I've been really sick. Two days ago, my throat felt like it was closing. I think? I'm getting better, and I just want to do something other than lie in bed all day, so I'm writing this chapter. Please forgive me if it's an even worse-quality chapter than normal.
Should I try to write from a different point of view?
And trying to write so many people having a coherent conversation is difficult, so please forgive me.
Also by far the longest chp yet.
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Keter blinked rapidly as he woke up, greeted by a pair of blood-red eyes. The emptiness where his left arm used to be and the dull ache in his soul were jarring to Keter's tired mind.
"Seishan-" Keter paused for a moment. "Why are you here? How did you get here?" Keter's hand grasped the ashen floor. Keter attempted to use [Miricle] to get a scan of the things in the area, only for the small ache in his soul to explode inward. An injury he couldn't see bloomed with the purpose of collapsing his soul.
Seishan spoke, but Keter could not hear it over the intense pain. Pulling himself into his Soul Sea, he saw the previous vibrant world dim and dull. His seven blinding white soul cores were cracked and leaking soul essence. The previous transparent sea was now stilled Ichor. The raging inferno of divinity flowed around the woven veins surrounding his soul, both cracked. The thousands of cracks layering his soul were barely held together by a shimmering re liquid. The only thing untouched within his soul were two iridescent rings that reflected countless images, which stood as inner rings of balance to his soul.
"Ah-" Keter winced as he saw the state of his soul and could only breathe out in relief as the pain began to die down. "My soul is barely held together." Keter paused for a moment. "I'm handicapped again, if I do anything besides my bare body and summoning one or two low-end memories, then my soul is going to collapse. Just trying to activate [Miricle] completely reversed all the healing my soul went through while I was asleep." As Keter left his Soul Sea, he caught sight of the fleeting images of his memories and dozens of echoes.
Keter awoke to the feeling of ashen sand beneath him, with the world being bathed in an iridescent flame.
"Nephis, stop. My injuries are not something that you can heal." The iridescent flame swiftly disappeared, allowing the low-hanging sun to brighten the world.
"What injuries do you have? We couldn't identify them all." Spoke a gruff voice. It took a moment, but Keter eventually recognized it as Gunlang.
"My soul is on the border of collapse, and my body is damaged and exhausted from the use of my divine blood," Keter spoke with a matter-of-fact tone. Pulling himself up with Seishan's help, he looked around to see Nephis, Gunlang, and Seishan surrounding him. Kai, Effie, Cassie, and Caster were a distance away but still in a conversational distance.
"Use of Divine blood? What the hell does that mean?" Effie asked curiously just before getting slapped in the back of the head by Cassie.
"That doesn't matter right now. What matters is making sure that this idiot survives this ordeal." Cassie's attention momentarily went to Gunlang and Nephis. Gunlang stood there, stiff as a board. Nephis kneeled next to Keter with worry on her face, though Cassie doubted the others could tell. Cassie's attention went back to Keter.
"How long do you think it will be till you're in a good enough state to make the journey back to the Dark Castle? And is there anything we could do to speed up your recovery?" Cassie's tone was gentle in an attempt not to set off Keter.
Keter leaned against Seishan as he put his thoughts together. "It would be at least a week before I can be of any help, but if you treat me like a passenger princess, then I can be ready by tomorrow. And no, there is nothing you can do to speed up my recovery, but there are a few things I need some help with."
"What are they?" Caster spoke instantly, surprising all but Seishan.
Keter looked at him with dullness for a moment as if trying to drag out some emotion. Keter then spoke. "Under the trunk of the tree, buried a few feet down, is my [Spatial Bag]. And while the Soul-Devourer ate a lot of the soul shards, there still must be quite a bit of them littered around the barrow." Keter paused for a moment as only Caster went to collect soul shards after he brought his [Spatial Bag]. "I mean, there are enough that all of you need to go and collect unless you wish to stay for a few days."
After that, everyone understood, and with a little bit more conversation, Keter was soon left alone against the truck of the Soul-Devourer. (They moved him there)
'I should look through my runes and all my new memories.
