Unknown (pov)
"sigh."
A heavy breath escaped the lips of the young man as he stared at the crimson forest or more of a labyrinth than a forest. Jagged, spike-like red trees grew at unnatural angles, and below those tree, massive crab-like monsters roamed, scouting the labyrinth hungrily in search of prey.
'So... they're here, huh?' he thought, sensing the presence of four individuals below the massive skull he sat upon.
The young man had long, dark green hair that reached his shoulders. His eyes glowed as if they were two mini sun themselves. His skin was white as porcelain, his face strikingly handsome, like a model pulled from a fashion magazine.
He was tall, about six feet, with a muscular build. Clad in white medieval-style armor, a large red cross marked the chestplate. An ancient symbol, perhaps, of some long-forgotten civilization.
His name was Vasily, and it had been since the three months since he arrived in this world.
Vasily had once been an ordinary young man in another world. He went to college, studied hard for the future, read novels, and played games with his online friends. His life was repetitive, but he liked it that way. It was simple and peaceful.
That was until that night, the accident that took his life.
It was late. He had just left a party that was at his friend's house, it was late mid night. He could have taken a taxi, even some of his friends insisted on driving him to his home. But he brushed them off with a smile, saying he was fine.
His house was just twenty minutes away, but as he remember what happened. Even now, he regretted not listening to them. A overspreeding car just ran straight thought him, he didn't remember much expect that it was late night and their was a blood moon.
When he opened his eyes again... he come to know that he was in another world, a world so different from his previous one.
At first he thought that he must have come into the world of Cyberpunk from all the new futuristic technology he was seeing, but after going thought online he come to know that he was inside a novel he used to read as time pass.
"Prince of Darkness."
A dark and disturbing story. One so twisted, Vasily sometimes thought the author should be in jail for even writing it.
The novel followed an story of a Overpowered Prince on a path of revenge against his mother. The plot was solid, even the concept and perhaps it was also too dark for its own good. In this world, survival wasn't guaranteed. In fact, it was rare.
You could be walking down the street one moment and dead the next. Not by accident, but because some powerhouse, you didn't even know were fighting, and their mere aura wiped out everything nearby.
When Vasily realized he had transmigrated into the novel, his first reaction was pure terror. He knew the kind of beings that roamed this world ones that could bend fate itself. In their eyes, he was an anomaly. A mistake.
He prayed. To every god he could remember from his old world. Not to return to life. He knew that was impossible, but at least to go somewhere else. Anywhere but here. But after a month of desperate pleading, he was left with silence.
And then things got worse.
He was infected by the nightmare spell and dragged to a police station, by his so-called parents in this world.
He don't even know if he should even call them parents, after all from the memories he got from the previous owner of this body is that, he wasn't treated right, his parents were from a low level noble family and were arrogant to core.
But when they come to know that Vasiliy has been infected by the nightmare spell, their first reaction wasn't worry, but excitement that they are now going to be more rich. They didn't even care about his mental health as they quickly throw him at the police station with a warning that he should get a strong aspect, if not then he will be punished.
'Some parents they are.' thought Vasiliy with disappointment.
The nightmare trial was brutal. Nearly impossible. He wasn't prepared to face the monsters that were unkillable, he remember how they regenerate from all the attack he throw at them, even after burning them he still come back. But somehow, through sheer will, pathetic dodging, relentless fighting, or some God level luck, he somehow managed to slay those monster and their leader who was a Awakened Monster.
He survived barely, because of all the injuries he received like some gift.
He returned to the real world as not just Vasiliy but now sleeper Vasiliy. And he also gained an powerful Aspect his power, he can now control soul, and can send soul attack.
But this power also came with a terrible price, a price that shatter all his happiness
"Fucking spell," he muttered under his breath, recalling the words deep into his memory.
Flaw: [Memory Erosion]
Description: Each time you use your power, you lose a piece of yourself.
Vasily hated it. Hated the way it worked. If his calculations were right, using his Aspect just 20 to 30 times would erase everything about the memories of his old life, of the novel, of who he was.
He remember using his power in the Academy only one time, when he was just trying to figure it out, he remember how he forgets things. The flaw didn't just take random memories, it stole important ones.
