No Return (Shadow Slave Fan-Fic)

Levi was shaking violently , his eyes wide staring at the river before him. He wasn't moving at all , he even had forgot to breath. Why hadn't he sensed the Tyrant..? Why didn't he hear its footsteps.. was he so focused on his injuries that he had forgotten to observe the environment. And that mistake had come with a heavy price. Because there was no way he could outrun an Awakened Tyrant when he was simply a mundane human. 

But worse than that.. Levi remembered the something. The torn off arm that lay on the ground when he first entered the nightmare and saw the time flow backwards...

That was his own arm.. 

He was going to die... and he was going to turn into a Nightmare Creature in the real world... the only thing he could hope was that the Awakened they spoke of would be there watching over him in the real world.

Because Levi had no plans to escape this situation alive , and even if he did have one , he would fail miserably...

Accepting his end.. he slowly turned his head , looking at the Forest Dweller with a side-long glance.

'What the hell is that thing..'

He was repulsed by the sight.. the creature was beyond ugly. He felt like he could throw up the second time. The creature.. had a wolf like face like its Larva - the dormant beast that he killed. It had a big body.. at the size of a tank.. it had 6 legs... the legs looked curved and dirty , Levi could not even understand how it was standing on those legs.

The tyrant also had long talons around him , most likely functioned as his arms..

But unfortunately, Levi's analysis of the Tyrant was cut short. Agony exploded in his shoulders. He barely had time to process the sharp, searing pain before...-

***

Levi let out a sharp pained scream , 2 huge talons had pierced his both shoulders. A sickening tear echoed through the air. Levi barely registered the moment his corroded arm ripped away from his body, landing with a dull thud beside him. His breath hitched—his own limb, severed, discarded like rotting flesh.

Levi's eyes were wide in horror , he had lost a part of his body.. His mind was clouded by pain and agony. He had no ways to get out of this situation , he was going to die here. 

Before he could process the pain , the other talon that had sunk into his shoulder suddenly moved and threw Levi across the air.

The impact was catastrophic. A sickening crack shot through his back as he slammed into the tree. White-hot agony exploded through his spine. His mouth opened to scream, but only **a flood of blood** poured out, drowning his voice before it could escape. He puked the blood to his lap.. Blood was dripping from multiple parts of his body , from his eyes , shoulders , nose and mouth. Levi was in a horrible condition. His vision was growing dimmer due to the blood loss. 

Levi had realized... how weak his mind was. He did not know if it was the effect of the corrosion , or his own weakness. But it was a fact that he felt that he was weak. All of his life Levi had thought he was immune to suffering , he always had thought he could always keep a cool head in every situation.

But this past hours.. had proved him wrong. Levi was far from calm , he was a being that was filled with hatred. Hatred for the world , humans , Nightmare Spell and its creatures. And hatred against himself. As the Description of his aspect said: {You reek of a demon. You are bound to suffer} 

Levi was starting to think that.. the spell did not lie. None of that mattered anymore though , because in a few seconds.. he was going to die. His Aspect didn't mean anything , because it will be gone.

The Forest Dweller lurched closer. Thick strands of drool hung from its maw, pooling onto the dirt. Its blood-red eyes locked onto Levi—hungry, eager, merciless. 

As it approached Levi , it opened its maw. Unfortunately Levi did not remember anything that happened after that. 

Because he died.

{Wake up Levi! Your nightmare is over!} 

{Prepare for appraisal..}

***

{Prepare for appraisal..}

Levi found himself in a space between dream and reality. It was an endless black void illuminated by a myriad of stars. Between those stars, countless strings of silver light were woven into a beautiful and inconceivably complex net, forming various nexuses and constellations. It was truly breathtaking.

Was this afterlife? It did not seem so bad... but.. why was he hearing the spell speak..? Wasn't he supposed to be dead? He assumed that spell would guide him to afterlife. Was the spell truly a god then..? It had said prepare for your appraisal.. he did not know what that meant. After a few seconds later.. the Spell spoke once again.

{You have received an Attribute: Ashen Burden.}

Levi's eyes widened. Why was he receiving an Attribute..? He was dead! He was feeling very confused. But.. at least he felt somehow at peace while in this place. He waited for the Spell to continue talking.

{Aspirant your trial is over!}

Levi.. was shocked. He did not know how to react... his trial was over..? How..?

{A glorious hunter dwelled into the Forsaken Forest , he traversed the area and faced not so many challenges and especially inner turmoil and suffering!}

{You have defeated a Dormant Beast: Forest Dwellers Larva!}

{You have survived the curse of the Forest Dweller for 15 hours!}

{You have not succumbed to the pool of hatred inside you! A rare thing for a demon!}

{Final Appraisal: Horrifying! Your hatred knows no bounds!}

Levi was somewhat angry.. who did this bastard think he was..? But he decided to be patient for now.. It seemed he was not really dead..

{Dreamer Levi! Receive Your boon!}

Levi's eyes widened. He had really survived somehow!

{You have been bestowed a True Name: No Return}

His jaw dropped. A true name! He had received a true name! Never in his wildest dreams did Levi dream of becoming one of the chosen few to accomplish such feat - and in his very first Nightmare to boot! Not even all of the Saints could boast of having one. 

But the rewards kept coming.

{Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?}

'What kind of a question is that?!'

Levi nodded. "yes".

{Dormant Aspect Demon is evolving ... }

{New Aspect acquired.}

{Aspect Rank: Divine.}

Levi's face paled.

{Aspect Name: Demon of Corrosion.}

***

'Divine ... it's Divine.'

Levi was standing on his knees, stupefied. The shock was so great that for a second there he lost all control over his limbs and fell.

'It said "divine" ... right?'

He raised a trembling hand and rubbed his eyes, making sure that he was awake. Or rather conscious, since, technically, he was still sleeping in the underground vault of the police station.

Confused by all this terminology, Levi silently summoned the runes and found the lines describing his aspect.

Aspect: {Demon of Corrosion}.

Aspect Rank: Divine.

Aspect Description: {You were reborn after realizing the extend of your hatred. Such hatred that knows no bounds , you are really a demon. As a Divine Demon , you have plenty of destructive powers. However your existence is filled with Hatred and Suffering , you mourn your first death and protect yourself from what's next to come.}

Levi had a lot to digest... He had really received a Divine aspect. Something that no one had ever heard about.. This made him feel very happy.. but.. he did not know if it redeemed his death. After all , it was painful. His thoughts were cut short , because the spell was not done talking.

{The First Seal is broken.}

{Awakening Dormant powers..}