Name: Keter Asterion
True Name: Holy Emperor
Rank: Dreamer
Class: Titan
Light Core: Dormant
Light Fragment:[3765/7000]
Stigma:[0]
Memories: [Robes of The Lost] [Man Eater] [Traveler] [Starlight Legion Longsword] [Shattered Sea Charm] [Starlight Legion Armor] [Spatial Bag] [Mantle of the Underworld] [Silver Moonlight] [Crimson Enchantress] [Blood of a Demi-Giant] [Fractured Oath] [Unseen Candle] [....] [....] [....] [....] [....] [....] [....] [....] [....] [....] …..
Echos:[Stone Saint] [Orpheus] [???]
Attributes:[Undefiled Faith] [Child of Light] [Inferno of Divinity] [Dreamspawn] [The Heart] [Path of Divine Light] [The Light] [Blood Weave] [Ichor] [Clay Shell]
'Being a titan will help in the siege. And my Stigma...' Keter pondered the new difference in his stigma. 'The old counter counted how many nightmare creatures I had killed, but the new one seems to be a... reserve of light fragments? Why would such a thing be needed?' Keter's confusion quickly disappeared as he continued investigating. 'I should go over my attributes first.'
[Undefiled Faith]
Attribute Description: [A pure, holy, and untainted soul, a body tempered by the blood of saints, a mind reinforced by an undying faith, a spirit unrelinquished to authority, never giving to the profane.]
'It seems to be a pure upgrade to [Untainted Faith] along with an extra resistance to corruption.'
[Inferno of Divinity]
Attribute Description: [An inferno roars within your soul.]
'The natural upgrade to [Flame of Divinity].'
[Path of Divine Light]
Attribute Description: [A path carved by the bindings of Weaver Divinity. The bindings of fate are the closest thing to perfection since the fall of the [-Unknown-]. This attribute will become stronger the more complete your forbidden lineage.]
'Does each piece of Weaver's lineage represent a different part of fate? And if so, that means [Blood Weave] represents bindings.' Keter grimaced at the thought. 'If so, [Blood Weave] just became a double-edged sword. It makes sense, though... after all, how would the fractured lineage of a creature representing fate, not represent specific aspects of it. That also means the chains of fate around me should be as strong as a normal person's now.'
'What could the others possibly represent?' Keter soon dismissed the though before moving on.
[The Light]
Attribute Description: [You have inherited the complete lineage of the Sun God]
[Blood Weave]
Attribute Description: [You have inherited a part of Weaver's forbidden lineage. Your blood has been altered and imbued with odd tenacity.]
'The lineages are as expected. I'm surprised, though, divine lineages normally only fully integrate once someone becomes a master.'
[Ichor]
Attribute Description:[You have reached a place of divinity, which the world believed as myth. The effect of your divinity and divine blood is enhanced.]
'[Ichor]... the blood of the gods.' Even with the dull state Keter's mind was currently in, it was still vastly overwhelming. 'This is what's keeping me from exploding from the conflict of my lineages, isn't it?' Keter let his emotions simmer for a moment before he tried and moved on. 'Though that effect... It's certainly monstrous. That should mean that [Blood Weave] is as strong as Sunny's was after it devoured the Shadow God's lineage.'
[Clay Shell]
Attribute Description: [In the deep darkness of the underworld, a prideful demon forged seven suits of splendid armor for his favorite creations. The intricate shells were both a boon and a test since only those worthy of his regard could unlock the mantle's true potential and bear its weight.]
Attribute Traits: [Living Stone] [Feather of Truth] [Stalwart] [Underworld Armament] [Mantle] [Shell] [Bound]
'The shell is what I expected. A dormant version of [Marble Shell]. Next is the new memories.' Keter began to look through the long list of new memories. 'Most of them are worse versions of what I already have, useless, or something that does something my aspect and attribute already cover; only four of the new ones are of any use.'
[Crimson Enchantress]
Memory Rank: Ascended
Memory Tier: VII
Memory Type: Charm
Memory Description: [The Soul-Devouring Tree, even as insidious as it was, was not born out of any special circumstances like most creatures within the Forgotten Shore. It was merely a creature misplaced from its home. Due to not having the help of its brethren, it is by far the weakest of its species.]
Memory Enchantments: [Hell's Benevolence] [Deal with the Devil] [Territory]
[Hell's Benevolence]
Enchantment Description: [Makes the owner seem benevolent and weakens the mental defence of anyone who looks at the user.]
