ã€ŠAiden, the third saviorã€‹


 Chapter 0

    After a devastating fight, he sighed deeply, releasing the tension. "Look at where we are now," he said, pausing for a second. "No, maybe," he added with a slight smile, "it''s just me standing alone."

    He looked down at the fallen man, his voice softening as he bent down to face him. "Did you enjoy your last moment?" he asked slowly. Then, with sudden intensity, he grabbed the man''s head and forced him to look into his eyes.

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    "Look at me!" he shouted, his voice echoing. "Do you think you can still defeat me?" He continued, his tone a mix of triumph and fury. "Aiden!" the unknown man shouted, his voice full of defiance and desperation.

 The Day That Changed Everything

    "Aiden sighed, ''It''s so boring going to school, spending the whole day there, and then coming back home. Everything''s so simple and easy. Why does my life feel so dull?''

    Aiden, a 12-year-old, stared out the window from his room, wondering what it would be like to have an interesting life.

    He heard a voice from downstairs.

    ''Aiden, are you up? Come down; Mom''s calling you, and get ready for school,'' said his sister.

    ''Why can''t my family leave me alone for just a moment?'' Aiden muttered in frustration.

    In the dining hall:

    ''Finish your breakfast and go to school, okay, Aiden?'' his mom said.

    ''Okay,'' Aiden replied.

    After breakfast:

    ''I''m leaving,'' Aiden said.

    ''Be careful,'' his mom replied.

    ''Mom, are you going to work today?'' Aiden asked.

    ''No, I need to take your sister to the dentist,'' she replied.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.''No, I don''t want to go,'' his sister protested.

    ''Don''t say that. You''re a good girl, aren''t you? If you go to the dentist, I''ll give you a present,'' Aiden said.

    ''Really?'' his sister asked.

    ''Yes, I promise,'' Aiden said.

    ''Well, I''m off now. Bye,'' Aiden said.

    ''Bye,'' his mom and sister replied.

    It was the last time Aiden saw his sister and mom alive.

    During lunch break at school:

    ''Nice weather today, don''t you think?'' Aiden''s friend Jake said.

    ''Yeah, I guess so,'' Aiden replied, once again lost in his thoughts.

    Suddenly, a teacher rushed over to Aiden.

    ''Aiden!'' the teacher shouted, breathing heavily. ''Your... your family...''

    That afternoon, Aiden''s mom and sister were killed in an accident. An overspeeding car hit them while they were on their way to the dentist.

    Memories of his family flashed through Aiden''s mind. ''This morning, my life was boring, but...'' Tears welled up in his eyes as he fell to his knees. ''This is even worse. This...'' He pulled a pendant from his pocket. ''Who am I going to give this to?'' he burst out, overcome with regret and sorrow.

    Aiden''s father had already passed away, leaving him completely alone in the world. With no one to care for him, he started living on his own and transferred to a government-funded school with a scholarship.

    Two years had passed since the incident. Now 14, Aiden managed everything on his own. He walked home from school alone, his face silent and distant.

    ''So, he is the chosen one. Ah, poor boy,'' said a man sitting on a rooftop, watching Aiden. His face was obscured by sunlight, but his smile was visible. ''I guess...'' he added with a soft, calm smile.

    Next time: The Chosen One

 Here Comes Vale

    Aiden sat alone in his home, trying to study for the upcoming scholarship renewal test. It was 10:00 PM, the weather calm and illuminated by moonlight. Exhausted, Aiden fell asleep at his desk.

    "Why? Why didn''t you save us, brother? Why?" Aiden saw his sister''s angry face in a blurry vision, her eyes filled with hurt.

    Frightened, Aiden tried to speak, but no sound came out.

    "Why?" his sister asked repeatedly, walking towards him.

    "No!" Aiden shouted, jolting awake.

    "Was it a dream?" he wondered, his whole body shaking and trembling.

    As Aiden tried to make sense of what had just happened, a voice came from behind him.

    "Hello, Aiden."

    "Another dream? I think I should rest for today. Maybe I''m too tired," he thought, still shaken.

    "It''s not a dream, Aiden. I''m right here behind you."

    "Be... Behind me?" Aiden stammered, still frightened from the nightmare.

    He turned around to see a man lying on his bed as if it were his own.

    "Hello again," the man said casually.

    "Wh... who are you?" Aiden stammered, trying to understand the situation and calm down. "And why are you here?"

    "What good will it do to know my name?" the man replied.

    "Hey, first you enter somebody else''s house," Aiden said, his voice a mix of anger and fear, "and then you refuse to tell your name? Go... go out of my place!" he shouted.

    "Hey, hey, hey," the man said with a smile, "calm down, man. What''s the rush? I just got here. Why not welcome me?" he asked casually, his smile constant.

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    "Welcome you?" Aiden repeated, frustrated by the man''s words. "Why? Who are you? What''s with your dress and attitude? Cosplay, huh? What is that armor-like thing on your whole body? Pretty fancy... huh?"

    "Hey, that''s pretty harsh, man," the intruder responded, still smiling. "Calling this technology cosplay... well, I guess that''s one way to put it in your vision."

    "What type of man are you?" Aiden thought, noticing how his fear was giving way to curiosity. "I was scared of him just a few minutes ago, and now I''m talking to him like I know him for years."

    "Man, huh? Am I even human?" the man said, getting up and sitting on the bed with a serious look on his face. "That''s the question you should have asked first. Well, of course, I am human," he added, laughing.

    "Don''t make jokes like that," Aiden said with a pale face. "It scared me to my bones."

    "Sorry," the man said. "Well, I am Vale. By the way, you are Aiden, aren''t you?"

    "Man, you are so unpredictable," Aiden replied, his pale face showing a hint of a warm smile. "You don''t even know whether I am Aiden or not. Wait," he suddenly realized, "how do you know my name?"

    "You are so noisy, boy," Vale said, his face turning serious. "I even know that your family died in a car accident. No, not your whole family, only your mom and sister. Well, that is something that everyone knows, but," his voice deepened, "I even know how your father died."

    "My father," Aiden said seriously. "He just left us alone for years. That''s what I thought, and I always hated him for that. But one day, we got the news that my dad had already died on the day we thought he left us."

    "If you want to know about that," Vale said, putting his hand on Aiden''s shoulder, "why not help me with something?"

    "Work for you? What work? And why me?" Aiden asked, his mind racing with questions.

    "To save the world," Vale said, walking towards the window.

    "Save... save the world?" Aiden struggled to speak. "What kind of joke is that? Are you a comedian or something?"

    "Joke?" Vale turned, his expression dead serious. "If you want to believe, believe me. If you don''t, just wait here and watch the whole universe getting destroyed, leaving you alone," he said, standing close to Aiden. "Only you can save them. I''m already at the end of my career; I can''t do this anymore. If you refuse, remember that."

    "How can I believe you?" Aiden said, feeling low and defeated. "I''ve lost everything. I wanted freedom, my life to be my own," he continued, looking at Vale with pain in his eyes. "I just wanted to live my life."

    "There you go, a crybaby," Vale said with a painful smile. "Lost, huh? Pain! What do you know about real pain, boy? And the thing that you are alone," he said, eyes open and meeting Aiden''s gaze, his voice slow and deep, "you are not alone anymore. I am with you. I will protect you from everything with my life."

    "I..." Aiden began to speak, but they were interrupted by a large explosion.

    "What!" they both exclaimed.

    They rushed to the window. A massive spaceship was flying overhead.

 Kael becomes the Third Saviour

    "What the hell is this thing?" Aiden said, completely shocked and confused.

    "I guess we are out of time, Aiden." Vale turned around to face him with a serious expression. "Now it''s time for you to decide whether you want to do this work and save your world or just let this thing destroy everything except you."

    In his mind, Aiden thought, "What should I do?" He closed his eyes, hearing a voice running through his mind, "Brother, do you want to make the same mistake again?" It was his sister''s voice. "I... I don''t want to," he muttered, grabbing his head.

    "Aiden, pull through!" Vale urged. "You are the only one who can save them. I can''t do anything without you. Please help me."

    Aiden sighed and looked up, then walked towards the window. "Fine, I will help you. So how can I help you?"

    Vale smiled. "Now that''s the spirit, boy."

    "Boy? What''s your age calling me ''boy''? You look almost my age or a little older."

    Vale chuckled. "My age is not important. For now, take this bracelet and wear it. This bracelet contains a chemical that will mix with your blood and speed up the mutation of your DNA."

    "Mutation?"

    "Yes, but the explanation can wait. We don''t have time. Just wear it."

    "Okay."

    Aiden put on the bracelet. As soon as he did, the bracelet vanished.

    "Where did it go?" Aiden asked, surprised.

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    "Are you stupid? It was only to speed up your DNA mutation."

    "Okay, okay," Aiden replied, not taking it seriously.

    "Now let''s go. Just rely on your physical strength and weapons. Don''t try to use magic until I teach you how."

    "Okay, sir."

    Aiden and Vale jumped out of the window.

    "Wow! I can float!" Aiden exclaimed, surprised and excited.

    "Let''s go," said Vale.

    [Screams of the crowd, crying, and weeping]

    Aiden saw the destruction with his own eyes. It was brutal.

    "What is this?" he said, tightening his fist.

    "This is nothing, Aiden. I''ve seen worse than this."

    "Let''s go, Vale. We have to help them."

    "We can''t help them, Aiden. We also have some rules to follow."

    "What rules? Why rules?"

    "Try to understand. We can''t change either the past or the future. Trying to change can impact the past or future in either a better or worse way."

    "You stay here. I''m going..." Aiden was interrupted.

    "Wait, Aiden! Do you know why I didn''t save your mother and sister? You can hate me for this, but it was the only way to save the future."

