"Such petty tricks won't work on me," Aldric the First said with a low chuckle. The haughty imperial title he once used was gone, replaced with something far more grounded.
Ethan's mind flared with urgency. 'Yaya, didn't you say he wouldn't detect your seeds?'
"I… I'm sorry, Brother!" Yaya's voice trembled with guilt, almost breaking into tears.
"It's fine. Don't cry. It's okay," Ethan soothed her quickly, sending what comfort he could to the spirit girl.
Before he could say more, Aldric barked, "Kid… catch!"
His aura erupted like a storm. In the blink of an eye, the vast pressure of his Imperial Aura condensed into a small, dull, yellowish sphere hovering in the air. The moment it formed, Aldric's power plummeted. What had once been overwhelming might now flickered down to the strength of an ordinary Energy User. With a final flick of his wrist, the sphere flew toward Ethan.
