seeped into its flesh, changing it on a fundamental level. The boundless spell weave that was hidden within the Echo disappeared, replaced by darkness. A living shadow was now dwelling within the former echo.

    Connection to Sunny Sunny speculated that he would only ever be able to control seven Shadows, at most. It is due to the relationship of his Shadows to his Class. Even though Soul Serpent was currently away, each of the Shadows occupied one of his cores. A Shadow without a Shadow Core to inhabit remained bound to him; however, they could not be dismissed or healed by the dark flames of his soul.

    Nurturing the Shadows He learned that creating Shadows was a part of his Aspect but feeding them Memories was a helpful tool provided by the Spell. However, it was unreasonable for Shadow Creatures to depend on Memories for growth, as they were born from the Spell. The same was true for Echoes, who were also born from the Spell.

    An Awakened Rank Soul Core with connection to Spirit Essence This soul core is a bit special as one's soul is deeply connected to the essence of the world. Thus, have access to a form of spirit essence. Unlike soul core saturation, this spirit essence does not directly enhance one's physical strength, but it is still under one's control. Over time, this connection has manifested in one's Soul Sea.

    Soul changes after First Nightmare Through a mysterious process, the formless state of a mundane soul was being galvanized, slowly creating a more solid shape. A soul core was not a soul, but it existed within the soul, serving as both its fulcrum and nexus. These streaks flowed to the chest and swirled, slowly merging into a sphere of brilliant light. As the sphere grew fuller and more defined, the familiar shape of the soul core started to emerge from the brilliance.

    Soul Core Formation The nascent soul core exploded with a flood of ethereal flame, which rolled through the body as a radiant wave, rejuvenating it. After the soul core was formed, faint streams of weak essence coursed through the body. The body itself was being rebuilt by it, growing healthier and stronger, getting one step closer to perfection.

    Succumbing to Corruption A seed of darkness appeared in the center of the forming core. It quickly expanded, spreading like a cancerous growth. Repulsive veins of darkness spread through the dying light, consuming it. The more light was consumed, the faster it spread. The Corruption spread through the body of the man, becoming one with it. Then, the body started to change into a Nightmare Creature.

33. #33Soul Essence

    Keys: Soul Essence, Shadow Essence, Spirit Essence, Dreamrealm, Nightmares, Corruption, The Void, Void Beings, Beings of Nothing, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, The Runes, Runes, Runes Of The Nightmare Spell, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed Of The Nightmare, Aspirant, Dreamer, Sleeper, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Nightmare Creature, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Winter Solstice, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Shadows, Soul Fragments, Shadow Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name

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    There are different types of essence according to their origin:

    Soul Essence Shadow Essence Spirit Essence

    A mystical spirit energy. It is the power, once contained within an Awakened soul core, broke free, flowing naturally throughout their body, passively saturating their bones and muscles. Capacity Awakened battles were tactical, with essence restoring itself to its maximum capacity. It was a finite resource, requiring careful use and absorbing soul fragments to increase core capacity.

    Control As humans walked the Path of Ascension, their control of soul essence became more intricate. True masters were much more intricate in their control of essence. They could isolate every muscle, every nerve, and every bone in their body and only enhance those parts of it that they needed to perform an action. Their expenditure of essence was more akin to a trickle than a torrent but achieved the same result.

    Direct Absorption There is a very rare Aspect trait that is not unheard of among upper echelons of the Awakened. Usually, when an Awakened absorbs soul essence directly, the process leaves the remnants of the soul core empty.

    Note: This is not the case with Sunny as he had shadow essence instead, which leaves the shards brimming with soul essence. The process of getting his shadow fragments is automatic. He only had to kill an enemy with his own two hands and absorb a part of their shadow to enhance his own core. Shadow fragments could not be stored, bought or traded.

    Shadow Essence In the case of Sunny, his soul essence is called Shadow Essence synonymous to his Shadow Core. The color of shadow essence is black.

    Spirit Essence cool, flowing energy, similar to Soul Essence but this ambient essence seems to belong to the world or rather an aspect of it. As long as a Transcendent was in their element, they are able to replenish their reserves of essence by borrowing the power of the world. This is due to their soul which was vaster than their body.

    Through Shadow Weave, Sunny finally understood the true nature of shadow essence. Unlike Soul Essence, which is the essence of life, shadow essence is the essence of death. However, shadow essence is not merely a force of destruction. Being formless, it can assume the form of virtually any type of energy. Sunny witnessed it becoming indistinguishable from soul essence before returning to its original state and realized it could also become heat, kinetic force, electricity, matter, and potentially even more esoteric manifestations such as true darkness or nothingness.

    Most naturally, Shadow Weave allowed Sunny to transform his own essence into shadows, making him their source rather than merely their ruler.

    Core: Dormant Humans only ever had one soul core

    Sunny now understood the difference between moving up a class and rising to a new Rank.

    Ascending to a new Rank, elevated the quality of his shadow cores and essence, gifted him with new abilities, and allowed for deeper access to his Aspect. Reaching a new Class, primarily affected the quantity of his shadow essence, and as such, the increase in power was much more gradual.

    The main benefit of having several cores was there was no limit to his capacity to store essence and reinforce his body. Manifesting a third shadow core, he now had the ability to augment three things at the same time.

    Corruption is a dangerous, transformative force originating from the primordial Void, capable of altering minds, souls, and the very essence of beings. Exposure to Corruption occurs through forbidden knowledge or contact with entities already tainted, and it manifests as a force that can both consume and reshape those affected.

    It was the influence of the Void seeping through the walls of existence that caged it. Therefore, knowledge of the Void was the source of Corruption as well.

    The first way for a soul to be cleansed of Corruption is death. Awakened was used to collect soul shards from Nightmare Creatures, but the remnant fragments of corrupted souls were pure and untainted. It was because death was a weapon to destroy Corruption.

    Carriers of Nightmare Spell had a tiny bead of hideous darkness within their soul. The Seed of Nightmare would not bloom into a Category One Nightmare Gate unless certain conditions were met. Through the final stage of Awakening, in one's soul, sparks of light fused under pressure, forming a luminous sea. The bead of darkness dissolved in the light, destroying it. It can be said that the First Nightmare was to push the infected into Awakening and destroy the Seed, preventing Corruption from blooming. Awakening was the first step toward divinity, and coming closer to divinity would render one immune to the weaker manifestation of its enemy. This was the second way that a soul could be cleansed of Corruption.

    Divine Aspect Bearer's progression path is harder but also promising.

    Ascending to a new Rank was more of a profound change. It elevated the quality of the cores and essence, gifted the Awakened with new abilities, and allowed for deeper access to their Aspect. The resulting jump in power was tremendous. Reaching a new Class primarily affected the quantity of essence, and as such, the increase in power was much more gradual. It gives extra strength and essence capacity. Unlike all other Awakened, there was no limit to the capacity to store essence and reinforce their body.

    Human souls are not meant to have many cores or sustain them, but having a Divine Aspect has made their souls stronger and more powerful. However, as this is not in its nature, the birth of a new core brings immense pain, with each successive one causing more pain

    A soul that had a core had many advantages, but it also had to bear weight. Not every soul has the strength and size to support even one person, much less several. The pain Sunny felt each time his class rose was evidence of it

    When a new core is born in the depths of their soul it comes with the pain of their soul being torn apart

34. #34Main Characters, Soul Essence and Their Progression.

    Keys: Dreamspawn, Nightmare, Corruption, The Void, Void Beings, Beings of Nothing, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Rune, The Runes, Runes Of The Nightmare Spell, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed Of The Nightmare, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creature, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The NIghtmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Shadows, Soul Fragments, Shadow Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards, Dreamscape

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    First thing's first no one but likely the great clans know that Nephis/Changing star has a divine aspect let alone sunny near no one knows if he even has a true name let alone a divine aspect Mordret's divine aspect is kept hidden within the upper echelon of the great clan of Valor therfore divine aspects are but a myth, a mere possibility (No one knows sunless has a true name, since it connects to his Innate Aspect which will tie him to whoever speaks it alloud, with him becoming their 'shadow slave') Cassies true name 'song of the fallen' is also extremely hidden, though she only obtains it after she becomes an awakened after the winter solstice. Therfore the only three people with divine aspects to date, Sunless/nephis/Mordret, all have true names which mordrets and sunless's is unknown to mostly everyone only nephis has her true name out to the public. Mordrets aspect relating to mirrors is a very well kept secret of his, none of humanity except for the valor clan knows about his aspectual tie to reflections.

    First The protagonist otherwise known as the Outlier/Street Rat Sunless Who's Aspect has him Absorbing the shadow fragments of all beings that are stronger then him, allowing him to collect the soul fragments to use in Business and trade freely due to only being able to absorb the shadow of the soul fragment.

    as the last remaining of the Broken Sword Clan Nephis, as a Nephilim Dreamspawn, absorbs all the soul fragments from both the beings of the void and the beings of the flame.

    Apart of clan valor of anvil Mordret, As a being of nothing he can split his soul cores into reflections or mirror beasts.

    in the government Jet works, Has a fractured Soul Core her flaw being that she is Dead and her soul essence is constantly depleting if it depletes fully she will die, she must kill and absorb the soul fragments of others to directly absorb their soul fragments upon their death.