    "Wh... what are... are you trying to say?" Aiden stammered, shocked.

    "On that day, I had to decide whether to save you or your mother and sister. I decided to save you, of course."

    "(With a pale face, remembering the day and his last memory of his mother and sister) Are... are you heartless?" Aiden asked, angry at Vale. "Why... why?"

    "In a serious, slightly louder voice, Vale responded, "I had to decide whether to save two lives or the whole future. I did what had to be done."

    "You could have let me die. Future? How is my life comparable to the safety of the future? Either way, you are not allowing me to save them."

    "Do you know why they died today?"

    "Why?" Aiden asked, angrily.

    "Because you wasted the last two years mourning the loss of your family."

    "Are you blaming me?" Aiden asked angrily.

    "Yes."

    "Decide now," Vale said, emphasizing each word, "what do you want to do now?"

    "Okay," Aiden finally calmed down. "What should I do now?"

    "Time magic: Time Barrier, Stop!"

    "What?" Aiden was shocked to see that time had really stopped. "Wait, is this even possible? If yes, why didn''t it affect me? I don''t understand this."

    "Only the humans of Earth are frozen. And before you say that you are from Earth, listen. Because of the chemical in your blood, you are not a normal human anymore."

    "Okay."

    "Aiden, let''s go there."

 Ravan Entry

    Aiden and Vale reached their destination, eyes fixed on the man standing below them. The clouds from the explosion had covered the sun, plunging the day into a dismal night. An unpleasant, acrid smell permeated the air, adding to the sense of foreboding.

    "So, there you are, Vale," the man said without turning around, his voice a deep, sinister rumble that sent shivers down Aiden¡¯s spine. "I expected you to be here."

    The man finally turned, his presence overwhelming. His red eyes glowed menacingly, his black and red suit gleamed in the dim light, and his towering six-foot frame seemed almost inhuman, as if covered in metal. The atmosphere grew heavier with his every movement.

    "Aiden, listen to me," Vale communicated through telepathy, his tone urgent. "I''ll engage him in combat. You need to conceal your presence and strike from behind. Don¡¯t reply, just do it."

    With a swift movement, Vale launched himself at the man, aiming a powerful kick. But the man, Ravan, stopped it effortlessly with his bare hand and flung Vale aside as if he weighed nothing.

    "Still as sharp as ever, Ravan," Vale said, his voice strained but filled with determination.

    Aiden watched the intense battle, his mind racing. "How am I supposed to attack him? Should I use a weapon or rely on physical strength? Damn it, stop overthinking and just do it!" he thought, inching closer to Ravan. Just as he was about to strike, Ravan turned with a murderous glare, his red eyes boring into Aiden¡¯s soul.

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    "Not in a thousand years, brat," Ravan growled, grabbing Aiden by the neck and lifting him off the ground effortlessly. "You think you can just land a hit on me that easily?"

    As Ravan held Aiden, Vale seized the opportunity and rushed to attack. However, Ravan threw Aiden aside and caught Vale mid-air, hurling him in the opposite direction with brute force.

    "Damn! That was our chance," Vale thought, frustration and pain etched on his face.

    "What are you thinking, man?" Ravan appeared right in front of Vale, his face inches away. "Chance? You make me laugh with your pathetic attempts." He grabbed Vale by the neck and slammed him into the ground with a thunderous impact.

    "Release him!" Aiden shouted, rushing toward Ravan to help Vale.

    "Oh, so now I have to fight with an ant like you, brat." Ravan sneered, effortlessly withstanding Aiden''s blows. "An ant is nothing but something to be crushed under my feet."

    Aiden groaned in pain, "Is it even possible to defeat this guy? He¡¯s just toying with us," he said, looking over at Vale, who was also struggling to get up.

    "Aiden," Vale¡¯s telepathic voice was urgent, "using just our bare hands and without proper planning, it¡¯s impossible to defeat him. He¡¯s twice as powerful as me. We just have to force him to retreat for now; that¡¯s the only thing we can do."

    "Summon a sword, Aiden. Just command it; nothing special will do for now."

    "Okay," Aiden called for a sword, and a fire elemental weapon materialized in his hand, its blade glowing with intense heat.

    Meanwhile, Vale and Ravan were engaged in a brutal hand-to-hand combat. Aiden tried to sneak in for an attack, but Ravan noticed him, grabbing Vale to use as a shield.

    "Ant, if you want to hurt me," Ravan said, his grip on Vale tightening with brutal force, "you¡¯ll have to hurt this man in front of your eyes."

    "Do it," Vale communicated through telepathy, his voice strained yet resolute.

 Aiden & Vale vs Ravan

    Aiden pushed his sword all the way, piercing both Vale and Ravan through their hearts without even a moment of hesitation.

    "Ah... oh, so that''s how it is," Ravan coughed, blood spilling from his mouth as he loosened his grip on Vale.

    Vale slipped from Ravan''s hold and fell to the ground, clutching his wound with trembling hands.

    "Are you okay, Vale?" Aiden asked, bending down to check on him.

    Ravan, struggling to believe what had just happened, thought, "He didn''t even hesitate for a second. Just who is this boy? I''ve never seen someone his age ready to shed blood so easily. He''s not a normal ant. If I leave him alive today, he will become my greatest enemy. His power already surpasses mine; he only lacks experience and mentality."

    As Vale healed his wounds, Aiden left him to recover and approached Ravan with his sword ready for another attack. Ravan dodged Aiden''s strikes, and their battle became an intense close-combat duel of swords and fists. Aiden succeeded in striking Ravan''s wound again, causing blood to flow freely.

    "What''s your name, boy?" Ravan asked, his voice dripping with malevolence.

    "...I''m not telling my name to someone like you."

    "A person like me, huh?" Ravan smirked and sat down, confusing Aiden. "Boy, you''re at a very early stage of life. Evil, villain, enemy¡ªthey''re nothing but constructs for humans and other beings to unite against a common foe. A villain is a human, just like a hero. It''s all about perspective. Sacrifice everything to save others, and they might not even accept you. Protest, and suddenly you''re the villain. Obey, and you''re the hero. You can be a hero to some and a villain to others... But I, I am my own hero, the only hero."

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    "Lies and guilt can shape you into either a hero or a villain," Vale interjected, his voice pained. "If your guilt stems from losing someone, you might become a hero by saving others or a villain by inflicting the same pain you endured."

    "Guilt? Oh, your guilt, Vale. What was it?" Ravan taunted, trying to provoke Vale. "Killing your own friend? Destroying a whole universe? Or was it leaving her to wait for you?"

    "Ravan!" Vale shouted, his anger palpable. Using his teleportation ability, Vale appeared in front of Ravan and grabbed him by the neck with murderous intent.

    Ravan smiled, his voice muffled. "Oh, I guess I hit the bullseye."

    "Aiden, attack him again!" Vale communicated telepathically.

    Aiden nodded in agreement. "You''re still so naive, Vale," Ravan coughed. "Come forth, my army."

    Suddenly, nearly 1,000 skeleton warriors appeared around them.

    "Vale, you still can''t figure out who the real me is," Ravan taunted, emerging from the middle of the skeletal horde.

    The Ravan whom Vale was holding smirked. "See you later, Vale," and vanished.

    "Oh, so this was your plan all along?" Vale chuckled.

    "Aiden, that''s your name, isn''t it?" Ravan sneered. "Shall I tell you a secret, boy? This skeleton army is composed of the remains of the humans who died here today."

    "What¡­? No, that''s impossible!" Aiden shouted, horrified.

    "Don''t believe me? Ask your guardian, Vale." Ravan pointed, and Aiden saw Vale''s guilty face.

    "There you go. You got your answer," Ravan said. "Now, my army, obey my command and destroy them."

 The fight is over

    The battlefield was a scene of chaos. Ravan and his army of undead skeletons faced off against Aiden and Vale. The once-thriving surroundings were reduced to dust and rubble, with buildings demolished and thousands of casualties marking the grim landscape.

    Vale suddenly teleported to Aiden¡¯s side. "Vale, I want an explanation later about everything," Aiden said, frustration evident in his voice. "What in the world is happening? Why is my first fight this hard?"

    "This is nothing," Vale replied, his gaze fixed on the approaching army. "Aiden, it¡¯s time to go all out. Stay behind me. I¡¯m going to use my ultimate technique to erase their existence, like they never existed."

    "What are you talking about, Vale?" Aiden asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

    "They are already dead, Aiden. Even if I use this technique, they will be freed from the cycle of birth and death and live a happier life. I promise it will not cause them any pain. Being used like this is more painful for them."

    "Okay," Aiden agreed reluctantly, not feeling entirely comfortable with the plan.

    "Enough talking! Go, my army, attack!" Ravan commanded, and the undead soldiers began their march towards Vale and Aiden.

    "Aiden, did you notice the chill presence when we first saw Ravan?" Vale asked, a grim smile on his face.

    The army continued to advance.

    Text Pictorial View:

    Ravan

    [ The Army(moving) ]

    Vale

    Aiden

    "(Smile, turns around to see Aiden) It is not normal, Aiden."

    Vale stepped forward, positioning himself between Aiden and the advancing horde. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a determined look. "Begone," he muttered under his breath.

    A blinding flash of light enveloped the battlefield, and a chilling presence spread throughout the area. In an instant, the entire army turned to dust.

    "What in the world was that?" Aiden exclaimed, his mouth agape in shock.

    Ravan, equally surprised, responded, "Oh... so you did it. You mastered one of the ultimate techniques, The Creation Art. It has the power to create, edit, and destroy. I wasn¡¯t expecting that, Vale."

    Vale struggled to stand after unleashing the technique, but he hid his weakness from the others. "Are you fine, Vale?" Aiden asked with concern.

