《Soul caliber ascension》 Second chance "So this... is the end... for me... huh..." ------- Execution As Cypher walked through the twisting streets of the underhive, illuminated by the orange glow from glowing crystal-like rocks that defied logic, the streets teemed with activity. "Are you watching the execution today?" "I heard the church caught some new heretics!" "Mommy, can I come?" "Me too! I want to see!" The conversations echoing around him caught his attention. He listened intently, deciding to gather some information. "Excuse me, mister," Cypher stretched his small hand and tapped the back of one of the men passing by. "Do you know where the execution is being held?" "Huh... oh, I see your faith is strong, kid. Haha," he laughed and pointed toward the church in the distance. "It''s being held in the courtyard in front of the church, but be quick or you''ll have to watch from the back." "Thank you, Mister!" Cypher waved his hand and skipped away under the man''s gaze, looking as innocent as could be. "Kill him!" "Death to the Heretic!" The crowd roared to life in front of an imposingly large cathedral, its shadow looming over them like a hammer ready to swallow them whole. Ahead of them was a large stone platform, ornate carvings and symbols lined its surface, their meaning lost to the illiterate peasants who had gathered for the show. Standing atop the platform was a woman clad in white holy robes reminiscent of a nun, golden armor barely visible beneath them. Her golden blonde hair fluttered in the light breeze, and her glowing blue eyes pierced through the crowd, exuding an incredible aura of love and kindness. Behind her were three people kneeling on the cold stone platform. Two were a young boy and girl, struggling against their silver chain bindings, tears forming a puddle beneath them. The last was an older man, with brown hair and sharp features, bruises and cuts covering his face as he looked at his children with desperation. The crowd ceased their murmurs immediately as the woman raised her hand in a gesture of silence, a kind smile on her face as she opened her mouth to speak. "Fellow children of Endo, I, Saint Clementine, welcome you all to witness the cleansing of these abhorrent heretics who dare to taint the holy minds of our youth!" "Kill them! Down with the heretics!" one of the men in the crowd roared. "SILENCE!" The saint''s tone shifted to disdain after being interrupted. A wave of pressure descended on the man, his eyes bleeding from the force. He collapsed to the ground, foam spewing from his mouth, and was carried away by knights in full suits of gold armor. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "Now, here we have the commander of the local guard, suspected of aiding the wicked fiends of the Cult of Releigh, infiltrating our homes and tainting our lands!" "P-please, my children had nothing to do with this!" the older man begged, bowing his head to the stone platform. "Take me instead, I beg of you!" "Your heretic blood runs through them. Who''s to say they won''t turn against us in the future?" "It wasn''t my fault! They said they''d kill my family if I didn''t comply!" His pleading grew louder. "Enough! Do you have no faith in Endo? Is his guidance and grace not enough?!" Clementine''s words spat out with venom, a stark contrast to her previous display. "Under the jurisdiction of Emperor Theon Von Terra, by order of Supreme Cardinal Vanderwall of the Holy Church of Endo..." "I SENTENCE YOU TO DEATH BY BEHEADING!" A shift in the very air occurred as the saint held up her arm. A golden blade composed of pure light materialized from thin air, shining down onto the crowd, causing them to hold their breath in fear. SHINK! Prrrt! Blood flowed from the neck of a now headless corpse, showering those below the platform. "FATHER!" "YOU BASTARDS! I HOPE YOU ALL ROT IN HELL!" The two remaining children cried out as they watched their father''s head roll off the platform and land directly in front of a strangely smiling young boy. "Magic! Magic, magic, magic, ma..." murmured Cypher to himself like a madman, failing to notice the head rolling toward him. It was as if a switch had been flipped¡ªhis entire mind was on overdrive. Thump! His heart skipped a beat, breathing growing rapid. Years of trying everything to prove that humans could break their limits shattered in an instant. Not even the original Cypher had seen anything like this. This world had already shown him something he had only dreamt of through countless hours of study and brutal human experiments. This world was magical, and magic had no limits. "AHH! What a devoted young man you are!" Clementine clapped happily, mistaking Cypher''s manic excitement for devotion to their beloved god, Endo. "Why don''t you come up on stage, child? Bring the head of the sinner with you." "Magi¡ªhuh, I''m sorry, Miss Saint, are you talking to me?" Cypher snapped out of his daze and found everyone staring at him, the severed head at his feet. "Don''t be shy, young man, come on up," Clementine eagerly