The air in Flame Valley had cooled significantly, the fire serpent's ashes now little more than glowing embers. Arin stood still, catching his breath as the mysterious figure—Karun—vanished into the distance. The silence that followed was unsettling, but it allowed the young cultivator to reflect on his latest battle. Though he had narrowly survived the serpent, the gap between him and true mastery of the Fire element was still painfully clear.
Rykan walked over, clapping Arin on the shoulder. "You did well, kid. That wasn't an easy opponent. Most wouldn't survive that kind of encounter without years of training."
Arin nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on the horizon where Karun had disappeared. "Who was he? His power… it was different. It was beyond anything I've seen."
Rykan's face grew serious, his usual playful demeanor vanishing. "Karun is known in these lands as a wandering master. But don't let that fool you—he's one of the strongest Fire cultivators alive. If he's paying attention to you, that means your path won't be a quiet one."
Arin felt a chill run down his spine, despite the lingering warmth in the valley. "If he's so strong, why didn't he help earlier? He could've defeated the serpent with a flick of his wrist."
Rykan sighed. "Strength comes with responsibility, and power comes with its own burdens. Karun likely sees you as a test for yourself. You can't grow stronger if you rely on others to fight your battles for you."
Arin clenched his fists. "I don't want to rely on anyone. I want to be strong enough to face anyone… anything."
Rykan looked at him, his expression softening with something like pity. "If that's what you truly desire, Arin, there's something you need to understand. There are powers in this world—no, in this universe—that transcend the understanding of even the strongest cultivators. Even a man like Karun, who seems invincible, is nothing compared to the true monsters that exist."
Arin frowned. "What do you mean? Who could possibly be that powerful?"
Rykan's eyes darkened, and his voice dropped to a near whisper. "The name… Arcane."
Arin blinked. "Arcane? I've never heard of him."
Rykan's lips pressed into a thin line. "And that's because the most terrifying things aren't spoken of casually. Arcane is not just a cultivator. He's a force—an entity that has mastered not just one element, but all elements and more. Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Space… Life and Death themselves. It's said that he controls powers even beyond what we know—mystical forces tied to the very fabric of existence."
The mere thought sent a shiver through Arin. "All elements… and more?"
Rykan nodded. "They say he was once a man, just like you or me. But something happened, something that pushed him beyond the limits of mortal understanding. He disappeared from the world thousands of years ago, but his legend remains. Some say he went mad with power. Others say he left to transcend this plane of existence, to watch over the universe in silence. But one thing is clear—no one alive today has come close to Arcane's strength."
Arin's chest tightened with a mix of awe and dread. "If someone like that exists… what chance do I have of ever being strong enough?"
Rykan paused, a grim look in his eyes. "You don't, not yet. To even grasp a fraction of Arcane's power would take lifetimes of training. Even Karun, with all his strength, would be like an insect before Arcane."
Arin felt a weight settle over him. The idea that someone so powerful could exist made his recent victories feel small, insignificant. He had faced beasts, monsters, even dark cultivators, but this… this was different.
"Why are you telling me this?" Arin asked, his voice quiet.
Rykan exhaled slowly. "Because you need to know what's out there. Your journey is just beginning, and while you've made great strides, the road ahead is long and dangerous. And if you ever hope to reach that level, you'll need to be prepared for challenges far beyond what you can imagine."
Arin's mind raced. Could he ever hope to become as strong as Arcane? Was such power even possible for someone like him? He felt an unshakable determination settle deep in his bones. If Arcane could reach such heights, then so could he. But he knew it wouldn't be easy.
"What's his story?" Arin asked, his curiosity piqued. "How did Arcane become what he is?"
Rykan hesitated. "The stories vary, but the most common tale is that Arcane was once a prodigy—just like you. He was gifted in all elements, a genius who rose faster than anyone before him. But something changed. Some say it was a betrayal, others claim it was a tragedy. Whatever it was, it pushed him to seek power beyond the elements, to challenge the very laws of the universe."
Rykan's gaze drifted, as if lost in thought. "He disappeared into the Void, a realm between worlds, where time and space don't exist. When he returned, he was no longer the man he once was. His power was unimaginable. But there was a cost. They say that Arcane, for all his strength, lost something in that pursuit. His humanity."
The silence that followed was heavy, like the weight of a thousand years of forgotten history.
Arin's fists tightened. "If Arcane is as powerful as you say, why hasn't anyone seen him? Why hasn't he done something about the chaos in the world?"
Rykan's eyes sharpened. "That's the thing, Arin. Power doesn't mean responsibility. Arcane isn't a hero. He isn't a villain either. He's beyond such concepts now. The world's problems don't concern him. He exists in a realm far removed from our own. But… if he were to return…"
Rykan didn't need to finish the sentence. The mere thought of someone like Arcane stepping back into the world was enough to send shivers down Arin's spine.
"I'll face him one day," Arin said, his voice filled with resolve. "I'll get strong enough to stand in front of him. I'll make him recognize me."
Rykan looked at Arin, his expression unreadable. "Maybe you will. But be careful, Arin. Ambition is a double-edged sword. Many have sought power, only to be consumed by it. Don't lose yourself on this journey."
Arin nodded, but his mind was already racing. He had a new goal, a new summit to climb. Arcane. The name lingered in his thoughts like a shadow, driving him forward.
"I'm ready," Arin said. "Whatever it takes, I'll get there."
Rykan sighed, shaking his head. "I hope you know what you're getting into. There are forces at play that even I can't fully comprehend."
Arin looked into the horizon, a fire burning in his eyes. "I'll face whatever comes my way. I'm not backing down."
As the sun dipped below the mountains, casting a red glow over the valley, Arin felt the weight of his new purpose. Somewhere out there, Arcane existed, a being of unimaginable power. But Arin wasn't afraid. He would push forward, no matter how impossible the odds seemed.
Little did he know that the shadow of Arcane was only the beginning. Forces far more sinister were stirring in the dark corners of the universe—forces that would one day challenge everything Arin had fought for.
But for now, Arin had one goal in mind: to grow stronger. Strong enough to stand before Arcane, and eventually, the true threat—the Foreseer Clan, a hidden power manipulating the fate of countless universes.
The journey ahead was long, but Arin was ready.
To be continued in Chapter 17…