Paralyzed Demon - Shadow Slave

After a long sleep, Morpheus woke up to the sound of a notification.

[You have slain a god: Wheel of Fortune - Will Auceptin]

[Wake up, Morpheus! Your nightmare is over.]

[Prepare for appraisal...]

"Finally," Morpheus muttered. He was tired of waiting.

After the notifications, he found himself in an infinite void surrounded by stars. He gazed at the view for a second before losing interest. He no longer had the energy to appreciate such things.

[You have received an Echo: Snake of Mercury.]

[You have received a Memory: Will's Wine Chalice.]

"Great," he said sarcastically. "I guess my Aspect gives me the ability to turn the creatures that traumatized me into pets."

He didn't care about the properties or rankings. The only thing he wanted was to go home. So, he kept waiting for the appraisal to continue.

[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]

[The last human on Earth fought both a demon and a god. He endured the demon with his body and the god with his soul. He emerged victorious against both. He protected the demon from the god and the god from itself. He was the end of both.]

[You have defeated a god: Wheel of Fortune - Will Auceptin.]

[You have defeated 153 awakened monsters.]

[You have defeated 2 Awakened Demons.]

[You have defeated a Fallen Demon: Plagued Charger.]

"They make it sound so heroic," he thought.

But all he could remember was the torture he endured. The journey he made while one of his arms was torn off and the other rendered useless. Drowning in a river of blood after being paralyzed by Will. The corruption in the blood eroding both his body and soul. But being unable to die.

The memories made his blood boil.

"Wait for me, Will. You won't have to wait long."

[Final appraisal: immeasurable. ...Is there truly nothing you can't cut?]

"What?" Morpheus muttered.

Thinking about it, it actually made sense. Who could kill a god in their first nightmare?

The only thing he couldn't cut was souls, probably. Even when he split Will into four, only the line across his neck had done any real damage—because his physical body hadn't fully materialized yet. Every strike after that was like cutting through dust.

He waited for the nightmare to continue.

[Dreamer Morpheus, receive your boon!]

"'Aspirant' changed, huh," he murmured.

He had become Awakened for a brief moment before. Or was it a long time? He didn't know. He had been too busy drowning and trying to die.

But all his soul cores had shattered, and he had returned to his previous state.

[You have been bestowed a True Name: God Slayer.]

[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]

"Yes."

[Dormant Aspect The Last Human is evolving...]

[New aspect acquired.]

[Aspect Rank: Divine.]

Morpheus wasn't surprised. He was only curious about the name of his new Aspect.

[Aspect Name: The Last.]

"Hmm?"

Aspect: [The Last.]

Aspect Rank: Divine.

Aspect Description:

[You are a blade forged by #######. You must always be the last one standing, defeating all who stand before you. You killed a god using yourself, devoured its flesh, and drank its blood. Who could stand against you now?]

"So I literally can't lose anymore, huh? I always have to be the last one standing. Got it."

Innate Ability: [Blood River]

Ability Description:

[You drowned in a god's blood and consumed its heart. Now, blood is your second self.]

Morpheus clutched his head. He never wanted to see blood again.

A whole damn river of it was more than enough for a lifetime.

"Ugh," he groaned.

[The First Seal is broken.]

[Awakening dormant powers...]

Morpheus felt the power rising from within him. It was similar to when Will had forcefully strengthened him—but this time, it was different.

It wasn't forced.

His entire body felt stronger than it had ever been before the nightmare.

It was an intoxicating feeling.

He decided to check his Sea of Soul.

But when he stepped inside, what he saw made him shudder.

He was standing above the very river he had drowned in.

It was identical.

"Seriously?" he muttered.

"Do I have to be reminded of this everywhere? I guess it's connected to [Blood River]. Whatever. Let's get out of here and move on already."

[Awakening Aspect Ability...]

"Come on already..."

[Aspect Ability acquired.]

[Aspect Ability Name: Blood Manipulation.]

Morpheus knew that once he learned his Flaw, he could leave this cursed place.

So, he waited.

[All power has a price.]

[You have received a Flaw.]

[Your Flaw is: ...]

"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered.

"This has to be a joke, right? Everything I've learned all these years, all my training, my entire life... Are you saying it's all worthless now? Are you seriously taking away the very ability that helped me survive the nightmare? My body, my weapon—"

Flaw: [Paralyzed Body]

Flaw: [You cannot move your body.]

Morpheus tried to speak, but no words came out.

He was trapped in his own body.

The blade had been chained.

Morpheus had no idea what to do.

He couldn't move. He couldn't wield his sword.

All he could do now... was think.

He wanted to laugh.

"I wonder why the Nightmare hates me so much," he thought.

[Wake up, The Last!]

And just like at the beginning of the nightmare—

He felt himself falling.

----------------

Morpheus woke up to the sound of a blaring alarm.

He slowly tried to open his eyes.

At least he could move them.

"Well, at least I can still use my sight," he thought.

The alarm kept ringing for another two minutes, but he couldn't get up—he could only wait. He waited for someone to enter the room and take him out of here.

Being paralyzed was a problem, but maybe, with the Memories produced in his clan, he could move again. If his father personally worked on it, he might even return to the way he was before.

As he was lost in thought, Morgan entered the room, holding a sword.

Her eyes widened.

"What happened to you, Morpheus?" she asked.

Morpheus' own eyes widened in response.

His sister looked different.

She had grown.

"How long have I been in that nightmare?" he thought.

Morgan stepped closer.

"It's been two years. Almost two years since you entered the nightmare," she said.

"Everyone thinks you're dead."

Morpheus didn't know how to react to that.

Two whole years.

It made sense that people thought he was dead.

Morgan waited for a response, but when none came, she continued.

"What happened to you in there? Why did your hair and eyes change?"

Morpheus frowned.

"What?"

Seeing his expression, Morgan reached out and held up her sword, letting him see his reflection in the blade.

"What the hell is this? I look like Will… but older."

His hair had turned white.

His eyes were golden, with slit pupils like a snake's.

"Fuck."

"Why the hell did I use my mouth to tear apart his heart?"

"And why is everything I gained somehow related to this bastard?"

Note to self: Never eat a god again.

Morgan was still watching him.

"Get up," she said. "Rest a little, then we're going to see the Clan Leader."

Morpheus just stared at her.

Morgan frowned, then reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him up.

"Come on, let's go."

The moment she let go—

Morpheus collapsed to the floor.

Morgan froze in place.

"You've got to be kidding me."

She picked him up and looked into his eyes.

When she saw the expression of surrender in them—

She didn't know what to do.

"You… you can't move, can you?"

Morpheus blinked.

"Is this your Flaw?"

He blinked again.

That day, for the first time—

Morpheus saw his sister cry.