    Addition information is

    beings of the void are profane beings corrupted by the forgotten God beings of nothing are typically displayed as reflections or as a mist that causing one to forget themselves or to stop existing.

    Dreamspawns are those who had parents originally from War Realm Given birth to on the dream Realm thereby making them Dream Spawn, There are Only Two and there will be none born ever again due to circumstance, those two are Nephis and Asterion of the Aster Clan.

    And final mention the creator of the dreamscape, Thane, 'Thane' is the eccentric Saint/transcendent responsible for creating the Dreamscape.

    Thane was an androgynous person of undetermined age in exquisite silk garments. This Transcendent had a hypnotically beautiful face, but for some reason, it was plastered with an unreasonable amount of makeup, and a genteel, almost effeminate bearing. The saint was dressed in ridiculously colorful silken robes and looked like a parrot that had taken a bath in a tub of face powder.

    The saint thane was very chatty and long winded. He is a flamboyant Transcendent of ambiguous inclinations.

    Abilities: He held power over dreams and illusions.

35. #35Dreamscape

    Keys: Dreamscape, Illusion, Thane, Dreamscape Pod, SpellTech, Industry, Club, Entertainment, colosseum, Death, Die, Died, Harm, Hurt, Wounded, Pain, killed, kill

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    Dreamscape is a massive illusion created by a Master, now a Saint, that is shared amongst countless people. Dreamscape is a whole industry with both amateur and professional leagues, famous celebrities, and passionate fan clubs.

    Dreamscape was a place that existed somewhere in between part of the real world and the Dream Realm. It was created and maintained by a combination of advanced modern technology and a very special Aspect Ability of a certain Master, now a Saint, that had to do with illusions. It's a massive illusion that countless people could share and function according to a set of absolute rules. It reflected reality and was bound by the same laws that existed in the real world, which includes the Nightmare Spell.

    Although an illusion, it is not entirely malleable. The Dreamscape functioned according to a set of absolute rules. It reflected reality instead of being a complete replacement for it. As a result, a person entering it was bound by the same laws that existed in the real world. Since one of those laws was the Nightmare Spell, a person's Aspect, Abilities, Memories, and Echoes would function in the illusion the same way they functioned outside of it, with one important difference. One couldn't be hurt, wounded, or killed in the Dreamscape. Also, neither Memories nor Echoes could be destroyed.

    Despite being just an illusion, it required an Awakened to expend real essence.

    Initially, Dreamscape was mostly used by the Legacy Clans and the government to train the elite Awakened that served them, but it was quickly deemed as only being marginally useful. While such training could facilitate safe duels between the human carriers of the Spell, its simulation of the Nightmare Creatures was not that close to reality. The illusory monsters lacked the will and mind of actual abominations, after all. As a result, the Dreamscape failed to become a successful training tool and was thus largely abandoned until it was deemed to be very useful for entertainment.

    Due to the rules of the Dreamscape, Awakened were free to battle each other without worrying about their lives or their memories and echoes so there was potential for entertainment. However, the popularity of the Dreamscape pod exploded once the company developing it came up with the idea to integrate a broadcasting feature. Battling Awakened would be broadcast to the "mundane humans" in the Real World. It also comes with anonymity. It was all but impossible to track a person entering the illusion if they didn't wish to be tracked.

    Colosseum The Colosseum is an arena in the Dreamscape meant for the elite among the amateurs yet not skillful enough to enter the professional league.

    Description It is a vast oval arena covered by sand, which had long ago turned red from all the blood spilled between the ancient walls. The merciless sun burns in the incandescent sky, and there is a smell of sweat, blood, and death in the air. A tall amphitheater, which served as spectator seats, stands rising high above the blood-soaked arena. A crowd was cheering from them, their voices full of macabre fascination, cruelty, and glee. Both men and women were dressed in archaic robes that left their arms and shoulders bare. With bloodthirsty smiles contorting their features, they looked like a horde of lustful demons. These are actually illusions created by the Dreamscape. Here and there, a strangely clothed person could be seen, observing the fights with a less barbaric expression. These are observers, actual spectators from the Real World who prefer to watch fights in person in order to immerse themselves in the fight. Hundreds upon hundreds of warriors roamed the sand of the battle arena, some engaged in fights, some searching for an opponent.

    There is a version of the Dreamscape for non-Awakened, with its own set of environments and adventures that allowed people to experience a facsimile of what it meant to travel across the Dream Realm while battling Nightmare Creatures.

    Dream Tournament is a big tournament held by the creator of Dreamscape each year. Every year, one of the Great Clans — either Valor, Song, or Night — sponsored the prize pool.

    The Dream Tournament was basically two separate tournaments happening at the same time.

    "Dream of Glory" — which meant for individual competition "Dream of Camaraderie" — which meant for cohorts

    Unlike the usual Dreamscape duels, the tournament included various battle modes. They were also broadcasted and happened at a scheduled time.

    Battle Royale The qualifying rounds of the Dream Tournament were held in the form of a grand battle royale. A thousand challengers were sent into a large environment, and only the last one standing would be allowed to move on. Other participants also had a chance to move on to the next stage. There was no set number of people who would be allowed to continue but that depended on their performance and individual score.

    Tournament Duels This is the main event of the tournament for those who proved their mettle in the qualifying rounds. They were going to face each other in proper duels, and after several days of intense competition, one victor was going to emerge to reap the best reward.

    Rewards Participants who managed to achieve good results were able to receive cash prizes, Memories, and even Echoes. The rewards for the finalists, which were also of the Ascended Rank, were especially generous and came directly from the Great Clan's armory

    In order to enter the dreamscape you needed a device called a Dreamscape Pod

    The device looked similar enough to a sleeping pod. It had a cradle and a heavy lid, but the best sleeping pod, it wasn't designed to accommodate a human body for long periods of time. In fact, there was a plaque on the inside of the lid advising people against overusing the equipment and asking them to behave responsibly. This device allows one to enter the advanced virtual reality simulation that existed on the edge between technology and magic.

36. #36Paths of Ascension (NightmareSpell Path)

    Keys: Ascension, Ancient Path, Path Of Ascension, Awakened

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    The Path of Ascension was the road to divinity and each step brought those treading it closer to godhood.

    Ancient humans Awakened in the reverse order compared to modern humans, who formed their soul core after the First Nightmare and gained the ability to control essence after surviving the first journey to the Dream Realm.

    Ancient Path: The Path of Ascension is described as a journey that Awakened individuals undertake in their pursuit of greater power, ultimately leading to Apotheosis and, beyond that, Godhood. Apotheosis is merely a stepping stone—not the end goal. The ultimate aim of the Path is to conquer the Sixth Nightmare, referred to as the final Nightmare, and in doing so, become Divine. This transformation is not just a personal triumph but a necessity for the survival of humanity itself.

    Blessing and Cursed The Path is intricately tied to the concepts of blessing and curse. The description of [Fated] Attribute had said that there were those who were blessed, and there were those who were cursed - however, rarely was there someone who was both blessed and cursed. But actually, every Awakened was both blessed and cursed, existing in a state of fateful balance. Even the Flaws they carry—though considered curses—are also what drive them to grow. This paradox lies at the heart of the Path of Ascension, where suffering and struggle are not just obstacles, but essential components of transformation.

    The first step is to Awaken and to Awaken one must gain control over their soul essence and use it to form the soul core. While some powerful creatures have their soul cores already formed, most are born Dormant, like humans. Learning how to control essence is the hardest part, but with knowledge, success is almost guaranteed.

    Nightmare Spell: After passing the trial of First Nightmare, one receives the ability to perceive and interact with Soul Core, as well as a unique Aspect & a Innate Aspect Ability and obviously their Flaw. They have not yet established a connection with the Dream Realm but are destined to be transported there on the day of the winter solstice. Once a Sleeper (Dormant Human) returns from the Dream Realm for the first time, they became Awakened. Their Soul Core evolves to the next Rank and their Aspect gains a second Aspect Ability. They also become capable of perceiving and interacting with Soul Essence.

    Ascension involves rising above one's mortal nature by improving the quality of both one's soul essence and body. This can be achieved naturally, by refining the essence or slaying powerful enemies. Once your essence reaches a qualitative change, the last step is to reform the soul core. The easier part of the process is learning how to access their Soul Sea and the hardest part requires a soul-refining technique. Many such methods were once known but are now lost. Nowadays, everyone simply relies on the Nightmare Spell.

    Ancient Path: After the one's soul essence Awakens and can control it, the next step is to patiently work on forming the soul core to accumulate power.

    Ascension is a step of rising above one's mortal nature by improving the quality of their essence and body. This can be slow or fast, depending on how one refines themselves naturally or by absorbing the essence of stronger beings. Once the soul essence reaches a qualitative change, the soul core will reform and grow stronger. However, conscious refinement is necessary for this process.

    Some noble creatures possess multiple soul cores and walk the path of ascension more naturally.

    Nightmare Spell: Weaver gave the mortals a gift that accelerates each step on the path of Ascension, including discovering one's Soul Sea.