invited. "Hurry, kid!" a man beside Cypher picked up the head and handed it to him. Damn, this crazy woman might kill me! Stop encouraging her! Cypher didn''t voice his thoughts and kept smiling, head in hand. His small limbs grasped the edge of the platform and began to climb. "Poor thing..." Clementine''s hand stretched out in front of Cypher, but it wasn''t just a hand¡ªit was a clawed golden gauntlet that cut into his thin skin as he held it. Disregarding the pain, Cypher soon found himself in front of a thousand eyes, all watching him intently. "Here you go, Miss Clementine," he said as he passed the severed head into her hands. She placed it down in front of the kneeling corpse. "Young man, how strong is your faith in the great lord Endo?" The simple question hit Cypher like a hammer, especially since he barely knew who Endo was. However, a smirk played on his lips, for what he did have was experience¡ªspecifically, experience with religious fanatics, having been raised by two of them. "He''s amazing! I feel his heavenly grace shines a light on this world, healing the believers and cleansing the heretics with his divine presence!" Cypher lied through his teeth while expressing admiration. "But..." Cypher lowered his gaze, looking ashamed. "But?" Clementine''s eyes turned cold. "But I haven''t been able to learn as much as I''d like to. I have no family or money to buy such knowledge." He lowered his head further, playing with his fingers as if nervous. The saint''s gaze softened. Her sword disappeared into particles of light as she ruffled his hair, oblivious to the pain the gauntlets caused him. "Your devotion will not go unrewarded, child." As she spoke, she moved her hand behind her waist and brought it back to reveal an ornate silver and gold curved dagger, inlaid with text that read, For I am the savior, the cleanser, and the protector. "Use it, show your faith, and strike down the sinners." Her smile grew ear to ear as she placed the dagger in Cypher''s small hands and pointed toward the two now wide-eyed heretics. "W-wait, you don''t have to do this!" The tears flowed from the boy''s eyes as he realized his time was coming. "My sister! Leave her alive!" His voice grew frantic as he watched the yellow eyes of his new executioner glance coldly at him. Step... "Wait!" Step... "Brother, I''m scared!" Step... "Sto¡ª" Prrrt! "Ahhh!" The young girl cried out as she watched her brother collapse, blood flowing from the cut on his neck. "Broth¡ª" Slice! Her head fell onto the ground. Cypher barely registered their deaths and turned away, ready to give the dagger back. "Keep it. You''ve proven yourself a role model for all the children here. Bring it to the church tomorrow, and show it to the Deacon on duty. He''ll help you get some study books." She looked genuinely happy despite the gruesome affair. "I promise to study everything I can, Miss Saint!" Cypher said eagerly. Cypher held the knife close and climbed down from the stage. "Loyal followers, please return to your homes. And remember to always devote your mind, body, and soul to the Lord." The event ended swiftly. However, a few greedy eyes remained locked on Cypher''s new dagger, its value far beyond their meager earnings. Awakening The streets were once again alive and full of people, none of them concerned about the execution that took place just an hour ago. For these men and women who had grown up in the underhive of Thorn, this was just a daily event in their everyday lives. As Cypher would put it ,'' Raise a rat in a cage, and suddenly it''ll never even consider leaving.Afterall, it gets fed and doesn''t face any predators. isn''t it just like paradise?'' At least they had jobs, sometimes food, and a faith in the church. Unfortunately, none of this was important to Cypher at the moment. He had more immediate concerns. An orange glow cast down on Cyphers face, his sharp mind navigating towards an the empty alleyway he woke up in, finding it the perfect place for what he was about to do. "Their following me?" His eyes had already caught sight of a few figures that repeatedly passed by him, greed written on their as they tried to blend into the crowd, staring intently at the dagger that slightly protruded from his tattered black trousers. "So they think their being sneaky? Fools never truly change in any world...sigh." Turning into the alley, he vanished out of site. Barely half a minute later, his stalkers arrived... ------------------------------------------------- "Boss, I saw him go through here!" A rather skinny man with pale skin and an overall sickly appearance entered the alley first. Trailing behind him were three other men, all sporting equally frail body''s with the only exception being the leader, who was relatively large with decent amounts of muscle showing beneath his clothes. "He couldn''t have left. It''s a dead end." The boss wasn''t an idiot, and quickly ordered his men to search the narrow space thoroughly. They ransacked the place, only to find mice and rats, nothing to indicate the boy had been here except bloody footprints. At the end of the alleyway, near the wall that blocked the exit, one of the goons searched a box, disappointed at once again finding it empty "I''m sure I saw him, that brat must be he-" Thud! SHINK! His sentence never even got the chance to finish. