The return from the Nightmare Realm was always disorienting. One moment, Ash stood in the abyss of his trial, his blade dripping with the remains of his foes. The next, his body lurched as reality twisted around him, depositing him back into the waking world.
A cold breath escaped his lips as his boots struck solid ground. The transition room, a sterile chamber lined with glowing runes, greeted him with its eerie silence. He instinctively tensed, his senses adjusting to the shift in atmosphere.
Then, the system's notifications flooded his vision.
---
[Trial Cleared: Evaluation - Outstanding]
[Rewards Granted: ???]
[New Title Granted: "Abysswalker"]
---
Abysswalker.
The name carried a strange weight, settling deep into his core as if it had always been a part of him. Ash clenched his fists, feeling an unfamiliar presence within him, as though the title itself had imbued him with something more than just a name.
But before he could dwell on it further, movement in the room caught his attention.
"Another survivor," a woman muttered, dressed in the standard uniform of an Awakened official. Her gaze flickered to Ash before she marked something down on her clipboard. "You're… Ash, correct?"
He merely nodded. His sharp gaze swept across the surroundings, taking in the Awakened officials managing the returnees.
A familiar voice reached him.
"You made it too, huh?"
Ash turned, his cold gaze meeting a pair of dark, calculating eyes. A young man with messy black hair stood before him, exhaustion evident yet shadowed by an unreadable expression.
Sunny.
For the first time, Ash found himself face to face with the protagonist of this world.
So, it begins. For a brief moment, silence stretched between them. Ash studied Sunny, his expression unreadable. He had known this meeting was inevitable, but standing before him now, Ash felt something stir within him—an odd mix of familiarity and detachment.
Sunny, on the other hand, seemed mildly intrigued but not overly interested. He had the air of someone who had seen too much and trusted too little. His eyes flickered over Ash before he shrugged.
"Not a talker, huh?"
Ash simply gave a slight tilt of his head, neither confirming nor denying it.
Before Sunny could say anything else, another voice interrupted.
"Move along," an Awakened official ordered, gesturing toward the exit. "You're done here."
Sunny gave one last glance at Ash before walking away, blending into the crowd of returnees. Ash followed at his own pace, maintaining his distance.
The moment he stepped out of the transition chamber, a flood of messages appeared before his eyes.
---
[Personal Status Updated]
Name: Ash
Title: Abysswalker
Aspect: Abyssal Tyrant (Divine)
Rank: Awakened
[Attributes]
Strength: 68 (Awakened)
Agility: 72 (Awakened)
Endurance: 65 (Awakened)
Perception: 78 (Awakened)
Mana: 59 (Awakened)
[Abilities]
Sovereign of the Abyss: Absorbs the stats of defeated enemies instead of their abilities, but the absorption happens gradually over time. The rate of absorption has increased.
Abyssal Dominion: Gains slight physical enhancements and exerts suppressive force in areas where he has defeated enemies.
Predator's Conquest: Permanently copies an enemy's physical/martial techniques after witnessing them once. The copied technique starts strong and becomes increasingly perfected as he continues fighting.
Tyrant's Form: Temporarily enhances speed, strength, and reflexes but rapidly drains stamina.
Devourer's Rebirth: Can consume stored energy to heal mortal wounds but weakens his foundation temporarily.
[Flaws]
Vision Impairment (Right Eye): Blurred vision in one eye. Observation Haki compensates partially.
[New Title Effect - Abysswalker]
Abyssal Stride: Slightly increases movement speed and reaction time in environments with low visibility.
Dark Affinity: Slightly boosts perception in shadowed areas.
---
Ash frowned slightly at the changes. His absorption rate had increased, which meant his growth would accelerate. That was… useful. His title also seemed to complement his current fighting style, enhancing his abilities in darkness.
Still, his flaw remained. His right eye's vision hadn't improved, but he had adapted to it.
Closing the menu, he exhaled and refocused.
His next priority was clear—strengthening himself further before the next trial.
And now, he had another factor to consider.
Sunny.
A shadow of a smirk played on Ash's lips before he disappeared into the city. The streets of the Academy district were bustling with activity, filled with returnees from the recent Nightmare. Some walked in groups, their hushed voices filled with excitement or relief. Others moved alone, their expressions hardened by whatever horrors they had survived.