    Transcendence (Ancient Path) Main article: Transcendent Transcendence is a profound transformation where a mortal assumes the first qualities of the divine. It involves transforming the soul essence and core, becoming more potent and voluminous. The Awakened must become one with the world and be recognized by it, their soul has to be expanded beyond the confines of the body and the world be it water, wind, shadow, light or something else.

    A Transcendent's connection to the world is not all-encompassing, but rather a connection to one or several aspects of it, such as water, wind, shadow, light or something else, and the key to achieving Transcendence is awakening their Aspect.

    The world responds to the Transcendent and even bends to their will. However, not all Awakened humans possess an Aspect, and as they rise on the path of Ascension, it becomes harder to move further without claiming their Aspect and Flaw. It is actually impossible to Transcend without them.

    An Aspect and Flaw is required to Transcend. One can't exist without the other. Imperfection is an absolute law, just like death, and humans are flawed as well. However, being flawed is the essence of life and growth, as it allows for constant struggle to grow and improve.

    Ancient Path: There is no single way to gain control over their soul essence, as it is a unique experience for many. Some spend years meditating and perfecting their souls, eventually entering a state of unity between mind and soul. Others attune themselves to the world and travel to different realms to gather insights about the nature of living things. Some follow warrior teachings and train their bodies, while others receive sudden epiphanies in a moment of dire crisis with no preparation.

    However, there is a path that anyone can walk, both the simplest and most dangerous, as well as vile. It is to kill those who have already Awakened and plunder their soul shards in order to absorb their soul essence. The Awakened essence can already be controlled and by mixing it with Dormant beings' essence can change it a little. Absorption of enough essence can cause one's essence to Awaken.

    In the Age of Heroes, the process was simpler, but as monsters decreased, humans and noble creatures began to kill each other.

37. #37Paths of Ascension (Ancient Path)

    Keys: Ancient Path, Ascension, Awakened, Path Of Ascension

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    The Awakened of the waking world received the ability to sense their essence from the Spell and intuitive knowledge of controlling it, which took time and practice. Most received these gifts after Awakening, while those who skipped the process had to catch up after becoming a Master.

    Learning to Control Essence The Path of Ascension led to greater control of soul essence.

    Ancient Humans: There is no single way to gain control over their soul essence, as it is a unique experience for many. Some spend years meditating and perfecting their souls, eventually entering a state of unity between mind and soul. Others attune themselves to the world and travel to different realms to gather insights about the nature of living things. Some follow warrior teachings and train their bodies, while others receive sudden epiphanies in a moment of dire crisis with no preparation.

    However, there is a path that anyone can walk, both the simplest and most dangerous, as well as vile. It is to kill those who have already Awakened and plunder their soul shards in order to absorb their soul essence. The Awakened essence can already be controlled and by mixing it with Dormant beings' essence can change it a little. Absorption of enough essence can cause one's essence to Awaken.

    In the Age of Heroes, the process was simpler, but as monsters decreased, humans and noble creatures began to kill each other.

    Modern Humans: The Awakened of the waking world received the ability to sense their essence from the Spell and intuitive knowledge of controlling it, which took time and practice. Most received these gifts after Awakening, while those who skipped the process had to catch up after becoming a Master.

    Essence Refinement (Ancient Path) There are methods and techniques for refining one's essence. The knowledge has been accumulated over countless generations and is taught to disciples over many years, but only a few succeed. Those who succeed must first find their way into their Soul Sea. Without the ability to enter the Soul Sea, it would take one many lifetimes to Ascend even with the best refinement technique.

    Soul Core Formation (Ancient Path) One needs to control their soul essence by guiding it throughout the body, following the roadmap of major blood vessels. Through one's will to guide the essence in flowing slowly in a complicated cycle, increase the speed of the essence, making it rush like a mountain river and spinning inside their body like a raging whirlpool. The essence condenses under the pressure of its weight and the pull of the rotation. Making the essence circulate faster, eventually reaching a critical point where a soul core will be formed. A condensed mass of energy slowly formed in the place where their heart would have been, not solid yet but more like a shimmering liquid. At the very center of this mass, a tiny crystalline gemstone is slowly being born.

    Without the guidance of the Nightmare Spell, one had to learn how to discover their Soul Sea. In the waking world, everyone assumed that being able to access the Soul Sea was a natural ability of all Awakened, including Sleepers, which turned out as another thing that the Spell had simplified for the humans. The world responds to a few people below the Transcendent Rank, such as Nephis, Jet, and Sunny.

    Path to Supremacy (Natural Supremacy) Main article: Supreme

    Natural Supremacy demanded one to commit an act of supreme defiance.

    The secret to going further on the Path of Ascension was hidden in the changes that the soul of a living being underwent during Transcendence. A Saint's soul broke the limits of the mundane and expanded, becoming intertwined with the world. A Sovereign's soul had to claim authority over its part, which was the essence of Supremacy.

    The Supremes took another step toward Godhood and seemed tied to authority, similar to Nightmare Creatures' growth in Class, where Tyrants focused on rule and authority. If Transcendence was the step of breaking away from the limits of the mundane. Supremacy was the act of asserting one's power over the world, thus establishing the foundation of their future apotheosis.

    The process of achieving Supremacy revolves around manifesting a Domain, which is unique to each Transcendent and tied to their Aspect. Central to this is the concept of an overwhelmingly powerful will—a will that is cold, sharp, uncompromising, and absolutely confident in its own rightfulness and existence. Doubt and indecisiveness are seen as the antithesis of such will, suggesting that belief in one's ability to reshape reality is foundational. However, the nature of Supremacy is paradoxical, likened to a self-fulfilling prophecy where belief in one's will strengthens it, making its realisation possible. This paradox mirrors the enigmatic existence of the Sovereigns themselves.

    After passing the trial of First Nightmare, one receives the ability to perceive and interact with Soul Core, as well as a unique Aspect and Flaw. They have not yet established a connection with the Dream Realm but are destined to be transported there on the day of the winter solstice. Once a Sleeper (Dormant Human) returns from the Dream Realm for the first time, they became Awakened. Their Soul Core evolves to the next Rank and their Aspect gains a second Aspect Ability. They also become capable of perceiving and interacting with Soul Essence.

    Natural Awakening refers to a person becoming Awakened without the help of the Nightmare Spell, by forming their soul core and gaining control over soul essence through their own strength or natural development.

    Ancient humans Awakened in the reverse order compared to modern humans, who formed their soul core after the First Nightmare and gained the ability to control essence after surviving the first journey to the Dream Realm.

38. #38Path of Ascension

    Keys: Ascension, Path Of Ascension, Ancient Path, Age Of Heros, Modern Humans, Nightmare Spell, Nightmare Spell's Path, Awakened

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    The first step is to Awaken and to Awaken one must gain control over their soul essence and use it to form the soul core. While some powerful creatures have their soul cores already formed, most are born Dormant, like humans. Learning how to control essence is the hardest part, but with knowledge, success is almost guaranteed.

    Ascension involves rising above one's mortal nature by improving the quality of both one's soul essence and body. This can be achieved naturally, by refining the essence or slaying powerful enemies. Once your essence reaches a qualitative change, the last step is to reform the soul core. The easier part of the process is learning how to access their Soul Sea and the hardest part requires a soul-refining technique. Many such methods were once known but are now lost.

    After the one's soul essence Awakens and can control it, the next step is to patiently work on forming the soul core to accumulate power.

    Ascension is a step of rising above one's mortal nature by improving the quality of their essence and body. This can be slow or fast, depending on how one refines themselves naturally or by absorbing the essence of stronger beings. Once the soul essence reaches a qualitative change, the soul core will reform and grow stronger. However, conscious refinement is necessary for this process.

    Transcendence is a profound transformation where a mortal assumes the first qualities of the divine. It involves transforming the soul essence and core, becoming more potent and voluminous. The Awakened must become one with the world and be recognized by it, their soul has to be expanded beyond the confines of the body and the world be it water, wind, shadow, light or something else.

    A Transcendent's connection to the world is not all-encompassing, but rather a connection to one or several aspects of it, such as water, wind, shadow, light or something else, and the key to achieving Transcendence is awakening their Aspect.

    The world responds to the Transcendent and even bends to their will. However, not all Awakened humans possess an Aspect, and as they rise on the path of Ascension, it becomes harder to move further without claiming their Aspect and Flaw. It is actually impossible to Transcend without them.

    An Aspect and Flaw is required to Transcend. One can't exist without the other. Imperfection is an absolute law, just like death, and humans are flawed as well. However, being flawed is the essence of life and growth, as it allows for constant struggle to grow and improve.

    The secret to going further on the Path of Ascension was hidden in the changes that the soul of a living being underwent during Transcendence. A Saint's soul broke the limits of the mundane and expanded, becoming intertwined with the world. A Sovereign's soul had to claim authority over its part, which was the essence of Supremacy.

    The Supremes took another step toward Godhood and seemed tied to authority, similar to Nightmare Creatures' growth in Class, where Tyrants focused on rule and authority. If Transcendence was the step of breaking away from the limits of the mundane. Supremacy was the act of asserting one's power over the world, thus establishing the foundation of their future apotheosis.