    "Yes, I¡¯m fine," Vale replied, though his exhaustion was evident.

    Ravan, realizing the tide had turned, decided to retreat. "I wasn¡¯t expecting that. Against the creator''s power, I can''t do anything without a plan," he admitted. A light from his spaceship enveloped him, teleporting him away.

    "No, you can¡¯t," Vale communicated telepathically to Aiden. "Aiden, let him go. We can¡¯t win this fight. I¡¯m not perfect at using this technique, and I can''t use it more than once. We can¡¯t do anything for now."

    "Okay," Aiden replied, understanding the gravity of the situation.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.Hours of fierce battle had left them drained, but the fight was over. "This wasn¡¯t even a battle," Aiden lamented. "It was just bullying us and making fun of us humans. We couldn''t do anything, no... I couldn''t do anything."

    Vale placed a comforting hand on Aiden¡¯s shoulder. "We survived, Aiden. That¡¯s what matters now. We will grow stronger and face him again. This isn¡¯t the end."

    As the dust settled, the battlefield remained silent, a stark reminder of the devastation that had occurred. But within the silence, a resolve began to build. They would be ready next time.

    Vale resumed time and turned both himself and Aiden invisible. The view was horrific, with buildings demolished and dust clouds lingering in the air. As they walked down the street, Aiden was still grappling with the aftermath of the battle, feeling defeated and depressed.

    [1.5 hours after the incident, Aiden and Vale watched the news channel, which was covering the alien attack.]

    "Dear viewers, in the next 5 minutes, the World Government will take a major step to prevent further attacks. The meeting is underway, and a press conference will be held shortly."

    "World Government?" Vale asked.

    "(Still depressed) The top leaders of the five nations of the world are called the World Government. The nations are Rivara, Astria, Valora, Arden, and Ravon. Collectively, these five nations are called RAVAR. By the way, my name is inspired by the name of my country, Arden."

    "Oh, I get it," Vale replied, trying to cheer him up with this bit of knowledge.

    [Back to the news station]

    "In the next 45 seconds, a major press conference will be held. The top leaders will be present."

    "10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1..." [The scene switches to the live press conference.]

    "My dear countrymates, I am deeply shocked and moved by the recent alien attack. Our army and technology were vastly outmatched by the enemy. I condemn this attack and promise to be ready for their next move. All injured people will be treated for free, and those who lost loved ones will be compensated. I know money can''t replace lives, but it¡¯s the least we can do for now," addressed the Prime Minister of Arden.

    "What are you planning? What steps will the World Government take?" a media reporter asked.

    "There is no doubt that this was an alien attack. We received a signal, and after decoding it, we got a name: ''Ravan.'' We assume the alien who attacked us was named Ravan," said the President of Rivara.

    "Ravan!" the media gossiped.

    "We are going to start a special program called ''OSAP.'' It stands for Outer Space and Protection. It is a joint program between the five nations," announced the Prime Minister of Arden.

    "It aims to create a special elite group for protection and maintaining peace. Students aged 16 to 17 can apply through a special exam. Five OSAP academies will be created, one in each nation, but anyone can join their favorite one."

    "More details will be published later."

    "So the World Government is going to use teenagers to sacrifice their lives?" asked the media.

    "No. They will be trained for future fights. Youngsters have a better tendency to learn new things, and their passion can change everything. For now, we will convert a portion of our army with special training to be ready for any attack," explained the Prime Minister of Arden.

    [Scene changes to Aiden''s house, where Aiden and Vale are sitting and watching the news.]

    "(Smile) Aiden, I think this will be a good chance."

    "Umm, how am I going to pass that exam?"

    "(Chuckles) Don''t worry. A little cheating won''t hurt."

    "How?"

    "Just wait and watch."

 After the Attack on Arden

    [The next morning after the attack on Arden]

    The news of the attack on Arden was splashed across the front pages of newspapers. The actions of the world government sparked mixed opinions. The people of Arden were not very supportive of the decision, worried for their children''s lives and their own safety.

    [Somewhere on the streets of Arden]

    "This is wrong!" chanted the crowd of protesters.

    A large group of protesters had taken to the streets, blocking the main road. They were protesting against the attack on Arden and the world government''s decision.

    Many of the protesters were refugees, traveling from place to place after losing their homes.

    "(sad, struggling to speak) What do...do they know, how it...feels to be at the attack site, losing...losing everything in front of your eyes, yet only you survive?"

    "(traumatized man) It...was horrible, seeing...seeing the dead bodies was insanely horri...horrible (panting)."

    The protesters were either victims or loved ones of the victims, rallying against the world government.

    The local police tried to control the situation, but they were not enough. Half the police force had been deployed to the attack site for search and rescue missions. With protests erupting all over the country, the situation had become severe.

    At this time, while the protests were ongoing, something was happening at the police headquarters.

    [At the police headquarters]

    A police officer, walking at a fast pace and panting, entered the headquarters and made his way to the room of the officer-in-charge.

    He knocked on the door. A voice called him to enter. He stepped into a large hall equipped with various facilities like video conferencing and a large seating area. Thirty high-level officers were present.

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    The man walked calmly to the end of the room to meet the officer-in-charge.

    After reaching him, he said, "Mission failed."

    The men in the meeting hall were already demoralized, and this news broke them further.

    "What should we do about the situation? We can''t use force against them; they...they are innocent. They just suffered something that wasn''t destined to happen to them."

    "Yes, it was an unfortunate incident."

    The telephone rings...

    "Hello? Yes...yes. Oh, okay, understood. I will connect you," said the officer-in-charge.

    "Everyone, please pay attention. I''m going to connect the video conference to our Prime Minister''s office."

    A technician entered the room and prepared to connect the call.

    "Good morning, Sir," all the members stood up and greeted the Prime Minister.

    "Good morning," said the Prime Minister.

    "What''s the situation on the ground?" asked the Prime Minister.

    "We admit that the situation is not so good, but we are trying to control it."

    "(sigh...) So what''s their demand?"

    "They want you to meet them or at least show up at a public event to address them."

    "If I show up at a public event, will the protest end?"

    "Mostly yes," answered the officer-in-charge.

    "But there is a risk to your life," a senior officer said.

    "Even if I don''t, there will still be a problem. I will show myself, explain everything, and answer their questions. That''s an order."

    "Okay."

    [While the meeting was taking place, somewhere in a distant part of Arden]

    A place far from any living settlement, surrounded by thick jungle.

    Birds chirped, and the sound of wind blowing could be heard.

    A group of three men walked through the jungle, following a specific pattern. The pattern was (8). They started walking from the jungle''s entry point, then, by following that pattern and using an underground route, they arrived at the same starting point, but this time, they were underground.

    When they reached their hidden settlement, a group of people, all different from one another, were already present.

    "So, what''s the situation outside?" asked a man who seemed to be their leader.

    "Things are starting to get exciting," answered one of the three men.

    "What was his name again? (trying to remember)" said the second man.

    "Sir Ravan," said a man who was present there, frustrated.

    "Okay, we also need to start our preparations for him. By the way, what''s the name of this group?"

    "(angrily) Who is this man? It''s Infinity, remember it."

 The Great War Era

    [Somewhere in Ravon]

    It was a bustling roadside caf¨¦, located in a busy part of the city. The caf¨¦ was run by the Luke family, who originally hailed from the rural areas of Arden. During the Great War Era, the Luke family crossed the border of Arden seeking refuge.

    The Great War Era was ignited by Valora, a country with the largest and most powerful army at the time. At its peak, Valora ruled over much of the world. However, their oppressive rule against their own people reached an extreme when citizens were forced into slavery, compelled to join the army, or pay exorbitant taxes. This oppression led to the formation of the country of Rivara, created by a group of soldiers who rebelled against their government. The founders of this land were the R-6 batch, named after their military unit.

    Valora''s army was organized into groups labeled alphabetically from A to Z, each subdivided from 1 to 9, forming units from A-1 to Z-9. The two key founders of Rivara, whose names were Va... and Ra... (names to be revealed later), inspired the name of the country: "R" (for their batch) + "i" (connector) + "Va-Ra" (the founders'' names).

    The battle between Valora and Rivara was fierce and bloody, lasting ten years before it reached its peak. In the tenth year, the army and people of Rivara, overwhelmed by Valora¡¯s forces, sought assistance from Arden. This plea for help marked the beginning of the Great War Era, which continued for another 25 years.

    The war, which began 35 years ago, finally ended with the involvement of Ravon, leading to the formation of the country of Astria. Astria was established between the lands of Valora and Rivara to maintain a balance of power. The countries now stand as follows: Ravon in the west, Valora and Astria in the center, Rivara in the east, and Arden in the south¡ªall situated on the same continent.

    In the end, Valora was defeated by the combined forces of Ravon, Arden, and Rivara.

    After the war, the World Government was established as a common platform for decision-making in the interest of the common people. With casualties amounting to 65% of the world¡¯s population, the war had significantly disrupted global balance, particularly in Valora and Rivara. Arden also suffered, though Ravon, having joined the war late, was in a relatively better position.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    Aiden''s ancestors hailed from Arden. For their efforts in the war, they were honored with the title "Arwo" (derived from "War Hero"). Aiden¡¯s great-grandfather later changed this title to "Aper" (from "Peace Keeper"), and adopted the name "Vivian Aper."

    It has been 77 years since the war ended. Many great families of that era did not survive the long years that followed the Great War.

    [Returning to the present day...]

    The Luke family, who participated in the war from Arden, now runs the caf¨¦ after abandoning their family name and crossing the border to live peacefully in Ravon.

    The news of an attack on Arden had already spread worldwide. The Luke family heard the news through the television in their caf¨¦.

    "O.S.A.P.," murmured Lucius Luke, a 14-year-old working at the caf¨¦, in a soft and curious voice.

