“What should we do now? This is not what we expected,” Celestia muttered, her voice carrying a slightly horrified tone as her fingers curled into tight fists.
She had witnessed, with her own eyes, how people transformed into monstrous beings—how they screamed in agony as their bodies twisted and changed beyond recognition.
If this horrifying phenomenon were to repeat itself, if it were to spread across the entire Empire… then there would be nothing left but monsters and corpses, littering the once-thriving land.
Was this truly what the Gods wanted? Was this their grand design?
Most of all…
“Why did Mother’s Energy have to return after all this time?” Celestia questioned.
Aether let out a heavy sigh. He, too, had no clear understanding of what was happening, but there was one thing he was beginning to realize. Something undeniable, something terrifying,
“The Beginning… it’s all about bringing back the Ancient times, isn’t it?” Aether murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as the truth finally settled in his mind.
All this time, ‘The Beginning’ had never been just a term—it was literally what it meant… Something is not starting new… rather, it going to the starting old line!
Aether and Celestia rubbed their temples, their thoughts entangled in the chaos of uncertainty. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on them. However—
“For now, we need to gather the other Rulers and have a serious discussion,” Aether said, his voice laced with determination. Celestia nodded firmly, knowing that withholding this information could lead to devastating consequences.
The Rulers of the other Empires had to be informed, and together, they would have to decide how to act before it was too late.
Just then—
“Arhmm…”
A deep, ragged groan echoed in the tense silence, making both Aether and Celestia snap their heads toward the source. Their gazes locked onto the battered and broken Alaric.
For a brief moment, Alaric’s eyes flickered blunt… But just as quickly, they returned to normal. Then, a violent jolt ran through his body, and his pupils dilated as he gasped in shock. His breath hitched as he stammered, “W-What… What just happened to me?”
“Oh?” Aether’s lips curled into an amused smirk as he observed Alaric’s reaction with interest. “You were actually able to snap out of my control… How fascinating.” His eyes glinted, his tone carrying a tinge of intrigue. “Good thing I didn’t use you in my plan after all.”
Even if someone fell under his control… there was still a possibility they could break free.
That was dangerous.
Aether made a mental note of it… Better to know now than later.
Alaric’s expression contorted in horror as the realization hit him like a sledgehammer. His body trembled as he pieced it together—Aether had controlled him.
“W-What the hell…? What are you?” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. The more he looked at Aether, the more his instincts screamed at him that something was very, very wrong with this boy.
Alaric clenched his teeth so hard it hurt. “I knew it… You’re not normal. You’re something far beyond that… I should have killed you that day!” His voice rose with fury, his hands twitching with the regret of lost opportunity.
He should have ended Aether when he had the chance. He should have struck him down instead of merely casting him out of the Empire.
But now—
Alaric forced a grin despite the dread twisting inside him. “Once my Master finds out about this… Mark my words… He will carve you apart, inch by inch, just to uncover what the hell you truly are, you sick fucker!”
Aether’s smirk widened into a sinister grin, “Hahaha…”
Not only him—Celestia, too, let out a soft, amused chuckle.
Alaric’s eyes twitched, “Fuckers…! cough, cough!” He coughed violently, “Laugh all you want… It won’t change anything. It’s only a matter of time before you all kneel before him. The mighty one! You will understand soon enough. You will learn what true power is!”
And yet—
Aether and Celestia only laughed harder.
Until—
Aether abruptly halted his laughter. “Hahaha—” The sharp transition sent a ripple of unease through the air as his expression turned cold, indifferent. His voice dropped, devoid of any amusement. “Tell me, Alaric… Do you truly believe your Master will come and save you?”
Alaric didn’t hesitate. “Of course,” he declared with absolute certainty, his gaze unwavering.
“I see…” Aether murmured as he took a slow step backwards. Then, with a wave of his hand in front of his face—
Something shifted… The colour of his dark black hair drained away, transforming into a blinding shade of pure white. His body expanded, his muscles growing more defined, his stature taller, more imposing.
Alaric’s breath hitched as he stared, his face draining of colour. His entire body was locked up in sheer disbelief. His mind refused to process the reality before him.
“V-Victor…?” His voice cracked, trembling.
“Indeed,” Victor responded smoothly, an amused smile tugging at his lips as he casually flicked his pristine white hair. His piercing gaze bore into Alaric’s soul.
Alaric’s mind… completely short-circuited.
This wasn’t possible.
This couldn’t be real!
And yet—
It was.
“T-Then… After all this time—” His voice was weak, barely holding together the shattering of his entire belief system.
“Always,” Victor murmured, his voice calm yet unyielding. His sharp eyes didn’t waver as he spoke again, repeating the question that now held a much heavier weight, “Do you still believe your Master will come and save you?”
Alaric’s body went rigid, his breath coming out in shallow gasps. His mind whirled with chaos.
His Master’s grand plan had always revolved around using Victor.
But Victor was Aether?
Aether?…. FUCK!
