Aether's gaze locked with Ugilovich's, the weight of the room pressing down on him like a vice. His muscles coiled, every fiber of his being screaming at him to retreat, but he held his ground. The crowd's murmurs swelled into a deafening roar, their voices dissecting his every move, their eyes hungry for his failure.
"He's just a child," Zareth's voice cut through the noise, smooth and laced with amusement. His indigo hair shimmered faintly under the dim light as he leaned casually against a pillar, his tone dripping with condescension. "Barely old enough to kill a demon, let alone face someone like Ugilovich."
Far across the chamber, the orange-haired woman, Daelano Fierani, stood with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes following Aether's every move. A faint smirk played on her lips. "Eighteen, at most," she mused.
Zareth's gaze flicked toward her, his lips curling into a smirk. "Ah, Daelano," he said with a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "Always soft on the reckless ones. You'd think you'd have learned by now."
Daelano chuckled, the sound low and sardonic. "And you're always quick to write them off. Let's see how this one fares before you bury him, Zareth."
Aether ignored their banter, his focus narrowing to the man before him. Ugilovich stood like a mountain, his stillness unnerving.
Aether's breaths came steady but deliberate, his mind racing. This isn't about them. This is about survival. About protecting Anna and Elara. This is about fulfilling his task.
He began to move, his feet carrying him in wide, erratic arcs around the chamber. The crowd's murmurs grew louder, their curiosity piqued by his strange behavior.
"What's he doing now?" a gruff voice called out from the back.
It was Jing Rèn, the older man standing on his hands, his weathered face split into a grin. He barked a laugh. "There's nowhere to run, boy! You're in Ugilovich's domain!"
"Jing Rèn," Zareth muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple. "Can you shut up for five seconds?"
Daelano tilted her head, her orange hair catching the light as she studied Aether. "He's stalling. Or thinking. Maybe both."
Sweat glistened on Aether's brow as he continued his circuit, his movements deliberate yet unpredictable.
Ugilovich remained in the center of the room, a mountain of stillness, his expression unreadable.
"Left," Daelano and Zareth said simultaneously, their voices cutting through the murmurs.
"Trust me, he's going to dodge it," Mirakos said, already climbing onto Zahra's back without waiting for her approval.
Zahra sighed but adjusted her stance, her strong frame easily supporting his weight. Her eyes stayed locked on Aether, though a flicker of concern crossed her face.
Nearby, Anna crouched low, her hands gripping the edge of a nearby platform. Elara stood a few paces behind, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her sharp gaze unwavering.
"He'll definitely dodge it," Mirakos said, his voice low but steady. "But... I don't know why, I'm not seeing Aether like I usually do. You know how his aura flares up sometimes? It's... fading. Like it's being smothered or something."
Elara raised an eyebrow, her tone calm but laced with genuine surprise. "I didn't know that. But I guess you'd be the one to notice something like that."
Ugilovich moved. Despite his massive frame and advanced age, his speed was breathtaking. He lunged toward Aether, who pivoted left, narrowly avoiding the charge. The crowd gasped, their murmurs flaring up once more.
"Oh?" Ugilovich said, smiling.
"Look at that!" Jing exclaimed, flipping onto his hands in excitement. He balanced effortlessly, his legs swinging in the air as he watched the fight unfold. "He's trying to draw Ugilovich out—get him to overcommit!"
"He's improvising," Daelano said, her voice tinged with admiration. "I like it."
"Could they shut up!" Aether screamed inwardly. His movements became more calculated, his path tighter, his steps lighter as Ugilovich repeated the exact same move he had moments ago, dashing toward him.
Aether dashed forward too, sliding and using his leg to boost upward with insane agility, spinning mid-air. His hand slipped into his cape, pulling free his blade.
"Ah, there it is," Zareth said with a knowing smirk. "I told you he had a sword."
But Ugilovich was already on him. The older man stopped his momentum with a precision that bordered on unnatural, halting mere inches from Aether's spinning strike. The abrupt shift in pace stunned Aether, who stumbled as he landed, his blade falling short.
The crowd erupted into a mixture of laughter and critique.
"Too slow!" someone called out, their voice mocking.
"He's got no discipline," another chimed in, shaking their head.
"That blade—did he even sharpen it?"
Aether cursed under his breath. Every attempt to close the distance or draw Ugilovich out was failing. The old man was toying with him, his movements effortless, his expression cold. Aether strained to catch fragments of speech—anything about Ugilovich—but the words slipped away, drowned out by his own heartbeat.