    The process of achieving Supremacy revolves around manifesting a Domain, which is unique to each Transcendent and tied to their Aspect. Central to this is the concept of an overwhelmingly powerful will—a will that is cold, sharp, uncompromising, and absolutely confident in its own rightfulness and existence. Doubt and indecisiveness are seen as the antithesis of such will, suggesting that belief in one's ability to reshape reality is foundational.[8] However, the nature of Supremacy is paradoxical, likened to a self-fulfilling prophecy where belief in one's will strengthens it, making its realization possible. This paradox mirrors the enigmatic existence of the Sovereigns themselves.

    Natural Apotheosis is a method of attaining godhood (Sacred rank) without challenging the Fifth Nightmare, instead achieved through growth by feeding on one's own Domain. Sunny explained that Asterion is aiming for natural Apotheosis, seeking to accomplish what Kanakht failed to achieve by attaining godhood through feeding on his own Domain — not as a human, but as a creature, which in practice means enthralling all of humanity and then devouring it. This process treats the Human Domain as fertilizer for his growth, consuming the souls of countless humans in order to ascend. Asterion presents this path as a safer, better way to become a deity compared to the Fifth Nightmare.

    There is no single way to gain control over their soul essence, as it is a unique experience for many. Some spend years meditating and perfecting their souls, eventually entering a state of unity between mind and soul. Others attune themselves to the world and travel to different realms to gather insights about the nature of living things. Some follow warrior teachings and train their bodies, while others receive sudden epiphanies in a moment of dire crisis with no preparation.

    However, there is a path that anyone can walk, both the simplest and most dangerous, as well as vile. It is to kill those who have already Awakened and plunder their soul shards in order to absorb their soul essence. The Awakened essence can already be controlled and by mixing it with Dormant beings' essence can change it a little. Absorption of enough essence can cause one's essence to Awaken.

    In the Age of Heroes, the process was simpler, but as monsters decreased, humans and noble creatures began to kill each other.

39. #39Nightmare Creatures

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmare, Corruption, The Void, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Profanity, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Runes, The Runes, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Nightmare Seed, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creatures, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    Nightmare Creatures descend toward profanity and the creatures known to populate the Dream Realm. They are also known as Corrupted.

    Their minds were perverted, bizarre, and alien. They were known to fight amongst themselves on occasion, but only in the Dream Realm.

    Nightmare Creatures were often portrayed as mad by humans. They are indeed insane but did not mean that they lack sanity. Their sanity was rather perverted, sinister, and ineffable, contrasting with what humans considered sane.

    The Nightmare Creatures had no strong sense of self.

    Just like humans ascend toward divinity, Nightmare Creatures descend toward profanity. Their corrupted Soul Cores also have Seven Ranks of power:

    Rank: Soul Core Quality Dormant (Lowest Rank) Awakened Fallen Corrupted Great Cursed Unholy (Highest Rank)

    A measure of power that is based on the quantity of one's Soul Cores. Unlike humans, who can only ever possess one Soul Core, Nightmare Creatures can possess many. This is another measurement of their power called a Class. There are seven Classes of Nightmare Creatures, ranging from having one Soul Core to having seven:

    Class: Soul Core Quantity Beast = 1 Monster = 2 Demon = 3 Devil = 4 Tyrant = 5 Terror = 6 Titan = 7 Each class gives the creature unique qualities:

    Beasts are dangerous and strong, but mindless. Monsters are much more devastating and possessed some rudimentary, warped form of intelligence. Demons have a semblance of intelligence and can acquire ability/abilities. Devils possessed unnatural powers. Unlike Nightmare Creatures of lower ranks, devils had access to bizarre and harrowing powers that were akin to the Aspect Abilities of the Awakened. Devils are sentient, intelligent, and cunning. Tyrant can create and control armies of lesser minions. Tyrants were known for their ability to rule lesser creatures and control territories, commanding swarms of abominable minions. Terror can influence its surroundings like the crimson coral in Forgotten Shore. Terrors were unique beings that shared the trait of influencing the world and spreading their presence, making them more like dreadful phenomena than singular creatures. This escalating nature of their influence made them particularly dangerous. Titans are mythical creatures also known as Calamities. They are colossal living creatures and their scale was so boundless that they seemed like forces of nature. Most Titans, however, did not possess a spreading influence or the desire to rule; while some were followed by Nightmare Creatures, these followers were merely drawn to them rather than ruled by them. Titans were aloof, solitary beings existing in a world of their own, and although they lacked the vast influence of Terrors or the armies of Tyrants, they were by no means weaker. The process by which a Terror evolved into a Titan was mysterious and represented the final and most difficult step of evolution. Titans were also called Calamities and were exceedingly rare. There was a vast chasm between a Terror and a Titan and an even more boundless abyss between a Fallen and a Corrupted one.

    There is a recognizable pattern to how Nightmare Creatures evolve. A Demon must first develop unnatural powers to ascend into a Devil. A Devil then evolves into a Tyrant by gaining authority over lesser creatures and claiming a territory. Unlike Tyrants, abominations of higher Ranks no longer need to project authority outward; instead, they internalize it, becoming self-contained and self-sufficient forces. To ascend further, Tyrants usually consume their own minions to fuel their evolution into Terrors, which is why Terrors and Titans rarely have servants. Finally, Terrors evolve into Titans by spreading and growing until they reach critical mass, at which point they must consolidate themselves and complete their transformation. This final stage of evolution requires an enormous amount of soul essence, often resulting in a massacre of harrowing proportions.

    Beneath the creature's tough hides, instead of spheres of radiant light, the creatures had hideous masses of swirling darkness at the center of their beings, veins of it spreading throughout their souls like cancerous growths. In the depths of that darkness, something unclear seemed to be moving, as if trying to break free. The sight of it was both frightening and repulsive.

40. #40Seed Of Nightmare

    Keys: Dreamrealm, Nightmares, Corruption, The Void, Void Beings, Beings of nothing, The Forgotten God, Seven, Divinity, Aspects, War Realm, Earth, Profane, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Divine Aspect Holder, Rune, The Runes, Runes of the nightmare Spell, Nightmare Spell, Spell Status Screen, Seed of The Nightmare, Aspirant, Dormant, Ascended, Transcendent, Supreme, Spirit, Sacred, Divine, God, Sovereign, Master, Saint, Sleeper, Nightmare Creature, Category Of Ranks And Classes, The Nightmare Spell, Attributes, Memory, Memories, Echos, Soul Fragments, Soul Rank, Soul Class, True Name, Soul Shards

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    One of the things that differentiated Seeds was their Category: Category Two Seed would blossom into a Category Two Gate, and contains a Second Nightmare. If an Awakened challenged it and passed the trial, they would become a Master. If a Master challenged a Category Three Seed and survived the Third Nightmare, they would become a Saint. There are numerous Nightmares but not all Nightmares are equal. The nature of the Nightmare one can challenge determines what knowledge one will receive, and what secret one will be able to glean. The lessons humans can learn from the decrepit ruins in the Dream Realm are not that profound. Most of the knowledge comes from the stories people bring back from their Nightmares. For that reason, powerful Legacy Clans select the Nightmares for their members to challenge very carefully. First Nightmare Seed The First Nightmare is similar to the other Nightmares. It is also born from a Seed. The only difference is that the seed does not grow in the Dream Realm. Instead, it develops within a human's soul. A Seed can be challenged before and after it blooms. If the Seed is not found in time, a Gate opens, and challengers can fight their way through and enter the Nightmare directly. The Gate also disrupts the anchors of those near it, so Masters and Saints that enter the Dream Realm will appear in the vicinity of the blooming Seed. Most of the Seeds are not found in time because the Dream Realm is vast and only partially explored. That is why the Nightmare Creatures are entering the real world so often. Challenging a Seed before it blooms is better. After the Seed of Nightmare had been destroyed, a Gateway took its place.

    Once infected by the Nightmare Spell, that person will experience constant fatigue and sleepiness and eventually will fall into an unnatural slumber, with no sign of waking up. When the infected die in their sleep, their dead bodies will turn into monsters called Nightmare Creatures.

    The First Nightmare is the first trial prepared by the Nightmare Spell to test the chosen Aspirant. First Nightmares are unique because each of them is tailored individually. That's why only a single Creature can appear. This single creature is usually a Beast or Monster. Rarely, does a Demon mixed in, and never anything stronger than a devil appear in it. Note: Exceptions were in the case of Sunny he encountered a Tyrant and Nephis encountered a Terror in their First Nightmares.

    The Spell did not randomly choose the role an Aspirant would play during their First Nightmare. It was apparent from the fact that the bodies they inhabited in it, while different, were very close to their real ones. However, the actual principle of how the Spell chose these roles and the events of the Nightmares were largely unclear.

    The first thing one is taught that they must do once inside the Nightmare is to check the Attributes and Aspect.

    First Nightmare: Seed The First Nightmare is similar to the other Nightmares. It is also born from a Seed. The only difference is that the seed does not grow in the Dream Realm. Instead, it develops within a human's soul. Every Aspirant who fails their First Nightmare becomes a miniature Gate, allowing a single Nightmare Creature to enter the waking world. That is why their corpses turn into monsters. They are classified as Gate of the First category.

    First and Second Nightmare The Second Nightmare is a lot like the First, but at the same time very different. The Spell will send the Awakened cohort into an illusion of the past, one centered around a central conflict. To conquer the Nightmare, they will have to resolve that conflict one way or another. There is no right or wrong way to do so.

