ã€ŠThe Primordialã€‹


 Introduction for those that dislike Xianxia starts

    Due to a few suggestions, I feel that this might be necessary for those that dislike Wuxia/Xianxia style stuff and intros and want to quickly get into the story. If you don¡¯t mind a Xianxia story intro, feel free to skip this and head to the prologue. Your choice

    Below is a brief summary of the characters which explains the Prologue and Chapter 1. After reading the below information, you can start directly on Chapter 2 and pretty much skip all of Xianxia style stuff. A lot of information will be expanded on beginning with Chapter 2 and, of course, future chapters.

    Spoiler: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">

    The world has multiple Planes, such as Mortal and Immortal. Mortals can ascend after a certain power into the Immortal plane, thus effectively becoming unable to age, hence the Immortal. The Immortal Planes size and the strength of its inhabitants are also vastly superior to the Mortal Plane.

    The Characters shown:

    Nox Ferrum ¨C The Main Character. An Immortal originally from the Mortal Plane. Short black hair and unfathomable grey eyes, he appears to be in his late 20s with a stubbly beard. Without inspecting him closely, he appears relatively ordinary.

    Due to him and his wife being constrained in the Immortal Plane because of their talent and strength, they had to neglect their daughter and keep her relatively confined for her safety. Because of this, they wanted a needed reprieve for a few years to spend time with their daughter. Staying in a house on a very scenic lake for a few years, it became a mistake that ended in tragedy, as Nox watched his wife and daughter die before his eyes.

    His wife leaving parting words after their daughter died before her, she burned and sacrificed her soul to strengthen their daughters and preserve it. Using a deplorable skill that sacrificed any life for temporary power, Nox eliminated the murderer shortly afterwards, feeling disgusted with himself for resorting to that.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Creating a large memorial on the shore of the lake, he left with vengeance and reviving his daughter becoming his goal and the only thing he lived for.

    Managing to get revenge after breaking the ¡®limit¡¯ of power approximately 7,000 years after their death¡¯s, he became a being with a truly invincible soul, with his breakthrough affecting and shocking the entire Immortal Plane. Even those who had lived hundreds of thousands or millions of years couldn¡¯t break the limit.

    First he erased the conspirators which were from the largest power in their world, from an incredibly far distance using his pitch-black and red tipped sword, Nyx, which had transformed into a bow.

    After that, he used his newfound power to force his daughters soul back into her body that he also preserved, bringing her back to life, fully intact.

    After speaking with his daughter for a while, she asks to return and see her mother''s memorial, to which Nox agrees.

    Stella Ferrum ¨C Nox¡¯s daughter that was killed and soul was preserved due to her mother¡¯s sacrifice. Golden hair and grey eyes, she gets her hair from her mother and eyes from Nox.Looks to be around 20. Cheerful yet resolute. Like her mother, her mind is very strong even though she¡¯s only a few dozen years old.

    She was revived after Nox broke the limit and gained the needed power. Only remembering moments before she had died, Nox explained what happened and told her of his 7,000 year journey without any lies. After his story, although very emotional and shocked that Nox broke through at an unparalleled speed, she quickly accepted most of the situation due to her mind and personality, which is something she took after her mother. Nox had much more trouble overcoming those events.

    Ling ¨C Nox¡¯s deceased wife who was nearly the same age as him and also ascended from the Mortal Plane to become an Immortal. Golden hair and red eyes. She looked like a more mature version of Stella. She was a genius in the soul, which allowed her to burn hers in exchange for preserving Stella¡¯s. Because she burned her soul, it returned to become one with the Universe''s energies, unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation again or be revived by Nox.

    Nyx ¨C Nox¡¯s pitch-black and red tipped sword that he had found years before Ling and Stella¡¯s deaths. Female, she revealed her sentience when they died, and was used to preserve Stella¡¯s soul inside her. Together with Nox, they had sacrificed a thousand miles radius of life to gain temporary power to destroy the one who killed them. She was Nox¡¯s only true source of interaction and companionship for over 7,000 years, and the one who saved him from insanity and rash decisions. She can¡¯t speak, but could convey her intentions, especially to Nox.

 Prologue

    ¡ªSurrounded by incredibly tall mountains, a villa was situated next to a small, picturesque lake¡ª

    It was the start of Spring, where everything was awakening and regaining its vitality. The trees and foliage were becoming greener while a multitude of flowers were blooming, all covered in dew with a fresh smell in the air. Birds moving to and fro, chirping endlessly in a beautiful tune, while the crystal-clear lake was teeming with fish of all sizes and colors.

    Everything was suffused with life energy that was nearly tangible. This was a very rare area, especially in the Mortal Plane. Only the strong and influential could ever stay in a place like this.

    At the back of this villa, a pavilion was overlooking the lake, where two women and a man were sitting and enjoying the scenery.

    The man looked to be in his late 20s with hair as black as the night and a stubbly beard. He didn¡¯t appear extraordinary; just average. Yet, when peering into his unusual, grey eyes, it was like looking into the ocean; deep and unfathomable. Like something was lying within, waiting to be unleashed.

    The two woman looked nearly identical, seemingly in their early 20s, both beautiful, with a fair complexion and hair like gold, except one was a little older and mature looking with ruby eyes, while the other looked a little younger and innocent with the same grey eyes as the man.

    ¡°Mom, dad, can we stay like this forever? This is so much better than your stupid and boring sect. ¡° The younger girl asked expectantly, yet without waiting for a reply, proceeded to run towards that dazzling water to play around.

    The man and woman turned to look at each other, both with a wry smile on their faces. They were husband and wife.

    ¡°What do you think, honey? This is the first time in over 10 years that Stella''s been outside of the sect, especially with all of us together. ¡° The woman whispered gently, regret in her voice.

    ¡°I¡­ You know I want that, but I have responsibilities as the future Sect Master, and we have too many enemies. It¡¯s the safest place for her. We¡¯re not strong enough to deter everyone¡­ I¡¯m not strong enough yet. After all, my cultivation might be fast, but it¡¯s only been a little over 500 years. Even coming to the Mortal Plane for these few years has been a risk for us. The elders might only know where we went, but who knows how long it¡¯ll stay that way? Not everyone is on master¡¯s side. ¡° the man replied helplessly.

    ¡°We should leave today. It¡¯s already been too long, and I don¡¯t feel right. ¡° sighing, the man could only lament this situation. He was normally carefree, even in danger, but the situation had changed when he broke through a decade ago and became the youngest in history to reach his current realm.

    Both of them had too many enemies. After fully displaying his might and talent during a recruiting tournament that the largest sects were holding, he destroyed several of those so-called geniuses, which caused many to start taking him seriously as a potential threat. Especially because of those geniuses, they absolutely had powerful backing.

    His wife as well, she had many enemies, and the enmity only got stronger after pairing with him.

    She was a rogue cultivator without any backing, mainly because she had only just ascended from the Mortal Plane. Many attacked her for her beauty, but unbelievably, she¡¯s also abnormal.

    Having more vigilance than most, no one really knew anything about her, except that golden hair and red eyes, but those traits were bountiful in the vast world.

    That was, until she appeared as his wife. Those whose disciples or sons and daughters died by her hand realized who she was after displaying her strength alongside him. Two people, albeit not fully equal in strength, being able to skip cultivation levels in battle was incredibly rare. It was easy to connect the dots after that.

    Over the long years, many of those defeated geniuses and ones who wanted to become famous, had forced both of them into life and death battles many times, causing them to have enmity with many powers.

    Their only saving grace was the sect they joined; the ¡®Boundless Sky¡¯ sect. It was the most powerful sect in the Immortal plane, so it normally acted to deter many, yet not everything. Even becoming the sect master¡¯s disciple and successor, wasn¡¯t enough.

    While both of their strength grew, and they could at least protect themselves outside, the same couldn¡¯t be said for their daughter. She was well known because she was their child and her talent was superior to the majority.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, honey. I can feel something tugging at my soul, but I don¡¯t think anything will happen soon, so let¡¯s stay a few more days, for Stella. Please. ¡°Looking at her daughter playing near the lake, only affection was in her gaze.

    Listening to those melodious, pleading words, Nox could only relent, pushing his instincts to the back of his mind.

    ****A few days later****

    A man with short black hair and piercing, deep grey eyes was walking about inside a villa situated near the shore of a beautiful lake. Two enchanting women, one mature and one innocent, were near the lake, ankles submerged in the water.

    Flowers on the outer edges were swaying with the wind, while white lotuses were floating gently on the surface of the water. It was a very peaceful scene.

    *RIIIIIIP*

    A booming, tearing noise resounded above the lake, completely disrupting that picturesque environment, while a pitch-black hole suddenly manifested itself. A figure blurred into the sky from that hole.

    A bright flash of light suddenly surrounding the lake, it lasted but a moment, before that figure emerged clearly from the light, floating above the lake. It was a burly middle-aged man.

    ¡°Hahahaha, I found you! Get your ass out here, Nox! ¡° a boisterous laugh rang from him.

    ¡°He broke the arrays! Stella, leave! ¡° a panicked voice left the mature woman¡¯s mouth as she gazed towards the sky. With a wave, a gentle force shrouded and pushed the girl away towards the villa.

    The middle-aged man chuckled and extended his arm, making a grasping motion. The energy around Stella popped like a bubble as she started to fly towards the man.

    ¡®What!? This powerful?¡¯

    ¡°NO!¡± shock appeared on the mature woman¡¯s face, while she charged towards the man in desperation.

    Energy erupting from her body, golden threads pierced through the air from her hands, towards the man.

    ¡°Futile. ¡° with a right-handed punch towards her, it seemed as if a mountain was collapsing. Simultaneously, the man chopped down his left hand towards Stella.

    ¡°Mom¡­¡± a weak voice left the girls mouth when the energy was only a few meters away.

    ¡®Don¡¯t worry, Stella, it won¡¯t end like this, I promise... Be a good girl and wait¡­ Your father will fix everything. When you return, make sure you find a way to help him; don¡¯t let him lose his way. I love you so, so much. ¡® a gentle voice mixed with love and reassurance resounded in Stella¡¯s mind, as a grieved yet determined expression appeared on her face. The woman sent her words via divine sense.Stolen novel; please report.

    At their level of power, everything happened all too quickly.

    ¨COnly a few moments earlier¨C

    Walking around the inside of the villa his family resided in the last few years, regret and yearning could be felt from Nox¡¯s eyes. He wanted a life like this for his family, but his power still wasn¡¯t enough.

    Suddenly

    *RIIIIIP*

    ¡°Hahaha, I found you! Nox, get your ass out here!"

    Momentarily stunned due to the sound and presence, Nox awakened quickly.

    ¡°LIIING, STELLA! ¡° a deep, panicked voice boomed from him as he felt the hostile presence.

    Moving in almost a blink, Nox froze in mid air like a statue. A young woman was falling from the sky, split in two. In the air above, being gripped by the neck, another woman had a massive hole in her chest with blood flowing from her mouth, oddly matching the color of her eyes.

    Gazing at the silhouette falling, and the one being gripped, a jolt went through Nox''s mind, bringing him out of his reverie ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Nox, I¡¯ll be leaving first... Take good care of Stella¡­ Only you¡­ can bring her back¡­ Don¡¯t forsake yourself because of this... please, especially for her¡­ This is all I can do¡­ I¡­ love you.¡¯

    Listening to that struggling, loving voice fading from his mind, an indescribable, immeasurable pain struck Nox.

    ¡®Ling¡­¡¯

    Split seconds later, a massive flash and surge of golden energy erupted from Ling, quickly soaring above Stella¡¯s body like it was gripping the void and keeping something from leaving.

    A jade plate appeared in Nox¡¯s hand, before he felt a vibration inside the ring on his hand. This was a spatial ring.

    Reaching out, a dull, pitch black and red tipped sword with an ancient aura surrounding it appeared in his hand. Feeling a somewhat feminine energy conveying its will, Nox was drawn away from his pain, as he was inwardly shocked for a moment ¡®A weapon spirit?¡¯.

    ¡®You can preserve Stella¡¯s soul? Good! What are you called? Nyx? We¡¯re very similar...¡¯ Nox quickly conversed via divine sense, as he put away the plate and pointed the sword ¡®Nyx'' towards the light.

    The golden energy then started coalescing into a small, ethereal white light, swiftly shooting into the red tip of the sword, disappearing within.

    The man in the sky laughed loudly before releasing his grip, watching Lings figure fall lifelessly, albeit with a light smile on her blood covered visage.

    ¡°To think that she would sacrifice her own soul to save your daughter. Truly commendable. Alas, you two abhorrent kids killed several of my disciples, so your family will be used as an offering to placate their souls. ¡° The man¡¯s voice boomed, as killing intent spread throughout the air. Energy starting to swirl around him, a massive axe appeared in his hand.

    Gazing at that silhouette falling, then the sword in his hand which now housed his daughter¡¯s soul, their bodies swiftly flew towards Nox, disappearing into his spatial ring. Slowly closing his eyes, only an eerie calm remained.

    ¡°It¡¯s good that you know nothing will change, even if you resist. Because you didn¡¯t destroy my disciples¡¯ bodies, I didn¡¯t turn your wife and daughter into dust. You should thank me for being so magnanimous. I¡¯ve wasted enough time by not instantly killing you. You can die now! ¡° the man suddenly charged forth with a vicious momentum, as his energy exploded outwards.

    Raising his axe and swinging it down diagonally, it made contact with Nox.

    *BOOM*

    A massive shockwave of energy started spreading throughout a several dozen mile radius, creating massive ripples in space and leaving only destruction in its wake.

    The mountains surrounding them, the lake, villa, villages further away; everything was affected. Yet, an unusual scene remained; the small lake was still a bit intact. It was a natural treasure with an abnormal amount of life energy, which is what allowed it to survive.

    The man only briefly looked pleased at the destruction, before he felt an incredibly threatening presence from where his axe landed.

    A massive surge of power spreading outwards like a wave, it cleared the dust and debris from the surroundings.

    Feeling an incredibly evil power and gazing at the figure who blocked his strike, surprise and a hint of terror flashed across his eyes, before the man quickly regained his previous attitude.

    ¡°It¡¯s surprising that an ant like you could take my blow unscathed, but you won¡¯t ge-¡¯

    ¡°Enough. A dead man shouldn¡¯t talk so much.¡± a cold voice came from Nox. A voice suffused with so much killing intent, it was palpable.

    ¡°Come, Nyx, we¡¯ll become Devils together! ¡° his voice erupting, it spread throughout the entire area.

    Nyx gave off a seemingly jubilant him in acceptance, as an evil power suddenly spread outwards from Nox like a tidal wave ravaging everything in its path.

    If one observed from high in the sky, what seemed like a thousand-mile radius had all life start to visibly wither and turn to dust. All vegetation and animals. Every village and city in its path. An incalculable number of living beings disappeared while the energy from them was completely absorbed. That energy became increasingly condensed before finally receding back to its source.

    An unimaginably dark and bloody energy started forming a whirlpool around Nox, as runes with an immensely evil feeling appeared everywhere on his body and Nyx¡¯s.

    With one arm raising his sword towards the sky, madness appeared in his eyes, before the energy converged towards Nyx and his eyes once again regained their clarity. Nyx seemed to stave off the maddening energy entering Nox before it could corrupt him.

    ¡°Your sect, your allies, everything you know. Those elders who leaked our location. Anyone that ever had ill will towards us. I will not stop until everyone is destroyed. ¡°

    Hearing that chilling tone which could make even the devil king shiver, and the evil power ravaging everything, the surprise on his face instantly disappeared, replaced with a terrified and regretful expression. He regretted not killing him right away. Terrified because this was a method that absorbed life force for a sudden, powerful strength. It carried the immense risk of destroying the body and descending into madness. Yet, he was still lucid, and his body was fine.

    Now, the only thought in his mind, was ¡®Flee!¡¯.

    Swiftly turning around, the man flicked his hand, attempting to open a spatial passageway.

    ¡°Be torn asunder and turned into dust, not even your soul will be spared. ¡°

    ¡°Die!¡¯

    Nox¡¯s cold voice sounded beside his ear. Feeling that energy about to explode, only pure despair remained.

    ¡°NOOO! ¡° the man shouted as his face turned pale.

    Swinging Nyx downwards with all his power, it was like someone cleaving apart the heaven and earth.

    At that moment, it seemed as if the entire world became silent, with only something that sounded like it was being ripped apart remaining.

    An incredibly large crescent only a fingers length wide was seemingly flying at the speed of light towards the man, while a tear in space and immeasurably deep gash in the earth was following closely behind. Everything was trivial before this power; it was unstoppable.

    Not even getting the chance to flee, everything in the mans vision turned red and black, as the crescent of energy cleaved him in two. An injury so thin could be survived by an immortal like him, but a pain he never experienced before started coursing throughout his body. His insides corroding and being shredded into little pieces, it was as if whirlwind of blades was inside him.

    Spreading from the inside to the outside, Nox could visibly see his flesh and bones being cut into pieces, as blood started oozing out from his entire body. Nothing could be heard from the man, as his throat was already split in two.

    The light fading from his terror-stricken eyes, he very soon turned into nothing but a pool of blood that started to bubble and dissipate. It was a visceral scene, but no change could be seen on Nox¡¯s face. It seemed as if only hatred and a desire to kill remained.

    After floating in the sky for a bit, Nox descended to the lakes shore. The lake was cut in half and water was flowing rapidly towards the trench spanning the entire lake.

    Gazing at the once peaceful scene that had been destroyed, a suffocating amount of grief, regret and hatred filled his entire being. Grief because of their deaths, regret for not being powerful enough to save them and resorting to such a repulsive method of gaining strength quickly, and hatred for those that betrayed and harmed them.

    Bringing out a massive piece of heavenly jade that was immeasurably heavy, it was normally used for cultivation and crafting. Waving his hand, Nox began to cut and shape it into a magnificent monument dozens of meters tall and wide.

    Pouring his remaining emotions into carving the beautiful scene of a woman gazing at a lake, surrounded by flowers, into that massive piece of jade, he placed it firmly into the ground near the actual lake. This would be his memorial for Ling. Something that will last for all eternity.

    Carving her name and his farewells near the bottom, Nox took out his wife¡¯s body from his spatial ring and placed her near the lakes shore, as a cold wind brushed against his back.

    His emotions nearly going haywire once again after seeing her light smile, he gently touched Lings face. Removing his hand after a while and standing up, then looking at Stella¡¯s bisected body that was preserved in his spatial ring, a strong resolve and murderous intent flashed through Nox¡¯s eyes ¡®I will bring Stella back no matter the cost.¡¯

    ¡°Farewell, my love¡­¡± with a tender, final look, a flame suddenly lit from his palm, quickly descending onto her body.

    Gazing at her disappearing body and the ashes flying towards the lake, Nox brought out an esoteric item from his spatial ring which started flashing and slowly condensing into a ball of light.

    Now expressionless, only a desire for death and destruction could be gleaned from his eyes, before Nox and the light pierced forward into space, disappearing into the unknown.

    For those in many planes, this was the advent of a vengeful devil.

 Chapter 1 - 7,000 years

    ¨CImmortal Plane, in a bare wooden house surrounded by trees as far as the eye could see¨C

    Inside that lone house, a man appearing to be in his late 20s was sitting cross-legged with a dull, pitch black and red tipped sword on his lap. Unmoving, he resembled a statue. Not even a heartbeat could be heard.

    *BOOM*

    A deafening sound akin to thunder, along with a visible ripple in the air were released from the man¡¯s body.

    If one observed from afar, they would notice something amiss. The house was unmoving like the man. Even the environment outside had no reaction. There were no animals. No insects. No Fish. The only living things as far as the eye could see, were trees, foliage, and the man in the wooden house. If it wasn¡¯t for the wind rustling the trees, one might think this was all an illusion.

    Contrary to the forests solitary environment, the world outside of the trees was in an uproar. The ripple that was released caused a vibration in the ground that kept increasing in intensity.

    Villages started to become affected as the less sturdy houses crumbled apart. People and animals alike dropped to the ground, unable to regain their balance. Large cities that had millions of inhabitants started trembling. The smaller trees fell, while flying beasts flew towards the skies. This calamity continued for about five minutes before finally subsiding.

    Just when the world regained its calm, a pressure followed.

    Nearly every living being was affected. For the weak that didn¡¯t have much Qi, it only felt like you were underwater, with your movement restricted.

    For the strong, it was like the heavens were descending onto their bodies, ready to crush them like ants. The energy was so suffocating and heavy, most were forced to their knees, gasping for air. They could go long without breathing, but it was as if their lungs were collapsing.

    Only the very, very few could withstand it.

    After what seemed like an instant for some and an eternity for others, the phenomenon passed after a few seconds. If not for those still frozen in place or collapsed on the ground, it might¡¯ve seemed like a dream. In a world where everyone, even children, had capabilities above normal people, this kind of occurrence was only heard of in legends.

    From all around the world, the powerful existences felt that power clear as day.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that little bastard succeeded! This isn¡¯t good. ¡° uttered a malevolent middle-aged man in anger and trepidation.

    ¡°Ho, it seems that ominous star has finally broken through. They¡¯re finished, now! ¡° a woman had an excited and murderous glint in her eyes.

    ¡°Mmm, looks like that vengeful ghost has done it. Only 7,000 years¡­ what a freak. An absolute freak. They¡¯re done for, now. ¡° murmured another man.

    ¡°Amitabha, benefactor has succeeded at last. Everything will finally come to an end, peace returning once more. ¡° in a temple, an ancient monk situated on a prayer mat opened his eyes, speaking with a sonorous yet soothing voice. A few other monks seated a bit further away opened their eyes in surprise at the news.

    ¨C¨C

    Back inside the wooden house, there was finally movement from the man, as if he was a corpse who¡¯s heart just started beating again.

    Opening his eyes, another faint ripple spread throughout the surrounding space, slightly warping it.

    Short hair black as night and grey eyes that seemed to have an unfathomable depth, this man was Nox.

    ¡®Finally! It¡¯s time!¡¯ Nox clenched his fists in anticipation.

    ¡°Nyx! ¡° Shouting, the sword on his lap flew into the air in front of him and made a humming sound in excitement.

    Standing up and grabbing the hilt of his sword, Nyx, he walked out of the wooden house and flew high in the sky. From his body, a silent energy spread outwards in a single direction; he was searching for something.

    After a few moments, there was a reaction. He found his target.

    A scene visualized in his mind. Nox was observing the inside of an imposing palace. Specifically, his sense was fixed on a malevolent middle-aged man situated on a jade throne.

    Nox could also ¡°see¡± several people with strong auras inside and outside of the palace. Some were sweating heavily, while some were relatively unaffected.

    Other than those experts, a powerful energy was shrouding a radius of several hundred miles, with the palace as the core. This was a defensive array used to protect the area.

    Within the palace, the middle-aged man on the throne had a face full of panic.

    ¡°How could that little bastard have done it? How!? He¡¯s only lived so long. Only an immature brat. ¡° the man roared.

    ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for that old fool, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to grow so much. Dammit, I didn¡¯t put in all this effort just to have everything taken away! ¡°

    Every person in the room that heard him, were fidgeting, unable to hide their anxiety.

    Joining the middle aged mans camp, only a high and mighty future awaited them once he obtained the sect masters seat. Now, Nox had become a massive threat.

    ¡°We have the arrays and all of us are together. He broke the limit, so what? We¡¯re not meat on the chopping block!¡° someone gathered their courage, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, we¡¯re not weaklings. Even the second and third ranked sects combined couldn¡¯t topple us! ¡° another man roared.

    Slowly regaining their courage, fire began to light their eyes once more.

    ¡°Yes, well said! You¡¯re not meat on the chopping block; you¡¯re ants about to be crushed. ¡° an insipid voice resounded in their ears.

    An inestimable distance away, Nox was speaking through his divine sense.

    ¡°What!? ¡°

    Everyone in the hall shouted in unison, including the man on the throne.

    They knew who it was, but they couldn¡¯t sense him; not even a wisp of energy. This was unheard of at their strength.

    Their previous moral coming and going like the clouds in the sky, only terror was left. Terror of the unknown.

    Far, far above the clouds, Nyx started floating in front of Nox. With black smoke abruptly flowing out of her, the once pitch-black sword transformed into a pitch-black bow with dark red ends and a black bowstring.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to end this, Nyx. For this day, we¡¯ve endured it all. It¡¯s been too long. For the both of us.¡° whispering, there was some weariness in Nox¡¯s voice.

    ¡®Master. Stella¡­ Ling.¡¯

    Putting his fingers on the string, a black arrow that resembled smoke, formed. Nocking the arrow, Nox pulled the string back, as the bow bent into a crescent.

    Energy from the arrow suddenly exploding outwards, it soon gathering on its very tip. It seemed like an entire star was condensed into a tiny spot.

    ¡°My master. My wife. My daughter. This debt of blood will now be paid in full.¡° With a booming voice that spread far enough to reach that palace, Nox¡¯s fingers released the bowstring.

    The arrow flew with such speed and power, it caused no unnatural phenomena. No sound, no wind, not even a trace of it could be found.

    ¡°No! ¡° in the palace hall, the man shouted and wanted to flee after hearing Nox¡¯s voice.

    Not even half a second later, a black arrow arrived from the skies and descended into the middle of the palace.

    Now, the only phenomena it caused, was a pressure so powerful it made every living being that could feel it, kneel or become unconscious.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    With the pressure locking down space, an absolute darkness descended and spread throughout a several hundred meter area.

    Moments later, light finally returned. The only thing remaining was a massive hole in the earth, almost as if nothing existed there in the first place.

    The precision and power of this arrow was inhuman. It spared everything other than its target, only erasing the palace¡¯s area and the people within.

    Outside of the impact zone, disciples, elders, visitors, everyone was frozen, staring at the destruction in disbelief. The entire upper echelon of the ¡°Boundless Sky Sect¡±, the strongest power in all the Planes, disappeared in seconds. For the entire Immortal Plane, this was a turning point.

    Several world powers had treasures that could view areas from afar if no one interfered. Also witnessing the aftermath, most were ecstatic and proud of their foresight when deciding to forgo previous enmity with Nox, while some of those people even gained promotions and higher prestige.

    They all knew about Nox¡¯s power and personality, but he actually didn¡¯t have many enemies, nor friends. If no one tried to kill him, he would only exclusively deal with the Boundless Sky Sect and their allies. They all understood this.

    Over the years, the Boundless Sky Sect had become very oppressive when the Sect Master changed, so although startled at first, this was wonderful news for most of the world.

    ¨CCountless miles away¨C

    Nox was standing in the air, silently gazing towards the direction of the sect. Nyx, previously in the shape of a bow, was now that same, dull black sword with a red tip.

    ¡°Suffering, pain, rage, powerlessness¡­ loneliness. W-¡° Nox expressed, before getting interrupted by Nyx vibrating violently.

    ¡°I know, I know, I¡¯ve had you around all these years, but we can¡¯t even speak face to face. You know what I mean, so stop joking around. ¡° slightly annoyed and amused, Nox was glaring at that sword in his hand. Although Nyx couldn¡¯t truly speak, she could convey things in an odd way. Similar to how you can somewhat understand a pet or animal without speaking, except Nyx was more advanced than that.

    Nyx wasn¡¯t always like this. At first, she seemed to be a dark and possibly evil weapon spirit who only decided to help the one wielding her, but, over time, she started to develop differently. Something less negative; at least towards him. Nox didn¡¯t know the exact reason, but he surmised that it was likely due to witnessing his emotions over such a long period of time.

    Other than being pivotal in reaching his current power, the way she started acting with him became akin to a pillar, preventing vengeance from totally consuming him, leading to rash decisions and a premature death.

    The journey was almost over. Or was it a new beginning? Nox felt a little different compared to those endless years, and he could even feel Nyx¡¯s happiness for him.

    ¡°We endured everything for this. Now, no one can threaten us anymore; they¡¯re all eliminated. ¡°

    ¡° Let¡¯s go, I don¡¯t want to wait any longer. I can¡¯t. ¡° Nox spoke with anxiety and anticipation.

    In a blink, man and sword appeared in front of that little wooden house.

    Nyx was floating by his side, as Nox waved his slightly shaking hand. A young woman with her eyes closed and beautiful golden hair appeared. She was unmoving like a corpse, but, if you listened closely, her heart was very weakly beating and her body was faintly radiating heat. This was the body of Nox¡¯s daughter, Stella.

    Nox had managed to preserve and gradually restore Stella¡¯s body over the years. The only thing missing was a soul.

    With a vibration from Nyx, a ball of white light the size of a fist emerged from her.

    Staring at that light, pain and anxiousness was evident of his face; it was Stella¡¯s soul. Compared to years before, it seemed to have slightly dimmed.

    Clearing his mind, Nox¡¯s expression turned dignified as his aura completely changed. This aura, or presence, was one that would evoke reverence and fear in anyone that came into contact with it. Powerful, it was like a transcendent being descended to the mortal planes.

    Spreading out, his aura covered and shook the entire Immortal Plane. Startling only the few that felt it, it was fleeting, lasting only a second.

    Around Nox, a heaven shaking power, condensed to the absolute limit, was forming and coiling around his right hand. No, it was even stronger than that.

    Reaching out his left hand to gently grab Stella¡¯s soul, it was as if he was afraid that the slightest touch would make it crumble.

    With Stella¡¯s soul gently floating in his palm, Nox moved to guide the light into her real body. Slowly submerging into her chest, the light turned violent, shaking and illuminating the entire area around him. Nox wasn¡¯t surprised.

    When someone dies, unless their souls are completely destroyed, it must always enter the cycle of reincarnation; otherwise, it¡¯s going against the universe¡¯s laws. This is what was happening right now. Stella had already died, so her soul was rejecting her own body.

    Witnessing Stella¡¯s soul about to break free, Nox placed his right hand filled with energy, on her forehead.

    Spreading to cover Stella¡¯s entire body, the heaven shaking energy began to gently seep into her, dragging her soul along with it.

    In this way, several hours passed by in a blink.

    Nox¡¯s countenance was slightly pale. It took an immense amount of energy and concentration to do something that defies the universe¡¯s laws.

    A few moments later, the energy covering Stella rapidly decreased in strength, before completely disappearing.

    Letting out a long breath, with his gaze locked onto Stella, Nox was filled with immense anticipation and anxiety.

    After what was only a few minutes, yet an eternity for Nox, there was some slight movement.

    Listening closely, Stella¡¯s heart started beating faster and with more strength. Shortly afterwards, she slowly opened her eyes, clearly in a dazed state.

    Weakly turning her head, the surroundings were like a dream. Tall, beautiful trees that had emerald leaves, and endless foliage with multicolored flowers littered about, while the bright blue sky was visible above her.

    Turning her head even more, she saw a red tipped pitch-black sword floating near her. It seemed familiar, but she was unable to remember. Lowering her gaze, she saw a man with pitch black hair and deep, grey eyes kneeling right next to her, staring at her unblinkingly.

    Confused at first, he also seemed familiar, before a shock abruptly jolted her mind. A few moments later, her dazed expression regained its clarity while staring at him. Slowly picking up her upper body, her eyes suddenly became red with tears welling up.

    ¡°Dad. ¡°

    ¡°¡­ S-Stella¡± with a trembling voice, Nox slowly reached out his equally trembling hand, finding it hard to completely reach her.

    ¡°Dad! ¡° Stella shouted then suddenly wrapped her arms around his body, burying her head in his chest and crying loudly.

    Feeling her warmth, her movement, hearing her voice, it was proof that she was alive. That everything was worth it.

    ¡°...I missed you. ¡° wrapping his arms around Stella and gently stroking the back of her head, Nox whispered in a low, hoarse voice, while tears started streaming down his face.

    After thousands of years, this was the first time Nox has truly been happy. Nox even began to think that real happiness would be something he¡¯d never experience again.

    Several minutes later, both of them began to calm down, parting and sitting on the grass next to each other.

    Facing Nox, Stella was finding it hard to speak.

    ¡°Just ask me whatever you want. You never need to hesitate with me.¡± Nox expressed lovingly. This was the best day he¡¯s had in a long, long time.

    ¡°Dad. Mom, she¡­¡± Stella tentatively asked, but already had an answer in her heart.

    ¡°She¡¯s¡­ not here with us anymore. ¡°although trying to keep his composure, Nox still let out a sorrowful and longing voice.

    ¡°Mom. ¡° Stella whispered with a grief-stricken tone, tears welling in her eyes once again.

    ¡°When was it? How long? All I remember are her words and then everything went dark.¡± she asked resolutely, albeit tears still in her eyes.

    Stella wasn¡¯t stupid. Although she seemed young and a bit innocent, she was already several dozens of years old. From the last words she heard from her mother, Stella vaguely knew what had happened.

    Seeing her resoluteness, Nox cleared his previous thoughts.

    ¡°Your¡­ body was destroyed, and Mom was fatally injured afterwards. To preserve and keep your soul here, she completely burned her own to save you. ¡° Nox replied solemnly.

    Listening to Nox, Stella turned pale.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean she¡¯s gone¡­ forever? ¡° this time, Stella¡¯s tears erupted once more.

    Burning your soul was very serious. It could recover after a long period of time if it was minor but burning it in its entirety would destroy and return it to origin, becoming part of the universe¡¯s energy once again. A few scholars throughout history speculated that the souls eventually reform into a new one, but no one has ever witnessed it or knows how long it would take.

    Nox didn¡¯t want to see Stella like this, but he could only silently wait, allowing her to absorb everything. He felt the same way back then. Even now the pain is still there. No matter your power, certain things just weren¡¯t possible.

    ¡°Dad, tell me the rest. Everything. Where we are. How long it¡¯s been. ¡° calming down once again, her eyes were filled with resolution.

    Nox gazed into Stella¡¯s eyes, pondering a bit before finally nodding.

    ¡°Alright ¡°

    *sigh*

    ¡°It¡¯s been about 7,000 years since that day. This story is long¡­ too long. ¡° Nox let out a long breath and slowly spoke.

    ¡®What!? Only 7,000 years? Isn¡¯t that a bit too fast? Even those eon old ancients haven¡¯t done it.¡¯ Stella thought, staring at Nox in disbelief.

    ¡°This is Nyx, the sword I always carried. She¡¯s a weapon spirit and was my only companion throughout these years. Your soul was kept safe with her. ¡° Nox stated, ignoring her expression.

    ¡°After securing your soul, we¡­ paid a heavy price to destroy that man. After we killed him, I made a memorial for mom before we left. I managed to preserve your body, but the only way to revive you, was to get even stronger. We trav¡­¡± Nox recounted his entire journey. Not wanting to lie and keep Stella in the dark, he didn¡¯t withhold anything, even the unsavory parts. She wasn¡¯t a child, after all. Lengthy, it lasted for nearly an entire day before catching up to the present.

    ¡° I¡¯ve been in seclusion inside that wooden house for about a century; the longest I¡¯ve ever stayed in one place. I guess you could say it became my home, and today was the day I broke through the limit.¡±

    ¡°I first destroyed the Boundless Sky Sect that betrayed us, then I was finally able to put your soul into your body and bring you back. Back to me¡­ Finally. ¡° Nox started slightly choking on his emotions after finishing his story. He only had two goals: avenge his family and revive his daughter. For today, it was all worth it. Although his wife was gone, their blood is here. Her blood.

    ¡°Dad, thanks. ¡° moving over to Nox, Stella strongly hugged him, filled with pain and relief at the same time. While Nox recounted his story, she could feel the emotions he had; pain, anger, grief, and even the occasional amusement, thanks to Nyx. She would have never imagined that the relatively peaceful and family loving figure in her heart, had to endure such things for so long. Now that she¡¯s back, at least all that he went through, wasn¡¯t for nothing.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t say that to me. Ever. I will always be there for you, even if the world collapses. ¡° patting her head, Nox had a stern expression, but it didn¡¯t last long before turning into a smile.

    ¡°Well, too bad. It would feel wrong, and I¡¯m old enough that I don¡¯t need to listen to you anymore. ¡° Stella replied jokingly, before turning serious.

    ¡°Dad, I want to see mom. ¡°

    Observing Stella, Nox pondered for only a moment.

    ¡°... Alright then, let¡¯s go back. I also want to visit her. ¡°

    Nox was nervous and his heart ached. He hadn¡¯t visited Ling since the incident, feeling ashamed unless he fulfilled her final wish and came with Stella. Now that she¡¯s here, he doesn¡¯t know what Stella¡¯s reaction will be. He doesn¡¯t even know how the area around her memorial will be. It had been far too long.

    Extending his arms, Nox grabbed Stella¡¯s hand and Nyx¡¯s hilt, before disappearing from the forest.

 Chapter 2 - A New Opportunity

    On the shore of a lake, a man, a woman, and a sword arrived in a blink just several dozen feet away from a magnificent monument overlooking the water.

    Spreading his divine sense, Nox noticed that the lake was a size larger compared to before. Previously, there wasn¡¯t a single thing left, other than the lake and Ling''s monument, but now everything around and inside the lake was lush and filled with life.

    Glancing ahead, Nox and Stella¡¯s gazes were both fixed onto a large and beautiful white jade monument. It depicted an elegant woman standing on the shore of this very lake, golden hair blowing in the wind. Flowers were beside her, while some petals were scattered by the wind. Fish were swimming in the lake and birds flying in the sky. This scene was very vivid and lifelike; as if someone poured their entire soul into it. Below that mural, there were a few words.

    ¡®In memory of Ling, wife of Nox Ferrum, mother to Stella Ferrum.

    The past is irreversible, but the future can be shaped by your own hands.

    Life might not linger forever, but it will always start anew''

    Eyes wet, Stella started walking towards the monument. Her gaze fixed, nothing else was in her eyes.

    Reaching the monument and reading the words, Stella broke down into tears as her legs gave out, falling on the sand. She knew what happened in the end, but hearing and seeing are two different things.

    Standing further away, Nox¡¯s heart was in pain as he watched Stella.

    ¡®My wife, it¡¯s over now. I can¡¯t bring you back, but I didn¡¯t let you down. Our daughter is here, safe and sound. Rest easy, I won¡¯t let anyone harm her ever again.¡¯ Whispering, Nox¡¯s eyes were filled with love and sadness.

    Feeling a cold yet warm sensation on his arm, Nox turned his head only to see Nyx rubbing against him, seemingly with care and concern.

    ¡°Thanks¡± grabbing Nyx¡¯s hilt, Nox gently swept his fingers along the blade, a light smile appearing on his face. Nyx wasn¡¯t just a weapon. She developed emotions and had a deep connection with him. A connection that could be felt without words. Throughout the years, other than his goals, she was the only one keeping him together. Always there, unconditionally.

    Stella didn¡¯t seem to realize, but Nox noticed long ago that there were flowers and incense at the base of Ling¡¯s monument. Several hundred feet away, was a small little cottage with a presence inside.

    Although wondering how someone could be here, Nox decided not to investigate right now, as he didn¡¯t feel a threat coming from inside. They came to visit Ling, and this was especially important for Stella.

    ¨C

    Several hours came and went, as Nox continued to wait patiently.

    On the ground leaning against the monument, Stella appeared to be asleep. A scene of serenity with only the sounds of nature remaining.

    A few minutes later, Stella¡¯s eyes opened. Tilting her head to gaze up at her mother¡¯s monument, a smile crept onto her face as her previous disposition completely changed. Standing up, she turned and walked towards Nox.

    ¡° It looks like you took this well. I¡¯m glad you take after your mother in that regard¡­ Meanwhile, well¡­ Look at me haha¡± Nox patted Stella¡¯s head and laughed self-depreciatingly at himself.

    ¡°Now, I¡¯m not the same man I used to be. The same father¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on, mom wouldn¡¯t have wanted us to be so melancholic. You know that. You wrote some of the words mom had said, so how about you listen to them? We have to live happily from now on, especially you. Not everything was good, and maybe you could¡¯ve done some things differently, but everything you did, you did for us. I¡¯m here again because of you.¡± Stella asserted, hugging Nox.

    ¡°Things might change with time, but you¡¯re still my dad. I don¡¯t blame you. I don¡¯t think mom would have, either. ¡±

    ¡°Well, maybe she would¡¯ve almost killed you.¡± Stella giggled.

    Viewing his daughter smile and laugh after those horrible events, Nox felt truly gratified, albeit slightly ashamed at himself. She could move on after only a day, yet even after accomplishing everything today, it still wasn¡¯t easy for him.

    *Creeeak*

    Breaking the atmosphere, the creak of a wooden door opening suffused the surroundings. From that dainty cottage, a beautiful woman with long golden hair and red eyes appeared. She wore a warm smile as she intently observed Nox and Stella.

    Gazing at the woman, shock surfaced on Nox and Stella¡¯s faces. This woman was strikingly similar in appearance to Stella and Ling.

    Briefly stunned, Nox quickly came out of his reverie.

    ¡°Who are you!? ¡° slightly raising his voice, Nox became vigilant. Although he felt no maliciousness, this was too unusual.

    Hearing Nox¡¯s voice, Stella was jolted awake and on guard, yet curious.

    ¡°You must be¡­ Nox and Stella, Lings husband and daughter?¡± the woman asked in a crisp voice while appraising Nox and Stella.

    Surprised, Nox almost instinctively felt more at ease, slightly lowering his guard. Her appearance, voice, and even aura was similar to Lings.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Once again, who are you? How did you get here? ¡° Nox tentatively queried, an idea quickly forming in his mind.

    With a faint smile lingering on the woman¡¯s face, she suddenly disappeared, quickly arriving in front of Nox and chopping down with a thin sword that materialized in her hand. The power was silent, yet immense, like an entire world was looking down upon you.

    In less than a blink, it had already arrived just a few feet from Nox.

    With only slight surprise in his eyes, Nox leisurely reached out with his left hand, as space started distorting, compressing and folding between his fingers. Making contact with Nox¡¯s hand, the swords force instantly dissipated. Gripped between his fingers, Nox¡¯s hand was like an indestructible and immovable object.

    Staring into her crimson eyes, Nox realized from the beginning that she had no killing intent, and abruptly released his grip on the sword, allowing the woman to take a few steps back. While the sword disappeared as quickly as it appeared, she was still the same; with a warm smile.

    ¡®That¡¯s¡­ not good. How do I quickly fix this¡¯ despite that smile, she was inwardly distraught after they made contact.

    Returning his gaze, it seemed as if she could peer into his soul and see what others couldn¡¯t.

    ¡®Oh!¡¯ Noticing something, the woman turned her analyzing gaze towards Nyx, who was floating besides Nox.

    ¡®So that¡¯s the case! Perfect.¡¯

    ¡°I was told you were stronger than me, but to think the difference could be this large. What a marvel. ¡° the woman voiced with praise.

    ¡®Large? Who are you trying to fool?¡¯ thought Nox. He could tell that physical combat wasn¡¯t her specialty. Personal power had many different aspects to it.

    ¡°You might have guessed to a certain extent, but I¡¯m Lings elder sister, Elise. I suppose I¡¯m your sister-in-law and Stella¡¯s aunt. ¡° Elise expressed warmly.

    ¡®Lings¡­ sister?¡¯ Nox muttered under his breath, dragging him away from all other thoughts. Although he guessed it, it still came as a shock.

    ¡°What!? Mom¡¯s sister? Aunt? My aunt? ¡° unlike Nox, Stella shouted in disbelief.

    All her life, Stella thought she had no other relatives, besides her parents. Nox¡¯s side of the family were all mortals that weren¡¯t able to ascend, so they all passed away long before she was born. The following generations were too far removed from her, not to mention the circumstances of that time rarely allowed her to go out.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    This was also the case for Ling, and generally all mortals who managed to ascend.

    Watching the father and daughter duo, Elise just waited patiently, letting them organize their thoughts.

    ¡°Dad, is she telling the truth? Is she really mom¡¯s sister? ¡° Stella was uncertain.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how, but it should be true. She feels very similar to your mom, and even specializes in the soul, like her. ¡°

    ¡°I know this has been overwhelming, but try to calm down and think properly. You should have been able to sense it by now.¡° Nox advised his daughter.

    Although their power was different, Elise seemed to have broken through the limit like Nox, so he could only vaguely sense this connection. Stella was different. If two beings are from the same vein, they would have a type of resonance. A signal that proves they¡¯re close kin. The reason being a similar life force.

    Resonance can only be felt by those a few lines apart, as the further you get, the more differences start appearing. If you¡¯re physically close enough in proximity, you could easily feel it. You could even sense it from long distances if you¡¯re powerful enough to leave a marker.

    ¡®Phew¡­ ¡® trying to regain her calm, Stella let out a long breath. This entire situation was bewildering, but she wasn¡¯t a child. So much had already happened within the span of a day, so what¡¯s a few more surprises?

    ¡°You¡¯re right, dad, I can sense it. She feels so similar to mom! It must be true, or there¡¯s no way it would be this strong; almost as strong as you and mom! ¡° focusing intently on Elise, Stella¡¯s doubts faded, as she became joyful. There was no way to fake such an intrinsic aspect of life, even for Nox. She finally had another family member, and it was even her mom¡¯s sister.

    ¡°See, I wasn¡¯t lying. ¡° Elise smiled amicably towards Stella.

    Nox could see Elise¡¯s joy, as he finally relaxed. It was already obvious that she never had any bad intentions¡­ a bit aggressive, maybe, but it was still good to get Stella¡¯s confirmation.

    ¡°I know we should talk about other things first, but before everything else, other than to visit my sister, I¡¯ve been waiting for you and your father. ¡° Elise looked at Stella, before fixing her gaze onto Nox.

    ¡°Nox, you should have already felt it, but this universe has a core. However, what you might not know, is that there are multiple universe¡¯s, each having their own differences in energy and cores. These cores can convey their will and guide portions of that energy¡­¡± Elise paused for a moment.

    ¡°Ling and I are from the Archaeos Universe, and you¡¯re from one called the Galactic Universe. The one we¡¯re in now, and the one Stella originates from, is called the Tian Universe.

    The reason you were able to reach this level in only a fraction of the time, is because of this Tian Universe and mine. ¡°

    ¡°Multiple universe¡¯s? And you, Ling, and I are from a different ones? How is that even possible? And these universe¡¯s are why I reached this level so fast?¡° this information came as a shock to Nox. He wasn¡¯t expecting a conversation like this to happen so abruptly.

    By the side, Stella was feeling exactly like Nox.

    ¡°Actually, you would have figured this out sooner or later, but because you only broke through recently and haven¡¯t tried sensing the outer layers of this universe, I had to tell you in advance. ¡°

    ¡°As for being from another universe, that has to do with your soul. Ling and I originated from Archaeos, and yours originated from Galactic. Sometimes, souls end up slipping through their universe¡¯s cycle of reincarnation and end up in another, which is what happened to you and Ling. She¡­ ¡° Elise paused before continuing emotionally.

    ¡°had died in my world while I was in another universe, much like now. She was supposed to reincarnate in Archaeos but ended up transmigrating here. I had reached this level long ago, but time flows a lot faster in this universe compared to mine. By the time my universe could point me to where she was¡­ I arrived here and used my energy to see what happened. Since then, I¡¯ve been keeping her company and waiting here for you both to arrive. Just on time, actually.¡°

    ¡®So, I was right, her specialty isn¡¯t anything physical. To have senses able to see so far into the past and know I would return with a revived Stella¡­ Her spirit is incredibly powerful. ¡® Nox thought.

    Standing besides Nox, Stella was quiet, still absorbing all this information. Multiple universe¡¯s. Her mother¡¯s origins. It was truly unbelievable.

    ¡°If you were originally searching for Ling, why would you need to wait for Stella and me? ¡° Nox calmly questioned.

    ¡°Well, two reasons. I wanted to meet my sister¡¯s family, and in turn, also mine. Our only family left in Archaeos were my children and the families of my husbands. She had never married in all those years, so I was surprised by you and Stella, hence I figured you both would be exceptional¡­ I clearly wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡° Elise replied, regaining a faint smile.

    ¡®Husbands?'' Nox and Stella thought simultaneously.

    ¡°The second reason is that I was contacted by both this universe and mine. As I already knew you would arrive with Stella, they wanted me to convey their will to you. You would eventually be able to commune with them, but you only just brokethrough.

    As for your power, my universe and this one came to some sort of agreement, therefore they decided to help in your comprehension of energy. Apparently, this goes against laws even a universe core can¡¯t control, so the backlash could have been massive if both weren¡¯t involved. You would have reached it in time, but they couldn¡¯t wait for that long. It could have been hundreds of thousands of years, or even millions. ¡° Elise had a wry smile. This information along with that length of time was all completely inconceivable.

    Listening to Elise, both Nox and Stella were confused and surprised. Even Nyx hummed slightly at all this new information.

    ¡°What a ridiculous situation. Well, what do these universe¡¯s want from me? If it¡¯s something going too far, I''ll have to refuse. I won¡¯t leave Stella alone. ¡° Although taken aback, Nox was resolute in this.

    Gazing at Nox, Elise''s smile widened; she was inwardly pleased with this brother-in-law of hers. To go even against a universe¡¯s will for his family, who wouldn¡¯t be pleased?

    ¡°It really isn¡¯t much; they only want you to go to Archaeos and live there. You can even bring Stella and your¡­ weapon spirit. There¡¯s probably more to it, but it shouldn¡¯t be an issue. ¡° Elise stated expectantly, especially locking her gaze onto Nyx once more.

    Glancing at Nyx besides him, Nox grinned.

    ¡°Not just a weapon spirit. Her name is Nyx and she¡¯s been with me for thousands of years. I wouldn¡¯t be here without her. ¡°

    Hearing Nox say that, Nyx responded by happily rubbing the flat of her blade against his arm.

    ¡°I feel as if there¡¯s a catch, and honestly, I have no desire to accept. I don¡¯t care about anything else. I only want to be here with Stella and Nyx. ¡° Nox spoke lightly.

    By the side, Stella became pained from Nox¡¯s words.

    ¡®Dad had so many goals before¡­ Now¡­ there¡¯s nothing.¡¯

    ¡°I understand. If I was placed in your shoes, I would feel the same. But, I believe this is something beneficial for the three of you.

    The only catch is that you¡¯d have to abandon your current bodies for new ones. The energies in Archaeos, although similar, are also different to what you know, so that also means your strengths would be different. Well, you¡¯re an exception, Nox. Nothing can truly hold you back if you tried; not even the many universe¡¯s. At our level, freedom is what we have the most of. ¡± Elise replied, trying to persuade Nox

    Listening to Elise, Nox was silently staring into her eyes. She appeared sincere enough, but this suggestion was too abrupt.

    I ca-¡° Nox started to answer before being interrupted.

    ¡°Wait dad, I know you¡¯ll say no, but I really like Aunt Elise''s request. Although I just came back, it¡¯s still like it was yesterday for me. I don¡¯t want to stay here anymore. It might be selfish of me when you¡¯ve done all of this, but I¡¯ve always been unable to travel and live my own life¡­¡± Stella paused for a moment.

    ¡°I want to go. Mom is gone and there¡¯s no reason to stay here anymore. Especially you, you''re not old enough yet to just sit around forever and do nothing. ¡° Stella pleaded, knowing that this was important.

    *sigh*

    Nox could only release a defeated sigh. He had a feeling she would say something. How his wife and daughter could get over such heavy situations so easily, was beyond him.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m the one being selfish. I forgot that you need to live your own life. That¡¯s what your mother and I wanted all those years ago, and now it¡¯s possible. I won¡¯t hold you back. ¡° Nox sighed.

    ¡°Fine. If Stella wants to go, then we¡¯ll go. Maybe it¡¯ll be nice to start anew.¡° Nox stated to Elise, before turning towards Stella with a loving yet dejected gaze.

    ¡°When we do this, I know you¡¯ll be leaving. Just as you said, you need to live your own life, but let¡¯s just stay here for a little longer. I want to spend some more time together and¡­ say my goodbyes to your mother. ¡°

    At Nox¡¯s assent, Stella ran up to happily hug Nox.

    ¡°Thanks, dad. I also want the same, so let¡¯s stay until you¡¯re ready. I know this is a good idea.¡°

    ¡°Whatever you want.¡± Nox expressed with a grin before letting go of Stella and turning towards Elise.

    ¡°We¡¯ll stay here for a few years before we leave. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right? ¡° Nox asked Elise.

    ¡°No, not at all! Even if it was a thousand more, it would be fine. After all, this universe¡¯s time is far faster than mine. ¡° Elise beamed.

    ¡°Come here Stella, you¡¯re such a good girl. It was so easy for you to convince your father. ¡° Elise arrived within a blink in front of Stella and hugged her as if she was a child, completely surprising her. Yet, although Stella was surprised, she felt warmth. The warmth of family and someone who felt like her mom.

    *sigh*

    ¡®What am I supposed to do? No matter age or strength, women just do whatever they want. Alas, it seems all three of them are truly family. Able to just rid themselves of negative emotions so easily¡­ Meanwhile...¡¯ Nox sighed once more as he observed Elise¡¯s enthusiasm and Stella''s happiness.

    As Nox was submerged within his own thoughts, he was abruptly brought back to reality.

    ¡°Right, I almost forgot the other catch! ¡° Elise exclaimed.

    ¡°When you¡¯re transferring to my universe, a few changes will happen. You see, my universe is a bit different than this one. This universe doesn¡¯t have it, but mine has an energy called ¡°Fate¡±. It¡¯s similar to luck, but firmer and more elaborate. A bit like a road you can follow which connects to different areas. My universe will give one to you, which is hard for even it to do, because it can only control a tiny portion of Fate.

    You¡¯re strong enough not to be lead by this energy, so it¡¯s your decision to let it invisibly guide you or not. Personally, I consider it to be important because it¡¯s something I apparently couldn¡¯t qualify to do. As for the complete fate energy, it can be unpredictable and give you other ones. Archaeos itself can¡¯t create those. ¡° Elise spoke seriously.

    ¡°As for the other changes, because you guys are a special case, you¡¯ll be able to choose the types of bodies you want while you¡¯re transferring to Archaeos; or you could just let fate decide. When you arrive, some additional things might happen. As you three aren¡¯t from Archaeos, even I can only slightly peer into it. ¡° Elise put on a mysterious smile.

    ¡®She must really be looking forward to this¡­¡¯ From Elise''s gaze, Nox, an immortal who had endless energy, felt a wave of mental fatigue. This was a long day.

 Chapter 3 - A New Land and Awakening

    ¡ªA beautiful lake with life surrounding it¡ª

    Standing near the base of a large monument with a picturesque scene depicting a woman standing besides this very lake, were a man, two women, and a floating pitch-black sword with a red tip. These four were, of course, Nox, Elise, Stella and Nyx.

    ¡°Elise, I think it¡¯s time for us to leave. I can¡¯t keep you from your family. ¡° Nox looked towards Elise.

    ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯s only been three years on this side, while only a few weeks passed in Archaeos. We can stay as long as you want.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, dad, are you sure?¡± Stella and Elise spoke with concern in their voice.

    ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll leave today. I¡¯m fine, so don¡¯t worry, I haven¡¯t lived this long for nothing. Besides, it might be nice to start over. ¡° Nox replied while gazing at his deceased wife, Lings, monument.

    As Nox replied, Stella, Elise and Nyx were conversing mentally. They became a lot closer over these three years.

    ¡®Stella, Nyx, you know the plan. He might have finally moved on, but he¡¯s still not completely himself.¡¯

    ¡®I know, Aunt Elise. As weird as it might be for me, not to mention how you are, even mom talked about it to me before. I¡¯ll get him to let you use your soul power, and then we¡¯ll leave the rest to Nyx.¡¯

    When Stella spoke, a loud cry of excitement and yearning came into their minds from Nyx.

    From Nyx¡¯s excitement, Elise and Stella developed wide smiles.

    ¡°What are you three on about? ¡° noticing that they weren¡¯t even listening, Nox became curious.

    ¡°Nothing, nothing. ¡° Stella and Elise hurriedly spoke simultaneously.

    ¡°Sure¡­ ¡° Nox didn¡¯t believe them for a second.

    ¡°What about you, Nyx? Are you really that excited about this?¡° Nox naturally felt her reaction just now.

    Nyx hummed intensely, swirling around in the air merrily.

    Nox was taken aback. In all these years, this was the biggest reaction she¡¯s ever given. It turned out that yeah, she was excited.

    ¡°Dad, before we go, Aunt Elise needs to send some of her soul power into your mind. It¡¯s not harmful at all.¡° Stella asked in Elise¡¯s place, not minding Nyx¡¯s behavior.

    Hearing his daughters sudden request, Nox focused on her before switching his gaze to Elise.

    ¡°Alright. ¡° Nox only thought about it for a moment. If it was Lings sister and his daughter, why would he question it? Besides, nothing could really harm him anymore.

    Getting Nox¡¯s consent, Elise nodded her head.

    ¡°Ok, open your mind and don¡¯t resist my energy. ¡° Elise came close to Nox and pointed her index finger at his forehead.

    Listening to her instructions, Nox closed his eyes as a bright energy materialized on his head. This was the entrance to his mind and soul; a very vulnerable area. Despite only knowing each other a few years, this proved his trust in Elise.

    Her expression turning serious, grey energy formed around Elise¡¯s finger and shot into Nox¡¯s mind. Transforming into a thin stream, the energy was steady for only a few moments before her face changed. Putting more power into it, the stream rapidly expanded and entered even quicker.

    After a few minutes, the energy finally weakened and ceased.

    Feeling the process end, the bright light on Nox¡¯s head disappeared, as he opened his eyes shortly afterwards. Elise was still in front of him, but beads of sweat covered her forehead. It was clearly a bit stressful for her.

    ¡°Are you alright? You must have used a lot of energy¡­ but, I don¡¯t feel any different. ¡° Nox asked worriedly. It was no easy feat to make someone so powerful strained.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I only overexerted myself. It took a little more energy than I anticipated, but it worked. ¡° Elise replied, slightly out of breath. She knew it would be a little difficult, but it was many times more than she calculated.

    Catching her breath, Elise returned to her previously energetic state after a brief few minutes.

    Clapping her hands, Elise was ready.

    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time to leave. Nox, you¡¯ll be leaving with Nyx, while Stella will be going on her own, and I¡¯ll be returning home. Let¡¯s say our farewells to each other and Ling. ¡°

    ¡°Right. ¡° Stella stated while walking towards Nox.

    Nodding, Nox grabbed Stella¡¯s hand and walked towards Lings monument, as Elise and Nyx followed closely behind.

    Arriving in front, Nox let go of Stella as a large bunch of white lotuses materialized and scattered across the base of her monument. The white lotus was Lings favorite flower.

    Extending his arm and running his hand across the area with her name on it, Nox whispered with a nostalgic expression and voice.

    ¡°My wife, I think it¡¯s finally time for me to start over. Stella is here and she¡¯ll be joining me. Just like you wanted, she¡¯ll finally have her own life to live. I¡¯ll keep her safe, I promise¡­¡±

    Stella teared up and Nyx made a low hum when they heard Nox.

    ¡°Bye, mom. I can finally go out and do what I always wanted. Dad and I will come visit again one day. Soon, he¡¯ll be good as new, just like you talked about years ago. Love you lots. ¡° Stella wiped her tears and donned a smile.

    Listening to the father and daughter duo, Elise felt pained.

    ¡®Rest easy, little sister, I saw your final moments; your beloved husband and daughter will be fine, I made sure of it. I¡¯ll bring my family to visit one day.¡¯

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go! Now¡¯s the time to be happy. It¡¯s what mom would¡¯ve wanted, especially for you, dad. ¡° Stella stood with her arms akimbo, lecturing Nox.

    ¡°Heh, I guess you¡¯re right. I don¡¯t really know what to do when we get there, but let¡¯s go. ¡° Listening to Stella, Nox couldn¡¯t keep a serious expression. Stella always made him happy. Besides, he now wanted something new.

    *Screeeech*

    A loud screech suddenly rang out as Nyx flew towards Lings monument. She was delicately carving something.

    Watching Nyx, a big grin appeared on Nox¡¯s face. When she finally stopped, a sea of realistic white lotuses were carved into the jade. It looked very beautiful, perfectly complimenting the rest of the mural.

    ¡°Looks like you didn¡¯t want to be left alone. That was nice, thanks.¡° Nox expressed happily. He had forgotten to add lotuses for some reason.

    On the side, when Stella and Elise saw this scene, they looked at each other with mischievous grins.

    ¡°Well then, how do we go about transferring to Archaeos? ¡° Nox looked at Elise.

    ¡°I¡¯ll open three spatial tunnels. One for Stella, another for you and Nyx, and one for me. When you¡¯re inside, use these. ¡° Elise took out small translucent tablets and handed them to the three.

    Inspecting the tablet, Nox noticed it was only the size of his palm. It seemed very ordinary.

    ¡°There will be two pedestals with an indentation the size of the tablet. The one on the left will allow you to choose any race on Archaeos that can take on a humanoid appearance. You could even pick a normal human. The one on the right is allowing Fate to decide for you. Keep in mind, that the core of Archaeos has no say. It¡¯s purely Fate. ¡°Elise said.

    ¡°When you decide, just place the tablet inside and Archaeos and Tian will transfer you over. Your bodies will be deconstructed and reconstructed. So you don¡¯t worry, the universe cores can¡¯t do anything with souls, so yours will stay intact. After that, you¡¯ll be placed somewhere on Archaeos that¡¯s not too dangerous. When you arrive, focus and think about a panel with your name on it. That¡¯s it! ¡° Elise said enthusiastically.

    ¡®So that¡¯s it?¡­ and our souls will be fine? If not and something happens to Stella or Nyx¡­¡¯ Nox thought, as an incredibly murderous intent boiled inside him for a moment.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, trust me. ¡° Elise said seriously after noticing Nox

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, sorry. ¡° Nox apologized and calmed down. He trusted Elise and realized he was thinking too negatively.