    It had been three days since the infamous attack. The situation had calmed down somewhat after the public''s meeting with their Prime Minister. However, many questions remained. The biggest one being, where is Aiden? So, let''s return to Aiden.

    [Somewhere else...]

    "Uh... uhm... (slowly opening his eyes) Where am I? (sits up in bed) Why am I in bed? Was I asleep? Was that all a dream?"

    "(Aiden! (Vale bursts into the room)" shouted Vale.)

    Seeing Vale''s funny face, Aiden groaned, "So... it wasn¡¯t a dream."

    "Sorry if you were hoping it was a dream. It wasn¡¯t. By the way, congratulations, Aiden¡ªyou slept for two days. You slept through the night after the attack and woke up just now," said Vale with a small smile.

    "(Pale face) Why the hell are you congratulating me? Was that some great achievement?" Aiden retorted.

    "No, it''s just that I''ve only seen a handful of people who could sleep soundly after witnessing such a horrific scene. It¡¯s quite rare to sleep for two days without having any nightmares."

    "(Funny face) Seriously?"

    "(Dead serious) Yes."

    "(Still groggy) So, what¡¯s going on? Did... I miss anything?"

    "(Sits beside Aiden) You missed a lot. Well, it¡¯s a long story, and I¡¯ll take my time to explain it."

    [Meanwhile, somewhere in the Milky Way Galaxy...]

    The spaceship of Ravan, known as "Dead Hell" due to its destructive power¡ªit was responsible for the destruction of many planets and galaxies¡ªentered the atmosphere of a blue planet similar to Earth but much smaller in size.

    "Boss Returned!" shouted the crew with loud cheers.

    Ravan disembarked from his spaceship and approached the bar directly in front of him.

    Representation:

    [Dead Hell]           Ravan                [Bar]

    Ravan paid little attention to anyone as he entered the bar.

    "What¡¯s wrong?"

    "Maybe something happened."

    "Did Boss¡¯s plan fail?"

    The crew had mixed feelings about Ravan¡¯s silent and distant demeanor.

    Ravan was angry, nearly destroying the bar the moment he entered.

 The Creators Magic

    **[Ravan¡¯s Encounter at the Main Table]**

    Ravan approached the main table, where two figures were already seated.

    ¡°So, it failed, boss¡­¡± the taller man spoke without even glancing at Ravan.

    ¡°Was it Vale¡¯s strength, or did the newcomer cause you trouble?¡± asked the second man, his tone sharp with curiosity.

    _______________**Mark**

    **Ravan**  _____________**Table**

    ________________**Amkit**

    ¡°Yes, the newcomer did cause some issues,¡± Ravan admitted, still shaken, ¡°but that wasn¡¯t the main problem. It was Vale¡¯s power¡ªhe awakened it, the Creator¡¯s Magic. And I fear that boy, Aiden, may also inherit it.¡± Both Mark and Amkit were visibly shocked, rising to their feet in alarm.

    ¡°What are you saying, Boss?¡± Amkit asked, disbelief clear in his voice.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­ no¡­ no¡­ no¡­ Creator¡¯s Magic? Is¡­ it the same as yours?¡± Mark questioned, his eyes wide with fear.

    ¡°No¡­¡± Ravan responded, taking a seat as the others in the room listened intently. ¡°The Creator¡¯s Magic consists of the power to create, edit, or destroy. Its potency depends on the user¡¯s willpower. As of now, only two people can wield it¡ªmyself and now Vale. Vale used the power of Edit to erase the very existence of my skeleton army. He changed the fact that they were even born, freeing them from the cycle of life and death. I suspect he might also be able to use the power to create, though I¡¯m not certain about destroy.¡±

    ¡°What?! So that¡¯s what happened¡­¡± Mark said, trying to process the revelation.

    ¡°There are only two ways to gain the power of the Creator: either awaken it and train it, or take it forcefully from someone who already possesses it,¡± Ravan continued, growing angrier. ¡°It¡¯s Vale¡¯s fault that I can only use the destroy feature of the Creator¡¯s Magic, and even then, at only 50% capacity. I still remember¡­ he has no heart. He literally killed his only friend instead of saving him, though there was no way to save him anyway. I had Vale within my grasp, about to seize his full power, but because the person who held it died, I couldn¡¯t claim it all. I couldn¡¯t train this power any further.¡±

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Oh, that was before we met, wasn¡¯t it, Boss?¡± Amkit asked, trying to follow the story.

    ¡°Yes, back when I traveled alone, conquering planets one after another. It was before the birth of the First Savior. At that time, Vale was at his peak¡ªhe was a bigger monster than I am. I had already died three times,¡± Ravan¡¯s voice trembled with anger, ¡°which means I can only die three more times before I lose over 70% of my power. Every time I died, Vale was always there.¡±

    ¡°Calm down, Boss!¡± Mark urged, noticing the unconscious bodies of their comrades. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, your power of destruction can go berserk if you get too angry.¡±

    Ravan regained his composure, glancing around at his unconscious men. ¡°(Chuckles) What a bunch of low-level fellows they are.¡±

    **[Scene Change: Earth]**

    Aiden sat at his desk, staring intently at his savings.

    ¡°(Disappointed) I¡¯m low on money¡­¡±

    Vale, standing behind Aiden, glanced at the money. ¡°Ah¡­ low on money. (Chuckles) Well, money is important. Hey, Aiden,¡± Vale made a funny, childish face, ¡°say¡­ do you want money?¡±

    Aiden suddenly turned around, his expression dead serious. ¡°Of course!¡±

    ¡°That was fast.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll use the Creator¡¯s power to create a credit card with unlimited money, and don¡¯t worry¡ªit¡¯ll work everywhere. It just depends on my willpower, and you already know my power works on Earth. So, rest assured.¡±

    ¡°You cheater¡­¡±

    ¡°(Serious) Hey¡­ who are you calling a cheater? (Funny face) I am¡­ ah¡­ (thinking hard) um¡­ yes, I am cheating.¡±

    ¡°Well, if you can do it, I¡¯m not against you.¡±

    ¡°Maybe someone was calling me a cheater a moment ago¡­¡±

    ¡°Forget it. Just do it (excited).¡±

    **[At the Shop]**

    ¡°Payment successful,¡± the shopkeeper said.

    Aiden and Vale were at the grocery store, picking up some items.

    ¡°Mission accomplished,¡± Vale said, flashing a victory sign (invisible to others).

    ¡°It¡¯s not that bad (evil smile),¡± Aiden muttered.

    ¡°Just don¡¯t overuse it,¡± Vale warned.

    ¡°(Childish face) O¡­ okay¡­ just¡­ just a little.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s completely lost it (chuckles)¡­ Maybe I should¡¯ve been like this from the start,¡± Vale thought, a tinge of sadness in his heart.

 Why?

    After the announcement of ''OSAP,'' the government set up a facility to research the human body and ways to enhance strength with minimal health risks.

    [Let''s go to the top of this facility: The mastermind]

    Fiona Fia and Ark Fia, along with their team, were working on their research funded by the world government.

    (A voice breaks the silent environment) ¡°We got it!¡± (a little louder) ¡°We... can use this to meet our requirements.¡±

    It was a three-story building filled with scientific equipment, a completely different world.

    [Let''s go back in time to when Ravan''s spaceship became visible over Lana (the region of Arden, where the attack happened and Aiden''s hometown). But why? Why is Lana the name of that region? Well, that will be answered later.]

    [In Fia, the sister region of Lana]

    Fia, the sister region of Lana, is situated to the west of Lana in Arden. ''Fia'' is the family name of those responsible for their scientific contributions during ''The Great War.'' Later, the hometown and the nearby region became known by the family name.

    When Ravan attacked Lana, Fiona detected the magnitude of the earthquake (scale: 9.1 to 9.3). It was then that they used the satellite to first observe the image of Ravan''s spaceship covering a large region of Lana. Then, the news of the attack on Lana spread. (Note: The local police and army guarding the border between Lana (Arden) and Valora were wiped out instantly, either due to the explosion or the earthquake. Around 65% of the population was wiped out instantly, and 15% were injured. The injured were later saved by the higher authorities.)

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    Still, one question remains: why was Lana attacked? The simple logical answer is Vale. Vale wanted that attack to happen. Let''s go to Vale.

    Vale was sitting next to Aiden as Aiden slept.

    (Smiling to hide his despair and sadness) ¡°What do you think, Aiden? Was it necessary for them... (pauses, sighs) to die? What did they die for? This cycle of fight (in a low voice) and revenge is going to last for eternity. The future is so much... Can you... Can you change this... future? Can I believe that you are the one to change it?¡± (He closes his eyes and gets up from his chair.)

    Vale walks up to the balcony connected to Aiden''s room, watching the stars.

    ¡°It was because of me. Ravan tracked my powers to locate me. I could have prevented that... (regretful and sad chuckle) or maybe I couldn¡¯t. The future sure is cruel. Sometimes it gives two of the worst options to choose from: either 65% of Lana or 55% of the world. Ravan surely knew that the third savior is from Earth. He would have ravaged the world to find him, so giving him my location was necessary. Another option was to use this protective shield, but (smiling at his fate) then he couldn¡¯t become the greatest hero without the motivation he needed.¡± (He comes inside the room, watching Aiden sleep peacefully, then he goes downstairs.) ¡°For the next two years, I have to train him to the fullest.¡±

    While everything on Earth was peaceful (maybe).

    [Somewhere in the Milky Way galaxy]

    A strange figure sits on his throne in a spaceship (his peace is not visible).

    Then, a subordinate rushes in to report something.

