The morning sun streamed into Aiden's room as he stirred awake, his body stretching lazily. He groggily called out to Eva, "Show me my stats."
Eva's emotionless voice echoed in his mind:
Power Level: 625
Mana Level: 1225.
Aiden sat up with a soft chuckle. "No change, huh? Of course, like I'm going to get stronger just by sleeping." He laughed quietly to himself before hopping out of bed.
After freshening up and completing his morning workout, Aiden felt ready for the day ahead. His training had become sharper, more methodical. The memory of his recent encounters had spurred him to refine his swordsmanship and spell control. Each move was calculated, precise—he couldn't afford mistakes.
Once he finished, Aiden left home with Ciara perched comfortably on his shoulder. As always, she was quiet yet alert, her golden eyes scanning their surroundings. Today, however, she seemed different. There was an unspoken sharpness to her demeanor, as if she knew trouble was brewing.
After checking on Rodrick and Lily, Aiden was pleased to see their progress. They had improved their mana sensing and manipulation significantly, though they were still at the very basics compared to what he could achieve with the shard. Watching them struggle made him appreciate how lucky he was to possess such a powerful artifact.
From there, the three of them headed to the village square, where the merchants' carriage was stationed. The square was bustling with villagers clamoring around the carriage.
"Why is it so busy today?" Aiden asked a passing villager.
"The merchants are leaving tomorrow," the villager explained. "Everyone's trying to buy whatever they can before they go."
Aiden raised an eyebrow and turned his gaze toward the carriage. Two, the woman merchant, was overseeing the crowd with her usual sharp eyes. She caught sight of Aiden and smiled politely.
"Ah, you're back. As you can see, we're very busy today," she said. "I hope you don't mind waiting until the crowd thins out."
Aiden put on his best innocent smile. "Sure, no problem."
He waited patiently with Rodrick and Lily, who offered to share their candies with him. Aiden declined, telling them, "You two head home. I'll see you tomorrow."
After they left, the crowd eventually dispersed, leaving Aiden as the last customer. Two was surprised to see him still waiting.
"You're persistent," she said with a forced smile. "What can I get you?"
"Just some candies," Aiden replied cheerfully.
Her eyebrow twitched in annoyance, but she hid it well. She handed him a jar half-filled with assorted candies. "Here, take these. On the house."
"Thank you, kind lady," Aiden said with exaggerated gratitude. "Since you're leaving tomorrow, I'd like to invite you and your companions to dinner at my house tonight."
Two's smile stiffened. "Well, aren't you polite? Thank you for the invitation. We'd be happy to oblige. But shouldn't you at least tell me your name?"
"It's Aiden," he said with a grin. "Come on, I'll take you there."
As they left the square and began walking along the road, Aiden led the merchants toward the edge of the village. When they reached a secluded area, Two suddenly stopped and narrowed her eyes.
"Where's his father?" she asked, glancing around suspiciously. "You said he'd be nearby."
Seven and Eight exchanged wry smiles, feigning nervousness. "He was here yesterday. Maybe he's nearby…"
Two snorted. "I've already checked. There's no one here." Her tone hardened. "Let's get this over with. Go capture him now."
Before they could move, Aiden bolted into the forest, his heart pounding.
"Damn it!" Two hissed. "After him! He knows!"
The merchants gave chase, their footsteps heavy and determined as they tore through the underbrush. Aiden weaved between the trees, his breathing steady as adrenaline surged through him. This was his plan all along—to lure them into the forest.
After running a fair distance, Aiden came to a stop in a small clearing. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shifting shadows on the ground. He turned to face his pursuers, his expression calm.
"Stop playing games, boy," Two snapped. "Come with us obediently, or you'll regret it."
Her tone carried a dangerous edge as she began channeling her mana. Dark tendrils of energy swirled around her hands, coalescing into a spell. But just as she was about to cast, her instincts screamed at her.
She leapt to the side as a thunderous boom erupted behind her. The ground where she had stood was now a crater, debris scattering in all directions.
Two spun around to see Seven, her subordinate, channeling another spell. Eight joined in, hurling a torrent of fire and stone in her direction.
"What are you doing?!" she screamed, narrowly dodging the onslaught.
Amid the chaos, Two caught sight of Aiden standing calmly in the clearing. Ciara sat perched on his shoulder, licking her paw as if bored. Aiden's cold, calculating gaze met hers, a faint smile playing on his lips.
It was then that realization struck her like a lightning bolt.
"This… this was all a trap," she whispered, her voice trembling with fury. Her subordinates had betrayed her, and the boy was controlling them somehow.
Desperation clawed at her mind as she reached into her robe, pulling out a small black orb. The moment she revealed it, the atmosphere changed. Aiden's instincts screamed at him, and even Ciara froze, her fur standing on end.
The orb exuded a malevolent energy, its dark aura radiating malice. Aiden's heart raced as he shouted, "Stop her! Don't let her use that!"
Seven and Eight unleashed their strongest spells, while Aiden added his own—an Airblade and a Fireblast. But the dark barrier surrounding Two absorbed everything.
She began chanting in a language Aiden didn't recognize, her voice growing more sinister with each syllable.
"I offer my soul as a price," she intoned, her voice resonating with power. "Bring disaster to the one who stands before me."
The orb shattered in her hand, and a spear of pure darkness materialized, launching toward Aiden with blinding speed. He leapt to the side, thinking he had avoided it, but the spear twisted mid-air, homing in on him.
"No!" Aiden shouted as the spear struck him in the chest, sending him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, his vision swimming.
As he struggled to get up, he saw Two being consumed by the darkness she had summoned. Her body disintegrated bit by bit, drawn into the black hole that formed at the epicenter of the spell.
Her voice, filled with rage, rang out one last time. "It doesn't matter if you survived. You will die soon enough."
The black hole collapsed in on itself, releasing a shockwave of ethereal darkness that swept through the forest. For a moment, everything was still.
Aiden staggered to his feet, his chest aching but otherwise unharmed. Seven and Eight stood nearby, their expressions pale with horror.
"What was that?" Aiden demanded.
Seven hesitated before replying. "That was a leader's artifact. It can only be used at the cost of one's life. The dark spear is undodgeable, but you… survived."
"And the shockwave?" Aiden pressed.
Seven's face darkened. "It's a beacon. It attracts every beast and monster within a 10-kilometer radius to the point of activation."
Aiden's blood ran cold. "How long do we have?"
"Five to ten minutes," Seven said grimly. "It depends on the territory."
Aiden didn't wait. "We need to warn the village!" he shouted, sprinting toward home. Ciara leapt onto his shoulder, her claws digging in slightly as if to steady herself.
Seven and Eight followed close behind, their faces grim.
Back in the village, life went on as usual, the villagers oblivious to the impending danger. Aiden ran as fast as his legs could carry him, his mind racing.
He had only minutes to act, and the fate of the village rested on his shoulders.