Xenos stepped forward and extended a hand to help Areum up. Her movements were hesitant, her gaze wary as she reached out. But in a flash, her demeanor shifted. With lightning speed, she pulled a dagger from her waist and lunged at him, the blade aimed directly at his heart.
The blade whistled through the air, its intent clear and deadly.
Xenos didn't flinch. With an almost lazy grace, he flicked open a folding fan that materialized in his hand and intercepted the strike. The clash of metal against metal echoed sharply in the quiet clearing. His lips curled into a bemused smile.
"Feisty, aren't you?" he said, his tone almost playful.
Areum didn't respond. Her jaw clenched, and her eyes burned with determination. Without missing a beat, she pulled a second dagger from a hidden sheath. Now armed with dual blades, she launched a flurry of attacks, each one targeting the weak points of the human body—strikes aimed for the eyes, throat, solar plexus, ribs, and every vulnerable area she could think of.
The daggers moved with precision, but Xenos met each strike effortlessly. His folding fan danced through the air, blocking every blow with a fluid elegance that seemed more like an art form than combat. Sparks flew as metal met metal, the sound of their clash reverberating like a drumbeat.
Sweat began to bead on Areum's brow as frustration seeped into her movements. Her strikes grew more erratic, her breathing heavier. Panic crept into her chest like a cold hand gripping her heart. She tried to summon her spiritual eyes, but without her sister's soul energy, the ability was inaccessible. She reached for her gun in desperation, but even that required soul energy to activate.
She felt trapped, cornered by her own limitations. Memories began to flood her mind—memories of the countless times over the past two decades when she had relied on her sister's strength to survive. Each recollection was a dagger to her heart, a painful reminder of how her dependence had harmed the person she loved most.
Her attacks faltered as her vision blurred with unshed tears. Rage and despair warred within her, the emotions reflected in the red tinge of her eyes. She launched another attack, her movements wild and fueled by raw emotion, but it was as though Xenos could read her every move. No matter how fiercely she struck, his fan deflected each blow with ease.
Xenos sighed softly, as though weary of the display. He stood still, letting the next strike come toward his neck. Just as the dagger was about to pierce his skin, he spoke, his voice calm and deliberate.
"Your sister is still alive."
The words hit her like a thunderclap. Her dagger froze mid-strike, trembling just inches from his neck.
"W...what did you say?" Areum's voice cracked, thick with disbelief and hope. Tears welled up in her eyes as her grip faltered. "What do you mean by that? How do you know about my sister?"
Her voice grew louder, desperate. "Who are you?"
She pressed the blade closer to his neck, her hand shaking. "Is what you said true? Tell me!"
Xenos regarded her with an inscrutable expression, his golden-purple eyes seeming to see right through her. He opened his mouth to reply but suddenly stopped. His gaze shifted, piercing through the space beyond them as if he could see something miles away.
"There's no time," he said, his tone turning serious. "This place isn't safe."
Areum's confusion turned to alarm. "What do you—"
Before she could finish, Xenos raised a hand. "Men are closing in on the mountain. They've surrounded the area and are climbing as we speak."
Her eyes widened, the tension in her body still coiled but now mixed with fear.
"This isn't the right place to talk," Xenos said firmly. "We'll speak elsewhere."
Before Areum could protest, he raised his hand again. A soft golden light enveloped them both, and the world around them blurred. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared from the clearing, leaving nothing but silence in their wake.
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Central Region, Von Hohenberg Main Family Residence
Deep within the imposing estate of the Von Hohenberg family, a chilling silence permeated the air. At its heart, in a grand chamber cloaked in shadows, a man sat on a regal chair, exuding a commanding presence. The darkness surrounding him was palpable, a black aura so dense it seemed to devour the light itself.
The temperature in the room was unnaturally cold, each breath forming faint wisps in the air. His eyes, devoid of emotion, glinted like shards of ice. They were calculating, devoid of warmth, betraying a mind perpetually engaged in schemes. The way he sat—rigid yet relaxed—radiated both power and unshakable authority.