    ¡°Boss! Boss!¡± (shouted in a hurried voice) ¡°Some days ago, Ravan attacked a planet named Planet 001 or Earth, but it was neither destroyed nor captured by Ravan. Maybe Ravan fled from the battle.¡±

    (A creepy, chilling voice) ¡°Earth, locate it.¡± (A creepy smile) ¡°Let¡¯s see it ourselves.¡±

    ¡°Boss! Sorry to inform you, but it seems Vale is also there, and he was responsible for Ravan¡¯s loss. Also, there is a barrier there. It will be there for two years.¡± (A barrier¡¯s age depends on its layers and thickness, so studying it can give you an approximate time, but in some cases, it can be completely wrong.)

    ¡°Something fishy is going on, Boss!¡± another member of higher status, sitting below to the left side, said.

    (Smiling) ¡°Let them do their homework. Start preparation.¡±

 Nostalgia

    It has been two years and seven days since Ravan''s attack on Arden. After that tragic event, Vale started training Aiden. Today marks the day Aiden will return after two long years.

    A question might come to mind: if Aiden was away from Arden, who was attending school and handling other matters? Let''s find out.

    [Bell rings at Aiden''s house...]

    Aiden walked towards the door and opened it. To his surprise, no one was there.

    "Hello? Is anybody there? Hello?" He paused for a moment. "Is this a prank?" Aiden thought as he closed the door.

    After closing it, he turned around and froze in shock¡ªstanding in front of him was... himself.

    "Ugh!" he screamed in fear. Then he realized what was happening. "Oh, it¡¯s you!" His heart was still racing. The other Aiden stood there, silently smiling.

    "Don''t scare me like that! What would you have done if I¡¯d had a heart attack?"

    "Relax. Clones can¡¯t die. Even if you die, I can always create more." The clone pouted slightly. "You don¡¯t want me to live forever as your first clone, do you? As long as I¡¯m around, you can always respawn me."

    Aiden sighed. "Yes, I know. Thanks for all your help over these two years. Also, if I hadn¡¯t turned invisible and someone had seen me, it would¡¯ve caused chaos, and I¡¯d have to erase their memory."

    "You can erase memories now? I want that power too!" Aiden said, intrigued.

    "After I¡¯m released, you¡¯ll have all my memories and abilities," the clone replied. "Anyway, where¡¯s Vale?"

    "He¡¯s still the same," the clone muttered under his breath. "He went off on his own. He said he needed to gather some information and handle a few things."

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Aiden, happy to be home after such a long time, let nostalgia flood over him. Memories of the moments he spent with his family washed through his mind.

    "Finally, I¡¯m back," he said, loudly and relieved. His expression changed to a serious tone. "This time, I won¡¯t let anyone take away what¡¯s precious to me. I¡¯ll make sure that the saying, ''The comeback is bigger than the setback,'' applies to me."

    "Okay, okay, don¡¯t get too sentimental!" his clone teased. "I was the one who had to handle all your schoolwork, exams, and everything else. But don¡¯t worry, I passed for you. The education system has changed a lot in these two years. Now, school only lasts until age 16, and after that, you have to choose between higher studies, joining OSAP, or some other guaranteed future job. You¡¯ll get the details after you release me, so just let me rest."

    "Alright," Aiden said. "First, I¡¯ll sync your memories with mine." He placed his head on his clone¡¯s, sharing the memories. "All done! I guess it¡¯s time now. Thank you... me."

    "Bye, me!" the clone smiled.

    "Release!" Aiden said, and the clone disappeared, blending into the surroundings.

    Aiden walked up the stairs to his room on the first floor. It was his first time entering it in two years. Nostalgia filled him as he looked around, visiting every corner of the room.

    [Suddenly, a knock on the window...]

    Aiden walked over and opened it to see Vale.

    "Vale! What are you doing here? What if someone sees you?" Then he realized. "Oh, right... you¡¯re invisible, and only I can see you."

    Vale smirked. "Still slow to process, I see."

    Vale jumped into the room.

    "Two years ago, I also jumped into this room. Feels nostalgic," he said.

    Aiden¡¯s expression shifted, his face sad. "That attack... if only I could¡¯ve helped them."

    "Aiden," Vale said, his tone serious. "It¡¯s time. My shield won¡¯t hold for much longer, so get ready for the worst. The world has changed a lot in these two years. I also heard OSAP is doing well."

    "Yeah, I know. I shared the clone¡¯s memories. They¡¯re using DNA mutation to change human society, but I¡¯m still not sure if they¡¯re right or wrong."

    Vale looked Aiden in the eyes. "So, are you joining OSAP or not?"

    "Yes," Aiden replied confidently. "It¡¯ll give me some freedom to do what I want. Maybe not right away, but eventually."

    "Alright then, let¡¯s get ready," Vale said as he stood up. "By the way, happy birthday in advance. Tomorrow¡¯s your birthday, isn¡¯t it?"

    Aiden smiled, his heart warming. "Yes, it is. Thank you, my best friend."

    "Friend, huh?" Vale thought to himself, smiling softly.

 Questions?

    Author¡¯s Notes:

    Dear Readers,

    This chapter will address some of the questions you''ve had about Aiden and Vale. Let''s dive into Aiden¡¯s backstory and explore why he¡¯s the way he is today.

    [Aiden¡¯s Early Childhood]

    In the first chapter, you saw that Aiden was bored with life. But why was he like that? Why did he change so drastically?

    Aiden wasn¡¯t always this way. As a child, he was carefree, happy, and just wanted to enjoy life. His father was a big part of that happiness. However, everything changed when his father disappeared, a disappearance that was no accident but rather the result of his father¡¯s decision to take a difficult path.

    Was it worth it? Yes and no. It created a ripple effect that set Aiden on a path that would ultimately shape his future, for better or worse. This event hardened Aiden in ways that no one could have predicted, leading to catastrophic consequences, including the massacre of countless lives.

    When his father disappeared, Aiden felt abandoned. His outgoing and trusting nature slowly crumbled. He distanced himself from his friends and family, consumed by the question: Why did his father leave? And when news of his father¡¯s death reached him, Aiden was overwhelmed by sadness and anger, determined to solve the mystery.

    Even on the day when the rest of his family perished, Aiden was scheming, planning to uncover the truth behind his father¡¯s actions.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    [The Driving Force]

    This may seem childish, but it was this burning desire for answers that became Aiden¡¯s driving force¡ªhis purpose. Everyone needs a reason, something to strive for. For Aiden, it was the mystery of his father that pushed him forward, even if it meant carrying the burden of anger and distrust.

    There''s much more to say about Aiden, but we¡¯ll leave it here for now. More details will unfold as the story progresses.

    [Vale¡¯s Struggle]

    Now, let¡¯s talk about Vale, the current Mighty Warrior, who you saw struggle against Ravan. Vale is powerful, but why was he so weak in that moment?

    Vale is bound by a vow that prevents him from returning home or reuniting with his people until his retirement. He has spent years fighting alone, under harsh conditions, without rest or support. While the first and second Saviors helped him briefly, most of his battles were fought in solitude.

    Ravan''s Rebirth Explained:

    Ravan¡¯s power of rebirth is far from ordinary. He doesn¡¯t just come back to life after dying¡ªhis soul is transferred to a new vessel, a process known as Soul Transfer. This technique allows the user to move their soul into a living body, but it comes with limitations. Normally, this kind of soul transfer requires the host body to already be alive and prepared, making it a challenging and risky process. But Ravan''s version of the technique is far more advanced.

    The key to Ravan¡¯s continuous rebirth lies in the legacy of his grandfather, who wielded the Creator¡¯s Power. With this power, Ravan can ensure that when his death is near, a new vessel¡ªeither chosen by him or born under specific circumstances¡ªis prepared. His soul then transfers to this new body seamlessly.

    However, this rebirth cycle isn¡¯t without a price. The Creator¡¯s Power, while immensely strong, cannot violate the fundamental laws of reality. Ravan and his grandfather made a vow to the Creator''s Power to enable this process, and the cost of using this technique is significant: each time Ravan is reborn, he must sacrifice a portion of his soul. Over time, this is affecting his strength.

    For now, I¡¯ll leave it at that. In the next chapter, we¡¯ll continue with the unfolding story. Stay tuned!

 Getting sad is not wrong but losing hope is not the right way...

    Vale entered the hall and saw Aiden staring blankly at the television, lost in thought.

    "What are you doing, Aiden?" Vale asked, walking up to him and sitting on the sofa.

    "Nothing," Aiden replied, sounding disinterested. "Just passing my days like a normal person. I don¡¯t know how much time I have left before I can waste time like this again. I¡­ I failed. I don¡¯t even know why I¡¯m fighting anymore, but for some reason, my heart is getting angry with me, and my brain is fighting it."

    "Aiden¡­ I know this is complicated. My grandfather is partly to blame for it. Honestly, his selfishness caused many to suffer, but I can¡¯t say I would¡¯ve done anything differently." Vale¡¯s tone grew serious. "But Aiden, you can¡¯t keep sitting here like this. We need to leave. I have to train you for what¡¯s coming. Remember ''Getting sad is not wrong but losing hope is not the right way'' to deal with a situation. "

    "I know¡­ I was ready for this. The schools are closed because of the destruction." Aiden smiled faintly. "It was a childhood fantasy¡ªwondering what would happen if aliens attacked my school. I don¡¯t even know if my friends are alive. Oh¡­ I just realized my friends, teachers, and many others I knew might have been affected by this attack."

    "Aiden, do you really want to find out about them?"

    "I¡­ I don¡¯t know if I have the courage."

    "Alright," Vale said gently, "you can find out whenever you¡¯re ready. But for now, get ready. We have to leave."

    "Okay, I¡¯ll get ready. But I have a question: If I¡¯m not here, who will take care of my duties? And how long will I be gone?"