Everything had collapsed. Everything had been a lie. They had all fallen victim to a mere trick—one so devastatingly simple, yet so utterly cruel.
Still—
Despite the crushing realization sinking into his bones, Alaric clung to a shred of hope.
Because this was Master they were talking about.
The master knew everything and the Master always had contingency plans.
Didn’t he?
“Even if he couldn’t come and save me… I’m sure he will get my revenge, you fucking bastard,” Alaric spat, his expression twisted with fury. His entire body trembled, veins bulging against his skin as rage consumed him.
“Well, well… Let’s hope for the best then,” Victor shrugged, his tone dripping with amusement.
It wasn’t as if he didn’t want to tell Alaric the truth—that his so-called Master was already dead. But the sheer desperation in Alaric’s hopeful expression… that was something worth watching.
A grin stretched across Victor’s lips, his voice laced with mockery, “When he does… I’ll slit his throat and drag his severed head through the streets like a fucking trophy~”
Alaric’s face contorted with pure rage. “H-How dare you!?” he roared, his teeth grinding so hard it hurt.
Just hearing those words made his blood boil.
He couldn’t believe it. He refused to believe it.
It was Aether all along. Aether had been manipulating as Victor, twisting everyone into his pawn, and somehow—somehow—he had managed to infiltrate their organization.
Now everything made sense. Aether’s unusual powers, Victor’s sudden appearance, the way nobody had ever seen it coming.
His stomach twisted into knots.
“Wait… Does that mean… Dora knew all of this?” The moment the words left his mouth, a horrifying realization struck him, and his face turned even paler.
Victor’s grin widened as he casually waved a hand over his head. His shimmering white hair darkened back to its original black, his presence shifting once again.
“You mean… my wife?” Aether’s voice dripped with cruel amusement, his wicked grin deepening. “Of course. It was all her idea to get closer to me~”
Alaric’s entire body locked up like it was frozen in ice!
His mind… shattered!
Wife?
His pupils dilated as he staggered back, the weight of Aether’s words slamming into him like an avalanche.
“T-That’s not possible. S-She would never… She would never allow anyone to touch her! S-She is untouchable!!!” he shouted, his voice shaking as he desperately clung to his last thread of denial. Yet… it felt like he was trying to convince himself rather than Aether. As if… he was begging for it to be false.
However—
Celestia let out a cruel chuckle, her eyes glinting with amusement, “Touch her? My man kissed her, jerk~ Hehe,” she teased, grinning wickedly as she watched Alaric’s face crumble even further into sheer horror.
Alaric’s breath hitched.
Those lips?
Kissed another man?
His vision blurred.
Everything… everything was gone!!
First, his wife—his fucking legal wife—was stolen by a mere servant. And now… that same goddamn servant had taken away the woman he had loved in secret.
Drip…
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
“W-Why…? Why him…?” His voice cracked, his chest tightening with unbearable pain. “What does he have that I don’t?”
What could a lowly brat like Aether possibly offer them that he couldn’t?
He was Emperor!! Yet they love a lowly servant?
What made him so damn special?
Aether tilted his head, watching Alaric with something akin to pity. Unlike the others, Alaric wasn’t just angry—he was truly, utterly devastated.
Still—
Aether couldn’t stop the grin that stretched across his lips. “Pretty simple,” he said, his voice smooth yet firm. “I love them. That’s all.”
“Bullshit!!” Alaric roared, his voice cracking with raw emotion. There was no way that was the answer and he still refused to accept the truth!
Aether simply shrugged. “Believe it or not… that’s the truth.” He watched as Alaric continued to wither before him, breaking apart piece by piece. Then, without hesitation, Aether lifted his hand and sliced his own palm open.
“You see,” Aether murmured, blood trickling down his fingers. “The real reason I kept you alive was because I needed your ability… So yeah, I’m fucking taking it.”
He stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Alaric’s throat.
Alaric’s breath hitched. His muscles locked up, his body instinctively recoiling in fear.
“Thank you, man~” Aether’s voice was light, almost playful, as his fingers curled around Alaric’s neck, “Hope your Master comes to save you all~”
Then—
!~Ding~!
[❗ The Crimson Elixir of the Null is reacting to User’s will!]
[Warning:
— Assimilation in Progress—
[1%]
[10%]
…
…..
[98%]
[99%]
[100%]
]
!~Ding~!
[❗️Notice: A new skill has been identified]
!~Ding~!
[Skill: King of Woods]
!~Ding~!
[New Title Acquired: Essence Devourer]
Aether’s lips curled into a satisfied grin as he watched Alaric’s life slowly drain from his body. He leaned in, his breath ghosting against Alaric’s ear, and whispered something—something so soft, so cruel, that it sent an unholy chill down Alaric’s spine.
Alaric’s eyes widened.
Before he could even react—
Snap!
His neck twisted with a sickening crack.
His body went limp, his once-burning eyes turning dull and void of life.
Drip….
!~Ding~!
[Twin Domains: 948↑/788]
___________
[Author’s Note: Any idea what he said to Alaric?… 😜]