“Voidus Atrium?” Master was visibly taken aback the moment his eyes landed on the black sphere that had swallowed the monster whole. His expression darkened as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Aether arched an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. “Oh? You actually know about it?” His voice carried a hint of amusement, but deep inside, he was genuinely surprised.
This technique was something only he should have known. It was recorded in his previous language, one that didn’t exist in this world.
There was no way Master could have come across it naturally.
But then, Aether’s mind quickly pieced the puzzle together. If Master had gotten it from Alaric, who had access to the Elven Library, then it made sense—at least to some extent. However, the real shock was that Master actually understood the language.
That was not something Aether had anticipated.
Master’s frown deepened, his sharp eyes locking onto Aether like a predator eyeing its prey. “Just who the hell are you?” His voice was low, laced with suspicion, as his hand shot out to grab Aether’s neck.
Or at least, that was what he had intended—until Aether effortlessly swatted his hand aside and, in the blink of an eye, wrapped his fingers around Master’s throat instead.
Aether grinned, his lips curling up into a small, knowing smile. “Joker.” His voice dripped with playful mockery as if he was thoroughly enjoying this moment.
Master’s face turned deadpan. For a second, he said nothing. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed Aether’s arm and twisted it with brutal force. A sickening crack echoed through the air.
However, before the pain could even register, Aether’s body moved like a snake, fluid and unyielding, slipping out of Master’s grip with unnatural ease.
Master’s eyes narrowed. He was not going to let this slide.
The fight broke out in a flash—
Their movements were swift, precise, and relentless.
Thud!
Thuck!
Thud!
Thuck!
Master threw a punch, aiming straight for Aether’s face, but Aether ducked at the last second. Without missing a beat, he twisted his body and delivered a powerful kick to Master’s torso.
BAM!
However—
“Fast…” Master murmured, his lips curling into a grin. He had already caught Aether mid-motion, gripping his leg tightly. His grip was like iron, unshakable. “But not enough.” His eyes gleamed dangerously as the energy within him surged. His hand, still wrapped around Aether’s leg, suddenly ignited with a blinding, white-hot flame.
“Aether, get away from him! Now!” Sandra’s urgent scream rang out.
But Master only chuckled darkly, tightening his hold on Aether’s leg. “Too late,” he said wickedly, his grin widening.
Sssshhh!
The flames surged, engulfing Aether’s foot.
Aether’s entire body tensed as a searing, unbearable pain shot through him. But it wasn’t just heat—it was something deeper, something far worse.
His very soul felt like it was being burned alive!
“Arrrhh!” Aether groaned through gritted teeth. Without wasting a second, he gathered all his strength and kicked Master with full force.
BOOM!!
The impact sent shockwaves through the air, but—
Master didn’t let go.
He grinned, his expression wicked, his grip tightening even further around Aether’s leg. He wasn’t letting him escape that easily.
Just then—
A blur of movement flashed behind Master.
Dora appeared in an instant, her arms snaking around his neck as she tried to pull him away. “Let him go, bastard!” she shouted, her voice fierce with desperation.
Master, however, merely smirked. With a single push, he shoved both Aether and Dora away as if they were nothing more than ragdolls.
Thud!
Thud!
The two crashed onto the ground, Aether clutching his leg, his face contorted in pain.
“Shit, it hurts!” he hissed through clenched teeth.
He hadn’t expected this kind of agony. Now, he understood. Dora and Sandra, despite their immense strength, had still suffered even from the smallest wisp of these flames.
And now, experiencing it firsthand, he realized how truly devastating it was.
‘I thought it was just like the flames I use…’ Aether thought. That was why he had charged in without hesitation. However—
!~🔔~!
[Notice: That’s not fire! That is the Essence of Purity! The higher the purity, the worse the effect unless… You are pure.]
Aether blinked, ‘But I am pure.’
[…]
A long, awkward silence followed on the log.
Aether coughed inwardly, quickly stabilizing himself before glancing at Dora and Sandra. “You guys alright?” he asked, his voice still slightly strained from the pain.
Dora and Sandra both nodded, though their bodies still trembled from the burning sensation lingering on their skin. Even though the pain was excruciating, they could still endure it.
“… You didn’t ask about me?” Mary interrupted, her voice carrying a hint of irritation as she placed her hands on her hips.
Aether’s lips twitched at her sudden outburst, but he forced himself to respond. “Of course… you too,” he muttered, though it was obvious he was just saying it for the sake of it.
Aether’s lips twitched, but he forced himself and asked, “Of course, You too…”
“I am not fine!” Mary huffed as her eyes flickered brightly!
!~🔔~!
[Manipulation Stopped!]
Everyone, however, chose to completely ignore her whining.
“Well, four against one, huh?” Master muttered, amusement flickering in his expression. His sharp gaze, however, remained fixated on Aether, studying him intently as if trying to read his every move. “You… boy, you’re certainly something else. Why do I have this nagging feeling that you’re scheming something behind my back?”