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as a knife lay jutting out from his skull. Cypher layed perched on his shoulder as he pulled the knife and jumped off the man, his body slumping to the floor lifeless. He had used the narrow walls to position himself above the group, only jumping down when his arms could no longer support the weight of his body. "Y-you, YOU LITTLE SHIT!" One of the goons, having seen his friend ruthlessly killed, rushed forward to attack Cypher. "Huff...I''m too tired for this." Cypher didn''t back down despite his exhaustion and prepared to strike. The man extended his fist, aiming straight towards the boys head. However Cypher wasn''t an easy target and used his small stature to deftly duck beneath the blow with his dagger aiming for the man''s stomach. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Ahhh!" The ornate dagger, now covered in in red and white brain matter, impaled the man directly in his abdomen. Cypher removed the dagger, leaving the man to crumple down and writhe in pain. "Enough!" Before the boy even had a chance to re-adjust, a massive foot slammed down onto his chest, sending him flying onto the floor. "Sam! Hold him down." The last man rushed over and pinned Cyphers wrists onto the floor. He pulled the dagger out of Cypher ls grasp and threw it away, leaving no room him to resist. "Get off me!" Struggling against the restraints, Cypher frantically tried to break free to no avail and watched as the boss moved towards him, furious. "We were just going to take the dagger and leave! But now?" Spit flew out of the man''s mouth as he shouted," Now you''ve pissed me off kid!" His knelt down and grasped Cyphers neck, his grip tightening like a noise, " We just wanted to feed our family! That knife is worth more than our entire life savings!" As the leader justified his actions, Cyphers small legs kicked and flailed around, slowly losing oxygen. ''No!...not yet...I can''t....die....," The excitement of discovering that transmigration was real, the wonder he felt when he discovered the strange new magic. All of it flashed through Cyphers mind as he choked and struggled. "I....was.....so....close...." His struggling gradually ceased, his mind growing hazy as he soon lost consciousness. THUMP....Thump...thump.... Cyphers heartbeat weakened, fading until the last beat. He had died. Or at least his body. "I...can''t..die..Wait, why can I still breathe?" "Why is it so cold?" Cyphers yellow eyes fluttered open, his blurry vision finding himself not in a wet alleyway, but a mix of white and black colours that were slowly becoming clearer. As he tried to move his body from the ground a sensation of disconnect hit him like a train! It was like being thrown into a wood chipper and hastily put back together with glue. "Am I not dead?Is this the real afterlife?" Questions flooded his mind one after the other. The limbs of his body begun to move mechanically like a puppet, unfamiliar and uncoordinated in an effort to stand. The colours around him gradually became clearer and clearer until.... "What the fuck!" An endless expanse of white desert stretched as far as the eye could see! The rays of sickly yellow light from above refracted on the sand in a dazzling sea of blinding white sand. As he looked up towards the sky the display left him stunned in awe, for in the sky lay what could only be described as an impossible spectacle that spat in the face of physics! An absolutely massive orb of glass like see through sat in abyss of black space, slowly rotating as a small but luminous yellow light shown in it''s centre. Around this orb lay nine chains that tightly wrapped around the sphere as if to restrain it''s power. "W-what!?" At a loss for words, Cyphers raised his hand to touch his face. Only then did he find the reason his body felt wrong. It was entirely composed of white sand! Not only that but his eyes glowed with a yellow ferocity, lighting up whichever direction he face with spotlight like circles. The last feature of this strange space was an empty sphere similar to the one over head, only this one had no light at it''s centre, no chains around it and was lying buried in the sand. "This place...it feels like it''s connected to me somehow." The light from the orb above invigorated him, like it''s feeding his very being. The entire landscape drumming with energy that just barely escaped his control. But as seconds passed by, the air grew colder and the light from above grew dimmer. The abyss in the black sky rapidly thickening darker and darker. The white sand that made up his body slowly loosening like a fading dream. He was dying. "So that''s what this is," watching the sand leaves his body, the idea struck him, "My Soul!" A wave of desperation struck him. If he wasn''t