Far from the Heindal Continent, spanning millions of miles, lies a vast ocean that divides this world into many parts, connecting numerous continents and harboring too many secrets that seem unending.
Among these, stands the formidable Ardoros Continent, known for its strength and power.
Divided among four pillars that stand at the peak of strength, protecting the continent from all four sides like its Guardian.
The whole Ardoros is divided into four divisions, cutting it in two straight intersecting lines like a perfect symmetry; the borders among four families were partitioned by huge walls enforced by Ether.*
Ether is a far-concentrated form of mana, much purer, denser, and impossible to be used inside the body due to its violent reaction with pre-existing bodily mana, making it widely used by the strongest families as an energy source for weapons or battleships.
But these were just true for revealing the battle strength of a kingdom as a whole; things like Ether and mana diminish in front of the sheer strength held by individuals living inside this place.
On one expanse far larger than the whole Heindal Continent combined, existed the land belonging to one of the Guardians known as Sentinel’s Legion—Riantain Family.
Standing among the strongest families on Blue Star, the strength held by their bloodline allowed them to reach the peak, but their own discipline kept them above all else.
The bloodline provided them various abilities, which were just a pinch of the iceberg hidden beneath a facade.
SWOOSH
Suddenly, a sound reverberated in the empty space, making way for a huge battleship to slowly become visible as its body started to get materialized from head to tail, revealing its humongous size.
Swish
The ship’s destination was towards the center of the whole place, making its way before slowly landing outside one of the open grounds present outside the big mansion.
Thud
A long gate opened before a ladder landed on the ground, making way for a figure with blue hair and the same-colored eyes departing from it.
Slowly moving out of the ship, Diana’s face formed a knowing smile after she had spent her two years outside the Ardoros Continent dealing with things that would ensure that, in the end, she gets what belongs to her.
“Miss Diana, Lord is calling you.” Without any difference in tone, a maid with an expressionless face informed Diana about her immediate call the moment she arrived back.
“I understand.” Without any further ado, she made her way towards the huge gates of the mansion, the mere size of the grandeur in front of her reaching the skies above, piercing through the clouds yet faded against the aura of individuals inside it.
Tap Tap
Moving inside the long hallway where several statues of large sizes stood around the walls, wearing armors while remaining in their static position.
KRiiiEEEKKKK
The doors slowly unveiled a huge hallroom filled with several individuals, a nostalgic image etched in Diana’s memories resurfaced; six years ago, she entered the same place with helplessness and holding nothing in her hand, but now.
⟨Congratulations, Diana, for entering Phase II at such a young age⟩
Suddenly, a voice attracted her attention. Turning towards the figure, a silhouette slowly became visible to her, a woman sitting on a regal throne with a stern gaze looking down at Diana.
‘Here she goes again,’ Diana thought, looking at her mother who praised and started to give her attention the moment she proved her worth, unlike the past life where she was nothing but a bystander.
But she didn’t hate this since now she could get whatever she wanted from her dear mother, even though it was a mutual benefit. Diana at least knew how important her use could be.
“Thank you, Lady Samantha.”
Samantha’s eyes narrowed, hearing a blank tone reply from her daughter, feeling confused since just six years ago, this child was always running behind her and trying to prove her worth.
Now that she proved it, though Samantha didn’t care, she found things amiss, but not wanting to engage in familiar interaction, she directly jumped on the important matters.
⟨Tell me, how will Alisia Devereaux die in 10 years?⟩
She inquired about the information Diana had given at the age of eleven.
At that moment, Using this information she had demanded to get access of Aurora’s Nest.
Aurora’s Nest was a hidden space in another dimension solely used by Riantain Family’s strongest members.
There, time flowed 52 times much faster, making one year there equal to one week of Blue Star’s.
This was also one of the reasons why Riantains were the strongest and stood among several other continents.
They possessed a separate dimension with different time speed and environment, making them to stand alone at the top.
“Should I tell or not, hmm?” Diana feigned ignorance, folding her hands while shaking her head, making Samantha’s gaze turn cold.
“How dare you!, after getting everything you asked for,” Clara exclaimed, seeing how Diana was acting arrogant after obtaining whatever she desired, be it Aurora Nest at such a young age or the visit to Heindal Continent two years ago.
Though Clara didn’t know the reason for Diana’s visit to that small continent where Alisia Devereaux was present, it was irritating how Diana had effortlessly obtained everything, even as an eleven-year-old girl.
Now that Diana had turned 17, Clara was already shocked to learn how, at such a young age, Diana had reached Phase II, a feat that took her 657 Aurora years.
Normally, Riantain Family members didn’t have any age due to their Bloodline ability—Biokinesis— which allowed them to change appearance, enhance abilities, heal, shape-shift, defend themselves, extend lifespan, control physiology, manipulate psychology, and master body arts with mere thoughts.
This ability was also the reason they could spend thousands of years inside another dimension without aging.
Clara couldn’t comprehend how Diana had only spent four years, meaning 208 years, inside Aurora Nest but still broke through Phase II, which should have taken much more time.