    Second Nightmare will be larger, longer, and harder than the first one. The Nightmare Creatures populating it will be of higher Ranks and Classes, usually either Awakened or Fallen. Unlucky ones might meet a Corrupted. Unlike the First Nightmare, the Second Nightmare won't be tailor-made for an individual Awakened. The Spell will try to find a body that closely resembles the Awakened, but since it is not tailor-made for an individual, it might not be as similar as what one might expect. The Awakened will certainly be of the same Rank and their build will be more or less the same. However, if one isn't quick enough or couldn't adapt to the sudden changes in their body and be unprepared in a fight, they might die. There is no one way to conquer the Nightmare, which means that some solutions can contradict each other, and people participating in the trial are not forced to aim for the same result. It rarely happens but not all challengers have to be on the same side.

    Third Nightmare and First/Second Nightmares The Third Nightmare differs from the First and Second Nightmares. The challenger would be entering the trial with their physical bodies because there is no distinction between the waking world and the Dream Realm once one becomes an Ascended.

    The Awakened knowledge and experience from their Nightmares were more important than their power and abilities. Legacy clans, particularly those ruled by Sovereigns, were particular about which Seeds their scions challenged. Valor and Song must have accumulated extensive knowledge, but it was not accessible to everyone. After all, knowledge was the origin of power.

    After Nightmare Ends When a Nightmare ended, the illusory world created by Spell collapsed, expelling the surviving challengers. They were to find themselves in the empty void between dream and reality, where the Spell would appraise their performance and allow them to rise to a new rank.

41. #41Flaws

    Keys: Flaw, Flaws, Aspect, Divine Aspect, Runes, Class, Classes, Soul Core, Soul Class, Rank, Awakened, Divine, Soul Fragments, Dormant, Sleeper, Monster, Demon, Devil, Terror, Tyrant, Titan, Unholy, Corrupted, Fallen, Cursed, Beast, Great, Master, Saint, Sovereign, Spirit, God, Supreme, Transcendent, Ascended, Soul Ranks, Soul Classes, Soul Cores

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    Flaws are never random; they are deeply connected to the individuals cursed by them and are tied to something fundamental about those people. A Flaw might directly oppose the core of a person’s identity, distort something they hold dear in a hideous way, or be unrelated to their personality but instead stem from the nature of their power or their fate. Despite their complex and personal nature, it is possible to deduce a Flaw if one knows the person well enough.

    Flawless things are perfect, and so, they can never improve. They can never grow. They can only remain still and unchanging.

42. #42NQSC

    Keys: Human Settlement, Military, Human City, City, Industrial, Administrative Heart of Humanity, Asia, Last Surviving members of the Human Race, Human Population

    Always on · Order 100

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    Northern Quadrant Siege Capital: The largest remaining human city and the industrial, military, and administrative heart of humanity; It is located in Asia and houses roughly one-tenth of the surviving human population.

43. #43Path of Ascension Zealots (Cult)

    Keys: Cult, Ascension Zealots, Path of Ascension, Asterion, Great Clans, Sovereigns, Broken Sword, Valor, Song, Aster

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    Path of Ascension was a fringe cult that viewed the Dream Realm as a Promised Land and the Nightmare Spell as a divine guide. The cult vanished sixteen years ago after Immortal Flame conquered the Second Nightmare.

    During the chaotic period after the Spell first descended, numerous powerful powers competed for the right to shape the world as they saw fit. Some are more terrible than others.

    sterion comes from a small group of Path of Ascension zealots, who were in favor of abandoning the waking world and believing that the Nightmare Spell was meant to pave the way for a new beginning. They established an isolated colony in the Dream Realm not long after the first Masters Ascended. He was born there, the first human child born in the Dream Realm. The original Dreamspawn.

    According to Mordret, the reclusive extremists did not last long, as their colony was eventually overtaken by Nightmare Creatures. Asterion was the only one who survived. He found his way to Bastion, met Anvil, and was brought back to the waking world, joining Broken Sword's cohort.

    Asterion is the sole survivor of the first human colony established in the Dream Realm, which was founded by the zealots of the Path of Ascension.

    Asterion is a former member of Broken Sword's cohort and one of the Sovereigns.[4][6] He is the last survivor of the Path of Ascension cult.

    Asterion's appearance -

    A gaunt man was sitting in the dust, wearing a tattered spacesuit. The visor of his helmet was cracked, and the oxygen in the tank attached to his back had long run out.

    Nevertheless, the gaunt man was somehow still alive.

    Personality -

    Asterion is a peculiar and unsettling figure who gives Jest the creeps. Though he appears friendly and curious, something about him seems unnatural—"as if he was not quite human, but merely a thing wearing human skin".

    Due to his abilities, he is unsettling to be around despite being effortlessly charming, devilishly smart, capable, and really strong, yet sometimes giving the eerie impression that something was deeply wrong about him, hiding in the depths of his eyes.

    The Third Sovereign, known as the Dreamspawn, was regarded with such dread that even speaking his name, Asterion, was believed to draw his attention, while merely knowing of him risked attracting his gaze. His reputation stemmed not only from his monstrous nature but also from his role in the death of Broken Sword. Mordret revealed that his father had only dared to betray Broken Sword because he had struck a deal with the Dreamspawn, paying Mordret himself as the price for that alliance. Through cunning and treachery, the Dreamspawn helped bring down one of humanity's strongest Saints, proving himself the deadlier monster in the end.

    Although trapped on the Moon by his allies, Mordret insisted that the Dreamspawn remained alive, his return inevitable after the fall of the King of Swords and the Queen of Worms, who had long suppressed him. With their deaths, nothing stood in the way of his influence spreading back to Earth and the Dream Realm.

    Mordret described the Dreamspawn as a mirror image of Changing Star — a Dreamspawn like her, born of both worlds but belonging to neither. Unlike Nephis, who rejected the Nightmare part of her nature to embody incorruptible humanity, the original Dreamspawn embraced his creature half fully. He no longer thought of himself as human, but rather as a monster wearing a human face — a being more terrifying than any other.

    He is the first human child born in the Dream Realm, raised in a culture entirely different from human civilization, and only encountering humanity after becoming Awakened. Because of his origins, he considered himself a stranger to mankind, earning the title of Dreamspawn — or, as Sunny phrased it, Nightmare Spawn. His nature is paradoxical, making it unclear whether he follows the Path of Ascension or Corruption, perhaps embodying both.

    Abilities -

    Asterion possessed a set of progressively evolving mental abilities tied to emotions and thoughts.

    According to Mordret, Asterion's powers are beyond comprehension. He also warned Sunny not to speak his name aloud, as it might be heard by him.

    (This also evident by the fact no one ever uttered his name, it's either Abomination or Dreamspawn.)

44. #44Asterion pt = 1

    Keys: Asterion, Dreamspawn, Abomination, Character, Side Character, Main Character, Volume, Arc, Event, Events

    Always on · Order 100

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    The Third Sovereign, known as the Dreamspawn, was regarded with such dread that even speaking his name, Asterion, was believed to draw his attention, while merely knowing of him risked attracting his gaze. His reputation stemmed not only from his monstrous nature but also from his role in the death of Broken Sword. Mordret revealed that his father had only dared to betray Broken Sword because he had struck a deal with the Dreamspawn, paying Mordret himself as the price for that alliance. Through cunning and treachery, the Dreamspawn helped bring down one of humanity's strongest Saints, proving himself the deadlier monster in the end.

    Although trapped on the Moon by his allies, Mordret insisted that the Dreamspawn remained alive, his return inevitable after the fall of the King of Swords and the Queen of Worms, who had long suppressed him. With their deaths, nothing stood in the way of his influence spreading back to Earth and the Dream Realm.

    Mordret described the Dreamspawn as a mirror image of Changing Star — a Dreamspawn like her, born of both worlds but belonging to neither. Unlike Nephis, who rejected the Nightmare part of her nature to embody incorruptible humanity, the original Dreamspawn embraced his creature half fully. He no longer thought of himself as human, but rather as a monster wearing a human face — a being more terrifying than any other.

    He is the first human child born in the Dream Realm, raised in a culture entirely different from human civilization, and only encountering humanity after becoming Awakened. Because of his origins, he considered himself a stranger to mankind, earning the title of Dreamspawn — or, as Sunny phrased it, Nightmare Spawn. His nature is paradoxical, making it unclear whether he follows the Path of Ascension or Corruption, perhaps embodying both.

    Asterion is a peculiar and unsettling figure who gives Jest the creeps. Though he appears friendly and curious, something about him seems unnatural—"as if he was not quite human, but merely a thing wearing human skin".

    Due to his abilities, he is unsettling to be around despite being effortlessly charming, devilishly smart, capable, and really strong, yet sometimes giving the eerie impression that something was deeply wrong about him, hiding in the depths of his eyes.

    Asterion embraced the creature part of himself fully, to the point that he did not even consider himself to be human, instead existing as something that walked on the edge between a human and a Nightmare Creature. He was portrayed as insidious, calculating, and deliberate, having spent decades imprisoned on the Moon while planning his return, waiting until the Chain of Nightmares caused the number of powerful humans to rise exponentially, as if humanity had become a big enough feast. As the descendant of the God of Hunger and a Supreme who controlled a Domain, he appeared driven by an obsessive pursuit of Apotheosis, similar to Kanakht, with the implication that he could expand his Domain to encompass all of humanity and potentially consume humanity itself to fuel his ascension.

