Tick!
Aether’s vision blurred momentarily, a disorienting haze that felt like an eternity before clarity returned…. His eyes focused on the Prophetess, who was tapping her stick on his forehead. In that instant, he found himself hurled back to the time when everything began!
[+10 AP]
“Hmm… How fascinating,” the Prophetess murmured, her voice laced with intrigue as she pulled back her stick, steadying herself. “To think, you refused to choose. Hah! What an amusing and utterly peculiar man you are,” she added, her tone quivering slightly with disbelief.
Aether’s lips curled into a bitter twitch, “What did you expect from me?
To make a choice?
To decide who lives and who dies?
I’d rather face death myself than make that kind of decision!” His voice was rough, teetering on the edge of fury.
He gritted his teeth, his jaw tightening as he fought to suppress the storm of emotions threatening to explode. If only she had told him from the start, he could have saved them all.
Despite knowing his thoughts were a chaotic mess, Aether couldn’t hold back his anger any longer. His gaze locked onto the Prophetess, the one responsible for giving him a temporary checkpoint just before the nightmare began, “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” he accused.
If it had been the previous checkpoint that was…. Raven, Aether might have had enough time to navigate through the chaos. But now, time—the most critical element—was slipping through his fingers like sand in an hourglass.
“Blaming me, are you?” the Prophetess replied, her words slow and deliberate, “Even though I granted you a gift, one that you squandered without realizing its true potential? What a shame… What an absolute shame,” she said, shaking her head as though she couldn’t comprehend his audacity.
“What do you mean by that? You’re the one who created this damned che—”
“No, child,” the Prophetess interjected sharply, her voice firm as she raised her stick. Without warning, she stabbed at an ugly, brownish, gnarled hand that materialized out of thin air. The grotesque appendage dissipated instantly under her attack.
Aether stumbled back, his eyes widening in shock as the realization hit him. Those eerie hands would manifest if he spoke too much about the specifics of his power.
“I thought you were—”
“Immune to the Law? Haha… Oh, how naive you are,” the Prophetess interrupted, a chuckle escaping her lips, though it held no warmth,
“Let me make this clear, Aether: I can ‘predict’ the future. That is my gift.
But living in it? That’s an entirely different matter. The Laws cannot be ignored, not even by me,” she said, her voice growing more serious. “I merely granted you the gift. How you used it? That’s entirely on you.”
‘Log? What the hell does she mean by that?’ Aether frowned deeply as he recalled her role in creating the temporary checkpoint.
[…]
‘Anwer me, log!!’
!~Ding~!
[Affirmative: Due to certain restrictions, you are not allowed to use that power. Thus, it was converted into a checkpoint for your benefit!]
Aether clicked his tongue in frustration, ‘Benefit? Tsk’ his lips curling into a grimace. “Whatever. I don’t have time for this nonsense,” he muttered under his breath, turning on his heel to leave.
“Where do you think you’re going?” the Prophetess called out.
Without looking back, Aether replied, “To fix this fucked-up mess! The choices I make will be mine alone—not dictated by some damn Laws!”
“Hahahaha…” The Prophetess suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing around them and stopping Aether in his tracks. It wasn’t a lighthearted laugh; it was a full-throated, almost maniacal laugh that sent shivers down his spine…. it was like an old lady laughing in horror movies.
‘Damn fuck, I have second thoughts about seducing her’ He thought before asking,
“What’s so funny?”
[+10 AP]
“Hmm… Why don’t you turn around and look at me?” the Prophetess said, her tone teasing yet firm, her gaze fixed on his back.
“Why? I don’t have time to stand here chatting—”
“Just look at me, Aether,” she insisted softly, her voice almost hypnotic. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire
Aether exhaled a weary sigh and turned to face her, “What you wa—” The words died in his throat as his eyes widened in pure horror.
A massive block of land was descending upon them, its colossal form looming closer by the second.
“The Pyra Empire?” Aether whispered, his voice barely audible over the rush of blood pounding in his ears.
!~Ding~!
/
Name: Aether
Sex: Male
Race: ___________ [Unique Ether Bloodline + Crimson Elixir of the Null (Mutated)]
Level: 82
Title: The Progenitor of Unknown Species, Eternal Contract to ########, The Only Holder of Ether and A Past-less, Future-less Entity, Loving Step-Father
Skills: Freedom (Active), Clone(Active), Eternal Seal (Passive), Clarion Energy (Passive), Eternis Storage:- 245/1216(Passive), Crimson Veil, Teleportation, Rebirth, Phantom Steps(Passive), Forbidden Language [50% Comprehension], Poison Resistance (Passive), 3 Seconds (Passive)
Attributes:
Strength: 820
Agility: 820
Intelligence: 830
Magic Affinity: 830
Charm: 820
[Soul: 946/270]
Compatibility: 99%
[Survival rate: 83.5%]*[Remaining Time: 80 days 24 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds ↓]*
Affection Points: 2,122,051
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
/
The Remaining time period was gravely reduced by fucking 40 days!!!
ssshhzzzz!