    ¡°The process sounds ¡®simple¡¯ enough, so let¡¯s leave now. ¡° Nox became decisive. There was no reason to hesitate any longer.

    ¡°Okay. ¡° Elise waved her hand as three spatial passageways opened up.

    ¡°The two passageways next to each other are yours, while the furthest one is for me. ¡°

    Observing the two passageways, Nox turned his gaze towards Stella.

    *sigh*

    ¡®Abandoning the body I spent seven millennia to bring her back to, and so easily at that¡­ Well, at least she¡¯s finally getting what she wants.¡¯ Nox sighed, reflecting on this situation.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to start your own journey. I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll see each other for a while, but know that I¡¯ll always be there if you need me. ¡° Nox said seriously, patting Stella¡¯s head.

    ¡°I know you will. I love you a lot. ¡° Stella grinned, hugging Nox.

    ¡°Love you too. Be safe and don¡¯t forget the things your mom and I taught you. ¡° Nox looked at Stella lovingly.

    Parting, Stella looked at Nox ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll go on first! ¡°

    ¡°Aunt Elise, thanks! Maybe I¡¯ll see you soon. ¡° Stella gave Elise a quick hug, before running up to the passageway on the left.

    ¡°Oh, and dad, good luck! Nyx, take care of him! ¡° Stella shouted and then flew into the passageway.

    Gazing at the figure disappearing behind the closing passageway, Nox felt some reluctance, but also confusion. Besides him, Nyx hummed loudly.

    ¡°Why did she say good luck? Good luck with what? ¡° Nox asked Elise with a confused look.

    ¡°Ah, no idea. ¡° Elise feigned ignorance.

    He didn¡¯t want to waste time, so instead of digging deeper, Nox decided to just forget about it.

    ¡°Well, you two should get going as well.¡± Elise gave Nox a farewell hug and winked at Nyx.

    ¡°Thanks. Archaeos should be something good for us, especially Stella and Nyx. If you need something from me in the future, don¡¯t hesitate to ask. ¡° Nox expressed sincerely.

    ¡°No need for that, we¡¯re family, after all. And you know, I think it¡¯ll be just as good for you, as it will be for them. ¡° Elise smiled.

    ¡®Family, huh?¡¯

    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right, maybe it will be better than I think. ¡° Nox gave a faint smile as he walked up to the passageway with Nyx floating besides him.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Oh, right. Did you ever recreate your body? I¡¯m sure you could do it. ¡± Nox turned his head when remembering a thought he had earlier.

    ¡°I could, but no, I never did. My children were born from this body, and if I changed, it would be pretty unusual haha. ¡° Elise replied with a chuckle.

    ¡°Besides, to use the energy of Archaeos, you need a body made for it. I don¡¯t need it, but you do!¡±

    ¡°I see. ¡± Nox nodded. He was only curious.

    ¡°Next time let me meet your side of the family. ¡° Nox said to Elise and took one final glance at Lings memorial, before calmly walking into the passageway.

    Waving around for a moment towards Elise, Nyx flew in right behind Nox.

    Watching the two disappear, only Elise remained as she proceeded into her own passageway. Gazing towards Lings monument one final time, she whispered.

    ¡®Farewell, Rin. You have a good husband and daughter.¡¯

    Elise turned around as the passageway closed behind her.

    ¡ªInside one of the spatial passageways¡ª

    Nox and Nyx were in a very plain room. There were no doors, and the only thing inside this room, were the two of them and two stone pedestals.

    Much like Elise said, the pedestals had indentations on them, except these ones had two each.

    ¡°Alright, it doesn¡¯t really matter to me, so I¡¯m going to choose the right side and let that Fate decide.¡± Nox decided.

    ¡°What do you want to pick?¡± Nox looked at Nyx on his side.

    Flying over to one of the pedestals, Nyx also chose the one on the right and hummed excitedly.

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll both let it decide.¡± Nox smiled.

    Taking his tablet and placing it inside the indentation, Nyx did the same using her energy.

    After a few seconds, lines creating intricate patterns started to appear on the pedestals. Turning bright white, the lines began extending from the pedestals onto the floor, before covering the entire rooms surface, forming what seemed to be an array.

    In a bright flash, energy erupted inside the room and swallowed Nox and Nyx. Allowing the energy to invade his body, with his soul still conscious, Nox witnessed his own body disintegrating. This sight was definitely a first.

    By his side, Nyx had completely disappeared. He still felt her presence and the energy doing the same thing. It seemed that the process was only visible to themselves.

    A long while later, Nox¡¯s body was finally deconstructed. As soon as it finished, an incredibly large volume of energy started flooding the area where his body used to be.

    Looking very carefully, Nox could make out that the energy was forming into the same shape as his old body. Noticing how slow this was happening, Nox felt that his body would take a lot longer than Nyx¡¯s, so he entered a meditative state and waited. Regardless, when the time came, they both should leave at the same moment.

    ¡ªIn an unknown, lush and lively grassland¡ª

    A bright flash of light abruptly covered the entire area, as two silhouettes appeared; they were a man and a woman.

    The man looked ordinary, in his late 20¡¯s with short black hair and a stubbly beard, but if you peered into his deep and unusual grey eyes, it gave a direct contrast to that ordinary look. He was wearing silver armor with each piece having horizontal ridges. The chest piece extended to the front of his upper arms and thighs, leaving the backs open, gauntlets extending up to his forearms, and greaves. From the visible portions appeared a black cloth shirt and pants. Covering his shoulders and most of his back, was a black high-collared cloak with the bottom tattered. This was, of course, Nox.

    ¡®So, this is my new body? Pretty much the same as before¡­My armor was recreated as well? Interesting.¡¯ Nox thought when he inspected himself.

    Closing his eyes, he opened them again after a moment.

    ¡®Good, Stella arrived safely.¡¯ Nox left a marker on Stella¡¯s soul before he revived her, so he knew that she was fine. After this, he decided not to observe the marker again, as she needed to live her own life. But, if something significant occurred, the marker would automatically notify him. This was the benefit it gave.

    ¡°Master! ¡° a cheerful and passionate voice resounded throughout the grassland, startling some small animals and birds into alertness.

    Hearing the sudden shout, Nox didn¡¯t get the chance to think any longer, as he felt slender arms wrapping around his neck. Startled, Nox thought ¡®Nyx?¡¯

    Those slender arms quickly letting go, Nox turned around with a curious look on his face. It was a gorgeous woman with fair skin and a shapely figure. Her hair was long and as black as his, but the tips were dark red. She was wearing a delicate black dress that went down to just above her knees.

    Gazing at each other, Nox was drawn into her ruby-like eyes that had thin, vertical black iris''. Around her eyes, she had some black eyeliner. No, those were actually thin black scales!

    ¡°Hehehe, are you surprised, master? Did you already fall in love with me?¡° giggling and twirling around as the bottom of her dress slightly lifted, the woman playfully asked.

    Brought out of his reverie and observing this cheerful woman teasing him, Nox could only sigh inwardly ¡®To think I would get like that¡­¡¯

    ¡°Yeah, you did surprise me with your new body, but love? You¡¯ve seen my path. Ours.¡° Nox denied.

    ¡°By the way, why are you calling me master? ¡° Nox inquired, puzzled.

    ¡°Why? ¡° Nyx giggled with an ambiguous smile on her face, while slowly walking up to him.

    Arriving in front of Nox, a glimmer was in her eyes as she suddenly leaned up and wrapped her arms around Nox¡¯s neck, planting her lips onto his.

    Feeling those soft red lips, Nox stood there stunned and in slight ecstasy.

    ¡°That¡¯s because you are my everything. The only one close to me over these endless years. Who was unrelenting in the pursuit of his goal and overcame every obstacle. The one who gave me a life and showed me emotion. He, who didn¡¯t discard me even after I was of no more use. You even brought me here with you. Me, that whom was only a weapon. ¡°

    ¡°If you shouldn¡¯t be my master, then who should? No one else. I will only be yours. ¡° her slender arms still wrapped around Nox¡¯s neck, Nyx poured her heart out with a flushed yet serious expression.

    Her warm breath brushing against his face, Nyx¡¯s pure emotions pierced into him, as a scene from the past surfaced and reminded him of this moment. ¡®Ling was also this straightforward back then... Now, so many years have passed.¡¯

    A serious look appeared in his eyes whilst a soft energy shrouded him. After a brief few seconds to understand the energy, his silver armor disappeared, leaving only his black clothes and a pair of boots.

    *sigh*

    ¡°I guess I don¡¯t have a choice.¡° Nox sighed while grabbing Nyx, bringing her into his embrace.

    ¡°Calling me master yet doing whatever you want with me. Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. Although we couldn¡¯t really talk to each other, you helped me the most on my path. Kept me sane. I wouldn¡¯t have avenged Ling or survived long enough to bring Stella back.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve already been together for so long, so we might as well keep it that way forever. ¡° Nox whispered, returning her feelings.

    Nox had always been a straightforward man, not to mention that this was Nyx. For him, the feeling he gets from someone¡¯s soul or spirit is what drives him, and is what caused him to be with Ling.

    Although Nyx didn¡¯t have a corporeal body until now, it would be unusual if he didn¡¯t feel anything for someone who had been close to him for thousands of years. Someone who, although couldn¡¯t speak, he shared his emotions with. Now that she had a body and still feels the same as she did all these years, it all could finally surface.

    Listening to those sincere words, Nyx felt complete bliss. This was the dream she¡¯s had for so long now; to experience this warmth and be accepted and loved by the only one she truly cared about. This was why she wanted a real body. For this moment.

    After what seemed like an eternity, they finally let go of each other. Nox felt like a piece of something that was lost, was regained just now. On the other hand, Nyx felt reluctance and an unusual energy seeping into her mind from Nox¡¯s body. It didn¡¯t seem like he noticed.

    ¡®What¡­ is going on? Is this what Stella and Elise talked about? ¡¯ Nyx was bewildered.

    ¡°Alright, I need to see what this universe gifted us alongside these bodies. ¡° Nox said.

    ¡°Oh? I can vaguely sense that fate energy Elise mentioned. I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s playing at, but along with the one Elise said there would be, some¡­ ¡®Unusual ¡® ones actually appeared. Give me a second, I¡¯m going to sever them.¡° Nox closed his eyes to concentrate, preparing to break them with his soul.

    ¡°NO! ¡° Nyx quickly shouted.

    ¡°Hmmm, why? I have everything I need now. You should know what I mean by ¡®unusual¡®. ¡° surprised at the sudden shout, Nox opened his eyes, feeling puzzled.

    ¡°You heard Elise, master, Archaeos'' core only gave you an initial fate. It can only control a portion of the energies, so those other ones weren¡¯t added of its own volition.¡°

    ¡°You wanted to come to this universe, not just for Stella and me, but also a new life. I can feel our connection, so you should just abide by it. If you sever these connections, you¡¯re not just cutting your own, you¡¯re also cutting mine and the ones connected to them. ¡°

    ¡°¡­although I want you completely to myself, won¡¯t we still be here even if this universe dies? How long would that be? Stella is out there going to live her own life with her own fate, so how can it be fine with just the us two? Isn¡¯t that boring? Just go along with it, master. ¡° Nyx replied in a quiet voice.

    ¡°I understand the reasoning, but I don¡¯t need that. Besides, what about your feelings? Wouldn¡¯t the same also happen to you?¡° Nox was a bit perplexed, but he could feel her conviction.

    ¡°Alright, enough of your bullshit, master hehehe. I¡¯m not sure what caused it, but when we kissed, I saw so much about you. Things I didn¡¯t know before¡­¡± pausing for a bit, she then continued seriously.

    ¡®Bullshit? Where did she learn that from? Me?¡¯ slight surprise flickered across Nox¡¯s eyes, but it made sense. Despite being without a body and unable to speak for so many years, she was definitely aware and learned many things. That must also be why she could use her new body well.

    ¡°I saw some of your past life and even when you were with Ling. You¡¯ve always had goals and things you wanted to do and see, but you were consumed with hatred and reviving Stella, so you neglected everything else. Forgot them. Did you only want to see this world and aimlessly wander around forever? You know the things you want, so don¡¯t deny yourself anymore.¡°

    ¡®My¡­ past life? Earth?¡¯ Nox was confused at first, before a foreign energy surfaced in his mind, awakening fragments of long buried memories.

    ¡°This world and these connections will be interesting. As I said, we¡¯ll be here even if everything ends. Besides, can¡¯t you feel that I¡¯m also one of those ¡®unusual ¡® connections? Do you really want to cut me off as well? ¡° Nyx playfully inquired.

    ¡°As for me, it won¡¯t happen. I don¡¯t want or need it, because I exist only for you. Anyway, why would I mind it? It was so common in Tian for immortals, and it¡¯s probably the same case here, as well. It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll also have more company¡± like she could peer into his soul, Nyx poked his chest and whispered with a seductive smile and tone.

    ¡°¡­ after all, we¡¯ll definitely share one thing in common¡±

    Listening to her words, Nox''s vision blurred as he lost complete focus. Seeing him in this dazed state, Nyx beamed; he was finally becoming free. This trance he was in wasn¡¯t anything new. It always happened during a breakthrough in power or when comprehending something.

    Like a spectator watching a movie, Nox saw his entire existence flashing before his eyes. His previous life on Earth and his current one. The things he thought would be fun, then his eventual death and reincarnation. His new ideals and the decisions that were made. The early days of cultivation, rise to prominence and death of Ling and Stella. Ling''s parting words. His all-out attack to avenge them. The several thousand year journey, almost completely filled with loneliness, meditation, and his experiences in places filled with only death and destruction. Achieving the peak and finally ending it all. Now, the only time he truly felt happy in these thousands of years, was when he revived Stella and accepted Nyx.

    Coming back from the dream, Nox''s eyes regained their clarity, yet the corners of them were wet, and he was now laying on the ground with his head on Nyx''s lap, gazing up at the sky.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I forgot¡­ Forgot how I used to be before all of that happened. The things I wanted in life. Ling told me not to lose myself, but I did, and I didn¡¯t even realize it, even after I brought Stella back. It was her final wish and I ignored it so quickly. I didn¡¯t honor it...

    Coming here, although it was for Stella and you, and maybe something for me, I still didn¡¯t know what I would do.¡° with an emotional voice, Nox was finally opening his locked self. This time, it was a true awakening.

    ¡°I started on the path of cultivation so I could experience the world and gain the freedom I wanted, yet after I gained that freedom and brought both of you out, I had nothing else¡­ In many ways, that freedom was artificial. I was still bound by the past.¡°

    ¡°We traveled for thousands of years, but we only saw the tiniest portions of our universe, and those portions were only full of death. Kill, meditate, kill, meditate, kill, meditate. That¡¯s it. It¡¯s not something I ever wanted, and it was me who dragged you along my journey through hell. I was never like that. I don¡¯t think you were, either. Now... we can never turn back.¡° moving his gaze to look Nyx in the eyes, Nox felt regret for doing that to her.

    *Phew*

    Nox paused and took a deep breath to relax.

    ¡°Like Stella, you took all of it so much better than me. I¡¯m thankful for that. ¡°

    ¡°Life is unpredictable; you never know what might happen, good or bad. Accepting those things is what¡¯s most important. I¡¯m here in the present. I have you, Stella, and a whole new life ahead of me. Time is endless, we are endless, and there are a lot of things that the future holds. I won¡¯t be restricted any longer. It¡¯s been too long... If I can¡¯t stay true to myself, then why should I even exist? ¡° Nox stated with a powerful and renewed determination.

    ¡°I¡¯m assuming Elise¡¯s energy helped you see my previous life and awaken my memories, but I guess my personality didn¡¯t differ much from now. It¡¯s good that Elise did that. Such a short amount of time can still make me learn so much. Thanks for bringing me back, Nyx. Although, I do feel a bit different now haha. ¡° Nox expressed, chuckling.

    ¡°I was already lucky enough to find you years ago, but who knew I could get even luckier after you gained a body. ¡°

    ¡°I¡¯m going to see how interesting this world is. I want to see where this so-called fate will lead me to. ¡° Nox calmly spoke with a tinge of excitement in his eyes.

    ¡°Alright, no more of this emotional stuff. How could an old ghost like me keep breaking down?

    What will you do? I know what you said and what we did earlier, but you have your own life now and you can do anything you want in this world. There¡¯s no need to be bound to me. You¡¯re no longer the weapon in my hands. ¡° Nox queried, yet he had an expectant look in his eyes.

    ¡°Old ghost? Doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯m one as well? You should know age doesn¡¯t have meaning anymore. You got those memories of your weird past life back, and I finally got a true life. Only those fools lose their minds and truly act like old ghosts. Even if it¡¯s millions of years, I refuse to turn out like that, and you better not, either! Ever! ¡° Nyx pouted cutely.

    ¡°Ok, ok, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m still me and it¡¯ll always stay that way, don¡¯t worry. So, are you going to answer my question now? ¡° Nox hurriedly spoke.

    ¡°Master, I told you before, we¡¯re bound. You finally realized it all and understood yourself.¡± Nyx replied cheerfully before continuing.

    ¡°I already told you, master, I am yours and yours alone, and the only thing I want¡­. is you! ¡° with a passionate gaze, Nyx bent her head down and kissed him once more, as her soft hair fell on Nox¡¯s face.

    This time, Nox finally and completely gave into the sensation of that kiss. Now, he felt free. Free of the regrets and chains that bound him. Free of the loneliness that he endured for seven millennia.

    A glint flashed past Nox¡¯s eyes, before grabbing Nyx. Their lips only parting briefly, he got up and flipped her beneath him, whilst covering her mouth with his kiss.

    Startled at Nox¡¯s sudden movement, Nyx¡¯s ruby eyes widened. Her mind blanked and body went limp as she felt Nox¡¯s tongue in her mouth.

    Nyx might act coquettish and straightforward, but she was on the receiving end this time, and the passion from Nox made it even more intense. After all, she was only a weapon spirit who had just gained a body and was never able to ¡®feel¡¯.

    After what felt like an eternity, they finally parted. Gazing deeply into each other¡¯s eyes, they had a mutual understanding of each other. Lust wasn¡¯t evident; this was an act of pure affection.

    Drawn into Nyx¡¯s ruby-like eyes, although she somehow had this personality, Nox knew that she was innocent in many ways. Never being able to truly experience life until today, who wouldn¡¯t be? Therefore, how could he possibly lust after her?

    Nyx felt true bliss. This was one of the many reasons she loved her master.

    Today, their new lives in this world finally began.

 Chapter 4 - Whats going on?

    Sitting in the middle of that grassy plain, Nox and Nyx were taking in this new world they came to.

    Hot, the sky was bright blue without any clouds. Wildflowers scattered here and there, a soothing wind swept through the entire plain, swaying all plant life in its path. It appeared to be summer in Archaeos.

    ¡°Ok, let¡¯s see exactly what we got from this universe. We were so busy with everything else, that we didn¡¯t get the chance to look. ¡° Nox voiced with excitement.

    ¡°What was it that Elise said again? Think about a panel with our name on it? ¡°

    Remembering Elise¡¯s instructions, Nox focused.

    Barely a moment later, a panel of information appeared in front of Nox. Next to him, Nyx also seemed to focus when she heard his words. This panel was only visible to themselves.

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    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Name</td>

    <td>Nox Ferrum</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Race</td>

    <td>Primordial Elemental</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Affinities</td>

    <td>???</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Lover(s)</td>

    <td>Nyx (Eternal)</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Spouse(s)</td>

    <td>Ling (Deceased)</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Children</td>

    <td>Stella Ferrum</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Sweeping through all of the information that appeared, Nox was surprised, before his expression soured slightly as he read the second to last line.

    *sigh*

    ¡®I guess that makes sense¡­ Well, it¡¯s fine. The past is the past. You¡¯ll always remain as my first love and the mother of our adorable daughter. I¡¯ll keep being me, just like you wanted. I know you never would have minded, anyway.¡¯ Nox thought, letting out a helpless sigh.

    Tender arms suddenly wrapped around Nox, as he felt a soft sensation against his back, bringing him out of his thoughts. It was Nyx.

    ¡°Was Ling on there? Are you ok, master? ¡° Nyx said with care.

    ¡°She was... I¡¯m fine, so don¡¯t worry. Ling was part of my previous chapter, and this is my new one. I won¡¯t be held back any longer.¡° Nox gazed up at the sky and asserted with a burning resolution inside.

    ¡®I¡¯ll never let those circumstances repeat themselves. Never again!¡¯ Nox vowed.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad. ¡° sensing his emotions, Nyx hugged him tightly.

    Nox felt warm. Yet, several minutes later, he became uncomfortable.

    ¡°Alright, are you going to let go of me? I can barely move. ¡° Nox glanced sideways at Nyx behind him.

    ¡°I refuse! ¡° Nyx declared as she hugged him even tighter than before. If he wasn¡¯t strong, he might¡¯ve already been crushed to death.

    From Nyx¡¯s behavior, although Nox didn¡¯t mind being this close, he felt helpless, especially when he saw that content look on her face.

    ¡®What have I gotten myself into?¡¯

    ¡°At least loosen your hold... Well, whatever. Here, you can look at my information. I¡¯m curious, so put yours next to mine. Just use your will to make it visible. ¡° Nox motioned with his hand. After materializing it for himself earlier, the method to show others came along with it; like it was second nature.

    Gazing over Nox¡¯s shoulder, Nyx saw his information pane floating in the air. Focusing on the spot next to it, she materialized her own.

    <table style="border-color: #000000; background-color: #305385; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Name</td>

    <td>Nyx</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Race</td>

    <td>Elder Black Dragon</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Affinities</td>

    <td>???</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Lover(s)</td>

    <td>Nox Ferrum (Eternal)</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Spouse(s)</td>

    <td>???</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">Children</td>

    <td>???</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Viewing Nyx¡¯s information, Nox compared it to his.

    ¡®Pretty much the same, but that¡¯s really weird. Why was this status pane in stories on both Earth and Tian? Now that I think about it, Tian didn''t just have legends and fiction about Archaeos, but also about Earth and space... It seems that Ling and I slipping through isn¡¯t as rare as I initially thought... if people remembering is so common, then why did it take Elise''s intervention to awaken mine?'' Nox began to feel that this was getting way too complex.

    ¡°You see that, master? Hehe, lovers. It even says ¡®eternal¡¯. ¡° Nyx giggled happily next to Nox¡¯s ear while he was contemplating.

    ¡®Of course, that would be the only thing in her eyes¡­¡¯ Nox thought, slightly annoyed by her one-track mind, yet a slight smile surfaced on his face.

    ¡°I see it, don¡¯t worry. ¡° Nox replied, burying his questions for another time.

    ¡°Nyx, you saw my memories, and the legends of Tian, so I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be too lost here. ¡°

    ¡°Yet¡­ Primordial and Elder¡­ I¡¯m assuming we¡¯re considered higher variants compared to regular ones. I can see how you¡¯d be a dragon, but how the hell am I an elemental? I look like a regular human. ¡° Nox was perplexed.

    Elemental? Nyx became silent and focused on the rest of his panel. Looking at Nox¡¯s race, she seemed to remember something.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! Master, maybe it has something to do with your body? I didn¡¯t think much about it before, but when you removed your armor, your eyes actually glowed and turned white! ¡° Nyx mentioned with excitement.

    ¡®Glowed and changed color?¡¯

    ¡°Hmm, I see. If I¡¯m really an Elemental, then that makes sense. Still, I feel that¡¯s not all there is to it. ¡° Nox agreed with Nyx¡¯s guess, but felt that it wasn¡¯t so simple.

    Putting that aside for the moment, he continued.

    ¡°I can feel this worlds energies, but I¡¯m not too sure about the specifics. Are they the elements? Mana? As for affinities, it must be your control over them, or something similar. I wonder why ours don''t show up." Nox pondered.

    There were just too many things he didn¡¯t know. Even if you can assume how some things work, that¡¯s still assumption. No one wants to fully stay in the dark. Solid information is key.

    ¡®Archaeos is vast. Things will become known in time.¡¯ Just as he was about to leave it for another day, a dull and emotionless voice rang in Nox¡¯s mind.

    Surprise appeared on his face when he heard those words, before he grimaced.

    ¡®Are you fucking kidding me right now? Is this a system??¡¯ Nox began to feel increasingly annoyed.

    ¡®That is correct. User, Nox Ferrum, has been designated for the use of I, the Giving System. I greet User.¡¯ the emotionless voice greeted.

    ¡®Giving System? What¡¯s your use, and who decided this? Fate again? Dammit.¡¯ Clearly irritated, Nox bombarded it with questions.

    As nice as it sounds, Nox knew that systems always require annoying tasks in exchange for power. But, why would a being at the pinnacle need something like this?

    ¡®If certain conditions are met, Fate will deem one appropriate to use me; one such as you. Much like the Status Panel, if User concentrates on the word System, my uses shall appear.¡¯ the Giving System replied in that same, emotionless voice.

    ¡®Damn Fate. I don¡¯t know why I listened to Nyx¡­ well, at least the name makes it seem useful.¡¯ Nox muttered as he focused on the space in front of himself.

    Meanwhile, Nyx, who was still latched onto him, looked at Nox curiously when she heard him mutter.

    Focusing, grey smoke appeared in Nox¡¯s vision, as It swiftly transformed into a type of menu with several categories. They were:

    Quests ¨C Items ¨C Knowledge ¨C ??? ¨C Give

    Beneath those bars, on the bottom right, was the word ¡®Merit¡¯ with the number 0 next to it.

    Eyeing the menu, Nox wasn¡¯t even surprised anymore.

    ¡®System, explain these to me, especially Merit.¡¯ Nox asked.

    ¡®Merit is a type of currency which can be exchanged with me. Merit will be rewarded based upon the impact User has on the beings of Archaeos.

    Quests are tasks which reward Merit. User can choose to complete a quest or not. How User accomplishes a quest has no relevance.

    Merit can be exchanged for Items and Knowledge, as well as to Give. The vast majority of Items and Knowledge are inaccessible to the user and can only be gifted to another. After Giving, the knowledge or items can be accessed by User if the Gifted so chooses, but they can never be taken back.¡¯ The System¡¯s emotionless voice rang through Nox¡¯s mind.

    Nox expected this. If it was called the Giving System, why would he be able to have everything for himself?

    ¡®And what about the unknown category? What requirements are needed to unlock it?¡¯ Nox asked without any expectations.

    ¡®I am not permitted to answer your query.¡¯ System replied.

    ¡®Yeah, yeah, figures.¡¯ Nox thought.

    Finished with his questions, Nox began to look through the different options, beginning with Quests.

    -Join a guild or organization ¨C Reward - 25 Merits

    ¡®What? That¡¯s it?¡¯ Nox was perplexed.

    From his memories, Nox assumed that there would be multiple quests, especially tedious ones such as ¡°Kill x of something ¡° or ¡°Collect x of something¡±, so this was a pleasant surprise. Guilds being in a world like this was obvious, and he was already planning on going that route. I mean, you had to in this situation, so there was no need to question such an easy quest.

    Shortly after, he switched to Items.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    Opening it, there were many subcategories. They were: ¡®Weapons¡¯, ¡®Armor ¡®, ¡®Clothing¡¯, ¡®Artifacts ¡®, and ¡®Consumables ¡®.

    The items contained in all the categories seemed very basic, with their uses written beneath. Items such as iron weapons, leather armor, clothes, amulets and rings that boosted your body¡¯s natural healing very slightly, and ointments and plants that could slightly benefit your body. From all the items, the only ones he could use himself, were those from Clothes and a few consumables.

    Without thinking about it, Nox moved onto Knowledge.

    Glancing through it, there were many books, each with different titles and descriptions.

    ¡°Introduction to the Elements¡± , ¡°Kingdoms of Archaeos ¡°, ¡° Rudimentary Cooking ¡°, ¡°Basics of Hunting¡± , ¡°Cycles of Archaeos ¡°, etc.

    Much like the Item category, the books were very simple with no advanced knowledge. Besides the ones pertaining to Archaeos, everything else was unusable for Nox. Not that it mattered, as they were all pretty much useless. You could probably find these in any random bookstore.

    ¡®The more advanced items and books most likely need me to reach a specific merit threshold or quest to be completed.¡¯ Nox deduced, as there was no way a system would have only these things.

    Moving onto the Give function, as expected, it only required you to select the item you have and focus on an individual to Give it to.

    ¡®I see, so I must have been assigned this System because nearly everything is useless to me, which means that I can easily Give to others. That was the requirement. The only question that remains, is why does Fate want me to Give? Is it for the same reason Archaeos wanted me here?¡¯ Nox pondered.

    ¡®I guess it doesn¡¯t really matter. At least this system doesn¡¯t seem that bad.¡¯

    Nox finished communicating with the System and stopped thinking about this matter. There¡¯s no reason to bog down your mind with useless thoughts, especially those that aren¡¯t currently possible to accomplish or understand. He let things like that affect him long enough.

    Arms still wrapped around him, Nox turned his head and Nyx¡¯s chin was resting on his shoulder, her face just centimeters away. Unblinkingly, they were just staring at each other.

    ¡°How long have you been staring at me? ¡° Nox asked.

    ¡°Forever! ¡° Nyx replied with a bright smile.

    Looking away, Nox moved his gaze towards the sky above.

    ¡®I guess this is pretty nice.¡¯ Nox felt warm after seeing her smile, yet that warmth dwindled when a realization came.

    ¡®Then again¡­ she has barely let go of me once. ¡¯ Nox became anxious, feeling that he must fix this now before it gets out of hand¡­ What if she¡¯s this clingy in public!?

    ¡°Nyx! ¡° Nox spoke seriously.

    From his tone, Nyx looked puzzled. What could be so serious?

    ¡°Yes, master? ¡°

    ¡°I know you were always with me when you were a sword, but you have a body now. When we¡¯re out in public, try not to latch onto me so much. I really don¡¯t want to be seen as some frivolous playboy...¡° Nox said solemnly, gazing directly into Nyx¡¯s ruby eyes.

    Looking at Nox¡¯s solemn face, Nyx gave a wide smile.

    ¡°Oh, a playboy? So, I¡¯m that beautiful? ¡°

    ¡°But, don¡¯t worry, master. We¡¯re not in public, so it¡¯s fine, right?¡° Nyx giggled and pushed Nox down, pecking him on the lips.

    ¡®This damn woman is going to be the end of me!¡¯ Nox shouted inwardly, before a bright light started to envelop him, and in turn, Nyx who was on top of him.

    ¡°Wait, what¡¯s going on here? ¡° Nox looked at the light and felt an energy tugging at him, although it didn¡¯t feel dangerous.

    Unperturbed by this development, Nyx just continued to take advantage of him.

    *Wooosh*

    In a flash of light illuminating the entire grassy plain, Nox and Nyx vanished in a blink. It happened so quickly, Nox didn¡¯t even get the chance to prevent it.

    -In an imposing city-

    Within a large hall able to fit a few thousand people, a young woman looking to be about 20 years old, was standing in front of a sphere that looked 5 meters tall and wide. This sphere was translucent, like the clearest of water, and without a speck of impurity.

    On the side, several dozen spectators observed the young woman. Some appeared indifferent, but most were all waiting in anticipation.

    Slowly moving, she placed both of her hands on the sphere, as a very subtle energy flowed into it from her body. Initially clear as water, light started to flicker and form various shapes, illuminating the girl¡¯s visage.

    Light blue hair reaching her waist and draping over her shoulders, two small white horns were piercing through the hair on her head.

    Nearer than the rest of the spectators, a middle-aged man and woman were both shrouded in anticipation. Standing slightly behind the two, a young man and woman, both seemingly in their mid-twenties, had the same expression.

    With a resolute expression, the young woman¡¯s dazzling, emerald green eyes, fully accentuated by the light, peered intensely into the sphere, watching as the light started to change color, shape and size.

    Dividing into three different sections, a light blue crystal, light green and slightly translucent strip, and a grey mass constantly changing shapes became distinct.

    Compared to the huge sphere, the light blue crystal and light green strip were both the size of an adult human¡¯s head, while that grey mass was only the size of a child¡¯s fist.

    Witnessing this scene, the young woman¡¯s resolute expression faltered, changing into one of disappointment. The four closest to her changed as well, sympathy appearing in their eyes.

    Whispers suddenly resounding through the hall, the guests gathered towards the group of four after the reveal. Giving their congratulations and farewells, inwardly, they could only sigh at this outcome. Such rare affinities, yet they couldn¡¯t be fully utilized.

    Several minutes later, the young woman was still standing silently in front of that sphere, which now reverted into its original, translucent state. The entire hall now only had very few people left.

    Saying farewell to the last guest, the group of four walked up to the dejected young woman, as the middle-aged woman with dark blue hair and small white horns, brought the girl into her embrace.

    Waving his hand, the few guards and servants remaining inside quickly exited the hall, as the burly, intimidating middle aged man with dark brown hair and long grey horns, along with a bushy beard walked up to her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°Sylvie, this isn¡¯t the end. Even though your affinities aren¡¯t that high, you still have three of them, especially Ice and Spirit. They¡¯re both rare amongst the majority of races, much less for us Demons. Even your wind affinity is uncommon for us. Although your end point won¡¯t be as high as your brother and sister, you can still achieve much. Regardless of anything else, you know our house is always here for you to rely on. ¡° the middle-aged man consoled.

    Giving a stern glare towards the burly idiot, the woman gazed at Sylvie with softness ¡°Your father is right about how special your affinities are, even if they¡¯re slightly weaker. But, no matter what he or anyone thinks, you can still achieve as much as your brother and sister, and even more. You only have to work a little harder. ¡° the woman encouraged.

    Observing her parents, then glancing at her brother and sister to the side, the young woman, Sylvie, replied in a dull tone ¡°Mom, dad, you don¡¯t need to say anymore. Affinities are too important for us Demons. Everyone in our family has at least one Pinnacle element¡­. My Ice and Wind are only Above Average¡­ while Spirit is Poor. I can¡¯t become a Grand Sorceress with these... ¡°

    Looking at Sylvie¡¯s dull expression, pain was evident in their eyes. This world wasn¡¯t fair to everyone. What¡¯s easy for one person, might be difficult for another.

    Thinking for a moment, the burly middle-aged man¡¯s eyes shone as he remembered something.

    ¡°Here.¡° he motioned with his hand, as two old books appeared.

    Parting from her mother, the books landed in Sylvie¡¯s hands. Viewing them closely, Sylvie noticed that, although old, they were very well preserved. Their covers read ¡®Way of the Spirit¡¯, and ¡®Natural Wonders ¡®, respectively.

    ¡°These are two of the few books I''ve kept on my person throughout the years. ¡®Way of the Spirit ¡® has information on your Spirit element. We never had someone in the family use Spirit, so I saved it. It seems that was a good choice.

    As for ¡®Natural Wonders ¡®, it has information regarding legends and relatively recent occurrences of treasures born from Archaeos. I used it in my early days with your mother, and I only remembered it just now. ¡°

    ¡°Although the world might be unfair, opportunities still exist for everyone; you just have to find them. You¡¯re only 100 this year. Your life has only just begun. ¡° the middle-aged man said in a sonorous and encouraging voice.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, there are always opportunities out there. You¡¯re a Ragnarr! You¡¯re destined to accomplish much. ¡° the man appearing in his mid 20s expressed with absolute conviction.

    ¡°Brother¡¯s words are my words too! ¡° the older sister agreed seriously.

    From her children¡¯s and husbands¡¯ words, praise was evident in the mother¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°They¡¯re right, you know. ¡°

    ¡°Whatever you want in life, if you don¡¯t give up, it will always be possible. ¡° she said lovingly to Sylvie.

    Gazing at the books in her hands and listening to her families encouraging words, tears appeared in Sylvie¡¯s eyes. Besides her mother, it was rare for her family to say such words, especially from her father.

    Reflecting on their words, Sylvie¡¯s expression became resolute once more, as a deep desire built up inside of her. A desire to achieve her dreams.

    Witnessing her renewed vigor, faint smiles appeared on their faces.

    ¡°Go, read ¡®Way of the Spirit¡¯. Although your affinity is Poor, Spirit is very mystical. It might be the key to your future. ¡° the father expressed.

    Nodding her head, Sylvie turned and walked up to the big hall door. Opening it, she gave her family a thankful look before leaving.

    Watching her silhouette disappearing, the middle-aged man signaled the guards outside to close the door once more.

    ¡°Glenn, Avera, you two did well to encourage Sylvie. When your mother and I pass, you¡¯ll only have each other left. Unlike those other families, we must never be divided! Only by being united, will you be able to overcome any difficulties. Remember this! ¡° the middle-aged man spoke solemnly towards his two children that remained.

    ¡°Yes, father! ¡° Glenn and Avera responded simultaneously with passion.

    With his children¡¯s affirmation, the middle-aged man nodded in approval. No land will remain peaceful forever, more so for kingdoms. There were always hidden undercurrents and plots brewing. If a family has trust and is united, it will never collapse from the inside. He wanted his children to understand that.

    ¡°Come, Valcor, you don¡¯t need to say this all of the time, they''re aren¡¯t children anymore. They understand your words very well. ¡° the middle-aged woman spoke up in a gentle, yet slightly reprimanding tone.

    ¡°Ashuen, you know why I say these things. I don¡¯t want hist-¡° the middle-aged man, Valcor, defended himself.

    ¡°Yes, yes, history repeating itself. You¡¯ve said so many times already. Unlike you brothers, only Avera cares somewhat about the estate. To Glenn and Sylvie, it doesn¡¯t matter at all. There¡¯s nothing to fight about, so stop your incessant worrying! ¡° Ashuen scolded Valcor.

    ¡°Bu-¡° Valcor was instantly interrupted, as his entire being visibly weakened.

    ¡°No ¡®buts¡¯! It¡¯s Sylvie¡¯s birthday and she just awakened, so we don¡¯t need your ridiculous words today!¡± Ashuen shouted before gaining a gentle smile. It was too quick of a change.

    ¡°Well, what you told Sylvie was indeed good. At least now I won¡¯t have to beat some sense into you. ¡°

    Looking at his wife¡¯s smile, a shiver ran down Valcor¡¯s spine. Wiping the cold sweat off his brow, he felt lucky inside. It was good that he didn¡¯t entirely keep his ¡®severe father¡¯ fa?ade on.

    Observing their mother and father, Avera and Glenn looked at each other with wry smiles. You might assume that the burly and muscular middle-aged man would be the ¡®boss¡¯. Alas, you would be very, very wrong.

    Outside of the large hall, Sylvie was walking along a fine stone pathway. It was warm, but with a nice breeze, and the sky was bright blue with nearly no clouds.

    On the sides of the walkway were buildings of varying sizes, but each looked very impressive and finely detailed. Guards were located at many different intervals, and servants could be seen fairly frequently.

    Walking for several minutes, Sylvie arrived at a fenced off area with a large grated metal gate with two guards on the sides.

    Noticing Sylvie coming, they both bowed and proceeded to open the gate, letting her inside.

    Moving past and nodding to the guards in thanks, they closed the gate behind her.

    Past the gate, it was like an entirely new land. Very green and lush, it was a large and magnificent garden. Trees of varying sizes, with some actually bearing fruit, multicolored flowers littered about, as well as very clear artificial stone ponds of varying sizes, some with running water, it was a very peaceful environment.

    Walking off the stone path, Sylvie went underneath a tall, sturdy tree and sat on the grass.

    Putting the book titled ¡®Natural Wonders¡¯ down, she flipped open and began to read ¡®Way of the Spirit¡¯.

    ¡°One of the ¡®Special¡¯ Elements, Spirit is extremely esoteric and difficult to grasp. Those lucky enough to gain any affinity to Spirit, have, without fail, become one of the influential in this vast world.

    The reason being that one with Spirit can summon certain existences. The summons willingly follow your every command, but, unlike the Summoning Element, the beings linked to Spirit are extremely special. Monster, nor beast, they are called Elementals. Beings of pure mana, Elementals are formed completely from one specific Element. Being able to control such a being is what makes Spirit users powerful, regardless of affinity.¡±

    Reading up to here, excitement built up inside of Sylvie.

    ¡®I can summon an Elemental!¡¯

    Reading further, the book continued.

    ¡°To summon an Elemental, you must first set down an array with a diameter of at least 3 meters (See the diagram on the next page). This is because the Elementals can vary greatly in size.

    To lay down the array, you must focus your mana on a finger, and let loose your Spirit energy to carve onto a surface. This is best done on dirt, as it¡¯s easily penetrated by mana. Once you draw the array, place a drop of your blood at the very center and send your spirit energy into it. Your blood is used as the catalyst to activate the array.

    Remember, the Elementals vary. This includes size and strength. Do not be disappointed if it¡¯s weaker than others, because any Elemental is still more powerful than most.¡±

    Finished reading that bit, Sylvie continued a bit more before stopping. An Elemental Summon was the only magic she could use with Spirit at the moment. It was a magic whose only prerequisite was to have Spirit energy.

    Looking at the diagram, Sylvie bent down and meticulously drew the array. If a mistake was made, she would completely remake it.

    An hour later, and after many tries, the array was finished.

    Taking out a small dagger she carried with her, Sylvie poked her finger carefully and dripped a drop of blood on the arrays center.

    Putting away the dagger and gazing nervously at the array, Sylvie extended her finger and sent a wisp of her Spirit filled mana into the blood.

    With a soft light suddenly shrouding the blood, a grey color spread from the drop into all of the arrays lines. When the grey colors met on the outer edge that created the circle shape, a brilliant light erupted from the array, suffusing the surroundings and causing Sylvie to squint.

    *Ughh*

    A slight groan was heard from the light as a silhouette appeared seconds after the array activated.

    The light started to disappear a few moments later. As the silhouette finally came into full view, it left Sylvie completely dumbfounded.

 Chapter 5 - A New Connection

    Inside the Ragnarr estate, Valcor and Ashuen were having a discussion within a private study.

    ¡°Sylvie¡¯s banquet must be wonderful. We can¡¯t prevent the filth from attending, but we can at least let Glenn and Avera handle the trouble. This is Sylvie¡¯s special day. There can¡¯t be any mishaps. ¡° Ashuen spoke sternly to her husband, Valcor.

    ¡°Of course, I know that, I feel the same. She¡¯s our daughter, after all. Those scum have no place here, but I¡¯ll do what is within my power. ¡° Valcor nodded seriously.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s prepa-¡° Ashuen froze as she suddenly felt two incredibly threatening presences.

    ¡°In the garden! ¡° Ashuen yelled, anxious.

    ¡°Yes, hurry! ¡° Valcor responded frantically.

    A layer of water piercing forward from Ashuen''s body, she explosively launched forward with immense speed. Next to her, Valcor¡¯s body became surrounded by fire as he stepped heavily on the floor, also launching forward. Where he stepped, the floor was crushed and charred.

    Seconds later, a body of water and fire simultaneously appeared inside their garden where the presences were located. Temporarily withdrawing their mana, they became dumbfounded. With the same dumbfounded expression, Sylvie was standing besides an array with a man and woman inside.

    The man was laying on his back with a frown, while the woman was on top of him with a cheerful expression.

    Recovering from their shock, Ashuen and Valcor looked at each other.

    ¡®Although the presences we felt are gone, it must be them. Whether they¡¯re friend or foe, we must determine this right away.¡¯ Ashuen spoke quietly to Valcor.

    ¡®Right. If they have malicious intentions, take Sylvie and send an emergency message to the Capital and the other city leaders while I hold them.¡¯ Valcor voiced adamantly.

    ¡®No, I¡¯ll break the Razzir Medallion and send Sylvie away with a Transportation Rune. We¡¯ll hold them together. ¡®

    ¡®Alright¡¯ Valcor nodded to Ashuen.

    ¡°Speak! Who and what are you? How did you get so deep into this city? ¡° Valcor questioned with vigilance. He wanted to get in front of Sylvie, but the pair on the ground were closer. He didn¡¯t want to risk something happening to her because of his rashness. After all, the threat they felt most likely came from the two.

    ¡°Will you get off of me already and remove that content smile? How do you not even react to this situation? Damn, the first people we meet, and it has to be like this. ¡° the man scolded the cheerful woman before sighing.

    With Sylvie and her parents inspecting them closely, the man and woman finally stood up, returning their stares.

    Finally getting a good look, some shock ran through the entire group, especially Sylvie.

    The woman was incredibly beautiful, but her expression wasn¡¯t cheerful like before. It was emotionless. She was wearing a knee-high black dress with pitch black, red tipped hair dropping down to her waist. Ruby red eyes with vertical black iris¡¯, they also noticed very thin black scales under her eyes and along the edges.

    From the woman, Valcor and Ashuen noticed something, other than her rare features and emotionless visage.

    Gazing into her red eyes, they shivered, as they felt an endless threat of darkness and bloodthirst hidden deep within. This was something they¡¯d never experienced before. How many lives would one have to take to gain something like this?

    Before they could fully comprehend it, the danger within her gaze disappeared when the man put his hand on her shoulder.

    Lost in the woman¡¯s eyes, Valcor and Ashuen finally focused on the seemingly ordinary man.

    Looking to be in his late 20s, he only had a normal black cloth shirt and pants on, as well as a pair of leather boots. He had short, black hair and a stubbly beard, but the most striking aspect were his eyes: unusually grey, they were deep and unfathomable, like the ocean. How a man seemingly in his late 20s could project such a feeling, was a mystery. And unlike the woman, you could feel absolutely no danger hidden within.

    As Valcor and Ashuen watched him with their full vigilance, they noticed that he didn¡¯t even pay them a single glance. Following his line of sight, he was staring directly at Sylvie. To their puzzlement, Sylvie was also staring at him unblinkingly.

    Observing this, Valcor started shaking slightly as he was about to charge towards the man in a rage, afraid that he was targeting their daughter. Before he could move, Ashuen grabbed him and put her finger in front of her lips, making a *hush* gesture.

    ¡®What are you doing? Don¡¯t you see this!?¡¯ Valcor looked at his wife as he lowered his voice, clearly angered.

    ¡®Let¡¯s wait and see. Treat it as my intuition.¡¯ Ashuen whispered.

    Valcor could only relent as he gave a surprised look towards Ashuen.

    Staring into each others¡¯ eyes, Sylvie was the first to speak up.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ the Elemental that I summoned? ¡° Sylvie asked, uncertain, as she placed her left hand on her upper right arm.

    Observing Sylvie¡¯s action, the man lifted his left arms sleeve, as an almost translucent rune became visible. With a pondering gaze that switched between his left arm and Sylvie¡¯s right, a look of certainty appeared.

    ¡°Seems like that¡¯s the case. This is pretty interesting. ¡° the man replied, nodding.

    At his reply, a look of excitement appeared in Sylvie¡¯s eyes. ¡®It actually worked!... But why do I also have a rune?¡¯

    Listening in on their conversation, Valcor and Ashuen had faces full of surprise. ¡®An Elemental Summon?¡¯

    ¡°What¡¯s your name? If you¡¯re an elemental, why is it that you look human? ¡° Sylvie asked.

    ¡°No, no, how about you answer my questions first, as you¡¯re the one who dragged me here. ¡° the man shook his head.

    ¡®What!?¡¯ The same thought occurred to Sylvie and her parents.

    ¡°Y-You¡¯re not bound by the summoning? ¡° Sylvie asked, bewildered.

    Witnessing their expressions, the man seemed confused, before looking at his arm.

    ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what this rune is for. I¡¯m supposed to be a servant or something similar? Makes sense. ¡° the man rubbed the rune on his arm.

    ¡°Hahahahaha. Bound? Not even the heavens can bind master. ¡° speaking up for the first time, the woman laughed melodiously as if she heard the funniest joke in the world.

    He shook his head helplessly when he heard her.

    ¡®Well, I guess I¡¯ll just speak first.¡¯ he murmured.

    ¡°I''m Nox, and this woman besides me is Nyx. Although I¡¯m not under your control, you did manage to summon me. You and I both have these runes on our arms, so I''ll consider it as Fate. As such, I can give you two choices. ¡° Nox spoke seriously.

    ¡°One, you come with Nyx and I, as we won¡¯t be staying in one place. Two, you don¡¯t, we forget everything that happened here, and we go our separate ways.I follow no one, and I am no one¡¯s servant nor attendant, so these are the only options. ¡°

    Nox looked at Sylvie with a serious expression, expecting her to decline. He didn¡¯t want anyone else to join them, but these choices were more of a whim.

    Observing Nox and gazing into his piercing grey eyes, Sylvie felt something she¡¯d never experienced before, as her heart palpitated and her heartbeat slightly increased. ¡®Is¡­ is this¡­¡¯ she thought, unable to control herself for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she replied resolutely.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll come with you. ¡°

    ¡®¡­¡­what?¡¯ it was Nox¡¯s turn to be dumbfounded. Valcor had the same exact expression. Why the hell would you agree so easily with someone you just met? This is traveling together! Isn¡¯t this a bit ridiculous?

    Standing by his side, Nyx was curiously watching this play out, intently appraising Sylvie. Hearing her response, Nyx smirked, gaining an appreciation for Sylvie and thinking ¡®This is the one thing you can¡¯t escape from, master.¡¯

    Next to Valcor, Ashuen unexpectedly also smiled.

    ¡°Are you¡­ serious? Although you summoned me, you know that I¡¯m not under your control. I¡¯m not some weakling, and it¡¯s clear you¡¯re not that powerful.¡° Nox said, puzzled, before his gaze abruptly turned sharp.

    Within a blink, Nox arrived in front of Sylvie. Placing the side of his hand on her neck. Killing intent flowing out of him like a flood, a cold and murderous aura suffused the surroundings.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know how I am. If at any point I want to kill you, no one can stop me. ¡° Nox threatened in an emotionless voice.

    When Valcor saw this scene, his anger almost exploded outwards. Even if he dies, he¡¯ll prevent that.

    A sharp pain suddenly attacking his side, Valcor turned his head and looked at Ashuen in confusion.

    ¡®Calm down you idiot. Do you really believe your intuition is better than mine? If I¡¯m not nervous, then you shouldn¡¯t be either.¡¯  Ashuen rebuked him in irritation.

    Lowering his head in defeat, Valcor settled down and only observed. He had complete trust in his wife¡¯s judgement. It was never wrong before, and it won¡¯t be now.

    Nox and Sylvie now only a foot apart, Sylvie noticed he was a few inches taller. Although he had a serious and cold expression, gazing into his piercing grey eyes, even with his hand on her neck and that killing intent directed at her, she oddly felt at peace, as a wide smile suddenly blossomed on her face.

    ¡°I¡¯m the most serious I¡¯ve been in my entire life. ¡° Sylvie expressed in a sweet voice.

    ¡°Although no one can stop you, I know you won¡¯t hurt me. ¡°

    Sylvie was staring at Nox, and he was doing the same.

    Wearing a fitting white robe with black leggings and boots, it looked like something a mage would wear. Along with her long, light blue hair with small white horns poking through the top, she looked very dainty and pure. It was a good contrast to Nyx¡¯s shapely figure and coquettish demeanor.

    Being in such close proximity, when he witnessed that smile and gazed into her beautiful, emerald green eyes, Nox¡¯s entire body briefly froze.

    *sigh*

    Nox sighed. His killing intent instantly dissipating, he removed his hand from Sylvie¡¯s neck. It was always said that the eyes are the windows to a person¡¯s souls. He was only trying to scare her, but it seems that it caused the opposite effect.

    Today, too many things happened. Although all his experiences and memories that came after the incident still lingered, he was mostly back to his old self that had only lived for several hundred years.

    Inwardly, Nox now felt even more grateful towards Lings elder sister, Elise. She suggested coming to Archaeos, and with Nyx¡¯s push, the energy she planted in his mind became the catalyst that initiated his ¡®restoration¡¯. If that never happened, who knew how long it would take for him to truly ¡®feel¡¯ again.

    ¡®Is she part of my fate?¡­ or was it just my imagination? Whatever, I¡¯ll just continue going with the flow.¡¯ Nox pondered as he recalled his own reaction.

    Movement suddenly occurring by his side, Nyx popped up and whispered with a taunting smirk.

    ¡®Oh, master, how are you? Feeling frustrated?¡¯Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ¡®¡­.¡¯ Nox ignored Nyx¡¯s taunting.

    ¡°Fine. I always keep my word. ¡° Nox said helplessly. To meet someone like Sylvie was too unexpected, but he didn¡¯t mind her joining them anymore.

    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m Sylvie Ragnarr, and those are my parents. ¡° Sylvie giggled and enthusiastically introduced herself as she pointed towards the two people standing on the sidelines.

    As they witnessed the scene play out, Valcor looked relieved while Ashuen smiled.

    Walking up to Nox and Nyx, they could finally speak normally.

    ¡°Forgive our rude reception, I¡¯m Ashuen and this is my husband, Valcor. ¡° Ashuen greeted apologetically.

    ¡°Your presences startled us, as this is in the middle of the city, furthermore, inside our home. ¡°

    ¡°Yes, apologies. Thankfully, my wife prevented me from acting rashly. This is our estate, and she¡¯s my daughter, so I¡¯m sure you could understand. ¡° Valcor expressed honestly. Although he had a tough exterior, he was very straightforward.

    ¡®Interesting parents.¡¯ Nox thought, expecting that they would act very differently.

    Inspecting them, Valcor was a tall and burly middle-aged man with brown hair and a bushy beard, with long grey horns poking out from the top of his head.

    Ashuen had dark blue hair with short white horns, and emerald green eyes. Middle-aged as well, she was still very beautiful. Although Sylvie had light blue hair, she clearly took after her mother.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Strangers appearing out of nowhere, especially where a loved one is, I would have thought the same in your position. ¡° Nox responded in understanding.

    ¡°To reintroduce ourselves, my name is Nox Ferrum, an¡­ Elemental. This is Nyx, my comp-¡° Nox stated amicably as he got interrupted.

    ¡°FIANCE! ¡° Nyx interjected without shame as she glared at Nox.

    ¡°¡­fianc¨¦. ¡° Nox didn¡¯t want to bother.

    Valcor and Ashuen seemed to be expecting that, but Sylvie looked on in shock.

    ¡®She¡¯s¡­ his fianc¨¦?¡¯ Sylvie muttered, as a hint of loss hit her heart.

    Gazing forward, Nyx suddenly took up her vision and appeared in front of her. Surprised, Nyx whispered something in her ear.

    ¡°W-w-w-w-what!? ¡° Sylvie cried out as she became flustered.

    ¡°Hehe ¡° Nyx giggled in delight from her reaction.

    Looking away from Sylvie, Nyx moved her gaze to Ashuen who was staring at her. Observing each other, they both nodded and smiled, seemingly thinking the same thing¡­ for people who just met, it was very mysterious.

    Watching this scene, Nox started to develop a headache.

    ¡®The hell, how is this logical?¡¯ he thought, at a loss.

    Walking up to him, Valcor placed his heavy hand on Nox¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°It seems that no matter the place, you will find people with things in common¡­ Life can be difficult. ¡° Valcor looked Nox in the eyes, as a mutual understanding was formed.

    ¡°¡­Very true.¡° Nox nodded, as he gained some respect for Valcor. Even if it¡¯s their own family, it was impressive for someone to place so much trust in them.

    Nox felt Valcor''s vigilance and anger earlier, but he put it all away because of his wife and daughters¡¯ judgement, now treating him, whom had suddenly appeared in his home and just met, with a type of friendship. Even after Nyx leaked out her depths and he showed killing intent, they still arrived at this point.

    Nox kept this in his heart. No matter how old you are, you can always learn something new.

    ¡°Nox, Nyx, we¡¯ll leave you here with Sylvie while we prepare your lodgings. You two just appeared in a foreign land, so I¡¯m sure you have many questions, and Sylvie can help you with that. ¡° Ashuen said.

    ¡°Come Valcor, let¡¯s go back, we also need to prepare for later.¡° Ashuen gestured.

    Looking Nox in the eyes with meaning, he turned to his wife and nodded, as they both walked out of the garden.

    Watching them leave, only Nox, Nyx, and Sylvie remained in the garden.

    ¡®What, him too? Ugh¡­ would I also be that way when the time comes?¡¯ Nox thought about Valcor''s meaningful look, as well as Stella, who¡¯s somewhere out there in this world.

    ¡°A-alright, let¡¯s sit over at that pavilion. You must have a lot of questions. ¡° Sylvie gestured towards a white pavilion in the distance, still a bit flustered.

    ¡°Right. ¡° Nox replied, following Sylvie with Nyx in tow. The pavilion was a bit of a ways away.

    On their way to the pavilion, Nox realized he never got the chance to take in the scenery.

    The garden was very large and beautiful. Stone walkways running throughout, the area was filled with a myriad of flowers and lush trees. Surprisingly, some of the trees bore fruit.

    In a few random places, there were small artificial ponds with colorful fish swimming about. The water was very clear, with no impurities or algae on the surface. Whoever oversaw the garden, took very good care of it.

    A short while later, the group finally arrived at the pavilion. Gesturing for Nox and Nyx to have a seat at the table, Sylvie was about to start speaking, as a maid suddenly appeared carrying a tray with tea and what appeared to be sweets.

    ¡®That was fast. I¡¯m still not sure about gauging strength right now, but she¡¯s probably not weak. And considering how large the garden is, Sylvie¡¯s family must be pretty powerful.¡® Nox thought as he glanced at the maid.

    ¡°Second young miss, Sir Nox, Lady Nyx, Lord and Madam tasked me to deliver tea and snacks. ¡° the young maid said with a professional aura, placing the tray down and bowing.

    ¡°Thank you, Mel. ¡° Sylvie thanked the maid.

    ¡°Of course, second young miss. I will now take my leave. ¡° bowing once more, the maid, Mel, left as swiftly as she arrived.

    Taking a good look at what was on the tray, Nox and Nyx¡¯s eyes glittered, although Nyx seemed a lot more enthusiastic.

    ¡°Have some, they¡¯re for the both of you after all. ¡° Sylvie giggled at their expressions.

    Not even replying, Nyx excitedly grabbed the tea cup. When she picked it up, she fumbled a bit and appeared very unnatural, but quickly held it elegantly, much like a noble would.

    ¡®Oh yeah, she just got a body and hasn¡¯t held anything like that before. ¡¯ Nox thought when he saw Nyx¡¯s unnatural movements, but he wasn¡¯t surprised to see her adapt so fast.

    Reminiscing a bit, they met many nobles over the years and he had to adapt to a multitude of situations. With such a long life and all the knowledge and experience that came with it, it made sense that she could adapt easily. Not to mention that at their power, it was easy to turn knowledge into practice.

    Not feeling awkward in the slightest, Nyx had a sip of tea.

    ¡°Mmmm, it¡¯s so good! ¡° Nyx looked very excited.

    ¡°Master, here, you eat the first sweet.¡° Nyx said slyly and picked one up.

    ¡°I will in a se-¡° without getting the chance to finish, Nyx stuffed the sweet shaped like a cake into his mouth.

    Chewing it, Nox was enraptured by the taste. It was white on the outside, but the inside had chocolate. It was fantastic. Savoring it, he was filled with praise for the baker.

    ¡°That was really good. ¡° Nox said emotionally after he finished eating it.

    ¡°Was it? Let me try¡± Nyx then took one of them for herself.

    ¡°Hold on, what the hell Nyx! I could¡¯ve grabbed one myself. ¡° Nox feigned displeasure, but glee from the cake couldn¡¯t be hidden.

    He might get annoyed sometimes, but it was very difficult for those he cared about to evoke any real negative emotions from him. Thinking about it now, Nox began to feel that he was an enabler.

    Watching the antics of the two, Sylvie appeared in a daze. Noticing her, Nyx moved and whispered into Sylvie¡¯s ear.

    ¡®Don¡¯t worry, remember what I said; master will also eventually be yours, and you can do these things as well. I¡¯ll tell you a secret: Master actually has many weaknesses, and sweets are one of them!¡¯ Nyx reassured and advised her.

    Sylvie¡¯s face flushed once more from Nyx¡¯s words, but determination surfaced in her eyes.

    Viewing Sylvie¡¯s eyes, Nyx smiled. Other than the chance to gain a body, Elise told her a few secrets Archaeos holds, and one of them is related to Fate.

    Fates normally only guides one to certain events or occurrences, but there¡¯s one exception; soul fates. This fate is only made when two or more souls have a naturally strong connection with one another, and it¡¯s not something artificially created.

    This knowledge is why Nyx is more insightful than Nox regarding these things. Although, Nyx knows that Nox could feel the existence of any fate if he focused specifically on that, such as when they first arrived, but now he decided to just let fate do what it wants. This was a new experience and a type of reset for him, so whether it led to good or bad, it didn¡¯t really matter.

    ¡°Okay, ask away. We have a few hours before my birthday banquet. ¡° Sylvie said after clearing her thoughts.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s your birthday today? Happy birthday. ¡° Nox expressed with a smile.

    Hearing that it¡¯s Sylvie¡¯s birthday, Nyx beamed.

    ¡°Yes, congratulations! Birthdays are always nice. How old are you today? ¡° Nyx asked with enthusiasm.

    ¡°Thank you. ¡° Sylvie expressed happily.

    ¡°I¡¯m 100 today. I¡¯m not really that old, but it¡¯s significant for us Demons. ¡°

    ¡°Umm...if you don¡¯t mind me asking, how old are you two¡­ You don¡¯t have to answer, I was only curious. ¡° Sylvie asked curiously.

    Nox froze, as a wry smile appeared on his face. Looking back at his life on Earth, living until 100 was incredible, so, in his eyes, how could that be young? But when remembering his own age and those on Tian, it really was inconceivable.

    As for Nyx, her expression actually turned severe.