dead yet then he would be soon! The thought sent an invisible shockwave that the glowing orb in the sky responded to immediately. It''s small light vibrating until it smashed on the walls of the orb it was contained it. No words were needed. Cypher intrinsically felt a force wash over him, beckoning him to form a bond, and so he did. He used all his willpower to empower the light, it''s violent thrashing growing more violent by the second, until finally.... CHINK! A chain was broken, it''s ethereal body crashing towards the ground before evaporating into particles of light. ---------------------------------------------- "He''s finally dead. The brat deserved it." The boss released his grip and looked over to the body''s of his two lifelong companions,"How am I going to tell their family...sigh." Only one other man survived, who was now holding the dagger in his hands. "What now boss?" "Let''s just leave. The kid caught the eyes of the Saint, if they find out we killed him and took her dagger we''re finished." The thought of being branded as some heretic and dragged onto the execution ground scared him deeply. Not even his wife and children would get away. "Got it boss." The two gathered their bearings and started to leave the alley, their steps heavy and tired. Thump....thump, thump! "Wait, you here that." The two paused, a cold sweat trickling down their spines. The ground, walls and floor suddenly shifting like some sort of liquid. "Boss, the kid.... somethings wrong with him!" "He''s dead, how can something be-" As he turned his head back into the alley, an indescribable wave a terror washed over him. In the darkness, a pair of sickly yellow irises staired back at him. The inhuman glare seemed as though it could kill him at any moment. A silence stretched for a second that seemed like an eternity, the air shimmered with invisible energy that grew and grew, Reaching a breaking point as the reality around them distorted. The very next moment... BOOM! Everything in the immediate vicinity was engulfed in a blinding white light. The sheer strength of its brightness visible to the entire city and it''s inhabitants, lighting up the skyline in the otherwise dark city. Moments passed from one to the next until at last it dimmed, losing it''s luster until it ceased entirely. The aftermath was astonishing. Entire buildings reduced to fine grains of white sand, their residents still standing, having been transformed into ghostly White statues that slowly collapsed into white missed. The streets surroundings the alley were eerily silent, the citizens petrified into the same white sand. At the very epicentre of the blast site, a young boy stood, gray hair fluttering in the wind giving him the appearence of some kind of ghostly spectre as white grains cascaded around him. A smile played at his lips, the joy of knowing he was not just some observer but an active force in this unfamiliar world told him his cage had weakened And for better or worse, There would be no turning back. Nothing will hold the keys from him. The glow in his eyes lost their power before his body swayed and collapsed into the white sand beneath him. Church of Endo "I could stay like this forever..." Basking in the soft glow of his soul, Cypher lay on the sandy ground that seemed to pulse with life beneath him. He had no recollection of how long he had been here, and frankly, he didn''t care. The world outside felt distant, almost irrelevant. Here, in this space that was undoubtedly his, he could breathe, free from the weight of reality, and for the first time in a long while, he could rest. While time had no meaning here, Cypher wasn''t idle. He had experimented with the sand that surrounded him, testing the limits of his newfound control. It had not been much, but he had succeeded in making the sand orbit around him in a swirling cyclone. It wasn''t yet strong enough to be used as an offensive weapon, but he could already see its potential in combat¡ªchanging the very ground beneath his enemies, trapping them in immobilizing dunes. For now, it was more of a support than a weapon. His muscles ached from exertion, and his senses tingled with a new kind of strength¡ªstronger than he''d ever been in his previous life. Three men, maybe more, pulsed through his veins, all from breaking just one chain. But the momentary peace didn''t last. Cypher shifted his gaze upward, toward the orb suspended in the sky. It was surrounded by chains¡ªblack and gleaming like obsidian shackles. His emotions surged as he stared at them¡ªhatred, indignation, and an unrelenting ambition. He knew instinctively that these chains were the reason he was still bound, held back from what he could become. But with no knowledge of how to break the remaining eight, he could only endure them¡ªfor now. "The day will come," Cypher whispered to himself, his voice low but filled with conviction, "and I''ll tear down the last one with my own two hands!" He felt a strange pull then, a gentle tug on his very being. He furrowed his brow, confused. "Am I waking up?" The