Kane entered his dormitory room, and he was immediately impressed by its spaciousness and the quality of the furnishings. It was quite a large room, comfortably appointed with a sizable mattress and an ample supply of clothing. He noted that his room was situated on one of the higher levels of the Academy building, affording him a rather nice view of the surrounding area. He was also pleased to find that he had been provided with a communicator, a device that contained all the pertinent details regarding the training curriculum he was about to undertake. Kane surveyed his new surroundings with a sense of satisfaction, thinking, 'Finally, a room that is truly my own, a place where I can find some semblance of peace and privacy. I have definitely upped my game, it seems, moving from a prisoner to this.'
As soon as he finished his initial exploration of the room, Kane's thoughts turned to the memories he had acquired during his trial. He decided to begin by examining the sword, the weapon he had obtained, and the arcane runes inscribed upon it. He summoned the memory, and the information appeared before him:
Memory: [The Ultimate Defiance]
Memory Rank: Awakened
Memory Type: Weapon
Memory Description: [This is a steel of unparalleled sharpness, capable of cutting through any form of will, no matter how strong or resolute. It was once wielded by a great king, a ruler destined for greatness, who, in a tragic turn of events, committed the deed of killing his predecessor to ascend to the throne. As a consequence of this act, he was cursed with the torment of immortality, forever bound to walk the earth, unable to find release in death.]
The sword materialized before him, a magnificent weapon with a large, ornate red handle in the style of a hengdang, a traditional Chinese sword. The blade itself was silver, curved, and possessed an aura of deadly sharpness, its very form suggesting its intended purpose: to cleave and sever with ruthless efficiency. While examining the sword, Kane pondered its description, his mind grappling with its implications. 'The steel cuts as per the user's will, huh? That implies a significant amount of attack power, a weapon that can adapt to the user's intent and strike with devastating force.'
After unsummoning the sword, Kane turned his attention to the armor he had obtained from the defeated Tempest. He summoned the memory, and the armor materialized, receding all over his body, encasing him completely in a suit of sleek, silver-colored plates. The armor covered him from head to toe, even extending up to his mouth, where it formed a protective mask. Kane focused his attention on the runes inscribed upon the armor, and the information appeared:
Memory: [Silver Plates]
Memory Rank: Awakened
Memory Type: Armor
Memory Description: [This armor belonged to a warrior who was a devout follower of the storm, a force of nature he revered above all else. He yearned to become one with the storm, to transcend his mortal form and become a part of the divine. However, his aspirations were tragically misguided, and his wish became twisted into a cruel mockery of his desires. His once-proud skin of steel was ripped apart and transformed into an actual storm, a chaotic and destructive manifestation of his misguided ambition. The remnants of his being, the essence of his will, decided to adapt and change according to his own beliefs, rather than conforming to the beliefs or expectations of others.]
Kane considered the armor's description, his mind intrigued by its unusual properties. 'Changes according to belief, huh? Then, can I change its form and function according to my own will, to my own desires and intentions?' Driven by curiosity, Kane imagined a change, focusing his will on his right hand. A round shield began to form, coalescing from the silver plates of the armor. However, as he concentrated, he noticed that the density of the shield was uneven, fluctuating and unstable.
Despite the imperfections, Kane sighed in happiness, a sense of triumph filling him. 'Just as I thought. The armor can indeed form constructs, adapt to my will. However, the density and stability of these constructs vary depending on my focus and control. It's good, though. It's remarkably versatile, offering a wide range of possibilities in combat and defense.'
Satisfied with his initial exploration of his memories, Kane unsummoned the armor and decided to venture into his soul sea, the inner realm that housed his very essence. He was eager to explore this strange and powerful place, to uncover its secrets and understand its workings. As he entered his soul sea, he was once again struck by its unique characteristics. The sea was still covered in a vast expanse of inky black water, and the magnificent temple, a structure of awe-inspiring grandeur, dominated the landscape.
Kane gazed at the temple, his mind filled with a sense of wonder and determination. 'Still magnificent, even after all that has happened. I need to know what lies within, to explore its depths and understand its purpose.' He approached the temple and entered its hallowed halls. Inside, he saw that the crimson soul core was still present, resting on the altar, its vibrant glow illuminating the chamber. It seemed to occupy the space where a god's statue would typically be placed, a powerful symbol of his own unique nature.
The walls of the temple were painted in a soothing sandalwood color, but it was not the color that drew Kane's attention. Instead, it was the intricate magical inscriptions that glowed with an ethereal light, pulsating with arcane energy. Kane went near the inscriptions, his curiosity driving him forward. As he drew closer, he realized that he could understand the language, the symbols resolving themselves into meaningful words. It was a list, he realized, a list of the names of the creatures he had slain during his trial.
As soon as he read the letters, a torrent of information flooded his mind, a deluge of knowledge about the creatures he had defeated. Their skillsets, their unique qualities, their strengths and weaknesses - all of it was laid bare before him in a rush of overwhelming detail. However, Kane quickly realized that his mind could not contain all of this information simultaneously. It was too much, too vast, and it began to leak from his consciousness, forming temporary, imaginary structures that vaguely resembled the creatures themselves. These ephemeral constructs flickered and danced before him, fleeting glimpses of the beings he had conquered, before ultimately dissolving back into the inscriptions on the wall.
Kane was shocked by this sudden influx of information, his mind reeling from the experience. 'What the hell was that?' he thought, his internal voice filled with a mixture of awe and trepidation. 'My brain got completely overloaded. And I'm already dealing with the constant barrage of ravings from my flaw! It seems I can access their skillsets, their abilities, but it comes at a price. It fries my brain, pushing it to its limits. I need to learn to control this, to get used to it, if I want to harness its full potential.'
After exiting his soul sea, Kane returned to the physical world, his mind already formulating a plan to deal with his most pressing problem: his flaw. Ever since he had awakened from his first Nightmare trial, he had been plagued by the constant ravings of the people who had died around him. The voices were relentless, a cacophony of suffering that threatened to overwhelm his sanity. He had been able to tolerate it, to some extent, thus far, but he knew that in the future, he would inevitably be forced to kill again, both for protection and survival. The flaw, he realized, would only grow worse, the chorus of voices louder and more insistent. He needed to find a way to control it, to manage its effects, before it drove him to madness.
Driven by this urgent need, Kane decided to try an immediate solution: meditation. He began to meditate, focusing his mind, attempting to calm the storm of voices within. He meditated for the entire night, whenever he couldn't sleep, which, given the constant onslaught of his flaw, was almost every night. He sought to find a way to quiet the ravings, to achieve a state of inner peace amidst the chaos, a sanctuary within the storm.