The Black Dread
The Empire fractionated the ranks of Nightmares in a crafty and unique manner.
Nightmares are creatures of the damned. Monsters manifesting themselves through horrendous forms and shapes.
Grotesque embodiments.
This are the official Echelon of Nightmares in order.
Eyeless: Avergae Level Nightmares descended from dungeon gates. In the Nightmare world.
Considered blind. They rely on their senses to hunt down prey. They are the weakest in the Echelon.
They can be considered as foot soldiers. Often commanded by Markers.
Level: 1st tier foot soldiers.
Markers: These are Nightmares who went through the first stage of shadowed awakening.
Climbing up one step in the Echelon Ladder.
Eyeless Nightmares who obtained a single mark which represents its existence. Unveiling their sights to the world.
They are primarily crude and violent. Versatile in nature.
Compared to Eyeless Nightmares. They are on a different league. The more marks they awaken.
The stronger they get. There are only four marks awakening before the next stage.
Level: Baron Rank!
Titans: This is the next stage of a Nightmare's evolution. Once they have evolved from the fourth mark awakening.
They transformed into collosal abominations. Abnormalities whose strength are beyond comprehension.
Often considered dungeon bosses. They are the supreme leaders of their own armies.
Amongst the numerous species of Nightmares. Only three from each specie can emerge into this stage.
Level: Count rank.
Leviathans: They are the evolution of Nigjtmares. Transcending beyond the realms of Titanic.
They are the embodiments of abnormalities. Chaos and Dread, Nightmares who reigns as kings of their world.
Level: Duke.
Horned: The stage of evolution when Nightmares awaken their own consciousness. Obtaining intelligence.
They evolve into humaniod formed Nightmares with horns. Their powers equaled to their numbers of their horns.
They are the pinnacle of the Nightmare world. Only rarely seen by the human world, since they are intelligence.
They are the ranked generals amongst Nightmares.
Level: Kings/Generals.
And the Final Stage of the Echelon.
The Angels: They are the final stage of a Nightmare's evolution. Winged Nightmares, abominations.
Calamities that no human would wish would ever appear. Their feathered ebony wings symbolizes the doom of humanity.
Gods of the Nightmares.
Only one has ever being discovered since the Echelon rankings was determined by the Empire.
And this Nightmare is known as the "King"
Level: gods.
Note: the Nightmares are guided by the Echelon so they obey and follow the commands of those higher than them.
****
Clang!
The metallic door leading into a voluminous hall creaked open. Savitar followed the Inquisitor in silence.
He was led into a hall. Slowly raising his head.
"Wow" Savitar blurted out in awe.
Shocked by what he's seeing. This is the Black Star Platoon's weapons inventory, since he is drafted into the Black Star Platoon.
It's their duty to gear him up in preparation.
"Bewildered huh? This must be the first time you're seeing the inventory. Every agency owned by the Empire own an inventory "
"We store cursed weapons in bulk. Preparing for new recruits who will receive this weapons" The Inquisitor explained.
"Cursed weapons? Why is it called that" Savitar asked.
"Well a hundred years ago, when the first great cataclysm occured. Ordinary weapons were worthless against the Nightmares"
"Dungeon breaks occured all around the world and we humans were getting annihilated left and right"
"The only chance we had was to imbued our Starlight Energy into our weapons and slay the Nightmares"
"But it was never enough. Those who were unawakened suffered the most"
"After the Empire appeared. We found a chance to change our fate"
"While the world sees Aurora has just a system of the Empire. It was our dream, our savior"
"Thanks to Aurora. The cursed weapons were created, making use of the corpses of this Nightmares "
"We were able to utilize even this dead monsters. even the non awakened are capable of handling cursed weapons"
"But in terms of high grades, this are only controlled by Starlight Controllers" The Inquisitor.
They wandered around in the Inventory.
Savitar couldn't believe his eyes. Before him were many elite grade cursed weapons.
He saw blades sealed in display cases. Often hung on the wall and placed on white concrete pillared stands.
"Inquisitor sir...will I be getting a cursed weapon?" Savitar asked.
"Why do you think I brought you in here boy? In a few hours you will be deployed into the Eastern Coast alongside your party members"
"You have to be equipped with a cursed weapon and an armor"
"And besides call me Inquisitor Fox. That's my name" Inquisitor Fox added. His movements came to a halt.
Standing before a metallic door. He placed his right hand on the wall.
{Identity confirmed}
{Access Granted. Welcome Inquisitor Fox}
A systematic voice echoed from the door. Seconds later the door was opened.
They both made their way into the room to see cursed weapons on display. Most were huddled together.
Others were kept on display cases.
