Talion's Looks.
What?
As the world around him shifted, Talion found himself paralyzed.
Where the hell am I?!
Don't tell me... Did I just get isekaid to another world?!
Talion was someone who had watched plenty of isekai shows where the main character gets teleported to another world, but for something like that to happen to him, it was surreal... and cool!
Woah! What kind of power do I get out of this!? Is this a world I know or somewhere else?
He looked around. There was no one around; the floor below him and the railings around him were built with yellowish bricks. The scenery was just magnificent. He could see tall and beautiful mountains closer to the horizon than himself with snow on their peaks. That's when he realized he was somewhere far above ground level.
He seemed to be on a roof. Around him were racks on which a lot of swords were arranged, some of them worn out.
Probably for training, or something.
He guessed.
"Anyways, what am I supposed to do now?" He muttered to himself, cracking his fingers.
Do I get some kind of system? That wouldn't be very cool, though. But I won't refuse any help.
He would rather have a super cool power than a system; it was just a lot cooler. The fact that he didn't like stories that gave main characters systems of any kind just added to that. Shadow Slave was an exception, though.
He still tried to summon it.
System...
Menu...
Display?
Stats????
Still nothing.
Uhh... Runes?
And then, out of thin air, words appeared in front of him.
Name: Talion.
True Name:-
Rank: Aspirant.
Soul Core: Dormant.
Memories:
Echoes:
Attributes: [Fated] [Faceless] [Child of Shadows] [Ainur]
Aspect: [Ranger]
Aspect description: [A life spent in motion has hardened your body. You run faster, hit harder, and last longer than most.]
Damnation...
I am really in Shadow Slave of all places?! Not to mention, this is the first nightmare. Fuck, I am cooked.
Since he couldn't do anything about being here now, Talion decided to figure out his abilities instead.
His aspect was easy to understand—some sort of physical enhancement.
Pretty good, considering how bad Sunny's aspect as an aspirant was.
But then his gaze fell onto the other shocker.
He sighed.
I also get [Fated]? How did I go from a random nobody to getting main character treatment?
Ignoring that for now, Talion decided to read the description of the other attributes.
[Faceless] attribute description: "Your face reveals nothing. Whatever you feel is locked behind a calm, unreadable mask, giving others no hint of your true mind or heart."
[Child of Shadows] attribute description: "Shadows recognize you as one of their own."
[Ainur] attribute description: "Born of divine crafting, the Ainur stand apart from the mortal order. Death does not claim them as it should, leaving their existence caught in a strange distance from the end that welcomes all others."
Talion skimmed through the faceless attribute description.
Not bad, so I can perfectly mask what I am feeling? That's pretty cool, I guess.
But what really shocked him was what came next.
Child of Shadows?! Are you for real? Wasn't this supposed to go to Sunny?
Before Talion could fall into a rabbit hole of thoughts about whether Sunny was truly here, whether he would receive the Shadow Slave aspect, or any of the countless other possibilities, he forced himself to push them aside and continue reading.
Then there was the last attribute.
Is this shit even canon? I haven't heard about a race known as Ainur even once till now, even after reading like 1900 chapters.
It's like something Nephis had. Nephilim, was it?
Yeah, probably...
After processing everything, Talion concluded that this was enough self-discovery for the time being, so he decided to look around and understand his current situation.
-----------------
Bruh, this is going to be tou-
"Attention!"
Talion straightened his back, breaking free from his thoughts and focusing on what was happening.
After leaving the roof, he asked around and discovered that he was currently at a place called "The Black Gate." He had no idea where this was in the story and suspected it was non-canon.
The Black Gate was approximately 20 meters high and 80 meters long. There were two even taller towers at the end points. Beyond that were mountain ranges.
This was the gate that separated the outside world from the inside. Unfortunately, he was unable to find out the name of that place.
Even though security was much lower than it had been in the past due to the relatively peaceful times, there were still some ascended and many awakened here.
As for himself, he was supposed to be a new soldier stationed here with a few others.
Just then, his eyes widened as he realized something important.
Actually, wait a fucking second... What are ascended and awakened doing in a first nightmare anyways?
...
Holy shit! Is that even possible?
Before he could spiral any further, a man in dark grey armor appeared in front of the assembled rows. His voice sliced through the courtyard like a blade.
"New blood, listen up."
The man wasn't shouting, but his tone was powerful enough to make everyone stiffen.