    ¡°Are you sure you really want to know? You might look at us differently. ¡° Nyx specifically asked this after noticing Nox. She saw his memories, so it must have affected him regarding people learning their ages.

    Observing Nox and Nyx, Sylvie became startled. She didn¡¯t expect them to react this way.

    ¡°If you¡¯re willing. ¡° Sylvie nodded seriously.

    Gazing at Sylvie, Nox felt awkward.

    ¡°Master, what do you say? ¡° Nyx looked towards Nox.

    *Sigh*

    ¡°Go ahead. ¡° Nox sighed.

    ¡°If we¡¯re going to travel together, maybe it¡¯s best to know a few things about us. ¡°

    Getting his assent, Nyx looked directly into Sylvie¡¯s eyes; there was no hesitation.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure of my exact age, but I¡¯m around 19,000 years old. As for master, he is currently 7,542. ¡° Nyx voiced directly.

    Although determined, Sylvie was shocked, especially by Nyx¡¯s age. It was rare to meet people their age, especially ones who still had their younger appearance and demeanor.

    Actually, Nox was surprised as well.

    ¡°Nyx, you¡¯re 19,000 years old? I never knew¡­ ¡° Nox realized that he never asked her how long she had been a weapon spirit before he found her.

    ¡°Hehehe, well, master, you had never asked me. Actually, I only started counting a few hundred years after that day. 19,000 is only my guess. ¡° Nyx nodded.

    ¡°Am I too old for you now? Are you going to leave me? ¡° Nyx¡¯s expression turned downcast, as she feigned heartbreak.

    ¡°Don¡¯t joke around like that. Even if you were a million years old, it wouldn¡¯t matter to me. ¡° Nox replied seriously.

    Listening to their conversation, Sylvie became curious from what Nyx said, but she buried it when Nyx looked at her with a meaningful smile. Viewing Nox¡¯s sincerity, she became determined.

    ¡°Age doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Sylvie voiced loudly, causing Nox to silently gaze at her, while Nyx looked on with a smile.

    ¡°All races have different lifespans and mature differently. For normal humans, those in their 40s are considered middle aged, but an elf might need to be over 10,000 years old to be considered middle aged. This only includes the normal ones, and not the stronger ones whose lives have been enhanced by mana and the elements. ¡°

    ¡°Your ages don¡¯t change how I view you. The numbers don¡¯t matter, I was only curious, so you didn¡¯t need to worry about it. As far as I¡¯m concerned, we might as well be close to the same age. The majority of races and beings also would feel the same.¡° Sylvie expressed passionately, looking briefly at Nyx and then locking gazes with Nox.

    Listening to Sylvie, Nox remembered something he had forgotten today. When he was on Tian, a lot of beings were immortal, therefore the age gaps were ridiculously large. Some had a difference of hundreds of thousands or even millions of years. How you were treated always depended on your demeanor and power. After all, how could you truly interact and form relationships with others if you thought otherwise, treating them based on the numbers?

    Only after regaining his memories of Earth, did he start to think about age; mainly about his and Nyx¡¯s, compared to others. What people would think when they learned about them.

    But these worlds aren¡¯t like Earth. The limits aren¡¯t just around 100 years old. The minds of those who live longer also don¡¯t change much. If it did, how could you handle such a long life?

    ¡®She¡¯s right. It looks like the memory merger with my life on Earth affected me in more ways than one. I had never even thought like that before. ¡® Nox reflected on himself.

    ¡°Heh, well said. Age is indeed only a number. Thanks, your perspective helped remind me of that. ¡° Nox looked at Sylvie with a thankful expression. Who knew how long he¡¯d have been hung up on his age if she didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°I¡¯m only saying what I feel. ¡° Sylvie beamed when she heard Nox.

    ¡°Alright, Sylvie, let¡¯s move on for once. Where is this? Oh, and you mentioned Demon before. What does that mean? ¡° Nox asked curiously.

    Although he knew what Demons were from his memories, this was still an entirely new world. How could he know any of the specifics?

    As Sylvie gazed at the two, Nyx also had a curious expression.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know what Demons are? ¡° Sylvie looked at them oddly.

    ¡°Nyx and I come from a distant and isolated land. It feels very different here, so I can tell this place is not just a small distance away. Don¡¯t worry, though, we wanted to leave at some point anyway. ¡° Nox came up with something on the spot. How could he just say that they came from another universe?

    ¡°Oh, that makes sense. I¡¯m sorry... Because this situation isn¡¯t normal, I didn¡¯t realize at first that the summoning took you away from your home... ¡° Sylvie expressed regretfully.

    ¡°Like I said, don¡¯t worry about it. Nyx and I wanted to leave at some point, so you did us a favor. ¡° Nox consoled.

    Although a bit of lie because they came from another universe, this was a lot better than walking blindly around some forest, knowing absolutely nothing about the world. Not to mention meeting someone like Sylvie. It was a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.

    ¡°Thank you, I¡¯m glad. ¡° Sylvie said in relief. Normal elementals choose to mark themselves for summoning, so it felt horrible to force someone.

    ¡°Well, welcome to my birthplace, the Kingdom of Razzir! Razzir is also known as the Demon Kingdom. The city we¡¯re in is called Grenir, one of the kingdom¡¯s major cities, and this is my home. ¡° Sylvie said enthusiastically, proud of her origin.

    ¡°As for Demons, we are considered as one of the naturally long-lived races. Compared to most other races, we have a larger mana pool and higher affinities to elements, especially Dark magic, which is what we¡¯re known for. ¡°

    Nox reaffirmed his assumptions after listening to Sylvie, while sending his thoughts to Nyx at the same time. During this period of time, Nox had subconsciously tried to speak with Nyx, mentally, as that was second nature on Tian, and it surprisingly still worked.

    ¡®It was as I thought. Because she mentioned Dark magic, and the fact I¡¯m now an Elemental and you¡¯re a Dragon, that must mean mana is what we felt in the air, and the elements are a part of it. It seems that the elements are pretty much the same as Tian, so Fire, Water, Wind and the others must exist. Other than Demons, she also mentioned Elves. If they also exist, that means many others should as well¡­Interesting. ¡®

    ¡®Yes, master, this appears to be the case. I wonder what we can do.¡¯ Nyx agreed and became curious about their own abilities.

    ¡®Me too. They should have a library here, so maybe we can find some more general knowledge information, as well as how to use mana. It¡¯s very different compared to Qi because I can¡¯t feel any meridians or something similar we can use to channel it. We need to learn how to control it as soon as possible!¡¯ Nox set a plan of action.

    His new body was very strong, but he relied on Qi for over 7,000 years. He felt vulnerable not being able to use his own energy. It felt as if you were missing all your limbs. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant feeling.

    ¡°I see, that¡¯s good to know. Well, your home seems very nice. ¡° Nox complimented.

    ¡°And this garden, it¡¯s very well taken care of. ¡°

    ¡°Yes, it is! I always love coming here, as it¡¯s very relaxing. The maid you saw earlier, Mel, is also the caretaker of the garden. She isn¡¯t a regular maid, she¡¯s like family. ¡° Sylvie expressed earnestly.

    ¡®Sylvie and her family definitely must not be typical nobles; they¡¯re too down to earth and honest. Are they a military family?¡¯ Nox thought about Sylvie and her father and mother¡¯s demeanors.

    The vast majority of nobles that Nox met on Tian that are like this, were from military clans. They were always straightforward and honorable. They fought for their country and land, and weren¡¯t out for money and prestige. It was only something second hand that came from their merits.

    ¡°You should tell her I said she does a wonderful job. I know you mentioned a few hours until your birthday banquet, so do you think you could point Nyx and I to a library? I don¡¯t want you to sit here and answer the many questions we have. ¡° Nox inquired.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind answering any questions, but ok. We have a big library here in our home. My mother and father collect a lot of books, and my brother also likes to collect them. I¡¯m sure you can find whatever you need. ¡° Sylvie replied

    ¡°That would be a big help, thanks. ¡° Nox expressed. Nyx and he needed to get more information, and the System was currently worthless.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you two there. ¡° Sylvie smiled.

 Chapter 6 - Mana and Elements

    Following behind Sylvie, Nyx seemed excited to finally leave the garden, as she went next to her to chat.

    Gazing at their backs, Nox lightly smiled. Sylvie was a good person, and he was glad Nyx finally had someone other than him and Stella to interact with.

    Removing his gaze from them, he looked up at the vast sky in contemplation, thinking of many different things.

    The sun was about the same size he¡¯d seen on Earth and Tian. On Tian, the Sun, Moon, and Stars of the many Planes were made up of the universe¡¯s energy; they weren¡¯t like the celestial bodies of the Galactic Universe where Earth was, so he assumed this was the case for Archaeos as well.

    How was Stella? Where would he travel to first? How similar was Archaeos to the fictions and legends of his previous universe¡¯s? He had many questions to be answered.

    ¡°Master ¡°

    ¡°Master¡­ ¡°

    ¡°MASTER!! ¡° he suddenly heard a shout and looked in front of him. Nyx¡¯s face was only inches away, calmly gazing at him.

    ¡°What? ¡° Nox asked as if nothing happened.

    ¡°We¡¯re here. ¡° Nyx was used to him spacing out.

    ¡°Master does that a lot. ¡° Nyx told Sylvie next to her, giggling.

    ¡°Haha¡± Sylvie also laughed merrily. She hadn¡¯t felt this way in a long time.

    ¡®Enjoying this, I see. ¡° Nox thought, switching his gaze past them.

    Up ahead was something he didn¡¯t expect. Very wide stone stairs were leading up to an imposing building. At the bottom of the stairs on the left and right, were two fully armored guards that had a slanted axe shrouded in fire in the middle of the chestplate. Standing ramrod straight and unmoving, they were very well disciplined.

    At the top of the stairs were two huge marble pillars supporting the entrance. The door was also very large, made of some type of sturdy looking wood.

    ¡°Your¡­ family seems to have a good collection. ¡° Nox was surprised.

    ¡°Yes, my mother and father traveled for hundreds of years and gathered books along the way. After they settled down here, they bought many more, and my older brother only added to the collection over the years. I guess it¡¯s a lot more than I made it seem ¡° Sylvie said a bit embarrassed. She forgot that her perception on a few things was different from others.

    ¡®A lot more is an understatement.¡¯ Nox thought. On Tian where families were tens to hundreds of thousands of years old, it was understandable to see such a big library, but here on Archaeos? It was unexpected.

    ¡°Here, I¡¯ll lead you both in. The library is important to us, so it¡¯s strict for guests to enter. ¡° Sylvie gestured.

    ¡°Second young miss! ¡° the two guards bowed respectfully.

    Nodding, Sylvie led Nox and Nyx up the stairs.

    Opening the massive wooden door, their vision was filled with shelves upon shelves of books. It was like a sea of books.

    A few dozen feet ahead, a nice semicircular wooden desk was situated with an ordinary old man with white hair and small grey horns on his head, and a long beard reading a book behind it. Gazing up, the old man was slightly surprised when his eyes landed on Nox and Nyx.

    ¡°Grandpa Locke! ¡° Sylvie quickly walked up to the desk and greeted the old man.

    ¡°Ah, Sylvie, it¡¯s surprising to see you here, especially with guests. ¡° the old man, Locke, smiled lovingly towards Sylvie, while his eyes seemed to see through Nox and Nyx.

    ¡°These are my friends, Nox and Nyx. They wanted to view the library, so I brought them here. They already met mom and dad, so I don¡¯t think they would mind. ¡° Sylvie said politely.

    Switching his gaze back to Sylvie, he replied ¡°That¡¯s fine, they can look around wherever they want, but they can¡¯t take anything out of here. ¡°

    ¡°I know. Alright, Grandpa Locke, Nox, Nyx, I¡¯ll be leaving now. I need to get prepared. If you want to come to my banquet, I¡¯ll ask Mel to get you two when it¡¯s going to start. ¡° Sylvie said expectantly.

    Glancing at Nyx, Nox replied ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll come. We both would rather keep our current attire, though. ¡°

    ¡°Great! That¡¯s perfectly fine. I¡¯ll see you two soon. ¡° Sylvie appeared excited.

    Nox was a bit puzzled. They just met, but she¡¯s this excited?

    Covering Sylvie¡¯s ears, Nyx whispered ¡®This is the time, go all out!¡¯

    Hearing Nyx, Sylvie nodded with determination.

    ¡®What the hell, it¡¯s only been one day!¡¯ Nox felt like all his logic was dissipating when he saw them. He didn¡¯t like to eavesdrop, but he could at least infer about it. He hadn¡¯t lived so long for nothing.

    Waving goodbye, the three watched Sylvie walk out the library and close the door behind her.

    Turning around, Nox and Nyx focused intently on the old man, Locke, while he was doing the same.

    ¡°So, a Primordial and an Elder here in the same place. Two primogenitor''s thought to be extinct. ¡° Locke broke the silence with a hoarse, nonchalant voice.

    Nox and Nyx looked at Locke with slight surprise.

    ¡®Primogenitor?¡¯

    ¡°Archaeos brought you two here? I can see that you know nothing of mana control. The mana around you is chaotic. ¡° Locke continued.

    ¡°I had a feeling you weren¡¯t ordinary. How are you so aware of us? ¡° Nox finally spoke. Locke also knew about the core, which was surprising.

    ¡°There is a type of element called Fate, which you should be aware of. It is considered the unruliest of the elements, but a scarce few can tap into it, and I am one of those few. I have been alive for a very long time, so I¡¯ve come to understand Fate more than most. Unraveling Fate is what allows me to view some of the unseen, and that¡¯s how I know you are connected to the core of Archaeos. ¡° Locke replied straightforwardly.

    ¡°Take care of Sylvie. Although she has lived 100 years, Valcor and Ashuen have isolated her until her awakening. Those that have come to visit, have been here strictly to speak politics or wanting to use Sylvie for their own machinations. To evoke her emotions so, it is proof that one meeting can create a bond. ¡° Locke voiced seriously.

    Gazing at Locke, Nox laughed at his last sentence, thinking that it was very true.

    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re a pretty wise man. You don¡¯t have to worry, we already like her. ¡°

    ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s right! Sylvie is very good. ¡° Nyx replied happily. It was rare for her to see someone she could truly like. After all, how many people have her and Nox met over the years? Countless.

    Looking at the two, the old man gave a faint smile.

    ¡°Behind me, row 1, sections 1-8 has books on Archaeos, such as its history, past and present countries and races, geography, the calendar; very useful information. Row 3, sections 1 and 2, has information on the elements and mana control. I¡¯m sure those are what you¡¯re truly looking for. ¡° Locke said fluently, as if he memorized the entire libraries'' contents.

    ¡°Thanks, that¡¯s exactly correct. ¡° Nox was impressed by this old man. He had very good insight. As for why such an expert was a librarian, Nox guessed that he wanted some needed reprieve. After all, this was a very peaceful place.

    ¡°We¡¯ll put the books back when we¡¯re finished. We don¡¯t want to read much, so it shouldn¡¯t take long. ¡° Nox gave his thanks.

    ¡°Go, take your time. A library is a place of learning. Anyone who desires knowledge can stay as long as they like. ¡° Locke said amicably.

    Nodding, Nox and Nyx left to find the books they needed.

    Gazing at their backs, the old man began ruminating on the information he knew.

    ¡®Lady Elise did not exaggerate in her message. Much like her, compared to most other immortals that have been mentioned, they indeed do not look down upon weaker beings.¡¯ Locke felt gratified from this development. He had known Nox and Nyx would come, but he didn¡¯t know how they would be.

    +1 Merit Gained

    As Nox and Nyx were walking towards the rows where the books they needed were located, a robotic voice resounded in his head.

    ¡®What?¡¯ Nox was surprised.

    As if understanding his confusion, the robotic voice of the Gifting System answered.

    ¡®When user affects life in specific ways, you will be awarded Merit. Positive or negative effects have no relevance.¡¯

    ¡®Oh yeah. But how did I affect Locke? Ah, whatever. System, unless it¡¯s significant, don¡¯t bother announcing when I gain Merit. It will be too damn annoying.¡¯ Nox didn¡¯t want to deal with that.

    ¡®Request granted.¡¯ the system confirmed.

    ¡®Good, thanks.¡¯ Nox said. The system gave no response.

    Potential headache averted, they arrived at the area with Archaeos'' general information. Going through the multitude of books, Nox and Nyx conversed mentally as they went over the information found.

    They didn¡¯t think about it before, but after reading the cover of a book, they realized that the language and writing of Archaeos was very different from anything they knew. It appeared that Archaeos also imparted them that knowledge. The language was so easy, they felt like natives.

    ¡®So, this continent is called Tartarus... ¡® Nox read a book called ¡®The Myriad Countries and Continents¡¯.

    ¡®Divinus, that¡¯s where the majority of humans reside. Let¡¯s head there first. I want to see the differences between the humans here, and the ones on Tian. After all, this is my first lifetime as a different race.¡¯ Nox was looking forward to it.

    ¡®Whatever you decree, master. ¡® Nyx smiled. She was also curious. The most populated race on Tian were humans, so it would be interesting if there were differences.

    Reading for another hour, they stopped after noticing a trend.

    ¡®There are so many books on history here, but they all only add up to nearly 90,000 years. There¡¯s no way a world where sentient life lives for so long, could have such a short history.¡¯ Nox became intrigued. It was very unusual.

    ¡®I agree, master. Sylvie mentioned 10,000 year old elves, but recorded history is still that short? Do you think Valcor and Ashuen just didn¡¯t come across older books, or did something happen? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s so simple.¡¯ Nyx also became interested. On Tian, it was not unusual to come across families and sects older than 90,000 years, much less recorded history.

    ¡®Maybe Locke knows something; we¡¯ll ask him later. Let¡¯s move onto what we need the most before then. ¡® Nox said.

    Putting away the last book they read, they head towards row 3, where the information on the elements and mana control was located.

    Unlike row 1 which was entirely filled with books on Archaeos, this row only had two sections on the elements and mana. The other six sections had techniques, or spells, but they didn¡¯t care about them. It was a new experience, so what¡¯s the point in spoiling everything? That same philosophy is why they decided to leave after mostly learning the essentials of Archaeos.

    Quickly finding one of the books they needed, the cover read ¡®Guide to the Elements and Affinities ¡®. The book was surprisingly thick.

    Sifting through the contents, there were many more elements than Nox anticipated. It included three categories: Base, Variant, and Special. In the descriptions of the elements, affinities were also included.

    Affinities had 5 different grades, and it measured the natural connection to an element. It went from Poor-Average-Above Average-Excellent-Pinnacle. The higher the affinity, the easier it is to control an element, the efficiency of mana required to form it, as well as the amount of mana your body can intake, as the elements can strengthen your bodies mana pool. That means more power, stamina, and variations of the element you can use (spells). If you have no measured affinity in an element, that means that your connection is so little, it¡¯s effectively unusable.

    To measure what element and affinity of that element, a massive, 5 meter tall and wide sphere made of natural crystals called an Affinity Orb, is required.

    When you insert your mana into an Affinity Orb, the element and affinity grade form inside of it. From Poor to Pinnacle affinity, the element will get progressively larger. Poor would be the size of a finger, whereas pinnacle will be the size of an adult human.

    As for how to tell the element, it¡¯s fairly simple. Fire would be orange-red in the shape of a flame, water would be a dark blue water drop, wind would be a light green wavy string shape, earth would be a brown rock, so on and so forth.

    Without exception, every sentient being will have an affinity to at least one element, with the average amount and average grades varying greatly between races and lineages.

    ¡®Interesting. Unfortunately, affinities seem to be natural talent. Much like Tian, the world can be unfair. But, Tian always had chances to reforge your destiny, so I¡¯m sure that applies here as well.¡¯ Nox lamented.

    No matter where you go, it was always survival of the fittest. But, that adage could be minimized depending on the local powers. Tian had many righteous sects and clans that kept the peace, so at least the weak didn¡¯t have it too bad. It was surprising.

    ¡®Yes, master, there are always chances. You and I chanced upon each other, after all.¡¯ Nyx said sweetly.

    ¡®Heh, true.¡¯ Nox faintly smiled.

    ¡®Alright, next.¡¯

    Picking out the book about mana and mana control, it was titled ¡®Wonders of Mana¡¯.

    ¡®The mana pool and mana control are one of the most essential aspects of life. In this unfair world, those without drive live poorly, and those with it live comfortably. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The size of your mana pool is decided at birth, but it can be strengthened and enlarged with practice, perseverance, and an unbreakable will, increasing your control at the same time.

    There are two types of mana pools: much like the name, the first is only called the Mana Pool. It is incorporeal and located in your chest. Think of it as pocket dimension and inside is a pool of water. Some are the size of a water basin, others the size of a pond. Regardless of your affinity, it can increase in size if you strive for it. From a bucket into a lake, although incredibly difficult for the lower affinities, it is, indeed, possible.

    As for the other type, it is called a Mana Vessel. The mana vessel is where the entire beings¡¯ body is akin to a Mana Pool. For them, it as if they are born from mana. Think of them as Elementals, but replace their body made of an element, with one of pure mana. That is a Mana Vessel.

    Legendary, as of this writing, year 3,127 of the Veren Calendar, a known Mana Vessel hasn¡¯t been seen in millennia.

    Continuing after a page, the information was now about mana control.

    Mana control goes in tandem with the mana pool. The larger the mana pool, the more mana you can harness, which provides leeway for mistakes and allows you to practice for longer periods.

    To control your mana and transform it into an element, you must first sense your element(s) and gather them into your body. Send those elements along your mana channels in a full cycle, which will fuse the elements into your channels, effectively awakening them, allowing you to project the mana outside of your body.

    As for a Mana Vessel, the stories say that they must create the channels for themselves, using their own mana. It is said that they create their channels using their races base layout, but legends tell that a few created them using their own designs.

    After awakening the channels, it is all up to your practice. Proceed with caution and don¡¯t overexert yourself, or you may damage your channels and body, requiring a period of time to heal, making mana unusable. Mana Vessels need not adhere to this warning.¡¯

    Reading through the beginning, many complex instructions regarding the use of mana and methods to enhance your mana pool, followed. It was very eye opening to them, especially Nox, as the methods were very similar to those on Tian. If he merged the knowledge together, he might have broken the limit much sooner.

    Half an hour later, they put the last book they needed back in its original place.

    Done with reading what they needed, Nox and Nyx returned to Locke.

    ¡°Did you find everything you need? ¡° Locke asked.

    ¡°Yeah, what we wanted to know was there. The Ragnarr¡¯s have a very impressive library. ¡° Nox praised.

    ¡°Right, right. ¡° Locke nodded with enthusiasm. He really loved this library.

    ¡°Locke, what¡¯s today¡¯s date? We read about the different calendars, but we¡¯re not sure which one is current. ¡° Nox queried.

    ¡°Ah, yes, of course. It is currently year 3,430 of the Veren Calendar, and today is the 13<sup>th</sup> day of Lunar Dawn. ¡° Locke understood their lack of knowledge, as they just arrived here.

    ¡®So, it¡¯s Veren, alright.¡¯

    ¡°Thanks. ¡° Nox nodded

    One of the books they read earlier, involved the yearly cycles and days, amongst many Calendars or ¡®Ages''.

    Archaeos¡¯ years were split into four cycles, each lasting 90 days, with 360 days making a year. The cycles were Solar Dawn, Solar Dusk, Lunar Dawn, Lunar Dusk. Effectively, they were Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

    ¡°I noticed Sylvie hasn¡¯t sent Mel yet. Since we have time, do you know of any place we can use that can prevent energy from leaking out? We figured out that the reason we couldn¡¯t detect how to transform mana, was because we both are Mana Vessels that haven¡¯t created channels. ¡° Nox didn¡¯t bother hiding anything from Locke. Other than being an expert and clearly knowledgeable, he had a good impression of him.

    ¡°Hmmm, Mana Vessels, I see. It is understandable, then. ¡° Locke nodded in revelation.

    ¡°If you head towards the very back of the library, you¡¯ll notice a blue crystal wall and door made of manastone. Inside, the entire room is also made up of this manastone. Manastone is peculiar, in that it absorbs and filters all mana up to a certain threshold, which makes it very resilient. If this threshold is met, a large flow of mana will inevitably leak out and might cause damage to it, so use caution. ¡° Locke advised.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let Mel know that you two are in there. ¡°

    ¡°Thanks, we¡¯ll try to be careful.¡° Nox and Nyx proceeded to walk towards the back of the library.

    Watching their backs, Locke thought helplessly ¡®You both are part of the few that need to be careful. Hopefully the damage isn¡¯t too severe.

    Walking past the endless sea of wooden shelves and books, Nox and Nyx arrived in front of the blue crystal door Locke mentioned. Even the handle was blue.

    Opening the door, Nox felt it was quite heavy. What greeted their eyes, was a blue, empty square world. The floor, walls, ceiling, everything was made of manastone, save for a few crystals inlaid into the ceiling that gave off a bright light. The entire room felt unusual.

    Walking inside, Nox closed the door behind them. It was seamless, fitting perfectly into the rest of the wall. If it wasn¡¯t for the handle, you might not even realize that a door was there.

    ¡°Impressive room, albeit a bit unusual with the entire blue color going on.¡± Nox praised.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s get to it. I have an idea on how to do this. Turn your back towards me and don¡¯t resist. ¡° Nox said.

    ¡°Oh? What is it, master? ¡° Nyx asked curiously, turning her back towards Nox.

    Placing his hand on the middle of Nyx¡¯s back, Nox sent wisps of mana into Nyx¡¯s body. Like strands of string, the mana started to create an outline inside her body, forming a very intricate network.

    ¡°The outline I just placed inside your body, is almost the same exact layout my meridians took in my previous body, but slightly adjusted for yours. I obviously refined and changed them over the years, so I think it¡¯s now a near perfect network. The only difference is that there¡¯s no dantian. I feel like this is how we should do it. ¡° Nox spoke with confidence. He had a feeling that some methods of Tian and Archaeos could fit well with each other.

    Seeing Nox¡¯s confidence, Nyx smiled sweetly ¡°Whatever you advise, master. I trust your judgement. ¡°

    ¡°Heh, alright. Let¡¯s start, then. ¡° Nox was excited to gain full control once more.

    Both moving to sit on the ground cross legged, they closed their eyes and began to create their channels.

    Nox was peering into his own body. Gathering mana, he also created an outline. The book said the mana pools that every other being has, are like pocket dimensions, while mana vessels'' entire inside of their body is that pocket dimension of mana.

    And how meridians worked on Tian, was that they were connected throughout the entire body. They were similar to arteries or veins. Their use, was that Qi was sent through them, strengthening your body and allowing Qi to surface for manipulation. Channels were similar, so without those, you could only move around pure mana and not the elements.

    With the outline in his body created, Nox started to condense and refine the mana over and over until it reached the absolute limit. Inside the room, a huge whirlpool of mana formed around Nox and Nyx. The natural mana filtering in from beyond the manastone, and the mana stored within them was all being absorbed by the two.

    For bodies that already stored a significant amount of mana needing to be supplemented by the outside, you could imagine how condensed their channels were getting.

    Outside of the room, Locke was patiently reading a book as he suddenly felt a disturbance in the mana. As the outside of the room wasn¡¯t that affected, only someone like him in such close proximity could feel it.

    Peering through the rows of books, Locke developed a wry smile.

    ¡®Mana Vessels are more impressive than I initially thought¡­ just to create their channels they need such an amount of mana. By the time they¡¯re done, all the mana in the stones might be depleted.¡¯

    What Locke didn¡¯t know, is that this phenomenon was caused by Nox¡¯s method to create channels. Besides the layout Nox created, the method of condensing and refining their channels was something commonly known on Tian, and clearly not on Archaeos. It was the true culprit.

    Several minutes later within the room, the whirlpool around Nyx finished, while Nox¡¯s was still ongoing.

    Opening her eyes and turning to the side, Nyx was enraptured while silently staring at Nox¡¯s face that was in concentration.

    ¡®Master is as impressive as always. No matter the world, he will always remain as the greatest being.¡¯

    About 15 minutes after Nyx finished, Nox¡¯s whirlpool finally dissipated as he opened his eyes. Inspecting the room around him, the blue hue of the manastones dimmed considerably. Luckily, the lights still worked.

    His gaze landing on Nyx, Nox was staring into her ruby red eyes that revealed everything for him.

    ¡°You know, your eyes really are nice. ¡° Nox said straightforwardly.

    ¡°Hehe. You¡¯ll be getting to look at them for all eternity, master. ¡° Nyx giggled.

    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s right ¡° Nox nodded several times before continuing.

    ¡°I see you were waiting on me. Let¡¯s merge the elements into our channels now. ¡°

    ¡°Yes¡± Nyx replied and closed her eyes.

    Doing the same, Nox looked at the channels that were now fully merged with his body. They were larger and much sturdier than several of the diagrams that were inside the book.

    Feeling the mana around him, Nox started using his channels to sense the elements more vividly than before. Within the mana, they appeared as tiny particles of different shapes and colors unseen by the naked eye. Initiating his channels, contrary to what he read in the book, the elements weren¡¯t being drawn into them. At least one would come to be fused, but that wasn¡¯t the case here.

    Perplexed, Nox looked at Nyx and sent telepathically ¡®Nyx, are any elements being drawn by you?¡¯

    Surprised that he would stop to ask, Nyx replied curiously while still fusing the elements with her channels ¡®Yes, master. Darkness is fusing with my channels, but I feel that isn¡¯t the limit. Why do you ask? Is nothing occurring for you?¡¯

    ¡®I see, Darkness. But yes, I don¡¯t have a reaction.¡¯ Nox said, a bit frustrated.

    He could sense the elements in the mana, such as the pure black that represented Darkness, but nothing was being fused into his channels. Nothing was attracted.

    ¡®Why don¡¯t you try searching again very carefully, master? You must be missing something. There¡¯s no way you couldn¡¯t have an element.¡¯ Nyx suggested confidently.

    Listening to her, Nox put all his concentration inside the mana, trying to look deeper into the mana. After going into a near trance like state, Nox noticed an ever-changing particle that was incomparably smaller than the rest. So small even, that it was nearly invisible and most likely only he could feel jt. But, it also felt countless times heavier. Nox put all his power into forming his channels, but that one tiny particle was equivalent to them. It was inconceivable.

    Now that he noticed it, Nox tried directing the attracting power of his channels towards it. After a few moments, he finally gained a reaction, as It started shaking. Moving very slowly, a chain reaction suddenly occurred, as an innumerable and almost infinite amount of those particles gathered from all around, even pouring in from the outside, increasing in speed and charging into Nox¡¯s channels.

    ¡°UGGHHH¡±

    Nox groaned in immense pain when this occurred, as his entire body smashed into the ground, cracking the manastone. It felt as if an endless number of mountains were weighing down on his channels.

    ¡°Master! ¡° Nyx shouted in worry.

    ¡®I¡¯m fine, this is nothing. Continue fusing your elements.¡¯ Nox transmitted, but Nyx could feel his suffering.

    ¡°¡­ alright¡± Nyx gloomily relented. She hated seeing this, but there was nothing she could do.

    On the flat of his stomach, Nox began pushing himself up with his arms, as the manastone below began to crack even more. Sitting in meditative position again, he was actually sweating. This was a pain he hadn¡¯t experienced in many years. This was a new body, after all.

    Gritting his teeth and peering inside of his own body, his channels were still being flooded with that particle, but they were also fusing together at the same rate. There were no visible changes occurring, but he felt countless energies that were hidden inside the particle slowly being released into his channels. On top of the density of the particles, it now felt like a tempest was raging inside him.

    *Puff¡­puff*

    Nearly an hour later, the flood of those particles finally slowed and came to a stop. Nox¡¯s clothes were soaked from sweat and he was breathing heavily. Feeling arms wrapping around him, he heard a worried whisper near his chest ¡®Master, are you alright now?¡¯

    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s over now. ¡° Nox felt a bit strained, but excitement was in his eyes.

    ¡°Good¡± Nyx said softly, but intense bloodlust towards Archaeos was filling her.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s fine, really. Although I haven¡¯t been ¡®injured¡¯ in a few hundred years, it¡¯s a nice change of pace, so it¡¯s perfect...¡° Nox gently pat Nyx¡¯s head with a faint smile on his face.

    ¡°Mmmm, I know, master. The last few hundred years have been boring for you, not to mention after your breakthrough, so you need your fun.¡° Nyx nodded in understanding.

    Breaking through on Tian, Nox¡¯s soul elevated and his body accompanied it. That meant, along with his soul, his body was nigh invincible even without using Qi.

    He only thought of it after Nyx helped awaken him, but after allowing his old body to be destroyed by Archaeos, which was the only power that could do it, his new body wouldn¡¯t be that strong anymore; it would be vulnerable without energy. This meant that unless he fully unleashed his soul, it would be as if he never broke through.

    Although his soul was still invincible, if he had that invincible body or even the one a bit before it, he wouldn¡¯t be able to really ¡®feel'' the world like he could when he was journeying and striving for the peak.

    The pain just now cemented the fact that this was Nox¡¯s real, new life. That¡¯s why he was excited.

    ¡°Alright, let me go, I¡¯m sweaty. ¡° Nox said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind however you are, but fine, I know you want to check your new power. ¡° Nyx reluctantly let go.

    Standing, Nox concentrated, inspecting his bodies channels after the fusion.

    Structurally, they were no different than before; even the enormous weight that the particles had, completely dissipated.

    Visibly, though, the surface of his channels now an had an unusual ever-changing pattern akin to the shapes the tiny particle took.

    Removing his inward gaze, Nox felt that his channels could create endless possibilities.

    His eyes landing on Nyx, Nox¡¯s body shook as a small amount of mana exploded outwards, clearing away his sweat and cleaning his body. With his channels now fully created, Nox now felt that the use of mana was similar to the Qi of Tian.

    ¡°Nyx, let me have a glimpse of your Darkness. You haven¡¯t used it, and I also want to try mine out¡­ Although, I¡¯m not sure what I can use. I¡¯ll just see what I feel first. ¡° Nox asked with interest.

    ¡°Alright, master. ¡° Nyx replied seriously. This was her first time using energy with a flesh body.

    Staring intently at Nyx, Nox could feel the mana in her body bulding up and circulating rapidly.

    Raising her arm, a pitch-black smoke began to slowly rise from her skin and twirl around her body like a snake.

    Looking at her arm which was raised, Nox noticed scattered black scales forming on the back of her hand, as well as the tips of her fingers forming into sharp black claws.

    ¡°Looks like your body begins to change like mine when you use mana. Fits you well, honestly. ¡° Nox voiced with admiration. It was quite appealing.

    ¡°Come, attack me so I can feel what suits me right now. ¡° Nox asked and began circulating his mana... He felt that he could use multiple Elements but wasn¡¯t sure which ones. Faced with an attack, he would be forced to manifest one.

    ¡°Mmm¡± Nyx nodded while taking a few seconds to focus some of the Darkness on her hand.

    Launching forward, Nyx¡¯s vertical black iris'' thinned as she arrived close to Nox, preparing to swipe down her hand which was now a claw and covered in dense black smoke.

    Gazing at Nyx¡¯s power while he was standing still, Nox¡¯s heartbeat quickened. Getting a reaction, mana gathered into his right arm lowered on his side. Making a grasping motion with his hand, a 4 foot long sword that appeared like a clear crystal materialized.

    Holding it firmly, Nox raised the sword while his entire eyes turned and glowed blue-white. Exploding outwards, a torrent of lightning suffused the surroundings, then gathered into the sword, turning it blue-white with snakes of lightning swirling around it.

    *BOOM*

    A clash of darkness and lightning exploded outwards from where they made contact, completely shattering and turning the manastone below them into dust, leaving only dirt. Cracks appeared throughout the entire room, also destroying the lights. If it wasn¡¯t for Nox¡¯s lightning still lingering about, the room would be totally devoid of light.

    ¡°Hahaha, that felt really good. ¡° Nox laughed merrily. He hadn¡¯t experienced something so invigorating in a while.

    ¡°Master¡­ look at the room¡­ and look at yourself and me¡­¡± Nyx appeared a bit shy, but she was relishing the sight.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Nox looked at himself before his expression froze. Gazing up at Nyx, her face was slightly red as a scene of white and pink greeted him. Inspecting closely, although feeling a bit awkward, he was appreciating the view. Fate did a fantastic job.

    ¡°¡­seems like our clothes were destroyed. ¡° Nox said after silently gazing Nyx. Actually, both weren¡¯t averting their eyes. Why would they?

    ¡°Yes, master. ¡° Nyx said after getting over her shyness.

    ¡°We made a mess of this room as well. Locke even told us to be caref-¡° Nox voiced before getting interrupted by a sudden sound.

    Both turning their gazes towards the sound, the manastone door was opened and a maid was standing their, clearly shocked and flustered. It was Mel. Looks like her professionalism had a few gaps.

    ¡°I-I''m sorry for interrupting your time, Sir Nox, Lady Nyx. ¡° Mel stuttered before trying to close the door.

    ¡°Woah, woah, woah, hold on, look at this room! We were testing our power and forgot to coat our clothes in mana, so they were destroyed. ¡° Nox quickly shouted. He didn¡¯t want to cause a misunderstanding, making them look like perverts having sex in their hosts training room. Sylvie was going to travel with them and he did not want this type of image.

    Hearing him, Mel decided to suck up her embarrassment and look at the room. She noticed the door cracked on the outside, but when she finally looked at the room, she froze in shock ¡®They did this? With mana of all things!? How powerful are these two friends of Sylvie?¡¯

    She knew it was mana from the lightning still lingering in the air.

    ¡°Here Nyx, cover yourself. It¡¯s coated in lightning, but it shouldn¡¯t hurt you. ¡° Nox materialized two blue-white towels of mana, while he also made one for himself. He noticed that he could create objects of mana, and although he could make a simple sword, he didn¡¯t know how to shape it into clothes. A flat and flexible rectangle was easy, though.

    ¡®What! Conjuration and lightning? He can even infuse it into his creations?¡¯ Mel was even more shocked than before.

    Covering themselves, Nox spoke once more, ignoring Mel¡¯s shocked expression ¡°Sorry about that, and this room, I¡¯ll find a way to compensate for it. ¡°

    ¡°Ha, it¡¯s fine, there¡¯s no need for compensation. I said be careful, but I expected this to happen. Come, Mel, take Nox and Nyx to get clothes, preferably ones similar to what they previously wore. Sylvie¡¯s banquet is nearing, after all. ¡° Locke appeared from behind Mel, speaking with his hoarse voice.

    Awakening from her reverie, Mel calmed herself and bowed to Nox and Nyx ¡°Sir Nox, Lady Nyx, I apologize for my previous conduct. I came here on the request of second young miss, as the banquet will start shortly. ¡°

    ¡°No worries, it¡¯s understandable. It was an unusual sight, after all. ¡° Nox waved it off.

    ¡°Locke, are you sure no compensation is wanted? We destroyed this room. ¡°

    ¡°Manastone can repair itself over time, while the hole you two created can easily be replaced. Not much damage was done. ¡° Locke expressed straightforwardly.

    ¡°Alright then. ¡° Nox nodded and turned to Mel.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get some new clothes and meet up with Sylvie, then. ¡°

    ¡°Yes, right this way.¡° Mel said before bowing to Locke.

    ¡°Lord Locke, we will take out leave ¡°

    ¡°Go¡± Locke nodded.

    Nox and Nyx walking together, they came up to Locke as Nox extended his arm with his palm facing upwards ¡°Thanks, your hospitality was incredibly useful. If you need anything in the future, break this talisman. ¡°

    Materializing in Nox¡¯s hand was a clear square. His soul was immensely powerful, so he could infuse some of it into objects. It was similar to the mark one used to track family, except this one could directly contact him. Nox could only hope that this talisman won¡¯t dissipate. After all, he didn¡¯t know the extent of his current power.

    ¡®Conjuration ¡® Locke reflected before taking the talisman ¡°Thank you, I hope I will never have to use it. ¡°

    ¡°Go, Sylvie is waiting. You¡¯re welcome back anytime. ¡°

    Nodding, Nox and Nyx followed behind Mel as she led them out of the library.

    ¡®I wonder what kind of trouble they will cause in the future¡­¡¯ Locke thought as he looked at their backs.

 Chapter 7 - Quick Development and Warning

    Following Mel along the estates pathways, Nox and Nyx received many furtive glances from the servants and the occasional guards. Nox was only wearing a towel of lightning covering his privates, while Nyx had the same going on. The rest of their bodies were fully visible, so it showed how professional everyone here was, only giving glances and not staring.

    ¡®It seems that Mel is well respected. ¡® Nox thought when he saw the multitude of people only taking furtive glances after noticing Mel.

    Nyx¡¯s figure was perfect, so it¡¯d be hard not to stare in this state, but that also applied for Nox to some extent, as he was very fit. You wouldn¡¯t notice it normally with clothes on, as he did look unremarkable to those who can¡¯t see past his visage, but without clothes, you could see that although he wasn¡¯t too bulky, his muscles were very densely packed.

    It made sense with his lifespan and power on Tian where his body was refined over and over, and the fact that Fate made a direct copy of his previous appearance. He could have changed his face with his strength, as many people did back there, but along with not giving a damn, Ling knew him with his original appearance, as with Stella.

    A few minutes later, the group arrived in front of a very large courtyard with the same style of armored guards found at the library and around the estate, except there were more than a few near the entrance.

    ¡°Lady Mel! ¡° the guards at the entrance bowed, allowing the group to enter.

    Nodding to them in recognition, Mel, with Nox and Nyx in tow walked into the courtyard.

    At the entrance, the guards look at each other curiously after seeing Nox and Nyx leave. They could tell they were important guests, but they were also nearly naked.

    Arriving in front of a wooden door, Mel shouted respectfully ¡°Lord Valcor, Madam Ashuen, Sir Nox and Lady Nyx have arrived. ¡°

    ¡°Let them in Mel¡± a sonorous voice came from behind the door.

    ¡°After you ¡° opening the door, Mel allowed Nox and Nyx to go inside.

    ¡°I will now take my leave. ¡° Mel bowed before closing the door once more.

    Inspecting the inside, it was a large room made of mostly wood and a few shelves of books. Next to the shelves was a wide desk with Valcor situated behind it and Ashuen seated in front. Both were staring at Nox and Nyx and thought the same thing ¡®Conjuration infused with lightning?¡¯

    ¡°Before you ask and misunderstand, Nyx and I met Locke inside the library and he allowed us to use the training room. We forgot to coat our clothes in mana, so we accidentally destroyed them. ¡° Nox voiced seriously.

    ¡°Yes, it was serendipitous. ¡° Nyx smiled in glee.

    ¡°Ho, I can see that. You couldn¡¯t tell on the outside, but Nox is surprisingly muscular. ¡° Ashuen nodded in understanding.

    Meanwhile, Nox noticed Valcor appraising Nyx for a moment, before he did the same with him, seemingly pondering something. They both were ignoring Nyx and Ashuens'' conversation.

    ¡°Sylvie¡¯s banquet will start in half an hour. I¡¯m sure Mel has begun procuring new clothes for the two of you and will soon return. Sylvie only mentioned that you were going to participate, but are you sure about this? ¡° Valcor expressed seriously.

    Hearing Valcor, Ashuen and Nyx stopped their conversation, as Ashuen also gained the same expression.

    Inspecting the two, Nox began contemplating the situation.

    ¡°I can tell that you¡¯re a military family, and Locke hinted at a few matters. Tell me, how significant are the both of you in Razzir? ¡° Nox inquired calmly.

    ''So even Locke took a liking to them.¡¯ Valcor and Ashuen thought.

    ¡°Valcor is one of the three generals in charge of eastern Razzir, while I¡¯m part of Razzir''s special forces. ¡° Ashuen said candidly.

    ¡®A general and the special forces? I¡¯m surprised there are even special forces here, so Ashuens'' position must also be significant.¡¯ Nox looked at Valcor and Ashuen thoughtfully.

    ¡°Last question. Locke mentioned that Sylvie has been isolated here for many years, but what exactly are the specifics behind that?¡° Nox asked curiously. This situation reminded him of Stella all those years ago, but Sylvie was more than double her age.

    *sigh*

    Valcor appeared helpless.

    ¡°You might not know, but all of the races have different times when their channels fully mature, allowing them to awaken and find their elements. For us demons, ours normally mature at 70 years old, but Sylvie is now 100 years old, which means she was 30 years late. She could¡¯ve adventured many years ago, but this world can be dangerous without magic, so we were forced to keep her in the city. ¡°

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been hard on her. She hasn¡¯t been able to make many friends because of this, as most of the people in this city and those that visit, are only out to use her to get into our family. ¡° Ashuen expressed in frustration.

    Hearing them, Nox and Nyx glanced at each other in understanding. They¡¯ve seen this situation many times over the years.

    ¡°No need for more, thanks for sating my curiosity. We said we¡¯ll go, so that¡¯s what will happen. Much like I thought, it looks like I¡¯m going to have a handful of annoyances¡­¡± Nox said straightforwardly, yet also felt helpless because he now had to deal with the inevitable riff raff.

    ¡°Hahahaha¡± Valcor laughed heartily as he stood up from behind the desk and pat Nox¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be a tremendous help. ¡°

    Nox looked at Valcor¡¯s demeanor and faintly smiled. People had kept their distance from him for many years, so it felt nice to have such candid interactions once more.

    About a half hour later, Nox and Nyx were guided to the main hall by a servant. Heading through another entrance, they met up with Valcor and Ashuen.

    ¡°Nox, Nyx, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re ready. Come, walk out with us. I¡¯ll introduce you to a few close friends when the formalities are over.¡± Valcor said as he pat Nox¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Alright¡± Nox nodded in acceptance, as Nyx was indifferent.

    Walking into the exceptionally large main hall with Valcor and Ashuen, Nox and Nyx saw how lively the room was. Brightly lit with those stones from the training room, candelabras were still scattered about. The doorways were guarded by armored guards with that axe covered in flames engraved on their chest plates.

    About 50-60 well dressed people were having discussions with one another near or sitting at long tables filled with many dishes, as servants were scurrying back and forth around the hall.

    ¡°My guests and friends, I thank you all for attending this banquet in honor of my youngest daughter, Sylvie.¡± Valcor raised his voice.

    Hearing Valcor, the myriad of people became silent as they turned to look at him. Other than noticing Ashuen, his wife, they saw two strangers next to them.

    Noticing Nyx first, a good amount of the men had burning gazes, while even the women became enraptured by her beauty. Upon seeing Nox next to her, though, many became turned off by his casual attire and how normal he looked. Only very few had inklings that he was far from what he seemed.

    ¡°Thirty years late to awaken, she is now 100 years old, so it is a grand occurrence. ¡° Valcor laughed heartily.

    ¡°You might be wondering who those besides me and Ashuen are, so I shall introduce them to you all. The woman is called Lady Nyx. The man is known as Nox, and they are engaged to each other."

    Listening to Valcor, many became confused. What was the point of this? Yet, many other men felt dejected and few antagonistic when they heard that such a beautiful woman already had a man.

    ¡°You might be wondering why they are here with us. Well, I have some significant news to announce! ¡°

    Hearing Valcor once more, many had very bad premonitions.

    ¡°With Sylvie¡¯s agreement, Nox and her are to be betrothed! She is now 100 years old, far past the age of maturity and time to marry.¡°

    Listening to Valcor, Nox had a very surprised look in his.

    ¡®What the hell is going on here? I expected just to help and maybe be introduced as a personal guard or something similar, but now he caused me even more trouble! Besides, being betrothed to me? We might have a bond, but how is that enough? ¡° Nox thought inwardly, before sending his thoughts to Nyx.

    ¡®Nyx, I see you didn''t react... Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡¯

    ¡®Yes, master, it was my idea and Ashuen agreed completely.¡¯ Nyx answered with a sly smile.

    ¡®Why? We only met today. I like her, but to the point of being engaged? Come on, what the hell is up with everyone. My world is constantly being broken down.¡¯

    ¡®Master, did you not see Sylvie¡¯s eyes and expressions? Although it is only the first day, you are meant for each other. Even I have a connection with her. If not, how could I like her so? Ashuen even saw it right away. Honestly, it was very impressive that she did.¡¯ Nyx said confidently as if this was the natural course of events.

    ¡®You are an immortal and a true, absolute being, master. You are not a mortal with a limited lifespan, yours is endless. Abrupt and quick as it may be for you, I am not the only one for you. It is impossible for me to be.¡¯

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡®Ahh, damn it, I guess she¡¯s not wrong, but what the hell am I going to tell Stella when we see each other again? I only had Ling before, and now I¡¯ve gone up two in one day¡­¡¯ Nox thought to himself, in an uncharacteristically panicked state when thinking of his daughters expression.

    *Phew*

    Taking a long and subtle breath, Nox cleared his mind. Besides the one Archaeos¡¯ Core gave, Fate only leads you to your natural connections. It wasn¡¯t artificial, so he might as well accept it in full. This is what he had decided on previously.

    ¡®Alright, Nyx¡­ I suppose we can just consider this an unusual start¡­¡¯ Nox sent mentally.

    ¡®Don¡¯t worry, master. I said it before, but I¡¯m fine with this. Our lives are eternal, so I can share you a little.¡¯ Nyx looked at Nox cheerfully.

    Gazing at her, Nox then turned to the crowd. He sensed an immense amount of hostility pointed towards him. Only the very few, which he presumed were Valcor and Ashuens'' true friends, had no hostility and only curiosity. Even the ones that were clearly their children appeared the same. A few were dejected, but nothing more.

    *sigh*

    Nox could only sigh at their views. This always happens.

    ¡°Sylvie, you can come out now! ¡° Valcor shouted behind him.

    Multiple movements coming from the back, Sylvie appeared with a man and woman next to her. The man had shoulder length brown hair and eyes with medium sized grey horns, while the woman had dark blue hair and green eyes with small grey horns.

    Sylvie was in the middle with her light blue hair made very neatly and a nice hairpin on the side, she wore a long light blue dress that matched her hair. Walking in a very elegant demeanor, the entire crowd focused on her, especially Nox.

    Arriving to where the group was, she elected to stand right in front of Nox instead of where one normally would be, addressing the guests. She didn¡¯t even pay the others a single glance, only raising her voice slightly ¡°One moment, everyone. ¡°

    Touching her hairpin, a thin mana barrier with very faint runes inside, formed around their entire group. Unless being pierced with mana, it would block all sound from escaping. No one would dare pierce it, though.

    Gazing directly into Nox¡¯s deep grey eyes, Sylvie became absorbed in them. She only felt endless comfort and security, but also sadness.

    ¡°Sorry for the trouble, Nox, it looks like you didn¡¯t know. My mother told me about this, but you don¡¯t need to take it seriously. It¡¯s only for today. We can move on as if nothing happened.¡° Sylvie apologized, but traces of sadness still escaped.

    She didn¡¯t expect this, either, so she knew it wouldn¡¯t be real. After all, although she started feeling strongly about Nox after barely any contact, and especially right now, how could it progress so quickly. Now she was worried bad feelings would develop due to this, because most of the people were out to use her, which would cause conflicts between Nox and them.

    ¡°You know, you definitely look very beautiful. I like your other attire a bit more, though. It fits you better. ¡° Nox nodded calmly in appreciation, also gazing into her eyes. Seeing her again after a few hours, Nox indeed felt their connection more strongly now, although it wasn''t at the point of true love right now. He could also feel her inner turmoil from this situation.

    Hearing Nox, Sylvie blushed slightly, but she didn¡¯t know why he suddenly said these things while ignoring what she told him previously.

    ¡°Well, seems like everything has become out of control, but I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m used to unexpected developments. I don¡¯t take words like betrothed lightly¡­ Or feelings like yours because we have such a connection. If you¡¯re not planning on rejecting the situation, I won¡¯t, either. Although backwards, we can do this now and then progress together with time.¡° Nox said seriously. He wasn¡¯t ignorant about Sylvie, and he didn¡¯t want to go against events clearly supposed to happen at some point, even without Fate as the guide.

    Listening to Nox, Sylvie and the two who came with her, and Valcor were stunned. Ashuen had talked with Nyx and told the others this idea, but only Ashuen and Nyx felt Nox would fully accept of his own volition.

    Glancing at each other, Ashuen and Nyx both smiled.

    Although Valcor saw what happened when Sylvie and Nox met each other, he didn¡¯t expect Nox to react like that. Because of Ashuen opinions, he was certain it would happen eventually, but this wasn¡¯t supposed to be the case right now. Yet, Nox took it seriously and accepted the matter so easily.

    Still gazing into his eyes, Sylvie felt the biggest impact from Nox¡¯s words. When Valcor and Ashuen told her their plan, Sylvie knew it wasn¡¯t real and Nox hadn¡¯t known anything. Now finally comprehending what Nox said, she realized what she felt earlier in the day and why it was so strong now. It was a connection that transcended the body.

    ¡°I don¡¯t reject it! I¡­ want this¡­ I want to be with you. ¡° Sylvie lowered her head as her face turned completely red. She never expected to say words like these so soon.

    ¡°Grandpa Locke always told me that sometimes Fate chooses to directly guide those that only need one meeting to create something eternal. ¡° Sylvie looked up at Nox and beamed, albeit with her face still flushed.

    ¡°Hmm, he said the same to Nyx and me, and he was right. It happened with us, and now with you¡­ Still, I do feel bad that you can¡¯t have me to yourself... ¡° Nox agreed but did actually feel bad because he couldn¡¯t imagine having had to share Ling, or now Nyx or Sylvie, but they had to share himself, Yet, he said he¡¯d go with the flow, so that¡¯s what he was doing. He didn¡¯t want to deny himself and the events that should happen, even if everything moved too quickly.

    ¡°Nyx and me also have a bond, so I don¡¯t mind. We¡¯re not like the shorter-lived races; we have plenty of time!¡± Sylvie said sweetly.

    "Here, that¡¯s my older brother and sister, Glenn and Avera. ¡° Sylvie expressed in excitement and pointed towards the two that came with her.

    Gazing towards the two, Nox could tell that they were both pretty powerful, yet humble. He inwardly thought that Valcor and Ashuen did good as parents. As expected of a military family; they were always good people¡­ Well, you can''t say always, as there can be exceptions for everything.

    As Nox was looking at them, they were also appraising Nox and Nyx.

    Smiling towards Nox and Nyx, although he too felt surprised, Glenn said ¡°We will save our introductions for later, as other matters currently await. ¡°

    Nodding in agreement, Nox looked towards Sylvie ¡°Looks like I¡¯m going to have to take care of a few things¡­¡±

    ¡°Hehe, okay. ¡° Sylvie giggled.

    ¡°Syyyylvie, didn¡¯t I tell you? Master is also yours now. We can share him equally, I don''t mind!¡° Nyx grabbed Sylvie who blushed once more and expressed happily.

    ¡®So, she was actually planning this from a while ago. I don¡¯t know what goes through her mind to be so excited about these things.¡¯ Nox didn¡¯t known what to think about Nyx right now.

    As crowd saw the disregard for them and their actions with each other, shock surfaced on many of their faces, as the ones with hostility only increased in intensity. For nearly everyone, that was the first time seeing Sylvie with such expressions. Many had been here countless times, but besides giving a few cursory words, she would leave right away.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    ¡®Brother, this entire scenario is very surprising. Mother and father said they only met today, and on top of that, that man and woman were summoned by her, but look at how good they are together¡­ Sylvie has never been like that with anyone other than Mel and Ilene. Father didn¡¯t express himself much about them, but mother was completely enthusiastic.¡¯ Avera whispered to Glenn.

    ¡®Yes, it¡¯s definitely surprising. I¡¯ve heard of it from Grandpa Locke many years ago, but this must be the rumored Soul Fate, and Sylvie has one with that man, Nox. It is said that Soul Fates can even transcend life and death, so only one who values the soul more than the body will be guided to their true partner¡­ or in the case of Nox, multiple, which also makes Sylvie connected to Nyx. That¡¯s why it appears so natural.¡¯ Glenn said after some deliberation. Although it was abrupt, he saw through the reason that caused it.

    ¡®Grandpa Locke told me the same a long time ago. Brother, what do you think about him? I don¡¯t know why, but I get a very unusual feeling. As if he is boundless. Grandpa Locke did mention the very powerful are able to have multiple connections¡­ could that be the reason behind this?¡¯ Avera asked. When it came to certain aspects, Glenn took after their mother a lot more than she did.

    ¡®I have the same feeling, so that should be the reason. I don¡¯t know how powerful he is, but we will soon find out¡­ I¡¯m not trying to devalue Sylvie, as her beauty is exceptional, but how could she be eternally connected to such a person? I can understand that woman, Nyx, as she also feels irregular, but it¡¯s quite confusing for Sylvie to be.¡¯ Glenn pondered as he responded.

    ¡®So be it, we will see what happens. It¡¯s a fact that they are now our future family, so let¡¯s leave it behind for now.¡¯ Glenn said. As Locke has great knowledge and told him many things, not to mention he loves reading as well, he knew the relationship between Nox and Sylvie wasn¡¯t normal, so it was easier to understand.

    ¡®Mmm¡¯ Avera nodded in agreement.

    Viewing everything play out, Ashuen pointed a finger and broke the barrier. They couldn''t leave it up for so long. Glancing at Valcor, Ashuen sent mentally ¡®This is nice, isn¡¯t it¡­¡¯

    ¡®¡­¡¯ Valcor didn¡¯t even respond, as he was clearly dazed.

    ¡®Ah, possibly.¡¯ Valcor managed to regain his mind and reply a moment later.

    ¡®I had a strong feeling it would happen today. No wonder Locke likes Nox and Nyx. They, along with Sylvie, seem to be living examples of that Soul Fate. Just look at Sylvie¡¯s enthusiasm.¡¯ Ashuen said with a smile.

    ¡®My daughter¡­ How could this happen so soon?¡¯ Valcor became dejected, but not angry. Ashuen didn¡¯t give her thoughts on this situation, so he thought nothing more would truly come from this, even after what happened when Sylvie and Nox met. But, being engaged is a step further; a step that shouldn¡¯t happen for a while.

    ¡®Oh, come on. Although Nox and Nyx are more than meets the eye, at least they¡¯re not evil and influencing Sylvie¡¯s mind. Besides, look at Nox. He has no lust for Sylvie and clearly isn¡¯t out to use her, unlike most that are here.¡¯ Ashuen said.

    ¡®Of course, I know that, that¡¯s why I¡¯m not angry¡­ When I introduced him earlier, although being betrothed was a front, I did mean that it should be time for her¡­ But now that it¡¯s happening, I feel it¡¯s just too soon. And she won¡¯t even be his first wife''

    ''Damn, I don¡¯t care anymore. As Locke loves to say, these things happen for a reason.¡¯

    Valcor accepted this development after venting a bit. He was straightforward and very decisive.

    In the crowd, many were looking at Nox in hostility, as if they wanted to rip him apart.

    ¡°Hold on General Valcor. This may be impolite, but you announced several years ago that only someone powerful would be allowed to marry Sylvie. This man, Nox, seems like nothing. He''s not even a Demon! How could this be allowed?¡± a burly man with long black horns and a beard spoke up loudly, gazing at Nox in disdain.

    Looking at the man¡¯s eyes and the crowd of people who had the same gazes, Valcor felt disgusted but raised his voice in response ¡°I suppose you are correct. Nox was chosen by Ashuen, me, and Sylvie, yet I won¡¯t go back on my words. Feel free to challenge him. One on one or one against many, it does not matter. The only rule is not to kill. The strongest will gain my approval."

    Waving his arms, a few servants used their mana and made a very large open space in the hall, similar to an arena, as all of the people who decided to spectate moved to the sides. Small scuffles errupted here occasionally, so the entire hall was reinforced with mana and made of strong materials, which meant there wouldn''t be too much damage.

    Gazing at Nox, Valcor expressed with apology and frustration ¡®Nox, I¡¯m sorry about this. Most of these people are only here for Sylvie, wanting to use her for her beauty and to get into the family. Although quick, it really was incredible that you arrived at such a time¡­ Or else we wouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything for Sylvie¡­¡¯

    Staring at the man who spoke up, Nox glanced at Valcor with understanding ¡®Don¡¯t apologize, it¡¯s the nature of politics and nobles. It''s probably better this way. Now it''s my responsibility, so I¡¯ll take care of it. ¡®

    ¡®Just don¡¯t kill anyone, Nox'' Valcor asked. He was part of the military and in a high position, so he couldn''t have such occurences in his home.

    ''Those that take the wrong path might have to suffer for it, but don¡¯t worry, master understands. '' Nyx answered in Nox¡¯s place. Nox allowed her in on the conversation, but it didn¡¯t look like Valcor minded.

    Glancing at Valcor and Nyx, Nox walked up into the middle of the makeshift arena.

    ¡°I suppose now¡¯s the time to prove yourselves, then. Come together or one by one, I¡¯ll relinquish our engagement to whoever overpowers me first. I¡¯ll also give whoever challenges me a chance.¡° Nox''s insipid voice resounded throughout the hall.

    ¡°Throw away this matter and¡­¡± Nox paused, suddenly feeling emotional without showing it.

    ¡®Master¡­¡¯ Nyx knew what happened to Nox. She had been with him for too long, so she could see through him in many ways.

    Before coming to Archaeos, Nox never expected this to happen. Even after coming here and feeling that it actually would, although he said so much and took it all in, he still didn¡¯t expect it so quickly.

    Normal people have something called love at first sight, but that¡¯s false; it¡¯s lust at first sight.

    But in Nox''s situation, it was the real deal. The feeling from his soul played the most important part. He knew that, although he doesn¡¯t feel love that strongly right now because he only met Sylvie a few hours ago, even if it took five years, or ten, or a hundred, becoming a true family was inevitable.