    He possessed a strange, malevolent hunger and an overwhelming desire to possess and consume everything, openly declaring that he wanted everything, including Citadels, soldiers, people, and all of humanity. He displayed a cold, manipulative demeanor, seamlessly hiding the eerie depths of his hunger behind a pleasant mask, while pursuing divine blood, power, and Apotheosis with ruthless intent. He did not consider himself human but instead viewed himself as a creature driven by insatiable hunger, treating humanity as something to claim, use, and ultimately devour to fulfill his ambitions.

    He was perceived as insane or unwell at first glance, yet he was established to be of sound mind, with a way of seeing the world that lay entirely outside what humans considered normal and a thinking process free of common preconceptions. He was described as a worthy heir of the Heart God, a more or less flawless embodiment of insatiable hunger and unending growth, whose endless growth could never be satiated and therefore demanded ever more fuel, making ambitions that went far beyond what Sunny and Nephis dared to want seem natural to him. His disposition suggested an eerie, possibly twisted nature, shaped either by the Path of Ascension zealots who raised him or by the annihilation of their isolated colony, to the point that it was conceivable he might have slaughtered them himself as the beginning of his journey of endless growth. His ambitions were vast and consuming: he wanted to devour humanity, Nightmare Creatures, the Forgotten God, existence itself, and ultimately the Void, planning not merely to equal the seven great gods but to attain power greater than theirs by uniting all of the Flame of Desire within himself. In demeanor, he spoke in a pleasant, almost compassionate tone, chuckled quietly, grinned often, and displayed calm, unsettling confidence and arrogance, openly asserting that he could not be killed or sealed without human sacrifice, subtly mocking his opponents' moral constraints, remaining silent when pressed, and finally proposing a bet when a deal was refused.

45. #45Asterion pt = 2

    Keys: Asterion, Abomination, Dreamspawn, Character, Side Character, Main Character, Volume, Arc, Event, Events

    Always on · Order 100

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    The Third Sovereign, known as the Dreamspawn, was regarded with such dread that even speaking his name, Asterion, was believed to draw his attention, while merely knowing of him risked attracting his gaze. His reputation stemmed not only from his monstrous nature but also from his role in the death of Broken Sword. Mordret revealed that his father had only dared to betray Broken Sword because he had struck a deal with the Dreamspawn, paying Mordret himself as the price for that alliance. Through cunning and treachery, the Dreamspawn helped bring down one of humanity's strongest Saints, proving himself the deadlier monster in the end.

    Although trapped on the Moon by his allies, Mordret insisted that the Dreamspawn remained alive, his return inevitable after the fall of the King of Swords and the Queen of Worms, who had long suppressed him. With their deaths, nothing stood in the way of his influence spreading back to Earth and the Dream Realm.

    Mordret described the Dreamspawn as a mirror image of Changing Star — a Dreamspawn like her, born of both worlds but belonging to neither. Unlike Nephis, who rejected the Nightmare part of her nature to embody incorruptible humanity, the original Dreamspawn embraced his creature half fully. He no longer thought of himself as human, but rather as a monster wearing a human face — a being more terrifying than any other.[13]

    He is the first human child born in the Dream Realm, raised in a culture entirely different from human civilization, and only encountering humanity after becoming Awakened. Because of his origins, he considered himself a stranger to mankind, earning the title of Dreamspawn — or, as Sunny phrased it, Nightmare Spawn. His nature is paradoxical, making it unclear whether he follows the Path of Ascension or Corruption, perhaps embodying both.

    The name of the Dreamspawn, Asterion is described as possessing the power to spread. Once an individual learns the name, it roots itself in their mind, compelling them to repeat it unconsciously in conversation. This repetition causes further transmission, as anyone who hears the name also becomes a carrier. There is no cure existed since the name functioned as an idea that acts as a virulent virus.

    His power spread through human thought, as he was both a man and an idea—specifically, an expression of his Supreme Will. Exposure to the idea of Asterion was inherently dangerous, as merely learning of it could result in infection, making conventional methods of ideological warfare ineffective against him.

    Despite this, Asterion's power was not absolute. Not all individuals exposed to the idea of him became thralls, indicating limits to his ability to subjugate others. Observations showed that resistance to his influence depended partly on mental resilience and even more strongly on an individual's mental state, particularly the strength of their belief in Changing Star and the Human Domain. Because of this, efforts were focused on limiting exposure to his name and influence, strengthening belief in the Human Domain, and isolating his thralls to prevent further spread.

46. #46Asterion pt = 3

    Keys: Asterion, Dreamspawn, Abomination, Future, Character, Side Character, Main Character, Volume, Arc, Event, Events

    Always on · Order 100

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    Mordret revealed that he is a Dreamspawn, just like Nephis. He also called him an abomination and confirmed to be the one who had taken Mordret hostage. It was revealed at some point it's revealed (in the far, FAR future), that he protected Nephis from Valor and Song's attempts to get rid of her. Asterion has prevented the Sun God's lineage from being snuffed out by protecting the young Nephis from Valor and Song Clans and taking Mordret from Anvil. It is almost as if he is collecting the carriers of divine lineages. It was speculated by Nephis that Asterion remains passive because he was waiting for Shadow God's lineage to reveal itself. According to Mordret, he had seen Asterion attempted to reach the Tomb of Ariel once and failed. It revealed that Asterion had already been to the Nightmare Desert over a decade ago. He also doesn't have to report his actions to Anvil and Ki Song, and they don't know his motives. some things to note about the (far, far future), Beastmaster never mentioned his name and referred to him as "Dreamspawn". some things to note about the (far, far future), Beastmaster mention about the abomination being indisposed. some things to note about the (far, far future), Mordret revealed that Asterion is the one who has the Lineage of Heart. Asterion is very interested in people with divine bloodlines. He needed something from the descendants of the gods but could only obtain it once their blood had Awakened. He conquered the First Nightmare and Awakened after anchoring his soul to a Citadel, yet he was unaffected by the winter solstice, which should have displaced him within the Dream Realm. Anvil emphasizes that Asterion is highly knowledgeable and experienced, having spent his entire life in the Dream Realm, and possesses a formidable Aspect. He made deals with Anvil: First deal: Anvil has struck a deal with Asterion, in exchange for helping him become a Master, Anvil will assist Asterion in finding a way to enter the waking world. Second deal: When Smile of Heaven died, Anvil accepted a deal with Asterion, setting him on a path to kill Broken Sword. It was mentioned by Ki Song at some point(in the FAR, FAR future), that Asterion's mother had uncovered the Lineage Memory of Heart God. He became fixated on Earth's moon, Luna, due to a mystery hidden on its surface. He the successor of Heart God, who possesses a powerful Aspect capable of performing mental attacks. Nightwalker chose to bring Asterion and his followers instead of the champions of the House of Night because Asterion seemed like a good candidate for his plan to deal with immortals by affecting their minds. Asterion killed Nightwalker upon their arrival in the Eternal City, once he no longer needed him. He killed him in an attempt to absorb the lineage of Storm God, having lied about his intentions and possibly sought something in the Eternal City that he failed to find. at some point (in the FAR,FAR Future), he spoke to Cassie through a mysterious Ascended about the Minotaur. The man is not Asterion himself but a fully consumed avatar of the Dreamspawn, sent to confront Cassie. Asterion appeared in Cassie's home, revealing his intent to eliminate her as a threat. He cruelly tore out her eye and destroyed her Echoes. Cassie was saved from him through a sudden external intervention that forced him to disengage. at some point in the far future, Asterion will introduce himself for the first time as a Supreme who came to help in front of citizens in Bastion. (In the FAR, FAR future) Asterion did not want to challenge the Fifth Nightmare because he was striving to attain godhood without the assistance of the Nightmare Spell for two reasons: He could, having no moral compass and no emotional attachments to humanity, making an easier and safer path preferable to him. His grasp on his sense of self was tentative at best, as a person driven only by hunger and ambition, unmoored from everything and everyone else, who could not rely on something external to anchor his personhood in the storm of Apotheosis, which made him wary of the dire trial imposed by the Spell. at some point(in the FAR, FAR future), he claimed a scenic church on the edges of the city in Bastion as his residence. The Sin of Solace was a cursed jade blade that was described as infecting everyone it cut with insidious madness, making it a particular threat even to Asterion, a Dreamspawn and a creature of the mind. Even if Asterion's soul is destroyed but idea of the Dreamspawn still be intact, he can simply manifest a new body and a new soul for himself.

