“Yuck! This is so disgusting!”
Thalia exclaimed, holding up Aether’s clothes, which were scattered across the bed—a bed that was unmistakably soaked in the mixed nectar of both Raven and Aether.
“And the smell! Ugh! This whole room reeks!” she added, wrinkling her nose in exaggerated disgust.
“First, stop sniffing it, you idiot!” her mother snapped, glaring at her when she caught Thalia lifting Aether’s underwear to her face.
Thalia coughed awkwardly and tossed the garment into a pile.
“I-I wasn’t sniffing it!” she stammered, her cheeks turning a bright crimson.
Grabbing a cloth, she began scrubbing at the floor with unnecessary vigour.
“Why do we have to clean up their mess, anyway? It’s not like they can’t do it themselves!” she muttered, shooting a glare at Raven, who was blissfully asleep on the bed, completely unaware of the chaos around her.
Her mother, seated beside Raven, sighed heavily. “And who else is supposed to do it, Noir? If not us, then who?” she asked, her tone calm but firm. “If you don’t want to help, you’re free to leave anytime.”
Thalia snorted but didn’t stop cleaning, “I’m just saying, they’re grown adults, right? Shouldn’t they at least clean up after fuc-ahem playing around?” she grumbled, clearly annoyed.
Her mother observed Raven quietly for a moment before her expression softened. She smiled faintly as she watched her daughter—now so much more mature and radiant than she used to be.
“You’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman,” she said suddenly, her voice tinged with pride. “I’m sure your father would be incredibly proud of you.” Leaning over, she placed a gentle kiss on Thalia’s forehead.
‘Tsk, that damn Aether bastard almost made me feel something,’ she thought, gritting her teeth as a flicker of resentment crossed her face.
“Don’t even think about doing anything reckless,” her mother warned sharply, her eyes narrowing as if she could read Thalia’s mind.
Thalia rolled her eyes but smirked slightly, noticing how her mother seemed to be slowly returning to her usual self.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Aether stood frozen in front of the mirror, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“What the fuck man…?” he muttered, running his fingers along the sharp angles of his jawline. His sculpted features, his piercing eyes, the perfect symmetry of his nose, and the ethereal glow of his white hair—it was all too much.
He looked down, his gaze sweeping over his flawless physique and all he could think,
“Fuck this!!” he whispered, a grin creeping onto his face. “I look like a fucking god.”
Every inch of his body seemed meticulously crafted—his chiselled abs defined biceps and triceps, and his perfectly smooth, fatless skin. It was as if someone had taken their time carving him out of marble.
He was perfect… No, beyond perfect!!
Aether turned around and folded his arms, admiring his latissimus muscles, a.k.a. lats.
His muscles rippled with tension.
“Hehe…” Aether grinned. He never thought there would be a day when he’d become as hot as the models he once saw on TV….. No, his body surpassed those models. He was sexy—super sexy and hot!
His grin widened as he stood taller, realizing he’d grown in height as well.
“Just what in the world happened to me?” he wondered aloud.
!~Ding~!
[Though your Crimson Elixir of the Null devoured the Blood Heart of Draconic Pyres and mutated itself, the mutation is incomplete. The Blood Heart of Draconic Pyres, forged over thousands of years, cannot be fully destroyed instantly. It will take time. Upon contact with the hybrid Raven, a small part of the mutation accelerated, altering your physical body. Mutation will continue until your body adapts to the full potential of the Mutated Crimson Elixir of the Null.]
Aether blinked at the notification. “So, I’m already hot as hell, and it’s going to keep getting better? Damn. Ladies, brace yourselves—there are going to be a lot of broken hearts out there.” He smirked to himself, turning toward the shower.
Ssssssshhhhhh!