[Deal with the Devil]
Enchantment Description: [If someone accepts a gift from you, then they must give something back of equal value.]
[Territory]
Enchantment Description: [You may set a territory around you, and within this, you become stronger along with your aspect gaining range equal to the size of your territory.]
'The memory I got from the Soul-Devourer.' Keter felt his body trying to wince and disregarded it. 'With that description, it must be from the Burned Forest. Also, the weakest of its species? Does that mean the Burned Forest is filled with corrupted+ rank Soul-Devourers?' Keter forced his body not to shiver.
'Those enchantments are extremely useful. [Hell's Benevolence] must have been how it ensnared creatures, and [Deal with the Devil] must have been the use of the fruits. Though [Territory] seems like something the spell tacked on, it's useful all the same.'
[Blood of a Demi-Giant]
Memory Rank: Ascended
Memory Tier: III
Memory Type: Charm
Memory Description: ["We will hold the army of the Demon King of Destruction, that I vow."-Aman Ruhr]
Memory Enchantments: [Strength of a Giant]
[Strength of a Giant]
Enchantment Description: [An extreme all-around physical boost]
'The enchantment is useful, especially when combined with [Clay shell], but the man thing I'm interested in is the mention of Aman Ruhr and the Demon King of Destruction. With their mention, it's now confirmed that the worlds of Damn Reincartaion and Shadow Slave have become one. How does that work, with things like the seven gods? And never once have I heard of any use of magic.' Keter thought for a moment. 'I will investigate when I get the chance.'
[Fractured Oath]
Memory Rank: Ascended
Memory Tier: II
Memory Type: Charm
Memory Description: [Incomplete yet whole, an oath passed down through generations. You must now carry the weight of that oath, even if it kills you.]
Memory Enchantments: [Silent Pact]
[Silent Pact]
Enchantment Description: [Temporarily strengthens bonds between allies. Slightly improves coordination, timing, and shared instincts when fighting or working together. Strength increases if the wearer has a mutual pact with someone (even unspoken).]
'If it wasn't for this memory, I would have planned on besieging the Crimmon Spire with [Blood of a Demi-Giant] in [Clay Shell].'
[Unseen Candle]
Memory Rank: ???
Memory Tier: ???
Memory Type: Charm
Memory Description: ["To light the way for others, it burned itself hollow."]
Memory Enchantments:[Last Light]
[Last Light]
Enchantment Description: [When the wearer is on the brink of death from irreversible injuries, the Candle ignites. Its effect suppresses all bodily failure: organs keep functioning, blood clots unnaturally fast, and pain becomes distant. It does not heal—but it suspends death, forcing the body to function on sheer will.]
Keter stared at the unfamiliar memory for a moment. 'It's... It's from me. This memory came from me.' Keter shook his head, feeling the first spark of true emotion since he was still under the Soul-Devourer's control. 'I just hope I never need to use this memory.' After Keter pulled himself out of his somberness, he moved on to the echoes.
[Orpheus]
Echo Rank: Supreme
Echo Class: Terror
Echo Attributes: [Pure Souls] [Amagmation of Sacrifice] [Lord of the Damned] [Mind Killer]
Echo Abilities: [Parasitic Insects] [Psychological Invisibility] [Dream Manipulation] [Shepherd]
Echo Description: [Once upon a time, in a forsaken land, the sun began to dim. And so the people sacrificed themself to keep it burning. Their bones and zealous faith made their home within the catacombs. Their hate, their dreams, and their nightmare made their home under the abyss. And under the weight of its countless, it vowed to reclaim its home, yet unable, with no flesh. Alone and without hope, it met the [Unknown] upon a shore.]
[Pure Souls]
Ability Description: [Orpheus holds a great resistance to corruption and soul-related attacks.]
[Amagmation of Sacrifice]
Ability Description: [A being made of thousands of tormented souls sacrificed to satiate the newborn sun. The fear, hate, dread, and countless emotions still remain embedded within. Orpheus is immune to all mind attacks, and instead, it will harm the one who attacks it mentally.]
[Lord of the Damned]
Ability Description: [Orpheus can take in roaming souls to strengthen itself.]