Lost in deep thought, the man suddenly opened his eyes. The temperature plummeted further, the oppressive chill spreading like a wave.
Sensing the shift, a servant stepped forward. Matthew, ever vigilant, bowed low before speaking. "Master, did something happen?"
The man remained silent for a moment, his cold gaze piercing the void in front of him. Then, in a measured tone that seemed to resonate with the darkness itself, he asked, "Do we have any of our people near Hazel Mountain?"
Matthew straightened slightly and replied, "Yes, Master. The Zeta Group is positioned near Hazel Mountain."
The man nodded, his decision swift. "Have them seal off the mountain. Conduct a thorough investigation into what happened there. If anyone is found—no matter who they are—kill them without mercy."
Without hesitation, Matthew bowed again. "As you command." He stepped back, activating a virtual communication device. His fingers moved deftly as he relayed the orders to the Zeta Group.
Thirty minutes later, Matthew returned, his face grave. "Master," he began, "the preliminary report is in. They have discovered 44 dead bodies. Eleven of them were so badly mutilated they're unrecognizable. No survivors have been found."
He hesitated before continuing, "Additionally, operatives from the Fitzgerald and Al-Mansur families attempted to infiltrate the mountain. It seems they aimed to uncover our activities."
The man's expression did not waver. "Clear the mountain," he ordered coldly. "Have the Zeta Group return to their positions. Further conflict with those families is unnecessary for now."
Matthew inclined his head in acknowledgment but paused as the man added, "Summon the clan head to me."
"At once, Master," Matthew said before retreating to carry out the command.
---
Minutes later, the chamber doors opened with a soft creak. Maximilian Von Hohenberg, the clan head, stepped inside. His presence was formidable, yet in the future along with clan head of the Volkov family he will be known as "The Betrayer of Humanity" or "The one who lead the darkness to humanity". Approaching the dark figure, Maximilian bowed low, his voice steady despite the oppressive atmosphere.
"Master, you summoned me."
The man's gaze lingered on Maximilian for an uncomfortably long moment. Then, in a tone devoid of inflection, he asked, "How are the preparations for the tournament?"
Maximilian straightened slightly, his voice measured. "The preparations are progressing, Master. It will take another seven to eight months to complete everything."
The man's brows furrowed ever so slightly. "Finish it in four months. It must be ready by the end of April."
Maximilian hesitated, his instincts warning him against protest. "Master..." he began, but the man raised a hand.
The temperature in the room dropped abruptly, and Maximilian's composure faltered. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, freezing almost as soon as they appeared.
"I do not need excuses," the man said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Seek assistance from Nikolai Volkov, the clan head of the Volkov family. Use their resources to expedite the process. Do not fail me."
Maximilian swallowed hard, bowing deeply once more. "As you command, Master." Without another word, he turned and left the chamber, his footsteps echoing faintly in the oppressive silence.
The man leaned back in his chair, his icy gaze fixed on nothing and everything. The shadows around him seemed to writhe in anticipation as he murmured to himself, "The pieces are falling into place. Let the game begin."
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Eternal Flame Sect – Main Hall
The moment Xenos and Aerum disappeared from Hazel Mountain, they reappeared in a grand hall. The air shimmered faintly from the lingering effect of the teleportation. Aerum instinctively stepped away from Xenos, her grip on her dagger tightening as her eyes scanned the vast room.
The hall was immense, its design imposing. Rows of ornate chairs lined the sides, leading to a grand throne-like seat at the northern end. Tall windows adorned the walls, letting in faint beams of light that couldn't quite chase away the cold, ancient energy in the room. Behind them, a large gate stood slightly ajar, leading to the unknown outside.
Her mind raced. Teleportation? How had they traveled such a distance in an instant? Hazel Mountain lacked any teleportation formations. This shouldn't have been possible.
Her gaze darted back to Xenos, her posture rigid with caution. He met her wary eyes and spoke calmly, his tone steady and soothing.
"Calm down. You have nothing to fear here."