The hot water cascaded over his body, relaxing him. As he glanced at his log,
/
Name: Aether
Sex: Male
Race: ___________ [Unique Ether Bloodline + Crimson Elixir of the Null (Mutated)]
Level: 81 🔒
Title: The Progenitor of Unknown Species, Eternal Contract to ########, The Only Holder of Ether and A Past-less, Future-less Entity
Skills: Freedom (Active), Clone(Active), Eternal Seal (Passive), Clarion Energy (Passive), Eternis Storage:- 335 /1151 (Passive), Crimson Veil, Teleportation,
Rebirth, Phantom Steps(Passive)
Attributes:
Strength: 815
Agility: 820
Intelligence: 810🔒
Magic Affinity: 810🔒
Charm: 815
Soul: 896/255
Compatibility: 99%
[Survival rate: 81.8%] [Remaining Time: 167 days 12 hours 43 minutes 52 seconds ↓]
Affection Points: 4,264,563
Seduction: 5/10 :-
Stella: Error!! Unable to use due to Your Current Level
Aria Zephyr: Origin Weapon:- Twilight Eclipse
Aqualina Naiadia: Origin Weapon:- Oceanic Tempest
Helena Sunfire: Desired Weapon:- Blessed Aegis
XXX–Liora Darkfang: Dreadwolf Fenrir—XXX
Raven Noir: Origin Weapon: Draconyx Form
/
!~Ding~!
[Raven Noir has reached the threshold and is now removed from the Affection List!]
He noticed several new unlocks but still his level remained locked.
‘Origin Weapon? When did she awaken it?’ He wondered just then he remembered during their passionate moment, something lightened from her….. ‘Maybe that was…’ he thought but since there was no use of those for now he focused on… the new rewards piqued his curiosity—particularly a skill labelled
Rebirth.
“Hmm…
Rebirth
, huh? Sounds intriguing,” he mused, his brow furrowing slightly. “Thalia, maybe? Could it be tied to her phoenix bloodline?” he wondered aloud as he looked at the details which made him surprised and shocked!
[Skill: Rebirth]
[Effect: Upon activation, you are able to resurrect a single deceased being, restoring them to their original form and vitality. The resurrected being is reborn, free of all wounds, illnesses, or curses that afflicted them, whether by Mother, Arcane, or even #####]
[Limitation: This skill can only be used once and cannot be used on the user. The target must be deceased, and their soul must be willing to return. If the soul has moved beyond the cycle of Samsara, been completely destroyed, or bonded to someone else, the skill cannot be activated. The target’s rebirth may take time, depending on the target’s essence.]
‘Well…’ He had no words and then looked at another new skill curiously,
[Skill: Phantom Steps]
[Effect: Activating this skill grants you the ability to move at incomprehensible speeds for a short duration. Each step propels you forward with immense velocity, leaving behind afterimages. During this state, you can travel up to 500 meters in mere seconds.]
[Additional Benefits: Your reflexes and perception are enhanced exponentially.]
[Limitations: This skill lasts up to 10 seconds. It cannot bypass magical barriers or teleport you to unknown locations. Excessive use strains your body, causing temporary muscle fatigue or disorientation after the effect ends.]
[Cooldown Time: 12 hours.]
As for the
Phantom Steps
, he was slightly disappointed as he noted its cooldown time was a bit restrictive. “Oh well, can’t have everything,” he muttered with a shrug. “What I’ve got is already more than enough for now.”
After a long, satisfying shower, Aether stepped out feeling refreshed. He tied a bathrobe around his waist and walked back into the bedroom.
“Ah…” He exhaled deeply, his gaze softening as he took in the sight of the now-clean room. Raven lay on the bed, her peaceful expression.
Aether smiled fondly, leaning down to kiss her forehead and gently ruffle her hair.
“Mr. Aether”
He turned to see Raven’s mother, Emberlyn, standing at the door.
“You don’t need to be so formal, Mother-in-law,” Aether said with a chuckle, amused by her overly respectful tone.
Emberlyn smiled politely but shook her head. “Even if you’re my son-in-law, I cannot disregard the fact that you are the Emperor of this Empire.”
Aether raised an eyebrow but smiled as he knew she would loosen up eventually and there was no need to hurry.