[Mind Killer]
Ability Description: [Orpheus's attacks directly hit the mind.]
[Parasitic Insects]
Ability Description: [Orpheus can release small microbial life forms that can either cause little harm instantly, or they could devour something whole immediately. Under prolonged exposure, the victim can gain monstrous or vampiric attributes and will begin to feel a hunger for the flesh of the same species. This eventually devours them, and they devote themselves to Orpheus with a complete mind.]
[Psychological Invisibility]
Ability Description: [Allow Orpheus control of their target's Body of Heart and Mind, and Orpheus could remain in the blind spot of one's consciousness forever.]
[Dream Manipulation]
Ability Description: [Utilizing [Parasitic Insects], Orpheus can completely manipulate the dreams of its victims.]
[Shepherd]
Ability Description: [Allows Orpheus to take the form of every creature it devours, along with the creation of mixed forms. It can contain souls equal to its class and can utilize the abilities of the souls freely.]
Ability Traits: [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot]
Keter scrutinized the runes. 'A supreme echo... I know it got stronger near the end, but what could have caused it to go up two ranks in an instant? And this thing, it's simply absurd.' Keter's dull eyes relax. 'It would be nice to be able to use, but the amount of essence that a supreme terror echo would cost is not something I can currently deal with.' Keter's eyes moved back to its description. 'It's similar to the lord of the Dead, then.'
[???]
Echo Rank: ???
Echo Class: ???
Echo Description: [???]
'This is what I got from killing King Hassan. It's unusable for me.' Keter could instantly tell. 'There is no use to worry about such things, and the others are on their way.'
A voice boomed as the group walked towards him with hundreds of soul shards in hand. "This is insane! How were you able to kill this many nightmare creatures in such a short amount of time?"
"Yes, it's incredibly impressive." Kai agreed.
"You're more monstrous than I thought you were." Gunlang's gruff voice seemed to quiet everyone else's. "Makes me all the more glad I joined you."
Keter nodded towards Kai and Gunlang, then looked towards Effie. "I used a sword."
Effie looked at him like he was an idiot.
Keter then spoke before Effie could drag the conversation in another direction. "How many of you have not filled your cores yet?"
"I haven't, but I'm mostly there," Kai said with a joyful smile.
"I'm a third of the way there." Caster spoke, trying to hold back on his respectful language.
"Not yet." Nephis spoke.
"Kai absorb soul shards till your core is full, then Caster, then Nephis. If there are some left over, give them to me."
"Thank you, Keter," Kai said sincerely, as he began to absorb shards. Soon, handing them to Caster, and after Caster was done, there were seven left over for Nephis.
"Are you sure that was the best decision?" Cassie said as she sat by Keter.
Keter nodded. "Nephis is far stronger, she needs the boost less than the others do."
Cassie nodded, then spoke. "You should rest, you will heal faster that way. And you need to be ready for tomorrow's journey."
Keter didn't say anything; he just leaned back against the truck of the Soul-Devourer and closed his eyes.
"Goodnight Keter."
"Goodnight Cassie."
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The lineages have extra effects, but since attributes don't immediately tell you everything, and I don't think there will be a good point to put them later, I will just put them below.
P.S. I will also put the LOTM terms next to the other ones just in case it comes up later.
P.S.S. I won't be putting effects that were already mentioned in the novel.
[The Heart] passive effects: Immunity to heart and blood-related medical conditions, eidetic memory, resistance to attacks related to the soul(Soul body) and mind(Body of heart and mind), resistance to poisons and similar things, resistance to blood manipulation, resistance to all diseases and sickness, Increase in essence quality, enhancement to all aspect or attributes related ability, grows stronger within the domain of the Heart God, possibly of gaining a inheritance,
[The Light] passive effects: Resistance to all temperature and fire, resistance to emotional manipulation, resistance to destruction-related abilities, can see in all environments where light still exists, accelerated passive regeneration, Increase in essence quality, enhancement to all aspect or attributes related ability, grows stronger within the domain of the Sun God, possibly of gaining a inheritance(Rare),
[Blood Weave] passive effects: Resistance to manipulation of spirit body threads, resistance to poisons and similar things, Immunity to blood-related medical conditions, resistance to blood manipulation
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