In the grand arena of Yellow Wood Village, the tournament raged on, each clash of martial prowess echoing through the gathered crowds. Aedan, a rising star, continued to dominate his opponents with astonishing ease, relying solely on his formidable martial arts skills. There was no trace of lifeforce or other magical abilities; his victories were pure displays of martial might.
As the tournament progressed, Aedan's path to the finals became undeniable. Among the remaining contenders, only one person stood in his way—Awan, a figure who had harbored resentment and hostility toward Aedan for reasons known only to him. The crowd anticipated their confrontation in the finals.
A brief intermission allowed the participants to recover their stamina, but it also provided an opportunity for the Village Chief to address the assembly. On the stage, Awan seized the moment to taunt Aedan, his words laden with arrogance and provocation.
When the final match commenced, Awan's intentions became clear. He unleashed a vibrant, bright green lifeforce, elevating the pressure in the arena. With a mighty punch, he displayed incredible strength, aiming to overwhelm Aedan. In the eyes of the spectators, Aedan seemed at a distinct disadvantage.
Awan's mastery over lifeforce was evident; he had developed an additional layer in his vital core, enabling him to release purer lifeforce, thereby augmenting the power of his attacks. It appeared as though victory was firmly within his grasp.
However, Aedan harbored a secret of his own. As the pressure intensified, he summoned his Heart's Aura, a crimson glow that radiated from his very pores. The arena buzzed with intrigue and surprise as the two combatants suddenly stood on equal footing.
The battle escalated, their strikes and movements a blur of ferocity and precision. The stone stage upon which they dueled began to shatter under the sheer force of their clash. It seemed that neither would yield.
In a final, desperate gambit, Awan unleashed his most formidable technique, causing the air itself to explode. Aedan, aware that he couldn't evade or block the attack, channeled his aura to its maximum potential. The once-hidden red light burst forth, dazzling the audience and leaving them in shock.
In that critical moment, Aedan executed a technique he had learned in the Sacred Soul Empire—the "Nine Points Execution." This technique locked down all of Awan's movements, rendering him helpless. Aedan then drew upon the secret techniques of the Yellow Wood Clan, delivering a decisive strike that sent Awan crashing to the ground.
As Aedan made his way back home, the echoes of victory still resonating within him, he unexpectedly crossed paths with Kayle. She offered her heartfelt congratulations and extended an invitation for dinner, a chance to celebrate his triumph. Aedan, appreciative of her kindness, accepted with a grateful smile.
Underneath the vast expanse of the evening sky, they shared a meal together, laughter and conversation filling the air. Amid the camaraderie, Kayle mentioned a matter of great significance that had rumbled through the Ironwood Forest—the Lords were summoning the leaders of all forces within the forest for a pivotal announcement.
As Aedan listened to her words, his thoughts plunged into contemplation. The Lords of the Forest, enigmatic members of the Zeaphin race, one of the revered Supreme Races of Esethia, held dominion over Ironwood Forest. Their authority was unassailable within these ancient woods, and their summons carried the weight of destiny. If they had called upon the leaders of every tribe, it signified a matter of unparalleled importance.
With gratitude for the meal and the information, Aedan bid farewell to Kayle, his mind already embroiled in thoughts of the impending gathering. The next day, he sought out his grandfather, Kon, who was preparing to depart for the Meeting with the Lords.
After his grandfather left, Aedan kept living his days as usual. Working in the kichten by the morning and getting back home at the evening. One thing he noticed was that no one seemed to bother him after the tournament and so he simply let things go on.
On one of his visits to the enigmatic Space Beast, Aedan found himself engaged in a deep conversation about the mysterious Enigma and its extraordinary powers. His curiosity burned brightly, and he couldn't help but ask the Space Beast about its insights into the nature of this enigmatic force.
The Space Beast, a behemoth of wisdom and age, acknowledged Aedan's question with a thoughtful rumble. "I have roamed the cosmos and encountered numerous species, each with its own unique abilities," it began, its voice resonating like distant thunder. "Yet, what you bear, this Enigma, is unlike anything I have ever come across."
The Space Beast went on to explain that while a few species possessed the innate capacity to access a fragment of their spirit, this essence could manifest as an object—a tangible, visible representation of their innermost selves. These manifestations often assumed the form of marks or soul seals, acting as a bridge between the physical world and realms beyond the material plane of existence.
However, the Space Beast made it clear that this did not mean Aedan's Heartspark Armor was identical to these other manifestations. It was something unique and unprecedented in its own right.
Intrigued by the conversation, the Space Beast then asked if Aedan could demonstrate the energy of the Enigma. In response, Aedan summoned the power within him. With a display of his will, a yellow aura enveloped him, followed by a crimson glow and then a tranquil blue.
But the most captivating part came when Aedan made the Heartsparks, those mystical jewels of emotions, dance around him. With a subtle command, they emitted beams of light that pierced through nearby rocks. Each Heartspark's light had a distinct effect: the red rays disintegrated, the yellow rays mended, and the blue rays weakened.
Through diligent training and unwavering determination in the past months, Aedan's mastery over the Heartspark crystals continued to grow. He had honed his skills to such an extent that he could now exert control over these mystical jewels from a staggering distance of five hundred meters. This newfound ability allowed him to wield their powers with precision and finesse.
The Space Beast found itself deeply affected by Aedan's burgeoning abilities, a sensation akin to being overwhelmed. It keenly observed the energy within the Heartsparks, noting with astonishment that it was of an exceedingly pure quality and remarkably compatible with its own essence. This compatibility sparked a notion within the Space Beast—a thought about what might transpire if they were to forge a neural link with one another.
It mused about the possibilities that such a connection could unfold. Aedan's remarkable talent to transmute his emotions into pure energy seemed like an incredible asset. Together, their combined power could potentially achieve feats previously deemed unattainable. Visions of newfound strength and purpose flickered through the Space Beast's vast consciousness.
In the quiet moments of contemplation, a darker undercurrent emerged within the Space Beast's thoughts. It couldn't help but entertain the idea of vengeance against those who had wronged it in the past. The prospect of having Aedan's emotional energy as a weapon tantalized its imagination.
Yet, beneath these tumultuous thoughts, a profound sense of longing took root. The Space Beast began to reminisce about its former pilot, a bond that had been severed but had never faded. Despite the void of distance and time, it held an unwavering belief that she was alive, somewhere out there. The desire to depart this world and embark on a quest to reunite with its dear friend burned with an unquenchable fervor.