Resonance of the Core

There exist two worlds, one of which is where humans reside, and where memories are made. And the other is where the memory beast resides.

It is a place that grows endlessly, made out of the memories of humans, and continues to add to itself. Unlike the real world, its memory form is far more terrifying, shaped by humans' association of memories with fear and pain.

This place is called The Core Of Memories, but people just call it The Core. A nickname has been getting attention recently, so I guess that's also a way to call it now. Altar of Memories.

Memory beasts can go between these worlds, where they can choose to watch a trail or infect a memory.

If they choose to watch a trail, they can offer a contract, forming and letting go of their freedom.

But if they choose to infect the memory, if they are able to complete their infection, they will drive their host mad, until they die and crawl out of their bodies, successfully entering the real world.

This is the fate of a memory beast, either being shackled or rebelling towards the whole world. Put your being in front of the world itself.

This choice calls every beast, making them respond with an answer that will change their life forever.

Memory beasts aren't mindless creatures, they are intellectual beings, so they can choose to go against humanity, or life along with it. There is a theory that they were made out of human belief. That they were brought to life by humans who believed they were real.

But I think we're getting off track. After successfully getting contracted, you will unlock some of your best abilities, but communication will be impossible. 

That's because the beast and contractor exist in separate worlds. To unlock communication, you will have to venture into The Core and find your beast, successfully making it a part of you.

Only then you will be able to speak.

'So then why am I able to speak with it... hey, load my character profile for a second.'

[... Loading, character profile.]

...

Name- London Boyle

Measurements- 164cm, 15 years old, 54kg.

Contracted Beast- [Dragon Of The Beginning]

Skills- [Between Realities], [There Shall Be Light!], [Eyes of Hypocrisy].

Passives- [Son Of The First God], [Outside The Real World].

Contract level- Newborn.

Beast level- God.

...

My eyes widened, as the final clue arrived, how had I not noticed this earlier?

'This guy has already gone to The Core and found his beast. That's why his contract level is Newborn. The first level is Contracted, then it's Newborn.'

This explained a lot but at the same time nothing. Even with this information, how can I connect the dots? I mean, this still doesn't explain how this place exists and everything else. This shouldn't exist. Unless.

'What if... we never left The Core to begin with?'

It made sense, after all The Core is able to hold things impossible by nature. 

But what now, even if I know a little of what's going on, how does it help?

A big grin appeared on my face. 'Let's pay that mirror a visit.'

...

Fear and despair echoed through the stone walls of the facility, as the gigantic stone gates opened, and out of the shadows horrendous beast walked out. Hunger filled their eyes, hunger for human flesh. Luckily for them, there was enough food here to last them an entire year.

But as they were about to go on a rampage, their bodies froze and their minds became blank.

'[Between Realities] is kinda overpowered, it does consume Life Energy.' I smiled. 'But this isn't my body so I can use it as much as I want.'

I walked past the beast and went outside the darkness with my sword as my only light source. There was no reason to kill the beast, I didn't get any reward from it. And meanwhile, those from last night deserved it, these have done nothing wrong in my book.

The darkness was as hypnotic as ever, the walk was eternal, with no sign of ending. It gave you an uncomfortable feeling as if walking for nothing like it was a waste. This too was probably a skill of the darkness, but the weird thing was how it worked with time stopped.

But I knew there was something here, I saw them with my own eyes so this time, unlike the first, my feet and mind were on the same page. To continue this walk.

And was my persistence rewarded. I chuckled with great joy in my voice, as the clear glass of a mirror shined in the darkness.

'Found you.'

I walked up to it, my reflection still nowhere to be seen. But I had an idea why. 

Because I was part of the human world and didn't originate in the core like everything else.

I took a deep breath, and bashed the blade pommel into the wicked mirror.

[You have slain a queen-class beast, Mirror Of The Endless Darkness]

My jaw dropped to the floor, were my ears working correctly, did I mishear or was I going crazy?

'Queen class? That's... unexpected. But you have to consider this was supposedly the hardest Memory Trial. And this mirror was able to create both artificial memory beasts and safe places every night.'

My eyes drifted at the broken pieces of glass, then they trembled with great fear. My reflection was visible... and it was worse than I could have ever imagined.

'This body... belonged to the hero who had killed me...'

I turned away, as I felt my guts coming out of my mouth. Why was this happening, was my body so scared of this guy? Well, he's my killer but isn't this a little too much?

My body paled, and my mind was racing to the moment of my death.

'D-Damn it... calm down.'

I mustered to myself, but this trauma had already infected my soul beyond repair. 

I was only saved by my sudden transportation to a white room. It was the opposite of where I had been. Now I was covered by light instead of darkness.

[You have survived your Memory Trial.]

I smiled, my face still pale from the incident that had happened.

[You have cleared the Memory Trial in less than a week. The beasts will take this into consideration.]

[You have completed the extra quest of killing the queen-class memory beast. The beasts will take this into consideration.]

'They better do, I worked my ass off trying to figure this out.'

[Entering scouting phase...]

'I better get a strong beast, no little worthless bugs. The strongest of the strongest only. After all, I cleared the hardest Memory Trial in less time than usual, while also clearing the extra quest.'

[No beast wants to sign a contract with you.]

'Huh?' I said with a dumbfounded look.

[Would you like to try again? Keep in mind this is your last try.]

'Yes!' A simple answer, yet filled with emotion. Mostly anger, but at the same time sadness and fear.

[Entering scouting phase...]

My feet started to shake, I failed to get a contract, this would have all been for nothing. Hell, I'll even consider contracting with the weakest beast to not go through this again.

[No beast wants to sign a contract with you.]

'Fucking shit. Take into consideration my ass.'

[You will be able to try again if you repeat this trial.]

'Yeah like I would ever try this again.'

I sighed. 'Damn it, what now. What do I do? How can I take my revenge if I'm powerless?'

But as despair covered my soul, I heard the soft and cheerful voice of the system.

[A reminiscence of the past wishes to sign a contract with you.]