Regressor In A Strange World
Chapter 23: Blank Designations.

Chapter 23: Blank Designations.

In the void, the familiar, harrowing yet strangely soothing voice resounded once again. But this time around, it didn’t feel as though it were coming from a single entity, rather, it felt as though the universe itself was speaking.

I felt my breath get caught in my throat as I listened attentively.

This was it...

This moment was going to determine a lot. If not, everything.

[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]

[A forgotten *** wandered into the depths of war. Darkness stained him, yet his soul remained unbroken. Amidst god and men, he carved his own path, embracing the treachery that whispered his name.]

[You have endured the clash of empires: countless fallen.]

[You have defeated an eldritch entity: Dark Souls Tree.]

[You have glimpsed the abyss: sanity wavering.]

[You have been marked by the ***]

[You have achieved the unthinkable!]

[Final Appraisal: Glorious. Your cunning and pragmatism knows no bounds.]

The last part felt unnecessary, but I was still pretty much satisfied with the spell’s praise.

Not everyone got that even back at the household...

That was something to feel smug about- if only for a fleeting second.

After all-

Grinning in anticipation.

I was still expecting the real deal.

[Dreamer Klaus, receive your boon!]

From this day henceforth, I was an Aspirant no more.

[You have awakened an origin name: The Lord.]

".....?!"

For a second there, I stood there, breathless, frozen, and at a loss for words.

I wasn’t too shocked about receiving an origin name- even if it were on my first arcane trial. I knew of others who had done the same.

But-

A frown tugged at the corner of my lips.

What was really disturbing me in ways I couldn’t quite place my hands on was the fact that the spell said, "awakened," not received.

Typically and normally, one- usually, the bona-fide cream of the crop amongst geniuses receive origin names from the spell. But awakening one independently...

That...

I had never heard of.

Even the old man would probably be speechless.

I mused under my breath, my brows tightly scrunched together.

And all the signs I understood as gaps put in place for beings or things beyond the spell’s comprehension was unsettling me in numerous ways.

Especially the one about me being marked by a being even the spell couldn’t talk about or in worst cases... had no prior knowledge of.

’What a headache.’

I rubbed my temples in an attempt to alleviate the intense headache.

And despite the fact that it wasn’t doing so well as to work out for me, I still continued.

I still continued for reasons that eluded the grasp of my understanding.

...But the rewards kept coming anyway, paying no heed to my crisis.

[Your Aspect is ready to awaken. Awaken Aspect?]

"....?!"

’What kind of question is that?!’

Of course, "Yes."

[Aspect awakening...]

[Aspect acquired.]

[Aspect rank: ***]

[Aspect name: Hunter]

***

"....?!"

I would have been elated, but instead, I felt nothing of sort.

Who was to know if my aspect was so trashy to the extent whereby the spell felt it beneath it to describe it- or the alternative- which I really hoped was the case.

The spell couldn’t ascertain my aspect’s rank!

’Even the old man couldn’t boast of such a feat!’ I thought, a wide grin creeping up my features.

If it’s indeed the other way around just as I hoped it was- since the blank designation was usually used to signify anything above the divine rank. It was safe to assume that I had awakened an aspect above the divine rank.

And, this didn’t make me feel better- not in any way. If anything, it only served to further intensify the dread and unease swiftly rising within me.

After all, even with my vast knowledge, I had never, ever heard of anyone acquiring an aspect above the divine rank. Never!

And even the few awakened that did awaken a divine ranked aspect are few in numbers.

Anything with the divine tag to it was so hard to find that it mostly lived in the fringes of mythos and legends. After all, humans hadn’t quite reached such a level, yet- and even those who did were simply monstrous geniuses.

And yet, here I was. Acquiring a rank beyond... divinity.

My frown deepened.

If that doesn’t call for caution and wariness, then nothing probably does.

But then-

Seconds clocked by and...

’Well... there’s probably nothing I can do about it anyway.’

I could only try to comfort myself.

’I just have to take things one step at a time.’

This was the thought I had come up with to use as a balm against the intense pressure weighing down on me.

Hopefully, I don’t die before unraveling whatever mess I’d stumbled into.

"Haa..."

Rubbing my temples, I silently summoned the runes and found the lines describing my aspect- if only a little.

Aspect: [Hunter]

Aspect rank: ***

Aspect Description: [You see the world as it truly is: prey or predator. In the pursuit of divinity, there’s no equal.]

"Hmm.... big talks there," I muttered under my breath, my brows arching upwards.

And then-

Innate ability: ***

"....?!"

Now, this blank designation was really starting to get on my nerves.

’You-!’

I was about to curse the spell when-

Ba- thump! Ba- thump!

I heard it once again.

The spell.

It began to speak.

"Huff..."

I exhaled shakily, bracing myself for it...

[The first Arcane seal is broken.]

[Awakening dormant powers...]

***

Author’s Note: Sorry, but I have noted that most readers don’t really check the author’s note, which is why I’m leaving this here. Sorry for any inconveniences that might have caused.

I have decided to re-write Talent Awakening- it’s intricately linked with Regressor in a lot of ways- and all readers will at some point in time, have no choice but to read both books due to the boggling amount of lores, worldbuilding and mystery within them.

And with my current writing skill and knowledge on what web novels readers want. I believe I can do a fairly decent job in creating a decent beginning and avoid the problems the earlier version had.