Shadow slave: Sovereign of the Unknown

A suffocating darkness surrounded Ash. It was not the simple absence of light but something deeper—an overwhelming void that pressed against his senses, whispering of unseen horrors lurking beyond his reach. His body felt weightless yet bound, as if reality itself was uncertain whether he existed.

Then, with a sudden pull, the world came rushing back.

Ash gasped as he stumbled forward, his boots sinking into the soft earth beneath him. A thick, damp mist clung to the ground, curling around his legs like grasping fingers. The air was cold, carrying a distant stench of decay. He had arrived.

The Nightmare Realm.

His breath steadied as he surveyed his surroundings. Towering dead trees stretched toward the sky, their twisted branches forming skeletal silhouettes against the blood-red moon that loomed overhead. The sky was a swirling storm of crimson and black, and in the far distance, he could hear faint, guttural growls—inhuman and hungry.

"So it begins."

A flicker of anticipation stirred within him. He had expected this moment, but now that it was real, the weight of it settled over his shoulders. There was no turning back. This was his trial, the first step in a journey of survival and power.

---

The Awakening

A sharp pain flared in his head, and in that instant, a familiar system screen appeared before his eyes.

---

[Name]: Ash

[Rank]: Dormant

[Aspect]: Abyssal Tyrant (Divine Level)

[Physical Stats]:

Strength: 9 (Dormant)

Agility: 10 (Dormant)

Endurance: 8 (Dormant)

Perception: 9 (Dormant)

Willpower: 10 (Dormant)

[Abilities]:

Sovereign of the Abyss – Absorbs the stats of defeated enemies. (Absorption rate increased in Nightmare Realm.)

Abyssal Dominion – Exerts suppressive force in areas where he has conquered enemies.

Predator's Conquest – Permanently copies physical/martial techniques after witnessing them once.

Tyrant's Form – Temporarily boosts all stats but drains stamina rapidly.

Devourer's Rebirth – Consumes stored energy to heal mortal wounds. (Weakens foundation temporarily.)

---

His stats were still within Dormant rank, but that would change soon. The moment he killed his first Nightmare Creature, the climb would begin.

He exhaled, his fingers brushing the hilt of his sword.

"Time to hunt."

---

The First Hunt

The first sign of danger came in the form of rustling from the trees. Ash stopped, his grip tightening around his weapon. The mist thickened, swirling unnaturally as a shape emerged from the darkness.

A low snarl echoed.

Then, from the gloom, a creature slithered forward—a monstrous, wolf-like being, its eyes glowing a sickly yellow. Its body was unnaturally elongated, its ribs pressing against thin, rotting flesh. Dark, jagged fangs dripped with venom as it prowled toward him.

[Dormant Nightmare Creature Detected: Ravager Hound]

Ash shifted his stance. The Phantom Rend technique had a high energy cost, but in this moment, it was worth it. His muscles tensed as he prepared to strike.

The creature lunged.

With a sharp inhale, Ash moved. His sword flashed in the darkness, a blur of motion enhanced by his technique.

A single step. A single slash.

Phantom Rend.

The blade carved through the Ravager Hound's body before it even realized what had happened. A delayed spray of dark ichor painted the ground as the creature collapsed, twitching in its death throes.

A familiar sensation filled him—a rush of energy, like something being pulled into his very core.

[Absorbing Stats...]

His vision flickered as a notification appeared.

---

[Stats Increased]

Strength: +1

Agility: +1

Endurance: +1

---

A grin formed on Ash's lips.

The Sovereign of the Abyss had activated. His power was growing.

And this was only the beginning.

---

The Nightmare's Welcome

As the lifeless body of the Ravager Hound dissolved into the shadows, Ash exhaled slowly. He could already feel the subtle enhancements in his movements. His grip felt firmer, his stance more stable.

A single kill had given him this much—what would happen after dozens? Hundreds?

He wasn't alone in this Nightmare, though. He could sense it—the faint echoes of other Awakened who had been pulled into this hell. Some would survive. Many would not.

"I need to move."

The Nightmare Realm was not merciful to the weak, and he refused to be among them.