He mumbled, “But I hope you’ll loosen up eventually”
Emberlyn chuckled lightly. “Perhaps, in time,” she said. “For now, we’ve prepared dinner for you. Please join us.”
Aether’s stomach growled softly, reminding him he hadn’t eaten in five days. “I could use some food,” he admitted, grabbing a royal robe—the only kind available—and putting it on. He reached for his mask but paused when Emberlyn spoke again.
“There’s no need for that… No one except us in the castle.”
Aether nodded, understanding, and followed her out of the room, a small smile playing on his lips.
Sitting down at the massive dining table, Aether’s eyes roamed over the array of dishes laid out before him.
Sniffff!
The rich aroma wafted up, making his stomach growl audibly.
“Hmmm,” Aether hummed in approval. The mere scent of the food had already awakened his appetite. His amused gaze shifted to his right, where Thalia stood stiffly in a maid uniform, glaring at him with a mix of annoyance and disgust.
“You look cute,” Aether said, a teasing smirk playing on his lips.
Thalia’s expression darkened instantly. She clenched her fists, clearly seething.
“MOM!” she shouted, her voice sharp with frustration. “I told you, didn’t I? Look! He’s mocking me again!”
Emberlyn, wearing an apron as she gracefully served food onto Aether’s plate, glanced at her daughter with a serene smile. “He’s not mocking you, dear. He’s just pointing out the obvious—you do look like a doll.”
Thalia’s jaw dropped, utterly betrayed. “Are you seriously taking his side, Mom?!”
Emberlyn ignored her protest and softly said to Aether, “Please, give it a try.”
Aether nodded, picking up his fork. He took a bite, and his eyes widened slightly in appreciation. “Indeed, this is delicious,” he said, nodding in satisfaction before diving into the meal with vigour.
Elegance?
Who needed that? He hadn’t eaten anything for five days, and all that mattered now was quenching his ravenous hunger.
However, as he devoured the food with gusto, a thought struck him.
‘Why am I being treated like a king?’
He glanced up briefly, noting Emberlyn carefully serving him more food, while Thalia stood nearby with a large hand fan, begrudgingly waving it to keep him cool. She shot him a venomous look as she reluctantly poured wine into his glass.
“No wine,” Aether said sharply.
Thalia raised an eyebrow but complied, grabbing a juice instead.
“Here, S.I.R!” she muttered sarcastically, slamming the glass on the table a bit harder than necessary.
Cough, cough!
“Shit,” he muttered under his breath, realization dawning on him, “I’m the Emperor”
Emberlyn’s face paled, and she leaned forward in concern. “Is something wrong, Sir? Was the food not to your liking?”
“Ahem… No, no, it’s nothing,” Aether quickly said, sitting up straighter to mask his earlier lapse. “I just… remembered something important.” He offered a sheepish smile before adding, “Anyway, your cooking is truly exceptional.”
Emberlyn’s expression softened into a relieved smile. “Thank you. Thalia also helped me prepare the meal.”
Aether glanced briefly at Thalia but said nothing, simply nodding.
Thalia’s lips twitched in fury. Her clenched fists trembled at her sides as she muttered under her breath, “Bastard.”
[+6000 AP]
Suddenly,
“Masstterrrrr~”
Snowflake, slithered into the hall, leaping onto Aether’s shoulder with startling agility. Aether caught her mid-air and cradled her fondly.
“Oh, my adorable little pie,” he cooed, stroking her smooth, scaled head. “Where have you been hiding?”
[+4000 AP]
Snowflake hissed in delight, her tongue flickering playfully. “Huntingggg~,” she said.
“Oh? And what did you hunt this time?” Aether asked, intrigued.
“A
lotttt~
,” she replied, her eyes glinting dangerously as she licked her lips. “Tasssty thingssss~.”
Aether chuckled, unable to resist her enthusiasm.
Aether couldn’t help but chuckle…
“Not a bad start,” he murmured to himself.