Talion also stood at attention; he preferred to be perceived as a law-abiding and attentive listener, regardless of his thoughts. It helped him make a good impression on the person in power or someone higher up in the hierarchy.
Yes, a bit cowardly, but it was built on years of experience, so he couldn't really change it in a day.
Talion, due to his introverted nature, was not talking to anyone else and simply stood there awkwardly. However, unlike him, the others who were whispering amongst themselves quickly stopped and stood a little straighter as well.
Seeing this, the man in front began his speech.
"You are not here to be heroes. You are not here to fight glorious battles. The Black Gate has been quiet for years, and it will stay quiet if you do your jobs properly."
The officer's gaze swept across them, pausing on each face long enough to make everyone uneasy.
"Until further notice, your duties are as follows:
"First, you report to the quartermaster at dawn. You will be assisting in carrying armor, rations, and any supplies he designates. No complaints. If he tells you to move crates, you move crates. If he tells you to wash equipment, you wash it."
"Second," the officer continued, "you rotate with the regular patrols on the upper rampart. You are not to engage anything beyond the wall unless ordered. I don't care what you see or what you think you see. You call the watch. That is all."
Talion swallowed.
Can't you at least tell us what's out there?
Being as much of a coward as he was, Talion couldn't even curse the officer in his head, especially since he was standing right in front of them.
"Third, night cycles."
"You keep your lamps full, your gear ready, and your mouths shut. If the alarm rings, you follow the Awakened on duty. Do not improvise. Do not wander. And do not—"
Talion nearly believed the man was staring at him specifically as his eyes swept over each soldier in front of him.
But perhaps that was just his paranoia speaking.
"Try to be clever."
"Beyond that, you will help with cleaning, meal prep, waste disposal, carrying the weekly water barrels up the stairs—yes, all the fun work—and whatever else I decide. Consider it a blessing. It means we're at peace."
Talion suddenly had a question popping up in his mind. It was almost scary.
Wait, if there is peace right now, what even is the goal of this nightmare?
Am I just supposed to do labor work here until it ends?
This isn't one of those situations like in the nightmare Nephis had rig-
"And one more thing."
The officer's voice stopped his internal monologuing.
"In the unlikely event that something breaches the outer ridge and reaches the gate—" He let the pause hang.
"—You hold the line until relieved. Awakened will make the decisions. The Ascended will end the threat. You only need to stay alive long enough for them to do their jobs."
…
Yeah. Nah. My spidey senses are tingling; if this really is going to go the way I think, then the objective might just be to survive an attack from whatever nightmare creatures are out there.
The officer clapped his hands once.
"Dismissed. Find your bunks, report your name for attendance, and don't get in anyone's way. That's all."
Rows loosened as people began to move.
For a moment, Talion did not move. Part of him was wondering how to get ready for his nightmare, and the other part was wondering where he should even go.
After going into the barracks, Talion, to his fortune, realized he had gotten the bed in the far corner.
Phew, Can't really plan anything with a tired mind now, can I? So it's time to sleep.
-----------------
Night fell quietly over the Black Gate.
Talion was half-asleep on the narrow bunk when a sound tore through the barracks.
A bell.
It was a violent ringing sound that clawed into the bones of the sleeping men. Even those who were new there, like Talion, instinctively knew something was very wrong.
Talion's heart slammed against his ribs as he sat up on his bed in a jolt. His hand quickly found its way to the spear placed beside his bed.
He had chosen this weapon for its long reach. All the soldiers were instructed to keep a weapon beside them at all times for emergencies.
What is going on!?
Talion was scared beyond belief. From being a pampered teenager of the modern world to being in this death zone, he was not made for these rough environments.
Other soldiers were not as silent as he was, though.
Some screamed in confusion, while others tried to shout orders.
"Attack!" someone yelled. "They're inside!"
Inside?
That word sent ice down Talion's spine. His worst fears had just come true.
The main objective of this nightmare was in clear view.
Everyone spilled out of the barracks in chaos.
Torches flared along the walls, revealing silhouettes moving on the ramparts.
Their figure looked strangely human.
"Uruks!"
What?
As those uruks stepped into light, The first clash happened less than ten steps away.
A soldier raised his shield.
An Uruk smashed straight through it.
Blood sprayed across the stones.
The line collapsed instantly.
"Hold!" someone shouted. "Hold the line!"
Talion knew hesistation here would lead to his death, so he moved.
His spear thrusted forward as one of the nightmare creatures rushed him.
The tip hit but it didn't matter.
The Uruk barely slowed, snarling as it slammed into him. Talion staggered back, his feet slipping on blood.