pull grew stronger, more insistent. "Wake up, Cypher." The voice was soft, almost a whisper against the vast stillness of his soul space, and in an instant, his world faded to black. --- When Cypher opened his eyes, the sensation was overwhelming¡ªsoftness, warmth, and comfort that seemed foreign to him after everything he had been through. He found himself resting on the most luxurious mattress he had ever felt, as if he were lying on a cloud. A thick white blanket cocooned him, its warmth spreading across his body, pulling him deeper into its embrace. His clothes were a tight-fitting black shirt that clung to his newly-formed lean muscles, and loose white pants that seemed both comfortable and effortless. As his senses returned, he quickly took in his surroundings. This was no place he recognized. Gone were the filthy streets of the underhive, replaced by a spacious room brimming with wealth and opulence. The floor beneath him was smooth white marble, polished to perfection, and the walls were adorned with a delicate flower-patterned wallpaper that exuded an air of elegance and beauty. On the walls, paintings of angelic figures clashed with the violent red of demons, swords raised in battle against winged monsters. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. His attention was drawn to the large window. Beyond it, he could just make out the edges of the underhive, a far cry from the beauty surrounding him. His eyes narrowed slightly. "The church?" he muttered under his breath. A soft, enticing scent wafted into his nose. Perfume. His mind snapped to attention. "Sniff..." Slowly, he turned his head, and there she was¡ªSaint Clementine. She was lying beside him, watching him with a serene expression as if she had been waiting for him to wake. For a moment, Cypher''s heart skipped. He was relieved that she seemed fully clothed, or else his suspicions might have gotten the better of him. "You were sleeping so soundly, I feel a little bad for waking you," she said, her voice gentle yet carrying an undercurrent of authority that Cypher instinctively picked up on. His thoughts immediately spiraled into panic. Memories of the chaos, the people he had killed¡ªit all came rushing back. He had no idea how many had perished before he had collapsed. His heart pounded in his chest as he leapt from the bed, lowering his head in a mock display of humility. "M-Ms. Clementine! I-I didn''t mean to... all those people... I killed them," he stammered, tears falling from his eyes. His acting was flawless¡ªOscar-worthy, in fact. He was already playing his role down to a letter. She didn''t seem to bat an eye at his tears. Instead, she smiled softly, sitting up and moving toward him. Her arms wrapped around him in comfort, and Cypher''s mind raced, calculating the next steps. Why aren''t I locked up? Why am I not attached to a guillotine? "No need to be so scared, dear," Clementine soothed, her voice warm and comforting. "We all experience the same when we awaken; it''s a natural consequence of your Soul Core lashing out." "Soul Core?" Cypher repeated under his breath, trying to mask his growing excitement. "Of course," she continued, brushing his hair gently, not a trace of doubt in her words. "You''re special. To awaken without a noble lineage proves you''re a genius worth more than any of those mortals." Cypher''s eyes gleamed with understanding. Soul Core¡ªthat was what the orb had to be. And judging by her words, only nobles were typically capable of this power. But for him, a mere commoner, to possess it made him unique. Dangerous, even. "Thank you, Lady Clementine," he murmured, already formulating plans in his head. The church, the wealth, the power¡ªhe would make this work. There was a lot to learn here, and Cypher was never one to pass up an opportunity. "Just Clementine," she corrected with a soft smile. "No need for honorifics." He nodded, a fleeting smirk tugging at his lips, and allowed her to guide him through the room. As they moved toward the door, he couldn''t help but notice the sheer size of the church. The hallways stretched endlessly, the air thick with the scent of incense and polished wood. Soldiers in their ornate armor saluted Clementine as they passed by, their footsteps echoing in the vast silence that followed them. It was a place of power, control and worship. Clementine spoke as they walked, her voice clear and steady. "You possess the Soul Caliber, as I do. It''s the power that originates from your Soul Core, the very thing that makes you a Dreamweaver." "Dreamweaver?" Cypher asked, his interest piqued. "Yes," she answered, her voice taking on a somber tone. "A Dreamweaver is someone touched by divine power. But not everyone can wield it¡ªonly those with a special connection to the gods. You and I, Cypher, are among the rare few." She paused, glancing at him as they continued their walk. "The Soul Caliber is ranked, from 1 to 9. You are at rank 1. Each rank represents a step closer to unlocking your true power. I, for example, am at rank 4." Cypher felt the weight