"This is the section you are permitted to select a weapon from. The ones from the outside are for the elites"
"You have five minutes to select a cursed weapon and link yourself with it" Inquisitor Fox apprised.
Savitar took a step forward. Surveying the cursed weapons present before him, he could feel himself being drawn to him.
Since Cursed Weapons were created using the flesh and organs of slain Nightmares. They still possess life essence of the Nightmares they were crafted from.
Savitar was observantly strolled around the room.
It's being minutes already since he started contemplating on which weapon he would take.
Savitar was drawn to many. Both axes, swords, spears and daggers, created in many unique ways and aspects.
But he felt no connections with any of them.
Just when he's growing tired. He had already given up on the struggle, Savitar stretched forth his hand.
Aiming to grab a runed grey colored scottish claymore sword.
His eyes twitched. He felt something behind him, Savitar quickly tilted his gaze.
Staring at a crimsoned flowered katana hunged on the wall.
His eyes broadened.
He felt something. Something unknown.
"Inquisitor Fox" Savitar voiced out.
"Yes? What is it" Inquisitor Fox questioned. His brows furrowed, he noticed the stupefied expression of Savitar.
He became curious.
"This katana…..will it be alright for me to take it?" Savitar asked.
"It was kept in this storage so I guess yes. It's just a cheap scrap either way, possibly created using the skin of a low level Nightmare "
"You can take. It's all yours" Inquisitor Fox gave his approval.
Savitar excitedly grabbed the blade from where he was hunger on the wall. Gently caressed the scabbard.
Slowly unsheathing the katana.
He felt coalesced by the Katana. His Starlight Energy resonated, releasing the blue color into the air.
[Notice. You have made an official pact with a cursed weapon]
[Cursed Name: ???]
[Cursed Rank:???]
[No informations can be found relating to this cursed weapon]
The report he got from his Cariburn Chip shocked him.
"To think not even the Cariburn Chip knows what this cursed weapon is"
Savitar shealthed the cursed blade back into the scabbard. Unbeknownst to him, the runes hidden within the cursed blade flickered.
Savitar rejected taking any body armor since it's heavy on his body.
Hindering him from sprinting when danger calls. He was returned back to the operation base as he awaits his deployment.
~~~
Four hours Later.
Savitar sat by the corner. Shrouded in darkness, he's seen drowned deep in his thoughts.
He's already putting on the subjugation uniform of the Black Star Platoon.
Clad in black. The insignia of the Black Star Platoon was evident on his shoulders.
A loud sigh escaped his lips.
Savitar listened to the approaching footage which drew closer to the void he sat in. His arms folded while sitted on a wooden bench.
His scabbard was placed beside him on the bench, Savitar slowly opened his eyes.
Sensing a presence before him.
<the power of Cognition>
He opened his eyes to see a bald headed figure standing before him. His bald head had a skull tattoo.
With just a single glance. One could tell this is a hardened murderer.
"This man. He must be a
"What kind of criminals exist in the Black Star Platoon?" Savitar thought to himself.
He took a deep breath, causing a sigh to escape his lips.
"Who are you?" Savitar questioned. He remained imperturbable.
"Oh? I like your serenity kid"
"You must be my party mate since we're dressed in the same deployment uniform. I was sent here to bring you"
"The name's Skarr tho" the bald figure addressed.
"Bring me in for what?" Savitar asked.
"We have received our order kid. It's time for the subjugation party to be deployed into the Eastern Coast"
"In a few minutes time. We'll entering the land of death"
Savitar quietly followed this Player who identified as Skarr. They both left the void space into the light.
Walking through the vacuous hallway In reticence.
Savitar followed Skarr into a room. His movements came to a halt when he met his party members.
Five in total excluding Skarr. Each of them were heavily imbued with wicked tattoos.
They're all <Convergence> users.
"Captain. This is the boy, the last member of the party" Skarr voiced out, drawing attention towards the direction of Savitar.
All eyes fell on him.
"So this is my party members? They're all exerting murderous Starlight Energy. Will they kill me?" Savitar asked himself.
" Ok. The team is now complete, come together guys. We will be heading to the Eastern Coast in a few minutes time"
One of the party members voiced. From his utterance and the way they listened to him, Savitar confirmed this is their leader.
Despite his demeanor. He's the one with the strongest malicious Starlight Energy.
"We have been ordered to take down a fourth grade level Nightmare. The Hermagodon, a Black Dread "
"The chances of survival has depleted"
"We have two percent survival rate and ninety eight percent death rate"
"I'm sure y'all know what this mean right? Our target exists at the depth of the southern province of the Coast"
"This is the black desert . Once in, there's no leaving"
"If you have a god you serve. Say your last prayer to him because there's one thing I'm certain is….."
"This is where we die today!"