NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Appraisal
[Prepare for appraisal…]
Aria drifted in a space suspended between dream and reality—a boundless black void strewn with a tapestry of shimmering stars.
It was breathtaking. The endless expanse of light and shadow left her speechless, her thoughts stilled by the sheer beauty of the scene. A tranquil silence wrapped around her like a blanket as she gazed at the intricate workings of the spell.
Then, the silence was broken.
[You have received a Memory: Umbra Ward.]
Aria's eyes widened in shock. "What?" she whispered, her voice echoing in the void. Her mind churned with confusion. A Memory? But she hadn't landed the final blow on any creature. At the end of the nightmare, she hadn't even fought. What had triggered this reward?
Before she could form a coherent answer, the spell spoke again.
[You have received a Memory: Stoneguard.]
[You have received a Memory: Ashen Blade.]
[You have received a Memory: Lunaris.]
[You have received a Memory: Hushed Sight.]
[You have received a Memory: Handy Pillow.]
[You have received an Echo: Wendralith's thrall.]
Her jaw dropped, the words catching in her throat. One after another, the announcements rolled in, an unrelenting cascade of rewards that left her reeling. "What… what is happening?" she stammered, her voice laced with disbelief.
It didn't take long for her thoughts to settle on the only explanation.
The bomb.
The spell was recognizing every single kill caused by the explosion. It was counting them all as hers. The realization struck her like lightning, and her chest swelled with a mixture of shock and giddy disbelief.
She was rich!
A grin spread across her face, and she felt an overwhelming urge to dive into her Soul Sea to inspect her newfound wealth. But she couldn't—not yet. The spell's voice spoke once more, commanding her attention.
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[A valiant warrior stood against an endless horde of monster, her indomitable spirit defying despair. Even as hope faded and her body lay shattered, she refused to yield. In her final act of defiance, she brought down everything with her, ensuring nothing but ashes remained.]
[You have defeated 121 dormant beast: Crysalinth's spawn.]
[You have defeated 215 dormant beast: Wendralith's thrall.]
[You have defeated one dormant human: name unknown.]
[You have defeated one transcendent human: Aegis.]
[You have defeated two dormant demons: Hideous Armor, Vineclast]
[You have defeated an awakened devil: Silent Stalker]
[You have defeated an awakened tyrant: Crysalinth.]
[You have defeated an awakened tyrant: Wendralith.]
[You have achieved the impossible!]
[Final appraisal: Glorious! Your will knows no bounds.]
Aria didn't know if this part actually held any deeper meaning, but it didn't matter. It felt nice to hear either way.
[Dreamer Aria, receive your boon!]
Her heart raced. Here it was—the moment she had waited for, dreamed of, and fought for over the last five years. Her boon.
[You have received a True Name: Winter Fortress.]
A shocked laugh bubbled up from her lips. "For real? Already?" she asked no one in particular. A True Name—on her first nightmare? She could hardly believe it. Most people waited years, struggling through countless trials, before maybe receiving one. But here it was, clear as the stars she had just witnessed.
Winter Fortress.
She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. It had a strong ring to it. Cool, commanding. She liked it.
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
A grin spread across her face. "What kind of question is that?" she scoffed. "Evolve? Of course!"
[Awakened Aspect Frost Warrior is evolving…]
[New Aspect acquired.]
[Aspect Rank: Sacred.]
Aria froze, her breath catching in her throat.
"Sacred?" she whispered, barely able to form the words.
[Aspect Name: Martial Warrior.]
Her thoughts whirled in disbelief, but the shock gave way to something deeper—a swelling sense of pride and triumph. Sacred. She'd actually gotten a Sacred Aspect.
A shaky chuckle escaped her lips. "Haha, fuck yeah!"
The exhilaration rushed through her veins like wildfire. Sacred was no mere rank. It was extraordinary, second only to Divine. She had been so worried she'd end up with something mediocre, something that wouldn't live up to her potential. But this? This was was the jackpot, no even better than that.
How many people could boast of wielding a Sacred Aspect? Few, if any, she thought with a smirk. This was hers, earned in blood, sweat, and cold, a lot of cold.
The energy coursing through her was intoxicating, like a lightning bolt surging through her core.
"Let's see it," she said eagerly, summoning her runes. Her hands trembled as the glowing marks appeared before her, dancing like shards of light. She sifted through them, searching for new Aspect.
Aspect: [Martial Warrior.]
Aspect Rank: Sacred.
Aspect Description: [You are a hardened warrior imbued with powers that do not stem from this world. Your existence defies the natural order.]
Innate Ability: [Otherworlder.]
Ability Description: [You can directly absorb a portion of the soul essence of any Nightmare Creature or human you kill, transforming it into Ki.]
