Gwin opened his eyes to darkness.
'Am I dead?'
His mind was reeling from the excruciating crucible of pain he had just been subjected to. Dazed and disoriented, his eyes wandered around. He noticed that his body had been restored and was no longer Dimu's body but now his own.
"Not dead...got it."
His voice dissipated into the void as he lay flat on his back. He could still feel the sensations of his skin being eaten away and the despair while fleeing from the serpent. That serpent…The Disciple of Kesh was like death incarnate. He should have stood no chance whatsoever so the fact he was still alive was nothing short of a miracle. The blade being able to pierce the flesh was a stroke of luck and he would have been condemned to an awful fate if it hadn't been able to.
"I'm so tired"
In truth he really wasn't. His muscles and body had been rejuvenated or maybe reset upon entering this void. His psyche was in shambles however. Gwin had done his best to avoid pain in life as best he could. This nightmare had reached his limit and more on how much he could handle. His mind was distant and his gaze was unfocused.
[You have received a memory: Kiss of Kesh]
'A memory?'
The spell's voice resounded from all around him, shaking him from his stupor. It was then that he truly took in his surroundings. He wasn't alone in this darkness. All around him bright stars shone defiantly in the void connected by silver lights to form vast constellations. It all surrounded him like a vast celestial net.
It was intimidating. He tore his eyes away from the humbling view and turned his attention to the memory. He should have been ecstatic right now. Gaining a memory was extremely lucky for a sleeper, not only that but it was higher rank than him which would be good for when he was sent to the dream world. People like him did not have a vast collection of memories to inherit from their clan like real legacies did so even just having one no matter how small was fortunate.
Gwin was having a hard time being excited though. He was crushed. Not only had his psyche been nearly shattered by unbearable pain he was also furious.
"That damn snake…"
He hissed into the darkness for no one to hear. That snake had made a fool out of him. No, he was truly angry at himself. His plan had gone wrong in all parts and he had to resort to desperately carving through the snake's insides.
He was lucky to be alive and that pissed him off.
He hated how helpless he was in the face of that mighty abomination. He cursed his weakness and reliance on others only to barely come out of that alive. He hated how his entire life was reliant on others. He hated it all, enough to bring him to angry tears.
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[A maimed son of a village of servants fled from its former master. His desperate will to survive and his fear brought him to the Nest of Kesh. He made a run no mortal man should ever be able to endure. His cowardly tactics fell both friend and foe. He dove into the bowels of his former master and slayed them from within with fierce desperation. He then met the last of the Beast Gods favored descendants inside the belly of the beast and merged with it.]
[You have slain Awakened Devil: Disciple of Kesh]
[You have become one with a infant deity]
[You have achieved the impossible!]
[Final appraisal: Glorious. Your cowardice is unfathomable!]
"GAHH, I get it you bastard!"
Gwin swung his fist at the shimmering runes in front of him only for it to pass through harmlessly.
"Just shut up already!"
He was dead tired of the spell pointing out his flaws. He already knew how pitiful he was! Something deep within him was furious as well. He hated the fact he had little control over his own safety.
'I'm going to become so strong I never have to run away again'
He swore to himself in his head. He turned his resolute gaze back to the runes.
"Anything else?! I did kill an awakened devil! I want my reward."
His bravado was empty though.
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
'That's right. Didn't it say I merged with a deity? What the heck was that about? It also mentioned Beast God. Ooooo please let this be at least ascended!'
Gwyn started crossing his fingers, and toes, and eyes, He crossed everything he could and selected [yes].
[Awakened Aspect Ancient Sentinel is evolving…]
[New Aspect acquired ]
[Aspect Rank: Divine]