    When Nyx woke up Nox with the help of Elise¡¯s energy, he decided not to go against himself and the things meant to be, and this was one of those things. Still, for someone who only recently started regaining the things lost for 7,000 years, especially during this day where so many events have been happening, how couldn¡¯t he feel affected?

    ¡°leave my family alone. Or, continue this folly and face the consequences associated with it. ¡° hesitating no longer, Nox¡¯s eyes and voice turned cold.

    Gazing at Nox¡¯s change in demeanor in front of so many, Nyx¡¯s heart began to flutter.

    Listening to Nox¡¯s threat, many started laughing, thinking that this was ridiculous.

    ¡°A human like you that barely has any mana is threatening us. Someone with such power thinks himself worthy of marrying Miss Sylvie? What a joke. I¡¯ll go first. ¡° a younger man with an arrogant aura spoke in disdain.

    What he didn¡¯t know, is that Nox isn¡¯t a human and the mana he felt from him was only what Nox showed on the surface. On Archaeos, it was more difficult to hide large portions of your mana, but it was simple on Tian. Using the channels he created based on his previous life, and the fact he was a Mana Vessel, it became easy.

    THe young man clutching his fists, darkness coated them as he charged towards Nox with a smirk.

    Standing there, Nox watched as he arrived in front of him with two fists covered in black smoke heading for his chest. The darkness looked corrosive.

    Casually extending his arms, Nox caught the young man¡¯s fists. To Nox, this darkness was nothing. Coldly looking at him, Nox¡¯s eyes changed into a lightning infused blue-white color and glowed, as lightning erupted from his arms.

    *AHH*

    Held by Nox, the young man yelled in pain as many cracks were heard before being let go. Falling backwards like a plank, he was momentarily paralyzed.

    ¡°What!? ¡° the crowd gasped, staring at the young man on the ground.

    The skin on his hands were charred and fingers were twisted, as he struggled to stand.

    ¡°My¡­ hands ¡° he looked at his own hands, face contorted in pain.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be so lenient next time. This will be your one and only chance to drop this matter and leave without serious injuries. ¡° Nox didn¡¯t even look at him anymore, as he turned towards the crowd and said coldly.

    Eyes still glowing blue-white, lightning was snaking around his body.

    ¡®So, Nox can use lightning.¡¯ Sylvie and her siblings thought. They knew he was an Elemental, so his eyes must be a part of that, as no known races that looked like him could do that, but they didn¡¯t know of his elements. Valcor and Ashuen didn¡¯t mention anything.

    Gazing at Nox, the majority glanced at each other, surprised and now hesitating, especially after looking at his unusual eyes crackling with lightning.

    ¡°Bah, empty threats. You might have some power and a variant element, but you only defeated a chick and now think yourself invincible? You are nothing! ¡° the large and burly man from before roared, as darkness began covering his body.

    ¡°Yes, what are we hesitating for? The one who defeats him is the one that will marry Miss Sylvie! ¡° another older looking man said.

    Following the lead of the two, the majority of about 40 people prepared for combat, as a multitude of elements, albeit mostly darkness, erupted in the area.

    The wiser ones who noticed the calm expressions of the Ragnarr¡¯s, decided to finally back off and spectate.

    ¡°Fine. ¡° Nox nodded, expecting this typical outcome to occur with such people.

    As if that was the cue to start, the large burly man shrouded in darkness yelled, charging towards Nox, as a huge spiked mace appeared in his hands. His appearance looked very malevolent.

    Not waiting for him to arrive, Nox moved forward in a flash of lightning, grabbing the man¡¯s mace with his left hand shrouded in lightning, piercing it with his fingers and crushing it into pieces. Not even getting the chance to react, Nox flipped the man on his back. Lightning condensing on his right fist, he punched down directly on the man¡¯s chest, smashing him into the floor

    *BOOM*

    A large explosion like thunder sounding out, a torrential storm of lightning suffused the surroundings from where Nox was, but as if controlled, it didn¡¯t hit anything else.

    Dust clearing quickly due to the lightning and mana, a massive hole appeared with cracks spreading outwards in all directions. Inside, the man was sprawled out on his back with his entire chest burnt black. His head tilted and eyes white, blood was slowly pouring out of his mouth onto the ground. He was breathing very lightly but would survive.

    Standing above the man, Nox appeared like a god of thunder. Those running towards him halted and became rooted in place, looking on with fear beginning to surface. That large man was very powerful, equal to many of them.

    Grasping the air, mana condensed inside his hands, as 4-foot-long, blue-white straight swords made of lightning materialized in each hand.

    ¡°What!? Conjuration with infusion!? ¡° everyone in the hall voiced in succession, besides Nyx, Valcor, Ashuen, and Sylvie. The three already knew, and although it was her first time seeing Nox use his elements, Sylvie was just silently gazing at him with rapt attention.

    On the side, Glenn and Avera also looked on in shock.

    ¡°I yield! I¡¯ll never return and leave the Ragnarr¡¯s alone, I swear on my family¡¯s name! ¡° someone yelled in panic, as others followed his lead.

    ¡°Too late. You were all given a chance, and you didn¡¯t take it. ¡° Nox voiced coldly, as he swung his swords up and then down.

    Four arcs of lightning moving faster than most could see, flew from the sword edges, heading towards several people, while Nox also moved towards the other direction.

    *AHHHHH*

    Multiple screams resounding throughout the hall, blood flew in the air and flowed like a stream, as arms and legs fell to the ground with thumps. The attacks from both of Nox¡¯s swords were so fast, the lightning didn¡¯t even burn their victims. They were all clean cuts with no resistance. All the weapons they materialized met the same fate, as metal began to pile along with dismembered limbs.

    Black smoke launched from a distance, fireballs, earthen spikes, all of them were also cut in half or crushed by the lightning.

    Moving swiftly towards a group of five people, Nox could see the fear in their eyes, but he was indifferent. He¡¯d seen this sight more times than he could count.

    ¡°H-hold! M-my father is the minist- AHHH¡° before a man seemingly in his early 30s could finish speaking, another arc of lightning flew from Nox¡¯s sword, cutting one of his arms off. Collapsing on the ground, the darkness magic on the mans body dissipated as he lost control from the pain.

    Standing there stunned, the other four only saw Nox¡¯s cold visage as a light flashed and their hands or arms flew off. Their magic was nothing before Nox, as the multiple colors of the elements dissipated one by one. Their mana in disarray, none of them had the chance to show their prowess and mastery.

    Only a brief 15 or so seconds after created his swords , only three people were left standing; Nox and two middle aged men. Everyone else was wailing on the ground, while the perimeter outside the area was silent with all eyes on him.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why you two joined in on this, but do you know why I left you intact? ¡° Nox asked the two men leisurely.

    ¡°¡­. ¡° the two men silently looked on with sweat dripping down their faces.

    ¡°That¡¯s because I can tell you both have more power than the others. ¡° Nox¡¯s blue-white eyes pierced into them.

    ¡°Your families mean nothing to me. Your positions and power mean nothing to me. To harbor such filth and allow them to run rampant, I should allow your clans to select new leaders. ¡° Nox expressed insipidly.

    Listening to Nox, their faces turned pale as they knew what his words implied.

    ¡°But, I¡¯m not going to do that. I only took a few limbs and let them keep their worthless lives.

    I attacked only because the Ragnarr''s are to be my family and you held such thoughts, especially against my future wife. Yet, that is also the reason you all are alive. ¡° Nox said before his expression turned incredibly cold and killing intent began flowing out of him. His presence silenced even those whose limbs were gone, as a chill that seemed to come from hell itself crept up their spines. All their rage and inward vows of vengeance dissipated in an instant.

    ¡°There are two final choices. One, you all leave this place alive, never so much as glance at any Ragnarr again, and maybe those here can heal their bodies and live in peace, causing trouble elsewhere. Or two, you refuse. There will be no leniency. There is no compromise. I will cleanse all your clans of you and the filth like you. Your hundreds of year lifespans and thousand year old clans will turn to dust all because of one simple choice. ¡° Nox glanced at all of the people on the ground and the two standing. His aura and killing intent were palpable.

    Hearing Nox and staring into those emotionless glowing eyes, every single person in the room, other than Nyx and Sylvie¡¯s family, felt their hearts nearly stop beating. They could tell he wasn¡¯t joking. An aura and gaze like his... it was something they¡¯d never seen before, even during their long lives.

    If they refused now or even harbored thoughts like before, they knew death would be the only outcome, even if they hired others, and that was only against Nox! The Ragnarr¡¯s weren¡¯t sheep waiting to be slaughtered. A true fight would be disastrous for Razzir. The imperial capital would probably intervene. For only Sylvie and her families¡¯ power, it wasn¡¯t worth it.

    Sucking up their pain that resurfaced, those that confronted Nox all knelt on the floor, throwing away their pride and status, shouting in unison.

    ¡°WE WILL OBEY YOUR WILL, LORD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LENIENCEY! ¡°

    ¡°Yes, Lord Nox, we will convey your will! ¡° the two middle aged men also knelt, wiping the sweat off their brows and ready to flee from this place at once. They never knelt to anyone else besides their master and the Demon King, yet they didn¡¯t mind in this situation. They didn¡¯t know how powerful Nox was, but due to his unfathomable aura, he was at least as strong as their master.

    Gazing intently at Nox, Nyx¡¯s irises turned even thinner, as an intense fire built up inside her.

    Looking at them, Nox could see no semblance of vengeance remaining, as he nodded blandly. He released a portion of his aura because it was the only way to deter them and fulfill Valcor¡¯s request not to kill. Still, he would leave preparations after this, just in case.

    ¡°Leave! Continue your stupid shit elsewhere and we won¡¯t have any more interactions in the future. ¡° Nox retracted his aura as he turned back into that ordinary man. Life can be cruel, and he wasn¡¯t some savior. It was the nature of the world. Unless he ran into something or someone, he wouldn¡¯t go out of his way to interfere like some superhero. Leaving the Ragnarr¡¯s alone is all that currently mattered. What they did to others was none of his business.

    Witnessing his previous visage disappearing, if it wasn¡¯t for the scene around him, the people here would never assume such a thing would occur due to Nox.

    As if seeing the light once more, the bleeding people gained their second wind, finding their limbs on the ground and quickly exiting the hall.

    Outside, all the guards and servants were flabbergasted seeing such high-profile personages mutilated and holding their own dismembered limbs yet smiling and crying tears of joy. What just occurred inside the main hall? They all thought.

    Back in the hall, everyone was still silent while Nox was standing amidst a river of blood.

    ¡°MAAAAASTERRR! ¡° an excited yell rang from the side as Nyx pounced on Nox like a starving tigress, grabbing his face and knocking him onto the blood splattered floor, kissing him deeply and slipping her tongue in his mouth.

    ¡°Woah hold on Nyx, calm do-¡° Nox grabbed Nyx¡¯s shoulders, pushing her back to speak, but as he gazed into her red eyes, she seemed crazed, as she planted her lips onto his with even more fervor than before.

    Looking on at this unbelievable scene, everyone was stunned, including the normally calm Ashuen. These two were sitting there having a passionate moment surrounded and splattered in the blood of others.

    As Nyx was right next to her, Sylvie¡¯s face flushed when she saw her actions, but she quickly overcame it and ran towards them, getting her dress dirty with blood.

    ¡°Hey, stop, that¡¯s not fair! ¡° Sylvie exclaimed, grabbing Nyx from behind, while Nox helped push her off him.

    Pulling Nyx from Nox, she came crashing down on Sylvie as they both fell backwards on the blood covered floor.

    ¡°¡­ridiculous. ¡° Nox said as he looked at this scene. Hearing him, everyone else in the room seemed to unconsciously nod in agreement.

    ¡°Ugh, get off me Nyx, this doesn¡¯t feel good. ¡° Sylvie expressed trying to push Nyx off her.

    As if waking up, Nyx turned to look at Sylvie then Nox, before she stood up along with Sylvie.

    ¡°Forgive me, master. I suddenly remembered the past and how valiant you always were, so I lost control of my body¡­ I never felt that was when I was a weapon. ¡° Nyx said apologetically, yet some fire was still in her eyes. She hadn¡¯t seen him physically fight like that in over a hundred years. When he ascended, he had only attacked from afar with her. This time wasn¡¯t that thrilling, but it was enough.

    ¡®but it was worth it.¡¯ She said under her breath.

    On the side, Sylvie looked on curiously when she heard Nyx mention being a weapon. What did that mean?

    Gazing at her, Nox felt annoyed but he couldn¡¯t keep it up ¡°Damn, whatever. I won¡¯t lie; it¡¯s not like I dislike it, but just calm yourself next time. We agreed that you wouldn¡¯t do things like that. ¡°

    ¡°¡­I know, master, it was my slip up. We¡¯ll continue this when no one¡¯s around, then. ¡° Nyx put on a sly smile, winking at Sylvie.

    ¡®This woman, why is she like this? She was only a weapon spirit before!! ¡¯ Nox yelled inwardly in frustration, yet was also amused because of her personality. Similar to her old one, but now very¡­ straightforward.

    ¡®And she also learns fast¡­¡¯ Nox subconsciously felt his lips.

    Looking at the two, Sylvie glared at Nyx when she saw her provocation.

    ¡°Now what about this blood? We can¡¯t walk around like this. ¡° Nox said, before remembering something.

    ¡°Sylvie¡­ you¡¯re fine with all of this? Did you not find what I did appalling? How I can be? Although we¡¯re somehow at this point, we still only met today.¡° Nox questioned curiously.

    ¡°Well, I AM 100 now, and we¡¯re a military family, so I¡¯m used to seeing these things... Well, not in person, at least, but I¡¯ve still seen them. And why should I be appalled? They weren¡¯t good people, and you did it for us. No matter what, I¡¯m fine with who you are. ¡° Sylvie smiled sweetly.

    ¡°You know¡­ there¡¯s still a lot you don¡¯t know about me. About Nyx, as well. ¡° Nox gazed into Sylvie¡¯s green eyes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care, and it will stay that way because I can feel both of you¡­ Your cores are what matters. I¡¯m sure you both feel the same. I mean what I say. Really. ¡° Sylvie said with absolute sincerity.

    Gazing at Sylvie, then Nyx, and finally the rest of Sylvie¡¯s family, Nox felt warm. Although he had to fight on his first day here, he felt and encountered so many things that were lost for thousands of years. Although very abrupt and seemingly at the speed of light, he didn¡¯t mind the events of today. At all.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, I feel the same and I know Nyx does as well; I won¡¯t question you like that again. ¡° Nox expressed seriously.

    On the side watching them, Valcor and Ashuen were fine, but Glenn and Avera felt relieved when they heard Sylvie and Nox speaking. Clearly knowing about Soul Fates and their parent¡¯s stance, they still couldn¡¯t help being slightly worried due to these events. Although used to this bloody sight, Nox was strong and would¡¯ve had no qualms killing if not for them, not to mention having Nyx, even if that wasn¡¯t too rare.

    Now they realized for good, that it was also Sylvie¡¯s choice and her views, and much like what they¡¯ve decided in their lives regarding similar matters, if Sylvie was fine with the situation, then they would accept it as well. Besides, they did see the sincerity of the two, and the approval of their parents, especially their mother. Amongst the countless demons, she was highly regarded for her sight and intuition. At least from what they¡¯ve seen and know, she¡¯s never been wrong.

    ¡°You three, we¡¯ll prepare some new clothes¡­ you can¡¯t be walking around like that. ¡° Valcor shouted from a distance.

    ¡°No need, no need. ¡° Nyx actually spoke up and upturned her palm.

    Mana began flowing out of her body as the blood on the floor and their clothes started to vibrate. Like gravity ceased to exist, all the blood began floating in the air, gathering above Nyx¡¯s palm and condensing into a ball.

    ¡°Oh? Nyx, is that the Blood element? ¡° Nox asked in surprise, as all of their clothes became clean once more.

    ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s right, master. After seeing your battle, I finally figured out how to use it, but I got enthralled by you and nearly forgot. ¡° Nyx giggled.

    Witnessing that river of blood being manipulated and the mana radiating from Nyx, the remaining people in the hall all became dumbfounded. On Archaeos, much like Lightning, Blood was a variant element.

    ¡®She¡¯s also abnormal. Clearly no Vampire, yet she can use Blood. And look at how potent her small portion of mana is.¡¯ Valcor glanced at Ashuen and spoke mentally.

    ¡®Yes, as I thought, abnormal indeed. Not many can use Blood outside of Vampires and have such mana.¡¯ Ashuen nodded.

    Meanwhile, Glenn and Avera were also thinking similarly.

    ¡®Brother¡­ it looks like our family gained some true freaks.¡¯ Avera looked at Glenn.

    ¡®That¡¯s right, but I suppose it¡¯s a good thing. Nox has helped us tremendously already, after all.¡¯ Glenn agreed but was glad because of this development.

    The blood in the room now fully condensed into a ball, it descended directly onto Nyx¡¯s hand and visibly began shrinking and being absorbed by her.

    ¡°All done, master. I turned it into pure mana.¡± Nyx gazed at Nox with a smile.

    ¡°Pretty useful. I¡¯m sure it would be very dangerous in combat. You should spar with me later.¡± Nox looked at Nyx with some excitement. He felt very good after the battle just now.

    ¡°With this matter taken care of, we should continue on in joy. It¡¯s Sylvie¡¯s special day, after all. ¡° Ashuen voiced with a clap.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Come, I¡¯ll introduce you to some of my good friends. Locke should also arrive shortly. ¡° Valcor looked at Nox and Nyx.

    ¡°Hmm¡± Nox nodded, glancing at Nyx and Sylvie. Truly an interesting day.

 Chapter 8 - Same hometown?

    After the entire ordeal was over, the hall was swiftly cleaned and put back to order.

    ¡°I''ll have to decline, Valcor. I leave this matter to you, master. Sylvie and I will go have a nice chat. ¡° Nyx spoke, wrapping her arms around Sylvie¡¯s.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s join your brother and sister after I¡¯m done. ¡° Nox looked at Sylvie. She was excited to introduce them earlier, so he knew they were important to her. The three siblings seemed to have solidarity, which was uncommon, even for a military house. That left him quite curious.

    ¡°Okay!¡± Sylvie beamed.

    ¡°I suppose everything has been upturned today, when even the one this was all for won¡¯t bother speaking to anyone. ¡° Valcor sighed when he saw Sylvie. He could tell that nothing would come from asking her, and he didn¡¯t want to ruin her joyful mood. Yet, he was very happy with this outcome, as it turned out much better than anticipated.

    Valcor might look to Ashuen for her impeccable insight, but he was by no means incapable. A general needed to have similar qualities, or else how could he sustain his troops morale and keep them fully united, or capitalize on the weaknesses an enemy would inevitably have? Without the capability to see through many people and situations with a clear mind, one who is supposed to lead his people to life, would only lead them to death.

    That was why he was happy. Although Nox¡¯s initial appearance disrupted his judgement, he quickly recovered. He could see the impact Nox created in the minds of everyone who attended this banquet. Many would spread news to their superiors or equals about this matter, but it would all lead to a single judgement; a threat.

    The ones he defeated weren¡¯t that strong, so they couldn¡¯t gauge Nox¡¯s full power, but the aura he released was enough to deter every single one of them, and many people witnessed it. His sudden appearance and what he showed was too great a variable. Most wanted to use Sylvie just for her and the power associated with her, while others had bigger ambitions. Regardless, whatever goals one might have, it was now too high of a risk.

    Valcor knew his high position effectively bound his entire family. Now, along with their nuisances being cleared away, they gained Nox and Nyx while making his daughter happy. Of course he would feel great.

    Valcor and Ashuen led Nox around to meet a few of their friends, of which were all in military positions or their relatives. After sharing a few pleasantries with most, Ashuen left while Valcor led Nox to one of his closest friends.

    ¡°Nox, let me introduce you! This is General Hayde. He also guards the eastern border. ¡° Valcor introduced a bald, bearded, and very muscular man who appeared middle-aged. His bald head had two curved grey horns and he was well dressed, but his demeanor was very severe.

    ¡°Lord Nox, you¡¯re pretty impressive hahaha. Witnessing the thrashing you gave was refreshing!¡° General Hayde laughed heartily, a stark contrast to his appearance. As he was one of those that had an unusual feeling about Nox, he decided to stay quiet and watch how everything would play out.

    ¡°Greetings to you, General. ¡° Nox nodded in response.

    ¡°It was nothing at all, they had it coming. I am no Lord, therefore it¡¯s unusual having personages like you address me as such. Those in the military are part of the few I respect, so just call me Nox. I would feel better that way. ¡° Nox smiled. He¡¯s always liked straightforward people like Hayde, and it seemed that all Valcor¡¯s friends that attended had similar personalities.

    ¡°Ha, very well, Nox, then you can also address me by my name. How about you join Razzir¡¯s army? Now that you¡¯re engaged to Sylvie, you could be considered half a demon. I¡¯m sure you¡¯d acquire a good position. ¡° Hayde asked with a chuckle, but he was being serious.

    ¡°Sorry, Hayde, I¡¯ll have to decline. Although Sylvie and I are betrothed, I answer to no one, but myself. I can act on request, but it is impossible to order me. ¡° Nox expressed candidly. If even a Universe can¡¯t force him, what¡¯s more to say?

    Inspecting Nox, both Valcor and Hayde were shocked, before laughing heartily.

    ¡°Good, such intrepid words and confidence. I¡¯d expect no less of someone accepted by the Flame Axe himself. ¡° Hyde smiled widely, as Valcor looked a bit embarrassed to be called that in front of Nox.

    ¡®Well, I guess that¡¯s where their emblem comes from.¡¯ Nox thought.

    ¡®MASTER, don¡¯t you have it wrong? ¡® Nyx sent to Nox, interrupting him.

    ¡°Hmm? ¡° Nox became puzzled as he glanced at Nyx across the room.

    ¡®What about Stella? ¡® Nyx smirked.

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Nox¡¯s expression froze as he felt defeated. His daughter might be the only exception.

    ¡®Master, maybe we should tell Sylvie? Only eternity remains, after all, and nothing will change that.¡¯  Nyx sent to Nox.

    Hearing Nyx, Nox gazed at Sylvie as she also began staring at him.

    ¡®Eternity, huh? Such an unusual concept to think about¡­ It was a long time ago, so do whatever you want.¡¯ Nox replied after a moment¡¯s deliberation and continued his conversation with Valcor and Hayde.

    Glancing at Nox, Nyx looked at Sylvie seriously ¡°Sylvie, put up that sound cancelling barrier you used earlier. ¡°

    Observing Nyx¡¯s expression, Sylvie looked puzzled, before she touched her hairpin, creating that same mana barrier from earlier.

    ¡°What is it, Nyx? ¡° Sylvie asked.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious if master has any children?¡° Nyx looked Sylvie in the eyes.

    Hearing Nyx, Sylvie froze. She hadn¡¯t thought of it before.

    ¡°Whether you and Nox have children or not, I don¡¯t care. It won¡¯t change how I feel.¡± Sylvie replied honestly but didn¡¯t notice Nyx¡¯s choice of words.

    ¡°Hehe Sylvie, you¡¯re too good¡­ but, now that you are master¡¯s, and he is also yours, you should be made aware. ¡° Nyx turned severe.

    ¡°You already know how old master is, but I¡¯m only his fianc¨¦. Do you know why that is?¡±

    Sylvie silently listened.

    ¡°Master had a wife and daughter 7,000 years ago. ¡°

    ¡®Had?¡¯ Sylvie felt a bad premonition.

    ¡°7,000 years ago, is also when they were killed in front of him. Both of us, actually. ¡°

    ¡°What!?¡° Sylvie exclaimed in shock.

    ¡°Killed? ¡° she looked at Nyx, before turning her gaze towards Nox that was talking with General Hayde and her father. Seeing his amiable expression and demeanor, then remembering that killing intent and aura he showed earlier, her heart dropped as the pieces started coming together.

    Becoming misty eyed, she looked at Nyx silently.

    ¡°The story is long. You don¡¯t need to learn all of it right now, but I can tell you a bit more. Only for your ears. Master attained his vengeance and managed to perfectly revive his daughter several years ago. Her name is Stella and she¡¯s quite lively. She wanted to go on her own, leaving master and I all by our lonesome. Funnily enough, we only parted today. Today was also the day master became mine. And now yours as well. He must be feeling very overwhelmed by today¡¯s events hehehe. ¡° Nyx giggled after dropping that bomb. Nox was good now, so it didn¡¯t matter much if she told someone like Sylvie.

    Glancing at Sylvie from the side, Nox began to feel uneasy.

    ¡®Maybe it was a mistake to let Nyx tell her¡­ Still, it seems Sylvie¡¯s more sensitive than she appears¡­ seeing her like that makes even me feel it¡­ why is it so strong? Is it only because I¡¯m different, or is this normal?¡¯ Nox pondered before Nyx contacted him again.

    ¡®Master, you should come to us.¡¯

    Inspecting Nyx and Sylvie, Nox turned to Valcor and Hayde ¡°Sorry, but I must take my leave, Nyx and Sylvie are requesting me. ¡°

    ¡°I see, then we won¡¯t hold you! Us old friends will talk alone for a bit. ¡° Hayde pat Valcor on the shoulder.

    On the side, Valcor said the same, but he felt curious inside when he saw Sylvie¡¯s countenance.

    Nodding, Nox head to the edge of the room where Nyx and Sylvie were. The area was empty, as if people made space just for them.

    Noticing the mana barrier, Nox passed through as if It was nothing, startling a few that witnessed him.

    ¡°What is it? Ugh-¡° Nox gazed at them before Sylvie jumped into his embrace, beginning to cry.

    Looking at her in surprise, Nox didn¡¯t know what to do for a moment. Recovering, Nox wrapped his arms around her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I caused all this today. I forcefully took you away from your daughter and forced my feelings onto you. Our engagement shouldn¡¯t exist. ¡° Sylvie said emotionally with her face buried in Nox¡¯s chest.

    *sigh*

    ¡°I won¡¯t deny that I let my guard down and you summoned me, but you didn¡¯t take me away from Stella or forced your feelings onto me. Nyx might have told you already, but we parted before this happened, so don¡¯t let it bother you. You can force your feelings onto me all you want, but that doesn¡¯t force me to accept them." Nox rubbed the back of Sylvie''s head.

    My previous chapter has closed. This being the first day of my new life, a lot has happened, but now you¡¯re also a part of that life. If I didn¡¯t accept everything, we wouldn¡¯t be in this position right now. I could¡¯ve left anytime I wanted. Nyx wouldn¡¯t have told you something so private. Yet, here we are. Our meeting happened for a reason. You feel it too, don¡¯t you? ¡° Nox voiced gently as he gazed down towards Sylvie.

    Listening to Nox, Sylvie gazed upwards as her watery, emerald green eyes locked onto Nox¡¯s deep, grey ones. She could feel everything even more than before, as if an energy was seeping into her soul from Nox''s. His gentleness towards her, his sincerity, his heart. She had never experienced something this vivid. It was so overwhelming, but shortly after, a glimmer appeared in her eyes.

    Seeing Sylvie gaze up at him, Nox felt moved. He never liked seeing women cry, yet he was now at this point with someone that felt so strongly for him. He couldn¡¯t help feeling emotions bubbling inside. Her voice, the warmth, her flowery smell, and especially those eyes that looked at him with such purity.

    Experiencing all of this, Nox really began to think that it was due to his soul that went beyond the norm. As if when his soul finds another that¡¯s perfect, it¡¯ll grasp it and never let go, affecting and enhancing each other due to his strength. Something that he knew would normally take many days to understand, might be achieved in seconds. To feel this way so quickly, it was simply unfathomable. It broke all logic, yet it was so very real. He wondered if something similar happened to Elise, as her soul was very strong like his.

    Before getting to contemplate further, Sylvie¡¯s face inched towards his, as she closed her eyes and locked her lips with his.

    Feeling that soft sensation on his lips, Nox didn¡¯t even know what to think anymore. This has happened more times in one day than he ever would¡¯ve imagined.

    Surprised yet relishing the moment, they parted after a few moments. Sylvie¡¯s face was completely flushed as she gazed into Nox¡¯s eyes and asked quietly ¡°Will you let me meet Stella one day? ¡°

    ¡°Didn¡¯t we pretty much finalize our engagement just now? If so, then what do you think? ¡° Nox straightforwardly replied. If anything, his recovery rate was very high.

    ¡°Mmm¡± Sylvie beamed.

    ¡°Yes, Sylvie, what do you think? As one of Stella¡¯s future stepmother¡¯s, why do you even need to ask? Oh, and wasn¡¯t that your first kiss!? I could tell, there¡¯s no lying before me! ¡° Nyx asked with enthusiasm.

    ¡°I¡­ umm¡­ yes... ¡° Stella whispered with embarrassment.

    ¡°Oh, perfect! Master was also my first. It appears he¡¯ll be taking all our firsts! Maybe even together, how exciting! ¡° Nyx spoke loudly and winked at Sylvie.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    Hearing Nyx, Sylvie¡¯s face became so red, she seemed to almost pass out, as she quickly let go of Nox and covered her face with her hands.

    ¡°Damn, Nyx, what the hell are you on about? This is no time for that. ¡° even Nox appeared embarrassed for Sylvie when he heard her. It was all for their ears only, but how could she be so shameless?

    ¡°Correct, master. Now is not the time, but it will eventually be. My body will always be ready for you. Actually, maybe the time is now, and you want to begin right here. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll cover us with Darkness, no one but Sylvie will see us. Her mana barrier will even prevent the sounds. ¡° Nyx looked coquettish, lifting the end of her black dress slightly and showing off her pale thighs to Nox.

    ¡®How did she turn out like this? For fucks sake, she was only a weapon spirit before today¡­ well, maybe it¡¯s not too bad.¡¯ Nox shouted inwardly, going from frustration to amusement very quickly.

    He knew Nyx was only doing this to mess around with Sylvie¡­ well, seeing as how she is, if he asked, she probably wouldn¡¯t decline. But, they didn¡¯t come here for that, especially himself, not to mention it would be too soon. This type of relationship was enough for now, as it was something he never thought would happen again after that day, and it was also something Nyx always wanted.

    On the side, Hayde laughed boisterously when he saw them.

    ¡°Valcor, seems little Sylvie is just as bold! Buahahaha. ¡° Hayde slammed his large hand into Valcor¡¯s back, causing him to lurch forward.

    ¡®If only he knew they just met today¡­ Ah, Sylvie.¡¯ Valcor still couldn¡¯t help but feel complex.

    ¡°My, my, look at Sylvie. Daring to share a kiss in front of so many¡­ and look at Nyx clearly teasing her. Ah, such innocence. ¡° after going around speaking to a few guests, Ashuen was now seated with Glenn and Avera, as she spoke with a smile.

    ¡°Nox is a very lucky man to have our little Sylvie. ¡° Avera expressed while looking at them.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it should be seen in that light, Avera. In these situations, the luck you speak of is not one sided. When you think of Jaks, you don¡¯t consider him lucky to have you, right? You feel thankful to have him, while he thinks the same for you. Those three are exactly the same. They all are lucky to have gained something, whether it¡¯s a companion, lover, friend, or all of the above.¡° Glenn gazed at Avera before looking towards Nox, Nyx, and Sylvie.

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. Those three all gained something they needed, even if they themselves don¡¯t realize what. ¡° Avera nodded in understanding but still kept her eyes on them.

    ¡°Good, I¡¯m glad you two see that, as your father and I are the same. We don¡¯t devalue ourselves or each other. That is how we, and many others prosper to this day and will continue to do so. ¡° Ashuen looked on with a smile, before she turned her gaze towards one of the hall doors that began to open.

    Entering the hall, a very professional woman in maid attire with short black hair was leading a young woman with dark red hair tied up into a ponytail. She didn¡¯t have any horns and appeared to be human.

    ¡°My Lord, Lady Ilene has arrived. ¡° the maid bowed respectfully as they came up to Valcor and Hayde.

    ¡°General Valcor, General Hayde.¡± the young woman, Ilene, bowed.

    ¡°Ah, Ilene, how unexpected! Forget about me and the formalities, just go with Mel to see Sylvie. She¡¯s over there haha. ¡° Valcor motioned towards the side of the room with a chuckle.

    "Yes, go on." Hayde nodded.

    ¡°Thank you. ¡° Ilene expressed sincerely.

    ¡°My Lord, General Hayde. ¡° the maid, who was Mel, bowed once more and led Ilene towards Sylvie.

    Gazing at their backs, Valcor and Haydes eyes turned sharp when they noticed a small emblem on Ilene¡¯s clothes. Looking at each other, they simultaneously thought ''Interesting''.

    Noticing Nox and Nyx, along with Sylvie¡¯s blushing visage, Ilene and Mel felt surprised, especially Ilene.

    ¡°Oh, looks like that maid, Mel, arrived with a guest. ¡° Nyx noticed Mel and Ilene heading towards them.

    ''?'' Sylvie looked to the side, before she became excited.

    ¡°ILENE! ¡° Sylvie shouted, but she saw no response.

    ¡°Oh, right, the barrier. ¡° she infused mana into her hairpin, extending the barrier to them.

    ¡°ILENE! ¡° Sylvie shouted once more, running up to Ilene and hugging her.

    On the side, Mel smiled when looking at this.

    ¡°Lord Nox, Lady Nyx¡± Mel bowed to them.

    ¡®Now you¡¯re also calling me Lord?¡¯ Nox thought.

    ¡°Listen Mel, just call us by our names, no formalities. ¡° Nox said. He didn¡¯t want someone important to Sylvie and his future family to call him that.

    ¡°Very well, Nox, Nyx. ¡° Mel bowed candidly in acceptance.

    ¡°Good¡± Nox turned his gaze towards Ilene, as Nyx did the same. Due to the nature of the Ragnarr¡¯s and most of their friends, she was used to such directness.

    ¡°It¡¯s so good to see you! It¡¯s been nearly 10 years since you left. ¡° Sylvie grabbed Ilene''s hands happily.

    ¡°Hehe, how could I miss your 100<sup>th</sup> birthday? It looks like you finally awakened, congratulations! ¡° Ilene expressed with a smile.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a good day. I awakened to Ice, Wind, and Spirit, although they¡¯re all lower affinity. ¡° Sylvie voiced, yet wasn¡¯t upset about her affinities anymore.

    ¡°Wow, what rare affinities for a Demon! No matter the affinity, they¡¯re very strong elements. ¡° Ilene said honestly.

    ¡°By the way, who are your friends? Aren¡¯t you going to introduce me? ¡° Ilene asked with curiosity, eying Nox and Nyx.

    ¡°Oh, sorry, this is¡­ my¡­ my¡­ my future husband, Nox. And that is Nox¡¯s Fianc¨¦, Nyx. ¡° Sylvie stuttered a bit, struggling to say those words.

    ¡°HUSBAND? Wow. 10 years ago, when I left, you still hadn¡¯t met any guys. Time flies. ¡° Ilene exclaimed and inspected Nox and Nyx. Nyx was very beautiful, yet also gave her an unusual feeling.

    Gazing into her red eyes with vertical slits as irises, she also noticed the thin black scales around her eyes ¡®Could she be a Dragon?¡¯ Ilene guessed, before eyeing Nox.

    ¡®Sylvie¡¯s future husband¡­he already has that woman, Nyx, yet Sylvie doesn¡¯t seem to have been forced. It¡¯s mutual? And he appears human. Interracial relationships are uncommon for Demons.¡¯ Ilene pondered, as she looked into Nox¡¯s eyes. Like her, Nox and Nyx were also inspecting her.

    Meeting Nox¡¯s gaze, Ilene froze. She felt as if her entire being was seen through by him.

    ¡®Tell me, who exactly are you?¡¯ Nox¡¯s piercing gaze was on her as he calmly sent his voice to her mind. He felt she was unusual.

    ¡®I¡¯m Sylvie¡¯s friend from childhood. Why do you need to use this method to ask?¡¯ Ilene felt frozen but didn¡¯t panic. She didn¡¯t feel that Nox would do anything.

    Gazing into Ilene¡¯s Brown eyes, Nox switched to her right arm, inspecting it closely. Very small, there was an emblem like a swirl that had an innumerable number of specks inside. Appearing similar to a memory, Nox asked in surprise ¡®Ilene, right? Do you know¡­ what the Milky Way is?¡¯

    ¡®!!!¡¯ Ilene¡¯s expression changed into one of shock and trepidation.

    ¡®So, you do. Does that mean you regained your memories from that life?¡¯ Nox asked curiously.

    ¡®¡­¡¯ Ilene looked at Nox silently, as she began to feel even more nervous. This day finally came, and it was here of all places.

    ¡®Why the hell are you getting so anxious for? I only asked a question out of curiosity. If you have enemies, then why would you wear that emblem¡­ don¡¯t you have any sense?¡¯ Nox looked at her, puzzled. It looked like she didn¡¯t know if he was friend or foe. All because he guessed her emblems origin. Was she stupid?

    Listening to Nox¡¯s words, Ilene¡¯s anxious expression turned into anger and pointed at him ¡°Screw you, I''m not an idiot! It¡¯s there for a reason! ¡°

    Surprised at her sudden outburst, Sylvie and Mel looked at Nox and Ilene in confusion, while Nyx¡¯s expression darkened.

    ¡°You dare curse master? Are you courting death? ¡° Nyx glared at Ilene, as her red eyes turned malevolent and a cold and murderous aura spread out from her body.

    Seeing Nyx¡¯s reaction, Ilene¡¯s breath stopped as her countenance paled. How could such a beautiful woman have something like this?

    Next to Ilene, Sylvie was also startled, but not scared ¡®This is¡­ also Nyx? Nox and her¡­ what happened after that day?

    ¡°Stop, Nyx, don¡¯t take it too seriously, I don¡¯t mind. Besides, she¡¯s also Sylvie¡¯s friend. ¡° Nox¡¯s voice resounded in her ears.

    Awakening to Nox¡¯s voice, Nyx¡¯s aura dissipated as quickly as it appeared, but now only a cold indifference was left towards Ilene.

    Her face still pale, she took a deep breath to calm down.

    ¡°Ilene, what happened? Why did you yell at Nox like that? ¡° Sylvie queried because of her outburst. It was too unusual, and now this entire situation became awkward.

    ¡°Sorry, Sylvie, it was nothing. I came here to see you, but do you mind if I talk to your future husband for a moment? I only need to ask him something. ¡° Ilene asked after mostly calming herself, albeit with some trepidation still left.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but alright. I¡¯ll Just talk with Nyx and Mel. ¡° blushing slightly due to what Ilene said, Sylvie sustained the mana barrier and walked a distance away with Mel in tow.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be quick, Nyx. ¡° Nox looked at her.

    Nodding, Nyx didn¡¯t speak as she gave a cold glance to Ilene while walking towards Mel and Sylvie.

    *sigh*

    Nox sighed when he looked at Nyx, thinking to himself ¡®She got like that over something so small. I have to talk to her after this.¡¯

    With only the two of them remaining, they silently looked at each other before Nox motioned slightly, using mana to create a similar barrier to the one Sylvie used. He figured out the complexities behind it after seeing it earlier.

    Witnessing this, Ilene looked at Nox in shock ¡®He made an isolation barrier so easily by himself? Who the hell did Sylvie become engaged to?¡¯

    To Nox, understanding how it was created didn¡¯t seem that difficult after he saw it and then felt the mana when he walked through. The magic of Archaeos and the Qi of Tian, although different, had many similarities.

    What he didn¡¯t know, is that besides being able to walk through an isolation barrier without breaking it, making one yourself was far from easy. Other than understanding the layout of the magic, it required immense control and a lot of mana to accomplish that.

    Nox had decided to use his newfound ability because he never really liked speaking so much mentally, yet he¡¯s done it a lot today.

    He also read in that book about the elements, that some people, albeit very uncommon, could stealthily intercept your mental communications. To accomplish this, the interceptor needed to be pretty close in power to the one sending their thoughts, though. He didn¡¯t think someone could do it to him, but it was good to have understood the barrier because it prevented sound from escaping and any mana attempting to be sent inside would either be instantly known or prevented.

    That was why unless you had no choice, only people confident in their strength would speak to each other mentally.

    ¡°Sorry for my outburst. You looked at me like some kind of idiot, so I¡­ got a little irritated. ¡° letting go of her shock, Ilene expressed with an anxious and awkward expression.

    ¡°Well, I did. I¡¯m assuming your organization has some enmity with others, so why are you wearing an emblem people know about? And before you ask, I hold allegiances to no one. ¡° Nox said directly.

    ¡°You! ¡° Ilene glared at Nox.

    ¡°Fine. To what you asked earlier, I did regain the memories of my previous life, and the emblem is for people like me to see it. Can you answer my question, then? Are you the same or are you one of the few that only know what it¡¯s called? ¡° Ilene asked, but she didn¡¯t feel anxious anymore. At the minimum, she knew Nox wasn¡¯t an enemy.

    ¡°Hmm. Well, I do have memories from Earth, so I guess I¡¯m like you. ¡° Nox nodded.

    ¡°EARTH? You¡¯re also from Earth!? ¡° Ilene exclaimed.

    ¡°Huh?¡­ Oh, I see how it is. There are people from different planets that reincarnated here? ¡° Nox asked in understanding. Aliens do exist, it seems.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right! Wow, you¡¯re only the third person I know of including leader, that came from Earth. ¡° Ilene became excited. It was like meeting someone from your hometown.

    ¡®If only she knew that I didn¡¯t come here from Earth, and this was technically my second reincarnation. That I¡¯m aware of, at least. It also appears that they don¡¯t know of universe¡¯s other than Archaeos and Galactic where Earth is.¡¯ Nox thought.

    ¡°Pretty interesting. What exactly is your organization for? And your enemies? Oh, and you also mentioned a few that are only aware of what it is. ¡° Nox bombarded her with questions now that they seemed to be on better terms.

    ¡°Oh yeah. We¡¯re called the ¡®Order of Rebirth ¡®. Lame, I know. As for our enemies¡­ we only have two, really. ¡° Ilene became somber.

    ¡°Death¡¯s Hand¡­ and the Sanctum of Gods. Death¡¯s Hand are a mix of assassins, bounty hunters, mercenaries, and deal in many different items. Good or bad doesn¡¯t matter to them; only money. Some specifically target us and hire their assassins, and they¡¯re no pushovers.

    As for the Sanctum of Gods¡­ they¡¯re supposedly legitimate Gods that consider us reincarnator¡¯s, amongst many other¡¯s, and those who don¡¯t originate here, as abominations and a threat to the world, seeking to ¡®cleanse ¡® us. The only saving grace is they supposedly can¡¯t interfere much with mortals, so they have several chosen followers who carry out their will¡­ but, all their chosen have immense mana and high affinities, and whenever they appear, blood begins to flow like a river. A lot of my comrades have died by their hands over these last few years.¡° Ilene clenched her fists emotionally.

    ¡°Very few outside of reincarnator¡¯s know about the Milky Way and what it truly means, as the information is held tight by the Sanctum. So, although it¡¯s a risk, it¡¯s better than being hunted down one by one and dying without knowing why. ¡°

    ¡°Death¡¯s Hand? Those types are par the course in any world¡­ I¡¯m sorry for your loss, but Gods? Hahahahaha, Gods? ¡± Nox laughed as if he heard the funniest joke in the world.

    Gazing at Nox, Ilene became startled and irritated, wondering if he¡¯s insane. Laughing about those Gods that hunt whoever they want? How his that funny?

    ¡°Gods¡­ are nothing. It appears they¡¯re the same breed no matter where you go.¡° Nox¡¯s eyes turned sharp, as a murderous aura unconsciously began flowing out of him.

    ¡°Very few of them are what people might call True Gods. The rest treat all others as if they were insects and toys to be played around with. Even those so called chosen you mentioned are almost certainly just pawns in their little game. When they lose their worth, they are discarded and left with what little life they were able to preserve, if that. ¡° Nox gazed upwards, as if he was looking at something other than the ceiling.

    ¡°Good, very good. Looks like wearing that emblem was worth the risk. I won¡¯t join you and your Order, but if what you say is true, you could consider me as your ally. ¡° Nox moved his vision back to Ilene.

    Looking into Nox¡¯s piercing gaze and demeanor, Ilene no longer thought he was acting insane. Staring at him now, it was like witnessing the awakening of an ancient predator ¡®Not even leader gives off a feeling like his... And Nox is from Earth¡­ how?¡¯

    On the side with Sylvie and Mel, Nyx was furtively glancing at Nox when she noticed his change in demeanor, becoming surprised ¡®Master¡­ what did she tell him to cause that? Cursing him or threatening? No, it could only be them¡­ which means they¡¯re here as well? Good, master and I will purge them from this world!¡¯  Nyx thought as a similar, yet subtle aura and gaze as Nox manifested.

    ¡°Nyx?¡± Sylvie asked curiously when she saw her spacing out, while Mel became nervous.

    ¡°Oh, I apologize. I was just thinking about a certain matter. ¡° Nyx quickly changed to a smile.

    ¡°I see, no problem. ¡° Sylvie said and didn¡¯t pry further, although she felt there was more to it.

    In front of Nox, Ilene deliberated briefly.

    ¡°I was going to ask, but I guess you saw that coming. Our Headquarters is in Akaneia. If you find yourself there and feel like meeting us, head to Drok''kor and find a Scribe known as Gronn. Tell him you want a ¡®Death and Rebirth Scroll'', as well as a ¡®Star Scroll¡¯. You need to ask for both and he¡¯ll send you to us. As for me, I may or may not be there. After this, I need to head out for a couple more years. I¡¯m only here for Sylvie, after all. ¡° Ilene said seriously.

    Although Nox was a reincarnator, he wasn¡¯t joining them. Not to mention him being abnormal, it was still a risk. But, her relationship with Sylvie and the fact Nox was from Earth overpowered everything else.

    ¡®The ancient land and the Dwarven capital¡­ Seems like they¡¯re pretty influential despite being hunted.¡¯ Nox pondered.

    ¡°Alright. I won¡¯t betray trust others put in me. Since you told me all this critical information, and you¡¯re Sylvie¡¯s close friend, I¡¯ll give you this. ¡° Nox stuck out his upturned palm as mana began condensing on top. He had pretty good insight when differentiating between truth and lies.

    Forming a small, square and nearly translucent tablet, Nox infused a sliver of his soul energy into it.

    ¡°Here. ¡° Nox threw the tablet towards Ilene. Catching it, she felt an incredible amount of energy hidden within. If she peered into it for too long, Ilene felt that her entire being would be devoured.

    ¡®What the hell is this guy? From Earth as well¡­ Sylvie, how did you even find him, much less become engaged?¡¯ Ilene felt as if her mind just fried.

    Unlike Locke who knew about Nox beforehand, therefore wasn¡¯t surprised, Ilene was exactly the opposite.

    ¡°Keep it on your person at all times. If you¡¯re in an absolutely dire situation, infuse your mana essence into it and I¡¯ll be notified instantly. Unless I ever change my mind, this will be the only one I¡¯ll give you, so use it wisely. ¡° Nox expressed seriously.

    Moving her gaze between Nox and the tablet, Ilene nodded solemnly ¡°Thank you. ¡°

    Although Ilene felt the tablets power, she never would have imagined how significant it would be, nor the significance of the information she gave Nox.

 Chapter 9 - Failed Attempt

    ¡°Let¡¯s put an end to this conversation. It went on a lot longer than I anticipated, and Sylvie must be anxious by now. Don¡¯t speak to her about what we talked about¡­ she doesn¡¯t need to know everything right now.¡° Nox was looking at Sylvie as his eyes flickered and the barrier dissipated.

    ¡°I know.¡± Ilene nodded in agreement.

    Witnessing the interaction between Nox and Ilene, people looked at them curiously, but mainly Sylvie¡¯s family. They saw both with varying expressions, especially Nox and his gaze; it was a bit different compared to before, but Ashuen noticed it the most. Like he remembered something that evoked true rage but kept it under control.

    ¡®Master gave her a soul talisman¡­ Very well.¡¯ Nyx saw Ilene holding the talisman.

    Seeing that they were finished speaking, Sylvie ran up to Nox and Ilene.

    ¡°Is everything fine? ¡° Sylvie spoke a bit worriedly.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry, we only had a little chat. Good job! You found an impressive husband. ¡° Ilene hugged Sylvie with a smile.

    ¡°We¡¯re not married yet¡­¡± Sylvie blushed and looked at Nox.

    ¡°Master is far more than impressive. There is no other being as capable. ¡° Nyx appeared from behind Sylvie, looking at Ilene as if mocking her ignorance.

    ¡°You! ¡° Ilene glared angrily at Nyx.

    ¡°Me what? ¡° Nyx smirked coldly before walking up to Nox and locking arms with him.

    ¡°What are you doing? ¡° Nox glanced at Nyx.

    ¡°Hugging your arm, master? ¡° Nyx''s red eyes gazed innocently at Nox.

    *sigh¡±

    ¡®Stop messing around. That woman, Ilene¡­ she reincarnated from Earth.¡¯ Nox didn¡¯t show that he was speaking mentally to Nyx.

    ¡®Really? Master¡­ did she mention those filthy beings?¡¯ Nyx¡¯s eyes turned sharp.

    ¡®That¡¯s right. It turns out that they¡¯re here and also act the same. They¡¯re hunting reincarnator¡¯s, amongst many others¡­ I wonder if that¡¯s what the case was on Tian as well. And how do they know who has remembered or not? What can they see? Damn, I really don¡¯t know how that information escaped our grasp and Elise had to speak of it. Why no one said anything to me before...¡¯ Nox said thoughtfully, slightly frustrated.

    ¡®Scum! We will get the information we desire and eradicate them for their deeds! ¡¯ Nyx expressed malevolently.

    ¡®Mmm, right. Their only road leads to nothingness!¡¯ Nox¡¯s gaze turned cold for a moment, before turning back to normal and telling Nyx everything else him and Ilene spoke about.

    ¡®How intriguing. I¡¯ll follow your will, master.¡¯ Nyx gazed at Nox.

    ¡®We¡¯ll save this matter for another time. If we come across an incident, we can deal with it then. Let go of what happened with Ilene. Actually, don¡¯t worry about similar matters so much in the future¡­ You know what¡¯s real or not.¡¯ Nox looked at her.

    Nodding slightly, Nyx let go of Nox

    ¡°Alright, Ilene, I shall forgive your lack of vision. Sylvie let¡¯s move to that table over there, I must try that food! ¡° Nyx¡¯s mood took a 180 as she moved to the end of one of the long tables with food on it.

    ¡®She is unbelievable. What a fanatic.¡¯ Ilene thought.

    ¡°Sylvie, how about we join her? You too, Mel. ¡° Ilene looked at Sylvie and Mel who appeared a little later after Nyx.

    ¡°I will have to decline, Lady Ilene, it would be inappropriate. ¡° Mel refused politely.

    ¡°No, you¡¯ll join us! ¡° Sylvie glared at Mel.

    ¡°¡­ very well, second young miss. ¡° Mel relented, yet felt warm inside.

    ¡°Nox, aren¡¯t you coming with us? ¡° Sylvie queried because Nox was standing there silently.

    ¡°Go on without me, I think I should join your mother and siblings. ¡° Nox gazed at Sylvie.

    Looking into Nox¡¯s eyes, Sylvie nodded ¡°Okay, I¡¯m sure my brother and sister want to finally speak with you. ¡°

    Going their separate ways, Nox head towards the table Ashuen, Glenn, and Avera were seated at.

    ¡°Ah, Nox, it¡¯s good you came. ¡° Ashuen stood up and gave Nox a warm hug.

    Seeing her doing that so straightforwardly, Nox froze.

    ¡°Ash-¡° Nox began to speak.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have none of that; call me mother from now on. You¡¯re to be family, after all. ¡° Ashuen looked sternly at Nox.

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s. You don¡¯t even know much about me. How old I am. How old Nyx is. It wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal, but I¡¯m with Sylvie now¡­ She accepted us, but¡­¡± Nox expressed solemnly.

    Sure, age didn¡¯t matter in general after a point, but now he felt awkward because they¡¯re to be family. Bigger gaps then theirs probably existed here, and especially on Tian, but how could you not feel nervous when you, yourself are met with that situation? How would they react? He ended up with their youngest daughter and was almost certainly older than the combined age of her immediate family.

    ¡°Nox, I already see you¡¯re abnormal. Your vision, your aura. Both you and Nyx. Regardless of anything, you three are clearly bound by your souls. It is a part of nature and part of life itself, therefore it¡¯s now as if you¡¯re naturally family. ¡° Ashuen expressed gently.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Nox, my mother is correct. Abrupt as it may be, as old as you may be, it has been ordained by the natural world that your lives are connected. Why wouldn¡¯t we also accept you and Nyx? ¡° Glenn stood, extending his hand, while Avera nodded in agreement.

    ''Nature, huh?'' Nox reflected. All souls originated from the natural energies, even his.

    ¡°My name is Glenn Ragnarr, Sylvie¡¯s older brother. 377 years old, a husband and father, and a Colonel in the Eastern borders. I''m stationed under my father, but I took temporary leave for Sylvie¡¯s birthday. Like my father, I specialize in fire magic.

    That is my younger sister and Sylvie¡¯s older sister, Avera. 251 years old, she has a husband and children. She¡¯s a Captain also under my father, and like my mother, she specializes in water magic. ¡° Glenn looked at Nox.

    Observing Glenn¡¯s brown eyes, Nox could tell he¡¯s being sincere. Extending his hand, Nox shook Glenn¡¯s.

    ¡°Very well. ¡° Nox said as he opened up a mana barrier, only allowing them to hear his next words.

    Looking at his actions, Ashuen, Glenn, and Avera appeared surprised.

    ¡°I never expected to tell so many, yet here we are. Since you are sincere, I will be as well¡­¡± Nox looked at them seriously.

    ¡°You should already know, but my full name is Nox Ferrum¡­ 7,542 years old, widower to a wife who died over 7,000 years ago, and father to a daughter I had with her. I have no occupation, nor allegiances. I don''t know what my affinities are, but I might specialize in Conjuration and Lightning.

    As for Nyx, she has no surname. Her exact age is unknown, even to her, but she¡¯s about 19,000 years old. No spouses or children. She has no occupation and knowing her, she would probably say her only allegiance is to me. Her specialties appear to be Darkness and Blood. ¡°

    Gazing at Nox, all three couldn¡¯t help but feel surprised.

    ¡®So, he was married and has a child¡­Widowed for 7,000 years yet isn¡¯t married again after that long? Unbelievable. And Nyx, her only relationship is with Nox after such a long life. These two¡­ how unique. ¡¯ Ashuen thoughtfully looked at Nox with a gentle look in her eyes. Next to her, Glenn and Avera were thinking the same, albeit slightly surprised at their ages.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss, Nox. You really didn¡¯t need to worry. Please take care of Sylvie. She¡¯s 100 now and has been past the age of maturity for many years, but she¡¯s very inexperienced, only knowing a small area around the city and what¡¯s read in books or seen in recording orbs. ¡° Glenn expressed sincerely.

    Nox and Nyx¡¯s ages were slightly surprising, but it didn¡¯t matter. Races of varying ages and lifespans married and had children, such an elf with a human, or demon with a human. It was rare, but that was all.

    ¡°Yes Nox, take care of little Sylvie. What has happened today has been no coincidence, so I¡¯m¡­ going to put my trust in you. ¡° Avera looked seriously at Nox. She didn¡¯t say much, but she wanted Nox to understand how important Sylvie was to her.

    ¡°Even if the heavens themselves collapse, nothing will ever take her life. That¡¯s one matter I can promise with absolute certainty. ¡° Nox expressed with a vow, feeling relieved and then remembering what Glenn said.

    ¡®Recording Orbs? I do recall seeing some in the library¡­ advanced water magic used to visually record whatever¡¯s in your sight. I should probably get some just in case.¡¯ Nox thought for the future.

    ¡®Nox¡­ do you realize you said that more for yourself, and not for Glenn and Avera?¡¯ Ashuen silently observed, feeling sympathy and happiness. Sympathy for his loss, and happiness for his resolve and care towards Sylvie.

    ¡°Nox, I really am deeply sorry for your loss¡­ I couldn¡¯t imagine losing Valcor. ¡° Ashuen glanced at Valcor who was talking with Hayde.

    ¡°It was a long time ago. I have a new life now. ¡° Nox expressed with a smile as he looked towards Nyx and Sylvie, before his expression darkened.

    ¡°YOU DARE? ¡° Nox¡¯s voice boomed incredibly loud like thunder, as a shockwave of mana exploded outwards towards Sylvie, Nyx, Mel and Ilene, clearing the area around them.

    Next to Nox, Ashuen, Glenn, and Avera were unaffected by his yell, as he controlled it.

    *tink tink tink*

    Multiple sounds as if metal hitting stone or other metal resounded within the hall. Around the four, eight daggers of various design¡¯s, shrouded in dense black, were on the ground. Moments later, the floor made from precious materials began dissolving around the daggers.

    ¡°Death¡¯s Touch, the signature poison of Death¡¯s Hand! ¡° Gasps were heard around the room after they heard Nox and saw the daggers.

    ¡°ASSASSINS IN MY OWN HOME? YOU¡¯RE SEEKING DEATH! ¡° Valcor roared as flames erupted from his body and a large double-sided axe appeared in his hands.

    A large hand coated in darkness suddenly pressing down on his shoulder, Valcor calmed when he heard the words ¡°Settle down, old friend¡­ I think it¡¯s best you send the others away and don¡¯t interfere. ¡°

    Glancing at Hayde and then around the hall, Valcor thought quickly and removed his flames ¡°My friend¡¯s, I¡¯m thankful that you all attended my daughter¡¯s banquet, however I¡¯m afraid it must end here. I¡¯ll issue an official apology and compensation at a later date. GUARDS, ESCORT OUR GUESTS OUTSIDE! ¡° Valcor yelled loudly, as guards immediately came inside from outside the hall.

    After a brief dozen seconds, everyone inside the hall was gone, save for Hayde, Ilene and Mel, Sylvie¡¯s family, and Nox and Nyx.

    In two different locations, incredibly potent presences that even chilled the air manifested. If any others were in the hall, they would instill fear into all.

    On one side of the hall, Nox¡¯s eyes were blue-white and you could see the immense rage within. His aura and mana were fluctuating erratically. Although the others were also angry, they became shocked upon witnessing Nox¡¯s instability. He had the signs of someone close to going berserk.

    On the other side, Nyx¡¯s eyes became an even deeper red, as dark strands of smoke were floating from different areas of her body. Her hands became claws as thin pitch-black scales grew on her hands and around her neck.

    Near Nyx, Ilene and Mel became vigilant, while Sylvie stared intently at Nox and Nyx. She could clearly feel their emotions, especially the ones coming from Nox. His were very intense.

    ¡°Nyx! No mercy. Leave their leader to me. ¡° Nox voiced coldly, trying to keep control. Nyx would have been fine, but Sylvie was still weak. If hit by any of those daggers, she would have died immediately.

    His soul was everything. It¡¯s what led him and Ling to each other. What led him to Nyx. His core and what helped revive and strengthen Stella. Meeting today yet having such a powerful connection with Sylvie, it was because of that. He realized it and it was the reason he accepted these developments. Now, having assassin¡¯s come at this moment, it was like he returned to 7,000 years ago. His soul was crying out for total destruction, but Nox knew he shouldn¡¯t be rash right now.

    Extending his right hand, Nox created a long spear of lightning. Grasping with his left, a bubble seemed to pop as multiple masked and fully black clothed bodies materialized, each releasing different pitched yells. Nox had somehow enclosed them inside a barrier of mana.

    Pulling back his arm, Nox threw the spear forward with incredible force, heading straight for one of the black clothed people. From their figure, it appeared to be a woman. Followed by another grasping motion, the spear exploded when it arrived inches away from her.

    Getting no chance to react, the woman only saw a bright flash of light, before she began screaming in agony.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡®Slowly turn to ashes'' Nox¡¯s chilling voice resounded in her ear.

    As Nox¡¯s lightning spear exploded right in front of her, a rain of lightning drilled into every part of her body but her heart and head. She felt as if a torrential rain of arrows pierced every inch of her, causing an endless amount of pain, while the lightning also seemed to prevent her from losing consciousness.

    A few seconds later, her body was charred and slowly disappearing, before the lightning exploded once more, leaving only ashes behind.

    In front of Nyx, black smoke poured out of her, matching her long pitch-black hair, as she locked onto a black clothed man.

    Gazing at him with a smirk, Nyx allowed him to gain his balance and pull out a sword coated in the same poison as the daggers.

    ¡°HAAAH¡± he charged forward carried by a gust of wind with his sword covered in a sharp green mana, arriving in front of Nyx and trying to run her through.

    Opening her left claw, the sword ran right into her scales as it shattered the metal and mana upon impact. Swifting pushing forwards and shattering the rest of the blade, Nyx gripped his sword wielding hand. Darkness beginning to spread from her claw onto his, the mans cloth, flesh and bone began corroding. Screaming in agony as his hand liquefied, Nyx pierced forwards into his chest using her right claw.

    Still smirking, Nyx clenched her hand as the light from the man¡¯s eyes began fading along with flowing blood pouring out of his mouth. Nyx crushed his heart.

    In a swift movement, Nyx pulled out the claw which was covered in the man¡¯s blood, causing him to drop to the ground with a loud thud. Lifting her arm, blood began gathering off her hand and pulled from what dripped from her hair, along with what flowed from the man¡¯s body. A few moments later, a large blood claw that extended from her own, formed with a thick, threatening presence.

    Locking her gaze onto another black clothed figure appearing to be a man, Nyx''s red eyes shone eerily alongside that blood claw, as she swung her arm down.

