Shadow Slave

The old woman fell silent. Sunny and Nephis were somber, too. It was too easy to imagine what vile acts those who lusted for power could commit in a world that rewarded murder with strength.

In fact, the same vileness could have consumed the waking world, where absorbing the essence of slain humans was easier than hunting down countless Nightmare Creatures. If not for the government and people like Jet, who maintained order and suppressed the darker side of the Awakened society with an iron fist, things would have turned grim long ago.

Legacy clans also played their part, preventing human enclaves in the Dream Realm from spiraling into lawlessness.

Eventually, Sunny sighed and shook his head.

"So... once your soul essence Awakens and you can control it, the next step is to patiently work on forming the soul core. What happens then?"

Ananke smiled and pointed to her chest, where the soul core of a human was usually located.

"Accumulation of power. Ascension is a step of rising above one's mortal nature by improving the quality of their essence, and their body as well. This step can be slow if one refines themselves naturally, or fast, if one improves their essence by absorbing the essence of stronger beings. Once the soul essence reaches a qualitative change, the soul core will reform itself and grow stronger, as well. Of course, it won't happen without some conscious refinement, either."

Sunny tilted his head.

"Uh... how does one refine their essence, exactly?"

Ananke laughed.

"It's not something I can explain in one conversation! There are methods and techniques, the knowledge of which has been accumulated over countless generations and is taught to disciples over many years. Even then, very few manage to succeed. Ah... of course, all those who do succeed have to find the way into their Soul Sea first. Without the ability to enter the Soul Sea, it would take one many lifetimes to Ascend even with the best refinement technique."

She shook her head with a smile.

"At least that is how it is for us humans. Some of the noble creatures have their own ways... they can possess multiple soul cores, as well, and walk the path of Ascension more naturally."

Sunny blinked a couple of times.

"Wait... people have to learn how to enter their Soul Seas?"

The old woman nodded matter-of-factly.

"Of course. That is... without the guidance of the Nightmare Spell. Weaver gave us mortals a gift that can hasten each step on the path of Ascension, including the discovery of one's Soul Sea."

'That's... unexpected.'

Soul Sea was a natural ability of all Awakened - including Sleepers. As it turned out, that

and... immensely effective. That is how

ingenious and cruelly effective it was in helping... no, forcing people to become stronger, stronger, and stronger still - until they

purpose, he did

Nephis sighed.

"What about Transcendence?"

Ananke nodded.

of the divine. The soul essence has to become much more potent, the soul core has to become much more voluminous. Most importantly, an Awakened has to become one with the world and be recognized by it. Their soul has to be... expanded beyond the confines of the body and fused, to a

his head, thinking. Ananke's words did indeed sound very vague and esoteric, but he felt that he understood what she

to be close to her. The world

few people below the Transcendent Rank... like

That was... peculiar.

tea and added, her voice

connection to one or, very rarely, several aspects of the world... be it water, wind, shadow, light, or

Nephis looked at each other in

Aspect? What

The old woman coughed.

is exactly what I mean? That one must possess an Aspect to

Sunny massaged his temples.

all Awakened possess an

Ananke chuckled.

the higher you rise on the path of Ascension, the harder it becomes to move further without claiming your Aspect, as well as your Flaw. It is impossible to Transcend without

nor Nephis could digest it quickly. Awakened without Aspects? There was such a

every human he had fought in the First and Second Nightmares. Had all of them

meanwhile, frowned and asked, her voice

Why don't creatures... noble

Sunny had learned a long time ago that this wasn't the case. There

as Ananke called such beings, become abominations. The problem was that there were only humans in the waking world, while every creature in the Dream

creatures lived side by side. Nevertheless, there difference between them was the same - humans could only rise in Rank, but possessed Aspects, while noble creatures

the question Nephis asked was