Ash moved through the crowd silently, his mind processing everything that had changed. The transition back to reality was always a strange experience—one moment, he had been fighting for his life in a world ruled by nightmares, and the next, he was back in civilization, where the biggest concern for most was training schedules and upcoming assignments.
Yet for him, there was no real difference. Strength was the only thing that mattered, regardless of the world he stood in.
As he walked, another notification appeared before his eyes.
---
[Stat Absorption Process: Ongoing]
Strength +2
Agility +3
Endurance +1
Mana +2
Perception +2
---
Ash narrowed his eyes slightly. The absorption process had accelerated, but it wasn't instant. He had already gained a boost, but the rest would trickle in over time.
'Good.'
Every bit of power counted, especially now that he had entered a new stage of competition. Other Awakened would be his rivals, and some would undoubtedly become threats. He needed to grow faster.
---
Academy Headquarters - Assignment Hall
The Academy's main headquarters loomed ahead, an imposing structure filled with Awakened of all ranks. Here, assignments were given, records were processed, and upcoming trials were scheduled.
Ash entered the hall, his gaze scanning the vast space. It was filled with warriors of all kinds—some wore the Academy's uniform, while others bore the marks of independent fighters. Despite the different backgrounds, they all had one thing in common.
Power.
The aura in the room was suffocating to an untrained individual. Each Awakened carried the weight of their own experiences, their own kills, and their own nightmares.
Ignoring the murmurs and stares, Ash made his way toward the registration desk.
The clerk, a tired-looking man in his thirties, barely glanced up. "Name?"
"Ash."
The man tapped a few keys on his console before raising an eyebrow. "You just returned from a Nightmare, and you're already back? No rest?"
Ash didn't respond.
The clerk sighed. "Figures. You're clear for assignment selection. Check the board for any available missions."
Ash turned away, making his way toward the large holographic board that displayed various assignments for Awakened. Some were basic scouting missions, while others involved direct combat against Nightmare Creatures.
He ignored the low-level tasks. He needed something that would push him further.
Then, one mission caught his eye.
---
[Special Assignment: Arena Combat Evaluation]
Rank Requirement: Awakened
Objective: Participate in live combat evaluations against fellow Awakened.
Rewards: Combat Rank Evaluation, Training Resources, Priority Access to Next Trial.
---
Ash's eyes sharpened.
This wasn't just a sparring match. It was a direct evaluation of combat ability between Awakened.
'Perfect.'
If he wanted to gauge where he stood against others in his rank, this was the best way.
Without hesitation, he confirmed his participation.
---
Arena - Underground Combat Facility
The underground arena was unlike anything in the upper levels of the Academy. It was raw, brutal, and devoid of unnecessary formalities.
Awakened warriors gathered around the stone ring, their eyes filled with anticipation. Some were here to watch, others to fight.
Ash stepped onto the stone floor, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted to the energy in the room. He could already sense the presence of strong opponents among the gathered fighters.
A voice echoed through the hall.
"Next match—Ash vs. Ciro!"
A muscular man with a battle-hardened appearance stepped into the ring, his aura radiating strength. He wielded a pair of curved blades, his movements fluid and controlled.
"New guy, huh?" Ciro smirked. "Let's see if you're worth my time."
Ash remained silent, unsheathing his sword.
The moment the signal was given, Ciro vanished—his speed impressive.
Ash's Observation Haki flared.
There.
Before Ciro could reach him, Ash's sword moved.
A blur of steel met flesh.
A sharp gasp rang through the arena.
Ciro staggered back, a deep cut running across his chest. His eyes widened in shock. "What—?"
Ash didn't let him recover.
His blade moved again, this time with Phantom Rend.
A single step forward. A flash of steel.
And it was over.
Ciro collapsed, unconscious before he hit the ground.
Silence filled the arena.
Then, murmurs erupted.
"Who the hell is that guy…?"
"Fast. Too fast."
"That wasn't a normal sword strike."
Ash ignored them, turning away as the officials declared his victory.
His goal was clear.
This was just the beginning.