    "Just get ready. I¡¯ll answer that before we leave, along with some other important questions."

    "Okay, I¡¯ll pack my things. But what should I bring?"

    Vale grew frustrated. "I¡¯m not a babysitter, Aiden. You¡¯re a man now¡ªtake responsibility for your actions. I¡¯ll be blunt: if you set something in motion that can¡¯t be undone, you need to face the consequences. Sometimes you¡¯ll be a hero, but other times, you¡¯ll be a villain¡ªor worse. I won¡¯t save anyone just because I¡¯m ¡®good.¡¯ I¡¯ll do what needs to be done."

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    "Okay," Aiden replied, taken aback by Vale¡¯s seriousness.

    After their conversation, Aiden went upstairs to pack for the journey.

    [Hours later]

    Vale remained on the sofa, sipping his coffee. He noticed Aiden approaching.

    "All ready?" Vale asked, putting down his coffee cup.

    "Yeah, I¡¯m ready. But how did you know I was here?" Aiden asked curiously.

    "Sixth-dimensional sense. It¡¯s a technique that lets me see, sense, and feel anything. But using it constantly puts a lot of strain on the eyes, so a normal person can''t maintain it for long. However, thanks to our healing factor, we don¡¯t feel that pressure as much."

    "Oh, I see. You have to tell me these things, otherwise, how will I know?"

    Finishing his coffee, Vale stood up and finally faced Aiden.

    "Aiden, you¡¯ll be using shadows to create a clone. A part of your shadow will stay here while the real you comes with me to the Time Dimension."

    "Clones? Shadows? Time?" Aiden¡¯s face twisted in confusion. "I¡¯m completely lost."

    "Alright, I guess I need to explain a lot of things," Vale said thoughtfully. "First, let¡¯s start with the shadows. To use them, imagine yourself. Remember¡ªyou can give your shadow any shape. You can even change your appearance, clothes, or imagine another being entirely. But if you visualize a distorted image or miss any details, the shadow will be incomplete. The strength of the shadow depends on factors like your imagination and the initial power you give it."

    "How do I actually do it?" Aiden asked.

    "Imagine your soul is made up of countless tiny parts, each representing 1% of your total energy. These parts carry copies of all your techniques and powers, but at only 1% of their full strength. You can decide how many of these parts to dedicate to your clone. Never give more than 50% of your soul to a shadow, though, because if you do, it may develop its own will." Vale paused. "You¡¯re probably wondering if you¡¯ll lose that part of your soul while the clone is active, right?"

    "Yeah, will I?" Aiden asked, concerned.

    "It¡¯s complicated, but the answer is no. Think of infinity: if you subtract infinity from infinity, you still have infinity. When the soul returns, it won¡¯t be any weaker than before. But remember, if you give more than half your soul to a shadow, you might have to fight yourself."

    Vale continued, "Another way is to share your soul with your shadows. In this case, you¡¯re constantly connected to them and can provide energy if needed. They¡¯ll reflect your personality, which is why I prefer this method. But the other way can be useful sometimes¡ªyou never know when. You can also summon many shadows at once¡ªwhen I say many, I mean many. More than me. A normal user can only summon five to twenty clones, and not at full strength. But they¡¯ll drain their energy quickly."

    Vale¡¯s tone grew serious. "On the other hand, Ravan can summon and control 1,000 clones at full power. You¡¯re at the same level as him."

    Aiden was fascinated. "Okay¡­ I think it¡¯s time you reveal something big, isn¡¯t it?"

    Author''s Note:

    In the next chapter, one of the biggest revelations is coming... the O.R.I.G.I.N!

 O.R.I.G.I.N

    (Eyes closed) "I guess it''s time to reveal something." (Eyes open) "I am going to explain the origin of all this. It all started with my grandfather. He was the first to activate the Creator''s power. Activating it gives the user authority over everything in nature."

    "But that¡¯s too overpowered," Aiden said.

    "No, it¡¯s not. Only six people have unlocked it on their own, and three have inherited it, so a total of nine people have ever possessed it. Currently, there are only two known users: me and Ravan. You will be the next to inherit it from my grandfather. The previous two generations also inherited and trained that power. It''s already so strong that you''ll inherit it for the longest and last time."

    "And what about the next generations?"

    "They will get it from the first-generation savior, but they will need to train themselves. But Aiden, remember, just inheriting it causes immense pressure on the body. Activating it and inheriting it are different. When unlocked, it belongs to your body, but that is not the case with inherited power. Furthermore, just having it isn''t enough. Without strong willpower, the power will never work the way you want. It can even kill or erase your very existence."

    "That''s pretty scary, you know," Aiden replied.

    "Of course. Power can be terrifying. Remember that."

    "Hmmm."

    "Let''s return to the story."

    "Firstly, I still don¡¯t have all the knowledge of how this power works. It was never explained by anyone¡ªrather, it couldn''t be explained. So, let''s go back to the story of my grandfather. During his time, everything was different. The balance of power was disturbed when Ravan¡¯s grandfather, Ravethor, appeared. He was the strongest person at that time, and his only goal was to conquer everything for the Ravan Kingdom. Yes, that¡¯s where the name ''Ravan'' comes from. He destroyed and captured many planets. My grandfather foresaw that he would attack, but no one believed him. My grandfather wasn¡¯t important back then; he was just an average man until he met my grandmother. That was the turning point for him."

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    "Love... huh?"

    "Hmmm. He changed. He trained more and more, even though he knew it probably wouldn¡¯t be enough. He tried to warn people, but no one believed him, except for my grandmother. He just wanted to protect her and nothing else. So, he did the most idiotic thing¡ªhe went to confront Ravethor."

    "I don¡¯t know how to react to this," said Aiden.

    "Ravethor challenged him to defeat his soldiers in exchange for sparing one person¡¯s life. It was still unfair; one against a thousand is just pure madness."

    "No, no, that¡¯s not just unfair¡ªit¡¯s bullying."

    "Whatever. I can''t say what I would¡¯ve done, but I know I would never have fallen in love if I couldn¡¯t protect the one I wanted to keep safe."

    "One question. How did your grandfather know about Ravan?"

    "Everyone knew about him. He thrived on instilling fear in others. That¡¯s why, even though everyone knew, no one did anything¡ªthey planned to surrender if necessary."

    "Oh..."

    "Now, back to the story. My grandfather managed to defeat 60 soldiers in one-on-one combat, but eventually, he lost stamina and got injured. He kept fighting, though. In truth, Ravethor wanted him to win at first, to make him believe he was strong enough, only to crush his hope afterward. It worked exactly as planned. My grandfather was on the brink of death, but in that moment, he awakened the Creator''s power for the first time. After that, we all know what happened."

    "So what happened to his power after his death? You said I will inherit it next, so what does that mean?"

    "Actually, he then proceeded to do something inhumane. I feel deeply sorry to say this, but neither you nor the first two saviors were ever meant to be born. It was all because of my grandfather. He used¡ªor rather exploited¡ªhis power to create all ten saviors by dividing his soul and allowing them to grow. He was a genius with his power, and he was a good man, but he never wanted anyone else to bear this life except the savior and the guide, which has always been me. Before me, it was my father, but the first savior appeared during my time. We knew the future and planned the birth of all the saviors according to what was needed."

    "......" Aiden''s face fell.

    "You were never destined to be born, and that¡¯s why your family died. This is the life of a savior. I¡¯m just telling you the truth. But my people now support the savior in every way they can¡ªthey even help with small issues where a savior is not necessary. So don¡¯t worry."

    "I... I understand, Vale. I... will do whatever needs to be done."

    "Hmmm."

 The Start: Ruler Void

    Author''s Note: Let''s now move to our main world by concluding the journey of Earth 001 (Multiverse 1) and proceeding to Multiverse 0, or OriginVerse, and Earth 000, or Earth. In this world, there are key differences between the two universes. Firstly, in this world, Aiden was already alone by the age of one, as both his parents died. It was Vale who took care of Aiden from a very early age. This triggered major changes, such as Aiden being friendly with others, not losing hope, and, most importantly, the attack from Arden never happened, as Vale protected Aiden from Ravan by giving him early training to make him physically more suited for his powers. When Ravan attempted to attack the world, Vale and Aiden stopped him without any casualties. Consequently, the world never witnessed a groundbreaking attack, and OSAP was never discussed. This version of Aiden is far more powerful than the post-timeskip Aiden of Earth 001. This version of Aiden is the most powerful and bravest of them all.

    So now we will proceed to the Void Arc.

    So now, let''s start.

    In Universe Evnoid (OriginVerse), Planet EV01S

    A girl was panicking and running with a fearful expression on her face, her royal dress fluttering behind her. The place around her was reduced to ashes, and the trees were engulfed in flames. She was fleeing from something terrifying that was pursuing her.

    As she ran, an unknown man of great height appeared before her, striking the ground with his weapon. She lost her balance and fell to the ground. As she fell, the man prepared to attack her with his sword. However, another man appeared between them, taking the blow meant for her. The sword pierced his stomach, and he was already covered in blood, barely breathing.

    "Princess! Please go from this planet; we need... need help," he said through gritted teeth, pain evident in his voice. He pushed the attacker away and took the princess, fleeing.

    The man who had attacked was about to chase them down, but he received a message through telepathy: "Let them go..."

    "Okay, Boss!" he replied, sounding unhappy.

    On the other hand, the injured man continued to run with the princess, desperately trying to get her to safety, but he soon collapsed, now hardly alive.

    The man was Flin, an ice-colored-haired individual and the commander of the personal bodyguard regime of the Royal Family.

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    "As Flin fell to the ground in agony, the princess tried to help him. ''Flin... Please, don¡¯t die...''"

    "Princess... hold my hand," he croaked. "I... I will teleport you..."