Like now he can't even remember his previous name anymore or what were his parents name. He just remember their faces and some memories he has with them, even his friends faces were getting erased slowly.
He was losing himself, bit by bit, and he couldn't bear it anymore, He tried to fight it and a though come into his mind.
'What if I write everything down?'
So he quickly grab a notebook, it will act as his diary in which he can records all the details. But it seems like fate, or something crueler, seemed determined to mock him and his attempt.
Whenever he tried to write, he blanked out, words vanished before he could read them. His thoughts would scatter around, his brain shutting down for seconds sometimes. It always happened when he tried to recall anything from his old life or anything about the future of this world.
Even recording his himself didn't help. It was like some unseen force was erasing him. Keeping him from resisting the flaw.
'What can I do to stop this? How do I keep my memories from vanishing?' The thought gnawed at him.
"Vasily~"
He turned around and saw a girl standing behind him.
She had long, raven-black hair cascading past her shoulders, and eyes as deep and blue as the ocean, framed by thick, dark lashes. Her pale skin seems to glow under the grey sun. Her face was heart-shaped with a sharp jawline, with made her effortlessly beautiful.
She wore only a crude dress made of black seaweed—barely enough to cover her perfect thick hourglass figure. Her long white legs and slender arms added to the almost surreal grace she carried, even in such a desolate place.
Her name was Maya—someone Vasily had met at the Awakened Academy. She was always distant from the other sleepers, always being quiet and aloof. Naturally, Vasily assumed she was powerful one, since in every novel he'd ever read, the loners were always the dangerous ones.
But when he actually spoke to her, he realized she wasn't nearly as strong as he'd imagined. Her Aspect only allowed her to summon a weapon—a plain black sword, nothing more.
And her Aspect rank? Only Ascended.
Ascended was considered decent if not great in the world's ranking system, but too Vasily who knew about the future. He knew what was coming. The future threats weren't just monsters, they were entities at the God Rank.
How could she survive with an Aspect that weak?
Still, he chose to team up with her. In the Dream Realm, no one survives alone. Every ally counts.
"What are you doing here, sitting all by yourself ?" Maya asked, sitting beside him, her blue eyes studied him with curiosity.
Vasily replied lazily, "Nothing really. Just waiting for some people."
Maya blinked in confusion.
'People ?' she thought.
"You mean... there are other people in this cursed land?" She asked. After all, they had been traveling for two weeks and hadn't encountered a single human only scavengers.
Endless scavengers.
Vasily nodded as he rose to his feet, his eyes scanning the distance.
"Yes. There are others. And they're heading this way. Gather everyone."
With that, he stepped forward, toward the center of the massive skull.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
In the center of the camp, four Sleepers stood. Two of them were Vasily and Maya, while the other two were a young boy and a girl.
The boy had jet-black hair reaching his chin, blood-red eyes beneath dark lashes, pale skin, and a sharp, handsome face. He wore dark armor with spikes along the shoulders and legs, and a sword rested across his back.
His name was Alex, a member of a legacy clan under the Valor Clan. From the memories Vasily inherited from the previous body owner, he recalled that he and Alex had been friends back in middle school, before Alex transferred to another Academy.
They reunited after three years at the Awakened Academy. It was Alex who had recognized Vasily first, thanks to his distinctive green hair.
As for the girl, she had long crimson hair cascading down to her waist, deep red eyes, and full crimson lips. Her pale skin glowed against the white tunic she wore decorated with red stripes. Beneath it, her hourglass figure was impossible to miss.
Her name was Rebeca, and her identity remained a mystery. Vasily had met her only two weeks ago, when he first opened his eyes at the Forgotten Shores.
"Did something happen?" Rebeca asked, her brows slightly furrowed, sensing the urgency in Vasily's call.
"I sensed people under the Bone Ridge," Vasily replied, calm and serious. "They're coming this way. I want everyone to be on their guard when they arrive here."
He didn't mention the real reason, he knew exactly who those people were, and why they were hare. They were after all the protagonists of the novel.
"Who are they? And why do you sounds like you know them?" Alex asked, intrigued. Vasily wasn't the type to speak cryptically, especially something this important.
Vasily expected the question. He nodded slightly.
"Because they're important people, since they can help us escape this hell."
He paused for effect, letting the words hang.
"And one of them is... pretty famous."