A gentle breeze flowed around Aether and the Prophetess, but the wind, though gentle to Aether, seemed to carry a harsh weight for the Prophetess.
Her tone turned serious, her gaze steady, and her words precise,
“I see… You have angered the Laws, Aether. For someone who was given the power to choose, who was granted the options, you ignored them. And now…” Her eyes shifted toward the Empire looming closer to them. “Nature itself is furious with you for disrupting the process that was meant to unfold.
The Laws are now forcing you to choose.”
“What… do you mean?” Aether mumbled, his voice barely audible as his unbelieving eyes remained fixed on the massive Empire descending upon them, its shadow growing darker and heavier with every passing moment.
“The will of the Laws now sees you as a threat!” the Prophetess explained, her voice devoid of its usual rasp or weariness, replaced with pure and unyielding seriousness.
“You cannot escape, Aether. They will compel you to choose… no, they will force you to decide who you want to save and who you will let go.
You cannot have everything.
No one can escape this anger, not even you.”
Aether’s eyes stayed glued to his Empire as a flicker of purple danced within them. Memories of countless iterations flashed before him—endless struggles, gut-wrenching deaths, searing pain, bitter hatred, unthinkable cruelty, and humanity’s lost sense of purpose and…. the death of his beloved ones.
And yet, Aether smiled.
Yup, just smiled in front a fucking danger,
“Hehe… Watch me, woman. For I… I will show you a will that stands against even these Laws!” His voice was laced with unwavering determination, filled with a raw, almost primal intensity that sent a shiver through the air.
SSSHHHZZZZ!
As breeze flowed filtering his hair and…
She saw it in his eyes—an unrelenting fire of resolve and willpower, shining brighter and brighter as if it had just ignited and was ready to scorch the world with its brilliance.
“Very well, then. Until we meet again, I shall witness your will… H######,” she said cryptically, just as a group of nuns appeared around her. In a swirl of light and shadows, they disappeared from sight, leaving Aether alone with his thoughts.
/AETHER!!!/
Selene’s voice echoed in Aether’s mind, piercing through his thoughts with its urgency and desperation.
Yet, he didn’t move.
He stood rooted, his gaze unwavering as he stared at the Empire inching ever closer. Clenching his teeth, he muttered under his breath, “I will… save them! All of them. No matter the cost!” With those words, he turned away.
Meanwhile…
Selene crouched outside her room, her lips curled into a mischievous giggle as if she had just achieved something monumental. Her plan was simple: create a situation between Aether and her mother! Once set into motion, she trusted Aether to handle the rest.
Though she hated the idea of playing the part of a broker, she convinced herself it was all for the greater good and for Aether’s sake.
‘It’s all for Aether!’ she reassured herself. Yet, she couldn’t stop a small pout from forming as the thought crept in—he was going to be with another woman…. Worse, it was her mother!!
You know how hard for her to set up them!
Suddenly—
“Why are you pouting?”
“HIK—!” Before she could scream in surprise, Aether’s hand covered her mouth, muffling her reaction. When he let go, Selene’s wide eyes darted around like a child caught red-handed. “W-What are you doing here?” she stammered, her voice quivering slightly.
“You called me, didn’t you?” Aether replied softly, his gaze steady on her, his tone calm yet curious.
“W-Well, yeah, but shouldn’t you appear inside?” she asked hesitantly, clearly flustered and struggling to maintain composure.
“Why? You’re out here,” Aether countered, his lips curling into an amused smile as he watched her scramble for an excuse to cover her failed plan.
Selene noticed his expression and frowned slightly before surprising him by wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug, holding onto him as if her life depended on it.
Aether raised an eyebrow. “What are… you doing?”
“I don’t know… I just feel like hugging you,” Selene mumbled, her voice carrying an uneasiness she couldn’t quite place. After a moment, she added, “Don’t you want to?”
Aether’s smile softened as he shook his head. “I’d love to hug you,” he murmured, pulling her into a firm embrace. For a moment, he let himself forget everything—the Empire, the Laws, the pain…. But, of course, he couldn’t resist pinching her side.
“Ouch! I am sorry! and… I love you!!”