Chapter 12: The Path to Awakening

Chapter 12: The Path to Awakening

Ray and Alkan moved towards one of the marked areas on the map. The passage widened, far broader than the usual labyrinth corridors. As they advanced, they arrived at a massive hall, its vast space illuminated by a soft, eerie glow. Radiant fungi clung to the walls and ceiling, their bioluminescent hues casting an otherworldly light.

Etched into the stone walls were countless names—hundreds of them.

"This place... it's like a burial ground," Alkan muttered, his voice carrying a somber weight. "We carve the names of the fallen here. A memorial of sorts."

Ray's gaze lingered on the inscriptions, each one representing a life lost in this unforgiving place. Before he could speak, a sharp scraping sound echoed from the far end of the hall—the unmistakable noise of talons dragging against stone.

"Also," Alkan continued, unbothered by the ominous sound, "it's a training ground. The moss here keeps weaker beasts at bay, or at least makes them reluctant to enter. So, we use it to lure in dormant beasts... or sharpen our skills by dueling each other."

Ray eyed the fungal growth spreading across the chamber. "Don't you think something that repels these creatures might be even worse than them?"

Alkan smirked. "Oh, it is. This fungus drains the life of anything that touches it directly. And for the stronger ones who try to consume it… it poisons them."

Ray narrowed his eyes. "Then why not use it against that fallen outer?"

Alkan sighed. "We tried. It barely affected that thing. And worse, it's smart—it actively avoids the fungi."

"I see…" Ray nodded slowly. "But you didn't bring me here just to show me this, did you? What's the real reason?"

A slow grin spread across Alkan's face. "Why else? We're here to train you—to help you tame your soul. Or should I say, to awaken you as a dormant human."

Ray's eyes widened. He could hardly believe what he had just heard.

Before he could respond, Alkan added, "Then again, maybe not. Awakening takes years, even for those with the fortitude to endure it. And we don't even know if you have that fortitude. But a trained mortal is still better than an untrained one."

Ray took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Alkan, explain. What do you mean by awakening? I don't know how things work here, so tell me."

Alkan turned away, walking back towards the exit of the hall. "I only brought you here so you'd know where to rewrite my name if I die," he said casually. "Let's head back. We'll talk there."

They returned to the small cavern near the water source, where Alkan had earlier prepared some cooked meat. They sat in silence as they ate. Finally, Alkan spoke.

"You might not know this since you were a slave, but everything around us—every stone, every creature, even us—is made of the same fundamental force. Some call it essence. It's in everything, even our souls. What separates the living from the non-living is that we have souls that generate essence within us. But it's untamed. Once a human tames this energy and stores it within them, they awaken. That's what makes us stronger. That's what grants us our unique aspects—the traits that reflect our very nature."

Ray furrowed his brows. "When you say 'store it,' do you mean like a core? Something that fills naturally with essence, which then flows through our bodies like blood and fuels the skills we gain through our aspects?"

Alkan chuckled. "Exactly. You're sharper than you look."

Ray ignored the jab. "Then have you ever thought… maybe a second awakening is possible? If someone could increase the amount or quality of their essence, they might be able to reach another level. Maybe then you could face that fallen one."

Alkan burst into laughter. "Oh, we've thought about it. But no one who's tried has survived it. The pressure of forcing more essence into an already awakened soul is unbearable. Those who attempted it… their bodies couldn't handle the turbulent flow. They exploded. Brutally. You'll understand what I mean once you start your awakening process."

Ray closed his eyes, digesting everything. It sounded so familiar—just like the awakening process in the living world, where one had to clear an Outer Trial. But if Alkan was right, then perhaps humanity had a way to increase its survival chances… Still, there was no way to confirm anything yet.

Just like Outer creatures, humans were ranked from Level 1 to Level 7:

Dormant, Champion, Ascended, Transcended, Celestia, Dev, Holy.

Unlike Outer beings, however, humans only possessed a single soul core.

Ray opened his eyes. "So what now? We can't possibly stay here and train like you did outside the trial."

Alkan nodded. "True. It takes years to awaken under normal conditions—sometimes even decades. And we don't have that kind of time. So… we'll do it the hard way."

He locked eyes with Ray, his expression unreadable.

"You're going to wish you were dead. Because this? It's going to be hell inside hell."