    Shocked by his comrades death and now the descending claw, the man swiftly lifted his arms, as a shield of water formed in the air above him, attempting to block Nyx¡¯s attack. To no avail, the shield exploded in a rain upon making contact. Her blood claw completely unaffected, in came down on the man as in sliced him into multiple pieces.

    Nodding at her work, a flash of lightning sped past her, as Nox appeared in front of a very scrawny looking man. Putting his hand forward without stopping, he grabbed the man¡¯s head as a torrent of lightning exploded outwards upon contact, slamming him face first into the floor, using the momentum to drag him. Closely behind them appeared a semicircular trench due to the man¡¯s body.

    With a deep, guttural howl, the man was in severe pain.

    After but a moment, another boom was heard, and a torrent of lightning exploded outwards, lighting up the entire hall while another howl was heard.

    Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Nox loosened his grip. He didn¡¯t want to kill him at the moment.

    The lightning finally clearing, the floor was sunken in and had cracks spreading outwards like a spiderweb.

    The man¡¯s black mask was gone as the entire hall became silent. Already having a grasp of Nox and Nyx¡¯s power, although a bit surprised at their methods, what remained is what truly shocked them, especially Nox and Nyx.

    A charred and severely cracked skull with green flames in the eye sockets.

    ¡°An undead skeleton? ¡° Nox looked surprised. His hand was covering the skeletons face, so althought it felt weird, he didn''t get a good look until now.

    ¡°¡­ so, it¡¯s true. ¡° Hayde muttered and looked at Valcor solemnly.

    Nodding, Valcor looked back towards Nox to observe.

    ¡°Keh, keh, keh, keh, what a failure. Who knew we would run into someone able to sense and reveal us. Keh, keh, keh. ¡° the undead laughed eerily.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re an undead. I guess that makes this easy. Enlighten me about your mission and Death¡¯s Hand and be granted a painless death. Or refuse and be tortured until you pick the first option. ¡° Nox looked at the undead emotionlessly.

    ¡°A Lightning user, huh? What luck. Keh, I really wouldn¡¯t mind, but that¡¯s impossible.¡° the undead looked at Nox. Undead were very vulnerable to lightning, and if used, the pain would be unimaginable. A pain that went directly to its soul. But, he wasn¡¯t fearful.

    ¡°You¡¯re soulbound? ¡° Nox suddenly asked.

    Hearing Nox, the undead''s flames flickered.

    Observing his reaction, Nox made a swift decision and chopped down towards the undead, as an invisible energy released from Nox¡¯s soul, heading directly to the undead¡¯s. Slicing forward with unstoppable momentum, Nox¡¯s energy arrived in front of the undead¡¯s soul where black chains were dug into it. Contacting the chains, they snapped and instantly disintegrated.

    ¡ªIn a decrepit, unknown castle¡ª

    Seated on a black throne adorned with skulls, a lanky yet intimidating figure opened his pure white eyes in surprise.

    ¡°Who? ¡° a low, ghastly voice came from the figure.

    ¡°Interesting¡± the figure showed a frightening smile and once more closed its eyes.

    ¡ªRagnarr Estate, Main Hall¡ª

    ¡°Unbelievable¡± the skeletons flames flickered.

    ¡°I destroyed it but know that you¡¯ll still die. Tell me what I want to know, and I¡¯ll make it swift. ¡° Nox coldly stared the undead in its unusual eyes of green flame.

    ¡°Keh, keh, keh, keh, I suppose dying by you is better. Very well. We came here for that woman known as Ilene. ¡° The undead turned his skeletal gaze towards Ilene, causing her to shirk back slightly. He couldn¡¯t move the rest of his body due to Nox¡¯s lightning.

    ¡°Besides her strength, I only know she¡¯s valuable. We had used some kind of talisman the broker gave me. I had never seen anything like it. It concealed our bodies and presences, even allowing us to move through the walls like ghosts. Along with this being a very secure place, no one would have full vigilance but the guards, which is why we took the risk to infiltrate. As for Death¡¯s Hand¡­ it¡¯s large. Unimaginably so. There are four divisions, each with their own specialties: Assassination, Mercenary, Bounty, and Trade.

    The mercenaries are exactly what they sound like, but the jobs they take are unlike the Mercenary Guild¡¯s. The mercenaries of the guild have regulations and don''t accept siege requests or one¡¯s that would involve killing innocence, but our mercenaries will accept anything and are always fighting in wars.

    To leave Death¡¯s Hand, your memory must be completely wiped back to any day before you joined. It¡¯s a difficult task and everything might be wiped, therefore many defect and leave, becoming wanted in the process. Although you¡¯re the first I know of that¡¯s capable of breaking our oaths, others have garnered information from defectors using different methods, and that¡¯s where Bounty Hunters play their part. They are effectively law enforcement that almost always kill. Most know what they are, but not what they hunt. Now Trade, it''s as one would expect, dealing with any and all items, but typically stolen, contraband, cursed, unknown, ancient, and anything extremely high end.

    As for assassination¡­ Warlords, Dukes, Earls, Generals, Marshalls, Kings, or even the ordinary street peasant. Anything is negotiable, although the higher the status, significance or power, the higher the price. Up to the point it would be nigh impossible to hire us. Our policy is that anyone can be targeted and must have a price, which is why nigh impossible ones are listed for those that are too dangerous.

    Assassins are also ranked. The same concept should apply to all other divisions, but I only know the details for mine. You start as a Trainee, and then we go by Daggers. The ones I know of, in order from lowest rank to highest: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Onyx, Earth, and finally, Sky. There are ranks after that, but I¡¯m unsure of what they specifically are. It¡¯s rumored that they are leaders or those with special status¡¯.

    You should see my rank marked on my shoulder. All Death¡¯s Hand assassins are required to have their rank marked on them, so that¡¯s how you can identify one. As the other divisions should have similar concepts, you could guess what division they¡¯re from when you encounter them.

    And the oath, all are required to take one. It is to prevent traitor''s, as well as to know whether we live or die.¡° the undead released an incredible amount of information, shocking everyone but Nox and Nyx. They had seen very similar situations on Tian.

    ¡°Oh, and for the girl. When a mission is failed, half the coin deposited is returned, and the request price increases. She shouldn¡¯t get attacked again, at least for a while. That is all I know. Make it quick. ¡° the undead had a very calm aura as he rest his eyes on Nox

    Observing him, Nox noticed a platinum dagger engraved on his shoulder, and he could somehow sense the resolve in his fire filled eyes.

    ¡°Your information will be a great help. Know that there is, in fact, a next life. It does not end here. You were sentenced to die the moment you attacked, but maybe things will be different if we ever meet once more! ¡° Nox nodded solemnly as he conjured a regular semi-translucent sword, swinging it downwards and cleaving the skeleton in two.

    ¡°Keh¡­poss¡­ibly... ¡° the skeleton laughed faintly as the green flames in his eyes slowly faded away.

    ¡°What an unusual undead.¡° Nox muttered to himself.

    That skeleton took the entire situation in stride. Nox threatened to torture him if he refused, but all assassins could kill themselves with their own energy or methods. You could argue he thought Nox had the ability to truly subdue him and prevent it, but Nox thought otherwise. Knowing he could prevent him or not, the skeleton still would¡¯ve spoken when having the ability, which is what happened when he broke the oath for him. For an undead to think that way¡­ Nox wondered if many of them were like that in this world.

    He hated assassin¡¯s, but this one had a demeanor worthy of a few parting words.

    Turning around and looking towards Valcor, Nox appeared awkward as Nyx came over next to him ¡°Sorry, we might have been too brutal in your home.¡°

    Nox injured many earlier, but he didn¡¯t kill anyone. Now, he killed with Nyx, and the first three weren¡¯t exactly ¡®clean''.

    ¡°Hahaha, Nox, don¡¯t worry, this is also your home now! To dare attempt such a thing; if you and Nyx didn¡¯t do it, I would have. Regardless, it¡¯s good that you¡¯re here¡­ if not, the consequences would have been dire. ¡° Valcor laughed but became solemn. His guard was down because this was in the middle of a main city and so many figures were here, especially General Hayde. He only noticed the assassins after Nox revealed them.

    Witnessing the aftermath, Sylvie gazed at Nox with passion in her eyes. Running up to Nox and wrapping her arms around him, Sylvie¡¯s face was lightly flushed ¡°Dad is right. Our home is also yours now. And Nyx and Stella¡¯s. No matter how you two killed those assassins, I don¡¯t care. All I see is that you protected us. ¡°

    ¡®Stella?¡¯ Valcor¡¯s mood was interrupted, but very quickly understood when Ashuen informed him mentally. Nox didn¡¯t mention her name, but Sylvie had just given it away.

    ¡®I see.¡¯ Valcor felt moved when he observed Nox. Tragic as it may be, it showed much about him.

    ¡°We can all agree on this! ¡° Ashuen glanced at Glenn and Avera, also speaking up.

    ¡®Our¡­ home?¡¯ Nox muttered, putting an arm around Sylvie and moving his gaze around the hall while reminiscing.

    After the incident, he only stopped for short periods until the planned breakthrough, where he stayed in a small, empty, single room wooden house for a few hundred years alongside sword form Nyx. But, could that even be called ¡®home¡¯?

    ¡®Stella¡­ If Nyx is so clear, you and Elise must have also been anticipating these matters... which means you were fine with this? I suppose now you¡¯ll have a place to stay at whenever you like... ¡¯ Nox thought and faintly smiled when he took all this in.

    ¡°Alright then¡± Nox gave Sylvie a gentle look, before moving his gaze away from her and towards the main hall doors.

    ¡°Haha, you two sure have been busy. ¡° a hoarse voice came from outside, interrupting the atmosphere, as a side entrance was opened.

    ¡°Only here for half a day and all this happens! ¡°

    Walking inside was a small, white haired old man. It was Locke.

    ¡®Hmm, as I thought, similar to Lady Elise. For such a powerful being, of course he and Sylvie would progress quickly.¡¯ Locke nodded when his gaze landed on Nox and Sylvie.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be helped, trouble seems to follow me. ¡° Nox looked at Locke helplessly. What a day this was.

    ¡°Ha, in more ways than one. ¡° Locke chuckled, glancing at Sylvie.

    When Sylvie saw this, she blushed, backing away from Nox ¡°Grandpa! ¡°

    ¡°You have a point. ¡° Nox agreed, already imagining the clich¨¦ idiots that would make advances towards her and Nyx. Men and women each had their struggles.

    ¡°Fret not, master, I¡¯ll teach Sylvie a few techniques to get rid of pests. ¡° Nyx giggled as she grabbed Sylvie.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it! Your ¡®techniques¡¯ will only cause me more trouble. Just leave it to me and forget about it.¡± Nox replied without hesitation. Seeing how Nyx has been, her ¡®techniques¡¯ would all probably result in death.

    ¡°When did you become so mean, master?¡± Nyx pouted, feigning sadness.

    *sigh*

    Nox sighed, shaking his head.

    Ignoring their antics, Locke greeted Glenn, Avera, Mel and Ilene, before approaching Valcor, Ashuen, and Hayde ¡°Hayde, it has been many years.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, it has, Lord Locke, it¡¯s good to see you again.¡± Hayde shook Locke¡¯s hand amicably.

    ¡°Valcor, Ashuen¡± Locke smiled towards Valcor and Ashuen. Ashuen had come by them moments before Locke arrived.

    ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Locke, that¡¯s good. I don¡¯t know if you heard, but our Sylvie and Nox are engaged now.¡± Valcor spoke.

    ¡°Good, good. I had an inkling that this would happen.¡± Locke nodded repeatedly with a smile, before he turned to look towards Nox who began walking up to them.

    ¡°Locke, Hayde, Valcor¡­ ugh¡­ mother, sorry for interrupting you four, but I¡¯ve been really curious about a certain matter.¡± Nox asked, looking puzzled.

    ¡°There is no need for such words, Nox. Ask what you will.¡± Locke warmly smiled.

    ¡°Alright. Is there some kind of reason behind no others being here? The family can¡¯t be this small, right? ¡° Nox found it all quite unusual after Locke appeared, because it was clear that he would be the last to arrive today.

    ¡°Oh, that? My family, the Visents, exiled me for marrying Valcor, therefore we no longer have any contact. As for Valcor, he willingly cut ties with the Ragnarr clan, and an agreement was made with the Capital, banning any of them from entering this city.¡± Ashuen said candidly.

    ¡®So that¡¯s it. Seems to be a complex situation.¡¯ Nox thought in understanding, not wanting to pry further.

    ¡°Glenn and Avera¡¯s children are out adventuring, while Avera¡¯s husband, Jaks, is currently heading a mission in northern Tartarus, and Glenn¡¯s wife, Maren, is negotiating a trade deal with one of our northern cities.

    Actually, although 100 years of age is a milestone, it isn¡¯t that large of an event. It was Sylvie¡¯s awakening that made this day very important. As she was far past normal awakening age, she only felt it arriving a few weeks ago, so there wasn¡¯t enough time to gather everyone. Valcor and I were lucky enough not to be on any missions or campaigns, which freed Glenn and Avera as well. ¡° Ashuen continued.

    ¡®Right, Tartarus is this continent¡­ wait, isn¡¯t the Undead country, Nethox, there? I wonder if there¡¯s a conflict. And Sylvie¡¯s awakening¡­ I should ask what her affinities are after this.¡¯ Nox pondered.

    ¡°I see, that makes sense, thanks. ¡° Nox expressed, having his curiosity sated. It was unusual with such a big estate having only five family members. Even with his long years, this situation was fairly rare.

    ¡°No need for that! ¡° Ashuen smiled.

    ¡°Right, Nox, the information you managed to obtain from that undead¡­ how unbelievable. This is the most significant amount we¡¯ve ever gained about them. A lot of what we thought, was previously conjecture, yet now it¡¯s been proven, and then some! It will be a tremendous help. ¡° Ashuen said excitedly. Oath''s were nearly inviolable, so information was hard to acquire.

    ¡°Right, it is very significant. ¡° Hayde, who was being quiet, nodded solemnly on the side. That was what he¡¯d been thinking of during this time. Next to him, Valcor nodded in agreement as they glanced at each other.

    ¡®Ashuen, what were the specifics?¡¯ Locke sent to Ashuen. He was well versed in Fate, but not omniscient. When he arrived, he missed the conversation Nox had with the undead.

    Learning the story from Ashuen, Locke advised solemnly ¡®Significant indeed. Report these findings to your superiors, but you must speak to no one about Nox breaking the undead¡¯s oath. The others must also be informed. That ability must stay absolutely confidential.¡¯

    ¡®Of course.¡¯ Ashuen responded in kind.

    ¡°That¡¯s good, then.¡± Nox knew what the undead spoke of wasn¡¯t anything to be underestimated.

    ¡°Everyone, I believe I should take my leave, as I have some matters to attend to.¡± Hayde voiced loudly after a moment.

    ¡°I understand. Thank you for attending, old friend.¡± Valcor pat Hayde on the shoulder.

    ¡®Report these findings to command. I hope you can leave out the information about Nox breaking the undead¡¯s oath.¡¯ Valcor sent simultaneously.

    ¡®I know this, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll convene at a later date.¡¯ Hayde replied seriously.

    ¡°Nox, it was a pleasure to meet you and Nyx. If you ever find yourselves in Benir, my home will be open for you.¡± Hayde walked up to Nox and firmly shook his hand.

    ¡°Thank you. If we have the time, we¡¯ll be sure to visit.¡± Nox replied amicably, also thinking that the city naming scheme the Demons use seem to always end in ¡®ir¡¯. Razzir, which was the Demon country and shared the same name with the Capital, while Grenir was the city they were currently in.

    ¡°Sylvie, it¡¯s late and we didn¡¯t get to speak to each other, but congratulations on your awakening and engagement. Your future looks very promising.¡± Hayde smiled warmly and gave her a hug. He hadn¡¯t visited often, but he watched as Sylvie slowly grew up, treating her like a niece.

    ¡°Thank you Uncle Hayde, it was good to see you. Tell aunt Jill I said hello.¡± Sylvie quietly said.

    ¡°Hahaha, I will.¡± Hayde chuckled, before saying his farewells to Locke, Ashuen and the others.

    Seeing Hayde walking through the main doors and the guards closing it behind them, Locke suddenly asked with a glimmer in his eyes ¡°Nox, Nyx, I wonder, are you two curious about your affinities?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes! Nox, didn¡¯t you say earlier that you didn''t know?¡± Ashuen looked at them.

    ¡°You two don¡¯t know your affinities?¡± Sylvie gazed at them oddly, wondering how that was even possible.

    On the side letting everything play out, Mel and Ilene were thinking the same exact thing.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, both of us don¡¯t know our affinities. Actually, I don¡¯t even know my elements. I¡¯ve only used lightning and conjuration because it came easier to me, so I would definitely like to know, if possible.¡± Nox nodded. He didn¡¯t know about conjuration, but figured that lightning came naturally because of the numerous lightning tribulations he went through on Tian.

    These lightning tribulations were increasingly powerful lightning strikes that enhanced your body and allowed you to increase your power even further; if you managed to survive, that is.

    ''Your elements as well? What!?'' Everyone but Locke were inwardly shocked this time. Everyone should know their Elements after they awaken.

    ¡°I too, am curious as to what master¡¯s affinities are. No doubt it will be magnificent.¡± Nyx didn¡¯t even care about hers.

    ¡°Haha, alright. Mel, go prepare the Affinity Orb, Nox, Nyx, and Sylvie will be using it. When we''re finished, we''ll send some people to fix the hall. Such a mess hahaha. ¡± Locke laughed merrily. Seems that he was enjoying this.

    ¡°At once, Lord Locke.¡± Mel bowed and immediately left.

    ¡°Grandpa Locke, there¡¯s no need for that, I already found out today.¡± Sylvie voiced in puzzlement, while the others also felt the same.

    ¡°Just do as I say, there¡¯s no harm in measuring it again.¡± Locke voiced mysteriously.

    Observing Locke, Nox wondered what he was planning.

 Chapter 10 - Departure

    In the middle of the Ragnarr¡¯s main hall, the group was surrounding a huge 5-meter-tall and wide crystal-clear sphere; it was an Affinity Orb.

    ¡°Hmm, which of you will go first? ¡° Locke eyed Nox, Nyx, and Sylvie.

    Her gaze on Nox, Nyx opened her mouth ¡°Master, I shall have a go. ¡°

    ¡°Then let¡¯s see what you got.¡± Nox observed her curiously. Finding out their affinities should prove to be interesting.

    Strolling up to the Affinity Orb, Nyx gave Locke a glance.

    ¡°Place one or both of your hands on the Orb and infuse your mana into it. After a moment, changes will begin to appear." Locke noticed what she wanted to ask.

    Moving her vision back to the Orb, Nyx leisurely placed her dainty hand onto it. Pushing a portion of mana from her body into the Orb, as Locke said, a moment later a reaction began to occur.

    Two small, colored dots appeared. One was pitch black, the other was a deep red. Expanding rapidly, the black dot formed a large black spherical mass that took up nearly half of the entire Orbs interior. Next to the mass, the deep red dot expanded and took up the other half of the Orb, forming a droplet shape.

    Unbeknownst to the rest, Nox noticed and focused on a curious and cold energy fading in and out of the Orb. The energy appeared familiar, but he wasn¡¯t exactly sure at the moment. Completely fading away after a few seconds, Nox decided to save it for later as he couldn¡¯t investigate further.

    ¡°Nyx, your affinities are Darkness and Blood, both pinnacle. The astonishing aspect is the purity of your elements, as they normally can¡¯t be felt. Yet, their splendor is radiating from inside. ¡° Locke knew that she read many books with Nox in the library but informed her anyway.

    Locke, including everyone else, expected her elements to have a high affinity, but the purity is what was surprising. Purity is a very special phenomena that¡¯s usually overlooked, as it¡¯s normally not very prominent and influential.

    All elements have their own essences and are what¡¯s manipulated by mana for use, and those essences have changed in various ways over an endless amount of time. Purity is when those essences are closer to their original form, hence becoming smaller, and the higher the purity of an essence, the more you would get out of it. If you take water as an example, would you want some that is murky or viscous with impurities, or water that is crystal clear without impurities?

    When one gathers an elements essence that you¡¯re able to manipulate, you gather what you see and feel. What you sense. The larger something is, the more visible; the smaller something is, the less visible. Therefore, how could you truly use something you can¡¯t see or feel? Something that doesn¡¯t ¡®exist¡¯. The reason purity is special, is because an individual could have Average Affinity, yet very high purity, which could help them more than say, an excellent affinity. Regardless, it is often overlooked and irrelevant because it¡¯s extremely rare to have high enough purity or have a fortuitous encounter that can increase it. If you are lucky enough for that to be the case, Purity would be the true deciding factor of one¡¯s strength.

    Witnessing Nyx¡¯s results, a subtle nervousness managed to break through her previous demeanor.

    Walking back to Nox, Nyx crossed her arms, purposefully propping up her breasts, saying coquettishly ¡°How was I, master? Are you impressed? Captivated? Happy you have such an exceptional woman? ¡°

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, all of the above. Alright, I¡¯ll go next. ¡° Nox waved off Nyx¡¯s teasing and glanced at Locke.

    ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m looking forward to your affinities.¡° Locke motioned.

    Nodding, Nox approached the Affinity Orb and placed one hand on the surface. Infusing his mana into it, the Orb almost instantly shook violently, cracking and smashing apart the floor whilst sinking halfway into the ground. Quickly removing his hand, a flood of water flew past him, heading downwards and preventing the Orb from sinking further.

    ¡°What just happened? No element is appearing yet the Orb weighs nearly a hundred times more than before. I¡¯ve never heard of an anything that could affect the Orb from the inside. ¡° Ashuen appeared above the Affinity Orb, spreading her hands out and controlling the water holding it up.

    ¡°This¡­ this¡­ it can¡¯t be¡­ But there is no other explanation. ¡° Locke muttered, clearly flabbergasted and unable to think properly. He was expecting great things, but not this.

    ¡°Grandpa Locke? ¡° Sylvie noticed that he was stunned. She had never seen him like this before. All the others felt the same.

    ¡°Oh¡± Locke awoke when he heard Sylvie.

    ¡°Look¡­ into the Orb. Use not your eyes, but your mana. ¡° Locke said movingly. This situation was too extraordinary.

    Following his suggestion, everyone sent their mana onto the surface of the orb, but they were still at a loss, even Nyx. After all, although a fast learner, she never had used such energy with a physical body before today.

    ¡°Locke, there¡¯s nothing. Maybe it¡¯s just Nox¡¯s mana causing the weight.¡° Valcor spoke up. If it was his mana, that would also be shocking.

    ¡°Do you honestly believe that nothing would manifest when Nox can clearly use Lightning and Conjuration? Look harder. Imagine the day when you were sensing the elements and fusing them, but look for something even smaller. Remove the normality you know and seek what lies further beyond. You will eventually see it, as this is only possible with an Affinity Orb.¡° Locke advised solemnly.

    Listening to Locke, everyone closed their eyes, using their utmost concentration. Minutes passing quickly, one by one they noticed the energy, starting with Nyx.

    Aside from Nyx who had more experience with strong powers, confusion and apprehension was planted on everyone¡¯s face. They finally found it, but what even was it? There are no recorded elements like it. It was incomparably small and very colorful, but also immensely condensed and heavy, it sent shivers down their spines. It was one little particle, yet what would happen if they began to gather? What would the consequences be?

    ¡°Grandpa Locke, I see it¡­ it¡¯s so colorful and¡­ heavy. What element is it? It¡¯s clearly not Gravity.¡° Sylvie asked with surprise, as everyone else turned to Locke. Nyx and especially Nox also wanted to know what that particle truly was.

    ¡°You all might think mana and the elements were the origin of our world, but you would only be partially correct. What you know and what the world believes, isn¡¯t completely correct. Buried in time, there was another finding that one of the most powerful ancient scholars had found, and what he found was the true origin.

    ¡®Not correct? True origin?¡¯ Everyone thought, puzzled.

    "The world knows of the natural laws. They are what keep everything together. Using mana and the elements as the base, the laws formed the world around us, including us and our souls. Mana is an origin energy. We speculate that it came into existence alongside the natural laws. You all also have been taught that the elements are from origin¡­ but that would be incorrect. ¡°

    Listening to Locke, everyone became shocked. At the beginning, the elements didn¡¯t exist alongside mana?

    ¡°Before the elements, there was a mass of energy known as Chaos. It is what came into existence alongside mana and the natural laws. Using Mana as a catalyst, the natural laws initiated a reaction from Chaos, causing the vast majority of its mass to erupt and separate¡­ into what we know and call the elements. Chaos¡­ is the origin of the elements. ¡° Locke voiced.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying¡­¡± Valcor voiced what everyone was thinking.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. What is inside the Affinity Orb is no element, it is Chaos itself! It should normally be impossible to sense, but due to Nox using it, a particle surfaced itself. ¡° Locke said emotionally. He never thought such a thing would occur. To have Chaos fuse with your channels, it was supposed to be impossible. Other than having channels strong enough to withstand the immensity, ancient scholars and the one who found its existence guessed that unlike mana, Chaos has a will similar to the natural laws; that it allowed itself to be used for the creation of the elements. If such an existence had a will, how could Chaos find any being worthy enough to use it? Yet, here we had a living being using it.

    ¡°Yes, yes, only such an energy could possibly be worthy enough for master¡¯s use. ¡° Nyx nodded vehemently, applauding Chaos'' vision.

    ¡®Chaos is what¡¯s worthy?¡¯ Locke looked incredulously at Nyx. Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be the other way around?

    ¡®Truly inconceivable.¡¯ Glenn, Avera, Ilene and Mel simultaneously thought, leaving the situation to the others.

    ¡°So, that¡¯s what it was. No wonder I couldn¡¯t tell what elements I could use. I suppose this also means my affinity can¡¯t be measured. But Locke, if I can use Chaos, shouldn¡¯t that mean I can use all elements? Any idea why it¡¯s only Lightning and Conjuration? ¡° Nox asked curiously.

    ¡°¡­ Ah, I see.¡± Locke quickly regained himself, thinking for a moment.

    ¡°Chaos is no simple energy, it is the beginning of all elements. My hypothesis is that you already have a thorough understanding of lightning and conjuration, therefore transforming Chaos into them is second nature to you. To understand the others, perhaps you must acquire an equal level of understanding. ¡°

    Reflecting on his words, Nox thought Locke made sense, but he was still uncertain ¡®Nyx, I can understand lightning, but what about conjuration? What do you think is the cause?¡¯

    ¡®You were also known as the Myriad Emperor, master, therefore could Intent be the cause? You had achieved perfection in many weapons, and conjuration can create many things.¡¯ Nyx replied.

    ¡®Intent!'' Nox¡¯s eyes shone. Yes, that was most likely the reason.

    ¡®Intent'' was a very special type of energy on Tian. It was, indeed, a bit like conjuration. If you understood the ¡®Intent'' of a weapon, such as a sword, you need not use one in battle against most opponents. You could use your finger as a sword, or the side of your hand, or a twig. Anything could effectively be made into a sword, except it was even more powerful and sharper than man-made ones.

    ¡®You¡¯re right, that must be it. The tribulations allowed me to fully understand lightning, whilst Intent allowed for Conjuration.¡¯ Nox agreed, feeling that there could be no other explanation.

    ¡®I wonder what I need to do for the others. If we go by that line of thought, I should have been able to use a few more. ¡° Nox was puzzled, thinking about his previous abilities and experiences on Tian.

    ¡°Whatever, I guess I should just get some experience. This is only the first day, after all.¡¯ Nox didn¡¯t feel bothered. He was perfectly fine with only Conjuration and Lightning, so learning more could either happen or not, it wasn¡¯t a big deal.

    Hearing Nox mention all the elements, the others froze in place. That¡¯s true, he should be able to use any element. They knew Nox was exceptional, but learning about Chaos and his use of it, everyone subconsciously looked between him and Sylvie, thinking about how she was fated with such an inconceivable person. They didn¡¯t want to devalue her at all, but that was quite a development.

    ¡°Sylvie, why don¡¯t you come and check now? ¡° Nox motioned for her.

    ¡°I-I¡­¡± Sylvie became very anxious when she saw Nox and Nyx¡¯s results. Her affinities were incomparable to them.

    ¡°Sylvie do not be nervous, you are bound with master. It is absolutely impossible to be ordinary. ¡° Nyx encouraged in a confident tone.

    Gazing at Nyx and Nox, Sylvie removed her trepidation, regaining the confidence she once had ¡°Okay¡±.

    Smiling in approval, Nyx watched as Sylvie approached the Affinity Orb which was once again in full view. Ashuen managed to completely stabilize it as the Chaos particle slowly faded away.

    Resolution in her eyes, Sylvie would fully accept the outcome as she placed both hands on the Orb, infusing her mana within.

    Standing on the sidelines, Valcor, Ashuen, Glenn and Avera were once again in anticipation. This scene mimicked earlier today when Sylvie first used the Orb, except there were now fewer people.

    ¡°Mother¡­ what do you feel? Her Ice and Wind were Above-Average and Spirit poor. They won¡¯t be different, right?¡° Glenn decided to ask. This was the most anxious he¡¯d been in many years. Today had become very unusual.

    ¡°Just keep your eyes on Sylvie. ¡° Ashuen replied quietly.

    Light beginning to illuminate her front, Nox was taken by Sylvie¡¯s visage and demeanor. Gazing at her long, light blue hair and emerald green eyes filled with determination, he felt at ease as an energy he didn¡¯t notice began flowing out of him.

    Like a spark igniting a fire, Sylvie¡¯s mana began leaking uncontrollably from her body, confusing the others. On her upper arm where the rune formed from summoning Nox, light also began shining from it.

    Inside the Affinity Orb, a giant light blue crystal nearly the size of the whole Orb, and a light green strip that spanned its entire diameter both appeared. As the Orb was a sphere, there was still space as a grey mass the size of an adult man¡¯s head formed, changing into many different shapes.

    Gazing into the Orb, Sylvie became flabbergasted. Everyone else, besides Locke, Nox, and Nyx felt the same.

    ¡°My... my affinities¡­¡± Sylvie looked at the Orb, stunned, then changing her gaze to Nox.

    ¡°Ashuen, Sylvie¡¯s affinities¡­ Spirit, above-average. Ice and Wind¡­ they became Pinnacle¡­ but most of all, they feel so pure now, much like Nox and Nyx¡¯s. Their Purity is as if they¡¯re made from the truest essence of elements. ¡° Valcor stared unblinkingly at the Affinity Orb.

    ¡°Sylvie¡¯s potential seems to have been unlocked. As if she used a Heart of the elements. But, how rare is that? ¡° Ashuen voiced a bit excitedly.

    ¡°That mana and the shining rune on her arm, it must be Nox. ¡° a smile surfaced as she moved her gaze to Nox. She was surprised by how large of an impact he had, but incredibly happy for Sylvie.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡®Nyx, I didn¡¯t mean to eavesdrop on them, but it looks like I somehow increased Sylvie¡¯s affinities by a large margin.¡¯ Nox glanced at Nyx.

    ¡®No one connected to you shall be ordinary, master. Your soul is elevated. You fought against the natural laws and revived Stella, therefore of course you should be able to unlock the potential of your own lover.¡¯ Nyx expressed proudly.

    ¡®Hmm, I suppose that¡¯s true. Souls are truly shrouded in mystery. Still, for you to say lover so easily about another woman¡­ I know it¡¯s not rare for people like us, but I think anyone would have some reservations. I would, at least.¡¯ Nox curiously gazed into Nyx¡¯s red eyes.

    ¡®I feel that all souls have multiple true partners, but you might need luck to meet one. I believe such is not the case for any woman connected to you, master. You are different than before. You are boundless, invincible and your soul eclipses all others. For that reason, you would forevermore be their only partner. Mine. Sylvie¡¯s. She doesn¡¯t know of these matters, but she easily accepted me because you are what connects her and I. The three of us. That is why it was easy for me.¡¯ Nyx moved her vision to Sylvie and grinned.

    ¡®I see.¡¯ Nox nodded, finally understanding.

    ¡®Nyx'' Nox looked at her seriously.

    ¡®Yes, master?¡¯ Nyx replied curiously.

    ¡®I¡¯m really glad I found you all those years ago.¡¯ Nox expressed sincerely.

    Throughout his life, no one has helped him more than her. Although previously unable to speak, for seven millennia Nyx was the only one he could talk to about many things. Things that he couldn¡¯t understand and realize on his own. Now that she had a body, it seemed it would be even more prominent than before.

    Tragic as it may have been with Ling, you lose something and gain another, and it is important to accept what life might throw at you. The bad can be turned into good, and vise versa; it is only up to your perception and desire. And, Nox felt that it became something good.

    He reached a level that allowed him to protect what is important. Stella was alive and Nox knew she would have a better life here than on Tian, which was an incredibly ruthless and unforgiving place. He met someone irreplaceable like Nyx and helped her gain a true life, and now met Sylvie, who is connected to him in such a way, that she would also carry as much significance as them. And, this was only the beginning.

    ¡®Master¡­¡¯ Nyx actually blushed when she heard his simple yet straightforward words.

    ¡®No, I am the one who is glad. I only helped you regain the self you had lost, but you are the one who gave me a life.¡¯ Nyx gave Nox an incredibly pure and passionate glance.

    ¡®Come, master, let us speak with Sylvie.¡¯ Nyx smiled happily.

    Looking intently at Nyx and then everyone, Nox felt at ease. It really has been a surprising, yet good day.

    ¡®Alright ¡® Nox replied as they walked towards Sylvie who was still shocked.

    ¡°Hehe, Sylvie, I did tell you not to be nervous. Was I right? ¡° Nyx giggled as she looked at the dissipating shapes inside the Orb.

    Gazing and Nyx and then intently at Nox, Sylvie was still shocked and unable to speak.

    Observing her emerald green eyes, Nox smiled lightly ¡°There was no need to ever be nervous. Even if all your affinities were poor, it wouldn¡¯t matter to me, nor to Nyx. The individual is what matters. ¡°

    Hearing Nox, Sylvie teared up, throwing herself into his embrace.

    ¡°Thank you¡­ This day turned into one the best days of my life. Meeting you and Nyx. Seeing Ilene again. And now¡­ now I can really become a Grand Sorceress. ¡° Sylvie expressed emotionally. She didn¡¯t have tears of sadness, but of happiness.

    ¡®One of her best days, huh? I suppose this is one of mine, as well.¡¯ Nox thought as he briefly closed his eyes, reflecting on this day and the past.

    ¡°This is one of mine, as well.¡± Nox grinned, stroking the back of her head

    ¡°Come on, stop crying now. There will be plenty of more days like this one in the future. ¡° Nox met Sylvie¡¯s gaze when she looked up at him.

    ¡°Mmm¡± Sylvie beamed, before she felt hands on her shoulders begin pulling her back.

    ¡°I will not allow this, master! You care not of my Affinities, but once it is Sylvie¡¯s turn, you embrace and pamper her! ¡° Nyx pulled Sylvie back and appeared in front of Nox while pouting.

    ¡°Don¡¯t start pretending you actually care about them. Besides, you don¡¯t need any more ¡®pampering ¡® after forcing yourself onto me so many times today. You even knocked me down into a pool of blood. ¡° Nox didn¡¯t take her seriously.

    ¡°Hmph, fine, master, but you enjoyed my lips! ¡° Nyx¡¯s red eyes were glaring at Nox. She was tempted to pounce on him again but held back.

    ¡°I did. ¡° Nox looked her in the eyes and replied without hesitation.

    ¡°Hehe, good. I will get you later, master! You can never escape my grasp! ¡° Nyx giggled mischievously.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware¡­¡± Nox shook his head in defeat.

    ¡°Hahaha¡± Sylvie covered her mouth and laughed because of the two.

    Giving Sylvie a smile, Nox turned towards Locke, Valcor and Ashuen.

    ¡°This is abrupt, and we only arrived today, but¡­¡± Nox spoke seriously and paused.

    ¡°You want to leave soon? ¡° Ashuen looked at Nox, finishing his sentence. She had a feeling they would leave.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. ¡° Nox nodded.

    ¡°I want to leave within the week. There is a lot to see here in Razzir and we could definitely stay longer, but I''d like to visit Divinus first. ¡°

    ¡°So soon¡­¡± Valcor said with a warm gaze on Sylvie. If Nox was leaving, she would be as well.

    ¡°Yes, sorry. ¡° Nox knew it must be hard for Valcor and Ashuen to see Sylvie leave.

    ¡°Very well. There is a Transportation Array here that¡¯s connected to one of our cities near Divinus. As it¡¯s connected to another city, verification and a pass are required. I¡¯ll prepare one for each of you. ¡° Valcor said candidly. Even Sylvie didn¡¯t have a verified pass.

    ¡°That would be helpful, thanks. ¡° Nox expressed, pondering on the Transportation Array.

    Archaeos is by no means a small place. It was enormous, and if you took the Earths Sun as an example, which had a circumference of 2.7 million miles, Tartarus alone would be close to that width. Depending on their strength, people could travel their entire lives and barely discover a portion of their homeland. Of course, there are those who don¡¯t find such distances daunting or time consuming. Nevertheless, Transportation Arrays saved time and helped all people reach new lands and see new things, so being able to use one is a great boon.

    ¡°Sylvie¡± Nox looked at her meaningfully.

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m coming. I said so earlier. I¡¯m ready whenever you are. ¡° Sylvie said resolutely. It was finally time for her to leave.

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll leave in five days. ¡° Nox nodded, looking at her and Nyx.

    ¡°Okay¡± Sylvie nodded in affirmation.

    ¡°By your decree, master. ¡° Nyx smiled.

    Nearby, Ilene had long recovered from the surprises ¡®So, Sylvie is going to travel with those two¡­ Nox¡­ Chaos and increasing Sylvie¡¯s affinities. No one else can know about his abnormal abilities or the Gods might seriously attack him.¡¯

    Ilene knew that if NoX became wanted by them, it would put Sylvie in danger, and she couldn¡¯t allow that.

    ¡®Little Sylvie will finally be leaving us in a few days. She should be very safe traveling with those two.¡¯ Avera eyed Sylvie with a gentle gaze.

    ¡®Yes. Nox and Nyx are more remarkable than I imagined, especially Nox. To have such an energy and ability to help Sylvie, she is, indeed, in good hands. Going from disappointment to bliss, meeting her true Soul Fate and having her dream truly being attainable, although she said this is one of her best days, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if this was THE best day for her.¡¯ Glenn said with a calm and warm smile. He was happy for his little sister.

    As Nox looked around and observed everyone thinking or having their own conversations, he realized how exceptional they were.

    You would assume that witnessing someone¡¯s affinities increase so dramatically before your very eyes would cause jealousy and discontent, but that was not the case for those here. For Nox, he had almost never met such people on Tian, not to mention so many, therefore it really surprised him. Nyx as well, as they travelled together and experienced the same things.

    *Clap*

    Ashuen clapped to gain everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°All is set, then. We already prepared a room for you and Nyx, and Mel can lead you there. We¡¯ll figure out your permanent residence later. It has been a long day and I¡¯m sure everyone would like a rest. ¡° Ashuen looked at Nox.

    Hearing Ashuen say a single room, Sylvie looked at Nyx, somewhat anxiously.

    ¡®Worry not, Sylvie, I am still intact. When the time comes, I promise you won¡¯t be left out.¡¯ Nyx¡¯s gaze landed on Sylvie.

    Her face turning scarlet, Sylvie¡¯s eyes moved between Nox and Nyx before nodding fervently with resolve in those green eyes of hers.

    ''Hehe'' Nyx giggled quietly, as Nox glanced at her from the side feeling helpless. So mischievous.

    ¡°Ilene, the room you always stay at will be prepared shortly. ¡° Ashuen said towards Ilene.

    ¡°Thank you, Aunt. ¡° Ilene expressed with a slight bow.

    ¡°Nox, Nyx, come see me at the library whenever you feel like it. Truly gave me quite the shock today haha. ¡° Locke chuckled and left the hall after saying farewell to the rest. He was quite excited as he loved knowledge, whilst many theories and questions were answered today.

    ¡°We¡¯ll also take our leave. Glenn, Avera. ¡° Valcor meaningfully glanced at them.

    ¡°Yes, father. ¡° Both replied simultaneously.

    ¡°Nox, Nyx, Ilene, we¡¯ll see you three in the morning. You as well, Mel. ¡° Ashuen said warmly, leaving with Valcor, Glenn and Avera.

    Gazing at the departing group, Nox thought ¡®Looks like they¡¯re going to discuss a few matters. It has been a crazy day, after all.¡¯

    ¡°Sylvie, why don¡¯t you head back with Ilene, and Mel can take us to our room. You must be tired. ¡° Nyx spoke up.

    ¡°Okay, I do feel a bit drained.¡° Sylvie replied, inwardly feeling very joyful from today''s events.

    ¡°Sylvie, Ilene. ¡° Nox nodded towards them, but gave a meaningful glance to Ilene, of which she already understood not to mention anything.

    Seeing them leave, the hall was left with just the three of them.

    ¡°Alright Mel, sorry for the trouble, but can you lead us to our room? ¡° Nox asked. Other than her demeanor, Mel might as well be blood family with the Ragnarr¡¯s, so of course he¡¯d be polite.

    ¡°Yes. Right this way. ¡° Mel bowed slightly and led the two out of the main hall. Shortly afterwards, guards and servants entered to clean the mess. A mess which they were shocked about. Valcor instructed his head guard to personally remove and preserve the undead skeletons corpse, while the other were cleaned up and disposed of.

    Outside the hall was a clear starry night sky with a large white full moon and a smaller light blue one.

    ¡®A beautiful sky. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen two moons. The blue one looks quite nice.¡¯ Nox thought, taking in the scenery and the air. Truly a new world. A new beginning.

    A few minutes later, Mel brought Nox and Nyx inside a courtyard with a large building inside. That was their temporary residence. It was well lit and made of mostly fine stone and material.

    ¡°We have arrived. ¡° Mel unlocked and opened the door, revealing a large and beautiful interior.

    ¡°Here is the key. A maid will come in the morning to lead you back to the main hall for breakfast. ¡° Mel voiced.

    ¡°Thanks, see you tomorrow. ¡° Nox voiced as Mel bowed and left.

    Walking inside and closing the door behind him, Nox quickly found the bedroom which had a very large bed.

    ¡°A bed and place like this. A maid to wake us. This hospitality¡­ Family. It sure has been a while, hasn¡¯t it? ¡° Nox removed his boots and sat on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling.

    Hearing cloth moving and dropping, Nox looked to his side as Nyx¡¯s naked body came into full view.

    ¡°Why did you instantly get naked? ¡° Nox gazed at her.

    ¡°What do you mean, master? ¡° Nyx asked, puzzled.

    Looking at her, Nox knew she was being completely honest. She clearly wasn¡¯t feeling anything sexual; it was as if being without clothes was natural to her.

    ¡®Is it because she was a weapon and always effectively naked?¡¯ Nox thought. That was probably the reason.

    ¡°Listen, you can¡¯t just get naked out of nowhere, even if we¡¯re alone. ¡° Nox looked at her seriously.

    ¡°Why not? I feel better this way. Besides, my body is only for your eyes, master, and I want to feel your warmth directly.¡° Nyx still had a puzzled look on her face.

    ¡°Well, I suppose for Sylvie¡¯s eyes, as well. ¡°

    ¡®Ugh¡­ she has such a personality outwardly but is still so pure in certain ways.¡¯ Nox felt defeated and gave up. It wasn¡¯t like he truly cared about Nyx being nude, but he didn¡¯t want to set a precedence. Wouldn¡¯t it be awkward if Sylvie just walked in and saw Nyx sleeping naked next to him?

    ¡°Hehehe, anyway, maaaaasterrrrr, this is what I was waiting for! Come, treat me as your pillow! I could never feel you when I was a weapon. ¡° Nyx giggled and wildly pounced on Nox, knocking him down onto the bed.

    ¡°¡­. Fine. ¡° Nox decided to just let her do what she wants. Nyx was never able to experience such things, after all. Besides, he¡¯d be kidding himself if he was truly against this.

    Wrapping her body around him, Nox could completely feel her shapely figure. Turning his head a meeting her eyes, Nox had a gentle gaze, as he stroked her pitch-black hair, moving his fingers down and lifting the red ends to look at them.

    ¡°Your new body really is perfect. ¡° Nox expressed appreciation.

    ¡°Are you taken by my beauty? ¡° Nyx teased.

    ¡°Of course, but that¡¯s only a bonus. You are what gets me. Your soul. ¡° Nox whispered honestly.

    ¡°Is this not bliss, master? ¡° Nyx grinned widely, showing her pearly white fangs and staring at Nox with those pure, red eyes.

    ¡°Heh, I guess it might be. ¡° Nox looked upwards again and closed his eyes, reflecting on his previously lonely life. An unknown period later, he opened them as he glanced at Nyx with her head resting against his shoulder. She had fallen asleep.

    Staring at her sleeping face, Nox faintly smiled ¡®Aren¡¯t I the pillow right now?¡¯

    Closing his eyes once again, Nox shortly fell asleep, completely at ease.

    ¡ªFive days later¡ª

    Gathered in front of a massive, circular platform with many engraved lines and runes, the entire group was together.

    ¡°It¡¯s finally time. ¡°Valcor sighed. It was hard to see your child finally leave home.

    ¡°Here are your passes and Spatial Pouches. Drip a drop of blood infused with your mana essence onto them and the pass will be verified, while the pouch will become bound to you. ¡° Valcor handed the three a small rectangular crystal card and a what looked like a leather money pouch.

    ¡®Oh, a Spatial Pouch, I read that they¡¯re rare. Like a pocket dimension held within, they¡¯re able to contain a massive number of items. Very similar to the Spatial Rings of Tian.¡¯ Nox thought. An item such as this wasn¡¯t a new concept. On Tian you used Qi to manipulate it, while here it would be mana.

    Recieving the two items, the three did as instructed and bound the pouch and pass.

    ¡°We also left a few provisions, necessities, and a couple thousand gold inside the pouches. You should be fine for a while. ¡° Ashuen voiced. It was also hard for her. 100 years together and finally parting. That feeling was something only parents could truly understand.

    ¡°Here, Sylvie, take this. ¡° Glenn spoke up as a magnificent, rune adorned dark brown wooden bow appeared in his hands.

    ¡°I acquired this bow from a dying elf that I came across many years ago. The bows name is Windfury and made of Razorwood which will enhance your wind magic. You practiced the bow rigorously throughout your life, so I¡¯m sure it will suit you well. ¡° Glenn handed Windfury to Sylvie with a caring gaze. There were always unexpected dangers in the world, and although you didn¡¯t need a weapon to use magic, having one would help in battle.

    ¡°This is from me. ¡° Avera spoke up and handed Sylvie a very small silver earing.

    ¡°It¡¯s made from Displacement Ore and will prevent influence from most Illusions and trickery. I used it for many years and it helped me more you can imagine. ¡° Avera said sweetly. She couldn¡¯t let Sylvie leave without anything.

    ¡°Mom, dad, Glenn, Avera. ¡° Sylvie¡¯s eyes became wet as she hugged each of them.

    ¡°Sylvie, it¡¯s time to finally see the world¡­ but remember, true peace does not exist. ¡° Ilene also gave Sylvie a hug, advising her from experience.

    ¡°I know, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll meet again one day, so please stay safe. ¡° Sylvie smiled.

    ¡°We will. And I would say the same to you¡­ but you have your future husband and Nyx. ¡° Ilene looked at Nox and Nyx. Two freaks.

    ¡®I¡¯ll make sure to visit your headquarters one day. Remember my talisman. I can¡¯t let Sylvie lose a friend¡­ and someone from Earth.¡¯ Nox sent to Ilene. They had interacted more these last few days and he began appreciating the demeanor she held with everyone.

    ¡°Mel. ¡° Sylvie gave a hug to her.

    ¡°Be safe second young miss¡­ Sylvie. I will keep your courtyard tidy for when you return. ¡° Mel was about to bow but smiled instead.

    ¡°Mmm¡± Sylvie nodded.

    ¡°Alright, Locke, what do you have to say? ¡° Nox looked at Locke.

    ¡°Haha. ¡° Locke chuckled from Nox''s abruptness.

    ¡°The city you will arrive at is called Ulnir. It is near the southeastern border of Divinus. I can¡¯t see very far, but I suggest heading northwest when you cross. ¡° Locke became serious.

    ¡®Again with the ¡°ir¡±.¡¯ Nox thought.

    ¡°We¡¯ll do that, then. ¡° he decided to listen to Locke''s suggestion.

    ¡°Very well, have a safe journey. Take care of Sylvie. I¡¯m hoping for a surprise the next time you three return. ¡° Locke gazed at them in anticipation.

    ¡°Valcor¡­ mother. ¡° Nox upturned his palm and created 5 semi-translucent talismans. Infusing a sliver of his soul within, Nox gave one to Valcor, Ashuen, Glenn, Avera, and Mel.

    ¡°Treat these as a trump card. If something unsolvable happens, infuse your mana essence into it. ¡° Nox said severely.

    Everyone nodding in affirmation, Valcor walked up to Nox and pat his shoulder ¡°As my son-in-law, you must take care of Sylvie. She is my life and I¡¯m entrusting her with you. ¡°

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen to her. I swear on my life. ¡° Nox said with absolute confidence

    Gratified by Nox¡¯s response and confidence, Valcor felt that he could rest easy.

    ¡°Yes, nothing will happen with master around. ¡° Nyx decided to speak just for that.

    ¡°Mother¡± ignoring Nyx, Nox nodded, still a bit uncomfortable calling Ashuen that.

    Walking up with a smile, she gave the trio of Nox, Nyx, and Sylvie a big hug.

    ¡°Stay vigilant. Although the world is interesting, Archaeos is very large and carries many unknowns. Don¡¯t underestimate it. ¡° Ashuen advised with a few words, mainly for Sylvie.

    ¡°You know we love you, Sylvie. Your home will always be here. Nox and Nyx, this is your home as well. Go on, these farewells have gone on for far too long. ¡° Ashuen smiled warmly.

    ¡°Glenn, Avera, Mel. ¡° Nox nodded, giving assuring gazes towards Glenn and Avera. They understood what he wanted to convey.

    Gazing at the three walking into the middle of the circle and Sylvie tearing up again, Valcor''s eyes turned sharp, dropping his hesitation.

    ¡°ACTIVATE THE ARRAY¡± his voice boomed. Moments later, light began filling the lines and runes inside the circle, starting from the outside and moving to the very center.

    Looking on at the group outside the circle giving off caring gazes, Sylvie wiped her tears and regained her resolve. This is what she always wanted to do, and now it was finally coming true.

    Casually waving goodbye to the others, Nox¡¯s vision lit up when he looked down at the complex array activating.

    ¡®So similar to Tian''s¡­¡¯ Nox suddenly went into a trance as he unconciously pointed his right index finger forward and began forming a colored pattern in the air, as it too began to shine after a moment. Not getting the chance to complete it, an incredibly bright flash of light filled the circular platform as the silhouettes of the trio disappeared.

    Gazing into the light, Locke muttered in slight shock ¡®Rune magic¡­¡¯

 Chapter 11 - Gateway

    ¡ªUlnir¡ª

    In the middle of a large plaza, a circular platform with large pillars spread evenly along the edges was located. That was the Transportation Array of Ulnir.

    Close to the array were a few heavily armed guards along with a dark purple haired, finely armored woman seated on a chair.

    Further away from the array and guards were a myriad of people strolling about, most with varying horns atop their heads and a few dozen of them observing the array.

    ¡®Hey, do any of you know why Colonel Lena is waiting at the Transportation Array?¡¯ someone whispered to a few other observers.

    ¡®Are you daft? Who else but an important personage arriving would prompt the Colonel to take action?¡¯ a woman replied in annoyance.

    The surrounding observers that heard her all nodded in agreement, including the original speaker.

    ¡°Look, it¡¯s activating! ¡° someone spoke up, causing those talking to each other and a few previously not paying attention, to turn their gazes towards the array. It was rare for someone to use Ulnir''s array.

    Viewing the engravings and runes lightning up across the entire platform, the seated woman, Colonel Lena, stood up with a sharp gaze as her chair disappeared whilst waiting for the people set to arrive. Next to her all the armed guards straightened their backs and looked on with rapt attention.

    Shortly after, a bright flash of light exploded from the array, as three people abruptly appeared within the center. They were Nox, Nyx, and Sylvie.

    Focusing on the three that appeared, Colonel Lena quickly noticed a woman with small white horns and long, light blue hair. Temporarily ignoring the other two, she walked up to the woman.

    ¡°You must be Lady Sylvie, General Ragnarr notified the City Lord of your imminent arrival. I am Colonel Lena, leader of the Western Fronts 1<sup>st</sup> legion. ¡° Colonel Lena said politely with a smile.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Sylvie Ragnarr. My father mentioned yesterday that someone would be here, but I didn¡¯t expect it would be you, Colonel. I¡¯ve heard my brother speak of your many exploits. ¡° Sylvie made a small curtsey.

    ¡®Lady Sylvie Ragnarr? That¡¯s General Ragnarr¡¯s youngest daughter. No wonder the Colonel appeared. But, who are the man and woman with her?¡¯ one of the guards thought to himself. The rest of the people were thinking similarly.

    ¡°Sylvie, not to mention how much your power will grow, you are master¡¯s woman! You may bow in greeting to those you respect and feel worthy, but that is as far as you must go! Never kneel! To no entity, no power, not even to the heavens that everyone loves to worship. It would be disgraceful! ¡° Nyx reprimanded after she saw Sylvie¡¯s action.

    Bowing was a common practice that didn¡¯t only entail subservience, but also could be similar to a handshake, so it was acceptable. Alas, kneeling was a different matter. Witnessing her curtsey, Nyx felt that Sylvie would kneel before someone one day, such as a monarch, and that was far from acceptable. Nox could go against and overpower the natural laws! How could anything make him kneel? Consequently, this concept would of course extend to his family. And Sylvie herself, how powerful would she become? Ordinary did not exist for those with a strong connection to Nox.

    Nox was dazed for a moment due to the understanding he just gained from the Array''s runes. Recovering within a few seconds, he managed to overheard Nyx. Opting for silence, he didn¡¯t say anything, but agreed with what Nyx said.

    Kneeling is natural in a world such as this, much like it was on Tian. You kneel before someone like a king or to those powerful, unseen beings, or to profess your allegiance and loyalty, or beg for something. Many matters. It wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing, and multiple people treated such a concept differently, but he couldn¡¯t have his own fianc¨¦ to kneel before someone. He would never allow it!

    ¡°Nyx¡­¡± Sylvie stared at Nyx, startled by her sudden outburst.

    ¡°I won¡¯t, I promise. ¡° Sylvie expressed seriously after she glanced at Nox, noticing his silent agreement and conviction on the matter.

    She was taught to kneel when greeting certain personages, but now had to throw that etiquette away. They¡¯ve only known each nearly a week, so she didn¡¯t know much about Nox, especially his true strength, but there were too many unfathomable things about him, such as perfectly reviving Stella, his Chaos, or increasing her own affinities. No one knew him, and it seemed like he would never care about that, but she realized that Nox would definitely be one of those personages. For those reasons, the fact she also never wanted to kneel before someone, and because she hoped to one day become powerful like him and Nyx, she wouldn¡¯t question Nyx¡¯s words, and she agreed with her.

    ¡°Ho¡± Colonel Lena raised an eyebrow in surprise at Nyx.

    The observers, including the guards, audibly gasped when they heard Nyx.

    ¡°My word, did you just hear that woman in black!?¡± one of the observers exclaimed, unable to contain their voice.

    ¡°Unbelievable. How could she speak such blasphemous words? ¡°

    ¡°Appearances can be deceiving. A one in a million beauty, yet she speaks with such arrogance. Not even kneeling before the heavens? There is no power greater than the heavens! And who is this master? That man next to her?¡° a well-dressed man spoke from inside a carriage once he overheard Nyx. They heard Sylvie¡¯s promise, but of course they couldn¡¯t speak up about her.

    As Nyx watched the crowd¡¯s reaction, she coldly smirked in disdain ¡®No power greater? Ignorant fools, you know not who stands before you.¡¯

    Glancing at Nyx¡¯s expression, Nox could only sigh inwardly ¡®So, she really did retain that trait of hers¡­ but at least she isn¡¯t treating them like an enemy.¡¯

    ¡®Come on, Nyx, I¡¯ve repeated this for years now, but don¡¯t get so aggressive over these trivialities. Like that one incident where you wanted to massacre the Flying Eagle sect for doubting my strength¡­ and now this, although it¡¯s not that extreme. How could these people possibly know the heavens aren¡¯t the highest point? Don¡¯t treat them so seriously, no one¡¯s omniscient.¡¯ Nox sent in slight annoyance. He had a feeling she must have gotten like that because the man mentioned there was no greater power¡­ it was ridiculous.

    ¡®These people are fools, but I understand, master, I shall try my best.¡¯ Nyx nodded halfheartedly.

    Gazing at Nyx, Nox knew this was a pointless endeavor. He asked countless times over the past several millennia, yet she never changed ¡®Well¡­ It should be fine as long as she doesn¡¯t go too crazy.¡¯

    ¡°Quite interesting words. I wonder if I could get an introduction? ¡° Colonel Lena asked amicably. She didn¡¯t care for Nyx¡¯s arrogant words.

    ¡°This is Nyx, my¡­ future sister-wife and that is Nox, my fianc¨¦. ¡° Sylvie spoke shyly. It would still take some time to get used to.

    ¡°Sister-wife and your future husband? Congratulations. ¡° Colonel Lena expressed, but couldn¡¯t help but feel a little odd when looking at Nox. He was by no means unattractive. In shape with short black hair and a stubbly beard, but other than his unusual grey eyes, he looked very ordinary.

    ¡°What in the world. Such an unremarkable man has the youngest daughter of the Ragnarr¡¯s and that arrogant, yet equally exceptional woman? What incredible luck. ¡° that well-dressed man spoke up once more in clear disbelief.

    Hearing that man again, Nyx¡¯s irises thinned as darkness subtly poured out of her. Almost instantaneously, she appeared right in front of the man with her arm raised and hand already turned into a claw.

    Swiping down without hesitation, the man only saw her eerie red eyes, as fear gripped him, nearly pissing himself from fright. A shadow suddenly appearing next to him, a hand had grasped that slender arm carrying a malevolence which was ready to tear him apart.

    ¡°Enough. There¡¯s no need to cause trouble after just arriving. We can¡¯t just lose face for Valcor like this. ¡° Nox reprimanded Nyx and let go of her arm.

    Valcor allowed them to use that specific Array and even informed someone of their imminent arrival. If they were to kill someone instantly, other than gaining their own annoyances, how much trouble would it cause Valcor? Even Ashuen, with her high position in Razzir¡¯s Special Forces could be affected.

    ¡°Unremarkable? Only those without eyes would believe such a thing. Lucky? If luck existed between Master and I, it would be mine. Alas, it is you who is truly lucky this day. Lucky to keep your worthless life. ¡° Nyx voiced coldly, looking at the man with a murderous gaze, before turning around

    ¡°Forgive me, master¡­ I was too rash. ¡° Nyx¡¯s expression changed, speaking ruefully.

    *sigh*

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, forget about it. Let¡¯s just move on, I want to head for Divinus. ¡° Nox sighed.

    ¡®Nyx, you know I love you no matter what you do, but you would have just caused unnecessary problems, and not just for us. And you know my stance on innocents and the powerless. Just now, he did nothing worthy of death. ¡® Nox sent mentally.

    ¡®W-what did you just say, master? Repeat that once more!¡¯ Nyx turned around and replied hurriedly.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯ Nox felt puzzled.

    ¡®LOVE, MASTER! YOU SAID LOVE!¡¯ Nyx exclaimed with a crazy gleam in her eyes. She had ignored everything else he said.

    ¡®Just because of that? I know I didn¡¯t say it before, but after all that we¡¯ve done, wouldn¡¯t it be obvious?¡¯ Nox said straightforwardly, before something dawned on him. Gestures and physical contact weren¡¯t everything. Words were also very important and conveyed many things.

    ¡®Listen, calm down. Do not attack me right now, we had an agreement. We have an eternity for these matters. ¡¯ Nox realized and spoke frantically when he saw the gleam in her eyes. They were in the middle of a plaza surrounded by a mass of people!

    Still near the array with Colonel Lena, Sylvie¡¯s expression turned serious when she saw Nyx¡¯s.

    ¡®Nyx¡¯s mood just completely reversed¡­ What did Nox say to her?¡¯ Sylvie thought.

    ¡°Colonel, sorry for this mess, but we need a moment. ¡° Sylvie apologized and sprinted to Nyx, not giving Colonel Lena a chance to reply.

    ¡®What the hell is going on here? First that woman, Nyx, nearly kills a man for a small comment about Nox, then Lady Sylvie suddenly becomes frantic¡­ What am I supposed to do?¡¯ Colonel Lena was at a loss.

    Her higher ups had told her to be courteous towards Sylvie and especially the two that arrive with her, therefore she and guards didn¡¯t know to react. Nevertheless, at least they haven¡¯t done anything too outrageous.

    Seeing Sylvie running towards them, Nox quickly put up a mana barrier and surrounded them.

    ¡°NYX, calm down! ¡° Sylvie shouted.

    ¡°Impossible, Sylvie. Don¡¯t worry, I shall conceal us. ¡° Nyx beamed excitedly as a torrent of black smoke erupted from her, surrounded the three in a small area.

    Witnessing this abrupt event, everyone became flabbergasted, wondering the same thing: What was going on and why weren¡¯t the Colonel and guards reacting? But, when Colonel Lena saw Nyx¡¯s darkness along with her and Nox¡¯s previous speed, her eyes turned sharp.

