Chapter 14: Countdown Till the End

“Project Aion, Fourth Cycle. Year 4.Eternity shows no sign of containing life force, nor any hint of a Nen ability. While it seems to grow stronger with each sacrifice, aside from an increase in Aura, the blade still displays no special effect, no distinct ability, and retains no trace of the victims’ life energy. The other Elders are losing patience. I had promised to share my findings, but several are no longer willing to overlook the project. The disappearances of my former students have not gone unnoticed. Too many people have been going in and out of the mansion. Rumours are spreading. Real pressure is building. After their forced inspection of Eternity, most Elders seem to have lost faith in this cycle entirely. I now need to spend more money on bribes just to keep things running. It’s likely this cycle is already doomed.

Still, I will continue the experiment in hopes of at least producing a powerful and unique blade. I also require the sacrifices to expand their Aura further, to provide more data for future tests. The more Aura gets fed to the blade, the more changes may appear. Eternity, even unfinished, could earn me a fortune if sold to collectors. That would allow me one final attempt. My health is deteriorating faster than expected. I rely heavily on medication—my heart condition is worsening. Even focusing all my time on Ten and Zetsu, I estimate I have five years at most. For the next cycle, I’ll drastically increase the number of sacrifices and reduce the interval between each to just one week. I will have to leave Meteor City. I’ll need to recruit a private army and abduct multiple villages' worth of children. NGL appears to be a promising location—its isolation means the locals are unlikely to report anything to outside authorities. I can’t share this plan with anyone, inside or outside of Meteor City.”

Looks like Lidor is finished. He will lose everything inside Meteor City. He’s desperately holding on… and this was 9 months ago!

Auren spots a few more mundane entries, quickly reading through them, and then stumbles across an entry that is seemingly brand new.

“Project Aion, Fourth Cycle. Year 4, Month 9.

Only five students remain… The Elders are draining more and more of my resources. I must urgently find work to keep up appearances. Once Eternity is complete, I will sell it immediately—probably at an auction in Yorknew, or through the Mafia—and finally leave this cursed city behind. The remaining students are all gifted. Even No. 22, who is without a doubt a complete idiot, has an unusually high aptitude for Nen—superior even to No. 4 and No. 6. No. 24 seems to be a genius, though her Aura reserves are only slightly above No. 22. Then there is No. 23 who is obedient, calm, and rational—clearly the winner of the contest. The perfect student… almost too perfect. He won’t slack off. He won’t falter. He won’t disobey. I wish I could take him with me, he could be useful. There’s no longer any need to pretend this contest matters, as the outcome is obvious.

Since I must maximize profit, the sacrifice order will be No. 4, then No. 6, followed by No. 22, No. 24, and finally No. 23 to complete the ritual. Eternity may have failed in function, but perhaps, after all these unexpectedly talented offerings—whose potential I have severely underestimated—this project can still yield results. At the very least, it may provide the insight I need to move forward. Eternity may yet surprise me.”

This is… a lot to take in. At least I am already the winner of the contest, over a year before its conclusion… if the others knew they’d get desperate.

Auren reads many older entries, but finds nothing that can help him with his current situation.

He then remembers the medication mentioned in the diary. Eventually, he finds a large supply of pills—enough for years. Examining them, he notices the capsules can be opened. Inspiration strikes quickly.

I’ll leave you a special present, Master. Without a doubt, you more than deserve it.

Activating En to ensure he’s alone, Auren leaves the office and heads to the now-abandoned infirmary. He grabs as many different medications as he can carry and returns to Elder Lidor’s study. Opening one of the pills, he inspects the medicine inside the capsule.

He compares it with the contents of the various medicines taken from the infirmary until he finds one that looks identical.

This one is against … constipation. Well who cares? As long as it doesn’t smell and looks similar, that is good enough.

Auren then carefully opens each capsule, one by one, extracting around two-thirds of Lidor’s medication and replacing it with the one he took from the infirmary. The pills on the bottom of each can he replaces fully with other medicines, despite the risk of detection.

This process takes Auren many hours, slightly worrying him.

Finally, once the last pill is tampered with, Auren, after making sure the office looks exactly as it did when he first entered, returns the medication with a smile and quietly leaves.

As Auren resumes his training, a strange sense of nostalgia creeps in. A faint desire to spare the other students rushes through his mind—but he quickly pushes it away.

Like a machine, Auren continues training as if his life depends on it. He puts particular focus on Ryu, which is difficult to master, but he still manages steady progress, despite training alone. His Aura now shifts more fluidly and reacts way faster than before.

At the same time, his overall Aura is skyrocketing. Thanks to his Affinity—which seems to follow that of an Enhancer, with natural leanings toward Emission and Transmutation—his Aura is very powerful and very effective at strengthening his body. His reserves grow larger every day, satisfying the goals Auren set for himself.

Whenever Lidor leaves the Mansion—judging his Master’s mood every time—Auren slips out as well, purchasing small gadgets and various electronic parts, always returning after a few hours to reduce risks.