Then, a flicker of text materialized before Aether's eyes: [Adaptive Evolution].
"Finally! Now you show up!" Aether bellowed, his voice raw with frustration as he straightened.
Daelano's face twisted in shock, while Zareth let out a low chuckle, his amusement unmistakable.
Aether's gaze darted toward the crowd, their whispers and murmurs swirling like a storm. Criticism and doubt stabbed at his resolve, threatening to unravel him. For a moment, he faltered. But then his eyes locked onto Anna. She stood at the edge of the room, hands clenched tightly, her worry evident. Yet behind her concern lay something stronger—unwavering belief.
His blade caught the light as he stepped forward, determination gleaming as brightly as the weapon itself.
Ugilovich's grin spread slowly, chillingly. "Finally," he sneered. "I was starting to feel like a training bot. Tell me—were you just holding back, or are you really this unimpressive? Should I assume you're an Amplifier?"
The tension thickened as the room collectively held its breath.
"White cotton turns traitor, holding every drop of scarlet hostage," Ugilovich drawled, his tone almost casual, the air around him seeming to grow heavy and dull.
[Heat Burst (Minor)]
"Useful…" Aether muttered, barely sparing the text a glance as he refocused on his opponent.
"What?" he barked, feeling an unfamiliar sensation ripple through his body. His skin took on a faintly scaly texture, veins protruding unnaturally, pulsing with life. He swiped at his forehead—no more sweat. Inside him, his cells surged as the mitochondria worked at an accelerated pace, fueling him beyond his limits.
"Ugilovich," Aether began, crouching low, his movements sharp and deliberate. "Do you have a Title Skill?"
Ugilovich tilted his head, his smirk unwavering. "You ask too many questions. Someone of my rank, of course, would have one."
The crowd broke into murmurs, a low hum of speculation and disbelief.
"What are they waiting for?" someone whispered, their voice barely audible over the buzz.
"What would you do if I have one too?" Aether countered, his words cutting through the noise like a blade.
Zareth and Daelano exchanged a glance, their eyes widening in unison.
"Things just got more—" Zareth started.
"Interesting," Daelano finished grimly.
"I thank you for being blind," Aether said, his voice sharp with mocking gratitude. In an instant, he vanished—not to everyone, but to Ugilovich alone.
[Requirements met]
[In a new location]
[Everyone is against you, organization, or a person]
[A moment of vulnerability exploited]
Blind as he was, Ugilovich relied on aura and heightened senses to navigate the battlefield. His perception extended like a web, capturing the shapes and movements of those around him through the ripples in their Rasvian hues. It was easier thanks to Aether's rapid, chaotic bursts, which made Ugilovich see him clearly. Yet where Aether's vibrant amber, tinged with green, had once stood, there was now only an empty void. For Ugilovich, it was as though Aether had been erased from existence.
Ugilovich's grin faltered, then returned—sharper, colder. He adjusted, focusing now on sound. His body tensed. He dashed forward, his strikes cutting through empty air. Aether reappeared below him, executing a leg sweep with precision, sending Ugilovich off balance. Aether used the man's own body as leverage, flipping back to safety.
"What is happening?" The thought raced through the minds of everyone in the room.
"What did the brat do?" came the next, tinged with disbelief.
Aether laughed, his voice echoing with unrestrained confidence. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to catch someone like this," he said, charging forward, his movements a blur.
"I knew I smelled that rotting aura of yours," Ugilovich spat, his voice laced with venom. "It reeks of mistrust. I'm surprised you even have friends." His tone darkened as he growled, "If I can't see you, I'll overwhelm you."
"Good luck with that," Aether snapped, sidestepping effortlessly. "I'm resistant to that too."
"Were you made to counter me?" Ugilovich barked, his laugh bitter and sharp.
"No," Aether shot back, his voice calm and cutting. "You just weren't worth the effort." He stretched out his arm, grabbing Ugilovich by the head. With a sharp, calculated motion, he drove his knee upward, aiming for a devastating blow.
"Cocky," Zareth muttered under his breath. "If he wasn't so—"
Before he could finish, Ugilovich roared, slamming Aether's body into the ground with brutal force. The impact echoed through the room, a sickening crack reverberating in its wake.
"I wouldn't want to ruin my reputation, now would I?" Ugilovich said coldly, standing over Aether's limp form.