    The well-dressed man, who had just escaped with his life became more frightened once he saw Nyx¡¯s potent darkness. He would have died instantly if she used that¡­ shortly after, he thought about how Nox stopped her effortlessly, thanking the heavens that he still decided to help even after being looked down upon.

    Not allowing him a chance to speak, Nyx charged at Nox, wrapping her arms around his neck and covering his lips with her kiss, moving her tongue around the inside of his mouth.

    ¡°NYX! ¡° Sylvie¡¯s shouted as her face turned scarlet.

    Ignoring Sylvie¡¯s cry, Nyx didn¡¯t let go of Nox until a few moments later, now carrying a content smile on her face after the short contact, whilst Nox sighed inwardly. He would never deny liking that, and enjoyed it, but couldn¡¯t Nyx just hold back for once? She was always taking the lead and doing whatever she wanted so now he was beginning to feel awkward.

    Looking at Nyx, he noticed her content expression, yet also a meaningful gaze.

    ¡®Fuck it.¡¯ Nox understood as he walked in front of Sylvie, confusing her.

    Now only a foot or two away and gazing into each other¡¯s eyes, Sylvie became captivated as Nox began to feel what she did.

    Bending down, Nox gently put his hand on her cheek, closing in on her face and covering her lips with his own. It was much gentler than the ones Nyx forces upon him.

    Feeling Nox¡¯s warmth along with such an abrupt action, Sylvie¡¯s body froze, and eyes went wide, as ecstasy inevitably coursed through her.

    Both enjoying the moment before Nox removed his lips, he gazed at her softly.

    ¡°Nyx freaked out because I said I loved her. It was the first time.¡± Nox slowly said.

    ¡°You and I haven¡¯t known each other for long, but you¡¯re to be my wife. We¡¯re connected far beyond the norm; therefore, you¡¯re permanently stuck with me. I¡¯ve known Nyx for longer, but I won¡¯t hold favorites. You are both irreplaceable, so it¡¯s important to known that I love you as well. ¡° Nox expressed in a gentle, sincere voice. He resolved to stay true to himself, and that¡¯s what he would do.

    Listening to Nox, Sylvie¡¯s mind blanked, taking a while to process his words. Men usually suppressed their emotions, thinking that it was not masculine. That you¡¯ll be treated differently. Treated as weak.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Everyone has emotions, and it¡¯s important to show them, particularly to those close, like Nyx and Sylvie. If you expect your partner to do that, then you should do the same. To suppress yourself before someone you care about, just because of preconceived notions of weakness, then that is truly weak. If you¡¯re able to share them, burdens begin to dissipate, leading you to an unfettered and clear mind. A mind that has become stronger and will stay strong. Now that, that is called strength, not weakness.

    Recovering, Sylvie peered into Nox¡¯s deep, grey eyes, as a smile crept onto her blushing face.

    ¡°I¡­ love you too, Nox. ¡° Sylvie whispered, never expecting to say those words so soon. But that was what she truly felt. Nox said he wouldn¡¯t take favorites, but he¡¯s known Nyx far, far longer. Although that was the case, Sylvie knew they had plenty of time to build on it.

    ¡°MASTER, I LOVE YOU TOO!¡± Nyx shouted with a grin on her face, not wanting to be left out.

    ¡°Heh. ¡° Nox chuckle slightly, feeling good about his decision to listen to Stella and come to Archaeos.

    ¡°Alright, retract your darkness. We¡¯ll speak to that Colonel Lena and whomever else, and then we¡¯ll leave. ¡° Nox said as he removed the mana barrier.

    Observing the dissipating darkness, Colonel Lena took the initiative and walked up to the trio.

    ¡°Sorry for the wait, we were talking about an important matter. ¡° Nox spoke up first.

    ¡°Lord Nox, it is quite alright. I have been commanded to receive you three, hence I had time to wait. ¡° Colonel Lena nodded calmly.

    ¡°Are we required to meet with anyone else? We¡¯d rather get going right now. ¡° Nox inquired. He didn''t want to deal with any nobles or officials.

    ¡°No, not at all. Command only ordered me to receive and confirm your arrival. Once I confirm your passes, there is absolutely no obligation to remain any longer. ¡° Colonel Lena replied concisely.

    ¡°Good, here. ¡° Nox materialized his thin pass and handed it to Colonel Lena.

    Following his lead, Nyx and Sylvie did the same.

    ¡®Nox Ferrum

    Race - Unknown

    Clearances: Divinus Gateway, Razzir, (Full, bar the capital) ¨C Approved by General Valcor Ragnarr of Razzir and General Hayde Braam of Razzir. ¡®

    ¡®So, both General Valcor and General Hayde approved. Both Nox and Nyx¡¯s races are stated as unknown¡­ how could that be possible? They clearly bound the pass, yet their races weren¡¯t registered¡­ unbelievable. I must report this to command once they depart. ¡®

    ¡°You¡¯ve all been confirmed. ¡° Colonel Lena handed back their passed after glancing them over once.

    ¡°I¡¯m assuming you¡¯re headed for Divinus? ¡°

    ¡°That¡¯s right. ¡° Nox answered.

    ¡°I believe you would care not for a guide. As such, if you look to the West, you should see our defensive wall. Head West out of this plaza and the path will take you all the way to the western gate. Upon exit, the very first road will head directly to our Divinus Gateway. That gateway is connected to Hyperion¡¯s southeastern Tartarus Gateway. Our relations with Hyperion are neutral, therefore as your group is small and your passes approved, all should go without incident. ¡° Colonel Lena advised with assurance.

    ¡®To think it would lead specifically to Hyperion... The human kingdom¡­ Besides mana, I doubt there will be any differences. All life appears to take the same or similar paths.¡¯ Nox thought. Valcor and Ashuen mentioned the gateway a few days ago, but not where it lead to.

    He still wanted to see humans, so being able to head to their kingdom this quickly was nice, but his initial thoughts of the chance there would be differences with Earth or Tian, lifestyle wise, seemed to be a mistake, as he learned much more during the last few days.

    ¡°Thanks, your information will be useful. We¡¯re already prepared, so we might as well leave now. ¡° Nox nodded in thanks.

    ¡°Thank you for the kind reception, Colonel. We¡¯ll be off then. ¡° Sylvie nodded as well.

    As for Nyx, she only glanced indifferently at her, as the trio began heading towards the Western Gate. Seeing them walking away, the bystanders were intimidated due to the previous events and opened a wide path.

    ¡°Safe journeys, Lady Sylvie, Lady Nyx, Lord¡­ Nox. ¡° Colonel Lena gestured kindly, but an unusual gleam was in her eyes.

    ¡®That woman, Nyx¡­ Her attack on that foolish merchant wasn¡¯t lenient. It seemed slow and weak, but if I faced it directly, I would¡¯ve had to pull my sword. Yet, Lady Sylvie¡¯s fianc¨¦, Nox, stopped her with a single hand, and so easily at that. As if it was nothing¡­ Then Nyx¡¯s darkness¡­ No wonder command told me to be courteous. Other than their relations with two generals, at the bare minimum, they both should be 5-Star'' Colonel Lena ruminated on their abilities, before dismissing a few of the guards that arrived with her. Tapping her foot on the ground, she instantly disappeared from the plaza, leaving mana bystanders in awe.

    ¡®Pretty fast without mana. I wonder how many Stars she is. 4 or 5? Possibly more?¡¯ Nox pondered after subtly using mana to view Colonel Lena''s departure.

    Over the past five days, Nox consulted with Locke and returned to the library a few times to read some more essential information, and one subject was about how power is generally ranked on Archaeos. Due to the environment, he expected some kind of Alphabetical system, like S rank or A rank, but that wasn¡¯t the case; it was in Stars.

    In general, all beings that meet a certain universally agreed upon threshold are ranked in Stars, whilst those who don¡¯t are unranked. This is mostly based on your mana, as everyone has the capability to use mana to some degree.

    Now, let¡¯s take races such as humans and demons. Humans are a heavily populated yet originally weak race, so most are unranked. Demons aren¡¯t as populated as humans, but they are all mostly 1-Star once they awaken. When ranked, a ranked human would be considered a 1-Star Human, while a ranked demon would be a 1-Star Demon. There are also many races that are born at the 1-Star level.

    Using this system, the higher the stars, the stronger the individual. But, all beings varied. With two at the same rank, one could be significantly stronger due to different factors, such as control and strategy or innate abilities.

    Other than taking mana into consideration, the physical body is added as well, which becomes the largest variable in measuring a being¡¯s power. Although mana and the elements are an integral part of Archaeos, physical strength is not to be underestimated.

    Some races might not have much ability with mana, but they could be very strong, physically. The reason it''s a variable, is because it''s very easy to hide physical strength, and not so much for mana. That''s because someone stronger could usually see through the depths of your mana, even if you suppressed yourself, but how could they check your physical strength? Unable to measure their power through mana, Nox and Nyx''s physical strength is the reason Colonel Lena could only gauge them at a bare minimum of 5-Stars.

    Still, many exceptions always existed. Some could completely hide their power or completely see through someone else, regardless of strength differences and their body.

    Nevertheless, even if Stars weren''t completely accurate, they are absolutely essential for roughly measuring capability, and works for an innumerable number of things. If you took Death¡¯s Hand as one example, their ¡®Daggers'' are a hierarchy and should have a Star requirement, and the more Stars a target has, the higher the Dagger needed would be, as their strength needed to be up to par.

    This would also apply to beasts or monsters. If you have a specific wolf and it''s known they all will mostly be 1-Star, someone weaker will know to stay away and not take a risk.

    Learning this information was important to Nox because he finally began identifying the power system of Archaeos. Similar yet very different to Tian, he now needed the ability to accurately differentiate the power tells of Stars, so he could be prepared, mainly for Sylvie. She was newly awakened, and although she had incredible affinities and potential, her power was currently low. She needed experience, but he couldn¡¯t just let her encounter something too dangerous or too weak due to his own ignorance.

    Nox was much stronger now, than during his original journey through Tian, so although he could use his soul to bypass innumerable obstacles, such as sensory details, he wanted to conform to Archaeos¡¯ system. To experience most of this universe as a native would. If he didn¡¯t, how lackluster would his life become?

    During these last few days, Nox also checked the Gifting System, but other than gaining a little over a hundred merit, no other noteworthy changes occurred. The categories all had relatively useless items. He didn¡¯t know how high the requirements were, but it needed to be upgraded to have any semblance of use. Thinking about that, Nox wondered why it wouldn¡¯t have been more useful to begin with.

    Walking along the wide path and enjoying the various scents of foods and flowers permeating through the air, the trio didn¡¯t shop for anything, opting to keep heading towards the western gate Colonel Lena mentioned. Approaching the gate a while later, if you looked to the left and right, you would see a pure grey wall towering at 10 meters tall and spanning as far as the eye could see. It was very imposing.

    ''The wall... It has runes embedded deep within... Same with the gate. They must be for defensive purposes. Impressive.'' Nox noticed patterns in the structures. He couldn''t see it before, so he must have attained the ability after understanding some of the array.

    Gazing at them a bit longer, Nox commited them to memory.

    Moving along and inspecting the area, carriages and people were moving in and out of the city whilst a few armored guards were checking and verifying everyone, especially the carriages. Unusually, those carriages didn¡¯t have normal horses pulling them. These horses were taller than a normal horse, much more well-built, had black fur, and two heads with black horns atop them.

    ¡®Those must be the Dire Horses of Tartarus that I read about.¡¯ Nox thought when he saw how powerful they appeared. It was weird that were called horses, but they did look somewhat similar.

    ¡°Interesting variant, master. They appear unruly, yet they¡¯re very tame. ¡° Nyx looked at them curiously.

    ¡°Dire Horses only act this way on Tartarus and become unruly if transferred to another continent. There¡¯s a legend that a powerful Devil tamed and ingrained obedience into them for the benefit of Tartarus'' inhabitants. ¡° Sylvie looked on proudly.

    ¡®As I thought, Devils are also here. Why didn''t the books mention them?'' Nox and Nyx glanced at each other simultaneously when they heard Sylvie. Both felt the same murderous intent as when they learned of the Gods.

    ¡®Both corrupted by their own immortality, turning into a scourge upon the universe. A pack of weaklings. ¡® Nyx sent with a cold voice as she remembered the Gods and Devils.

    ¡®We¡¯ll handle them when the time comes. ¡® Nox replied calmly, putting everything to the back of his mind. There were other things to do right now.

    ¡°Interesting legend. To do such a thing for the benefit of Tartarus as a whole, that Devil is quite impressive. ¡° Nox said honestly. If the legend was true, then that Devil would have been one of the few genuine ones.

    Walking a distance further, they finally arrived in front of a guard after waiting a few minutes due to the amount of people.

    ¡°Verification. ¡° the guard they approached said blandly, as if he was sick of his duty.

    Taking the lead and pulling out her transportation pass, Sylvie gave the guard a short look at it.

    Noticing the pass and approval of two generals, the guard suddenly regained his vigor.

    ¡°My apologies for the offense, right this way. ¡° the guard spoke attentively, gesturing for Sylvie, Nox, and Nyx to pass.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Sylvie nodded to the guard, leading Nox and Nyx outside of the city. Behind her, others who were waiting in line were surprised after witnessing the guards display.

    ¡°Why did the guard react that way? ¡° Nox queried, clearly puzzled.

    ¡°Oh, right. Because Ulnir is right on the border of Tartarus and Divinus, as well as the gateway, security is important, and proof of identification is needed upon entry, which leads to the guards giving the visitors a mark. This mark is linked to the visitor¡¯s mana and is used to make sure that someone who entered illegally would be stopped and arrested upon attempting to exit. Due to the nature of Ulnir, anyone able to travel here via transportation array would be a V.I.P. or someone highly trusted. ¡° Sylvie replied thoughtfully.

    ¡°I guess this little thing is more important than I thought. ¡° Nox brought out that small rectangular pass and held it in his palm, before gazing at Sylvie. She was more natural and knowledgeable with these matters than he anticipated. It made sense with her age, though. Even though she was isolated in Grenir, she had plenty of time to gain knowledge and some experience.

    ¡°Yup, especially because dad and Uncle Hayde approved us. ¡° Sylvie smiled when thinking of them.

    Not minding the time it would take, the three walked past the somewhat constant stream of people, walking for a few hours before seeing the Divinus Gateway in the distance. Not another person was in sight, because the qualifications to cross continents was much stricter than transportation arrays. People could use the arrays to travel very far, and the qualifications to use one in many cities was low, but that wasn¡¯t the case for gateways. Gateways had much more significance because they connected continents!

    Surrounding the structure, there was only stone and rocks. Further behind, you could catch a semblance of a large body of water, as a refreshing breeze brushed towards them carrying the unique smell of the ocean with it.

    "What''s that smell in the air?" Sylvie asked curiously. It smelled odd, but soothing at the same time.

    "That should be the ocean between Tartarus and Divinus. Smells nice, right?" Nox replied. He knew what an ocean smelled like and that this was the very edge of Tartarus.

    "Really!? I saw it once in a Recording Orb. It was very beautiful. I want to visit one day." Sylvie expressed longingly.

    "We can just go right now, even for a look. It should be past the gateway." Nox pointed forward.

    "No, it''s alright. I don''t just want to see it, I want to go in! But, the Ocean of Beasts is too dangerous for me right now. I know you and Nyx can protect me, but I want go with my own power! " Sylvie expressed with determination.

    "Alright, then we''ll go some day and you can be our guide." Nox smiled at Sylvie.

    "Hehe, okay." Sylvie beamed.

    Finally inspecting the gate, Nox was a bit surprised. It had two 10-meter-tall grey and inscribed pillars separated by about 5 meters. Seamlessly connecting the two at the very top, was a large arch with engravings that exuded an ancient aura.

    ¡®Looks a bit like the door to the Mines of Moria¡­¡¯ Nox thought, finding this funny. From the fictions of Earth, to the legends of Tian, Archaeos resembled many of them, and was almost certainly based on the memories of reincarnator¡¯s crossing universes.

    Gazing at the gateway in the distance, Sylvie couldn¡¯t mask her excitement. Nyx looked on calmly, but you could see the excitement in her eyes.

    ¡°Haha, I see you two are excited. ¡° Nox chuckled when he looked at them, but he was also looking forward to it.

    ¡°Yes, master. Life has become different for me, after all. ¡° Nyx smiled lightly. She had a new body that could experience many things, so of course she¡¯d be excited.

    ¡°Yes, definitely! I¡¯ve heard many things about Divinus from my parents. Now, I¡¯ve finally left home, have you two, and we¡¯re even heading to another continent!¡° Sylvie nodded emotionally.

    ¡°That¡¯s good. There are many places to see; Divinus is only the beginning. ¡° Nox voiced, focusing his gaze on that massive gate slowly filling his vision, before he looked on in confusion.

    ¡®Shouldn¡¯t this area be heavily defended?¡¯ Nox thought as he noticed something far past the gate towards the water. Upon closer inspection, it was a man standing with his back facing them. Even from a large distance, he could tell the man was at least 2 meters tall. Black plate armor covering his lower half, his chest and arms were bare, and a Black horned helmet covered his head.

    As if sensing Nox¡¯s gaze, the unusual lone man turned around towards Nox, seemingly staring him in the eyes. Looking into the helmets eye holes, you could see a glowing white light within.

    ¡®Oh? This guy isn¡¯t normal. He must be the reason Razzir has no standing army anywhere in sight.¡¯ Nox thoughtfully observed the man, as he purposefully lowered his guard and waited.

    ¡®Do you have a pass prepared?¡¯ a deep voiced resounded in Nox¡¯s mind. If he didn¡¯t lower his minds guard, then the man wouldn¡¯t have been able to contact him.

    ¡®We all do.¡¯ Nox pulled out his pass and faced the front forward. Noticing Nox¡¯s action, Sylvie appeared confused by the sudden action. Meanwhile, Nyx was also gazing at the man after she followed Nox¡¯s vision.

    ¡®Very well. I will activate the gate upon your arrival.¡¯ the voice boomed once more in Nox¡¯s mind, as the man¡¯s gaze never left him. It seemed that he only wanted to inspect Nox and see his pass.

    ¡®What¡¯s your name? I¡¯ll remember it.¡¯ Nox stared back, as if seeing right through him. The man gave him a very unusual feeling.

    ¡®You¡¯ll remember mine? Bahaha, I never expected someone would say such a thing to me so naturally, as if it was my honor for you to know. ¡¯ the mans voice boomed through Nox¡¯s mind with a laugh. He could tell Nox didn¡¯t say it with disdain.

    ¡®I am known as Krede.¡¯ he replied in an amused tone but could also tell Nox was more than meets the eye. He had noticed Nyx also looking at him yet didn¡¯t care much.

    ¡®Nox Ferrum, as you must have seen on my pass. When you¡¯re free of your guardianship, I hope we will cross paths once more, Krede. ¡® Nox looked at him calmly. He felt that it had been many, many years since he had seen someone like Krede, and it wasn¡¯t due to his personality or words.

    ¡®That might not be too bad. ¡® Krede looked at Nox with interest, before he once more turned towards the water.

    A few minutes later, the trio nearly arrived in front of the gate.

    ¡°Hey, there¡¯s a man standing behind the gate! ¡° Sylvie exclaimed when they finally got close enough for her to see Krede. She had read about the Divinus Gateway before, and her parents mentioned it a few days before they left, so she figured there would be guards or an army, yet no one was here. But now she finally saw someone else.

    ¡°He¡¯s the one who guards the gateway. ¡° Nox looked at Krede once more, as he saw mana sweeping out of him, activating the multitude of runes and engravings on the gateway.

    Looking at the gateway and basking in the feeling the runes gave off, Nox felt as if another understanding was dawning on him, before it abruptly disappeared.

    ¡°So strong? ¡° Sylvie was shocked after she heard Nox, understanding the implications. If he was the sole guard, he should be incredibly powerful.

    ¡°Heh, that¡¯s right. Come, it¡¯s time to leave. ¡° Nox didn''t feel bothered by the enlightened feeling disappearing, as he moved his vision towards a massive blue portal that materialized within the gateway.

    ¡°Amazing¡­¡± Sylvie was bedazzled by the portal, appearing very excited. The real thing was nothing compared to stories and books.

    ¡°Quite pleasing to the eyes. ¡° Nyx nodded in appreciation.

    ¡®Farewell, Nox Ferrum.¡¯ the rough voice of Krede resounded in Nox¡¯s mind.

    Smiling briefly in Krede''s direction, Nox began walking towards the portal.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. ¡° he decided to step through first, as Nyx and Sylvie quickly followed behind, disappearing from sight and leaving Tartarus behind.

    A few moments later, far past the Divinus Gateway, mana poured out of Krede once more as he moved his gaze onto the closing portal, muttering in that rough voice

    ¡®Nox Ferrum¡­ why do you feel so familiar?''

 Chapter 12 - Divinus

    ¡ªSoutheast Divinus, Hyperion ¡ª

    Near a sheer cliff overlooking water, a large door-like structure surrounded by a field of stones, began to light up, as a purple portal began forming inside.

    Near the lively structure, was a small patch of grass that had a tall tree with a large canopy casting shade underneath.

    At the very bottom of the tree trunk, a lanky man was leaning against it, seemingly asleep. Noticing the rumbling nearby, the man opened his eyes and looked towards the structure.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a while since someone has activated the gateway¡­¡¯ the man muttered to himself as he lazily pushed himself off the ground and ambled along towards the gateway.

    Standing in wait momentarily, the man saw a figure appear through the portal, whilst two more followed shortly after. They were Nox, Nyx and Sylvie.

    ¡°Looks like we all arrived. ¡° the first figure, Nox, observed the area as his gaze landed on the man staring at him. Tall and very skinny, he had messy brown hair and a dull look in his blue eyes. On his neck, Nox also noticed a claw-like tattoo, thinking that it must be some kind of identification and not just a normal tattoo.

    ¡°Passes. ¡° the man lazily looked at the three, extending his hand.

    His eyes fixed on the man, Nox felt that he was a bit odd. Taking out his pass, Sylvie and Nyx gave Nox theirs, so they could look around.

    ¡°Here.¡± Nox handed the three passes to the man, focusing closely on him, waiting to see what he would do.

    Glancing over them, the man¡¯s dull eyes gleamed for but a moment when his vision landed on Nox and Nyx¡¯s Races.

    ¡°Confirmed. ¡° the man returned the passes before sauntering back towards that large tree and laying down.

    ¡®Hmm¡­ Krede as an exception, you would think that there would be open surprise if someone saw our unknown races, but his reaction was different, instead hiding it very well¡­ why did he hide it? ¡¯ Nox thought, as his eyes were still fixated on the man.

    Once again lying against the tree trunk, the man finally looked at Nox once more, becoming inwardly startled due to his inquisitive gaze.

    ¡®He noticed my slip up, what a scary guy, but him and that woman might be exactly what¡¯s needed.¡¯ the man thought in anticipation, as he returned Nox¡¯s gaze.

    ¡®Interesting. I think I can rule out maliciousness¡­ so be it, we¡¯ll see what happens.¡¯ Nox thought, deciding to drop the matter. If he had poor judgement and this came back to bite him in the ass, then he could only blame himself and just deal with it.

    ¡°Ready to leave? ¡° Nox looked towards the two inspecting the area that looked remarkably like Tartarus'' gateway.

    ¡°Mmm¡± Sylvie nodded happily as Nyx glanced at the gatekeeper before following behind Sylvie.

    Taking a final, piercing look at the gatekeeper, Nox and the two began walking along the road leading out of the Gateway area.

    ¡®Even that woman, Nyx, seemed to sense something about me... Two anomalies. I hope this works out. ¡® the man thought as he observed their disappearing figures.

    About a half hour later, the man placed one hand on his claw tattoo and infused mana into it, causing it to glow and turn lifelike after a moment.

    ¡®Ghostclaw.¡¯ a feminine voice resounded through the man, Ghostclaw¡¯s, mind.

    ¡®A few interesting people came through the Gateway a half hour ago.¡¯  Ghostclaw said, looking in the direction Nox, Nyx, and Sylvie went.

    ¡®Oh? If they¡¯re interesting, then why did you take so long to contact me?¡¯ the woman inquired.

    ¡®They were two women and a man. When I checked their passes, one woman and the man had unknown races. The other woman was a Demon. One of the Ragnarr¡¯s, actually, Sylvie Ragnarr.¡¯ Ghostclaw replied.

    ¡®Two unknowns, are you sure? To be traveling with not one, but two anomalies, Valcor and Ashuen''s daughter must be exceptional. Tell me, why did you take so long!?¡¯ the woman exclaimed into Ghostclaw¡¯s mind.

    ¡®Yes, I¡¯m sure. As for the Ragnarr, I believe the same. She felt slightly different compared to a normal Demon, but it might have been my imagination. The anomalies, the man was known as Nox Ferrum and the woman only went by the name Nyx. I¡­ felt that the man was too powerful. If I didn¡¯t wait for the distance to grow, he might have discovered me. Even that woman, Nyx, she only gave me a glance, yet it was as if I was seen through¡­¡¯ Ghostclaw said reluctantly. He didn¡¯t like that feeling.

    ¡®For you to admit weakness¡­ This is an incredible development for us! I¡¯ll have someone keep an eye on them. I doubt they¡¯re from there, as the Ragnarr¡¯s daughter is traveling alongside them, but there are no guarantees. If all goes well, we can create some kind of cooperation and gain their assistance. Sylvie will almost certainly grow alongside them, which will be three new forces.¡¯ The woman said as Ghostclaw could nearly feel the woman¡¯s anticipation and excitement.

    ¡®Hold on! You had best not send someone to watch them. Just wait for their names to appear somewhere and we can determine then.¡¯ Ghostclaw quickly warned, afraid that Nox or Nyx might notice someone watching them.

    Not hearing anything for a bit, Ghostclaw finally heard a reply ¡®Yes, you¡¯re right, I was being too rash. I trust your judgement. I¡¯ll forward this information to our Divinus operatives and have them keep an eye out for any new developments.¡¯

    ¡®Alright, we¡¯ll end here. Inform me once you''ve come to a decision.¡¯ Ghostclaw sent.

    ¡®Of course.¡¯ The woman said as the connection swiftly cut off, returning Ghostclaw¡¯s tattoo back to normal.

    ¡®¡­Hopefully all goes well.¡¯ He muttered and closed his eyes while lying against the tree.

    ----------

    Walking along the well-made dirt road leading away from the Gateway, Nox, Nyx, and Sylvie were chatting whilst looking around. Lush trees on both sides, with few clouds scattered about, it was quite warm as the sun was high in the sky, bathing everything in light. If you used Earths calendar, it would currently be July.

    ¡°Where should we head first? I¡¯ll leave it to the both of you.¡¯ Nox stopped walking and looked at the sky.

    ¡°You decide, Sylvie. Master and I do not know the continent¡¯s as much as you. ¡° Nyx voiced. Nox and her went over many books, but Sylvie is a native of Archaeos and knows more.

    ¡°Hmm¡± Sylvie began to think of Divinus'' layout.

    ¡°How about Zyrin? It¡¯s the closest city with a lot of guilds. ¡° Sylvie suggested. Back in Razzir, Nox had asked about guilds, but Granir and Ulnir, which were two key cities, had military circumstances which only permitted trade guilds. All countries had similar occurrences.

    ¡°It¡¯s your decision, you don¡¯t have to decide because of me. ¡° Nox moved his gaze onto Sylvie.

    ¡°I know, but you were a little disappointed we didn¡¯t have one. Besides, everything is new to me, and I also want to see some! ¡° Sylvie smiled, staring into Nox¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s do that. ¡° Nox expressed, feeling warm inside, before also realizing something. Zyrin was northwest from their current location¡­ exactly what Locke suggested.

    ¡®Looks like I would have gone even without him mentioning it¡­¡¯ Nox reflected.

    ¡°Well, master, how are we going to accomplish this? If I recall correctly, Zyrin is about 15,000 miles northwest of Cliffsong. If we walked, it would require nearly a year of traveling. ¡° Nyx casually mentioned. The eastern border city of Hyperion was called Cliffsong and held the same significance and situation as Ulnir, which also meant no interesting guilds.

    ¡°Good point. ¡° Nox thought for a moment before extending his right arm as if reaching for something.

    Mana beginning to flow out of him, a medium sized ship coated in lightning, with a mast and sails, and wings extending from both sides, all began to form after a few seconds. It had a decently sized cabin with a basic square table, chairs, and three beds. The deck also had a table with chairs, but the table was circular. Overall it looks quite unusual, being blue-white or clear, but it would work for now. A few supplies in their spatial rings should make the ship a bit more comfortable, such as blankets and pillows.

    ¡°Wow! ¡° Sylvie exclaimed whilst gazing at the suddenly materialized ship.

    ¡°Ahhh, as expected of master. ¡° Nyx looked at Nox in admiration.

    ¡°BUT, why are there three beds, master!? Remove the other two at once! ¡° Nyx glared harshly at Nox.

    Hearing Nyx, Sylvie¡¯s face turned scarlet. Sleeping in one bed?

    ¡°I refuse. We are to be married one day, I know¡­ Nevertheless, the beds are staying. ¡° Nox replied immediately, expecting her reaction.

    ¡°I will not take no for an answer, master! It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll be committing any lascivious acts, so remove them! We will go at it when the time is right.¡° Nyx expressed sternly.

    ¡®This damn woman, how is she so shameless? Look at Sylvie, she¡¯s ready to pass out¡­¡¯ Nox yelled internally.

    ¡°Compromise. I¡¯ll keep one for Sylvie, but you better sleep with clothes on this time. ¡° Nox said seriously, but realized he slipped up.

    ¡®This time?¡¯ Sylvie become shocked before subconsciously getting over most of her shyness and resolutely looking at Nox.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need my own bed! ¡° Sylvie exclaimed.

    ¡®¡­.¡¯ Nox looked at Sylvie, dumbfounded.

    ¡°Hahaha, master. It appears you need create a larger bed. ¡° Nyx laughed loudly in glee, gazing at Sylvie with praise. She clearly didn¡¯t want to be left out.

    *sigh*

    ¡°Whatever. ¡° Nox sighed, waving his hand to remove two of the beds and making one of them a lot larger. Assuming that the situation would be awkward, he had created three beds for Sylvie¡¯s sake.

    ¡®It might come as a surprise, Sylvie, but master and I have not consummated our relationship yet¡­ I¡­ just want us to be together. He wants that, as well.¡¯ Nyx sent to Sylvie in an uncharacteristically delicate tone whilst Nox finished the boat.

    ¡®Master is unusual compared to many powerful beings. For over 7,000 years, master stayed faithful to his wife that had passed, instead of finding other women. The day we met you, is the same day master accepted the past and reforged himself anew. I don¡¯t believe you had realized it when I told you on your birthday, but that was also the day master accepted me. You and I are both the same.¡¯ Nyx gazed meaningfully at Sylvie.

    ¡®From having no partner for 7,000 years, to suddenly the both of us¡­ Master might act nonchalantly, but it is still a lot for him, and he is not yet ready for anything further, so there is no need to worry about moving quickly. Besides, as I said, master is unusual. Because of our souls and how we are, we are much, much more special to master than you might assume, so he would almost certainly want to wait until marriage¡­ he did that with his first wife¡­ so boring hehe.¡¯ Nyx audibly giggled, before thinking blissfully to herself ¡®I have been yearning for thousands of years to finally gain a body¡­ now I have one. Being like this¡­ It is enough for me.¡¯

    Listening to such sincerity coming from Nyx, Sylvie was indeed surprised by everything. How they never went any further and Nyx actually entered a relationship with Nox on the same day as her. She indeed didn¡¯t understand her words previously. Nyx¡¯s understanding of Nox was possibly deeper than even he himself.

    Gazing softly at Nox, Sylvie knew his wife died 7,000 years ago, but not that he chose to stay alone during that time. That it took him seven millennia to fully let go. It was almost unheard of. Coming to a realization after all this, Sylvie couldn¡¯t help but look at Nox even more deeply than before, as she began to realize that the unfathomable man she¡¯s strongly connected to, is much more vulnerable than she initially believed.

    ¡°Alright. I conjured the entire ship to be extremely light. I think I can use lightning to propel us, and Nyx might be able to use her Darkness to keep us afloat if needed. ¡° Nox nodded contentedly, ignoring the private conversation Nyx and Sylvie were clearly having.

    Depending on your skill and mana, conjured objects could be made to be either light or heavy. Hard or soft. During the last week, Nox became more adept in mana usage.

    ¡°Sylvie, you should use this to strengthen your endurance and practice your wind magic. It¡¯s hard work but adjusting your magic to changes in the air should be helpful. ¡° Nox advised.

    Nox was experienced in many things, especially energy use, so he knew that certain conditions and situations could help improve someone significantly, such as when he bathed in the lightning tribulations back on Tian; it helped him greatly understand lightning.

    ¡°Oh, excellent idea, master. ¡° Nyx clapped with a smile.

    ¡°Sylvie, such an exercise should help hone your wind, to an extent. When we arrive at Zyrin, you will not be so fresh anymore.¡° Nyx encouraged.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do it! ¡° Sylvie said determinately without hesitation. She wanted to become powerful enough to not hinder Nox and Nyx, and especially to become a Grand Sorceress.

    Grand Sorceress'' were incredibly powerful women with an almost perfect understanding of mana and at least two elements, which both were very difficult tasks. Although only a title, the significance varied between individuals. For Sylvie, it held a lot of meaning.

    Observing Sylvie, a faint smile surfaced on Nox¡¯s face. Feeling and seeing her drive, it really made him feel good. When you cared for someone, such emotions were instinctive.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Having only one goal for the past 7,000 years, Nox realized that more and more were beginning to accumulate. That he could and wanted to do much more with his life.

    ¡°You can accomplish anything yourself, but as your future husband, allow me to help you achieve your future goals. I want to help you. ¡° Nox expressed candidly, gazing directly into Sylvie¡¯s emerald green eyes.

    Returning Nox¡¯s gaze, Sylvie felt warm.

    ¡°I know you want to. That¡¯s why you want me to use my wind and practice. ¡°

    ¡°There was no need to ask, I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way. ¡° Sylvie beamed. There was nothing wrong with help, especially if it was from someone that was very important to you.

    ¡°Of course, that means you as well, Nyx. ¡° Sylvie moved her gaze onto her.

    ¡°Ha, I am not qualified enough to share that role. Master is the one truly proficient in energy, therefore he shall help you. We can¡¯t have you remain weak, after all. ¡° Nyx declined.

    ¡°Well¡­ alright. ¡° Sylvie was at a loss.

    Besides a few extraordinary matters, such as Stella and breaking that undead¡¯s oath, Nox and Nyx showed nearly identical power. The only tells that Nox was stronger, is that she calls him ¡®master¡¯, mentioned things like kneeling before no one due to him, and when her blocked Death¡¯s Hand sneak attack. Still, how could she be unqualified? But, it was clear Nyx wasn¡¯t being modest and seriously believed it.

    ¡®Exactly how much stronger is Nox?¡¯ Sylvie was slightly curious but didn¡¯t want to ask.

    ¡°Fret not, you¡¯ll learn one day. ¡° Nyx guessed what Sylvie was thinking. Although they¡¯re pretty much family now and also soul-fates, Nyx knew that Nox didn¡¯t want to reveal much. The reason was because this was his new life. But, if some incredible situation occurred, that was when she could find out.

    ¡°Hehe, I don¡¯t mind at all. We have plenty of time. ¡° Sylvie giggled. There was no rush.

    ¡°Thanks. ¡° Nox appreciated Sylvie¡¯s understanding. He didn¡¯t want to hide things from her, but a few matters were significant at the moment.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve flown in the sky. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll both enjoy it.¡° Nox gazed at the ship, then the sky, before getting on via a conjured ladder. He could easily jump up, but he felt unusually excited and wanted to accomplish it the normal way.

    Nyx hasn¡¯t experienced many things with her physical body, and Sylvie was confined to Granir, so they were both excited as they followed Nox¡¯s lead.

    Walking over to the bow of the ship, Nox looked behind him contentedly ¡°Prepare yourselves. I made the boat incredibly light, but our ascent might be rough.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, master, Sylvie¡¯s body is inherently stronger than humans, remember? ¡° Nyx smiled.

    ¡°Oh, right. Hahaha let¡¯s go! ¡° Nox laughed loudly, much more excited at the prospect of flying a ship than he initially assumed.

    Crossing his arms over his chest, mana began pouring out of him as innumerable balls of lightning began forming underneath the ships two wings. There was something very amusing about controlling a ship while standing in his current position.

    ¡°RISE! ¡° Nox shouted unnecessarily with gleaming eyes as the balls of lightning simultaneously began exploding in a concentrated area under the wings, launching the ship upwards into the air.

    The takeoff was a little turbulent, but Sylvie and Nyx stood fine.

    ¡°Hehe, Nox seems to be enjoying this. ¡° Sylvie giggled when witnessing Nox¡¯s actions.

    ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Nyx replied emotionally, suddenly remembering the days when she silently watched Nox¡¯s life before and after he got married and had Stella. It had been countless years since he enjoyed something as simple as flying, thus Nyx was happy that all these recent events came to pass, completely rejuvenating him. Reviving Stella, accepting and merging the past and present, herself and Sylvie, it all helped continually surface aspects he once lost.

    About a minute later, the ship was thousands of meters high in sky as the surrounding forest now appeared very small. In the distance, the group could actually see the ocean and the gateway.

    ¡®What the fuck!?¡¯ Under the tree near the gateway, the man, Ghostclaw, suddenly opened his eyes and focused towards the sky to the west, noticing a small ship very far in the distance.

    ¡®It¡¯s them! That guy? He actually made a flying ship from conjuration and lightning, and even managed to fly using lightning? His control of those elements is incredible¡­ I need to report this later.¡¯ Ghostclaw muttered in shock and admiration. It took a lot of work to have such control in two elements.

    ¡°So nice! ¡° Sylvie exclaimed after Nox adjusted the strength of the lightning balls to be very silent and keep the ship steady, as they began traveling northwest towards Zyrin. She now had an incredible view of the vast blue sky and the endless land below. In the distance, she was in awe at the ocean and gained more determination to become powerful.

    Next to Sylvie, Nyx had her eyes closed, taking in the environment. Feeling the wind brush against her and move her hair around, and the sun bathing her in its warm rays, Nyx was incredibly relaxed. These sensations were another thing you needed a body for.

    Observing the two, Nox smiled, enjoying their expressions whilst reminiscing.

    ¡®I still remember the first time I soared through the air¡­ I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d feel it so vividly once more. Then there was Stella¡¯s first time¡­ ha, what a sight.¡¯ Nox quietly laughed to himself.

    ¡°Okay, let me try using my wind magic now.¡± Sylvie calmed herself and look towards Nox.

    ¡°You can enjoy yourself more, you know. I can handle the flying.¡± Nox returned her gaze.

    ¡°No, I want to practice as much as I can. I can feel the strength of the wind up here, it¡¯s incredible.¡± Sylvie¡¯s eyes shone with excitement.

    ¡°Haha, whatever you want. I¡¯ll keep my lightning active, just in case.¡± Nox chuckled and ceased his lightning explosions.

    As Nox made the ship very light, along with having wings, the ship was now gliding across the sky, as its descent was very slow even without anything to propel and keep it completely afloat.

    Watching Sylvie, Nox and Nyx observed her gathering mana and transforming it into wind. Gathering around her arms, Sylvie swept them forward as wind travelled alongside them, moving swiftly past her and directly into the sails.

    Causing an abrupt burst of speed which jerked the ship forward, Nox and Nyx were unmoving, but Sylvie staggered backwards, nearly falling.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be in a hurry, our ship descends slowly, and Nyx and I are here just in case. Start slow, steadily increasing the power you need until gauging the right amount you want. Wind is one of your affinities. It is ingrained into you. Experiment and follow your instincts, and you¡¯ll quickly understand wind and mana. I¡¯m right here if you need help.¡± Nox patiently guided Sylvie.

    He was new to mana, but the energies of Tian were very similar to those of Archaeos. During his time there, he encountered many different people and beings with all kinds of abilities, and on top of his breakthrough, very few could understand energy better than him.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Sylvie nodded seriously, closing her eyes to feel the wind.

    Observing Sylvie, Nox couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the scenery. Unlike Nyx¡¯s seductive figure, Sylvie was far more lithe and dainty. A fitting white robe with black leggings and boots, she was wearing the same mage-like robe as she did when they first met. Her light-blue hair flowing in the wind with those small white horns popping out from the top, it was quite the sight.

    ¡°I see how it is, master, you prefer women with smaller breasts. I will do everything in my power to reduce the size of mine!¡± Nyx expressed vehemently.

    ¡°I like both of you equally. Now stop messing around, you¡¯re distracting Sylvie.¡± Nox glared at Nyx when Sylvie nearly dispersed her mana.

    ¡°Hehe, master, distraction is everywhere therefore she must overcome it!¡± Nyx giggled mischievously.

    ¡°Just keep focusing and ignore Nyx.¡± Nox eyed Sylvie.

    ¡°Mmm¡± Sylvie nodded, regaining her concentration.

    ----------

    About 30 minutes later, Sylvie¡¯s breathing was strained and sweat was gathering on her pale face. Her mana was running low and she was finding it hard to continue. If it was someone with a lower affinity, they would¡¯ve been passed out long ago.

    Nearly about to let go, Sylvie suddenly felt a hand on her left shoulder. Turning her head, it was Nox giving her a faint smile. Almost at the same time, Sylvie felt a gentle energy enter her body through her shoulder, as all the depleted mana in her body began to replenish.

    ¡°Nox, you¡­ Can replenish my mana? ¡° Sylvie looked surprised. Being able to replenish someone¡¯s mana was far from simple, as it had to come from a different person and not the environment.

    Although everyone¡¯s mana came from the same source, because all life is different in some way, when someone absorbs mana into their body, slight changes occur. Due to those changes, if someone wanted to send their mana into another¡¯s body, they would need to perfectly integrate their own mana with the receivers, or it wouldn¡¯t work. Such a method was incredibly difficult to succeed in.

    ¡°I did tell you, Sylvie, master is the one truly proficient in energy use.¡± Nyx looked at Sylvie proudly, as if she was the one who gave her mana.

    ¡°Hehe, I guess so. Thank you.¡± Sylvie gazed at Nox as her breathing returned to normal and her face regained its color.

    ¡°If you need mana, let me know. Stop whenever you want, no need to rush. At our pace, we can make it to Zyrin in about 20 days.¡± Nox smiled gently at Sylvie. Her drive was definitely something, nearly going on until she collapsed.

    ¡°If you can, I want to keep going for a few more hours.¡± Sylvie gazed seriously at Nox.

    ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t worry about my mana, let¡¯s do this every day until we get there. For now, try to seamlessly turn the natural wind around us into a tailwind, and sustain it.¡± Nox advised before continuing.

    ¡°When you move, the air automatically resists against you. Over time, also try to reduce that resistance as much as possible. Use your wind to merge seamlessly with the air, always going with it. One day, you might become so proficient, that you¡¯ll have absolutely no resistance at all. The speed of everything you do would be unimaginable. This is only my own experience on how wind works, so as I said earlier, experiment on your own. Trust your instincts. You have plenty of time, after all.¡± Nox encouraged.

    On Tian, there were people that could blend with the wind and were so fast, they could nearly teleport. Those types were incredibly dangerous. The same should apply here.

    Listening to Nox, Sylvie¡¯s eyes shone with excitement. She had heard of many wind users, but barely any have accomplished a complete merger. Those that did were all legends, and Sylvie believed that she could reach that point. Maybe even further.

    Seeing Sylvie¡¯s shining green eyes that once more began focusing on her wind, and glancing at Nyx next to him, Nox nodded contentedly ¡®Two exceptional woman¡­¡¯

    ----------

    A cold moonlight shining down upon a plain, a large ball of darkness was situated in the center. Far from the ball, various animals and beasts were warily keeping their distance, able to sense the danger if they drew near.

    Inside that ball of darkness, was of course the ship Nox created. Looking from the outside, a light casting many shadows was inside the cabin.

    ¡°Put your damn clothes back on! ¡° an irritated voice erupted from within the cabin.

    ¡°NO! Sylvie doesn¡¯t mind! Isn¡¯t that right?¡± inside the cabin, Nyx was latched onto Nox¡¯s right side like a magnet, causing him to struggle in place.

    ¡°I-I-I¡­¡± Sylvie didn¡¯t know what to say. She resolved to share the bed, but Nyx was so open!

    Gazing at Nyx¡¯s naked body, when she focused on Nyx¡¯s breasts, she couldn¡¯t help but look down at her own, beginning to feel that she was lackluster.

    ¡°Look at what you¡¯re doing. ¡° Nox panicked for a moment when he saw Sylvie¡¯s action.

    ¡°Don¡¯t compare yourself to this crazy woman, your body is perfect in my eyes.¡± Nox quickly spoke to Sylvie, but he was being serious. Their connection went further than the physical, but he¡¯d be lying if he said her body wasn¡¯t appealing. This also applies to Nyx. He was acting like this now, but that was because Sylvie was with them.

    ¡°Mmm¡± Sylvie nodded with a shy smile as she laid down on Nox¡¯s left, moving next to him, although not grabbing him like Nyx.

    ¡°There, Sylvie is fine. I will forgive your previous comment about me, master, now stop struggling and let me sleep. Goodnight.¡± Nyx beamed, snuggling in closer and closing her eyes. She was quick.

    ¡®Let YOU sleep?¡¯ Nox looked helplessly at the cabins ceiling.

    Turning his head to the left, Nox was met with Sylvie¡¯s green eyes staring directly at him. Gazing intently at her, Nox moved his free left arm and ran his hand through Sylvie¡¯s soft light-blue hair and gently touched one of her small white horns. Instead of becoming shyer, she calmed down and appeared at ease.

    ¡°Cute haha. I should have touched them sooner.¡± Nox chuckled lightly and removed his hand from her head.

    ¡°Goodnight¡± Nox smiled lightly and closed his eyes.

    ¡°Goodnight¡± Sylvie whispered back, as she moved closer to Nox and wrapped her arms around his, closing her eyes with a content smile.

    They could actually go long periods of time without sleep, but it was a type of habit and ¡®tradition¡¯. It was also nice.

    ¡®This new life of mine¡­ I can¡¯t say it¡¯s bad. Stella should have a nice reaction when we meet again.¡¯ Nox thought happily before a realization hit him and he opened his eyes wide.

    ¡®Wait¡­ what if she has a man¡­ or multiple? What will I do? What if her man has multiple woman?¡¯

    ¡®No. If she is fated to have more than one man, so be it, but if her husband has a woman other than Stella¡­ ¡® Nox thought as his eyes turned sharp with a resolution to kill. It might be hypocrisy with his situation involving Sylvie and Nyx, but his daughter will not be married to a man with multiple wives! If it comes down to it, he¡¯ll even sever her soul-fate if he must!

    Putting these thoughts to the back of his mind and calming down, Nox closed his eyes once more, falling asleep shortly afterwards.

    11 days passed by in the blink of an eye as the trio was much closer to Zyrin than before. Over these last 11 days, they had assumed the schedule of waking up early, eating breakfast, watching Sylvie practice wind magic, lunch, wind magic again, dinner, and finally going to sleep. They didn¡¯t have to eat much, but it was a needed break and something enjoyable to do.

    The only stops they made were to sleep, as they agreed to go to Zyrin before truly exploring Divinus. This was because Nox wanted to accomplish that guild quest the Gifting System gave him, and then move on with everything else. Besides, 3 weeks of time was absolutely nothing.

    Other than that, the three had gradually become closer, talking about many subjects, all the while sleeping together became much easier and comfortable.

    On the 11<sup>th</sup> day during the evening, Nox, Nyx, and Sylvie were near the cabin looking for a decent spot to land for dinner and rest.

    ¡°You progressed a lot, Sylvie. We¡¯ll probably arrive in Zyrin within the week.¡± Nox praised, patting Sylvie¡¯s head and touching one of her small white horns. Her horns felt surprisingly nice.

    ¡°Mmm, thanks to you.¡± Sylvie beamed, enjoying Nox''s affection.

    ¡°Although master has provided guidance and mana, hard work is the core of your growth.¡± Nyx expressed sincerely. Sylvie''s drive was very impressive.

    ¡°Nyx is righ-¡° Nox spoke before cutting himself off, swiftly moving to the ships bow.

    Below them was a mountainous area with large trees and villages scattered about. In the distance far ahead of the ship, a large circular village had a sea of fire flanking its entire right side. On the southern side, countless trees were collapsed and destroyed as figures appeared to be passing over them.

    Enhancing his eyes with mana and zooming in on the village, a massive red lizard-like beast was in the center of the fire. In front of it, a large part of the villages wooden wall was collapsed and on fire, as multiple black armored people were attacking the beast with weapons and magic. On the ground were several completely charred figures along with molten iron and steel, clearly from their weapons and armor being met with intense heat.

    ¡®A Lesser Blaze Salamander? What is it doing here?¡¯ Nox identified it quickly after he read about different beasts during his stay at the Ragnarr¡¯s. Lesser Blaze Salamanders were powerful beasts that normally stayed near hot and rocky areas. For one to be attacking a village in a forest, it was ridiculous.

    On the south side where the trees were felled, Nox was surprised by what he saw. Large, bulky humanoid figures covered sparsely in armor, along with a few thinner versions of them which were fully armored. They all varied slightly in color, between grey, brownish or light green, and all had varying weapons.

    ¡®Orcs, huh? There must be at least 200. They even have a few Champions amongst them.¡¯ Nox looked at the group of Orcs in surprise. Contrary to what some might believe, Orcs normally kept to their own territories unless provoked. To have such an amount gathered together for battle, from what Nox had read, was extremely rare.

    At the very front of that army of Orcs, another small band of black armored men and women were defending a collapsed wall from the Orcs. Far past the wall near the village square, a multitude of people, men and women, young and old, were gathered together whilst most trembled in fear and trepidation.

    ¡®It really is the same in this world¡­ So much disparity and risks for the weak.¡¯ Nox lamented, experiencing such a scene countless times. Throughout their entire journey thus far, they hadn¡¯t encountered any similar situations.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Sylvie sprinted next to Nox, following his line of sight and witnessing a large column of smoke spreading through the air.

    ¡°A village far ahead is being sieged by a small army of Orcs and one Lesser Blaze Salamander¡­¡± Nox didn¡¯t move his gaze from the village.

    ¡°WHAT!? Orcs AND a Lesser Blaze Salamander? How? There¡¯s no way those two would attack at the same time. The Salamander is antagonistic towards nearly all life.¡± Sylvie looked at the smoke far ahead in disbelief.

    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a coincidence¡­¡± Nox thoughtfully said, as he viewed the south side, noticing a teenager in black armor a small distance behind the defenders, as well as a little girl less than 10 years old trembling next to him. Focusing on them, he felt they were unordinary, especially the little girl.

    ¡°Master, you are going down?¡± Nyx came next to him and inquired, already expecting what his reply would be. She had noticed the situation but couldn¡¯t see as good as Nox.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ That¡¯s right. I¡¯m going to interfere.¡± Nox asserted.

    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s been many years since the last time you did such a thing¡­¡± Nyx giggled.

    ¡°If I recall correctly, master, the last time was before the incident.¡±

    ¡°You sure were watching me for a while¡­ But yes, it was. It¡¯s been too long¡­ I am aware of reality and life. No one can help the entire world, but I can at least influence those I come across¡­ This can be considered fate, so I might as well go along with it. Besides¡­ I was once in their position¡­.¡± Nox nodded in affirmation.

    ¡°Take me with you!¡± Sylvie interjected from the side.

    ¡°I was planning to. You might be my future wife, but I¡¯m not that soft. I know that you need different experiences, no matter the severity¡­ Especially because you¡¯re with me now. Peace doesn¡¯t exactly follow me.¡± Nox readily agreed but gained a wry smile at the end. Sylvie might be a hundred and was fine seeing what he and Nyx did during her banquet, but she didn¡¯t truly experience that firsthand. This time was different.

    Hearing Nox, a serious look flashed across her eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯ll use my lightning and quickly bring the ship to the village. Nyx, coat it in darkness to reduce visibility. Once we get near, keep the ship surrounded so it can stay afloat, then we¡¯ll head down.¡± Nox motioned swiftly as lightning began to explode from behind the ship, propelling them forward. Although abrupt, Sylvie stood perfectly still, as she was now used to it.

    Almost at the same time, darkness poured out of Nyx and surrounded the ship save the back where Nox¡¯s lightning was used for propulsion.

    Speeding towards the sky above the village, the trio prepared to disembark and plant themselves in the middle of their battle.

 Chapter 13 - Fenwell

    High in the sky, a mass of darkness was soaring through the air towards a raging inferno located far below. Seconds later, it came to a crawl and stopped directly above a medium sized village.

    ¡°Get ready! Sylvie, descend with Nyx towards the squad facing the Orcs and support them. You should be able to handle yourself. ¡° Nox looked at Sylvie, who nodded resolutely in response.

    ¡°I know you¡¯d like a go but let Sylvie handle most of them. ¡° Nox glanced at Nyx seriously.

    ¡°I am aware, master. I shall only interfere if true danger presents itself. ¡° Nyx assured.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll reinforce the east. ¡° Nox moved his vision below as Nyx opened a small hole in the darkness.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. ¡° Nox voiced as he leapt off the ship. Hesitating for a moment, Sylvie quickly followed behind as wind magic surrounded her, whilst Nyx descended simultaneously. As the trio exited the hole, darkness filled it once more.

    ¨C30 minutes prior¨C

    ¡°My liege, Fenwell is up ahead. It is one of the more rural villages in Zyrin¡¯s territory, but fairly large in comparison to others nearby. I believe their lodgings should suffice for the night, but I regret we could not find a more prosperous village. ¡° a severe, short brown haired middle-aged knight clad in plain black armor commented next to a teenager clad in the same black armor. Behind them, a few dozen similarly armed men and women followed in an organized formation.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Markus. I¡¯ve already told you many times, I care not for comfort. That¡¯s why we¡¯re doing it this way. Although I¡¯m forced to have such a squad and you constantly insist we stay at inns, I am traveling for experience. If I cannot experience what our people do, then what use would I be? I refuse to be failures like them! ¡° the teenager, who appeared about 18 years old and sported blonde medium length hair and blue eyes scolded the middle-aged knight, Markus.

    Gazing ahead at the large wooden wall and gate in the distance, the teenager clenched his fists with determination ¡®I will follow mother¡¯s will!¡¯.

    Arriving close to the villages gate, an aggressive shout was heard from atop the wall ¡°HALT! STATE YOUR BUSINESS! ¡°

    ¡°As you can see, it¡¯s nearly dusk. We are only here for lodgings.¡° the teenager threw a small gold coin at the gatekeeper.

    His eyes shining, the guard quickly caught the coin with fervor, inspecting it closely using the remaining sunlight. Signaling with his hand, the gate opened shortly afterwards.

    ¡°Apologies, my lord. I¡¯m captain of the Fenwell guard, Kent. We¡¯re but a small village and such a large, armored group is very uncommon.¡° A well-dressed guard arrived, apologizing to the teenager.

    He could discern that the teenager was the leader. A gold coin could feed a small rural family for half a year. No one that would just give a village guard a gold coin should be out for them. Not to mention the groups armor and quality. Attacking their village would be illogical.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Do you have enough accommodations for us? ¡° the teenager didn¡¯t mind and instead asked what was currently most important.

    ¡°Hmm. Yes, my lord. We have two large inns. One is straight ahead this path, and another at the northern side of the village. If you follow this path past the first inn, you¡¯ll soon reach the village square. Follow the northern path and you¡¯ll soon spot the second inn. ¡° the guard thought for a moment before answering. They were currently at the southern gate.

    ¡°Very good, thank you for the information. We¡¯ll make our way to the inns, then. ¡° the teenager nodded amicably.

    Hearing the teenager¡¯s response, the guard was inwardly surprised. He was clearly some young master, yet no arrogance or disdain was evident. It was definitely a surprise.

    ¡°Markus, secure lodgings for everyone. Eva, scan the village and the surrounding area for any potential threats. When you¡¯re done, head back and inform Markus. I¡¯ll be going for a walk. ¡° the teenager issued Markus and a brown-haired woman orders, before departing from the small squadron.

    ¡°By your command! ¡° both Markus and the woman, Eva, gave slight bows and began carrying out their commands.

    Making distance from his guards, the teenager was inspecting the village. It was very plain. Roughly paved streets with most of the structures made of wood, very few used basic stone. But, although the village was lackluster, it was indeed as Markus said, being fairly large. As for the few guards scattered about, they appeared very weak. Using some picked up knowledge, the teenager guessed that the captain of the guard, Kent, was 2-star at most.

    Receiving many stares, probably due to his out of place appearance, he could see that although located in a rural area, Fenwell was more prosperous than most.

    Several minutes later after many twisting turns, the teenager arrived near a very small rundown shack. The few people walking nearby were clearly keeping a large distance from it.

    On the ground outside the shack, a thin little girl, less than 10 years old and covered in dirty clothes, was huddled against it, blankly staring at the slowly darkening sky.

    Noticing the little girl, the teenager was surprised. In a village where the inhabitants are supposed to be relatively close, a situation like this was occurring? Avoiding a child like the plague and leaving her in such straits was perplexing.

    Deciding to approach the girl, the teenager gave rise to many shocked reactions from the villagers.

    Seeing someone approach from the side, the little girl became startled and very wary.

    ¡°Hello, I mean no harm. I only saw that you were alone. My name is Brann. I¡¯m a traveler resting here for the night.¡± the teenager in black armor, Brann, smiled and introduced himself amicably.

    Observing his demeanor for a bit and realizing he¡¯s a traveler, the little girl lowered her guard, thinking that he was being sincere.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name, if I may ask? ¡° Brann questioned curiously.

    ¡°Name¡­ My name? I don¡¯t remember.¡± The little girl thought hard yet couldn¡¯t remember.

    ¡°You can¡¯t remember? ¡° Brann looked at the girl in surprise.

    ¡°Mmm. I tried lots of times, but I can¡¯t.¡± she nodded honestly.

    ¡°Well, why are you sitting here all alone? ¡° Brann continued.

    Looking around, almost every villager was keeping their distance and gazing at her with wary and antagonistic expressions, which baffled him. She seemed very innocent yet beget such treatment from them.

    ¡°Everyone¡­ says I¡¯m a bad omen. ¡° the little girl teared up as she spoke.

    ¡°What? A bad omen? How so? ¡° Brann queried with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°Umm¡­ I-I woke up in front of the village a few weeks ago¡­ I don¡¯t know how I got here¡­ when they saw me they got frightened. They¡­ said I was a devil. ¡° the little girl said, distressed.

    ¡®So, it¡¯s not only her name that is lost. And devil, what?¡¯ Brann became even more confused.

    ¡®Could the cause be her eyes?¡¯ Brann inspected the little girl.

    ¡®Grey eyes¡­ Extremely rare, but not unheard of, and definitely not the sign of some devil, although they do appear different to the typical grey I¡¯ve seen... I did not realize the education in these rural places was so poor. I must gain more knowledge and experience. Such incidents mustn¡¯t occur.¡¯ Brann thought in understanding, further reinforcing his ideals.

    ¡°Don¡¯t feel upset. You are far from a devil, these people only lack knowledge. ¡° Brann assured with an amiable smile. He was confident in his judgement.

    *DING DING DING DING DING*

    A loud ringing suddenly resounded throughout the entire village, halting all its residents. Moments later, a cacophony of sounds and voices erupted.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Move, move, head to the square! ¡°

    ¡°Hurry! Bring your kids! ¡°

    ¡°Move quickly!¡±

    Witnessing the huge disturbance, Brann became solemn and the little girl startled.

    ¡°Here, I¡¯ll take you to the square. ¡° Brann motioned for the little girl to come by his side and follow him.

    ¡°Mmm. ¡° she nodded and went next to Brann. During their short conversation, she felt that he was a nice person.

    Walking for only a brief period, they heard multiple shouts.

    ¡°Keep that devil away! ¡°

    ¡°She¡¯s the cause of this! ¡°

    Throwing all pretense aside and ignoring Brann¡¯s clearly influential status, the villagers refused to let the girl near them.

    Observing their responses, Brann stood there, stupefied.

    ¡°My liege! ¡° a hoarse voice echoed from the distance, swiftly revealing a large middle-aged man in black armor.

    ¡°Markus¡± Brann looked at the man who just arrived.

    ¡°My liege, Eva detected a multitude of hostile presences to the south, possibly a small army, as well as a large mana signature rapidly approaching from the East. Fenwell will be under siege within minutes. What are your orders? ¡° Markus inquired respectfully, whilst slightly curious about the little girl Brann was speaking with.

    ¡®¡­ Two forces are attacking such a small village? In an area like this? ¡® Brann subconsciously glanced at the once more teary eyed and anxious little girl to his side.

    ¡°There is no way Fenwell¡¯s militia can fight something of this magnitude. These are our people, and it is our duty to protect them. We will not retreat in the face of this danger. ¡° Brann expressed valiantly.

    ¡°Tell the militia to stay here or they¡¯ll throw away their lives. Send a quarter of the guard to the eastern gate while the others will defend the south. The rest is up to your discretion, but I believe you would be needed in the east. ¡° Brann instructed Markus after a few seconds deliberation. If there was a large entity to the east, it should be powerful, and as there was a small army to the south, more people were needed.

    ¡°By your command. ¡° Markus nodded approvingly and gave a slight bow, turning around and returning from where he came.