of her words. Rank 1... He was barely even classed as a Dreamweaver and yet he already felt he had the strength to kill multiple grown men with ease! "And what about the chains?" Cypher asked, unable to hide the curiosity in his voice. "What do they do?" Clementine''s gaze softened. "The chains restrict the power of your Soul Core. They are safety measures to prevent a Dreamweaver from destroying themselves. To break each chain increases your power. But no one has ever broken all nine." "What''s my rank then?" he asked, eager for more information. "You are at Soul Caliber 1," she replied, her eyes thoughtful. "And I, as I said, am at 4. But the real test is not your rank¡ªit''s what you do with the power you''ve been given." As they neared a set of towering metal doors, Cypher felt a strange thrill course through him. Behind those doors lay what should be some sort of Library. "Here we are," Clementine said, her voice tinged with pride. "The Vanderwald Library. It''s my father''s legacy." The doors groaned open, revealing rows upon rows of books. The scent of old parchment and leather filled the air as Cypher stepped inside, eyes wide with wonder. "If you''d like to stay, you''re more than welcome," Clementine said with a knowing smile. Cypher barely heard her, so absorbed was he in the endless sea of knowledge before him. "Really? If it''s okay, I think I will." She chuckled. "Take your time. I''ll be waiting." As he wandered deeper into the aisles, the vastness of the library felt like a treasure trove of power waiting to be uncovered. And Cypher was determined to learn everything he could, starting with the books that caught his attention¡ªone on the study of the human body and another detailing the records of the Age of Dreams. Knowledge is power, Cypher thought, as his fingers brushed the first book. Suspicions Cypher rested his books down on a table and sat down, his mind shutting out all of the activities from other readers behind him. Now it was just him and the pages. ''first on the menu is '' A study of human anatomy'' by author Kan Len.'' Time seemed to fly by as he absorbed himself in the study, the book outlining a clear message to him. ''There is not a single difference!'' The discovery was both a suprise and annoyance to Cypher. ''Humans from my old world and this one share no biological differences at all! So, why do Dreamweavers exist in this world and not mine?'' He continued racking his brain for answers, growing increasingly infuriated at not being able to come to a conclusion. '' Sigh... nevermind, I''ll just read the next one.'' Placing the other book Infront of him, the title reads, '' Endo the Saviour,'' by an anonymous author. Time once again trickled down as Cypher studied relentlessly, only to end up even more confused as time passed by. The book detailed Releighs betrayal of Endo, growing hungry for more power. Around 100BBR he cast a dark ritual that consumed the souls of many of the Empires citizens, turning them into mindless monsters under his command. He then led a brutal war against the Nova Kingdom and his brother Endo, upending entire regions in seas of blood. However, true to his name as the Saviour, Endo eventually defeated Releigh in a battle so destructive it left a large potion of the continents land a barren wasteland, now known as the deadlands. Both Releigh and Endo disappeared in the aftermath, with Endo presumed to have returned to the heavens. Forever watching over the Empire he once ruled. The cult of Releigh formed in the Kingdom of Nova in the aftermath. ''It doesn''t make any sense!'' Cypher wasn''t concerned for the most part, but what he was confused about was the lack of Dreamweavers before the arrival of Endo and Releigh. Were they truly divine beings who miraculously had this power? Cypher didn''t think so for even a second! '' They resemble Angels more than true gods. However, their is no mention of a true god anywhere in history?And yet they act more like humans than angels, taking control of country''s and ruling over land like kings?'' Fortunately, this was all old history and didn''t concern him to much. He had learned what he wanted, that he wasn''t going to learn more about this strange power through human biology. "Times up." Two hours had passed by in a moment. Putting the books in their place, Cypher got up from the desk and made his way back to the entrance of the library, where Clementine was waiting, this time in a full suit of armour. "Did you enjoy yourself dear?" If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Yes Clementine, I learnt alot about lord Endo and that evil man Releigh." "That''s good, if you need any help just ask me, but we need to start your training before the day is over." A slight frown showed in her face, as if worrying about what''s to come. She then pulled out a dagger, the same as from the alley,"Here, we found it in the street we discovered you. You''ll need it." This frown slip past Cypher but he chose not to comment. Taking the dagger, he wondered what she was so worried about. A