Aether inwardly gulped, his expression tightening as he shot an exasperated glare at Mary.
This was supposed to be nothing more than a coincidence, just a natural flow of events. But because of someone’s unnecessary things, Master had started doubting everything. And now, because of that, something was definitely about to happen.
‘Tsk, whatever… since things are already heading this way, let’s give Aether a grand debut,’ Aether thought with an amused smirk playing on his lips. Since he was now recognized as the so-called “adopted son,” there was no longer any need to keep hiding his true powers.
Well, at least not all of them.
“You can see it, can’t you? He’s ready now, right?” Aether asked, turning his gaze toward Dora.
Dora gave a firm nod, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Yeah… Fate has finally formed,” she murmured, her gaze locked onto the ominous, dark black line hovering over Master’s head.
It was a clear sign that something irreversible had already been set into motion.
Aether’s eyes flickered toward Master, who was clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His entire body tensed as if something foreign and uncontrollable was awakening inside him, something he had not expected nor could fully comprehend.
Then, with a sudden, furious roar, Master’s entire body surged with overwhelming energy. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!!!” he bellowed, his voice shaking the very air.
With one powerful stomp, he kicked the ground with all his might.
The impact sent deep fractures splintering through the already damaged battlefield. Flames erupted wildly from the cracks, spreading like a raging wildfire. The sheer intensity of the heat distorted the air, making it difficult to breathe.
And then—
The ground, already weakened from their previous battle, finally gave in.
With an earsplitting rumble, massive chunks of rock and debris were flung high into the air, as though gravity itself had lost its hold.
Aether and the trio were helplessly swept along with the flying rubble, their bodies tumbling through the chaotic mess of destruction.
Amidst the swirling debris, Master moved like a shadow, appearing before Dora in the blink of an eye. His entire body was engulfed in flames, the raging fire coiling around him like a living entity.
His expression was twisted with fury as he locked onto Dora. “What did you do to me?!” he roared, launching his flaming fist straight at her face with devastating force.
Thud!
She kicked off from one rock, then leapt to another, using the floating debris to manoeuvre through the air with effortless agility. She twisted her body, narrowly avoiding his fist at the last second.
Master clicked his tongue in annoyance. He immediately chased after her, his burning form cutting through the smoke-filled sky—
But just as he closed in, Sandra suddenly appeared behind him.
Her water knife gleamed with an eerie blue light before she drove it straight into his shoulder, the blade sinking deep into his flesh.
“Argh!” Master let out a sharp grunt, his body jerking slightly from the sudden attack. His fiery aura flickered for just a moment. But he wasn’t given time to recover.
Before he could even turn to retaliate, Mary materialized behind him with deadly precision.
With a swift, fluid motion, she slashed an ‘X’ across his back, her blade carving deep into his flesh.
Blood sprayed into the air, droplets scattering across the floating debris.
“Arrhh!” Master let out a guttural growl, his pain fueling his rage. His muscles coiled as he turned to strike back, but Mary had already vanished, slipping away before he could lay a finger on her.
They fought him in the air as the hid and took turns.
Chucckk!
Chucckk!
Chucckk!
His body had numerous cuts!
His teeth ground together in frustration, his mind rapidly piecing things together. Then, his sharp eyes widened slightly in realization.
He had seen it.
Their pattern.
His instincts kicked in, and he spun around without hesitation—
And sure enough, there he was.
Aether.
The boy was right behind him, his sharp-edged ice sword poised and ready to slice through Master’s neck in a clean, lethal strike.
But—
Master’s movements were faster. His palm flared with energy, a strange, otherworldly glow radiating from his hand before—
A weapon began forming.
A dull sword, its blade extending from his grasp as though it had always been there, just waiting to be summoned.
Aether clicked his tongue in annoyance, realizing that his attack had been predicted. Without a second thought, he pivoted his stance, bringing up his ice sword to block the incoming strike.
But then—
“NO! DO NOT BLOCK IT!!”
Dora’s voice rang out in sheer urgency, her wide eyes filled with alarm as she lunged toward him with reckless desperation.
Before anyone could process what was happening—
The dull sword passed straight through the ice sword as if the latter was nothing more than mist.
Aether’s eyes widened in shock.
The tip of the dull sword barely grazed his chest—
Thud!
Aether suddenly collapsed.
Not from the force of the attack—
But because Dora and Sandra had grabbed onto him at the last second, yanking him down with all their strength.
Master let out an irritated click of his tongue before stomping down on the fractured rocks once more.
And just like that—
Every single rock that had been floating in the air came crashing down all at once.
“A-Aether!”
“Aether!”
Dora and Sandra’s voices rang out in sheer panic as they scrambled to check on him.
Aether stood there, his legs trembling slightly as he steadied himself on the unsteady ground. His breaths came out heavy and uneven, his entire body throbbing from the aftershock of the near-fatal attack.
And then—
Drip.
Drip…
Blood.
It trickled down slowly, staining the shattered rocks beneath his feet.
He glanced down at his chest.
