"My sister is absolutely real!" After spending a day in the city where he grew up, Aeolos boarded an airship, ready to return to school. Despite the sudden disappearance of his relatives, Aeolos felt confused, but luckily, when he had dinner at Uncle Amon's house, many neighbors came to check on him, offering their warmth and various pieces of advice.
"What I need to do now is to focus on studying at the academy and strengthen myself. The stronger I become, the more I'll learn, and the more likely I'll find my parents and my sister!"
As Aeolos silently pondered aboard the airship, he already had a plan for his future: everything must revolve around increasing his strength. The events of his life, from childhood to now, seemed like coincidences, but he lacked the power to uncover their truths. Compared to the force that could manipulate his life, he was far too weak.
...
"He's only at the Gold level, yet you let him notice hints so early. Isn't that risky?" In the Synapse's Imperial Palace, Mikaela looked at Muria, who was observing their son's every move with great interest.
"There's no risk," Muria said with a smile. "He's grown up enough that even if I try to cover things up, he'd still sense something amiss. It's better to leave some clues for him so that when the truth is revealed, he'll be mentally prepared and not be too shocked."
Muria had been subtly leaving hints during Aeolos' growth. For example, when Aeolos first received the Sword Mark, Muria had used it to showcase the invincible power of a Titan. This display was sure to leave a deep impression in Aeolos' memory. As he encountered more people and broadened his horizons, he'd eventually realize how mysterious and powerful his father was.
"Fine, whatever you say. So, what's your next step?" Mikaela asked.
"I'll give him everything he's due," Muria replied, narrowing his eyes. Aeolos was close to reaching the peak of the Gold level. Soon, he would break through to the Soul Intent level and notice even more clues. For instance, when Aeolos reached the perfect stage of Soul Intent, he would discover that he wasn't human at all. Since he inherited both Titan and Seraph bloodlines, his Soul Intent rings would surpass the usual twelve per stage.
By that time, there would be no point in hiding anything. So, Muria decided not to meet Aeolos face-to-face, letting him figure things out on his own. In his search for the truth, Aeolos would work harder at studying, training, and increasing his strength.
...
A Gold-level Lord Monster—Lava Giant! Aeolos drew a long spear, walking unhurriedly toward the lava pool. His gaze remained calm as he watched the massive creature slowly awaken. This time, Aeolos had entered the labyrinth by choice, using his vast experience to find the labyrinth's deepest lord monster.
"Roar!" The Lava Giant, standing up in the lava pool, let out a thunderous roar as it spotted the tiny creature approaching. With the roar, waves of heat surged up, and torrents of scorching lava rushed toward Aeolos.
"With such a massive body and an overwhelming fire control talent, is that all you've got?" Aeolos' eyes flickered with disappointment as he watched the lava surge toward him. With daily training in the techniques of the Sword Mark and the newly acquired Spear Mark, Aeolos had reached a level of control over his power that was far beyond what most creatures could dream of.
In both sword and spear techniques, he was already at a master level, especially in swordsmanship, which he had practiced since childhood. He was close to becoming a grandmaster.
Zing— Aeolos drew the sword at his waist, and a bright, pure beam of sword light shot forward like lightning, cutting through the wave of lava and piercing a gaping hole through the Lava Giant's chest.
"You..." The Lava Giant glared at Aeolos, its fiery eyes wide with anger. But as its breath weakened rapidly, its massive body collapsed into the lava pool.
"Too weak, no challenge at all." Aeolos showed no hint of joy as he looked at the defeated Lava Giant. He lightly stepped across the lava, walking toward the stone platform in the center of the pool.
"What's this?" Upon reaching the platform, Aeolos found a golden token. On its front was an engraving of a giant holding a battle axe and roaring toward the sky. Aeolos reached out and grabbed the token, and information suddenly flooded into his mind, leaving the young man astonished.
Titan's Trial Token! The token holder can use it to engage in a technique-based battle with a young Titan of the same level! No risk of life!
"In a labyrinth that's already been explored, how could such an item appear?" Aeolos muttered, examining the token. He sensed something unusual. Every labyrinth, when first discovered, was at its most rewarding, with the lord monster guarding precious treasures. Once a lord monster was slain and its treasure claimed, the labyrinth wouldn't be abandoned. Instead, over time, new lord monsters would appear, guarding similarly valuable treasures.
But the treasure Aeolos obtained was far more valuable than expected. The chance to battle a Titan, purely in terms of technique, was a rare opportunity that would drive most beings in this world mad.
"Looks like I've been set up again," Aeolos sighed, storing the token in his spatial ring before turning to leave the labyrinth.
Not long after Aeolos left, a teleportation array formed above the lava pool, and five white-robed humans stepped out, looking down at the fallen Lava Giant.
"The alchemy giant we spent nearly three years researching—killed in its first test, just like that. The empire's research funds weren't meant to be wasted like this!"
"There might be a special reason for this, like the killer being extraordinarily strong."
"There's no trace of Soul Intent power in the air, meaning it was killed by someone at most at the peak of Gold. This junk isn't worth the empire's time."
"That's for the higher-ups to worry about, not us. Just check the giant's remains and file a report."
As they grumbled, the white-robed individuals began collecting the remnants of the Lava Giant. Nearby, in the shadows, Aeolos silently reappeared, watching the now quiet lava pool with a thoughtful expression.
"Just as I suspected—the labyrinths scattered throughout the empire are maintained by the government. So even when the lord monsters are slain, new ones always appear!" Aeolos analyzed the situation. "The reward for slaying this labyrinth's lord monster was replaced! It should have been a token to summon a fire elemental, but it was swapped for a Titan battle token!"
"Whoever arranged this must hold immense power within the empire. They might even live in Synapse!" Aeolos turned and walked away. "Father, I will keep growing stronger until you can no longer hide anything from me!"
...
"How do I use this token?" Aeolos muttered, fiddling with the Titan's Trial Token in his hand, troubled by the mystery. But before long, he found the answer: the token began to glow with golden lightning. The token transformed into a ball of light, enveloping him and tearing through space, carrying him toward the Titan Isles.
Boom! Aeolos crashed onto a pure white platform, dazed as he stood up, surveying his surroundings. Apart from the glowing platform beneath his feet, everything else around him was dark and void.
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