His body froze.
Why didn't it wor-
Then before he could do anything else, something struck his head from the side.
And for the first time in his life, Talion felt excruciating pain. However, before a cry could leave his mouth. Another blow landed on the same place.
The world titled and he went unconcious.
-----------------
Rain droplets striking his face were what finally dragged Talion back from nothingness.
What…?
His head throbbed with a pain greater than anything he had ever experienced.
What is going on?
His arms felt wrenched behind his back, bound tight.
My head hurts.
When he tried to lift his head or struggle, a sudden force slammed him back into a kneeling position.
"Agh," he grunted.
"Stay in place, will ya? Less painful that way, hahahaha."
Wh-
Talion tried to glance behind him from the corner of his eye. An Uruk stood there, but the figure to his right seized all his attention.
The darkness concealed most of it, yet he saw enough.
Talion's eyes widened in horror. His mouth fell open.
A face loomed above him. It looked human, yet anyone could tell it was far from that. Pale skin, bright, unnatural eyes, and silver armor crowned with a head guard. The figure stood easily over eight feet tall.
Looks.
Talion felt his soul slip away. Thought itself abandoned him. His heart hammered so violently he thought it would kill him long before any of these creatures did.
Footsteps echoed from ahead.
He forced himself to look forward. His neck screamed in pain, but he managed.
Two other soldiers knelt nearby, just like him. Each had an Uruk looming behind them.
The footsteps belonged to another figure approaching.
Looks.
This time, Talion lacked the courage to look up.
The thing spoke.
"Ghurarmu shirkush' agh azgushu."
Steel slid free of its sheath. The blade rested against one soldier's throat before slicing clean through.
The other soldier began screaming.
"Please, let me go." "I didn't do anything." Desperate words spilled out, one after another.
Talion could not scream.
Inside, however—
I dont want to die.
Tears streamed down his face.
The figure moved to the second soldier. The screams grew louder, shriller.
No. I dont want to die.
"Zant ya apakurizak."
I dont want to die. I dont want to die.
Talion could no longer hear the pleas of the other soldier, nor could the figure.
"Gul-n' anakhizak."
A cold hand seized the soldier's chin. The blade flashed.
"Ghurarmu shirkush' agh azgushu."
I dont want to die. No. Please. Just this time… help me. Someone. Just this once.
"Zant ya apakurizak."
The figure stepped toward Talion.
"N-no," Talion whispered.
Nothing had happened yet, but his body weakened as if death had already claimed him.
He knew there was no hope of survival. Still, he could not scream. He could not thrash. He could not even cry anymore.
"Gul-n' anakhizak."
The Uruk behind him grabbed his hair and yanked his head upwards. The towering figure who was already standing to his right seized one of his arms.
No. Just end it already. I don't want to see that face.
In that moment, Talion feared meeting those eyes more than dying itself.
"Ghurarmu shirkush' agh azgushu."
The sword slid toward his throat.
"Zant ya apakurizak."
The blade touched flesh.
Blood flowed.
And then he heard a voice.
[You have offered yourself as a sacrifice to the gods.]
[The gods are dead, and can not hear you.]
[Shadow God stirs in his eternal slumber.]
[He has rejected your offering.]
[Death did not accept you.]
[The Unnamed stirs in his prison.]
[The Unnamed accepts the command he has received.]
[He sends a blessing from beyond darkness.]
[Child of Shadows, receive your blessing!]
"Gul-n' anakhizak."
Talion remained held in place. His vision dimmed, his eyes nearly closing.
Hot. It is so hot. It burns.
The towering figure turned towards the sky, arms spread wide.
"Come to me, Dark Lord."
Invisible to all but Talion in those final moments, a dark presence fixed its gaze upon him.
At the same time, in the waking world, a bright, lost soul did the same.
[Wake up, Talion! Your nightmare is over.]
[Prepare for appraisal…]
------------
A/N
Did you like the chapter?
Now there are three possibilities.
1. You dont care, well then alright.
But i have a bad news for those who
liked it.
And a good news for those who
hated it.
Lol yeah i dont mean the opposite.
So the thing is I am edging uall, I have already written a good chunk of this fic, But as a person who strives towards perfectionism while having mediocre ability in writing. I will write quite a sum of chapters before starting to upload this fic.
This chapter was just to satisfy my inner urges.
(Hesitant smile.)
Anyways, I am still excited to read some weird theories you came up with or if you have any ideas.
Bye.