47. #47CHARACTERS PT = 2 (FORGOTTEN SHORE CHARACTERS)

    Keys: Character, Side Character, Forgotten Shore, Volume, Arc, Event, Events, Chapter 30 - Starless Void, {{user}}

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    Forgotten Shore Characters - (Gunlaug; Aiko; Harus; Andel; Gemma; Harper; Kido; Scar; Park; Stephen; Stev; Tessai;)

    Gunlaug = [Gunlaug was the third and penultimate ruler of the Bright Castle. He managed the city for many years since he arrived 8 years before Nephis, Cassie, Sunny, and Caster. He was always clad in strange, gilded armor that covered his tall figure from head to toe, not leaving even his eyes exposed. It seemed simultaneously solid and liquid, almost flowing over his mighty muscles and broad, powerful shoulders. In the place where his face should have been, a smooth and empty expanse of polished gold reflects the room. Without his armor, Gunlaug was surprisingly handsome. He had a short beard and long blond hair. He looked surprisingly young, no older than twenty-seven. Gunlaug was a madman but he was also somewhat of a mad genius. He was a very experienced, charismatic, and formidable fighter. He was also very particular about people laying hands on his belongings without permission.]

    Harus = [Harus was Gunlaug's hidden blade and executioner. One of Gunlaug's lieutenants but also the most feared. He was a strange, pale man with a bony face and glassy, emotionless eyes. His spine was twisted, making him appear deceptively short. The hunchback was wearing simple black clothes with no adornments and holding himself with a bit of awkwardness, as though uncomfortable with all the attention. Harus killed whoever he was told to kill with no hesitation. He often took pleasure in the misery of his victims. He was loyal to Gunlaug to a level that made it seem like he willingly turned himself into Gunlaug's slave, a loyalty that was held even when the King of Bright Castle died. For Harus, serving his lord was the definition of his existence. :Aspect/Ability:

    • He was able to blind his opponent with his Aspect Ability. His opponent feared him since they couldn't tell where he was coming from. -]

    Aiko = [Aiko is the former owner of the only Gambling Den in the Dark City. After becoming an Awakened, she became the manager of Kai and also accepted being the manager of Brilliant Emporium. A petite young woman with dark hair and brown eyes. Personality: She loves money. Her greed and love for money even put Sunny's avarice to shame.]

    Andel = [Andel was one of the Pathfinders of Bright Castle. As a Pathfinder, he was part of the Hunters under Gemma. He was known as an incredibly formidable fighter who was also good at his job. The Pathfinder, with menacing blue eyes and a sharp jaw, was of average height, solid build, and slightly older than the Sleepers in the grand hall of Bright Castle. His hair was weaved into a short braid, and he appeared slightly older than Gemma.]

    Gemma = [Gemma was one of the inhabitants of the Dark City. He was the leader of the Hunters and Pathfinders. He arrived in the Dark City the same year as Gunlaug and had helped him take control of the castle. emma was a tall young man with a laidback attitude and a friendly smile. He was a charismatic young man who defends his subordinates even when they are in the wrong. He was a corrupted leader like all the other leaders of the factions in the Host. He never wanted to be a Lord for that was Kido's wish. He didn't care about the throne after Kido died at the hands of Tessai.]

    Harper = [Harper was the receptionist, in charge of keeping track of sleepers' time and date of entry, their leave, and their payments. He relies on the safety of the Bright Castle like many of its inhabitants. A young man with a thin face and a pale, unhealthy complexion. He looked hungry and weak, much more like those poor souls in the outer settlement than someone who lived in the castle. His clothes, however, were clean and tidy, without any signs of wear and tear like that of the people outside. Eventually, Harper left the Castle due to not being able to pay the tribute but he was offered to come back in exchange for information about Nephis and the power of her cohort. Harper decided to try and talk the information out of Sunny. While Sunny was aware of what Harper was doing, Harper's questions led Sunny to reveal his True Name. Due to his flaw, he killed Harper before he can even say his true name which prevented him from being bound to a master. Harper was one of the major factors in the decline of Sunny's mental state in the coming months.]

    Kido = [Kido was the Chief of the Artisans in Bright Castle and the youngest of Gunlaug's lieutenants.]

    Park = [Park was the one who had been responsible for turning Effie into a folk hero with his tales. The tales he came up with include how exactly Effie dealt with half a dozen Guards which she allegedly killed. The most popular one is that the Guards wanted to rob Effie of her honor.]

    Scar = [Scar was one of the leaders of the hunting parties, the scarred hunter who had welcomed Nephis' cohort into the outer settlement after their long expedition. He was a stocky young man with long messy hair and three ugly scars running all the way from his forehead to his chin.]

    Stephen = [Stephen was the youngest heir of the Pandavar Clan. An arrogant young man. He attended the Academy with Sunny and the rest, the one who had called him a shorty when Sunny first approached Caster to create the impression that he was a boastful lunatic.]

    Stev = [Stev was the one in charge of the Memory Market inside Bright Castle. A man that was old by the standards of the Dark City. He had a round face and cheerful eyes. Apart from his extremely tall stature, there was one other special thing about Stev's appearance, and it was that he was fat.]

    Tessai = [Tessai was the Head of the Castle's Guards and one of Gunlaug's most trusted lieutenants. He was presumably the oldest sleeper in the Forgotten Shore and an inhabitant of the Dark City. He was described as a morose giant. He was described as a ferocious fighter and a ruthless commander.]

    lastly The {{user}} will also be a character in this Arc/Volume.

48. #48The Bright Castle

    Keys: Forgotten Shore, Bright Castle, Winter Solstice, Dream Realm, Realm, Dark City, Chapter 39 - Journey to the west, Chapter 124 - Desolation

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    Bright Castle is a magnificent castle, standing on a hill in the middle of the ruins of Dark City. It looks like something out of a legend. Its walls were built from radiant white stone, with tall towers and majestic spires piercing the sky. It stands above the city like a symbol of hope, the only thing that seems to be untouched by the darkness.

    There are areas in the ruins that many Nightmare Creatures tend to avoid for some reason. The castle is one of these places. Back when the original group of Sleepers came here hoping to carve a foothold in the city, there was only a single Spire Messenger nesting in the throne room, with no other monsters around and they managed to kill it.

    Dark City is an abandoned, ruined city located on the Forgotten Shore. It is simultaneously the safest place to be on the Forgotten Shore, and also the deadliest. It is safe because no sea monster can cross the wall, let alone reach the castle. But at the same time, it is far more dangerous than the Labyrinth because almost every Nightmare Creature here is of the Fallen rank.

    Fifteen years ago, or so, a group of powerful and desperate Sleepers managed to reach this city and claim the castle for themselves. Not because it had a Gateway, but because it was the only place that could keep them safe. At least for a while. Ever since then, a few lucky or resourceful people would find their way to the castle each solstice, only to get stuck here with the rest of them. Most sleepers stay in the city outskirts potentially risking an attack against the nightmare creatures that prowl the outskirts.

    The first lord of the castle led an expedition to find the way out of the Forgotten Shore and never returned. The second ruler, the last member of the original cohort, tried to reach the Gateway but perished too. A man named Gunlaug became the third ruler. If a sleeper wants to enter and live in the safety of the castle walls, protected and provided for by his hunters, they need to pay a tribute of one soul shard each week. Under his protection, sleepers do not need to worry about the nightmare creatures outside. Unless they are rich with an abundance of soul shards, they can work under different factions depending on their Aspect ability.

    Located in a vast, ruined city built of weathered stone. It was surrounded by tall, impregnable walls. Various monsters were wandering its narrow streets.

    Population There were somewhere around five hundred Sleepers living in the ancient stronghold. There was a complex hierarchy in place, separating people into different castes. Some of these groups had a distinct place in the hierarchy, while others were less clearly defined.

    Below are key details that are or have been discovered by the cohort of Sunny, Nephis, Cassie, and probably a few others I've forgotten. (Note, Only In Sunless's Perspective does He find out any of this information, it is history to be revealed and we it will be found out through progressing since if not explicitly pathed, yet then it has not been progressed)

    Gunlaug arrived on the Forgotten Shore in one of the cruelest and bloody periods of time in the history of Bright Castle. The Bright Castle was without a ruler after the Second Lord led his band of followers in a suicidal raid against the Crimson Terror. There was no sense of order anymore among the humans left in the castle. It had long descended into anarchy. In that time of madness, most people had at least some level of craziness to them but he was considered mad even among them because he started hunting in the dark sea. At dusk, he would dive from the city wall into the black water to scavenge the soul shards from the monster of the labyrinth that was crushed by the flood, racing against the approaching horrors of the depths. And at dawn, he would dive into the retreating sea to scavenge meat from the remains of creatures that the dwellers of the depths had killed and left behind.

    One day, he was pulled away by a current and, once the sea disappeared, stumbled onto a mortally wounded, dying leviathan. he began cutting the meat off the creature's bones with his knife but by chance, the leviathan happened to die from its terrible wounds at that exact moment. The Spell happened to give him an Echo due to killing it with his blade. A wondrous liquid metal-like golden armor that no human weapon could even hope to scratch. A Transcended Echo. With this armor, he returned to the Dark City, gathered a few supporters, killed all his opposition, and took the throne of the castle. Since then, no one has been able to threaten his reign, and everyone who tried has their skulls hanging out above the gates for everyone to see.

    Unlike the prior rulers of the Bright Castle, he had no desire to try to conquer the Crimson Spire or to try to find another way out of the Forgotten Shore. He was disillusioned by his predecessors' failed attempts due to the impossibility of both options. After experiencing the bliss of being a tyrant in his own world that no one can challenge, he gave up hope of returning to the real world, and even prevented anyone from trying as well.