He also makes frequent visits to the small chamber where Lidor silently sacrifices his students, carefully preparing the room to create a few spots to conceal certain objects without being noticed.

The months drag on, and Auren’s feelings slowly evolve into a heavy mix of anxiety and depression. The euphoria and thrill of learning Nen, mastering swordsmanship, and growing stronger is long gone—replaced by fear and the constant fight for survival.

During No. 4’s dismissal, Auren sees frustration in his eyes—but also acceptance.

Three months later, No. 6 leaves. She looks hollow, broken by the absence of her training partner. She almost seems relieved to go. Her last expression reminds Auren of a girl ready to sleep after desperately staying awake for days.

Another three months pass, and No. 22 departs while screaming curses and begging the Elder for another chance.

“You’ll have a bright future… trust your Master. This is not the end,” Lidor comments gently, though his face looks like it’s aged a full year since their last meeting.

One more to go … No. 24, I am sorry.

Exactly five years and nine months after their training began, Lidor enters the now-abandoned, dusty breakfast hall, where Auren and No. 24 sit silently, chewing on dry sandwiches.

“This is the last time I’ll have to make this painful decision,” Lidor says, his voice low. “No. 24, you’ll sadly have to leave tonight. You’ll be No. 23’s assistant in the future. Don’t feel disappointed—I’ll be teaching you personally after I’ve passed on most of my secrets to No. 23. That’s what I’ll be doing over the next three months.”

The day drags by. Auren trains like always—nothing that’s happened surprises him anymore. His eyes seem empty but hide a rage that’s been slowly building up over the last months, ready to be unleashed on his target.

… Not yet!

Later, No. 24 approaches him.

“Master called me. I asked for a few minutes to say goodbye. You know, despite us sparring almost every day for six years… I feel like we don’t know each other at all.”

“True,” Auren replies.

“That’s all you have to say?” she asks, her eyes solemn as they drift from him to the city skyline beyond the windows and the outer wall of Lidor’s mansion.

“Yes,” he answers firmly.

“…You might want to take this opportunity to leave. That way, you won’t be dragged into this,” she says finally, her expression somewhere between determined and unhinged.

Auren responds, desperately acting, “What are you talking about? Just accept your loss. We’ll meet again in three months. I don’t know what twisted thoughts you’re harboring, but they’ll only drive you mad.”

“…Maybe you’re right. I’ll find out soon enough,” she murmurs, clutching her blunt katana tightly as she walks away with her head held high.

Using Zetsu, Auren follows her.

I need to see how Master actually 'sacrifices' her. Every other time, they walked in and froze up immediately. Maybe it’s the circle… I need to take the risk. Master looks distracted, tired, and with his focus locked on No. 24—she’s clearly suspicious, even prepared for the worst. She seems ready to fight. I should be able to observe safely, I need more information or I’ll be sharing the fate of all the others.

Positioned just outside the small room at the far end of the mansion, Auren activates En, the usual bubble appearing around him, now covering an area of 13 m².

Inside, No. 24 is sitting before Elder Lidor, listening intently as he speaks.

She’s still moving… I can see her hands fidgeting. She’s nervous—but not paralyzed.

Her movements are slowing down… her tension fading. Has she calmed down? What’s going on?

Now… she’s completely still. Calm. Silent. There seems to be something wrong, she was ready to fight? Is she being manipulated or??

Suddenly, No. 24 collapses onto the floor.

Why did she collapse?! The circle, a Nen technique, maybe … sleeping gas? I need to investigate this room again!

Without hesitation, Lidor plunges the black, unfinished sacrificial katana, Eternity, through her heart. Her body is placed precisely within the circle.

At least… she didn’t suffer. No. 24… we didn’t truly know each other, but I respected you. I’ll promise you this: your killer will soon end up in your exact position, you can take your revenge inside the blade!

Shortly after completing the ritual, Lidor slips out of the mansion, a large bag in hand, clearly trying to remain unseen.

Auren rushes into the sacrificial chamber. The air reeks of blood—and something else.

Sniffing, he catches a faint draft above. He grabs a chair, climbs up, and finds a small mobile fan hidden in the ceiling, quietly dispersing a thin gas into the room.

He silently returns the chair to its place and heads back to his quarters.

Oh, Master… so you had the same idea as me. This really is poetic.

The next day, Elder Lidor appears before Auren—visibly strained, his condition clearly worsening.

“My student… my health is declining faster than I expected. Soon, you’ll inherit my school.”

“Are you going to teach me more about Nen now, Master?” Auren asks, a satisfied grin forming on his lips.

“No. I’ll spend these last three months teaching you the core of my swordsmanship. After that, we’ll go to the training hall with the others, and I—with a few of my most senior students—will teach you the deeper secrets of Nen.”

Hehe, teach me, Master. It will be to your own demise!

He then stares into Auren’s eyes… “What is your name, child?”

My name? I guess I can tell him... he won't be able to tell it to anyone soon enough.

“Auren!”