"My head hurts..."
Kevin was walking toward the cafeteria of the Awakened Academy. It had been two months since he was infected with the Nightmare Spell and conquered his First Nightmare.
Reaching the cafeteria, he looked around, searching for something.
To the left of the cafeteria, he spotted three people sitting around a table.
Walking toward them, he looked at the three seated there.
On the right side of the table sat a boy with brown hair and eyes. His skin was a deep shade of brown, and his large frame was packed with muscle.
On the left side sat two girls close to each other. The first had green hair tied into twin ponytails and brown eyes. Her white skin seemed to glow, just like her personality.
The girl next to her was the complete opposite—her dark hair was like the night, and her amethyst-colored eyes held a quiet depth. Her pale skin looked almost lifeless.
Reaching them, Kevin sat next to the brown-haired boy.
"Took your time, Kevin. Last night must've been something else, hahahah."
Kevin looked at the boy beside him and said:
"Shut it, Ren. My head still hurts."
Ren continued laughing but stopped as Kevin punched him in the stomach.
"What happened last night?"
The two looked at the green-haired girl. Ren tried to say something but was quickly stopped by Kevin.
"It's nothing, Amy."
Amy frowned.
"You can't just spark my curiosity and then leave me in the dark!" She turned to the black-haired girl beside her and asked, "Right, Rachel?"
Rachel looked at Amy and replied:
"Don't drag me into this, Amy."
Amy puffed her cheeks and looked away.
Kevin scratched his golden hair and asked:
"What do we have next?"
"Wilderness Survival," Rachel said nonchalantly.
Kevin groaned. It wasn't that he hated the class—it was just that the professor was too... boring. At least for him.
Mostly, it was because he already knew most of the material as the heir of the Hall clan.
Ren stood up and said:
"Well, we shouldn't keep the professor waiting."
The other three got up and followed the giant man.
When they reached the class, they found Professor Julius sitting at his desk, reading a paper.
Kevin instantly recognized it—he had read it, too.
'The Exploration Report of the Tomb of Ariel' was a research document written by 'Nobody'. Though banned, some had managed to get a copy. Kevin was one of them.
"Ahem!"
Professor Julius quickly stuffed the research paper into a drawer and stood up from his seat.
"Hahaha... You're early today, youngsters."
"Yes, Professor Julius."
Professor Julius nodded and gestured for them to take their seats.
He began lecturing, explaining the Dream World and how to survive there, but Kevin wasn't listening. His head was already pounding, and with the professor's talkative nature, it only got worse.
Suddenly, Kevin heard Amy ask:
"Then what about the Underworld, Professor Julius?"
"The Underworld is a mystery. Three years ago, we believed all residents of the Dream World had vanished, but we were wrong. The Underworld is still inhabited."
He shook his head and added:
"At least we know they aren't human, nor are they corrupted."
Kevin sighed. He still remembered that day...
Even though humanity reclaimed its lands thanks to the rise of the new Sovereigns, the sheer number of Awakened who perished left the world in fear.
One man... It took only one man to kill thousands of Awakened and over fifty Masters—not to mention the Saints...
'The Black Emperor, Raphael...'
His name was forbidden. Some had even begun worshiping him as a god, but they were all executed by the clans and government.
Kevin hated that man to his core.
In the end, he was the one who killed his father that day...
With his father gone, there was no one left to protect the Hall clan. Envious rivals took advantage of their weakness, and Kevin's sister was forced to challenge the Second Nightmare. Thankfully, she succeeded, even obtaining a 'True Name'.
Kevin raised his hand and asked:
"Professor Julius, do you know anything about the three-headed Titan?"
Professor Julius frowned.
"Kevin, don't ever speak about that. Do you understand?"
"...Yes, Professor Julius."
Nodding, the professor continued his lecture.
Kevin sighed. He really wanted to know about that 'thing'.
Even though he had been in the NQSC that day, he still saw the 'light'.
Not only had it wiped out every abomination in Antarctica, but it had also closed the Nightmare Gates—something never heard of before!
Because of that 'thing', the evacuation of Antarctica had been successful.
Unfortunately, even with the Gates closed, new ones had opened elsewhere, making Antarctica uninhabitable.
Some theorized that the 'thing' was the Black Emperor himself, but the idea was dismissed. 'He' controlled darkness, whereas that 'thing' wielded light.
Of course, there was still a possibility that 'he' could control both.
