Chapter: 14, New Base
After exploring the entire place Jin discovered that the Hollow Tree is what he calls it, and has six layouts.
They are the Trunk Citadel which is the core part right inside the massive tree. The crown spires are the six towers that are attached to the walls working like a guard post.
The Root Catacombs are the underground layers that are made out of a network of ashen tunnels and chambers stretched through the old roots.
The Charred Courtyard is a large open space inside the root walls that might have been used for training, duels and gathering warriors.
The Weeping Pools are some small, unnatural pools of dark liquid found in hidden alcoves. Jin didn't dare touch these liquids because they looked very sinister.
The last part is The Hungering Gates, which are a set of massive, rusted doors that devour intruders. Somehow they still work even after the death of the being controlling them.
*
By the time Jin finished exploring the Hollow Tree, both Kamish and Bellion came back, clearing the surroundings and dragging the corpses here.
Jin awakened some more humanoid creatures and made them into his shadow. He has his awakened ability [Arise].
His Innate ability is [Shadow Realm], which is the place where his shadows stay. Now, it was completely empty.
The new Shadows were something like laborers. They cleaned the important areas like storage chambers and living quarters before cleaning the entire castle.
Within a week, the entire castle was cleaned and they started to live there. The laborers then started to store the corpses of the slain abominations for food purposes.
Jin had finished all the work he needed to do, to find a good Citadel and keep the Kamish there to guard it, until Jin became a saint and inherited this Citadel.
He waited for a few days for Noir's signal for the [Shadow Exchange]. Which is supposed to be his awakened ability, but he can use it once before waiting until awakening to use it again.
**
Noir looked at the dark castle in front of him a few distance away. Noir got off Kamish a few distance away from the dark castle. He sends Jin a mental message and after a few seconds, The Kamish in front of him was replaced by the figure of a boy.
Jin looked at him and asked while having a smile on his face "So, your important seclusion for a breakthrough is finally over?"
Noir smiled back and replied "And your homeless ass finally found a Home?"
Both of them laughed and together headed toward the Dark castle. "So, you brought both shadows, right?"
"Yes." Jin replied as out of the two shadows of Bellion and Kamish he brought. The shadow of Kamish moved to Noir's shadow.
Soon, they reached the big gates of the dark castle. As they were about to enter the gates, Jin halted in his steps for a second.
Noir, sensing his action, looked at his memories and froze for a second. But he quickly steadied his shock and said reassuringly "Don't worry, you forgot about the Shadow Heart?"
Jin shook his head and said "I am not worried about that. It's just that we are seeing them a bit too early." then asked "What about our Main Base? How's that girl doing?"
"She's doing quite well. It feels like the spell knows what our plans are." Noir replied, having a smile on his face.
**
In a far corner of the dream realm, there was a dark mountain. And at the highest point of the mountain, a vast expanse of rock was covered in snow. In the center of it, illuminated by the moonlight, stood a magnificent temple.
And in front of it, stood a young girl who looked very young to be in such a harrowing place.
The girl looked to be ten or twelve years old, but since she was in the dream realm meant that she was older but just looked young.
She looked at the temple with her green clover eyes, her white hair fluttering by the cold wind. Her long elven ears made her stand out.
Anahita, after climbing all the way here, decided to enter the temple with her small body. Before entering the temple, she used her dormant ability [Erase] to completely erase her presence so that the thing inside cannot see or sense her.
Inside the dark hall, Anahita looked at the broken stone where an altar should have been once with a smile on her lips. She got close to it and used her innate ability [Hold Your Hands].
Soon, her soul sea trembled and a dark temple appeared in the bright green soul sea. And she received the three traits of this particular citadel.
She didn't claim the citadel, she just copied the traits. The first trait was the movement, where it can change location.
The second trait is the Guardian. She can now summon a guardian two ranks above her to protect her, and it is as invisible and undetectable as the one in the real one.
The third trait is sacrifice. She can sacrifice any living being to anyone, even the dead gods. But if she sacrifices them to herself then it will improve her overall abilities.
She has the Sacred Aspect named [Irminsul]. But her main task is to be a Castle for Noir. This aspect also gives her the small seedling of irminsul tree, which is supposed to be her aspect legacy.
It has the power to collect information from past to present of six realms, but because every other world is already assimilated with the dream realm, it now only gathers information on the waking world and dream realm.
Irminsul will grow on its own as it records and stores more and more information.
With the traits of this citadel copied, Anahita summoned two guardians and used the movement trait to head toward the forgotten shore.
With this trait, she can reach the bastion within a month, and from there to chained island and Raven heart and then night garden will take about a year in total.
After a bit, she looked at the hall once again and disappeared from the place.
To be continued…