SHADOW SLAVE: A FINAL HOPE

A few minutes later, Fang Yuan was spacing out while several policemen were busy putting him in restraints. Soon he was fastened onto a bulky chair that looked like a weird mix between a hospital bed and a torture device.

The room they were in was situated in the basement of the police station, with thick armoured walls and a formidable-looking vault door. Other officers were standing near the walls, with automatic rifles in their hands and grim expressions on their faces.

Fang Yuan did not particularly care about them. The only thing he could think about was how to pass his first nightmare trial.

Finally, the vault door opened, and a grey-haired policeman walked in. He had a seasoned face and stern eyes, looking like someone who had seen a lot of terrible things in his life. After checking the restraints, the policeman glanced at his wristwatch and then turned to the boy.

''What's your name, son?"

"Fang Yuan."

The policeman continued-

"Do you want me to contact your family?

"I am an orphan." Fang Yuan said.

For a second, there was a dark look on the policeman's face when he saw the young boys scar filled body. Then his expression turned serious.

"Alright, Fang Yuan. How long can you stay awake?"

"Few minutes."

The policeman sighed.

''Then we do not have time for the full procedure son. Try to resist for as long as you can and listen to me very carefully. Okay?"

Not waiting for a response, he added:

"How much do you know about the Nightmare Spell?"

"I know everything I need to know." Fang Yuan replied flatly.

"Not the fancy stuff you see in dramas and hear in the propaganda broadcasts. I mean how much do you really know?"

"I have been reading and learning since childhood about the nightmare realm and the trials so you can say I know as much as I need to know and more then what you can tell me in a few minutes'' Fang Yuan replied with an emotionless face and calm eyes.

The old policeman squinted his eyes but then soon shook his head and sighed. eyeing him from top to bottom there was a frown on his face probably because of the well-built but damaged body of the carrier and the unusually calm demenor of the seemingly outskirt orphan boy in front of him but he kept it to himself and continued.

"Listen carefully kid as much as you think you know it's never enough just remember. Once you fall asleep, you will be transported inside your First Nightmare. Nightmares are trials created by the Spell. Once inside, you will meet monsters, sure, but you will also meet people. Remember: they are not real. They're just illusions conjured up to test you."

"How do you know?"

The policeman just stared at him.

"I mean, no one understands what the Spell is and how it works, right? So how do you know that they're not real?"

"You might have to kill them, kid. So do yourself a favour and just think about them as illusions."

"yes, I will." Fang Yuan replied in a calm and monotone manner probably because of the increasing drowsiness.

The old policeman waited for a second, then nodded and continued.

"A lot of things about the First Nightmare depend on luck. Generally, it shouldn't be overwhelmingly hard. The situation you're in, the tools you have at your disposal and the creatures you have to defeat should be within the range of your abilities, at least. After all, the Spell sets up trials, not executions. You're a bit disadvantaged due to… well… your circumstances. But kids from the outskirts are tough. Don't give up on yourself."

"Remember: the first thing you must do once inside the Nightmare is to check your Attributes and your Aspect. If you get a combat-oriented Aspect, something like a Swordsman or an Archer, things will be easier. If it is reinforced by a physical Attribute, then that's even better. Combat Aspects are the most common, so the probability of receiving one is high."

"If you're unlucky and your Aspect has nothing to do with combat, don't despair. Sorcery and utility Aspects are useful in their own ways, you'll just have to be smart about it. There are really no useless Aspects. Well, almost. So just do anything in your power to survive."

"If you survive, you will be halfway to becoming an Awakened. But if you die, you'll open a gate for a Nightmare Creature to appear in the real world. Which means that my colleagues and I will have to deal with it. So… please don't die, Fang Yuan."

"Or, at least, try to not die right away. The nearest Awakened won't be able to get here for a few hours, so we would really appreciate it if you don't make us fight that thing ourselves…"

Fang Yuan had remained silent throughout the process. But now spoke up,

"do not worry I will finish the trial."

Fang Yuan closed his eyes. He succumbed to the slumber.

Everything became black.

And then, in the darkness, a faintly familiar voice rang:

[Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your First Trial…]

Fang Yuan felt a pull on his lips as he remembered where he heard this voice before and suddenly many things started to make sense and some questions were outright answered.

''so you're the being that brought me here huh, very well lets see what you truly are a sorcery ,a deity or something entirely different entity. '' this was the first thought fang yuan had before he opened his eyes .

When Fang Yuan opened his eyes he saw himself surrounded by darkness,

he saw nothing as all he was capable of perceiving was a darkness that didn't quite seem like true darkness similar to the void but a darkness that was born from his own mind like his own creation his own reflection;

the ground beneath him was flat and featureless like it was made up of glass reflecting everything around him and in him. it was a conflicting sight to see.

"Wasn't the first trial supposed to involve resolving a conflict recreated by the spell? Why am I here, and what conflict am I meant to confront?" As this thought raced through his mind, a surge of alertness washed over him,

sharpening his focus and awareness honed through years of rigorous trial he immediately turned around taking a fighting stance against the figure that was behind him.

''how arrogant of you you believe you can accomplish something? Did all the failures in the past not teach you anything did all the wasted efforts not show you the reality, Fang Yuan? that you now came to this place to again see yourself fail'' like a hiss the figure spoke his voice filled with disgust and malice.

a figure in black and blue robes was standing in front of Fang Yuan in this seemingly endless dark expanse. it wasn't his sudden appearance that shocked Fang Yuan it was his face that shocked him because unlike him who was in the nightmare in his new body

the figure standing in front of him had the face of Fang Yuan the Fang Yuan of the Gu World the face of his third life, a face that fang yuan lost ages ago was standing In front of him like a perfect replica of himself.

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Authors note:- alright everyone ik ik youre gonna spam syain its rigged with using guiltys para but trust me the real show and my originality starts from now and btw fr all of you who are wondering sunny will join into the chair party too but not in the same way like in G3 .

Give me some of those power stones pretty please~~~~~