    ¡°What¡­ should I do? ¡° the little girl anxiously looked to Brann. The villagers wouldn¡¯t let her near them, so she didn¡¯t know where to go.

    ¡°I must stay near the battle. I can ask one of my men to escort you to the village square. The villagers might be against you, but they won¡¯t attack. ¡° Brann was sure the villagers wouldn¡¯t try anything if she had one of his guards.

    ¡°Can I¡­ come with you instead? ¡° the little girl hesitated but decided to ask.

    ¡°Come with me? I might have to fight and won¡¯t be able to protect you. It will be safer in the center of the village. ¡° Brann refused. Taking a child close to a battle would be too dangerous.

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll go! ¡° she gathered her courage and said stubbornly. She felt unnatural. As if something was compelling her to go.

    ¡°... ¡° Brann didn¡¯t know what to say, but he could see her seriousness, which was quite unusual for such a small child in this kind of situation.

    ¡°Fine but stay by my side. If I say leave, you mustn¡¯t question me. It''s for your safety.¡° Brann relented but spoke firmly. Although it was her choice to follow, if it got too dangerous, he would force her to leave if necessary.

    ¡°Mmm, I will. ¡° she nodded fervently.

    ¡°Good¡± Brann nodded, satisfied, before his face turned severe.

    Throughout the entire village, a rumbling that came and went in a perfect rhythm was felt vividly, constantly increasing in intensity.

    ¡®So it is an army... and they¡¯re close.¡¯ Brann muttered silently to himself, looking towards the southern end of the village.

    Swiftly moving his head towards the east, he noticed a red light that was also increasing in intensity, but the increase was much faster than the rumbling.

    ¡®Is that fire? Not good. Markus will probably head there first.¡¯

    ¡°Come, let¡¯s go to the southern gate! ¡° Brann glanced at the little girl, running at a pace that allowed her to keep up.

    ¨CPresent, Fenwell¡¯s eastern side¨C

    ¡°HOLD! DON¡¯T LET IT ENTER THE VILLAGE! ¡° a deep shout was heard within a raging inferno.

    ¡°EVA, HOW IS THE SOUTH DOING!? WHAT OF THE PRINCE? ¡° the same voice was heard once more.

    ¡°Reporting, Captain Markus, there is currently one casualty but the line should not break, although only a third of the orcs have entered battle. The champions have only moved to destroy part of the wall. If the three champions and the remaining orcs were to simultaneously enter the battle, I estimate we¡¯ll be routed within minutes. The Prince is currently observing from the rear with a little girl by his side. It appears he has no intention of participating at the moment. ¡° a woman with long brown hair was stood atop the village wall with her eyes closed, sending her voice via wind. It was the scout, Eva.

    Within a hundred meter radius, a fire was raging in the forest with some stray flames burning Fenwell''s walls. The world that was supposed to be turning dark, was brightened by the flames.

    ¡®Hmm... The Prince is still with that child¡­ It seems she¡¯s holding him back. That is for the best.¡¯ Markus thought while staring at a large red salamander a dozen meters away. It was half the size of a small house and releasing fire from its skin. The fire was strongest around the salamander, as trees toppled and turned to ash with a massive cloud of smoke and embers filling he air.

    Next to Markus, several other black armored guards were with him. On the ground, a few charred bodies were slowly turning to ash with molten metal around them. They were the corpses of a few of his men. There were no villagers in the battle. If they entered, they would only serve as cannon fodder.

    ¡®This damn Salamander. Why would such a beast appear here and attack some tiny village? Alongside orc champions, no less?¡¯ Markus was irritated as the heat assaulted his body which was further intensified by his armor.

    ¡°Come, use everything you have! We need to quickly reinforce the others! ¡° Markus shouted to the guards still alive. The champions were not something his men could handle alone. Even he would have trouble.

    Carrying a sword and kite shield, Markus charged towards the Lesser Blaze Salamander. Mana flowing out of him, the earth underneath his feet shifted, propelling him forward even faster. At this distance, he could arrive in front of the salamander within a second.

    Earth gathering on his shield, it turned into several spikes that protruded from the surface. With a shout, the earth below him exploded, launching him into the air and arriving directly in front of the salamander¡¯s head

    With a loud thud, Markus slammed his spike filled shield against the salamander''s head, piercing it and causing it to stagger and cry out. The ground shook due to the salamander''s weight.

    Turning slightly midair, Markus flipped his sword upside down and pierced into the salamanders¡¯ chest. His equipment supplemented weight bringing him back down, the sword cut downwards as a large gash was created on the salamanders'' chest, causing it to cry out once more.

    ¡®Damn, the wounds aren¡¯t even severe.¡¯ Markus dropped below, falling back to create distance. Observing the salamander, it now had blood dripping from its head and chest. As the blood fell to the ground, it bubbled and released steam due to the heat.

    To his side, a black armored guard holding a bow, infused an arrow with water and shot it at the salamander. Upon contact, the arrow created no impact, instead shattering while the water turned into steam.

    ¡°Dammit!¡± the guard shouted before infusing an arrow with a larger amount of water.

    Getting no chance to attack, a claw of fire from the now enraged Lesser Blaze Salamander suddenly descended upon the guard.

    Startled, the guard raised his bow, simultaneously creating a meter long and wide shield of water, attempting to block the claw.

    A large amount of steam erupting from the elements colliding, the guard was slammed into the ground, but the water and steam managed to diffuse most of the attack, allowing him to survive.

    *cough*

    ¡°Shit. ¡° the guard coughed up a large amount of blood, struggling to stand back up. His bow was also heavily cracked.

    ¡®Damn, what can I do!? They¡¯re all 2 and 3-star. A 4-star beast is too strong for them! Who would have thought this simple journey would entail this kind of danger in our own lands? ¡¯ Markus was distressed. He also had 4-star strength, but beasts and monsters were normally stronger than humans, especially physically.

    ¡°REPORTING, CAPTAIN, TWO NEW PRESENCES HAVE APPEARED AMIDST THE SOUTHERN SQUAD! ¡° Eva frantically shouted towards Markus.

    ¡°Plus one on this side. ¡° Eva heard a man¡¯s voice and felt a tap on her shoulder as a chill went down her spine, causing her to reflexively bounce backwards in fear. She specialized in sensory magic but didn¡¯t sense even a sliver of his presence!

    Gazing at the new face, it was a man with short black hair, stubble on his face, and deep grey eyes. The man was Nox.

    ¡°The two that appeared will be helping your people in the south. I¡¯m here for this side.¡° Nox stated, amused by her expression. It¡¯s been a while since he¡¯d done something like that.

    ¡°Who are you!? ¡° Eva mustered her courage and asked. She didn¡¯t feel any hostility and he seemed human, but if he could hide his presence so well, then what about intent?

    ¡°Just a passerby. ¡° Nox lightly smiled, before turning towards the group surrounded by flames. Pointing his finger, Nox began writing symbols in the air that began disappearing after completion.

    ¡®Rune magic!¡¯ Eva¡¯s expression turned into one of shock upon seeing glowing white lines forming in the air.

    In battle, Markus couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the salamander, but he heard Eva and Nox¡¯s exchange.

    An enraged roar suddenly coming from the salamander, its several meter long tail erupted in fire and whipped towards Markus.

    Unable to think further, Markus braced himself, hastily putting his shield forward and covering it with a layer of dense earth.

    Instantly arriving in front of him, the large and powerful tail covered in flames brought about an intense, scorching heat and slammed directly into the shield.

    Anticipating a large force, Markus'' arm only slightly shook.

    ¡°What!? ¡° Markus exclaimed, flabbergasted. The salamanders attack barely shook him.

    Noticing a light glow on his shield, Markus twisted his arm so he could see the front, stunned by the new addition.

    Multiple symbols intricately woven together, it was a glowing white rune.

    Turning his head, Markus quickly looked towards Eva far past the trees, noticing a man writing in the air.

    ¡®Rune magic¡­ so he really is here to help. Luck is on our side this day.¡¯ Markus sighed in relief, reinvigorated once more. To his side, the archer that had been injured, now had runes gathered on his bow, arrows, and armor. The few other guards nearby were experiencing the same phenomenon. He as well, suddenly gained runes on his sword.

    ¡°Hmm, the fire. ¡° Nox thought out loud as his hand moved faster. Soon, an immense number of runes covered the trees closest to the villages perimeter which were about to make contact with the salamander''s spreading fire.

    Some fire making it to the rune covered trees after a few moments, no changes happened. It was as if the fire encountered an invisible wall.

    Shortly afterwards, runes also began covering the villages walls which were covered in flame. The runes reinforced the wall and prevented further damage.

    ¡°Good. I guess you guys can handle everything now. I¡¯m off to the southern gate. ¡° Nox nodded at his work and glanced at Eva before jumping down the village wall and leisurely walking away.

    He practiced rune magic a bit during their journey. As rune magic was similar to the arrays of Tian, along with a few examples he¡¯d seen up until now, such as the transportation arrays and Ulnir''s reinforced walls, Nox was able to extrapolate a few concepts and apply them.

    Unable to reply, Eva stood there staring at the careless man, stupefied by this turn of events.

 Chapter 14 - Orcs

    ¨CFenwell village, about a hundred meters from the southern gate¨C

    ¡°HALT! State your names and intentions! ¡° a black armored man facing multiple orcs, shouted.

    Near the man, more than two dozen black armored humans, as well as many orcs paused their battle, looking at two newly arrived women with surprise and hostile intent. They were Sylvie and Nyx.

    ¡°Um, Nyx, I don¡¯t think we should have dropped here¡­¡± Sylvie looked around at all the hostile eyes nervously.

    ¡°No problem, no problem. Just get ready to deal with some of these ugly things. ¡° Nyx waved the situation off, telling Sylvie to soon enter the fray.

    Hearing Nyx¡¯s words many of the orcs around them seemed to understand as they became increasingly hostile, roaring in preparation to attack. But, a fair share also had desire hidden within while staring at them. At the rear of the orc¡¯s line, an unintelligible shout made them stay put.

    ¡°I said state your names and intentions! Especially, you, demon!¡° the same man shouted aggressively.

    ¡°If not, don¡¯t blame us for-¡°

    ¡°Shut your mouth! ¡° an emotionless voice came from Nyx as she waved her hand, summoning a mass of darkness that descended upon the guard, pressing him into the ground causing him to sink slightly and grunt in pain.

    ¡°Speak another word and that patch of dirt you lay on will become your grave! ¡° Nyx threatened with her arm extended as the darkness began twisting around the man, causing audible cracking to release from his black armor. Demanding from them? He was asking to die.

    Witnessing their comrade pressed into the ground so easily and disabled, many of the other guard''s hostile eyes turned into trepidation. That man was currently in command.

    ¡°Wait, stop! Don¡¯t forget the reason we came here for.¡° Sylvie quickly stood in front of Nyx to calm her down. They came here to save the people, not kill them.

    ¡°Oh¡­ ¡° Nyx paused.

    "Yes, you¡¯re right. I got a bit too excited. ¡° Nyx agreed and moved her hand slightly, dispersing the darkness.

    Breathing heavily and struggling to stand after the pressure disappeared, the guard felt as if he just escaped the jaws of death.

    ¡°Fret not, I wouldn¡¯t have killed them, but master would have understood if I administered punishment. ¡° Nyx smiled at Sylvie and looked towards the other guards.

    ¡°We are here to kill some of these, and not you humans.¡± Nyx announced to the human guards while glancing at the orcs.

    ¡°Now, onto the subject of your previous hostility towards us. New faces arriving amidst your battle; it is understandable. I can accept this. But, how about the words from whom I presume is your leader? His words were very forceful, yes? He was even about to threaten an attack on us.¡° Nyx placed her piercing gaze on the guards.

    ¡°By my master¡¯s grace, I shall also accept that. Nevertheless, if such a thing occurs once more, I will not be so forgiving. ¡° a beautiful smile blossomed on Nyx¡¯s face, but the guards didn¡¯t perceive it that way.

    Looking at Nyx, the threat in her red eyes wasn¡¯t being hidden towards them, betraying that bright smile and bringing a chill down their spines, causing their countenances to become pale. They could already picture their fates if they followed in the footsteps of their peer.

    Watching this scene, Sylvie felt helpless. Nyx was alright when you¡¯re nice or indifferent, but any aggression or bad comments directed towards them, and especially Nox, instantly flipped a switch. This was evident when they first met.

    Removing her smile, Nyx turned towards the orc champions on the opposite side, speaking in an insipid tone ¡°Listen well. My sister-wife here will join this battle. There are three outcomes for you and your army. Consider my words or not, tis your decision.

    ¡°One, you participate and force me to kill all of you and lose your chance at victory. Two, you continue overseeing this battle, I do not move, thus preserving your chance at victory. Three, you retreat in humiliation and answer to whomever ordered this expedition of yours. ¡°

    Normal orcs weren¡¯t too intelligent, but the champions were. Races occasionally produced advanced versions of their kind, which were gifted in many more ways compared to their normal counterparts, and the orc champions were an example of that. Their strength and intelligence were much higher.

    Listening to Nyx¡¯s authoritative and absolute demeanor, it provoked the anger and pride of the orc champions. Nevertheless, they looked at each other with resigned eyes, nodding and coming to a decision without much deliberation. Nyx¡¯s casual attack on the human guard made them instinctively feel threatened, but they couldn¡¯t retreat. If holding back could stay her hand and prevent a total loss, that was grudgingly acceptable. Besides, without their full force, their warriors were still overpowering the humans, so they remained confident.

    ¡°We will stay here and continue our command. ¡° a dark grey skinned orc champion voiced loudly in compliance, shocking the orcs. Their leaders were lowering their heads? She was that strong?

    Hearing the exchange between Nyx and the orcs, the humans in black armor were also shocked. Viewing Nyx in a different light, they felt some relief after fully realizing that although she threatened and certainly didn¡¯t put them in her eyes, she really wasn¡¯t an enemy, and even kept the powerful orc champions at bay.

    ¡°Wise.¡± Nyx nodded and praised the orc''s decision.

    If they fled, Sylvie wouldn¡¯t gain any experience, and if they attacked, she¡¯d have to kill them. In turn, the regular orcs would scatter when their leaders died. Nevertheless, she felt they would take this route. The orcs had some purpose here and they wouldn¡¯t just retreat or effectively go to their deaths.

    ¡°Sylvie, you must keep a clear mind and focus. The mind can be your greatest ally or worst enemy. Always remember this. ¡° Nyx advised with a smile.

    People that could fight optimally when influenced by complex thoughts or emotions, such as anxiety, rage, or panic, were uncommon, requiring either a specific quality or much experience, which allowed them to react on instinct and still think somewhat clearly amidst it all. Sylvie was definitely not part of that group.

    ¡°Mmm, I understand.¡± Sylvie nodded seriously at Nyx¡¯s simple advice. She was from a military family, so this concept wasn¡¯t unfamiliar.

    Listening to her assent, Nyx disappeared and reappeared at the side of the battlefield, her speed startling all but Sylvie. Witnessing Nyx, the orc champions looked at each other in surprise and hidden relief, wholeheartedly believing that their decision was the correct choice.

    ¡®Your men will be used to sharpen my sister-wife, therefore you had best not hold back against her. A few casualties are better than everyone, including you three, yes?¡¯ Nyx sent to the orc champions in a flat tone.

    Moving their gazes between the battle and Nyx, the champions were indignant and enraged by her words, but reluctantly nodded in assent.

    ¡°Brothers, our luck is too horrid¡­¡± the dark grey skinned champion spoke as his wrist lit up briefly and created a small communication barrier.

    ¡°This was supposed to be an easy massacre with large merit. Maybe even get a few slaves, yet some unusual woman appears, forcing us to watch our men die! Dammit!¡± A champion with dark green skin voiced indignantly in a hoarse voice.

    ¡°What can we do? You two saw the darkness she used. It was surely just a fraction of her power¡­ and that speed. I couldn¡¯t follow her. ¡° the dark grey skinned champion spoke in dejection. They were soon to trample the village, but Nyx and Sylvie suddenly appeared.

    ¡°¡­I know. I couldn¡¯t follow her as well. Damn it, we can¡¯t escape this without incurring numerous losses! The chief will be furious. ¡° a light brown skinned champion commented angrily.

    ¡°The humans and that child must be destroyed no matter the cost! We¡¯ll finish these black armored humans quickly and then proceed to the village! ¡° the dark grey skinned orc¡¯s expression turned sharp. They had no choice but to continue the attack and hope Nyx kept her word.

    On the sidelines, Nyx was enjoying the expressions on the orc champions. It felt good to finally have a body.

    ¡®The purpose of our arrival in this area was for intimidation. Move nearer to the humans now; you don¡¯t want to get surrounded, after all.¡¯ Nyx sent to Sylvie whilst sharply observing the mass of orcs.

    ¡®You need not show mercy! There are times when that is possible, but not at this moment. The eyes give away much information. More than you could imagine. If you didn¡¯t require training, I would have already gouged out their eyes and given them painful deaths!¡¯ Nyx looked at the orcs with a well-hidden and deep murderous intent.

    ¡®Alright.¡¯ Sylvie replied without hesitation. Although orcs didn¡¯t leave their territory frequently, many were savage when encountering weaker beings of other races and especially lusted after women. Even if she¡¯d never been in combat, she was no child and had learned a vast amount of information, albeit unable to apply most of it.

    Within Fenwell, Brann and the little girl were watching the current events playing out through the destroyed wall.

    ¡°Wow, white horns and that other lady has red lizard eyes¡­ they¡¯re so weird and pretty. ¡° the little girl muttered with shining eyes as she stared at the battlefield. Although adamant about following Brann, she couldn''t help but tremble previously. Seeing the new arrivals managed to inexplicably calm her.

    ¡°Pretty, indeed. Much less her appearance, a demon in these parts is very rare. I wonder what that red eyed woman is¡­ clearly not a beastkin. Thankfully they¡¯re not enemies. ¡° Brann nodded and replied subconsciously, before he swiveled his head towards the girl in shock.

    ¡°Wait, you can see them clearly from this distance!? ¡° Brann exclaimed.

    ¡°Mmm. ¡° the little girl affirmed innocently. Hearing Brann also mention demon and beaskins made her very curious, but she kept quiet.

    ¡®We¡¯re no small distance away¡­ at least 200 meters, and those two women are amidst orcs and all of my men. Although they stick out, they shouldn¡¯t be so easy to see¡­ It¡¯s obvious she¡¯s human and unawakened¡­ How is this possible?¡¯ Brann silently stared at the little girl. Being able to clearly see the small horns and even the irises of the two newly arrived woman left him stupefied. He was able to see due to mana enhancing his body over the past several years since awakening, but the little girl obviously couldn¡¯t use mana.

    *ROAR*

    A loud unintelligible shout that seemed like a command abruptly resounded, interrupting Brann¡¯s contemplation.

    Watching the orcs from behind the wall, an uproar began as they prepared to once more make contact with the black armored guards. Compared to their previous clash, they appeared much more aggressive and reckless than before.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡®They¡¯re going all out now... Should I participate?¡¯ Brann muttered to himself and then glanced at the little girl.

    ¡®No, only I can take her to the villagers now, but I mustn¡¯t leave. All my men must stay and hold. Perhaps that demon woman will be enough support until Markus and the rest arrive. Still, even that might not be enough¡­¡¯ Brann clenched his fists with worry and some guilt. It was his choice to defend this village, and it would cost the lives of some of his guards. People with families.

    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have been so stubborn¡­ Blinded by my emotions.¡¯ Brann thought to himself. Before he left on his journey, people insisted he took stronger guards with him, but he stubbornly refused. He didn¡¯t want to take strangers and those who would monitor him.

    Markus and Eva were Brann¡¯s trusted confidants, but their strength was only so much. The other guards as well. They had been assigned to him for long but were only above average. He himself at only 18 years old was stronger than most of them.

    ¡®It¡¯s up to Wymar''s command and everyone¡¯s defense.¡¯ Brann muttered anxiously.

    Outside the village wall, the guard who was pressed into the ground was on his feet once more. He was Wymar, the guard¡¯s temporary captain. Watching the orcs prepare for the next assault, he also noticed Sylvie moving with the wind towards their line. Glancing at Nyx from the side, although embarrassed and awkward due to the state she put him in, he had already made up his mind.

    ¡°PREPARE FOR COMBAT AND STICK TOGETHER! WE MUST HOLD UNTIL THE CAPTAIN AND OTHERS ARRIVE! AS FOR THE DEMON, LEAVE HER BE AND FOCUS ON WHAT IS AT HAND! ¡° Wymar bellowed and raised his sword into the air, causing a fire to radiate off the blade while the other guards gathered closer together. The situation was much too serious now and they had to take up a sturdier defensive position and wait for their reinforcements to appear. He now believed Nyx and Sylvie weren¡¯t enemies, so there were no qualms leaving her unattended.

    ¡®I suppose that human isn¡¯t a complete fool. These nasty creatures are frantic due to us. It appears their mission is more important than their lives.¡¯ Nyx watched the escalating situation amusedly.

    The orcs hadn¡¯t entirely been in battle when they first arrived yet were still pressuring the humans. It seemed that they felt assured of victory and wanted to minimize losses. Now, thanks to Nyx¡¯s deterrence of the champions, all of them were prepared for battle, even if it was to be a pyrrhic victory.

    On the rear of the orcs, one of the champions pulled out some kind of dark grey horn and blew intermittently into it, causing a loud, deep sound to resound throughout the surrounding area.

    A multitude of roars suddenly erupting, the orcs charged in full force towards the black armored guards protecting the village. There was no holding back this time. They wanted to eliminate the threats before going for the villagers.

    Watching over 200 6ft+ tall and muscular orcs charging forwards and causing the ground to tremble, the guards couldn¡¯t help but be shaken and grip their weapons tighter, inwardly preparing their magic.

    To the side of the humans, Sylvie was also shaken as she took this view in. She had seen a larger and stronger force before in Granir, but it was a demon battalion merely going through drills. These orcs were enemies out for blood.

    Materializing the dark brown, rune covered bow, Windfury, that Glenn gifted her, Sylvie gripped it tightly as a quiver of white arrows also appeared on her back.

    Taking a deep breath, Sylvie opened her hand as a delicate wind enveloped her body and a sharp wind covered her arrows. On Windfury, its runes began giving off a very faint green light.

    ¡®These runes aren¡¯t as powerful as Nox¡¯s, so I have to be careful¡­¡¯ Sylvie thought seriously. With Nyx¡¯s insistence, Nox didn¡¯t enhance and overwrite Windfury''s runes. Windfury was a powerful bow, but only to an extent. Instead of having the capability to easily defend against most attacks, she would have to be more conscientious about her actions, or risk injury and even a broken weapon.

    A few seconds later, loud clashes of steel and many shouts were heard as the orcs and humans met. Forming a small and tight perimeter, around 20 black armored guards specializing in melee combat were protecting several archers. At their level, a vast majority of people had difficulty releasing their elements as projectiles, and instead attached elements such as fire, water, and wind to their weapons and bodies. This would enhance their offensive and defensive power.

    As for normal orcs, their power was physical. They, like all races, awakened their own elements, but they couldn¡¯t project them outside their bodies. Humans experienced the same phenomenon.

    Historically, early humans all awakened great control over the elements, but as generations passed and more and more humans were born, the ability to fluidly control the elements declined, slowly becoming rarer and rarer.

    The reason behind this phenomenon, was due to Archaeos enforcing a basic balance depending on a race¡¯s rarity and their intelligence. Tian employed the same system. This didn¡¯t mean one couldn¡¯t infinitely grow, though. Nox and Elise were two examples.

    Humans were an intelligent and highly populated race, which caused Archaeos to be stricter. If all humans had great control and physical strength, with their population, they would have complete dominion over the lesser numbered races.

    Orcs were also populated to an extent, therefore all their numbers including women had high physical strength but lower magic capabilities. Demons had a harder time conceiving children, which was evident with Sylvie, Glenn, and Avera''s hundred years age gaps. But, due to that, most demons were gifted with higher than average control and physical strength. Dragons were incredibly rare, which meant they had much, much more power, even when young. Although the balance wasn¡¯t perfect and there are big and small gaps between the myriad races, Archaeos managed to prevent total chaos and preserve some harmony.

    On the side of the humans, Sylvie was watching the clash between the orcs and humans. Most of the orcs appeared to ignore her, but one had its eyes fixed on her and begun charging forwards.

    This orc had a large ordinary steel greatsword and was wearing some light leather armor covering its forearms and lower half.

    Gripping her bow tightly, Sylvie became anxious. Glancing at Nyx and thinking of her advice, Sylvie pulled out and nocked an arrow. Her expression severe, wind began twisting around her delicate fingers and shrouded the entire arrow. Wind also flowing onto Windfury, the engraved runes began glowing a faint green on its dark brown wooden body.

    Taking a deep breath and focusing her mind, Sylvie¡¯s eyes locked onto the orc¡¯s savage eyes. Pulling back the bowstring with ease, a green light simultaneously emitted from the bowstring and arrow, seemingly turning them into one.

    *Swoosh*

    Releasing her fingers, the green arrow shrouded in a sharp wind pierced through the air with speed, heading straight towards the orc.

    Watching Sylvie¡¯s weak attack, a mocking grin appeared on the orcs face as it lifted the sword in front of him.

    An instant later, a small spark and shattering of wood resounded. Blocking Sylvie¡¯s arrow with the flat of its blade and wearing a satisfied grin, the orc¡¯s expression abruptly changed as he gripped his neck. A stream of blood pouring through its fingers and down its neck, the orc collapsed with a thud, now motionless. A hole the size of an arrow pierced straight through its neck.

    Gazing at the orc, Sylvie let out the long breath she was holding. The first arrow had only been a diversion. She had surreptitiously fired two arrows that appeared as one. Covering one of the arrows in a more complex wind, it had broken off from the other after a specified distance and veered past the orcs sword, piercing its neck. A different method could have been used, but Sylvie still had much to learn about wind magic.

    Seconds later and getting nearly no chance to rest, Sylvie noticed a more muscular and armored orc in the distance with its gaze on the newly deceased orc. Steel breastplate and greaves, this orc looked stronger than the other. Moving its gaze on her after a moment, a look of rage appeared on its face.

    Although under orders, most orcs were trying to avoid her before due to Nyx¡¯s intimidation, but after easily killing one of their brethren, others began paying attention and turning towards her.

    With a booming grunt, the larger orc lifted his weapon, a massive and menacing club, and sprinted towards Sylvie. Very fast and contrary to its size, the heavy orc crossed a several dozen meter distance in mere seconds.

    Arriving in front of Sylvie, the large orc who appeared almost 7 feet tall, towered over the small and lithe Sylvie, who was only slightly over 5 feet tall. Raising his club high, the orcs muscles flexed as he swung down with speed and power, aiming directly at Sylvie¡¯s head with the intent to kill.

    Watching the approaching club, Sylvie panicked slightly but had been repeating Nyx''s words in her mind. Calculating quickly, Windfury¡¯s faint green runes activated as Sylvie swung her bow upwards at an angle, deftly using it to deflect and knock the descending club to the side, causing the orc to lose balance due to his own full-powered swing. Heavily smashing the ground with its club, a burst of dirt erupted as a two-meter-wide and deep hole appeared.

    ¡°Ugh ¡° Sylvie groaned in pain as she flew backwards. Although most of the attacks power was diffused, the remaining force was significant. Flipping herself in midair, Sylvie managed to correct herself and shakily land back on her feet. From her left hand gripping the bow, blood began dripping down her delicate fingers and palm. The skin on her hand had cracked open. This was the first time she had real contact with anything aggressive, much less an orc, and it left her nervous.

    ¡®So strong¡­ If I didn¡¯t do that, my arm would have been shattered... I can¡¯t let one get so close again.¡¯ Sylvie thought severely and leaped further backwards. A gentle wind maneuvering around her hand, the blood was quickly removed and displaced. Almost simultaneously, very thin ice covered the small wounds that opened on her fingers, absorbing any blood that would continue dripping as well as dulling the pain.

    Nocking a new arrow and pulling back the string, a swoosh was heard as sharp wind carrying a glowing green arrow released from the bow. Less than a second later, the arrow arrived near the neck of the orc who was readjusting his arm and posture after his attack was deflected.

    *Hmph* the orc grunted in disdain as his arm muscles tensed.

    Ready to lift his club, the orc appeared confused as he felt a cold sensation on his right side and couldn¡¯t move his arm.

    A puncturing noise resounding, a newly made hole that went through the orcs neck was bleeding profusely as he turned to stare indignantly at Sylvie before momentarily dropping to the ground. A thin trail of ice was leading from Sylvie all the way to the orc and a layer of ice was covering his right side up to the shoulder. Sylvie surreptitiously used ice to travel along the ground, which immediate expanded and disabled the orc upon contact.

    Her breathing becoming hurried, Sylvie began steadying herself. For someone without much power, manipulating an element far from the body was taxing. If it wasn¡¯t for her affinity and natural control, she would have either been completely incapable of such a feat or collapsed due to mana exhaustion and the straining of her channels.

    Composing herself, Sylvie gazed intently at the orcs eyes who just fell. Moving her vision towards the other, she felt a tinge of remorse. Looking at her hand and then the humans around her that were shrouded in multiple colors from their elements, blood was constantly being spilled. There was the strong metallic smell of blood and charred skin from fire magic filling the air, stinging the nostrils.

    Most guards donned cut and crushed pieces of their armor and weapons that continued growing in number. Varied amounts of blood, either their own or from the orcs, were painted across their armor. On the bloody ground, a few guards were motionless with either a crushed skull or bodies mutilated.

    As the battle continued and the bodies kept piling, albeit mostly orcs, Sylvie resolved herself. She was now fully aware that battles and these orcs were merciless, and it was kill or be killed. As Nyx said, this was no time for mercy.

    ¡®Thankfully I haven¡¯t panicked much because of Nyx.¡¯ Sylvie sighed inwardly in relief and glanced at Nyx.

    Watching from the sidelines, Nyx was gazing at Sylvie with a light smile.

    ¡®Hehe, as expected. Although much more experience is required, no partner of master shall be incompetent amidst battle. Looks like mine and master¡¯s power has been excellent motivation.¡¯ Nyx praised. Sylvie thought quickly and calmly from the beginning,

    The orcs were crude, but their physical strength was immense. If Sylvie took the second orcs blow head on, she wouldn¡¯t only have a light wound on her hand. Deciding to deflect and redirect the attack without mistake and then following with an immediate counterattack and using her previously unused ice magic to momentarily disable the orc was impressive. The situation developed fast, so this demonstrated her quick thinking.

    Interacting with Sylvie these past few weeks, Nyx knew that although enjoying a century of life, Sylvie had never experienced a legitimate life and death battle. Not a training session, but a fight where one another is aiming to kill. In a world like this, if you weren¡¯t content to be weak, experiencing at least a few battles was a requirement to become strong.

    For that reason, Nox and Nyx made sure to guide Sylvie. With two teachers that had experienced tens of thousands of battles, she would learn very quickly.

    Nyx also noticed Sylvie¡¯s conflicting expression about killing, but she had nevertheless done well with her wind and ice magic as well as her state of mind. It seemed that growing up within a military family wasn¡¯t for naught.

    Far away, the three orc champions were angered, but they couldn¡¯t do anything.

    ¡°That was one of our 3-stars! How could such a 2-star whelp easily overcome him!? ¡° the dark green champion roared indignantly.

    ¡°Sadly, our brethren aren¡¯t as adept as us¡­ they can barely comprehend the base elements, much less a variant like ice that is difficult to deal with and predict. ¡° the light brown champion voiced with mixed irritation and dejection.

    ¡°We can only wait and hope our men quickly finish those humans, or else more will continue to die by that demons¡¯ hands. ¡° the dark grey orc commented quietly.

    ¡°Bah, if only that fiend hadn¡¯t arrived! ¡° the dark green champion complained while glancing at Nyx. The two other orcs simultaneously nodded.

    Back near the village walls, the human¡¯s temporary captain, Wymar, who was now worse for wear and boasting a few wounds, noticed Sylvie killing a few orcs without too much difficulty, inadvertently boosting his moral. Almost simultaneously, a silent message came into his ears from Eva who was informing him of Markus¡¯ situation.

    ¡°JUST A FEW MORE MINUTES AND OUR REINFORCEMENCE WILL ARRIVE. WE MUST PROTECT THIS VILLAGE AND AVENGE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS! ¡° Wymar bellowed as he parried an orcs large sword upwards and then swiftly thrust his flaming sword into the orcs chest, charring the surface and his insides. The orcs eyes losing their light, Wymar pulled his sword out as the orc fell motionlessly onto another dead orc.

    Witnessing Wymar, the rest of the guards erupted with more fervor than before, releasing a multitude of shouts and elemental colors.

    Near the humans, Sylvie steeled her mind and gathered her mana, as she watched more orcs begin directing their murderous and lascivious eyes towards her.

 Chapter 15 - Recollection

    On the other side of the village, Nox finished assisting the group fighting the Lesser Blaze Salamander and began walking towards the southern gate. He wanted to let Sylvie gain more experience, so he took his time. She might get lightly injured, but he trusted Nyx wouldn¡¯t let anything dire happen.

    Unbeknownst to Nox, as he didn¡¯t bother constantly keeping a large sensory range, a white-haired woman with black eyes was observing the entire battle from a separate space high in the sky.

    ¡°Hmm, I''m surprised I didn''t see how they appeared. Nevertheless, quite impressive rune magic for a lowly human mortal. ¡° the woman praised Nox down below, but still looked at him with disdain.

    ¡°As for that demon and¡­ possible dragon? The arrogant dragon appears above average, yet such a newborn demon is routing those slaves? ¡°

    ¡°Worthless scum can¡¯t even slaughter through one tiny village. I suppose I must enter this filthy area soon¡­ That abominable thing can¡¯t be left alive. ¡° the woman looked at the ground below in disgust and irritation.

    ¡°As for those three, to cause me such trouble, I¡¯ll finish them when I¡¯m done. Should I start with the human, or the women? ¡° the white-haired woman gazed below at Nox, Nyx, and Sylvie with a sadistic smile.

    As Nox walked around the village, smoke and the smell of burned wood filled the air. The salamanders fire was very destructive, but his own rune magic contained the fire.

    Arriving near the southern gate after about 10 minutes due to slowing his pace and ambling about, Nox began to feel an unusual sensation. As if something was tugging at his heart.

    Continuing forward, Nox noticed the teenager in black armor and the little girl he spotted from the ship near the wall. Both were anxiously watching the battle outside the village.

    Ignoring the teenager, Nox couldn¡¯t help but look at the little girl and feeling even more unusual than before, especially compared to when he first saw her from the ship. Oddly feeling that someone was watching her, the little girl turned her head to look at him with curiosity, causing her to pause and stare blankly at him.

    As their gazes met for the first time, a jolt ran throughout Nox. Through his mind and soul.

    ¡®How¡­ is this possible?¡¯ Nox stared into the little girl¡¯s eyes, beginning to tremble uncontrollably as a long forgotten memory from his youth began to resurface.

    ¨CTian Universe, Mortal Plane, Over 7,500 years ago¨C

    ¡°Nox, it¡¯s time to take a break, you¡¯ve been practicing since dawn. ¡° a woman¡¯s crisp, soothing voice resounded throughout a small stone courtyard, awakening a youth constantly swinging a steel sword in repetition. On a training dummy a distance away, a large slash that split the material went across its chest.

    Short brown hair and brown eyes, he looked to be about 16 years old. This youth was a teenage Nox.

    In that small courtyard, the only thing within was young Nox holding a steel longsword, and a training dummy. Drenched in sweat, his hands had calluses on them from intense practice.

    Grabbing a sheath placed on the ground to his side, Nox deftly put the sword away in one motion, hanging the sheath on his waist.

    Letting out a long breath from fatigue and turning around, an incredibly elegant woman in her mid-20s with pitch-black hair and deep, grey eyes was smiling at Nox.

    ¡°Sorry, mom, I lost track of time. ¡° Nox smiled wryly due to his lack of awareness.

    ¡°I know you love training, but you still need to eat! ¡° the woman, Nox¡¯s mother, scolded, albeit with a smile. Glancing at the dummy to the side and noticing its chest, a surprised look flashed across her eyes.

    ¡°I know, I know. ¡° Nox nodded quickly.

    ¡°MOM, IS BIG BROTHER DONE YET? I WANT TO EAT! ¡° a loud high-pitched voice assaulted the courtyard from within the house connected to it.

    Hearing pitter patter, Nox looked behind his mom, noticing a small girl about 9 years old running up to them. Long black hair and grey eyes, the little girl looked identical to their mother.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ Sorry, Astra. I didn¡¯t realize what time it was.¡° Nox looked at his little sister Astra, apologetically.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay big brother. Come on, let¡¯s eat! ¡° Astra smiled cutely, unbothered by Nox¡¯s tardiness.

    ¡°Heh, alright.¡± Nox laughed lightly, walking towards the two.

    Gazing at her children, the woman¡¯s smile lingered, happy that the two siblings had a good relationship. She hoped that it would continue that way.

    ¡°Come, your father should be home soon. I roasted boar for lunch. ¡° their mother commented.

    ¡°A boar? Isn¡¯t that too large for lunch? ¡° Nox asked in surprise. It was a pretty big meal for only four people.

    ¡°Yes, but I thought it would be a nice change of pace. ¡° their mother lightly chuckled at his expression.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, it smells so good! ¡° Astra shook her arms in excitement and ran towards the inside of their modest villa.

    Gazing at his sister¡¯s back, Nox had a faint smile. Her liveliness brightened up their lonely home. Unlike most families with a fairly large home, theirs had no servants or other residents. In the surrounding area, there were no other humans in sight. It was only the three of them and his father. It was something his mother insisted for some unknown reason.

    ¡°Oh, just in time! ¡° a deep voice resounded throughout the house as a door opening was heard.

    ¡°Dad! ¡° Astra looked towards the door that opened, noticing a well-built man with dark brown hair and brown eyes.

    ¡°Haha, my little girl, I missed you already. ¡° the man laughed loudly whilst she ran towards him. Picking Astra up, their father ruffled her hair.

    ¡°Good timing indeed, Feng. ¡° the sibling''s mother smiled at her husband.

    ¡°Boar today, Rhea? A pleasant surprise. ¡° Feng smiled lovingly then moved his vision towards Nox.

    ¡°Look at you, training until noon again, huh? ¡° Feng eyed Nox inquisitively. He could tell he just finished.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I lost track of time. ¡° Nox lowered his head in embarrassment.

    ¡°Hahaha, well that¡¯s my son for you. I used to do the same back when I was your age. How is your training going? Go on, it¡¯s been a few weeks, show your mother. ¡° Feng laughed proudly.

    ¡°Alright ¡° Nox nodded and looked towards his mother, Rhea, who had already returned his gaze in anticipation. She had been feeling this way ever since she saw the damaged training dummy.

    Moving his feet and facing Rhea with his right side, Nox placed his hand on his steel swords'' hilt, causing a change in his entire demeanor. A very sharp light surfacing in his eyes, Nox drew the sword in a flash, swinging it diagonally upwards. A translucent and sharp arc of energy suddenly releasing from the sword, it sped directly towards Rhea.

    Surprise surfacing on both Rhea and Feng''s faces, they looked at Nox in disbelief. Waving her hand at the energy arriving in front of her, Nox¡¯s attack shattered upon contact.

    Without surprise at his mother¡¯s prowess, Nox sheathed his sword once more, then noticing both his parent¡¯s expressions.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? ¡° Nox looked at them, puzzled.

    ¡°Nox, do you know what that energy was? ¡° Feng put Astra down and asked with excitement.

    ¡°How should I know? You made me train on my own and barely told me anything¡­ ¡° Nox shrugged.

    ¡°Three days ago, I began to feel an unusual connection with my sword. Like we were naturally one. Then earlier today, I began to feel something around me. Something other than Qi. When I continued swinging my sword, it felt as if I could cut through anything. After that, one of my swings carried that unusual energy when I focused. Just now was the second time I did it. ¡° Nox answered in detail, understanding that he might as well explain what happened.

    ¡°One with the sword and sword intent, both within the last few days? Hahahahaha, now that¡¯s my son! A genius amongst geniuses! I knew leaving you alone was the best course of action!¡° Feng laughed boisterously in glee.

    Feng and Rhea had decided to leave Nox to his own devices because when he was a small child, he had naturally picked up concepts of sword use with only the occasional observations. That¡¯s when they discovered his abnormal affinity for the sword and decided to take the risk and let Nox learn and comprehend on his own. Not knowing what to do or knowing the different levels of mastery might give Nox infinite potential. He would develop his own style and wouldn¡¯t think there was a ceiling to strength and sword comprehension, thus would continue progressing based on his instincts.

    ¡°Nox, you should understand how incredible that is! It''s almost unbelievable! ¡° Rhea beamed proudly. She had never heard of someone reaching any kind of Intent at such a young age. Normal people began training at 12 years old, which meant Nox reached it in only four years!

    ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know... ¡° Nox expressed, embarrassed by his own ignorance. But, it was understandable, as he was never really taught anything specific, only the knowledge needed to start off.

    ¡°Is big brother really that amazing? ¡° Astra asked curiously, unable to understand their words.

    ¡°Of course, sweetie. Your brother accomplished something that most people couldn¡¯t do in their entire lives. ¡° Rhea smiled at Astra''s question.

    ¡°Wow, really? Hey, hey, I want to do it too! Teach me when I get older, big brother. ¡° Astra looked at Nox excitedly with shining eyes.

    ¡°Haha, I will. Just watch, you¡¯ll learn even faster than me. ¡° Nox was a bit embarrassed due to the praise and chuckled at Astra¡¯s enthusiasm, but seriousness was hidden within. He needed to make sure that she could protect herself in the future. The world was a dangerous place, after all.

    ¡°Alright you kids, Feng, the food¡¯s going to get cold. ¡° Rhea looked at the three sternly. Her cooking would lose its splendor if they didn¡¯t eat soon.

    --Later that day--

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re still here. You rarely watch me.¡° Nox looked to his side, exchanging gazes with Astra.

    ¡°Um, that move big brother used at lunch was amazing! I want to learn really bad¡­ but I¡¯m not old enough yet. ¡° Astra pouted.

    ¡°Heh, don¡¯t worry, I can teach you in a few years. If you really want to learn a little now, watch me every day, like today. It will help when it¡¯s time. Maybe you¡¯ll be better than me one day. ¡° Nox walked over to Astra and pat her head with a smile. He could leave her alone like his parents did with him, but he didn¡¯t think that was the right path. Their parents thought the same.

    Nox would never look down on his own sister, but he now knew how exceptional his sword comprehension was. He felt that Astra would be well attuned to the sword, but not to the same extent as himself. Training her for a while should be better.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Hehe, okay. I¡¯ll beat you for sure! ¡° Astra giggled.

    ¡°Where¡¯s dad, big brother? It¡¯s going to be dinner time soon. ¡° Astra asked curiously, wondering where their father was.

    Hearing Astra¡¯s question, Nox looked at the slowly setting sun in the sky, wondering the same thing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, either. Let¡¯s go and ask mom. ¡° Nox grabbed Astra¡¯s hand and walked towards the villa.

    ¡°Hahahaha, Rhea! It¡¯s been a while. ¡° Nox and Astra suddenly heard a loud voice coming from inside their home. It was male, and his voice gave Nox chills.

    ¡°Zale! How are you here!? ¡° Nox heard his mother¡¯s shout. She was clearly angered.

    ¡®I don¡¯t like this¡­¡¯ Nox muttered to himself as his heartbeat quickened.

    ¡®Run to the city. Don¡¯t question me. Dad¡¯s good friend, Kang, is the city leader. Stay with him. I¡¯ll go inside. ¡® Nox whispered severely to Astra.

    Before even getting the chance to do more, a man with long white hair tied into a ponytail and black eyes appeared like a ghost in front of Nox and Astra.

    ¡°Ah, really now? Two Nephilim? ¡° the man looked at Nox and Astra eerily.

    ¡°ZALE! ¡° Rhea¡¯s voice came from behind him, as an elegant silver sword was placed against his neck.

    ¡°These must be the half-breeds you created, Rhea! But why does your son have brown hair and eyes? His bloodline is actually so thin? Less than a puny human''s? Haha, incredible! ¡° the man, Zale, smirked as he glanced at Nox and Astra. Rhea''s bloodline was incredibly powerful and ancient, so for only one child to have her features, even if the bloodline thinned over generations, was laughable.

    "Shut your mouth, Zale! Where is Feng!? If your answer doesn¡¯t satisfy me, I¡¯ll kill you right here! ¡° Rhea said coldly but was inwardly anxious. This shouldn¡¯t be a coincidence.

    ¡°Ho, Feng? I actually met him a short while ago¡­¡± Zale looked at Rhea with a wide smile.

    Stretching out his arm, a bloodied head with a furious expression appeared in his hand.

    ¡°Haha, here you go! ¡° Zale laughed loudly.

    ¡°FENG! ¡° Rhea shouted in anguish. Her eyes red with grey energy gathering on her sword, Rhea made a swift horizontal motion, removing Zale¡¯s head from his body as the slash travelled a long distance through the air, cutting through some of their house.

    ¡°Dad! ¡° Nox and Astra shouted simultaneously, their eyes also turning red as tears gathered.

    ¡°Hahahaha, Rhea, you don¡¯t honestly believe that¡¯s enough to kill me, right? ¡° a new head formed on Zale¡¯s body almost instantly whilst laughing maniacally.

    ¡°You! ¡° Rhea became agitated, swinging her sword once more.

    Catching Rhea¡¯s sword between his fingers, Zale smirked. He allowed that injury just now.

    ¡°Rhea, you betrayed the clan. ¡° Zale slowly spoke.

    ¡°BETRAYED ME! WE WERE BETROTHED, YET YOU LEFT ME FOR SOME LOWLY HUMAN SCUM! A GOD, A PERFECT BEING, LEAVING HER CLAN AND FIANCE FOR SOME MORTAL HUMAN! DO YOU KNOW THE HUMILIATION I WENT THROUGH? THE MOCKING, THE SCORN! ¡° Zale bellowed with an insane look in his eyes.

    ¡°You even birthed these abominations! There is no redemption for you and these things. Betraying the clan means death! ¡° Zale roared, swinging his arm and knocking Rhea backwards through one of the walls.

    ¡°Understand your powerlessness, Rhea. Know despair! Watch as these two filthy things die before your eyes. Ah, what a good show this will be. ¡° Zale¡¯s expression instantly flipped, looking at Nox and Astra joyously.

    ¡°ZAAAAAAALE! ¡° an arc of energy flew from the broken wall, heading straight towards Zale.

    ¡°Ha, you¡¯re still so, so weak, Rhea. If you were going to betray us, you should have at least waited until you came of age to obtain your inheritance. Alas, it¡¯s too late. Now, how about you settle down and enjoy the show! ¡° Zale laughed and swung down with a side palm towards Rhea.

    ¡°Ugh¡± Rhea groaned in pain as a plopping sound was heard.

    ¡°MOTHER! ¡° Nox shouted, gazing at Rhea with red eyes. Breathing very heavily, blood was pouring constantly from her right side as her arm was severed and on the ground.

    ¡°BASTARD! ¡° Nox yelled, about to draw his sword.

    ¡°Hmm, maybe I¡¯ll start with you. ¡° Zale said, leisurely extending his arm and gripping Nox by the neck, not giving him the chance to draw. He grabbed him in a blink.

    His throat slowly being crushed, Nox tried pulling out his sword, but he was struggling to breathe, close to losing consciousness. Managing to pull it out from its sheath, it was for naught as Nox¡¯s grip weakened considerably, dropping it on the ground.

    ¡°Quite the brave one, Rhea.¡° Zale looked at her with a smirk as he toyed with Nox.

    ¡°Let go of big brother! ¡° a high-pitched shout resounded throughout the courtyard.

    *Tink*

    The noise of metal hitting metal was heard.

    ¡°Oh, not just your son? How surprising for a little whelp.¡°

    ¡°Yes, this is how it should be. It will be more enjoyable this way. ¡° Zale looked below him. It was Astra, who had picked up Nox¡¯s sword and swung it at him. Sadly, his body was much stronger than steel.

    Tossing Nox to the side like a ragdoll, he slammed directly into a wall with his right arm.

    *Ugh* *Cough* *Cough*

    Nox groaned in pain and coughed uncontrollably, finally able to breathe once more.

    ¡°Astra¡­ ¡° Nox staggered on his feet, with his right arm now completely limp.

    *Cough*

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!? ¡° Nox coughed, shouting frantically.

    ¡°Run away, big brother! ¡° Astra¡¯s little face was covered in tears, but her eyes were fearless while defending Nox.

    ¡°STOP, ASTRA! YOU''RE THE RUN WHO SHOULD RUN! ¡° Nox mustered his strength and shouted frantically, struggling to move forward. What could a small child do? Why wouldn¡¯t she run instead!? It was ridiculous!

    Smirking at their little exchange, Zale silently elected to point his finger at Astra¡¯s chest.

    Glancing at Rhea on the side, Zale smiled widely in anticipation. The play was all for this.

    Qi gathering on his finger, a piercing energy shot forward.

    ¡°STO-¡­. ¡° Nox yelled but was halted midway.

    Blankly staring ahead, Rhea was now between Zale and Astra. The flat of her sword attempting to block, a hole pierced through it and Rhea, as well as Astra¡¯s chest. Both now bleeding profusely, Rhea was still standing, but Astra¡¯s teary but fearless eyes quickly lost their light as she collapsed to the ground, motionless.

    His smirk gone, Zale looked at his chest in surprise, which also had a hole ¡°So that¡¯s what you were planning; reflecting a portion of my attack. How cunning, I never knew you learned that. ¡°

    ¡°Alas, your final attempt proved fruitless. You couldn¡¯t kill me or save that half-breed daughter yours. Such idiocy. What happened to your brain over these years? Muddled by these mortals? If you used the poison when you cut off my head, then there might have been a miniscule chance for survival. ¡° Zale shook his head in disappointment, yet glee was in his voice. His chest wasn¡¯t healing due to a poison she slipped into his wound, but such a scene was far too enjoyable.

    A grieved look in her eyes, Rhea struggled to turn behind her. The attack managed to pierce her heart from an angle, but she wasn¡¯t dead yet.

    Looking at Astra, an immense amount of grief, guilt, and regret filled her.

    Turning towards the young Nox, Rhea looked at him lovingly.

    ¡°Nox¡­. I¡¯m sorry¡­ So, so sorry¡­ Your mother caused this. But, know that your father and I believe in you¡­ in your future. Astra¡­ Astra did as well. You are the greatest genius I¡¯ve ever seen, even amongst gods¡­ You¡¯re ancestor¡¯s true successor. This is only a small setback. A small- ¡° *cough* Rhea spat a large amount of blood before continuing as her face paled and body visibly weakened.

    ¡°part of your life and limitless future¡­ The man who will rise above all¡­ our guardian¡­ Live well, honey¡­ You know that we love¡­ you. ¡° Rhea lightly smiled at Nox with an enlightened gaze and absolute confidence before the light slowly faded from her grey eyes, collapsing on the ground next to Astra.

    Blood slowly flowing from his chest, Zale didn¡¯t seem fazed at all, instead smiling brightly.

    ¡°Nox? Hilarious! Such touching words. ¡° he clapped passionately.

    ¡°Although it¡¯s a bit irritating that she named you that and made it seem as if life was still in sight. Well, you¡¯ll die soon enough. Here, look hahaha! ¡° Zale laughed sadistically, waving his arm as a fire suddenly enveloped Feng¡¯s head and Rhea and Astra¡¯s bodies.

    Holding out a small flask, an energy seemed to be drawn into it from Rhea and Astra''s bodies.

    Listening to his mother¡¯s final words and seeing his family engulfed in flames, slowly disappearing and turning to ash, the liveliness in Nox¡¯s brown eyes completely disappeared.

    ¡°Mother¡­ father¡­ Astra¡­ no¡­¡± Nox fell to his knees, muttering over and over in a daze, as tears continually streamed down his face.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ ¡° Nox¡¯s countenance abruptly twisted as he gripped his chest, feeling a deep and continuous pounding, as if his heart was about to burst.

    ¡°Hahahaha, good, that¡¯s what I like to see! Rhea¡¯s words were worthless! Greatest? Ancestor''s successor? What a joke! Know how powerless and meaningless your existence is. How much of an ant you are! Despair you filthy half-breed, you¡¯ll be joining your worthless family soon. I¡¯ll take good care of you all afterwards, don¡¯t worry!¡° Zale chuckled in delight as he watched Nox.

    He knew Rhea would use her lifeforce to manage enough speed and stand in front her daughter. It was all according to plan. She would see her dead husband, then her daughter die before her, and then die knowing her remaining child would soon follow.

    Although he had no idea why Rhea clung to some hopeful miracle instead of sinking into despair knowing her only son would soon follow her, as he was older and more aware, she would enjoy Nox''s reaction. No power. No hope. Pure despair. It was a perfect end for such a lowly and tainted being.

    Watching Nox in joy for a bit, Zale¡¯s expression began to slowly change.

    Staring at the ground, Nox gripped his chest even harder, even tearing into his shirt and skin as his heartbeat become so loud and powerful, it caused vibrations in the area around his body.

    With every concurrent beat, blood was pushed out from Nox¡¯s entire body, soaking his clothes, skin and hair, whilst a blood pool began forming underneath him.

    Realizing what was happening, Zale immediately materialized a magnificent golden spear and lunged forward with all his power, seeking to run Nox through.

    ¡°Ahh-¡° The pain from his chest suddenly spreading throughout his entire body, Nox began convulsing uncontrollably as his voice choked, unable to let out another sound.

    Zale¡¯s spear heading towards Nox, the vibrations became stronger and were infused with an unusual energy as it pushed back, constantly resisting his strike.

    ¡°DAMN IT! ¡° Zale shouted in anger as he put even more energy into his strike, but it was to no avail. He couldn¡¯t budge the energy.

    Nox¡¯s blood which was seeping out concurrently with his heartbeat, suddenly flowed like a blockage was just cleared. The amount made it seems as if his entire body would be emptied. Nearly an instant later, all the blood, even the red pool below him, transformed into a massive and potent grey energy, exploding outwards in a shockwave that destroyed the entire courtyard and house, knocking Zale away in the process as well as the ashes of his family.

    ¡°UGHH¡± Zale groaned as he was sent flying backwards.

    Correcting his posture midair, he was shaken and coughed up a large amount of blood while looking at Nox in anger.

    ¡°FUCKING BRAT! HOW COULD A HALF-BREED AWAKEN THAT BLOODLINE!? ¡° Zale roared, but Nox was unable to hear him.

    ¡®Can I survive long enough for it to become manageable? No, it¡¯s over! I can¡¯t feel the connection to space anymore. Why!? YOU BITCH, TO BIRTH SUCH A CHILD! I can¡¯t even send a message. SHIT, his body even transformed. I should have immediately killed both the children!¡¯ Zale thought as he gazed at Nox, noticing that his appearance was clean again, but his brown hair had now turned pitch back. His right arm was also healed.

    Observing closely, Zale watched as Nox quieted down and lowered his head to stare at him. The energy Nox was releasing was powerful yet had already begun to visibly decrease in strength.

    ¡®His eyes as well! That fucking bloodline, no one has ever awoken its purest form, not even the Ancestor''s sons! And he¡¯s a fucking half-breed! This brat¡¯s growth is going to be heaven defying now! Shit! GAH, at least the clan will be alerted of my death. They¡¯ll be able to kill him off before he matures.¡¯ Unable to hide his mixed emotions, Zale looked into Nox¡¯s eyes which changed like his hair, from brown to a deep grey. A grey that was intrinsically different from Rhea and Astra¡¯s.

    Other than the energy Nox released which signified the full awakening of a bloodline, his hair turning black and the difference in his eyes compared to Rhea and Astra further solidified it. Nox¡¯s changed appearance reminded Zale of an ancient portrait he saw of the ancestor. They were almost identical, except Nox was seemingly a younger version.

    He knew that Nox¡¯s current power was only temporary, as it already began to decline after transforming his body and nearly destroying his human bloodline, but that was still enough.

    ¡®Mother, father, Astra¡­¡¯ Nox sorrowfully muttered as he moved his gaze towards the sky.

    Silently raising his healed right arm, Nox extended his index and middle finger.

    A murderous look filling his eyes when moving his vision onto Zale, all the energy released from his changed blood naturally gathered around his two fingers. Nox¡¯s body moved almost on instinct.

    Swinging downwards without another word, a massive, mountain sized grey energy in the shape of a sword slash barreled straight towards Zale. Seemingly unstoppable and shattering all space in its path like glass, it was as if it could cut through anything in this world.

    ¡®Sword intent as well! This little fucking monster!¡¯ Zale shouted internally whilst lifting his spear to block.

    ¡°YOU UNWORTHY LITTLE BRAT, THAT POWER IS USED UP NOW. EVEN IF YOU AWOKE ANCESTOR¡¯S BLOODLINE, DON¡¯T THINK THAT YOU¡¯LL SURVIVE THE COMING DAYS! ¡° Zale cried out in anger right before the mountain sized slash arrived in front of him.

    Unable to dodge due to the speed and size, along with space being sealed, Zale could only release all his Qi and forcefully burn his life force, yet it was to no avail as the sword intent infused energy engulfed his entire body and slicing it into nonexistence. That small flask he carried was also destroyed.

    The remnant energy still traveling forward, that seemingly unstoppable slash inexplicably shattered and dispersed, as if an egg thrown against a wall.

    Surprised at the shattered energy for but a moment, Nox didn¡¯t question it as immense grief overpowered him, whilst also some relief. Relief that he killed their murderer, and that the energy had stopped before travelling far enough to kill someone else.

    Looking at the area where his home and family used to be, Nox¡¯s body grew limp, as his vision blurred and lost focus, collapsing to the ground and losing consciousness.

    Far above the clouds, an old man with a large twirling white mustache was peering downwards, observing Nox.

    ¡®Hmm¡­ He looks exactly like him¡­ If that bastard Nox was still alive, I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be elated that a good descendent was finally born. However, awakening a bloodline, no matter the extent, only happens once. If another god comes here, this kid will die.¡¯ Coincidentally being in a ¡®nearby¡¯ space, he dropped his business and appeared instantly after sensing the energy from Nox¡¯s god bloodline awakening. Witnessing Nox¡¯s state and circumstances, he surreptitiously sealed space and allowed Nox¡¯s attack to kill the man before blocking the blow, preventing further destruction.

    What the old man didn¡¯t know, is Nox¡¯s name. Rhea had named him after her ancestor, who was also known as Nox.

    ¡®I will help you a bit more.¡¯ The old man pointed his finger towards the far away Nox, as an invisible energy imperceptibly coated his body and sank within. Almost instantly afterwards, an unconscious Nox disappeared from the area.

    Shortly afterwards, the entire destroyed area was restored and cleared of all debris, as if nothing was ever there.

    ¡®You won¡¯t be discovered now, kid. A cultivator¡¯s path is to go against the heavens, and such events abound. Turn this tragedy into strength and defeat the tribulations. Maybe one day this karma will give me a successor... One that can surpass all realms.¡¯ The old man muttered before disappearing without a trace like Nox.

 Chapter 16 - First Contact

    ¨CFenwell village, Hyperion ¨C

    Awakening from his abrupt recollection, two streaks of water subconsciously went down Nox¡¯s seemingly calm face, as he felt grieved and angered. His youth was buried and forgotten.

    The desire to defeat those so-called gods had always been there, yet he forgot the reason.

    For countless years Ling and Stella believed Nox''s family had passed before he ascended. That he still had new generations of family somewhere, but that wasn''t the case. He had told them that his family had died long before he and Ling met, and although that wasn''t a lie, it wasn''t the whole truth. Nox didn''t want to tell them the specifics. That they were killed by a race known as gods. That he had their blood... and that Stella inherited that blood. He hated them so much, that he felt compelled to stay vague. He refused to be known as a half-god.

    It all changed when Ling and Stella died. It was the second time he went through that kind of hell. It was too much to handle. For the next 7,000 years all the way until today, Nox''s fractured mind had supressed his youth much more than anything else. Throught the years he always knew something was missing. Something that no matter what anyone said, he couldn''t remember. No, it wasn''t that he couldn''t remember. He refused to remember.

    Long ago, a few people had called Nox a Nephilim, but he never believed them. Not even his revered master, someone akin to family. His master had told him countless times that he was a Nephilim; that his family members were actually killed before he even left the Mortal Plane, and that he was even there to witness the aftermath and save him, but that never changed anything. Never brought back those memories.

    No matter your age, no matter your power, no matter your mental fortitude and will, some things could still hurt you and leave an everlasting scar. As long as you had life, even if you were thought to be emotionless, no one would be exempt from this. But, although painful, these scars would also build an individual. Define them. If you desire it and see them in the right light, they can create a better you. Give you something that many aren''t lucky enough to have.

    ¡®How... how did those memories just disappear without me realizing? How!?''

    Nox felt frustrated. It felt like a seamless loss.

    ''Mother was a god¡­ I was a Nephilim¡­ god and human¡­ They were right¡­ Master was right all along¡­ He never lied to me... Why would he? I was never solely human. ¡¯ Nox muttered, touching around his eyes and hair whilst anger began to build after remembering and realizing that he was also part of the race he hated. Compared to that teenage youth of the past, the information gleaned on that day, along with the experiences of his lifetime, came forth and pieced together countless unknowns.

    ¡®Damn, forget it...¡¯ Nox clenched his fists, but loosened up after a moment, feeling mentally fatigued.