With a final glance at the crimson moon, Ash disappeared into the mist, his journey into the unknown just beginning. The mist curled around Ash as he moved deeper into the Nightmare Realm. The scent of blood still clung to his blade, but he had no time to linger. One kill wasn't enough—he needed more.

Each step felt heavier, not from exhaustion, but from the oppressive weight of the Nightmare. The very air hummed with an unseen force, pressing against his mind like a whisper of madness. He tightened his grip on his sword, forcing himself to focus.

The Ravager Hound had been only the beginning.

---

The Nature of the Nightmare

As he moved, Ash took in his surroundings. The terrain was a twisted reflection of reality—dead trees stretching endlessly, jagged cliffs that seemed to pulse with an unnatural rhythm, and the distant sound of something massive shifting in the darkness.

More than once, he caught glimpses of other Awakened moving through the shadows, some alone, others in small groups. They were wary, tense, scanning their surroundings with the same awareness he did. Some would survive. Most would not.

The Nightmare didn't care for fairness.

"I need to understand the rules."

Ash had read Shadow Slave. He knew that Nightmares followed certain patterns—themes, dangers, trials. This place wasn't just a chaotic death trap. There was a logic to it, even if twisted.

He needed to figure it out before it was too late.

---

A New Prey

A guttural screech tore through the air, snapping Ash out of his thoughts.

He turned sharply, just in time to see a massive figure barreling toward him.

[Dormant Nightmare Creature Detected: Gorefiend Ape]

The creature was huge—easily twice his height, its hulking frame covered in patchy fur and exposed, bloodstained muscle. Its glowing red eyes burned with primal hunger, and its jagged claws gleamed in the moonlight.

It was fast.

Ash had no time to think. The moment he shifted his weight, the Gorefiend Ape was already upon him, swinging a claw the size of his torso.

He dodged—barely.

The impact of the creature's strike shattered the ground, sending debris flying. Ash twisted his body mid-air, landing in a crouch, his sword already moving.

Abyss Fang.

He swung his blade in a controlled arc. The slash missed—or so it seemed.

A second later, a thin black line appeared across the Gorefiend Ape's chest. Then, the delayed effect took hold.

Sliiick.

The creature staggered, dark ichor spilling from the wound as it let out a furious roar. But it wasn't enough. The Ape was still standing.

Ash clicked his tongue. "Tough bastard."

The creature charged again, undeterred. But this time, Ash was ready.

He pivoted sharply, dodging under the Ape's wild swipe and countering with a brutal, precise slash aimed at its neck.

The blade bit deep—but not enough to kill.

The Gorefiend Ape howled in pain, its body convulsing violently. It wasn't going down easily.

Then, something clicked in Ash's mind.

---

Predator's Conquest: Activated.

[Copying Martial Technique...]

Savage Beast Claw – A brutal, unrefined striking technique that maximizes strength and wild aggression. (Partially copied. Will refine over time.)

---

A slow grin spread across Ash's face.

The Abyssal Tyrant wasn't just about absorption—it was about domination.

He could steal techniques, make them his own, then improve them beyond their original form.

The Gorefiend Ape, unaware of its own impending demise, lunged again.

But this time, Ash moved first.

His fingers adjusted their grip on the hilt, his stance shifting subtly. He mimicked the Ape's movement, combining its Savage Beast Claw technique with his own brutal precision.

And then—

He struck.

The result was devastating.

A single, perfectly calculated slash tore through the Gorefiend Ape's throat, severing muscle, bone, and arteries in one clean motion.

The massive beast collapsed, blood pooling beneath its twitching form.

Then, as expected—

---

[Absorbing Stats...]

Strength: +3

Agility: +2

Endurance: +2

---

Ash exhaled slowly.

He felt it—the raw increase in power. His muscles responded quicker, his balance more stable. He had crossed the threshold from just surviving to actively thriving in the Nightmare.

And he was only getting started.

---

The Nightmare Deepens

A distant howl echoed across the sky.

Something was coming.

Ash glanced at his surroundings. He could feel it now—the Nightmare was shifting.

This wasn't just a random hunt.

There was a deeper purpose to this realm, and if he wanted to come out of it stronger, he needed to figure it out fast.

He wiped the blood from his blade and started moving.

Whatever trial this Nightmare held for him…

He would conquer it.

----

To Be Continued