    "I c...can¡¯t g..go."

    "Please... it''s for the best for everyone. You need to take the help of the Saviour. I can teleport you using the royal stone, which has been passed down through the family of the commander to transport them to the Saviour or anyone who is their equal. This time it will send you to the Saviour," he said, blood flowing from his eyes and mouth. "I¡¯m sorry... for placing this burden on you... I¡¯m sorry... I should..."

    The princess nodded, conveying that he had done his best. "You... did your best. And as the princess, it is my responsibility to help my planet. I will go and return here with him for help."

    "Thank you, princess..." Flin whispered before teleporting her to Earth. He died alone, left on the battlefield.

    On the Other Hand, At the Royal Chambers of EV01S

    The unknown man who had attacked Flin and the princess knelt before Void, the fierce ruler whose goal was to dominate his universe.

    "Boss! Why did you stop me?" he inquired.

    "Fool! It is part of my plan. Just wait and watch!" Void replied with an ominous smile.

    "Okay, Boss. I understand."

    On Earth, Aiden was in His Class, as He Had Never Changed Schools and Had Friends.

    "Aiden! So what is your plan for this summer vacation?" asked Daichi, his friend.

    "I guess I will spend my time watching TV and sleeping!" Aiden replied.

    "You are no fun, Aiden! What''s so great about sleeping and watching TV for the whole vacation?" said Lyra.

    "Lyra, what are you saying? Aiden''s house is pretty much a vacation mansion on its own. Who would want to leave it and spend time anywhere else?" said Valen.

    "Okay, yes, it''s the best feeling watching TV and relaxing," said Aiden.

    "So how about we all go somewhere?" suggested Valen.

    As Aiden noticed someone entering Earth, he thought, let''s see about that, but for now, I have to go to the washroom. You all continue!

    "Okay! What a way to ruin a conversation," said Daichi.

    "Aiden, I will come back soon..." said Aiden as he left.

    Aiden went into the washroom.

    "Okay, it''s locked. Now, shadow, appear. I need your help." Aiden''s shadow materialized.

    "Okay, I know what you want. Go see who entered Earth."

    "You catch on quickly," Aiden replied.

    He teleported himself to an approximate distance where he sensed a presence.

    "Okay, let''s do my job," said shadow Aiden before returning to the class.

    Mountains on the East Side of Arden

    Aiden was flying in the area above the mountains to search for any signs of life.

    "This is the location I received intent from. Let''s check it out. ''Ultra Vision,''" he commanded, activating the artificial intelligence created by Vale for him.

    "Yes, Aiden, I am already scanning this entire area," said Ultra Vision.

    "Scanning... life detected."

    "Where? Show the data," Aiden urged, as Ultra Vision was an invisible set of glasses worn by Aiden that no one else could see or hear. "This heat pattern... is it human...? But its life force is decreasing. Was it attacked by someone?"

    Aiden hurriedly landed on the mountain and walked straight toward the source of the signal. He saw a girl lying there, facing away from him, injured.

 A Girl On the Mountain

    Aiden saw a girl roughly his age lying out in the open on the mountain. She appeared injured. He cautiously walked towards her, noticing her attire was that of a princess.

    ¡°She¡ªwho is she, and why is she here? A princess... here?¡± he wondered aloud. ¡°UltraVision, can you check if you can identify her?¡±

    ¡°At least show her face,¡± UltraVision (U.V.) responded.

    Aiden moved closer and bent down to see her face.

    ¡°She is truly beautiful,¡± he thought, momentarily taken aback.

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t expect you to show emotions,¡± U.V. teased.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m some thousand-year-old cold-blooded man? Tell me if you have any data on her, and contact Vale. Ask him to come here as soon as possible¡ªto my house,¡± Aiden replied.

    The girl¡¯s face was partly covered by her hair, but her beauty was still unmistakable.

    ¡°Aiden, she¡¯s the Princess of Planet EV01S, in the Eve Galaxy of Universe Evnoid. I don¡¯t know why she¡¯s here, but I have a bad feeling about this. Carry her to your house,¡± U.V. suggested.

    "Ok, ok¡­"

    ¡°Wait, annoyed, how am I supposed to carry her all the way to my house?¡±

    ¡°Ahhh, just carry her,¡± U.V. replied.

    ¡°No, no. How can I carry a girl who¡¯s unconscious? What if she thinks I¡¯m a bad guy? Vale taught me how to fight, but not what to do in a situation like this.¡± Aiden¡¯s voice grew flustered. ¡°Let me try to wake her up.¡±

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    ¡°Aiden¡­¡± U.V. sounded exasperated and attempted to contact Vale.

    Aiden gently poked her hand, trying to rouse her.

    ¡°How can someone be this bad with girls?¡± said UV.

    ¡°Stop, it¡¯s annoying. Wait, Vale just messaged: Don¡¯t push your limits in the wrong situations.¡± Aiden cringed as he read it. ¡°Vale has granted you permission to use 50% of your power. Normally, your level on Earth is limited to 5%, so now you can just teleport her to your house.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Vale and U.V. OK, get ready to do it,¡± Aiden said as he stood up and joined his hands.

    ¡°Teleport¡­¡± Aiden spoke the command, and a spell circle appeared beneath them. With a flash of light, they vanished.

    The mountain winds blew through the now-empty space.

    In a quiet area on the outskirts of Arden City stood a two-story bungalow with seven bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen, and a secret underground lab. This was Aiden¡¯s home.

    In his Bedroom

    Aiden teleported himself and the princess into his room, both suspended briefly in the air before he carefully laid her on the bed.

    ¡°Heal!¡± he commanded, mending her injuries instantly. ¡°It feels so good to just say it and make it happen. OK, let¡¯s freshen up and wait for her to wake up. My only concern is that she doesn¡¯t freak out after finding herself in an unfamiliar place¡­ but for now, I can¡¯t do much about that. Let¡¯s wait.¡±

    After freshening up, Aiden sat in the hall.

    ¡°UltraVision, did you get any further information from Vale? And why is he taking so long?¡±

    ¡°He informed me that he has some work to do. He¡¯ll come here as soon as it¡¯s done,¡± U.V. reported.

    ¡°OK, so we just have to wait,¡± Aiden replied.

    Time: 3:00 pm

    The main gate opened.

    Aiden¡¯s clone returned home from school.

    ¡°Welcome back!¡± Aiden greeted him.

    Spotting Aiden on the couch, the clone rushed over. ¡°Why are you here? Did you find anything?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I found a girl, roughly my age, injured on the mountain.¡±

    ¡°A girl? What are you talking about? Is she OK?¡± asked the clone.

    ¡°I healed her, but she hasn¡¯t woken up yet, so I can¡¯t be sure,¡± Aiden replied.

    ¡°OK, Aiden, release me,¡± the clone said.

    ¡°OK. Release!¡± Aiden commanded mentally.

    Meanwhile, in the Bedroom

    The princess¡¯s eyes fluttered open. ¡°Wh¡ªwhere am I¡­? My head¡­¡± She winced slightly, feeling a mild side effect from Aiden¡¯s energy.

    She gradually got up, realizing her injuries were healed. She quickly composed herself and headed for the stairs, spotting Aiden and his clone talking downstairs.

    Next Time: The Battle of Protectors.

 A Princessâ€™s Plea

    Princess Fiona was descending the stairs when she heard a voice.

    "Oh¡­ so you¡¯re awake," Aiden said without looking at her.

    She hesitated for a moment before replying, "Y-Yes¡­ but who are you?"

    Aiden finally turned to her. "First, have a seat."

    Fiona nodded and sat down on the sofa.

    "Now, let me introduce myself," Aiden continued. "I am Aiden, the one in charge of this universe. And I extend my heartiest gratitude to Her Highness."

    Fiona blinked in surprise. He¡¯s¡­ well-mannered? I thought he¡¯d be arrogant because of his position.

    Gathering her thoughts, she spoke firmly. "I am Fiona, Princess of Veridion, and I ask for your help!" Her eyes reflected deep concern.

    Aiden narrowed his eyes slightly. "Veridion? But I thought you were from planet EV01s."

    She shook her head. "No, Veridion is my home."

    Aiden tilted his head.

    "And what¡¯s the name of your planet?"asked Fiona.

    "Earth," he answered simply.

    Fiona¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. "Oh¡­ you mean Planet 0?" she said in a teasing tone.

    Aiden raised an eyebrow, realizing her implication. "That¡¯s an interesting way to put it," he admitted. "But let¡¯s not get sidetracked. What do you mean by ¡®help¡¯?"

    Princess Fiona suddenly realized she was speaking in her own language. Yet Aiden understood her perfectly.

    "Wait¡­ how do you know my language?" she asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.

    Aiden let out a small chuckle. "Oh, that? There''s nothing to worry about. As long as Ultra Vision has knowledge of a language, I can understand and speak it effortlessly."

    Fiona¡¯s eyes widened. "Wait¡­ how do you know what I was thinking just now?"

    Aiden hesitated for a brief moment before flashing a casual smile. "I just guessed that you might be wondering about that. Nothing more."

    She pursed her lips, still doubtful. But there were more pressing matters at hand. Shaking off her suspicion, she took a deep breath and steeled herself.

    "Aiden," she started, her voice carrying the weight of responsibility, "I need your help."

    Aiden¡¯s expression turned serious. "What kind of help?"The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Fiona clenched her fists. "Two days ago, a ruler named Void sent a messenger with an ultimatum: either we surrender or be destroyed. His exact words¡ª''be destroyed.''"

    Aiden narrowed his eyes. "And I assume you chose to fight back?"

