[Prepare for evaluation…]
Lumian found himself floating in a space between dream and reality. He looked around, noticing he was in the middle of a vast, deep darkness. In that darkness, countless stars and constellations intertwined with each other, forming a complex and intricate pattern that defied all logic.
Everything was interconnected.
Lumian understood that this was the mechanism of the nightmare spell — its core.
The spell remained silent, evaluating his performance during the nightmare. However, Lumian wasn't desperate; in fact, he felt somewhat calm.
He had survived his first nightmare with everything against him.
Lumian remained floating above an enormous, vast, dark ocean, looking at the countless stars.
He wondered why that child from the nightmare affected him so much.
"Maybe he looks like him," he reflected aloud, crossing his arms.
Before coming to this world, Lumian carried a regret. His younger brother had died when they were children. His brother had pushed him out of harm's way so he could live. In exchange, Lumian kept the memory of the accident — the blood and his screams — clearly engraved in his mind.
Lumian sighed.
Unconsciously, he had protected that child as if he were his younger brother.
He wanted, somehow, to make up for his mistake.
But he had failed.
He hadn't saved him and watched him die right in front of his eyes without being able to do anything.
Even killing his murderer hadn't brought the satisfaction he expected or needed; he simply felt empty.
[You have obtained an Attribute: Lightning Attribute]
The voice of the spell echoed in his mind. Lumian opened his eyes.
He didn't expect to acquire an attribute, especially one as strong as lightning. Even if weak, it was perfect for stunning enemies or enhancing his physical abilities.
Lumian snapped out of his daze when he heard the spell's voice again.
This time it wasn't subtle like a whisper — it was powerful, as if the entire universe spoke in unison.
[Aspirant, your trial has ended.]
[Torn from his original world, the intruder was thrown into a nightmare, cast as a monster who altered fate. Under his hands, humans and beasts alike fell. Taking a child under his wing, he gave protection and care while slaughtering his enemies with unrestrained fury. When night came, the beast fought with claws and teeth against stronger beings and emerged victorious, proving his will to survive. After the death of his ward, the Beast, filled with fury, killed his murderer, bringing vengeance to the fallen.]
[You have defeated an Awakened Beast: Shadow Wendigo]
[You have defeated a Fallen Beast: River Stalker]
[You have defeated six sleeping humans. Names unknown.]
[You have killed six awakened humans. Names unknown.]
[You have defeated one awakened human of the Nine. Name unknown.]
[You have done the impossible.]
[Final evaluation: Glorious. Your fury knows no limits.]
That last part wasn't necessary, in Lumian's opinion. He had always had a somewhat volatile and angry temperament, and that aspect only amplified his fury.
[Inactive Lumian, receive your blessing!]
Lumian smiled.
[You have been granted a True Name: King of the Monster]
Lumian opened his mouth in shock at receiving such a True Name.
"Holy shit, yes!" he shouted euphorically. "I'll become Godzilla but a bootleg version!"
The spell ignored Lumian's scream and continued.
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
"Yes," Lumian replied immediately.
[The inactive aspect of the demonic offspring is evolving]
[New Aspect acquired.]
[Aspect Rank: Divine.]
[Aspect Name: Lord of Monsters]
---
"Divine… divine," Lumian muttered.
In Shadow Slave, or at least up to where he had read, only three people had divine aspects: the protagonist, Nephis — the last of the Immortal Flame Clan — and Mordret.
But now he, too, possessed a divine aspect.
All because of his actions and altering fate within the nightmare by killing one of the Nine, and all those awakeners and sleepers, and doing it all as a fully awakened monster no less.
Lumian summoned the runes, which manifested instantly.
Aspect: [Lord of Monsters]
Aspect Rank: [Divine]
Aspect Description: [You are an abnormal existence that rises above monsters. As the Lord of Monsters, you can command monsters as if they were loyal subordinates to their master and lord.]
Innate Ability: [Dominate]
Ability Description: [Impose your dominion over monsters. Dominate them in combat or through your power. You can control or command monsters of the same rank or lower. It is unbefitting of a King to go without his army.]
Lumian exhaled. A wide smile spread across his face.
His innate ability was incredible — more than incredible, it was astounding.
If he strengthened and evolved it, he could form an enormous army of nightmare beasts under his command. But for now he was weak; he needed to grow stronger for it to become truly useful.
Lumian remembered a character called Beast Master, who could charm and control monsters, but his own ability was even more complete, since he literally dominated monsters to be loyal to him and obey his orders.
[The first seal is broken.]
[Awakening latent powers…]
---
Lumian felt something awaken within him.
The sensation was truly uncomfortable — it didn't hurt, but he felt as though something was changing inside him, something in his soul shifting.
He felt his soul being shaken awake and infused with new energy.
However, that energy came from within.
Lumian felt that the empty, hollow part of his soul had finally blended with the rest, making it whole again. A sense of omnipotence flooded his entire being — an incredible euphoria — yet soon the sensation faded.
His soul sea changed.
From the water, an enormous sun emerged, shining with a dim navy-blue light — empty. Standing at the center like a star.
The light of his soul core was cold and comforting, like a cold night's embrace. Calming.
Lumian stopped looking at the empty sun lacking essence, and instead focused on the multiple spheres of light orbiting around him.
One sphere — the memory of the Fisherman's Garb he had obtained after killing the River Stalker, a memory of the fourth level awakened tier.
Lumian knew that soon he would obtain more memories, and this place would be full of memories and echoes.
[Unlocking Aspect Ability…]
Lumian waited with anticipation. After a few seconds, the missing runes materialized before him.
[Aspect Ability Name: Augment]
Lumian summoned his runes to see his full status.
---
Name: Lumian
True Name: King of the Monster
Rank: Inactive
Monster Core: Inactive
Monster Fragments: [20/1000]
Memories: [Fisherman's Garb]
Echoes: —
Attributes: [Tough Skin] [Mark of Divinity]
[Lightning] [Darkness]
Aspect: [Lord of Monsters]
Aspect Rank: [Divine]
Aspect Abilities: [Augment]
Aspect Ability Description: [Your entire body receives an enormous boost to its physical and mental abilities.]
---
Lumian whistled, impressed.
His aspect ability, in short, enhanced his body — though he didn't know by how much, he was sure it would be at least double, or maybe more.
[All power has a price.]
[You have received a Defect.]
[Your defect is: …]
Lumian tensed.
Everything depended on what defect he would receive.
Defect: [Non-Human]
Defect Description: [You lack what makes humans human.]
Lumian blinked in confusion at the defect's description. He didn't understand it.
"Do I have to figure out what my own defect means?" he asked aloud, confused.
What made a human… human?
He didn't know — there were too many factors.
Lumian didn't have much time to ponder this, because the spell spoke again.
[Awaken, King of the Monster!]
Lumian's world spun entirely as he was expelled from his soul sea.