[This is not complete at all. This will be updated as the story goes.]

(This chapter will contain information for this story. Expect some elements to differ from the original Shadow Slave novel. I understand that some people would prefer a story that stays true to the original, but I find it quite difficult to manage. I am relatively new to writing, so this is what I have gathered so far. I have also changed a few things to suit my own preferences. I would enjoy feedback.)

⇺ The Nightmare Spell ⇸

The Nightmare Spell primarily infects young individuals (ages 16–18, though others can be affected). Once infected, the chosen experience a growing need to sleep. When they finally succumb, they are transported to their first nightmare.

⇺ The Nightmares ⇸

The Nightmares are trials forged by the spell. They are populated by creatures and humans, and are considered to be fictitious. Each Nightmare contains a central conflict, these central conflicts can be handled in a multitude of ways. These conflicts are believed to be reconstructions of events from a time of old.

⇺Awakened Ranks (Spell Carriers)⇸

Dormant ⭗

Awakened ⭗⭗

Ascended ⭗⭗⭗

Transcendent ⭗⭗⭗⭗

Supreme ⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗

Sacred ⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗

Divine ⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Key Details:

Soul Cores: The number of cores a Spell Carrier can achieve is limited by the quality of their existing cores.

Example: A Transcendent soul core allows up to four cores; an Awakened soul core allows only two.

Power: Additional cores serve as reservoirs for essence but do not necessarily increase raw power unless the essence type benefits from multiple cores.

⇺ Corrupted Ranks (Nightmare Creatures) ⇸

Dormant ⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗

Awakened ⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗

Fallen ⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗

Corrupted ⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗

Great ⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗

Cursed ⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗

Unholy ⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗⭗

Transformation Process:

- Nightmare creatures can advance to higher tiers by saturating all seven cores with essence.

- Once all cores are saturated, they merge into a single core, triggering the transformation to the next tier (e.g., from Awakened to Fallen).

- Transformations can be gradual or instantaneous, with rare cases involving class changes.

Note: Strength between ranks becomes more pronounced as creatures progress down the corrupted hierarchy.

⇺ Classes (Nightmare creatures) ⇸

(Still Experimenting with Ideas, I want to really get this down and I think these classes are decent so far.)

I will run by this later and make corrections with grammar and stuff I am too lazy right now.

Beasts:

Focused on survival rather than hostility, they operate primarily on animal instincts. Geared towards survival, they can adapt to their environment better than most other classes.

Monsters:

Creatures that are not bound by reason or logic, acting unexpectedly with an uncontrollable desire to kill.

Behemoths:

Massive creatures deeply tied to the regions they inhabit. Some are seen wielding artifacts, making them unique due to their ability to wield memories like humans. This class tends to start smaller in the earlier ranks but increases in size as they advance to higher ranks. This class is also mostly neutral and in rare cases has shown outward hostility unless for survival purposes.

Devil:

Creatures with sick desires similar to monsters but act in a more calculated manner, allowing them to fulfill their twisted desires. They possess abilities akin to Spell Carriers, which means they also have flaws. These flaws can be acquired upon defeat and often represent accessories that come with both benefits and downsides.

Terror:

Creatures that focus on manipulating the environment to control the battlefield to their advantage.

Tyrant:

The most intelligent class among the documented categories, they are commanders of nightmare armies, giving them the power to create and control legions.

Titan:

(additional details not provided)

[This is not complete at all. This will be updated as the story goes.]