Darkness faded slowly.
Sylas awoke to the steady rhythm of a machine and the faint scent of antiseptic. His body felt light—unnaturally so. The pain that should have accompanied his injuries was distant, dulled, as if his body no longer remembered how broken it had been.
Before he could move, the air before his eyes rippled.
Not a command.
Not a request.
The Dome appeared on its own.
A vast, translucent screen unfolded, filling his vision.
[Dome Record — Trial Summary]
Subject: Sylas
World: The Forgotten World
Trial Status: Completed
Result: Survival
Lines of text scrolled downward.
[Recorded Achievements]
Survived pursuit by a Tier 6 entity
Endured dual-soul resonance without Dome stabilization
Entered a sealed ancient domain unaided
Triggered legacy awakening without authorization
Destroyed the Dual-Soul Crystal
Caused the annihilation of an ancient soul entity (Psyche Lord)
Preserved soul integrity under collapse conditions
The screen paused.
Gold light bled into the text.
[Evaluation]
Standard awakening criteria: Failed
Survival criteria: Exceeded
Subject assessment:
Non-standard soul architecture
Extreme adaptability
Anomalous threat potential
Dome protocol adjustment required.
The world around Sylas felt distant as the screen shifted.
[Skill Manifestation Detected]
Skill Name: Primordial Dominion
Grade: Divine
Sylas stared at the glowing words, confusion flickering across his pale blue eyes.
Primordial… Dominion?
Fragments surged through his mind.
The forest drowned in shadows.
The desert stained with blood.
The ancient soul laughing as the crystal shattered.
His own blood touching the fractured stone.
His breathing grew shallow.
It was real.
Slowly, he whispered, "Status."
The Dome interface dissolved, replaced by a closer, more personal projection.
{[Status Window]
Name: Sylas
Age: 10
Rank: Awakened
Below, a new section unfolded.
[Skills]
1. Soul Perception Archive
Grade: Unknown (Anomalous)
Type: Passive
Description:
Allows direct perception of soul structures and concealed truths beyond physical and magical limits.
Automatically reveals information regarding:
-Monsters (Species, Threat Tier, Weakness Indicators)
-Humans (Rank, Soul Integrity, Intent)
-Artifacts (Origin, Seals, Corruption Level)
-Skills (Type, Grade, Activation Conditions)
-Soul State (Damage, Compatibility, Stability)
Authorization Status: Bypassed}
Sylas's pupils constricted.
So this… was my first skill.
He finally understood why he had seen what others could not. Why ancient truths had revealed themselves to him inside the citadel.
The screen shifted.
2. Primordial Dominion
Grade: Divine
Type: Authority / Evolutionary
Description:
Grants dominion over fundamental mediums of existence.
Authority expands as Rank increases.
Current Authority Status:
▸ Shadow Authority — Unsealed (Minor)
Authority Level: Minor
Status: Active
Description:
Grants limited dominion over shadows within perception range.
Effects:
Shadows respond instinctively to Sylas's presence
Allows manipulation of existing shadows for:
Concealment
Sensory extension
Minor physical reinforcement
Sylas may merge partially with shadows, reducing presence and detection
Entities within shadowed areas experience subtle fear and reaction delay
Limitations:
Cannot create shadows; only manipulate existing ones
Extended use causes mental fatigue
Authority strength scales with Rank and will
▸ Blood Authority — Sealed
Unlock Condition: Rank Advancement
▸ Soul Authority — Sealed
Unlock Condition: Rank Advancement}
Sylas stared at the projection, breath held.
The shadow beneath his bed shifted.
Not violently.
Not dramatically.
It simply acknowledged him.
His fingers tightened slightly, and the darkness deepened for a fraction of a second before returning to normal.
A quiet realization settled into his chest.
This is only the beginning.
The screen faded, leaving the hospital room once more.
Sylas lay back against the bed, pale blue eyes reflecting faint traces of darkness that had not been there before.
Awakened.
Not strong.
Not safe.
And as the machines hummed softly beside him, Sylas understood one truth with chilling clarity—
Every step forward would grant him more authority.