“I haven’t gotten everything yet, Clara,” Diana turned towards Clara with a smile, making her surprised. Diana smiled, thinking about how she still had to get what her heart desired most, ‘I still don’t have him.’
⟨What do you want, Diana?⟩
‘!’
Shocking others was another woman’s voice, making Diana turn towards it with her eyes becoming calm; sincerity and respect for the figure was visible in her eyes.
“Sister Luna, it is nothing. I will get that myself.” Diana slightly bowed, causing everyone present in the place to narrow their gaze. Even her such gesture took Luna by surprise.
⟨What is the meaning of this, Diana?⟩
Narrowing her gaze, Luna inquired, feeling somewhat surprised.
The reason for her inquiry was the gazes Diana was receiving from others, filled with hatred, due to just the first rule she broke—bowing in front of others.
“Nothing, Sister. And about Lady Alisia, she will die in ten years at the hands of her own father.” Turning towards the man sitting at the head of the circular hall, she told about the inevitable death that awaited the woman whom she was most grateful for.
‘!?’
⟨Do you know it has to be the truth, Diana? ⟩
Clenching the throne’s handrest, which shattered in a mere moment, the man sitting on the throne while his body surrounded by heat haze gazed at Diana.
His shining blue eyes penetrated through every mind defense to see through lies, and the moment he understood it was the truth.
⟨Father needs to know this.⟩
SWOOSH
An aura surged before the man’s figure banished, causing everyone to look down on Diana whose eyes were also widened, seeing how she had got a chance to meet the man standing behind the Riantain family and the only one at the top.
Luna, seeing how everyone was looking at Diana like predators, slowly rose from the throne, moving towards her.
The intensity in her voice, which was filled with authority fitting of the seven seats, subsided, changed into a gentle one, “Guess you have various stories to tell me, Diana. How about we both go to your place?”
“Why not, Sister Luna. You ca—” Diana tried to accept her elder sister’s offer and share something with her but got interrupted by another voice.
⟨Stop it, Luna. I have yet to talk with her.⟩
Samantha’s cold gaze was fixed on Diana, looking at her as if eyeing an ant, overwhelming with mere intent, causing Diana to feel a shiver but was relieved, knowing well about how none of these people can harm her in the presence of someone who was beside her.
“Yes, Mother is right. You should stop, Diana, and don’t disturb Sister Luna,” Clara also not wanting to let Diana go unscathed, tried to deal with her, but a voice silenced everyone.
WHOOSH
⟨Diana and I have some work. Don’t tell me my words have fallen on deaf ears.⟩
Luna’s voice reverted, accompanied by a surge of energy causing the whole place’s air to intensify with the pressure of〖ZENITH〗 level powerhouse.
The mere aura made the several figures standing there fade away in the background.
Samantha’s eyes glared at Luna, Clenching her jaws, feeling humiliated.
If it were someone else, she would have shredded them into pieces, but it was Luna Riantain.
Next in line to become the Master of the whole Riantain family, though everyone thought that the Elder son would become the Master since he was also the head of the Seven Seats, the one filled with the strongest Riantains.
But Samantha and the Elder Son knew Luna was far stronger than anyone else here.
While everyone believed Luna to be 120 years old, attributing her strength to Aurora’s Nest where she must have spent thousands of years but only they knew the true extent of this girl’s prodigious abilities.
Unlike other members of the Riantain family who took Aurora’s Nest for their training ground, Luna never visited that place even once.
The level she had reached today was from a real-world perspective, making Diana fade far into the background.
Diana took 208 years just to reach the level Luna had achieved at the age of 80.
Luna’s gaze turned towards Diana, her eyes becoming gentle. “Let’s go, Little Dia.”
Without giving any attention to the people standing there while glaring in her direction, Luna took Diana and moved from that place towards the mansion belonging to her.
.
.
.
“Sister Luna, you shouldn’t have done that,” Diana felt that such a stance might cause problems for Luna in the long run.
There is a chance she’ll face retaliation from other family members when she attempts to become the head of the family.
While moving, Luna’s face formed a smile hearing Diana’s words. Peaking a glance, she added, “How is that boy?”
‘!?’
“W-what boy?” Diana suddenly startled, causing her to stumble.
Looking at Luna whose face formed a teasing smile, slowly moving her hand, Luna flicked her forehead.
“I just guessed, and you confirmed it.” She started to move again, causing Diana to follow behind, feeling weak in front of one who was the second most important person after her beloved.
“Sister Luna, are you not gonna ask about Lady Alisia’s death?” Diana, while moving already knowing about the history attached with Luna and Alisia Devereaux, inquired.
“She had already told me about her death”
‘!?’
Diana interrupted in her way, turning towards Luna, feeling inexplicable emotions and not understanding what she meant. This made Luna turn towards her.
“Alisia’s death’s news is not something new for me, Diana.” Luna slowly moved her hand, holding Diana’s wrist before pulling her while she remained in her trance state, trying to understand everything.
While moving, Luna’s gaze shifted towards the direction of Heindal Continent.
Her strength tore through space, her gaze penetrating every obstacle, observing a woman busy in her work, unaware of the surveillance from someone she had once saved.