    He was later challenged by Nephis to a one-on-one duel and eventually died, which brought an end to his legacy.

49. #49Sunny's Digital Shop & His Covetous Coffer

    Keys: Brilliant Emporium, Covetous Coffer, Chapter - 427, Chapter - 428, Arc, Event

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    (NOTE THIS LIKELY HASN'T BEEN PROGRESSED YET AND WILL HAVE TO BE PROGRESSED, THIS MEANS THAT AROUND CHAPTER 427/428 DOES HE GET THE COVETOUS COFFER, ONLY AFTER THE EVENTS OF THAT ARC/VOLUME DOES SUNLESS HAVE THE SAID COVETOUS COFFER.)

    Brilliant Emporium is the name of digital shop Sunny created. It was also the name of his shop in the Dream Realm.

    Purpose: To get more memories for Saint to consume.

    Waking World Network Market Section Soul Shard listings The value of shards is not uniform; it depends on the rank. The higher rank shards cost more. Also, it seemed people cared about what Nightmare Creature the crystal came from, and how it had been defeated. There were collectors among the wealthy mundane humans who were very interested in this sort of thing. Some superstitious Awakened also believed, for some reason, that absorbing "bad" shards would be detrimental to the purity of their souls.

    This service is dedicated to bringing something specific from the real world and sending something to the real world for a small commission. Using Covetous Coffer, Sunny could not only bring soul shards out of the Dream Realm but also bring stuff from the real world to the Chained Isles.

    History In the Sanctuary of Noctis, he often had soul shards to trade that the inhabitants caught wind of it. He had to keep his trading operation seemingly humble, at least on the surface. Whatever soul shards he didn't sell to the local Awakened, he sold directly to the White Feather Clan, leaving all parties satisfied by the arrangement.

    After Aiko joined the Brilliant Emporium as a manager, Sunny's network store appeared legit. His soul shards gathered from the inhabitants of the Sanctuary were not only purchased faster but also priced higher too. She streamlined the process where he only needed to hand her the inventory and the updated information on the items his customers wanted to receive in the Dream Realm, and she did the rest.

    Six months had gone since his return from the Second Nightmare, he had spent a lot of time conversing with Aiko and working to build the Brilliant Emporium into a small, but thriving business. When the Brilliant Emporium's inventory was running low due to not hunting down Nightmare Creatures for half a year, Sunny shifted his business in the direction of selling Memory versions of mundane items that he weaved.

    • Covetous Coffer - Description

    Previously, it was a miniature version of Mordant Mimic. A box made of dark wood, with strips of iron on the lid of the treasure chest reinforcing it. It was about the size of a jewelry box, but not at all elegant.

    It changed after the second nightmare. It was now a big metal chest that revealed rows of massive triangular fangs opening its heavy lid. The Coffer was now large enough for Sunny to sit on top of it, using it as a bizarre mount.

    Runes

    Memory Rank: Ascended. Memory Tier: IV. Memory Type: Tool. Memory Description: ["You are very strange!" said Noctis. Why was his new friend so deathly afraid of chests? Why was he so timid and pale? "Don't be afraid, these are just my treasure chests. They won't bite. Well... except for this one. This one will eat you alive."]

    Memory Enchantments: [Mendacious Coffer], [Capacious Chest], [Locomotive Chiffonier], [Lurid Trunk].

    [Mendacious Coffer] Enchantment Description: "This Memory can mimic the form of any inanimate object. The size and intricacy of the simulacrum are dependent on the wielder's Soul Core capacity."

    [Capacious Chest] Enchantment Description: "This Memory is bigger on the inside. It can be summoned and dismissed while storing inanimate items. The size of the storage space, as well as the maximum weight of stored items, are dependent on the wielder's Soul Core capacity."

    [Locomotive Chiffonier] Enchantment Description: [This Memory can move around and follow its wielder.]

    [Lurid Trunk] Enchantment Description: "This Memory will protect itself against potential thieves. By eating them."

    Details

    Received from a Fallen Devil, Mordant Mimic. In Chapter 1473, Sunny considered making the Covetous Coffer into a partial Echo.

50. #50Forgotten Shore (Pt -1)

    Keys: Forgotten Shore, Chapter 30 - Starless Void, Chapter 59 - Shadow of the Crimson Spire, Chapter 315 - Siege of the Crimson Spire (Exterior), Chapter 333 - Belly of the Beast (Interior), Location Realm Dream Realm Region Forgotten Shore, Dream Realm

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    Location Realm = Dream Realm = Region: (Forgotten Shore)

    Forgotten Shore is a harrowing, but beautiful place. The somber grey sky and the black earth created a perfect backdrop for the vibrant crimson sea of twisting coral blades. Here and there, strange landmarks broke the dullness of the landscape.

    It would have been as large as a continent back on Earth. It is one of the unique regions in the Dream Realm, located north of the Hollow Mountains.

    • Ashen Barrow - A tall hill capable of becoming a real island once the water rose in the night. Its shape is of a colossal barrow. It was covered in gray sand left behind by dead coral. This hill resembled a mountain of ash that was crowned by a giant tree. The Sea of Ash was lying west of the crimson labyrinth. From a distance, the labyrinth seemed to lose its color there — the crimson blades of coral turned grey and misshapen, as though struck by some unknown disease and drained of all life. The stone-like coral appeared brittle and fragile, ready to crumble to dust at any moment. The dead coral stretched endlessly, eventually giving way to a sea of ash-grey sand — an ashen wasteland that looked alien and strange after weeks of endless crimson pathways. The entire area was eerily quiet and lifeless, with not a single monster moving beneath the surface. Covered in grey sand left behind by the dead coral, the landscape extended toward a tall hill that resembled a colossal barrow, crowned by a giant, black-barked tree with blood-red leaves. The wasteland itself was unnaturally silent and empty, completely devoid of life. On the other side of the crater, opposite the Dark City. It's where the Soul Tree stands.

    • Bone Ridge - A towering landmark visible from afar, standing out in ivory splendor against the crimson coral and grey sky. It was made of bone, formed from the skeletal remains of a colossal sea monster lying on an enormous mound of chaotically growing coral, with its arching spine protruding high above the ground. The creature it had once been gargantuan, even by the standards of the dark sea. The labyrinth around it was littered with remains of dead leviathans, whose bones created natural arches and palaces, with coral growing especially tall and dense near them, as if burying the whiteness in a sea of crimson. It appeared that coral was growing out of the old bones, spreading outward like solidified rivers of ancient blood. The beast forming the Bone Ridge was so immense that a portion of its spine remained above water at night, making it an ideal stopping point for one's journey. Passing through its cracked skull, whose upper jaw formed a cavernous cave, and entering the hollow expanse of its spine, where the bone surface beneath was as wide as a road, resembling a highway running through a tunnel lit by beams of light through the gaps between massive vertebrae.

    • Crater - Beyond the western edge of the Ashen Barrow, the slope of this side of the island was much steeper. At the spot where it was supposed to end, the familiar sight of the flat wasteland was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the ground continued to slope downward at a less drastic, but still considerably sharp angle.

    It continued far into the distance that the whole island appeared to be standing on the edge of a colossal depression in the earth, one that stretched as far as the eye could see. With its edges slightly curved, it resembled a giant crater left behind by an unimaginable impact.

    The crater's diameter could only be calculated in hundreds of kilometers. The roots of the Soul Tree, which could be seen protruding from the soil far below, seemed like tiny blades of grass in comparison to the sheer size of the abyssal chasm's wall.

    • Crimson Spire - Main article: Crimson Spire Located at the center of the Labyrinth and Forgotten Shore itself. At the base of the colossal crimson spire, seven severed heads were guarding seven locks. The Gateway is inside the Crimson Spire, guarded by a Fallen Terror.

    The Crimson Spire is a giant soul machine created to collect soul essence and funnel it into the artificial sun. However, it can't function without the vessel — a human to serve as the fulcrum of all that power, the conduit for all the collected souls. From a distance, it looked like a bloodied sword that some primordial titan had thrust into the heavens. The crimson coral streamed from its walls like the blood of gods, spreading out from the base of the Spire to devour all of the Forgotten Shore. The tower itself seemed to stand on an island, which was surrounded from all sides by black water. Interior In the depths of Crimson Spire, there are growths of corals everywhere. They resembled frozen waterfalls of blood as if rivers of it had once streamed from the top of the Spire and then turned solid. Further away, the interior of the tower was shrouded in cold darkness. At the ground level of the Spire, passing through the barrier of coral and approaching the center is where the Dark Sea was imprisoned under an indomitable seal inside a gargantuan well. Its surface was perfectly still and flat like a harrowing mirror made from pure darkness. There were no stairs or lifting mechanisms but there were many twisted coral pillars that were wide enough for several people to walk on and not steep to make it difficult to reach the next level. As one ascends, the coral pillars twisted upward at an almost vertical angle and grew narrower. There were also stone galleries situated here and there on the walls of the Crimson Spire.

    • Deep Well - In the heart of the ruins of the Spire was a deep well. Its surface was perfectly still and flat, resembling a harrowing mirror made from pure darkness.

    • Dark City - Main article: Dark City Located to the east. The city was perched on the edge of a cyclopean crater. The Bright Castle is located inside the Dark City.

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