    She nodded, the pain evident in her eyes. "Yes¡­ but we underestimated him. He crushed our forces without mercy. My people fought bravely, but our army was on the brink of extinction. My father passed away two years ago, leaving the responsibility of ruling Veridion to me. But I failed. We lacked coordination, we didn¡¯t understand our enemy¡­ and because of that, we lost."

    Tears welled in Fiona¡¯s eyes. "Many sacrificed themselves to ensure my escape. My personal guard, Flin, was one of them¡ªone of my father¡¯s most trusted men. He laid down his life to get me here safely."

    Aiden''s expression softened. He stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Fiona, don¡¯t blame yourself. You are not alone anymore. I promise you¡ªI will protect you, and I will save your planet."

    Fiona¡¯s breath hitched, a feeling of warmth replacing her despair. "Thank you¡­ and please, just call me Fiona."

    "As you wish," Aiden replied with a small smile.

    Before Fiona could respond, a distant noise echoed outside. Aiden immediately tensed, his senses sharpening.

    "Fiona!" His voice was sharp. "We are not safe here! Let''s go!"

    Fiona barely had time to react before Aiden grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the back door. They moved swiftly through the dark corridors, the scent of smoke and ash lingering in the air.

    "But Aiden, where are we going?" Fiona asked, struggling to keep up with his pace.

    "There¡¯s a mountain nearby where people rarely venture. It¡¯ll be a better place to fight if necessary. I¡¯m going to fly us there¡ªis that okay?"

    Fiona hesitated, her heart pounding. "O¡­ okay¡­ as you wish."

    Without another word, Aiden lifted her effortlessly into his arms and soared into the sky. The cold night wind rushed past them as they ascended, the ruined city shrinking below.

    As they flew, Fiona suddenly felt a presence behind them. She turned her head slightly, eyes widening in horror.

    "Aiden¡­ s-someone is following us!"

    Aiden glanced back, and his expression darkened.

    Flin.

    Or rather, what remained of him.

    His once noble form was now twisted, his lifeless eyes glowing with an eerie hue. Void¡¯s power surged around him, his movements unnatural.

    Fiona¡¯s breath hitched. "That¡¯s¡­ Flin¡­ but how?"

    "Void can control the dead," Aiden muttered. "Which means Flin is now his puppet."

    Flin¡¯s speed increased, closing the gap between them. Aiden clenched his jaw and adjusted his flight, increasing his velocity. The air cracked as he broke the sound barrier, but Flin kept up, his persistence unnatural.

    Aiden pushed himself further, reaching four times the speed of sound. Fiona felt lightheaded from the force, gripping Aiden¡¯s arm tightly. But even at this speed, Flin continued his pursuit.

    "Hang on, Fiona. We¡¯re almost there," Aiden assured her.

    They finally reached the mountain¡¯s plateau, where Aiden landed gently. He set Fiona down before immediately turning to face their pursuer.

    "Fiona, stay behind me."

    Fiona swayed slightly, still dizzy from the high-speed flight. "Aiden¡­ that man¡­ h-he¡¯s Flin," she stammered, tears threatening to spill. "Void can control the dead, so¡­ so I think Flin is under his power too."

    Aiden exhaled sharply. "Fiona, don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re safe with me."

    Flin landed with a deafening impact, his form looming over them. His once kind and noble face was devoid of emotion. He raised his weapon, dark energy crackling around him.

    Aiden raised his hand. "Dimensional Shift: My World."

    The air around them warped. The sky twisted, the stars vanishing as the landscape transformed into a space of Aiden¡¯s creation. A powerful pressure filled the area, shifting reality itself.

    Fiona felt overwhelmed by the sudden surge of energy. "This¡­ this power¡­ how?"

    Aiden turned to her, his gaze unwavering. "I just created an area that weakens my enemy¡¯s combat abilities while amplifying mine. No one can enter unless I allow it. The only way this space disappears is if I release it¡­ or if I lose."

    He smirked. "And I don¡¯t plan on losing."

    Fiona stared at him in awe. Despite the dire situation, Aiden stood with absolute confidence.

    The battle was about to begin.

 The Peak: Aiden vs. Flin â€“ Twin Dragon vs. Haietlik

    Flin stood in front of Aiden.

    Sensing the intensity of the battle, Aiden increased his energy output.

    Flin suddenly rushed towards him, prompting Aiden to fire a power bullet in his direction. Flin dodged, but the bullet struck a nearby tree, causing it to topple over. As Flin hesitated to evade the falling tree, Aiden seized the opportunity, using it as a distraction to land a powerful punch.

    Recovering quickly, Flin retaliated by shooting the ground beneath them, creating a cloud of debris to obscure Aiden¡¯s vision. However, Aiden swiftly leaped onto a boulder created by Flin¡¯s attack, using it as a platform. Both warriors charged at each other once more.

    Aiden conjured his sword and vanished into the shadow dimension.

    Flin, undeterred, kicked at Aiden¡¯s stomach and grabbed his neck¡ªbut his hands only gripped empty air. It was merely Aiden¡¯s shadow clone. The real Aiden emerged from the shadow dimension, surrounding Flin with ten shadow replicas, each launching power bullets at him. In response, Flin used earth magic to form a defensive barrier.

    But Aiden¡¯s relentless assault shattered the barrier with a single devastating kick, sending Flin staggering backward.

    Gritting his teeth, Flin muttered, "Dark!" in a sinister voice.

    Immediately, the environment darkened, enhancing Flin¡¯s physical abilities and perception.

    "He¡¯s using a high-level technique," Aiden realized, his eyes narrowing. "His presence is blending with the surroundings. Using normal senses, I won¡¯t be able to detect his movements... Fine. I¡¯ll just focus entirely on myself and the seven-meter radius around me. If I can get a hold of this situation, I¡¯ll turn from the hunted into the hunter."

    Flin lunged forward, attacking from multiple angles. At first, Aiden struggled, barely dodging the rapid strikes. But as the battle continued, he began recognizing the attack patterns, evading with increasing precision.

    "I can¡¯t let this drag on," Aiden thought. "His punches are powerful, and he feels no pain. He¡¯s pushing his body beyond its limits. Shadow, go outside the dark zone and wait for my command."

    His shadow obeyed, slipping away undetected.

    Meanwhile, Flin was growing stronger by the second. He finally landed a solid punch on Aiden¡¯s leg joint, sending pain coursing through his body. Smirking at the success, Flin unleashed a ruthless barrage of attacks, forcing Aiden onto the defensive.

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    Outside the darkness, Aiden¡¯s shadow waited, prepared for his master¡¯s signal.

    As Flin¡¯s relentless assault intensified, Aiden knew he had to act fast. If he allowed this to continue, he would take too much damage.

    "Shadow Twin Dragon Sister," Aiden muttered under his breath. "I¡¯ll create the inner formation; you focus on the outer. I know I¡¯ve never attempted this before, but the Twin Dragon should be able to swallow his darkness."

    Aiden¡¯s shadow carved the dragon sigil into its palm using blood. Aiden mirrored the action, preparing for the next phase.

    Flin, now wielding a sword, prepared to stab Aiden¡ª

    "Now!" Aiden roared.

    A massive water hurricane erupted as Aiden and his shadow activated the technique. The swirling vortex began absorbing Flin¡¯s darkness, exposing him to the open battlefield.

    Aiden and his shadow poured their energy into the hurricane, shaping it into the form of a Twin Dragon¡ªtwo-headed, its body composed of wind and water.

    Flin, now fully visible, backed away, his expression unreadable. He drew a symbol on his palm, causing the sky to darken. A massive lightning bolt, black as night, crashed down from the heavens, transforming into a colossal serpent¡ªHaietlik.

    The wind howled furiously.

    Aiden clenched his fists. "Tch... He has an advantage. No matter. Let¡¯s see who makes it out of here."

    From behind a tree, Fiona watched in silence, her eyes wide with concern.

    "Go, Twin Dragon!" Aiden commanded.

    Flin responded with his own battle cry, unleashing Haietlik in a devastating charge.

    The battlefield exploded into chaos. Both warriors struggled to maintain control over their summoned entities, their energy reserves dwindling rapidly.

    "Shadow, can you handle this on your own?" Aiden asked.

    "If you wish, I can," his shadow replied.

    Aiden nodded. "Very well. If we allow these creatures to battle freely, we¡¯ll be completely drained, and this entire area will be destroyed. They¡¯re both too powerful."

    "So, what¡¯s the plan?" the shadow inquired.

    Aiden smirked. "Something reckless, of course."

    He didn¡¯t elaborate. Instead, he handed full control of the Twin Dragon to his shadow. Then, without warning, he sprinted forward.

    Flin noticed the movement and attempted to intercept, but Aiden skillfully dodged and leaped onto the Twin Dragon¡¯s back.

    His shadow directed the dragon straight toward Flin.

    Flin reacted instantly, commanding Haietlik to unleash a deadly lightning strike. The black lightning surged toward Aiden and his dragon.

    Aiden didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, he extended his hand, absorbing the lightning¡¯s power.

    With a sudden burst of speed, he surged forward¡ªfaster than the lightning itself.

    The moment he reached Flin, he released the stored energy, redirecting the amplified lightning back at his enemy.

    The powerful surge struck Flin and Haietlik simultaneously.

    As the energy coursed through Flin¡¯s body, Aiden lunged forward, gripping him tightly. Just as the lightning reached its peak, ready to explode, Aiden propelled himself backward, landing safely on the Twin Dragon¡¯s back.

    Flin, engulfed in the immense energy, let out a final cry before his body disintegrated into thin air.

    The battlefield fell silent.

    Aiden¡¯s shadow collapsed, and the Twin Dragon dissipated into mist.

    Aiden, exhausted, barely managed to stand.

    Fiona rushed to his side, concern etched on her face. She gently laid him on the ground, cradling his head in her lap.