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Chapter 7 - chapter 7 - The Sealed Power

Long ago, in the Seven Lands, there existed an emperor whose legend extended beyond the boundaries of these lands. His dominion was so absolute that even speaking his name became forbidden. None dared to utter it aloud. This man lived through countless ages, mastering the knowledge and strength of each era until he became the strongest in every one.

This emperor was known as The Eternal Emperor. Few beings like him possessed the ability to endure for such immeasurable lengths of time, earning the title of The Theorists. Yet, among these beings, the Eternal Emperor had a unique reputation—he was called The Cursed Immortal.

At the end of each era, the Cursed Immortal was forced into a slumber lasting thousands of years. He knew, however, that upon awakening in a new era, all the power he had accumulated would be lost. To counter this, he sealed his strength within the Book of Life and Death before each hibernation.

But every time he awoke, he found a new species in power, wielding knowledge and abilities unknown to him. Only he understood the true nature of his slumber—it was merely a reflection of his presence in spacetime, not his actual body. And although he could unlock the sealed power at any moment, he found it tedious. Instead, he chose to learn the new powers of each age, rising once again as the strongest being.

This cycle continued, era after era, until he could finally return to his true body—Jowalin.

---

"Guards! Kill them all. Leave none of these insects alive!" a voice thundered.

Jowalin stood before the chaos and muttered, "My old friend... lend me some of your power."

At his words, the Book of Life and Death trembled slightly, its pages flipping rapidly until they stopped on a single, golden page.

The page was inscribed with countless circles filled with ancient runes—seals beyond counting. Below these runes were words written in hieroglyphs:

"The Fourth Era of Earth, Second Earth..."

"Name: The Eternal Emperor."

"Power: Titans... The People of Aad."

"Command: Release a small fragment of the sealed power."

The page contained detailed descriptions of the power of the Titans and the might of the People of Aad. However, this was not the time to delve into those secrets. Jowalin bit his finger, and a drop of blood dripped onto the seal.

"Crack... Crack..."

Several seals shattered, releasing a thin mist of gray energy from the book. It flowed swiftly into Jowalin's body. Though the process was swift, it carried an immense weight.

---

"Caesar! Get back here, my brother! Don't throw your life away!" a young woman cried out to her brother, who stood at the front, leading a group of youths toward certain doom.

"I'm sorry, sister," Caesar whispered. "I can't live with this shame."

"Idiot! Don't leave me alone, just like our parents did..." she sobbed, collapsing to the ground as the guards charged forward, determined to slaughter them all.

Suddenly, a warm hand rested on her head, and a comforting voice whispered, "Don't worry, young one. I won't let my people perish."

Startled, the girl looked up, but the figure had vanished. A wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd. She turned toward the hall and saw the guards kneeling, unable to move. A young man now stood before the youths.

"Farin... you've become quite bold, haven't you?" the man sneered.

The crowd stared at him, bewildered by his identity. But Farin, seated coldly on his throne, jumped to his feet the moment he recognized the man.

"Jowalin... You! How are you still alive? You're just as persistent as your father!" Farin spat.

Jowalin smiled with mocking disdain. "Oh, Farin... Did you even see my father's finger before it tapped your head, or are you still just trash?"

Farin's face darkened with fury. "Damn you! Do you wish for death?"

Jowalin's smile widened, exposing his sharp teeth. It had been ages since someone had dared to threaten him. He replied slowly, "Do you have the strength to make that happen?"

Farin's confidence faltered, and his gaze hardened.

Suddenly, the hall was filled with screams. Farin found himself in a blood-soaked realm, with corpses falling endlessly from the sky. He watched in horror as a lone figure climbed toward a throne beneath the heavens. The path to the throne was paved with countless bones.

"No! Get away from me! Who... who the hell are you?!"

Everyone in the hall heard Farin's cries. He collapsed, trembling in fear, and lost consciousness. The guards stood frozen, too terrified to intervene. Jowalin's smile faded as he turned his gaze toward the elders, releasing just a sliver of his aura. In an instant, the oppressive energy crushed everyone to the ground.

His eyes scanned the room, sharp as blades, stopping on the elders, who felt as though they were being cleaved in two by his mere gaze.

"Trash..." Jowalin muttered coldly.

The elders turned pale, afraid to even breathe.

"Son, what's happening?" A woman's voice broke the silence.

At her words, the pressure lifted entirely. Jowalin's expression softened into a warm smile as he turned toward the woman.

"Don't worry, Mother. That fool just remembered my father," he said gently. "But as long as I'm here, no one will harm you."

Relieved, his mother, Serin, smiled. The elders, too, exhaled in relief, grateful to be spared.

At that moment, a young girl named Isis ran to Jowalin and took his hand, grinning playfully. He picked her up and carried her on his back.

"Let's go, Mother."

Jowalin offered his mother his hand, and they walked out of the hall. Before leaving, he glanced at Caesar and the other youths, as well as the elder Noah.

"Thank you... I'll see you again soon."

With that, Jowalin left quietly, Isis giggling with joy as she rested her head on his back, drifting into a peaceful sleep.

---

Back in his small hut, Jowalin tucked Isis into bed, and his exhausted mother soon followed.

Once they were both asleep, he stepped outside and coughed violently, spitting out blood.

"Pfffft..."

He nearly collapsed but managed to steady himself against the wall. A faint smile crossed his lips.

"Even with such a small amount of power... my body can barely handle it," he muttered. "If not for my physical strength, I'd have exploded by now."

He chuckled to himself. "They'd laugh themselves to death if they saw me like this."

"This power is too much for my body without awakening my bloodline... but it'll help me trigger it soon."

He clenched his fist. "The same power... the Titan's bloodline."