That... that was weird.
Aria stared at the glowing runes, rereading the descriptions again. Her brows furrowed deeper with each pass. What the hell is the Spell talking about?
"Powers not from this world? Defies natural order?" she muttered under her breath. "Ki?"
She shook her head, frustration building. It so vague—infuriatingly vague. Why couldn't the Spell just tell her what her powers did instead of handing her riddles? What even was Ki?
A long sigh escaped her lips. "Looks like I'll have to figure it out myself,"
Still, something nagged at her.
'Why do I even have an innate ability?'
She thought back, sifting through scattered memories. She wasn't sure if she was misremembering or not, but she was pretty sure only divine aspect holders had an innate ability.
The Spell continued.
[The First Seal is broken.]
[Awakening dormant powers...]
Aria felt something stirring inside her, gripping her chest as though trying to contain it. It was as if a miniature star had ignited within her. The sensation wasn't painful, just... overwhelming, something entirely new. Warm energy began coursing through her body, touching every fiber of her being.
Her bones felt like they were being reforged, her muscles stretched and strengthened, her blood vessels and organs renewed with vitality. Every part of her was changing. She felt lighter, sharper, and undeniably stronger.
It felt good.
No, it felt euphoric.
Gradually, the heat within her began to subside, cooling to a steady hum that resonated through her entire being.
A final wave of energy burst forth, washing away all the aches and discomforts lingering in her body. It surged through her like a tide, reaching every corner before traveling upward, coursing through her brain, and finally settling in her eyes.
Then, something strange happened. Her surroundings shifted.
Before her stretched a silent sea, its surface gleaming under the light of a radiant sun.
This was her soul sea.
It was beautiful—calm and serene in a way that took her breath away. Her eyes wandered over the tranquil expanse.
"So this is what it looks like."
At the center of the sea floated a singular star, its light brilliant and steady. But as Aria inspected it, something unusual caught her attention. The star was wrapped in a faint, almost transparent energy, shimmering like frost. The strange energy seemed to waver, as though it sought to merge with the star, only to be rebuffed.
Curious, she reached out. The energy felt icy to the touch, so cold it sent shivers up her arm. Wherever it grazed the water below, patches of the sea froze over, only to thaw seconds later as though nothing had happened.
She frowned, unsure what to make of it. The star pulsed faintly, its glow steady yet enigmatic.
Not wanting to puzzle over it too long, she shifted her focus to the ten spheres of light orbiting the star. These were her memories, with one singular sphere bigger than the rest—an echo.
She leaned in closer, trying to study them, but before she could, the Spell's voice interrupted, pulling her out of her soul sea.
[Awakening Aspect Ability...]
Here it was, the moment of truth. Her aspect ability—this would shape her future, determine the path she'd walk and the profession she'd pursue. Would it be combat, sorcery, utility, or even healing? The possibilities ran through her mind, each one painting a different picture of her life ahead.
Still, deep down, she knew what she wanted. She hoped for a combat ability. That was who she was—a fighter at heart, someone who thrived in the heat of battle. Nothing else felt as natural or as exhilarating.
[Aspect Ability acquired.]
She held her breath,
[Aspect Ability Name: Unyielding Resilience.]
[Aspect Ability Description: Your body is more resilient than most. Hardening with each strike and desperately clinging to life.]
Aria read the words carefully, her heart racing. The ability sounded incredible. More than incredible, depending on what "clinging to life" meant, this power was everything she had ever hoped for—and more. A grin played on her lips.
But before her excitement got to her head the Spell's voice filled the void once more.
[All power has a price.]
Her fists clenched as her breath caught in her throat. Now it was time for the moment she had been dreading.
[You have received a Flaw.]
[Your Flaw is: Bloodthirsty.]
'What?!'
[Flaw Description: You crave violence, war, and bloodshed.]
Her heart sank. She closed her eyes as the words carved their meaning into her mind. A flaw had always been inevitable—she had known that from the beginning—but this one? What was she supposed to make of it?
Craving violence? Bloodshed?
Her thoughts raced, spiraling into uneasy questions. Would it consume her, drive her to madness? Did it mean she'd need to hurt others just to stay sane? Worse, did it mean she'd have to drink blood?
A chill ran down her spine.
"Wait," she muttered under her breath, trying to rein in her thoughts. "That's ridiculous. I'm not a vampire!"
Doubt lingered like a shadow. Was she overthinking it? Could it be less sinister than it sounded? She forced herself to take a deep breath. Maybe it wasn't as bad as her imagination was making it out to be. Maybe-
The Spell's voice interrupted her thoughts, offering no reprieve.
[Wake up, Winter Fortress!]