Chapter 65

"A-Aether... I-I will gather its attention. You need to run away once you have everything h-healed," Stella said, determination in her voice as she wiped her remaining tears and looked at Aether seriously.

"N-No, I-I..." Before Aether could respond, Stella stood up and began chanting, her voice growing stronger,

/By the power of the mind and will, let Arcane fulfil my wishes..../

Her body began to glow brightly before she touched Aether's forehead, and then she uttered,

/Zenith/

Aether's body was immediately enveloped in a golden ball, and his skin and muscles began to heal rapidly. He was astonished by the incredible display of healing power, feeling the warmth of rejuvenation spreading through his body.

"Cough, Cough"

Stella coughed, blood trickling from her mouth as she covered it with her hand. She looked at Aether one last time, her eyes filled with gratitude, and said, "I am glad I found someone like you..." Her voice was a mix of exhaustion and determination as she gathered her strength to run away.

Taking the pouch containing numerous low-aptitude Arcane Crystals, Stella started to run away from Aether.

No, more like she was trying and yet her body had reached its limit, pushed beyond by the immense effort of healing Aether... She was in between walking and running!

Jogging!! Though that's not the right word for it.

"STOP!!... HEHE" Aether yelled, banging on the golden ball, his emotions a whirlwind of concern and fear.... He wanted to stop her from risking herself further, but she only turned back with a small smile, her eyes filled with tears, before continuing to run away, her body trembling in fear yet resolute in her emotion...

+2000 Affection

As the white snake followed Stella's direction, leaving Aether with a mixture of emotions.

Aether's shaky voice echoed in the stillness, "W-What should I do now?... hehe"

.... Only a silence.

Adding to his growing frustration. He felt lost, unsure of how to proceed, "I-I have to save her but.... How!!!" The weight of his helplessness was evident in his expression.

'Blink, Blink....'

The Mission Panel's rapid blinking intensified much faster than ever before.... mirroring Aether's uneasiness and.... fear?

He didn't want to lose the girl who had been by his side through all the ups and downs of their journey..... In a single night!

Aether felt a deep sense of responsibility to save her, not just because of the mission, but because of the profound sacrifice she had made to protect him. This feeling of responsibility was familiar, reminding him of past regrets he carried from his previous life.

'Till now, I regret letting her go..." Aether bit his trembling lips as memories from his previous life flooded back, stirring emotions he had long buried.

'Deep Breath...'

Taking a moment to compose himself, he called upon his log and began to formulate a plan...

Name: Aether

Sex: Male

Race: #####

Level: 0

Title: The Lost One, Slave , The Only Holder of Ether and Past-less, Future-less Entity.

Attributes:

Strength: 6

Agility: 8

Intelligence: 10

Magic Affinity: 0

Charm: 2

Compatibility: 88%

Survival rate= 0.89%

Affection Points: 04908 (1000 Affection Points = 1 *any Attributes)

What did he need now to save someone? What was the new power need to gain?

He needed something that he had yet to try or even feel. He had avoided it until now, fearing it might endanger his life if Mortimer ever knows it. Yet, he was left with no choices...

"Increase Magic Affinity"

!~Ding~!

+1 Magic Affinity

Magic Affinity: 1 ↑

!~Ding~!

You have Leveled up!!

Level: 1↑

!~Ding~!

Congratulations on Leveling up

Reward: 10000 Affection Points

That's the last thing that entered Aether's mind, and next, he found himself standing in a surreal space that seemed to defy all logic. One half of the space shimmered with blinding Pure White light, symbolizing purity and clarity, while the other half was engulfed in deep, consuming Pure Darkness, representing unknown fears and mysteries.

Aether stood transfixed in the middle of these contrasting realms, his senses overwhelmed by the stark dichotomy before him. His mind raced with questions about what was happening in this inexplicable place.

"Where am I? I need to go; she is in danger!" Aether's voice echoed in the strange space as he attempted to move towards the light, but an unseen force seemed to keep him suspended in the centre, like a puppet in a grand theatre.

"Is anybody here?" Aether's face furrowed in frustration, and receiving no answer, he shouted, "You Arcane Bitch! I know it's you, Bitch! Come out, you fucking Bitch!" Aether spat out his anger without reservation, pouring out his frustration and desperation.

'Trrrrr'

The entire space trembled as if in response to his outburst, yet there was no tangible reaction or presence.

But then, without warning,

"ARRRRHHHHHH!!!" Aether suddenly screamed, feeling a jolt as if something were forcefully entering his mind, overwhelming his senses.

The sensation was like being plunged into icy waters, a shock that sent shivers down his spine and made his vision blur for a moment....

Arcane Energy, the fundamental force underlying every aspect of existence in these worlds, acted as both its genesis and its ultimate fate.

It's the beginning as well as the Ending!!

It permeated every form of life and matter, from humans to monsters, animals to plants, air to space and... even the very essence of light and darkness - the very fabric of existence itself.

Everything, without exception, was built upon the foundation of Arcane Energy.... The Mother of Everything!!

She controls everything and every fibre of time and life. She decides what this world needs and what it does not need. And so...

"She wants you in her world"

Aether suddenly heard the words echo in his mind, causing him to clutch his head in pain, "aarrhh"

"She needs you in this world"

"She will mould you into a thing that she desires"

"She will make you crave for her"

"She will do anything to hold you in her roots"

"She, who loves every being equally, now focuses on you"

"She hates it when you hurt her with insults"

"She truly hates seeing you get hurt"

"You cannot escape from her grasp"

"You are not ready to escape from her clutches"

"WHAT HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW!!" Aether screamed as the conflicting voices reverberated like a drum in his head.

"Survive until the beginning"

The two voices merged, delivering the same message before releasing Aether from that perplexing realm.

"Huff-huff-hufff-" Aether's breaths came in ragged gasps as he crouched down, his chest rising and falling rapidly. For a moment, his pupils flickered with a mix of black and white energy before returning to normal.

Once he calmed his racing heart, Aether noticed that he was now naked, his body completely healed as if it were new. The golden ball that had surrounded him had disappeared.

Ignoring his own state of undress and the myriad of questions swirling in his mind, Aether focused on the most urgent matter at hand. With determination etched on his face, he stood up and began to run, following the trail left behind by the massive white snake.

"I can do this," Aether muttered to himself, a half-smile tugging at his lips as he mentally prepared for the task ahead. He knew what he needed to do to defeat the monster.

As he sprinted forward, Aether soon caught sight of them... Stella, stood silently as if she had reached her limit.

"Stella!" Aether's shout was filled with relief and happiness as he approached her. However, his joy was short-lived....

Stella turned her head slowly towards him, her smile carrying a weight of.... sadness?

"Don't worry, I hav---Heh" Aether's words were abruptly cut off.

'Gulp'

'Thud'

The monstrous serpent lunged forward, swallowing Stella whole in a swift, horrifying motion.