‘Was your son really deserved that sacrifice, Alisia.’ Luna’s gaze was at a boy with Amber eyes, feeling complicated, not understanding the reason for a person to leave everything for someone who was not even born.
Luna could remember the day when, in a battle against an Ebon Cryptid, her life was saved by a woman who stood at the top and was seen as the genius born in thousands of years.
In the early days of her journey, Luna ventured to various continents to gather her strength and become stronger.
Inside one of them, her life was saved by Alisia Devereaux, who was there on a mission assigned to every Flagbearer.
Unlike how she could have just left Luna alone or even removed the seed of the Riantain family by killing her, Alisia decided to protect her, and the end result was Alisia becoming an rival for Luna.
Not a single day passed when Luna did not imagine becoming the head of the Riantain family, pushing herself to reach much greater heights in the hope that one day, she—the head of the Riantain family—would meet Alisia—the head of the Devereaux family, which she believed was inevitable.
Until one day, while away from Ardoros, she heard the news that Alisia Devereaux had abandoned her position as a flagbearer.
According to the rules, Alisia’s Energy Core was destroyed, making her fall from the peak of 〖ZENITH〗 to a mere 〖EPIC〗, Which even though seemed only difference of mere two stages but in reality, it was like falling from last ladder to reach godhood.
Luna’s rage caused her to reach several heights just so that she could kill that man holding the highest position in the Devereaux family yet fall too low to destroy the future of his own daughter, even though Luna knew how her own father was the same but…
Closing her eyes standing there, Luna remembered the day she had last met Alisia Devereaux.
// Flashback //
SWOOSH
A loud sound reverberated in the surroundings, sourced from a huge ship sailing through the ocean, directly heading towards a small continent carrying some people.
“Uncle Wang, how many days will it take to reach Heindal Continent?”
A woman slowly moved towards the head of the ship, her amber gaze wanting to know the time left for her to reach the place where she wanted to live peacefully.
Alisia Devereaux, A figure who had killed millions, hundreds of her own bloodline, destroyed a few continents, and even eradicated whole races.
But now standing with a figure that was different from what it used to be, one who wanted to leave behind everything.
“Forgive me, Princess. Just a few hours more,” Wang bowed, replying while knowing how important it was for him to reach that place as soon as possible.
Wang’s urgency was due to the promise he had made to someone, making his true form able to protect that place from any force, unlike his humanoid form, which stood helpless, only witnessing the fall of a legend.
A woman who stood alone facing a world that didn’t take pity even after destroying her Energy Core. It went as far as to only give her a water ship to sail out of the continent into the ocean, which was filled with unknown dangers.
‘Forgive me, Master,’ Wang slowly lifted his gaze, looking at the figure of a woman, her black hair caressed by the breeze, whole exhausted amber eyes fixed at a faraway distance.
A woman who had fallen from the epitome of strength to a mere 〖EPIC〗.
While it was the dream of several strong individuals to reach this stage but for a woman who had just attained such heights at a young age, it was akin to a God falling from Godhood.
“Princess, I hope yo—”
SWISH!
‘!’
Suddenly, a figure materialized on the ship, causing Wang to enclose the distance in mere seconds, arriving between Alisia and the figure.
The figure slowly lifted its gaze, revealing shimmering blue hair with the same-hued eyes that seemed as deep as the ocean where they were present.
⟨Why?⟩
A simple word left Luna’s lips, her gaze slowly lifting, meeting with Amber ones. Her ears wanting to hear words from Alisia, about how she was betrayed.
And just that, Luna would make sure to tear those who didn’t know their places.
Alisia’s widened gaze slowly became soft, looking at the familiar figure, and an amusement for her past, which she had already decided never to share with her child. She replied with a soft voice, “I wanted to rest.”
⟨R-rest?⟩
Luna’s mind couldn’t believe the words she heard from the mouth of that woman, who was restlessly slaughtered not known how much, only to become the Master of the Devereaux Family. ‘What happened to her?’
Not understanding the reason that could change Alisia Devereaux, her pupils moved frequently before stopping as she heard a very small sound.
thump thump
Making her eyes slowly turn towards Alisia’s belly, which had a slight bump, Luna couldn’t understand how, after reaching so close to a goal, Alisia could abandon her dream like that.
It made Luna slowly realize how she had idealized the image of a woman who was nothing but weak.
⟨You have become pathetic.⟩ Leaving those words, Luna turned to leave the place, already having received her answer that it was the end for Alisia Devereaux.
“Before leaving, return my favor, Luna.” Alisia narrowed her eyes, not caring about what her image was in the mind of that woman.
‘?!’
Luna stopped in her way, turning towards those amber eyes, which were not the same she had seen a few years ago. Eyes that should have belonged to a predator were now replaced with a human. ⟨What do you want?⟩
“You have to protect my child if, in the future, something happens to me.”
Hearing those words, Luna’s eyes filled with disgust and hatred towards the woman who was destroying the perfect image she had in her mind.
SWISH
Not wanting to stay there for a moment longer, her figure blurred before leaving.
// FLASHBACK ENDS //