Countless theories were debated—some contradicting, some aligned. But one fact was certain: the 'thing' was a Sovereign.
Leaving the classroom, the four walked toward the training grounds.
People around them started whispering, but Kevin didn't pay it any mind. He was already used to it.
Since all of them ranked in the top five of their year, the attention was inevitable.
Reaching the training grounds, they suited up.
Taking a spear, Kevin walked to the center of the room.
Beside him, Rachel held a dagger. In front of him, Ren raised a shield, resting a hammer on his shoulder with a smug grin. Behind Ren, Amy stood wielding a sword and a small shield.
Taking his stance, Kevin locked eyes with Ren, who struck his hammer against his shield, signaling the start of the battle.
Beside him, Rachel suddenly vanished. Of course, Kevin knew why—her ability created a veil that made her invisible.
Ren turned to his left, raising his shield just in time to block an attack—Rachel's dagger.
Even though she was invisible, Ren could still sense her movements.
Kevin dashed toward Amy. He knew their chances of winning would drop significantly if she activated her ability.
Reaching her, he thrust his spear forward—but stopped at the last second as a hammer swung toward him.
Dodging back, he created distance.
The hammer froze midair, then flew back to its owner.
Ren's ability allowed him to manipulate gravity around him. He could only control his own body and marked objects, but he could also alter another person's gravity—though it would drain all his essence, making it impractical in real combat.
Kevin clicked his tongue and glanced at Amy.
Too late—she opened her mouth.
A horrendous sound erupted from her lips, stunning Kevin for a second. Rachel, too. Only Ren remained unaffected.
Amy's ability allowed her to buff or debuff through song—a perfect match for someone who had once been a performer.
Unfortunately, her flaw made her voice unbearable when using her ability, crushing her dream of becoming like Saint Nightingale.
Taking advantage of the moment, Ren swung his hammer at Rachel, but she dodged at the last second.
Kevin sighed. He really didn't want to do this.
In front of him, Amy suddenly stopped singing. Her face turned blue as she looked at Kevin, anger burning in her eyes.
Kevin's ability was simple—he could control the air around him. Using it, he removed the air in Amy's surroundings.
Without air, she couldn't breathe, let alone sing.
Ren charged at Kevin, swinging his hammer.
Kevin dodged backward. His concentration broke, and air rushed back to Amy, allowing her to gasp for breath.
Ren glared at Kevin.
"That's a foul, you know?"
Kevin chuckled.
"There are no fouls in real battle, Ren… also, shouldn't you be protecting Amy right now?"
Ren turned, only to see Amy kneeling on the ground, a dagger at her throat.
Rachel had already won.
Ren sighed and dropped his weapons.
"We forfeit."
Hearing this, Rachel sheathed her dagger and helped Amy to her feet.
Kevin walked toward Amy, scratching his head.
"Look, Amy—"
She cut him off.
"Don't talk to me!"
With Rachel's support, she left the training grounds.
Kevin sighed, watching them go.
He was in deep trouble
----------------------------------
Looking ahead, Kevin stared at the pods.
The Winter Solace had arrived. It was time for them to be summoned into the Dream World.
Glancing at the three beside him, he smiled and said:
"See you in the Dream Realm."
Ren looked at Kevin and asked,
"What makes you think we'll meet each other right away?"
"Call it instinct," Kevin replied nonchalantly.
Ren chuckled at his words before stepping into the pod in front of him.
Kevin followed suit, just like the others.
Closing his eyes, he suddenly heard a voice.
[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Kevin!]
Kevin's eyes snapped open.
He was standing in the middle of a forest... a burned forest.
-----------------------------
Atop a large tree sat a young man with black eyes and curly black hair. He had a broad forehead and a thin face. A crystal monocle hung over his right eye, and a black pointed hat rested on his head. Swinging his legs lazily, he hummed a tune.
Suddenly, he stopped and looked down. Though trees stood in front of him, he could see clearly—a boy with golden hair and emerald eyes. Three others stood nearby—one boy and two girls.
Pressing a hand against his monocle, he murmured:
"Interesting..."
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Well I'm back... at least for few days since my mids are after two weeks, and when that time comes I will not have time to write a chapter. I know it's very sad, but I've good news. I've finished planning for this volume!
If you have any questions, you can find me in the official Shadow Slave discord. just go to the Fanfiction room, and search for mine, it's named after the FF name.
Leave a review on this fanfic, chapter and some power stones, so more people can read it.
See you again next time👋
Are you happy now Fool_King?