Apostle Of Darkness

[Prepare for appraisal...]

Nero found himself in a strange dark space between dreams and reality. It was an endless black void filled with a myriad of stars that were all connected by countless complex strings made from ethereal light. Each of these strings seemed weave and branch off out of each other, forming an immensely complex net of nexuses and constellations.

It was all so beautiful, but difficult to grasp.

Nero didn't know alot about the Nightmare spell, but some instinct in his body was telling him that he was staring at it right now. Not just the interface that he'd normally interact with, but it's entire being.

Was the Nightmare Spell really a God? Was the first thing he thought, but he immediately disregarded it. It was best not to dwell on that thought.

'Even if it was a God, it is a useful one. While it may force me into its trials, I will use it how I see fit.'

Still, he wondered.

'Rodenaus.. what will happen to him?'

That world was fake. Now that the trial was over, he would be erased, along with The King Of The Dark and whatever creature he was fighting down there. But that couldn't be it, right? It all felt.. so real...

'Why did it even end anyway? Epsilon never left...?'

Perhaps Nero was seeing it all wrong. He had already theorised that the Nightmare spell would've only required one of them to escape, but even then, the release of the creature was necessary so that the King would be distracted so they could leave. He doubted that The King wouldn't have noticed them trying to escape, especially with how tremendous its presence felt.

'Or maybe I'm looking at it wrong?'

Perhaps the condition for them to clear the Nightmare, was to help Rodenaus escape those caverns? Or maybe any one of the conditions would've worked? Either way, the trial was over now. It was time for Nero to collect his rewards.

[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]

[A Child Of The Night, schemed with the White, in a ploy to release the Nephilim of its seal, and spread havoc throughout the Dungeons Of Darkness. With the assistance of a warrior of the Sun, they slayed the envoy of the forest, before embracing the sun's light once more.]

[You have defeated an ascendent devil: Erlkings Agent.]

'WHAT!?'

Nero was a little out of it when he killed that Griffin. He didn't even notice when the Nightmare spell announced the kill, nevertheless that it was of the Ascendent Rank. There were very few humans who had reached that level, and somehow he had managed to kill a creature as powerful as that.

Granted, it was Sir Rodenaus who did most of the work. He made it weakened and slow enough for him to kill, but still! He couldn't believe it.

'The spell said I received something from it too. Was it a memory? If that's the case, then it's going to be of the Ascendet rank!'

He hoped he could check it right away, but he didn't have any time as the Nightmare spell continued on with its assessment.

[You have achieved the impossible!]

[Final appraisal: glorious. You are but a test. A trial to decide the future.

Do not disappoint us.]

Nero was intimidated from that last part. Was the Nightmare Spell, expecting things from him? And then it said 'us' as well? Were there multiple people watching him now? Who were they? It was hard to tell if it was praising him, or turning into a harsh, strict parent.

But either way, it was time for his Aspect to evolve. He remembered how useless it was, but since he got a high appraisal rating from the spell, then surely it would become something good.

'An Ascendent rank like that Griffin... hopefully.'

[Dreamer Nero, receive your boon!]

He was an Aspirant no more. Now his physical strength could grow and reach the realms outside of the norm.

[You have acquired a new attribute.]

[You have been bestowed a True Name: Noble Demise.]

Nero froze. He hadn't expected this, nor did he know how to react. He had heard of true names before, especially because the most prominent awakened had one.

That being, Immortal Flame who was the first awakened to ever become an ascendent in the waking world.

Having a true name basically meant you were destined for greatness. It didn't do anything, but it was more of a trophy given by the spell to show that you are exceptional.

And then there's the attribute he just got. One of his attributes, [Remember], was incredibly useless. He couldn't tell what it did, or if it did anything at all. But now he got a new attribute, which could hopefully replace that.

'Good riddance.'

[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]

A brief intrusive thought entered Nero's mind. What if.. he just clicked no? Well he wasn't stupid enough to do that, but what if someone had done it in the past? There had to be at least one guy...

Nero smashed "Yes."

[Dormant Aspect Dark Disciple is evolving...]

[New aspect acquired.]

[Aspect Rank: Divine.]

Nero's face turned pale.

[Aspect Name: Apostle Of Darkness.]

'It's high... so high...'

Even if you weren't knowledgeable on the Ranks, you didn't need to be a genius to figure out that Divine was the highest it could get.

Nero scrubbed his eye with his wrist just to make sure he wasn't tired. And indeed, he could still see the Divine rank aspect.

He then silently summoned the Runes, further describing it.

Aspect: [Apostle Of Darkness]

Aspect Rank: Divine

Aspect Description: [You are a child of the darkness. As a human that was born in it, you don't just possess its authority, but you've become its voice and will. However, much like the darkness, you are empty. No matter what you may throw inside it, you will never be filled.]

Innate ability: [Abyssal Being]

Ability Description: [Inside you is a boundless darkness that can never be filled. No matter what gets caught in your clutches, it will never break free unless you will it.]

**

Nero was jumping with joy. The countless amount of hours spent in that darkness had payed off. He was a little sad to have a constant reminder of those days as an Aspect, but he couldn't give two shucks about it!

'A Divine Aspect!'

He still couldn't believe it. A massive grin gleaned across his face as he watered over his Aspect, especially that innate ability. It's description seemed to tell him that he possessed an infinite storage space!

Of course, he didn't know the limits. There might've been a size limit, or a weight limit on what he could bring. Heck, he didn't even know if he could only accept one type of object, but still, a boon was a boon.

If the spell had a sense of humour, it would probably laugh, for what it was about to do to him.

[The First Seal is broken...]

[Awakening dormant powers...]