Everyone raised an eyebrow at that. Now they were truly curious.
"How can you be sure they won't betray us?" Rebeca asked, arms folded, skepticism in her eyes.
But Vasily was prepared for this too.
"I don't believe they're the kind of people who would. And even if you doubt them, we're strong enough to deal with them, and if worst come to we can escape using the memory i got."
Rebeca nodded, still cautious, but less tense. Vasily, however, noted the hesitation in her eyes.
'She doesn't trust strangers easily,' he thought, noting this information away for future use.
"So... should we make food for them?" Maya asked cheerfully, flashing a bright smile as her blue eyes sparkled.
Everyone turned to stare at her like she'd just grown a second head.
"Did I say something wrong?" she asked innocently, blinking in confusion.
Choosing to ignore her, Vasily turned to Alex.
"Alex, I need you to do something. Transform into a rock—or a leaf—and don't reveal yourself until I say so. Got it?"
Alex nodded. His Aspect allowed him to morph into any object, a powerful skill. But there was a catch, while transformed, he couldn't move at all, and also he can only do it for five times a day, and only Vasily knew of this.
"Wait... is this really necessary?" Maya asked, their was a tone of worried on her tone. "Won't that make us seem like enemies?"
Before Vasily could answer, Alex spoke.
"No, idiot. If we show we can kill them but choose not to, it shows strength and restraint. Right, Vasily?" he said with a smirk.
Vasily gave him a small nod.
"Exactly. We show them our power—without crossing the line into hostility."
He face then turned serious.
"There will be four of them. Two women and two men. One is blind but has a skill that lets her see the future. And one of them is... Nephis. Also known as the Changing Star. Or the Star of Ruin."
The group collectively froze at that name.
"Wait—you mean that Nephis? From the Immortal Flame Clan?" Maya asked, eyes wide. She looked weirdly excited as if meeting her idol.
Ignoring her, Alex leaned in.
"So, I'm going after the blind one?"
"No," Vasily said. "That's too obvious. Go for the black-haired guy. He's not weak, but he's not strong either. You'll overpower him in a one-on-one."
"Does he have any special abilities?" Alex asked.
Vasily nodded. "He can perceive everyone's shadows. Be careful, your movements might give you away."
Alex nodded, already forming strategies in his mind.
"And what about the other boy?" Rebeca asked, Alex looked up too, curious.
Vasily hesitated with didn't got unnoticed by anyone in the group.
"Before I say anything, just remember this: Do not make eye contact. And don't get close to him. He's the most dangerous of the four. He could beat all three of us... without even trying."
That silenced everyone.
Alex and Rebeca frowned. Vasily had never spoken of anyone this way not with this level of wariness.
They wanted to ask more, but knew better.
Maya, as usual, broke the tension. "Isn't that great though? He might be the one to help us reach a Gateway very faster!" she said with a wide grin.
Everyone stared at her again.
'How has she survived this long?' each of them wondered silently.
"Do you know his name?" Rebeca asked.
Vasily nodded. He opened his mouth to speak—but froze.
His eyes narrowed. He quickly turned his head, scanning the distance.
His voice dropped to a low, serious tone.
"They're here."
He looked at Alex, who gave a small nod—then vanished from sight.
Rebeca and Maya stepped behind Vasily, weapons drawn and eyes sharp, ready to face anything.
Under their watchful gaze, four figures climbed the spine of a long-dead titan.
Leading them was a black-haired boy, with pale white skin, wearing a black armor holding a blue sword, Behind him came three girls.
One was tall and slender, her short silver hair flowing and grey eyes glowing faintly. Everyone instantly recognized her, Nephis, last daughter of the Immortal Flame Clan.
Next to her was a small, delicate girl bound by a golden rope. She was being guided carefully.
The last girl looked oddly out of place. Petite, with soft purple hair and deep violet eyes. Her beauty was disarming, almost surreal.
'She's actually more beautiful than the other two,' thought Rebeca, tightening her grip on her sword.
Then it struck them, all of them, except for Vasily.
'Wait. Didn't Vasily say there were two boys and two girls?'
Yet what they saw was only one boy... and three girls, their was an extra girl but their was no sign of the other guy.
'Where's the other guy?' they all wondered—unease slowly settling in.