Aerum took a deep breath, forcing her tense shoulders to relax slightly. Still gripping her dagger, she asked, "What did you mean when you said my sister was safe?"
Xenos observed her with a quiet intensity. Once she had steadied herself, he replied, "What do you know about your sister?"
Aerum frowned, her voice soft yet firm. "Not much. I know she's powerful, but she's always been... secretive. She never told me much about herself."
Xenos nodded as if he had expected this answer. "What if I told you that you and your sister are one and the same? Would you believe me?"
Aerum's eyes widened. "What do you mean by that? She's said something similar before, but she never explained it."
A flicker of understanding passed over Xenos' face. "It seems you're unaware of many things. Let me explain." He paused, his voice growing more deliberate. "I don't claim to know everything about her, but from the energy and laws surrounding her soul, I can deduce much.
"Your sister carries imperial energy—the kind once wielded by a true Empress of the human race. In an ancient era, long before our current universe, humanity thrived in what we call the True Universe."
Aerum tilted her head. "True Universe?"
Xenos gestured vaguely. "The universe we inhabit now is but a shadow of the True Universe. But that's a discussion for another time. What matters is this: your sister was an Empress in that era. She reincarnated 99 times with her memories intact. This life marks her 100th reincarnation."
Aerum's lips parted in disbelief. "A hundred times...?"
Xenos nodded gravely. "By the laws of reincarnation, her soul should have been bound to this cycle forever, carrying the weight of her past actions—her karma. But this time, she tried to sever her soul in half, creating a twin soul. That act gave birth to you."
Aerum's grip on her dagger faltered slightly. Her voice was barely a whisper. "It must have been... unbearable. Living through so many lives."
Xenos' eyes softened, a rare glimpse of sympathy in their depths. "Even severing her soul didn't free her completely. The two halves of her soul are still connected. Though she intended to fade away, her bond with you gave rise to your own consciousness. You became a separate individual."
Aerum listened intently, her heartbeat quickening as Xenos continued. "She grew to love you as a sister. She protected you, even when it came at great cost to herself. Do you know what she did for you?"
Aerum shook her head. "What... what did she do?"
"She wiped your karma clean," Xenos said, his voice tinged with awe. "The karma she accumulated over countless lives was passed on to you when she created you. To spare you the pain of endless reincarnation—of losing loved ones and living through the cycles of life and death—she used an ancient art to take it all back."
Aerum's breath hitched. "She... took it back?"
"Yes," Xenos said. "The backlash from this act shattered her soul. It's a miracle she survived, but it left her gravely weakened. That's why she vanished for a time when you were 15. She wasn't angry with you, as you thought—she was recovering from the unimaginable strain of her sacrifice."
Tears welled up in Aerum's eyes. "So, all this time... she was protecting me?"
"Yes," Xenos affirmed. "Not only that—she used what little energy she had left to temper your body, strengthening it so you could withstand cultivation. If you begin cultivating now, you'll directly reach Tier 1 without any barriers."
Aerum wiped her eyes, her voice shaky. "And now? What's happening to her now?"
"Her soul resides within your soul sea," Xenos explained. "She's healing, but the process will take five years."
"Five years..." Aerum echoed, her voice heavy with emotion.
Xenos gave her a small nod. "That's already remarkably fast, considering how damaged her soul was."
"Is there any way to speed it up?" Aerum asked, her determination returning.
Xenos hesitated, his expression darkening. "There is, but the path is dangerous. It's not what your sister would want for you. Truthfully, I want you to walk this path—it would benefit humanity. But your sister would never forgive me."
Aerum straightened, her resolve unshaken. "What path are you talking about?"
Xenos' voice was low, reverberating with a mix of caution and seriousness. "The Imperial Path."
From the Author:
Hey everyone, what are your thoughts on this chapter? The birth of an Empress of the human race is unfolding! and some being are scheming from the back.. what is happening..
Don't forget to comment, bookmark, and send some power stones if you enjoyed it.
The next chapter will be released on 12-11-2024. Stay tuned!