few minutes later.... Cypher had been led to the basement level of the church, down multiple flights of stairs until eventually they reached a dungeon like area with an open arena at it''s centre. Clementine had left him and went in a different direction. It''s floor was made of hard stone that still had residual blood that could be seen splattered all over the ground. A large metal gate stood at the opposite side of the entrance, it''s material looked heavy and strong. Cypher walked forward and stood at the centre of the large arena, having been told that his training will be observed and judged. This most likely meant it was a trail of some sorts for real membership in the church. If he failed, he didn''t know what would happen to him. Around the circular Colosseum stood rows of chairs, however only two people were present, a man and a woman who looked down at Cypher who stood at the centre of the arena. The man was like nothing Cypher had seen before, standing tall with an air of mystery around him. He wore a silver metal mask that obscured his expression making him nigh unreadable. A white robe covered his entire body, a hood resting on his head. This was Cardinal Vanderwald, the most powerful man in the empire. ------------------------------------------------ "You, Clementine, have been to soft. Perhaps I should remove your position as Saint?" His voice carried a weight that pressed on the very soul, it''s ethereal calmness not suppressing his extreme danger. "Father, I just don''t-" "Do not justify your actions, he is not your son is he?" The air around him warped, shadows seemed to thicken and move closer to Clementine, ready to strike at any moment. "But..." "I will not tolerate this, you''ve allowed him to enter the library without merit, only those that pass the test should have this right. Nathaniel is dead, this boy is not a replacement. do not tarnish our reputation. The church cannot afford to be soft on our Weavers because of your hesitance, especially not for the position he will have." "Yes father." A tear rolled down her face, but she lifted her head up to look at Cypher below them. "Open the gate!" Clementine shouted. ------------------------------------------------- "Open the gate!" Clementines shout reached Cyphers ears as he cautiously observed the door springing to life, it''s mechanical screeching only adding to tension. "¡Ì¦Ð¡ì?¡Ì|," The door was only half way open when a horribly sickening whisper echoed in Cyphers mind. A million voices coalesced at once to form an incoherent murmurs that only grew louder the more the gate lifted. Creak! Fully opened, what lay beyond the gate was pure darkness that let no light penetrate it''s veil. Only an expiry silence accompanied it, but not because nothing was their, something was definitely there. Cyphers hair stood on end as he waited, his breath quickening. The feeling of being watched by such a malignant gaze telling him not to relax for a moment. Thud...thud..thud In what seemed like an eternity, the slow moving silhouette of a skinny humanoid creature stepped out of the darkness. Cyphers eyes widened as he took in the full sight of the abomination before him. It was a mockery of the human form, a truly blasphemous creature that belonged in the depths of hell. It''s very presence a vile and unholy stain on reality. It stood at 6.5 meters tall, towering over Cypher''s small frame like a giant. It''s body resembled a human without any skin resting on its body, only wire like nerves protruding from its muscles in a red mangled mess. Worst of all was it''s face, permanently forced into an agonized smile with bloodshot eyes that lacked any eyelids to blink. The sight of such a being belonged only in the nightmares of the most insane individuals. It''s head snapped to the side as it observed Cypher, drool flowing from its mouth. The clawed hands that hung onto it''s elongated arms twitched. While Cypher watched this, his heart raced with adrenaline that blocked out his fear. His newly enhanced strength cracked the floor, his legs priming into action. BOOM! Sprinting forward with unmatched ferocity, the creature bolted towards him. It''s arms flailing, reaching out to desperately grab him. ''This things clearly stronger than me...but fighting such a creature head on would be a fools errand.'' Cypher held out his palms, power flowing through them. The ground the creature twisted and morphed until becoming a white sandy texture. The thing was forced to halt in it''s steps when it noticed it''s feet had sunken into the ground, unmoving. Not wasting his time, Cypher tightened his grip around the knife and ran straight for it''s throat. Slash! ''That was a bit to easy'' An unsettling feeling rose in his stomach watching the thing fail to react to the cut on its throat that oozed with blood, instead it struggled and eventually broke free from the sand and continued rushing towards Cypher, who had moved a distance away to observe. "What!" Right before his eyes, the wound on its throat rapidly healed, as if it were never there.