    ¡®Mother¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I refused to acknowledge your bloodline¡­ Ours. I may hate gods, but I¡¯ve come across a few good ones, and you are the greatest example of them all. ¡¯ Nox stared into the sky, as if he saw a vision of his mother. He was briefly angered by his recollections, but what was the point?

    A god killed Nox¡¯s family and he¡¯d rarely seen good ones, and although that god bloodline caused immense grief, it also helped his growth. It saved him from destruction, and it was something his mother and sister had. Even his own daughter, Stella, originally had it because of him. He couldn¡¯t and shouldn¡¯t hate his family¡¯s bloodline just for being associated with gods. It¡¯s a part of him, even if the bloodline was now gone due to his remade body. Nox used to see most of life in black and white, but as you grow older and gain more experience, you begin to realize that life is not so polarized. There are many different circumstances. Different perspectives. You don¡¯t need to let everything go. Some matters shouldn¡¯t, but it was beneficial if one had the capability to differentiate between them. It might have taken years and a multitude of curious, recent events, but Nox finally acquired the ability.

    ''I''m a fool for not believing you, master... You told me so many times. Saved me. Your concern and faith in me. One day... I''ll make it up to you one day, this I swear.'' Nox opened his hand and created a small, unique symbol made of lightning. A symbol that although made from the mana of Archaeos, appeared unnatural and out of this world.

    ¡®Wait¡­ if the parent with a stronger bloodline determines the child¡¯s main features, shouldn¡¯t Stella have black hair as well? I awakened such a powerful and complete bloodline, so Stella¡¯s should definitely have been a good purity¡­ This means that Ling¡¯s bloodline was on par with mine... Hmm, I should probably investigate this one day. ¡¯ Nox dispersed the symbol and put his hand on his chin while thinking. Stella had his eyes, while her hair was from Ling.

    Interrupted from his rumination and suddenly moving his vision to another portion of the sky, Nox sensed an extremely well hidden, piercing and murderous energy descending from above, heading straight towards the little girl in the distance.

    His expression darkening and turning into one of rage, a loud, ear piercing crackling occurred, as Nox¡¯s entire body was surrounded by coiling serpents of lightning .

    ¡®Master!?¡¯ Nyx, currently a good distance past Fenwell''s wall, was alerted to Nox¡¯s presence and gazed at his action in surprise, seemingly seeing through the wall between them. Nox was angered when they were attacked at Sylvie¡¯s banquet, but she could feel that it was different this time. Much more powerful and deep. Something could anger him more than his own fianc¨¦ getting attacked?

    An arrow of wind piercing through an orcs throat and heart, Sylvie halted her attacks, also sensing Nox¡¯s overpowering emotions. Disengaging from battle, she stared in his direction with a worried expression.

    That energy which was now only a few meters away from the little girl, came into full view and revealed a small white, needle like energy. High in the sky where the attack originated from, a white haired and black-eyed woman was staring down below with an arrogant smirk.

    ¡°Having fun, I see¡­ ¡° Nox¡¯s cold voice resounded he instantaneously arrived in front of the little girl, shielding her with his body and a layer of mana. Facing the woman¡¯s attack descending from above, Nox extended his arm and faced his palm towards the sky.

    Feeling Nox¡¯s outburst and hearing his cold voice directed at her, the woman¡¯s smirk vanished.

    Staring at the woman directly beyond the needle, Nox simultaneously noticed that his own arm was flickering between its physical form and one of blue-white, seemingly about to transform into the purest lightning. Only curious for less than a second before burying the thought, he currently only sought to destroy this woman.

    As the woman peered into Nox¡¯s eyes from above, all she could see was the piercing color and energy of lightning. There was nothing physical in there. But, although there wasn¡¯t anything physical, she felt as if she was staring into an abyss. An abyss which would swallow her whole and lead straight to oblivion.

    Faced with Nox¡¯s lightning filled eyes and arm, every cell in her body cried danger as a look of shock, terror, and resentment appeared in her eyes ¡®He wasn¡¯t a weak little human!?¡¯

    ¡®THESE ARE MY LAST WORDS! SOME TYPE OF HUMANOID LIGHTNING ELEMENTAL HAS APPEARED IN HYPERION. MALE, BLACK HAIR AND GREY EYES, HE APPEARS COMPLETELY HUMAN AND IS AT LEAST 7-STAR! NOTIFY THE SUPERIORS AND KEEP VIGILANCE, HE IS NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED!¡¯ the woman frantically sent a message via mana as she watched the lightning serpents around Nox congregate towards his palm. Her thoughts were sent faster than her physical body could react.

    Knowing that she¡¯s sending a message, Nox could have disrupted her, but chose otherwise. He wanted them to know they had a new enemy. One that could easily kill their brethren.

    The woman almost definitely gave a somewhat detailed description, so they would eventually find him, which was much easier than actively searching himself. Normally such a thing would run a serious risk of getting others involved but allowing mana communication like today wouldn¡¯t occur again.

    Even if he did and they learned of Sylvie or others close to him, after witnessing the woman¡¯s smirk and her distinct aura, Nox realized that her race on Archaeos was exactly the same as on Tian. He felt with absolute confidence that they were.

    They were too proud and arrogant, therefore relying on threats and provocation to kill a single person, much less one capable enough to kill them, was out of the question. If they did so, it would be a sign of weakness. That they lacked the capability to deal with a single ¡®mortal¡¯, and face was all too important for them. This obviously had a limit, like most things, but he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to allow that scenario. His life wasn¡¯t lived for nothing, after all.

    After finishing her message half a second later, the white-haired woman¡¯s vision was filled by a massive maw made of the purest lightning.

    *BOOM*

    A blinding light and earth-shattering clap of thunder resounded, temporarily blinding most of the people in the area and causing them to cover their ears in pain.

    Far away, villages were winding down and ready to enjoy the evening but were soon shocked into commotion. It was if the sun had risen and brightened the entire area. Gazing at the sky, they caught a glimpse of an utterly enormous serpent of lightning piercing upwards through the air, dissipating all clouds in its path and disappearing beyond the sky.

    The blinding light dying down, the needle and white-haired woman were gone, as only silence remained. It happened all too quickly.

    Grasping forward, Nox appeared to be clutching something in his hand.

    ¡®Tell me, do you want to keep your worthless life?¡¯ Nox calmed slightly and looked at the mass of energy in his hand.

    ¡®Yes, yes, have mercy, Lord Primordial!¡¯ The woman, now without a physical body and merely left as a soul, replied hurriedly. Horrified due to her consciousness as a soul, she realized Nox¡¯s actual strength and race. There were very few types of beings who could accomplish such a feat, and one with such strength and a natural element transformation left only a single being that was mentioned in old records.

    ¡®Answer my questions and I¡¯ll allow you to reincarnate.¡¯ Nox sent insipidly, unsurprised by her recognition. Her race was ancient and had a plethora of knowledge.

    ¡®Yes of course, Lord Primordial, I will answer what I am able.¡¯ The woman answered respectfully. At this point, her allegiances no longer mattered. Whether she liked it or not, she would have to speak, but didn¡¯t think a being like Nox would lie. They were too proud for that.

    ¡®Good. The child, why were you after her? What significance does she hold?¡¯ Nox asked sharply, already guessing the answer.

    ¡®The pure land notified me of a likely anomaly suddenly appearing less than a month ago and commanded me to eliminate it. Due to the timeframe of her appearance, I had ascertained that the child was the source.¡¯ She replied respectfully.

    ¡®Anomaly¡­ As I thought. I presume you sent the orcs and salamander because you refused to descend?¡¯ Nox looked at her with hidden disgust. The arrogance was ridiculous.

    ¡®Ah¡­ yes. I... dislike the mortal realm.¡¯ She replied awkwardly.

    ¡®What about this pure land? Where is it? And what about other gods, where are they located?¡¯ Nox asked but didn¡¯t expect much information.

    ¡®I am unsure of the pure land. Only those with significant merit and status are allowed access. We currently have 4 gods on observation duty in Hyperion, excluding me, and about 20 in total on Divinus. But, I don¡¯t know where any are for the other continents, I am not privy to that information. We change observers every 10 years, as we don¡¯t want to stay here long. Before today, I had only been an observer for 3 years. ¡° the woman spoke quickly, ignoring the fact he identified her race so easily.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡®Good, that¡¯s all I need.¡¯ Nox nodded. He just learned first-hand that Ilene was correct about their goal, waiting for anomalies such as reincarnator¡¯s to appear and then kill them. Their ¡°pure¡± land didn¡¯t matter, as he would eventually find it, and any twisted gods who crossed his path would die.

    ¡®Lord Primordial, do you not require any names? More information?¡¯ the woman asked bewilderingly. Nox didn¡¯t really ask for much and didn¡¯t want any more elaboration.

    ¡®Inconsequential. Whether it''s now or later, most of your people have but one path remaining.¡¯ Nox responded unemotionally.

    ¡®Know that your death is only the beginning. A precursor of what is to come! ¡® Nox stared at her soul mercilessly, clenching his fist as a burst of energy exploded outwards from his hand.

    Right before a complete destruction, the woman was in disbelief. All supreme beings were supposed to have a strong pride, refusing to lower themselves to a weaker being¡¯s level and lie.

    ¡®Your fate was sealed the moment you attempted to kill her. Reform into something less vile next time. ¡¯ Nox looked at the dispersing energy of her soul unemotionally. He promised freedom only to make matters simple.

    Pride? Of course, it existed, but why should it be the worthless kind? For Nox, gaining strength wasn¡¯t for respect and appearances. It was to revive his daughter. When that goal was accomplished, it gave Nox immense happiness, yet also created a void. His goal after Stella originally died was to revive her, but what about after her resurrection? He couldn¡¯t and shouldn¡¯t watch over her forever. As an immortal, he needed a purpose. If not, how could the mind remain stable after endless years?

    Unusual as it may be, it took arriving on Archaeos to finally gain a purpose and realize countless things. Realize that his power had endless uses and granted a freedom not many had. You didn¡¯t require some grand purpose, and Nox¡¯s new one was incredibly simple; it was to follow himself. His many ideals and desires that weren¡¯t being explored before. He would follow himself and what he believes, no matter the views or perceptions others would have about him, whether it was amiable, respect, fear, scorn, disgust, envy, animosity, or anything else. Although the views of loved ones would be an exception, there was no need to care for the views of strangers and passersby. That¡¯s what pride really is.

    Gazing forward, that woman was of the god race, but wasn¡¯t part of the minority like his mother.

    Over the years, as terrible as parts of his life may have been, Nox had seen far, far less fortunate beings compared to himself. God¡¯s that would capture the souls of the ones they killed and endlessly toy with them. Although most gods couldn¡¯t destroy souls, they had many means to manipulate and torture them. Now that he regained those memories, he realized that the god Zale who killed his family as a child most likely would have used similar means if he didn¡¯t awaken his mother¡¯s bloodline. That was the purpose of his small flask. Therefore, Nox could show mercy to others and let things go, but not with them. At least the vast majority of them.

    ¨CIn a remote corner of Hyperion, far above the sky¨C

    Seated on a lavish golden chair surrounded by clouds, a golden-haired man was enjoying food with a golden-haired woman.

    Smiling and chatting with the woman, the man suddenly stopped all his actions, as his face changed.

    ¡°Kar, what¡¯s wrong? ¡° the woman asked curiously and placed what she was eating back onto the golden table and plate in front of her. What could cause such a change in mood?

    ¡°Diela sent me a message just now¡­¡± the golden-haired man, Kar, replied somberly.

    ¡°Diela? That¡¯s rare. What did she want? ¡° the woman appeared confused.

    ¡°She¡­ is dead. ¡° Kar replied slowly.

    ¡°WHAT!? ¡° the woman stood up in shock.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t she at some puny human village exterminating a weak anomaly? How!? Was it that retched Order? What humiliation! ¡° the woman was clearly vexed.

    ¡°Calm down, Ura. Humiliating indeed, but I am certain it wasn¡¯t them. Her final words were about an elemental¡­ an elemental that appeared to be a human male. It is presumably 7-star¡­ and most likely killed Diela immediately. There¡¯s no way that menagerie could have sent such a power on short notice. ¡° Kar stared at Ura severely.

    ¡°Nevertheless¡­ such a strong elemental is almost unheard of¡­ and if one so dangerous appeared, it could have almost certainly prevented Diela''s message. ¡°

    ¡°Your meaning¡­ is that it allowed her? Some elemental ant is provoking us!? ¡° Ura exclaimed angrily.

    ¡°That ant just easily killed one of our comrades. Just because the lesser races are weaker overall, doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re to be underestimated. You should know of a few individuals that even the Sovereigns must take seriously. ¡° Kar admonished.

    ¡°I¡­ yes, you¡¯re right. But that elemental must die! ¡° Ura acknowledged, clearly disgruntled.

    ¡°Of course! Anyone who offends us will die. Alas, it is imperative we do not underestimate this one. Diela¡¯s estimation was 7-star, which would mean the elemental and I are similar, yet she still emphasized on its potential threat. Therefore, I believe it¡¯s best we contact the Pure Land. I will not take the chance and allow any other observers to potentially die. ¡° Kar looked into the distance and asserted. He wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the responsibility of multiple gods dying.

    ¡°The Pure Land should identify it for us as well. We must know exactly what this new enemy is.¡± Kar said seriously. He was currently in command of Hyperion¡¯s observers, thus couldn¡¯t afford to remain in the dark.

    ¨CFenwell village ¨C

    All around the village, only silence remained. Brann, Markus, Eva, all the guards, the villagers, and even the orcs. Nox¡¯s one attack halted everything. It was as if time had stopped. Most were still covering their ears and hearing ringing from the thunderclap.

    ¡®I believe space cracked¡­ 7-star¡­ if that hit us, we would all be dead. It must have been that runemaster¡­ to think he was so powerful. I don¡¯t know what he attacked, but this was a fortuitous turn of events, indeed. ¡® Markus stared at the sky. In front of him, the Lesser Blaze Salamander was sprawled on the ground with a pool of boiling blood forming beneath it. Around him, the other living soldiers laid down their weapons, breathing heavily as they stared at the sky anxiously. The fires around them had been somewhat quelled due to Nox¡¯s runic barriers keeping the flames at bay.

    Atop the wall, Eva was on her knees holding her head in pain.

    ''That... power... Who... the hell is he?'' Eva thought wearily. She was a sensory type and Nox''s attack completely overloaded her senses, causing her to nearly pass out.

    On the other side, Nyx and Sylvie¡¯s eyes were fixed on the distant Nox beyond the destroyed part of the wall.

    ¡®Nox¡­ really is stronger than mother and father.¡¯ Sylvie gazed at Nox in surprise. She had a feeling he was, and his attack just now proved it, but she simultaneously felt that wasn''t all of it.

    The individual rankings of power were split into 10 levels, or stars, and were accompanied by four thresholds which saw a large increase in power if overcome. These star thresholds were created due to the difficulty of overcoming them, as well as the strength increase that followed. They were 3-star, 6-star, 9-star, and 10-star.

    Although the rankings were split into 10-stars, there was a rank after 10-star, which is why it was classified as a threshold. This rank was known as Supreme. The higher the rank, the harder to achieve it, to the point where those at that level would be nearly nonexistent, which would be a Supreme and why it was given a name instead of a number.

    Gazing at Nox with passion filled eyes, alongside her goal of becoming a Grand Sorceress, the desire to close the strength gap between them was becoming more apparent. To have such a partner, she felt bliss, yet couldn¡¯t help but also feel slightly awkward. Growing up with parents that were similar in strength to each other, she also desired the same.

    Glancing at Sylvie¡¯s expression, Nyx had an inkling about her current thoughts, but kept silent, as words didn¡¯t always help. It was just how sentient beings with emotions were.

    Fixing her gaze on Nox, an exited glint appeared in Nyx''s eyes.

    ¡®One of those curs appeared, yes!? You destroyed their soul, master?¡¯ Nyx asked Nox via mana in excitement. It was finally beginning.

    ¡®Mmm, we finally ran into one... That woman touched my bottom line¡­ To dare try and kill her¡­ She was seeking death!¡¯ Nox replied coldly.

    Souls were a very important matter to him, but there were lines one mustn''t cross. Everyone had them. When you harm someone, expect to be harmed yourself. That is a rule of life, and more so for one that frequently fights and kills others; Nox had lived by this for many years. Although the consequences of your decisions are rarely severe, one might eventually lead to something irreversible¡­ And Nox wasn¡¯t exempt from that concept. He had already experienced it many times in his long life. Sadly, there was no medicine for regret. The white-haired woman just made one of those decisions and paid an immeasurable price for it.

    ¡®Master¡­ that little girl. Who is she?¡¯ Nyx could still feel Nox¡¯s anger, as she then moved her gaze onto the little girl that Nox was protecting, suddenly realizing that she bore a shocking resemblance to him. Black hair and grey eyes. It wouldn¡¯t have been that big of a deal, but the girl¡¯s grey eyes, although immature, innocent, and not as deep, clearly resembled Nox¡¯s. She had seen her fair share of grey eyes, but none gave off the same feeling as Nox¡¯s, or even close to it.

    Electing to keep silent, Nox turned around, placing his gaze onto the little girl. She was thin and very dirty, causing more rage to build upon seeing this.

    ¡®Treating her like some piece of trash¡­ Fucking mindless. Makes me sick. Whoever caused this treatment, prepare your damn neck for me!¡¯ Nox thought, using mana to inspect all the villagers crowded together. Some things breached his bottom line and he couldn¡¯t help but momentarily want to destroy this entire village, but reason was still there. One or two people were the cause. A group shouldn¡¯t be condemned due to the actions of few.

    Burying those aggressive thoughts, Nox stared directly into the little girl¡¯s grey eyes. When he attacked the white-haired woman, the little girl was shielded by his mana, therefore didn¡¯t feel any residual energy. A few feet away from her, the teenager, Brann, who was stunned in place, was also unscathed due to his mana barrier. Nox was angry, but not blind and unaware.

    Ignoring everyone around him, including the orcs frozen in fear, Nox donned a light smile as mana released from his body and approached the little girl, completely cleansing her of all the dirt and impurities. Despite still wearing rags, she now appeared very bright and pure, which was a stark contrast to the previously hectic environment.

    Frightened at first, the little girl¡¯s expression changed upon closely viewing Nox and feeling that gentle mana. That gentle but familiar aura.

    ¡°Who¡­ You¡­ you¡¯re¡­¡± the little girl¡¯s heartbeat quickened whilst staring at Nox, clutching her chest as if she were in pain.

    Staring unblinkingly at Nox, her eyes suddenly lost focus for a few seconds.

    ¡°Mom¡­ dad¡­ Big¡­ brother? ¡° regaining clarity, she looked at Nox as her eyes started watering.

    ¡°Astra¡­¡± Nox knelt in front of her, looking at this little girl with a gentle gaze and smile, feeling the deep connection with her even more.

    ¡°BIG BROTHER! ¡° the little girl, who was inexplicably Nox¡¯s sister Astra, cried out with tears streaming down her small face, running up to Nox and hugging him tightly.

    Hugging his little sister, Nox couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional while simultaneously beginning to feel disbelief due to Archaeos. Was it special in some way? The sister that died over 7,500 years ago when he was only 16 years old was met once more in another universe shortly after he arrived. All these events were unbelievable, even to him.

    Observing the scene, Sylvie and Nyx were visibly shocked. Sylvie didn¡¯t know Nox had a sibling, and while Nyx knew that Nox¡¯s family died in the Mortal Plane at some point, she didn¡¯t expect that one, much less his sister, would be alive on Archaeos, a completely different universe. If she reincarnated, how did they still look so similar?

    ''So Astra is her name... But, big brother?'' Brann muttered in surprise.

    ''At least a 6-star attack¡­ Maybe even 7-star. That little girl had such a powerful older brother? Then why was she in rags with amnesia and left in a rural village.''Brann felt incredibly confused.

    ''I swear, these last few years have really been toying with my emotions... A few years has provoked me more than 7,000 years combined...'' Nox mocked himself a little.

    ¡®System'' Nox called out in his mind after some deliberation.

    ¡®Yes, user?¡¯ the Gifting System replied in its signature bland voice.

    ¡®You are connected to the core in some way. How is my sister here? In the same body as before¡­ as a Nephilim... What of our parents!?¡¯ Nox asked, happy yet agitated. He wanted to know more. He needed to know more.

    ¡®¡­¡¯ there was no response for a moment.

    ¡®Request granted. Sister of User, Astra Ferrum, born in the Tian Universe, naturally transferred to the Archaeos Universe upon death. As a consequence of naturally entering the Archaeos Universe from another, Astra Ferrum¡¯s soul was left temporarily unrestricted, allowing Archaeos¡¯ core to preserve it for eventual rebirth. Using Astra Ferrum¡¯s previous body as a model, she was reborn upon User¡¯s arrival and left to the discretion of Fate. As a Universe Core is prohibited from interfering with souls under normal circumstances, User¡¯s mother and father, Rhea Ferrum and Liu Feng, could not be sent to Archaeos or prevented from entering Tian''s cycle of reincarnation. ¡¯ The Gifting System responded without pause.

    Listening to the Gifting System, Nox remembered how Nyx held Stella¡¯s soul for over 7,000 years ¡®So the cores normally hold no sway over souls, but its inhabitants can interfere? I suppose that¡¯s another reason why master always mentioned going against the heavens¡­¡¯

    ¡®I thought they would be living new lives, but to think only mother and father did¡­ Similar circumstances must have happened to master, as well. Nevertheless, I can¡¯t believe Astra slipped through¡­ And that Archaeos was so sure of my arrival¡­ or was it hopeful?¡¯ Nox stared at the little girl in his arms.

    ¡®System¡­ I already agreed to follow the fate Archaeos¡¯ core gave me. It didn¡¯t need to preserve Astra¡­ Regardless of its reasons, convey to Archaeos that I owe it a favor.¡¯ Nox declared seriously. He couldn¡¯t just ignore such a huge favor. In his entire life, besides Nyx holding Stella¡¯s soul, abeit it¡¯s not really a favor, and his master accepting him, Archaeos has given the largest one by far.

    ¡®Acknowledged.¡¯ The system sent before continuing shortly afterwards.

    ¡®What User is carrying out for Archaeos, is much greater than what it accomplished for User.¡¯ The Gifting System voiced blandly, conveying the will of Archaeos.

    ¡®Much greater¡­ Really?¡¯ Nox thought to himself.

    ¡®Helping Tian accelerate my training speed, a new life for Stella, Nyx and I, and now reviving Astra¡­ to go through all this effort to gain my aid¡­ What for? Why couldn¡¯t I help using my original body?¡¯ Nox pondered, unable to understand what Archaeos wanted.

    He knew that this was something the system wouldn¡¯t answer, therefore didn¡¯t bother asking. Nevertheless, Nox decided in the usual fashion and quickly dropped the matter. Other than not wanting to ruminate on useless questions, Archaeos was clearly seeking his aid and had done far more than enough to not question its motives.

    ¡®Although Astra¡¯s much younger, Stella will have another aunt. She should be happy.¡¯ Nox thought and couldn¡¯t help but recall Stella¡¯s excited reaction when she realized Elise was really her aunt.

    ¡®Oh, right¡­ ¡® Nox glanced at Sylvie and Nyx, especially noticing Nyx¡¯s shocked eyes. Sylvie didn¡¯t know his family had long been dead, but Nyx did.

    ¡®I suppose some explanations are in order.¡¯ Nox thought with a smile. Despite everything, today had become a very good day.

 Chapter 17 - Brann

    Outside Fenwell¡¯s southern wall, the entire scene was still. Standing together without making a move, both orcs and humans were silently staring at Nox and Astra. If not for the blood and bodies, it would have seemed as if they were all just having a friendly gathering.

    In the sky above, the disappearing sun on the horizon was replaced by two large moons within close proximity to each other. Due to Nox¡¯s attack, the previously obscuring clouds were dispersed, revealing one pure white and one light blue moon which was half the size of the white one.

    It was widely believed that the white moons purpose was to provide some light during the long nights, and the light blue moons purpose was as a source of mana for the world. Many had tried to reach this light blue moon and harness its mythical mana, but no records wrote of one succeeding.

    Within the village, Nox was lovingly stroking Astra¡¯s hair as he waved over Nyx and Sylvie from afar with a big smile.

    The orcs were frozen in fear, but the human guards, although shocked at the scene, were merely slightly nervous when they saw Nox¡¯s human appearance as well as Brann safely next to him. Curious as to who he was waving at, a few noticed Nyx arrive next to Sylvie in a blink. Disappearing again, Nyx and Sylvie arrived like ghosts in front of Nox and Astra.

    ¡°Master.¡± Nyx greeted with a charming smile. The orange light from the lingering fire on the east side brightened half of her face as it oddly accentuated one of her red eyes.

    ¡°Nox. ¡° Sylvie nodded slightly as she put away her bow and arrows. She was surprised by Nyx abruptly grabbing her but turned to look at Astra curiously.

    ¡°She¡¯s... Your sister? ¡° Sylvie asked, eyeing the black-haired little girl in Nox¡¯s arms.

    ¡®Master!? Nox?¡¯ One word resounded throughout everyone¡¯s mind, including the orc champions who now became even more fearful. That was the person Nyx she called master? But, they didn¡¯t dare flee now.

    ¡®So, he was the master she mentioned earlier¡­¡¯ Brann thought as he inspected Nox. Although quite a distance away from the battle, due to the silence that occurred when Nyx arrived, he was able to hear her words.

    Hearing the two new voices, Astra raised her head from Nox¡¯s chest to stare at Nyx and Sylvie.

    Gazing at Nox and the two, Astra wiped her tears and put on a curious expression.

    ¡°Yeah. This¡­ is my little sister, Astra. ¡°

    ¡°Astra, these¡­ are your future sister-in-laws, Nyx and Sylvie. ¡° Nox said awkwardly. For the brother that had only been a teen to now be much older and also have fianc¨¦¡¯s must be too unusual.

    ¡®Fianc¨¦s!? Both of them?¡¯ Brann thought in surprise. The same feeling was in the rest of the humans, and more so for many orcs.

    Brann didn¡¯t feel anything other than surprise, though. He appreciated their rare appearances, but there were plenty of people he¡¯d seen, especially where he was from.

    After Nox said that, many of the orcs felt as if Nyx¡¯s cold eyes were staring at them. Although lacking much intelligence, the ones that were focused seemed to realize the reason as they began dropping to their knees in much more fear than before. The humans standing in the midst of them were shocked by such a bizarre scene, wondering what had happened to these fearsome orcs.

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯ Nox glanced at Nyx with curiosity. Why was she so angered?

    ¡®She¡¯ll tell me later.¡¯ Nox thought and put his curiosity behind before releasing a communication barrier around the four of them.

    Outside the barrier, Brann was even more surprised ¡®He can release his own communication barrier? Unbelievable...¡¯

    Gazing at Nox with intense curiosity, Brann elected to remain next to them. Within the barrier, Nox noticed Brann specifically eyeing him, but didn¡¯t pay any further attention.

    ¡°Future sister-in-laws? Umm¡­ Does that mean you¡¯re big brother¡¯s wives? ¡° Astra stared at Nyx and Sylvie after hearing Nox. Although her and Nox had been fairly isolated as children, their parents still taught them many things.

    ¡°Hehe, almost. We¡¯re engaged, which means we¡¯re going to marry one day. But your big brother is already ours! ¡° Nyx beamed with pride.

    ¡°Mhmm. ¡° Sylvie nodded sheepishly. It was still tough to speak of that in front of others, much less Nox¡¯s own sister.

    ¡°Oh, wow big brother, how did you get such pretty wives? They¡¯re both as pretty as mom. ¡° Astra asked innocently with shining eyes. She had admired Nyx and Sylvie when they first arrived, so she was a little excited.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ ¡° Nox looked at his little sister in disbelief. She didn¡¯t mean it that way, but he couldn¡¯t help but feel depreciated.

    ¡°Hahaha, master! ¡° Nyx laughed loudly at Nox when she heard Astra. Sylvie too couldn¡¯t help but let out a light giggle.

    ¡°That¡¯s because your big brother and us are meant for each other¡­ And your big brother is the most exceptional man to ever exist. How could his partners not be pretty? Hehe. ¡° Nyx crossed her arms and lifted her head high, clearly very proud right now.

    ¡®Praising herself and Sylvie... But why the hell does she have to flaunt me all the time? And to Astra, no less¡­ Sure I¡¯m exceptional, especially in her eyes, but to ever exist? That¡¯s a bit much¡­ ¡¯ Nox thought, feeling a little frustrated. He was happy that Nyx thinks of him as so, but that was a title he couldn¡¯t claim, especially when taking strength into account.

    Although no man, Elise''s strength was at least similar to his own. Along with the unfathomably long existences universe¡¯s have, as well as the fact there are already three universe¡¯s he knows of, who knows how many beings out there are similar or possibly stronger in power? Nox had confidence in himself, but he was also realistic. Just because he attained immense power, didn''t warrant complacency.

    ¡®Now that she knows about Nyx and Sylvie¡­ I¡¯ll have to tell her about Stella¡­ I suppose I¡¯ll save it for a few years from now. It might be a little weird knowing that I also have a kid¡­¡¯ Nox thought to himself. It was a happy yet awkward situation.

    ¡°To be as good looking as us, your mother must have been exceptional, master. Maybe she¡¯s where both of you siblings get it from. ¡° Nyx praised, but likewise praised herself and Sylvie without shame.

    *sigh*

    ¡°In the eyes of most, I¡¯m only average, but I suppose their eyes don¡¯t matter haha. Astra is the one who really takes after our mother. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be even prettier when she gets older. ¡° Nox sighed but ended up chuckling and ruffling Astra¡¯s hair.

    Closing her eyes with a happy expression, Astra was enjoying Nox¡¯s gesture.

    ¡°Ohhh, big brother, didn¡¯t you look like dad before? And why are you so old now? ¡° Astra suddenly opened her eyes and asked curiously, only now thinking about these details. She knew Nox was her brother but still managed to disregard his changes.

    Hearing Astra, Sylvie and Nyx looked at Nox in surprise.

    ¡°I¡­. Ugh¡­¡± Nox switched his gaze between the three, especially focusing on Sylvie.

    ¡®Should we be telling Sylvie the truth of where we come from? I mean I can spin a white lie¡­ but I¡¯m not sure...¡¯ Nox sent to Nyx, asking for her opinion.

    ¡®Well, master, although my curiosity plays a part in knowing what little Astra just said, I know you dislike lies. I now believe sooner rather than later would be for the best. Our bond is infallible and absolute. As you would not treat either of us differently due to things you had not known before, Sylvie will be the same.¡¯ Nyx replied confidently.

    ¡®I see¡­ you¡¯re right, no need to keep some things from her. It¡¯s better to learn now than in ten, a hundred, a thousand years from now.¡¯ Nox nodded and made up his mind.

    ¡°Astra¡­ You can¡¯t remember everything, can you? What I¡¯m about to tell you also involves mom and dad¡­ Are you sure you want to know? ¡° Nox quietly asked.

    ¡°Mom and dad. ¡° Astra muttered before her eyes started watering.

    ¡°Dad¡­. ¡° Astra thought of the past and gripped Nox¡¯s shirt tightly.

    ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t remember after dad¡­ I-I¡­ I¡¯m not a baby, big brother¡­ I want to know. ¡° Astra looked at Nox with teary yet serious eyes.

    *sigh*

    ¡®Those eyes of hers¡­ why do they all have them?¡¯ Nox thought, releasing an audible sigh.

    Gazing at Astra¡¯s teary expression, Nyx and Sylvie felt a bad premonition.

    ¡°Well, I guess I should start from where we really come from. ¡° Nox looked at Sylvie instead of directly replying to Astra.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we initially lied¡­ You know this world is called Archaeos, but it is one of many places known as Universes. Places just as large or even larger than Archaeos. Each are separate and different from one another, having different life, beings, and even energy¡­ and the three of us are from another universe. We aren¡¯t from Archaeos.¡° Nox voiced seriously, noticing Sylvie¡¯s expression changing into slight shock.

    ¡°Over 7,500 years ago, Astra and I were born in our universe, Tian, within an area called the mortal plane. If you were to compare it to Archaeos, it was a world where humans were prominent and filled with normal people, all the way up to about, from what I can guess, 5 or 6-star strength. Back then I was merely 16 years old and Astra was just over 9 years old. My mother had black hair and grey eyes, whilst my father had brown hair and eyes¡­ at the time, I had the features of my father.¡° Nox turned towards Astra and sighed once more.

    ¡°On Archaeos and our universe, there is a powerful race known as gods. Due to their natural born strength and potential, most treat all races and life as trash and consider themselves as perfect beings, far above all other¡¯s, even in the face of other races that are similar in power. Our mother happened to be one of these gods. Unlike the majority, she was kind and lacked their usual arrogance, treating all as equals while preferring peace and harmony. At some point unbeknownst to me, she had married my father, a human. ¡° Nox watched as even Nyx turned shocked this time.

    ¡®Master¡­ was a Nephilim? They were correct? Old Yan wasn¡¯t kidding!?¡¯ betraying her usual self, Nyx felt total disbelief but continued to listen intently.

    ¡°To keep it a bit brief, on one particular day, Astra had been observing my training until evening, which was when we realized our father hadn¡¯t returned home. As if on cue, a man arrived, clearly an enemy of my mother. He was another god. From what I could extrapolate, due to their arrogance and ¡®perfection ¡®, when they found my mother had married a human, they had labelled my mother as a traitor to be killed. On that day, I¡­ We saw my father¡¯s body¡­Shortly afterwards I witnessed my mother and¡­ Astra die before me. ¡° Nox looked lovingly at Astra, who, despite trying to act strong, had tears streaming down her small face.

    ¡°You see, my mother had a specific bloodline. The man called it the bloodline of the ¡®ancestor ¡®, who was a progenitor of a line of gods. The bloodline must have thinned over countless generations, but the characteristics were always black hair and grey eyes¡­ Normally a child who has a parent with a vastly stronger bloodline would have their characteristics, but that bloodline in me had been nearly nonexistent, therefore I took after my father. ¡°

    ¡°After I watched them die, the god was relishing the scene¡­ which was when I lost consciousness for a moment and awakened my mother¡¯s god bloodline. As I think of it now, the awakening destroyed nearly my entire human bloodline¡­ it became dominant and changed me. My hair and eyes became similar to my mother and Astra, but as you might notice, my eyes are also slightly different¡­ and due to the shock of the man, I believe even my mother had not awakened it, which is most likely why there¡¯s a difference between our grey eyes. Awakenings on Tian aren¡¯t extremely rare occurrences, mainly because there are many, many different bloodlines, but some awakenings have more unusual and significant effects than others. Therefore, Astra asked about my change. ¡° Nox felt around his eyes.

    ¡°I had killed the man using the explosive power of the awakening and the rest is history. About a month ago, Nyx and I transferred from our universe to Archaeos, which had created new bodies for us. Thus, I became an elemental and Nyx a dragon. ¡° Nox gazed into Nyx¡¯s scarlet eyes.

    ¡°You see, Sylvie, reincarnation truly exists. When a life dies, its soul is reborn at another time¡­ sometimes these souls break the cycle and travel between universes, and Astra¡¯s landed here¡­ Archaeos had held her soul and modeled her body after her original¡­ and she appeared at the same time as us, which is why she¡¯s so much younger¡­ exactly as she was when I was a child. ¡° Nox stared at the shocked Sylvie before looking down and hugging Astra tightly.

    ¡°Astra¡­ I¡¯m sorry. ¡° Nox apologized quietly. It was cruel and of course he wanted to pamper his sister now more than ever, but she was strong. After all, would a weak child disregard their own life and sacrifice themselves for another?

    Very harsh experiences either strengthened one quickly or created a small or significant trauma. Trauma was more frequent, but trauma could always be transformed into strength. Without the bad, the good would not exist. All bad could be turned into good, and vise versa. It all depended on the individuals outlook. Nevertheless, he was far from inexperienced. After seeing her eyes, Nox wholeheartedly believed Astra was the former and that knowing would be better.

    ¡°¡­ big brother!¡± Astra cried and gripped Nox tightly with tears streaming down her little face. To know all of this, especially the fact that she died before and was now in a totally unfamilar place was, of course, overwhelming.

    Gently stroking her hair, Nox let her process it all and waited silently. Sometimes silence was all that was needed.

    In front of the two, Sylvie¡¯s and even Nyx¡¯s hearts wrenched when they heard Nox¡¯s story and saw Astra. Sylvie especially was teary eyed and somewhat struggling to process this unbelievable information.

    ¡®Master¡­ To think such a thing happened twice. ¡¯ Nyx gazed at Nox and Astra softly.

    Several minutes later, Astra quieted down and wiped her tears.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay big brother¡­ I¡­ I wanted to remember¡­¡± Astra looked at Nox resolutely although her eyes were still red.

    ¡°Dad told me about reincarnation before¡­ Does that mean mom and dad are still alive? ¡° Astra questioned anxiously.

    ¡°Mmm, that¡¯s right. They¡¯re not here with us anymore, but they¡¯re alive and happy somewhere else, I promise. After all, aren¡¯t you back? And I¡¯ll tell you a secret. I reincarnated before as well. ¡° Nox stared at her and nodded with a smile.

    ¡°Really!? ¡° Astra eyes shone.

    ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no way I would ever lie to you. ¡° Nox nodded honestly.

    *sigh*

    ¡®She does have a similar outlook as mother, Ling, and Stella. Maybe because they still had something¡­ still had me. Regardless, I¡¯m glad.¡¯ Nox thought, sighing in relief. His judgment was correct.

    ¡®My¡­ family. I won¡¯t ever let you all experience the feeling of your entire life crumbling before you. I will always be your everlasting pillar¡­¡¯ Nox thought with an unshakeable determination, thinking of Stella¡¯s smiling visage and looking between Astra, Nyx, and Sylvie.

    ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t, I believe you big brother! ¡° Astra clenched her fists with a reinvigorated outlook.

    ¡°Heh, I¡¯m glad you know that. From now on, everything will be much better. ¡° Nox smiled widely.

    Watching them, Nyx too felt glad, and although Sylvie felt the same seeing Astra¡¯s change, she was still very overwhelmed.

    ¡°You also reincarnated, Nox? ¡° Sylvie questioned with surprise.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. ¡° Nox nodded as he gazed into Sylvie¡¯s shocked emerald green eyes.

    ¡°This would technically be my second time, I guess. That I know of, at least. My first universe was much, much more different than this one and Tian. I suppose it was just as mystical as Archaeos if you were to see it. ¡° Nox replied thoughtfully. The Galactic Universe where Earth was and where Nox was originally from was definitely very unusual compared to Tian and Archaeos.

    ¡°Your other universe¡¯s¡­ I wonder if it¡¯s possible to see them one day. ¡° Sylvie began to calm down, looking at Nox with curiosity and passion. She wanted to see where Nox came from. What he¡¯s experienced in his long life. What made him unfathomable. She knew a few significant things; these new unbelievable things, but how much depth did her man really have?This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°Hmm¡± Nox put his hand on his chin.

    ¡°Everything has chains that bind them. If you¡¯re not content, will you have the guts and strive to break them? Even if it seems impossible? Insurmountable? If so, then what can¡¯t you achieve? ¡° Nox voiced with a mysterious smile.

    ¡®Chains¡­ ¡® Sylvie stared at the smiling Nox.

    ¡®We all have chains? Our¡­ minds, maybe? Our will? Body?¡¯

    ¡®Those chains¡­ Is that¡­ how a supreme is made?¡¯ Sylvie looked at Nox in disbelief and realization.

    ¡®Nox revived his daughter, Stella! I¡¯ve only heard of that in legends. I¡¯m so stupid¡­ He was always stronger than mom and dad!¡¯ Sylvie inwardly exclaimed.

    ¡®A supreme¡­ someone stronger than a grand sorceress. I have to be even greater than that just to reach Nox? And¡­ he thinks I can do it?¡¯ Sylvie gazed into Nox¡¯s confident eyes.

    ¡°Nox¡­ promise me you won¡¯t interfere that much in my battles. ¡° Sylvie made a decision after some deliberation.

    ¡°I refuse.¡± Nox instantly replied, startling Sylvie.

    ¡°Listen, all people are different. Some gain incredible power purely when on the brink of death¡­ I am one of those people. But, most can gain power through other means. Through practice and knowledge. Fighting will build your knowledge and experience, but that doesn¡¯t mean you also have to closely tread the line between life and death. You can accomplish your goals and dreams through other means. I¡¯ve met many that took that path¡­ one even accomplished more than you can currently imagine. ¡° Nox looked at Sylvie seriously, while thinking of Elise.

    Through the few years they lived together before coming here to Archaeos, he learned that she was one of those types. One that was able to break through the ¡®limit¡¯ without embracing the extremes.

    ¡°It¡¯s not official yet, but you¡¯re my wife. When you need me, I¡¯ll be there whether you like it or not. Everyone needs help sometimes, including me, and there¡¯s no shame in that. Trust me, you¡¯re not suited for such an extreme path to power. You know that as well, don¡¯t you? ¡° Nox donned a light smile as he gently parted from Astra and walked to Sylvie. Gazing at her, Nox noticed that her hand was slightly injured and covered in ice.

    Using mana to remove the ice, Nox gently wrapped his hand around hers. An imperceptible dark green energy soon flowed from Nox¡¯s hand into Sylvie¡¯s cuts, instantly closing them as if she was never injured.

    Gazing intently into Sylvie¡¯s emerald green eyes, although she was in battle and had killed several orcs, Nox was enjoying the flowery aroma she still had. Using his free hand, Nox ran his fingers through her soft, light blue hair.

    ¡°Hehe, like you would ever need help¡­ but I trust you. Of course, I do. I won¡¯t worry about that anymore¡­ But I¡¯ll get stronger no matter what. ¡° Sylvie gazed up at Nox while gripping his hand tightly, giggling with resolve.

    ¡°Haha, good, I know you will. And you know, help comes in many different forms. Nothing in this world is perfect, after all.¡° Nox chuckled.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯d say you¡¯re pretty close. Now¡­ how about I help myself for once! ¡° Nox bent down and planted his lips on the unsuspecting Sylvie while ignoring the stares of all others.

    Her eyes opening wide, Sylvie was shocked by Nox¡¯s initiative¡­ her face turning a little red, Sylvie simultaneously felt a very warm energy flowing into her. Not thinking any further, she wrapped her arms around Nox¡¯s neck and closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation.

    *Mana Gifting initiated!*

    *Channel enhancement of recipient, Sylvie Ragnarr, in progress!*

    *Channel enhancement of recipient, Sylvie Ragnarr, successful!*

    Nox suddenly heard a bland voice resound in his mind, startling him momentarily.

    ¡®What?¡¯ Nox thought to himself before gently parting from Sylvie and gazing into her emerald green eyes.

    *User has met the requirements to initiate Mana Gifting. Mana Gifting can be initiated through many means of direct contact. First transference is free and has been automatically initiated with the designated recipient, Sylvie Ragnarr* the Gifting System¡¯s signature voice responded to Nox¡¯s surprise.

    ¡®This system, what the hell¡­ so unusual. I don¡¯t know what requirements I needed, but I guess it did somehow understand my inner desires. Well, it¡¯s probably because I¡¯m allowing it to stay with me.¡¯ Nox contemplated.

    ¡®This thing is so interesting¡­ and surprisingly useful. I guess we¡¯ll see what more surprises await in the future.¡¯ Nox thought in anticipation.

    ¡°Big brother! ¡° Astra cried out on the side while covering her embarrassed face.

    ¡°Hahaha, sorry, sorry. It was just a kiss anyway. You saw mom and dad kiss a few times. ¡° Nox laughed it off.

    Hearing Astra, Sylvie¡¯s face turned completely red as she realized something. Moving her vision around, much less the orcs, over two dozen humans were staring at her and Nox.

    ¡°Masterrr, I¡¯m a little jealous. Such a lovely moment without me. I thought you didn¡¯t like such matters in public? ¡° Nyx asked curiously, but she was quite calm. Other than completely accepting Sylvie, Nyx briefly noticed that unusual mana flowing from Nox into Sylvie.

    ¡°Well, I felt compelled this time. Besides, I don¡¯t necessarily care if we kiss in public, but you love to go overboard. Granted it¡¯s not¡­ bedroom overboard, but it¡¯s still too far, especially if children are around. ¡° Nox said candidly. Nyx could get way too crazy.

    ¡°Oh. ¡° Nyx quietly responded.

    ¡°Hehehehe, yes, alright. I understand. ¡° Nyx giggled eerily, giving Nox an ominous premonition.

    Taking her hands off her eyes, although her face was slightly red from embarrassment, Astra gazed at Nox with a serious look in her eyes.

    ¡°Big brother... If mom and dad are happy somewhere, I won¡¯t be sad. Mom and dad always said I should be the strongest when bad things happen¡­ You¡¯re a lot older now, but I still have you... ¡°

    ¡°Heh, that¡¯s right, I¡¯m glad you remember that¡­ As I said before, everything will be better now. Nothing will ever take us away from each other again. Even if the entire universe begins collapsing, I¡¯ll shoulder it myself. That¡¯s one thing I can guarantee.¡± Nox walked up to Astra once more and ruffled her black hair.

    ¡®Hehe, this is why you are perfect, master. Not many men reveal their vulnerabilities as much as you¡­ even when we were seeking vengeance and I was but a weapon, you would not mask them before me. Now, even after you became invincible and eternal, that aspect of you has only become more carefree.¡¯ Nyx sent to Nox with a wide smile and passionate look in eyes.

    Turning his head, Nox looked into Nyx¡¯s ruby red eyes.

    ¡®So, my flaws are perfection for you?¡¯ Nox glanced at Nyx with amusement before continuing.

    ¡®You were the only one I opened myself to during all those years. The only one I had. Invincible and eternal¡­ those don¡¯t mean anything. To suppress your emotions before loved ones is a true weakness. It might be looked down upon for men, but do strangers and the ignorant matter in most aspects? Many don¡¯t understand and refuse to learn this concept¡­ My mother and father told me that many years ago. I suppose that much like my hatred for the gods, their teachings subconsciously stuck with me, even after¡­ trauma suppressed my memories.

    ¡®

    Moving his vision from Nyx to Sylvie, Nox spoke with a sincere gaze ¡°I could have masked everything and been vague, even if such a young sibling of a different race appeared¡­ but you¡¯re my partner and I don¡¯t want to lie to you, regardless of the matter. ¡°

    Nox didn¡¯t want to hide something as important as his and Nyx¡¯s origins from his future wife anymore. Someone intricately and permanently bound with him.

    Hearing Nox, Sylvie smiled sweetly in response.

    ¡°Alright, enough of this haha, there¡¯s surprisingly someone still here. ¡° Nox abruptly looked towards Brann as he extended the barrier to include him. Seeing Nox¡¯s action, Nyx, Sylvie, and Astra also looked at Brann.

    Standing there quietly, Brann was merely observing this odd situation. More than anything, he felt growing curiosity about Nox. He had such an aura and power, yet how he acted around Astra, Nyx, and Sylvie somewhat betrayed that demeanor.

    ¡°Sorry for ignoring you¡­ Ugh? ¡° Nox inspected Brann, whose name he didn¡¯t know. Blonde hair and blue eyes, along with pitch black armor, Nox could see that he was quite exceptional.

    ¡°Oh, his name is Brann, big brother. He¡­ was the only one nice to me and let me follow him here. ¡° Astra said with a mix of happiness and sadness.

    ¡°I don¡¯t dare accept an apology, Lord Nox. I had only been a curious bystander. ¡° Brann calmly replied, but he was simultaneously surprised he was allowed into the barrier.

    ¡°Listen, I¡¯m not that kind of person. It appears you¡¯re not either, right? It¡¯s quite rare for a noble. ¡° Nox said with a light smile. Inwardly, after noticing Astra¡¯s sadness, he reinforced his own desire to get rid of the one who initiated her cruel treatment.

    ¡°Just call me Nox. ¡°

    ¡°¡­¡± Brann was silent as Nox¡¯s demeanor surprised him.

    ¡°Then I will fully introduce myself. My name is Brann Helios, 4<sup>th</sup> Prince of the Helios royal family, and a prince of Hyperion. Although coincidence, your, Lady Nyx¡¯s, and Lady Sylvie¡¯s appearance saved most of my men and this village. ¡° Brann introduced himself candidly with a sincere bow. He had noticed both Markus and Eva as well as the others returning.

    ¡®4<sup>th</sup> Prince bowed!?¡¯ outside the barrier and the village walls, all the black-armored humans watched in shock. How could their prince bow before someone he just met?

    Within the village, Markus and Eva, along with the remaining guards, arrived just in time to see Brann bow before Nox. The remaining fire on the East was quelled, allowing them to finally return. Now, the only source of light was that of the large white moon.

    Surprise clearly evident in their eyes, Markus and Eva silently looked at each other in mutual understanding. After being saved by Nox¡¯s rune magic and feeling that overpowering attack of his, although a bit disgruntled that their Prince bowed before an unknown man, they understood the reasoning behind it.

    ¡°I understand you, Brann, but there is no need to bow. Although Astra was next to you, you remained here amidst a most certain defeat and clearly risked and even would have sacrificed your own life for this village. A prince of this entire country willing to sacrifice himself for a tiny village is pretty remarkable. ¡° Nox expressed as he stared into Brann¡¯s eyes with a great portion of his senses. It was as if his vision could bore into his soul. Withdrawing his senses after a short moment, Nox suddenly developed an inexplicable fondness for Brann.

    ¡°Astra, what¡¯s your opinion on Brann? ¡° Nox arbitrarily looked at Astra and posed a question.

    ¡°Umm. ¡° Astra was caught off guard by Nox¡¯s random question.

    ¡°He¡­ reminds me of you, big brother. ¡° although surprised by Nox¡¯s sudden question, Astra thought hard and spoke honestly as she began scrutinizing Brann.

    ¡°Me? You haven¡¯t even known each other long, right? How did you come to that conclusion? ¡° Nox looked at Astra curiously.

    ¡°I¡­ Umm. His eyes¡­ look like yours from before. And a little like now. ¡° Astra¡¯s eyes moved between Brann and Nox.

    ¡®Mine, huh? Kindness, fearlessness, selflessness¡­ a strong hidden desire and tenacity. It¡¯s not like having those qualities is extremely rare, but I suppose I was exactly like that before... Well, maybe that hasn¡¯t changed¡­ but that innocence is long gone. ¡¯ Nox gazed intently at Brann while thinking of his young mentality and his current one.

    ¡®Kids sure are sensitive to people. She still treats me the same as when I was a teen¡­ but can also see how much I¡¯ve changed.¡¯ Nox thought and ended up smiling at Astra while patting her head.

    ¡°Haha well, I guess I should follow my instincts. ¡° Nox chuckled as Brann stood there in confusion.

    ¡°Alright, Brann. I¡¯m not omniscient, but I believe I have a good eye for people, and I believe Astra does as well. For us to meet here, alongside my sister no less, is no coincidence¡­ So, how do you feel about becoming my first disciple? ¡° Nox turned and looked at Brann solemnly. On Tian, nearly everyone his age would have had at least one disciple, especially within their first few thousand years, but he never had a single one.

    Over seven millennia honing himself, as well as what came from the recent breakthrough, made Nox very confident in his judgement, and more so when he took the initiative to actively focus on something. In this case, that something was Brann.

    ¡®Master has never desired a disciple! Why now? Is it due to his refinement? But actually offering such a thing¡­ to a noble of all people!?¡¯ Nyx had a shocked look in her eyes. It was clearly also her day to experience many surprises.

    ¡®This man, Nox¡­ actually asked me to be his disciple? Student? Why is he taking this so seriously? ¡¯ Brann was stupefied. He was confused by Nox¡¯s offer.

    ¡°Know that a master-disciple relationship is not as simple as that of a teacher and student. Where I come from, a master-disciple relationship is an ironclad bond. Betraying me is like betraying your closest family members, and vise versa. ¡° Nox stared at Brann with utmost seriousness.

    ¡°If you are to accept, it is tradition to kneel and acknowledge me as master. I had done so with my own master. If you decline, that¡¯s fine as well and we will part ways. This is unexpected, I know, even for me, so take your time to decide. ¡°

    Nox never desired a disciple before, but so much had changed within the last few weeks and the last few years. It could have been anyone, but who would have expected Astra to appear? Alone and sad, a random noble, a prince of all people, ran into her by chance and didn¡¯t scorn her. Treated her nicely and protected her. Nox knew that encountering Astra and Brann was no coincidence. Amongst a few other reasons, it all culminated into this abrupt decision.

    Next to Nox, Nyx had a stunned and blank expression, Sylvie was a bit confused, and Astra was surprised because she knew a little about a master-disciple relationship.

    Returning Nox¡¯s gaze unflinchingly, Brann began ruminating about Nox, this day, and his life.

    ¡®So, a master-disciple relationship had such an importance¡­ Where did he come from? I don¡¯t know of any other human settlements with such a custom.¡¯ Brann thought, trying to gather all the information he knew of.

    ¡®Maybe he¡¯s actually not a human? That arm of his was almost purely lightning¡­ I¡¯ve read about similar occurrences, but not to that extent¡­¡¯

    ¡®Then to kneel and enter such a thing¡­ but he went through that process and I don¡¯t think he was lying¡­ There¡¯s no way someone evil would have such¡­ open feelings. He also saved us¡­ What should I do?¡¯ Brann felt incredibly conflicted and subconsciously grabbed a small silver pendant hanging from his neck under his breastplate.

    ¡®He¡­ Why does he seem so vast¡­ like the sky¡­ so free¡­ Free of everything¡­? Can I accomplish the same? Can he teach me that?¡¯ Brann stared at Nox unblinkingly while gripping his pendant even tighter.

    Moments later, Brann¡¯s eyes became resolute as he let go of his pendant and gained an odd calm.

    Getting on one knee, Brann shouted sincerely ¡°BRANN HELIOS GREETS MASTER!¡±

    With a smile forming on Nox¡¯s face, he felt an unusual relief. As if something he needed and should have done was finally accomplished.

    ''I suppose it''s not exactly right, but good enough.'' Nox thought.

    To the side, Sylvie and Astra were surprised by Brann¡¯s proclamation, but Nyx stood there unmoving. Now it was as if her soul left her body. She couldn¡¯t even think properly.

    Beyond the walls, all the human guards¡¯ mouths simultaneously dropped in shock, unable to make heads or tails of this entire series of events. As for Markus and Eva, they too felt the same. They were both experienced and could tell Nox wasn¡¯t forcing Brann to do anything, so why did their Prince just kneel so earnestly? What the hell was happening?

    ¡°Rise. Nyx likes to call me master, so instead refer to me as Teacher from now on.¡° Nox uttered as he slightly waved his hand upwards, creating a gentle wind around Brann that lifted him up.

    ¡°Yes, teacher! ¡° Brann nodded in assent.

    ¡®Hmm, I didn¡¯t completely think this through.¡¯ Nox quickly thought to himself. He forgot that a few more things were needed after accepting a disciple.

    ¡®What do I use?¡¯

    ¡®Oh, that¡¯ll work!¡¯ Nox exclaimed inwardly.

    ¡°From this moment forward, you are my, Nox Ferrum¡¯s, first disciple. ¡° Nox smiled. Using conjuration magic, a palm sized tablet with a tiny unassuming multicolored sphere within the center formed atop Nox¡¯s palm.

    ¡°Drip some blood onto it and the tablet will forever be bound to you alone.¡± Nox threw the tablet to Brann.

    ¡°This little tablet signifies you are my disciple, but it has two additional uses¡­ If you¡¯re ever in dire danger. Danger which you¡¯re certain to die from, it can save you. Be aware that it doesn¡¯t have limitless uses. You may be my disciple, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll allow you an easy life. Your life is your own, and the decisions you make will determine the outcome. If you constantly received my help and grew complacent, how would you grow?¡° Nox looked at Brann solemnly. He infused some of his own Chaos into the tablet. If used, it would be absolutely destructive. Inwardly, Nox began thinking of his own master.

    Nox¡¯s master was known as Karmic Yan or just Old Yan. He had given Nox a similar object in the past, but it only had a single activation before losing effect. It was an object that, even when death was certain in the eyes of most, Nox refused to use for several millennia. At the heart of it all, the path Nox took was a suicidal but mandatory one to accomplish his goal, and his master knew that. Although logically unlikely, Nox¡¯s master firmly believed that he would finally be the one.

    Earlier Nox mentioned to Sylvie that there are people who gained immense power when treading the thin line between life and death¡­ in reality, although true, those people almost never survive long, and it was very evident on Tian. The path to power on Tian was so arduous, that it took millions of years and an incalculable number of lives to finally create someone like the Nox of today. It was difficult to the point where even Nox and Elise weren¡¯t sure of how many, if any at all, broke the limit on Tian like Nox.

    Now that Nox had a disciple, he wouldn¡¯t allow Brann to tread the same path. It was the same with Sylvie. They didn¡¯t need to, especially here on Archaeos. If they could reach great heights or even break the limit as well, although they may not be as strong as him, wouldn¡¯t that be much better than dying early?

    Catching the tablet, Brann couldn¡¯t help but initially be taken aback by Nox¡¯s use of wind and conjuration. Adding lightning, that was three elements!

    ''Nox Ferrum... So, that is teacher''s full name.'' Brann thought. Nevertheless, although beginning to wonder how mysterious and powerful his new teacher was, he inspected the tablet.

    He never heard of an item being bound by blood instead of your unique mana, but nonetheless followed Nox¡¯s instructions without hesitation.

    Opening a very tiny wound on his finger with mana, a drop of blood landed on the little tablet and disappeared within as a very mystical connection was created between him and the tablet. Inspecting it seriously, Brann could now vaguely feel something extremely powerful hidden within.

    ¡°Thank you, teacher! ¡° Brann bowed in thanks. He understood how important this tablet was, not just as something that signified his tutelage under Nox, but also something that could save his own life. Yet, he was also curious about its other use.

    ¡°Mmm. As your teacher, I have but two rules you¡¯re required to follow. ¡° Nox continued with a nod.

    1. Whether it¡¯s the strongest in the world, royalty, the heavens themselves, or even me, from this moment forward you will only bow or kneel of your own free will, not out of obligation or formalities. Now this is where the second use of the tablet comes to play. If you¡¯re being forced by someone, say, your king, you can spread your energy along its surface and activate its other use. Leave out my name, but you can mention that it¡¯s from your teacher. Your tablet is not ordinary, so don¡¯t assume it can be abused and activated whenever you please.

    2. You will continue growing with experience but must always strive to stay true to yourself. My teachings aren¡¯t meant to create a wanton murderer, so if you are to ever stray and descend into madness beyond the point of no return, that is equivalent to betraying me and I will slay you myself.

    These are my only rules. As arrogant as some of my words were, you¡¯ll understand their significance one day.¡± Nox declared in an unquestionable and uncompromising demeanor. He created these rules just now, but they were intentionally simple and non-restricting.

    Nox¡¯s own power was hard earned and not just for show, so if he could keep his disciple free from the worthless arrogance of such formalities, he would. Obviously, what just happened could be included, but a master-disciple relationship was atypical. It wasn¡¯t one of pure deference. It was like a lifelong pact, not just for the disciple, but also the master.

    The second rule was a kind of motivation and to show his own stance on wielding power. He chose Brann due to several mostly coincidental reasons, but also due to his nature. Nox believed the first rule wouldn¡¯t go to his head and the second should only be beneficial.

    Listening intently to all that Nox has said, Brann could feel the gravity in Nox¡¯s words. Nox¡¯s rules were very simple, albeit the first sounded very arrogant.

    The second rule is what really resonated with him. Brann was inherently righteous, so the fact that Nox would kill him if he completely strayed wasn¡¯t frightening, it was relieving and invigorating. He could already vaguely see how Nox¡¯s personality was after speaking for a bit and seeing his interactions with Astra, Nyx, and Sylvie, therefore that rule completely cemented his favorable impression about Nox.

    For Brann, hearing Nox mention staying true to yourself, and for it to be a legitimate rule of all things, was something very impactful. He always wanted to do that. Needed to do it.

    Besides his mother and grandfather, any time he was around his family and those with important status, he felt forced to put on a thick fa?ade. He hated it with a passion, but there was nothing to be done. He was only an inexperienced and nearly discarded young prince amidst some of the most influential people in Divinus. Now he met Nox and in their first meeting became his disciple. This day was a series of bizarre events, but oddly relieving. Unbelievably relieving. Freeing. This moment was one of the calmest and safest he felt in his entire life, and in the future, no one, not even himself, would have imagined how significant this day really was.

    Looking into Brann¡¯s blue eyes and understanding what he felt, Nox felt very good right now ¡®This must be the same feeling master had when he saw me and I became his disciple¡­ Even though I was much older, Brann is acting the same as I was back then¡­¡¯

    ¡®Life, even with my many years of experience, can truly be unpredictable and mysterious.¡¯ Nox thought and moved his gaze to the silent and slightly surprised Astra and Sylvie. As for Nyx, it looked like all she knew had collapsed before her very eyes.

    ''Heh, how nice.'' Staring intently at Nyx, Nox was laughing to himself and enjoying this rare sighting.

    Locking eyes with Nox, Nyx finally regained her typical demeanor after a moment.

    ¡®I see.¡¯ Nyx thought to herself as a light smile surfaced on her face.
Name	Nox Ferrum
Race	Primordial Elemental
Affinities	???
Lover(s)	Nyx (Eternal)
Spouse(s)	Ling (Deceased)
Children	Stella Ferrum
Name	Nyx
Race	Elder Black Dragon
Affinities	???
Lover(s)	Nox Ferrum (Eternal)
Spouse(s)	???
Children	???