Aria’s hair slowly returned to its silvery color as her nature powers calm down, leaving the towering trees and vines motionless once again.
Aria’s heart raced the moment she saw Ethan standing before her, alive and unscathed. It had been over a month since they’d last met, but the weight of that time felt immeasurable, as if they had been separated for an eternity.
Though Ethan looked slightly mature, Aria recognized him instantly.
His presence filled her with strange sense of warmth and relief, emotions she had tried to bury but now surged to the surface. Her gaze softened as she looked at him, love shining in her eyes.
Aengus, on the other hand, found himself uncharacteristically nervous, a sensation foreign to him since his transformation into a demon. Her presence stirred something deep within him, something even his darkness heart couldn’t suppress.
“Ethan, you’re alive…I knew.. ” Her voice trembled, thick with emotion, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She took a step forward, her breath catching in her throat, as though afraid this was all just a fleeting dream.
Aengus hesitated, his voice faltering. “Y-Yes, Aria, I am. I also thought—”
Before he could finish, Aria closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, throwing herself into his arms with a desperation that expressed month’s of separation.
She clung to him like a kitten seeking warmth, her arms wrapping tightly around his broad chest. Her emotions spilled over, chaotic and overwhelming, and Aengus responded instinctively, embracing her slender form. His arms wrapped around her soft, trembling body, pulling her close. He breathed deeply, taking in the intoxicating scent of her silvery hair, the sweetness mingled with the essence of nature.
In that moment, time seemed to stand still. The battlefield, the distant cries, the lingering tension—they all faded into the background, leaving only the two of them, reunited after what had felt like an endless wait.
Drake and Yona stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief as they watched Ethan being alive and well. He even easily defeat the Fire Dragon Prince.
“That’s Ethan, right? Or are my eyes deceiving me?” Drake asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Yona, her expression still one of shock, nodded slowly. “Yes, it’s him. I can’t believe it either. He survived… but not the others.” Her voice grew somber as she recalled her old party members: Marcus, Cedric, and Iris. A heavy sigh escaped her lips.
Drake clenched his fists, excitement overcoming his initial shock. “Wow! That’s amazing. Ethan has also gotten so powerful, just like Sister Aria. Let’s see how that arrogant Dragon dares to bully us now.”
Nate, standing beside them, was visibly confused. “Hey, Drake, what are you talking about? Isn’t he Zero? Or is there some kind of misunderstanding?”
Sofia stood equally puzzled, but Drake and Yona exchanged a knowing glance, their confidence unwavering.
“Absolutely not. He is Ethan, our long-lost friend. How could we ever forget him?” Yona said firmly.
“But—” Nate started to object, but Sofia quickly interrupted, her voice low as she leaned closer to him.
“Calm down, Nate. It looks like he lied about his identity. There’s no need to make a scene.”
Nate frowned, feeling a sting of betrayal. “But Sofia, I thought we could trust him. How could he do something like this?” He glanced at Ethan, or “Zero” as they’d known him, feeling conflicted.
Sofia placed a hand on Nate’s arm. “We don’t know the whole story yet. Let’s not jump to conclusions too quickly. For now, let’s just watch and wait.”
Despite her calm words, uncertainty weighing heavily on their minds.
Princess Delilah listened to their words, raised her eyebrows.
“Ohh, so this is Aria’s boyfriend? I never expected him to be so handsome and powerful? And, they certainly look like a perfect couple,” she commented with a slight smile.
Prince Mikail, on the other hand, was far from amused. His entire body was bruised from earlier battles, and his face was twisted with anger. His fists clenched tightly as he watched Aria getting close to another man, his heart burning with jealousy.
“I can’t stand this,” he muttered, intending yo make a move to confront them, but Princess Delilah stopped him by grabbing his sleeve.
“Brother, can’t you stop making a fool of yourself for a second? Can’t you see how powerful he is?” she said with a note of irritation, her eyes narrowing.
Prince Mikail knew she was probably right.
Ethan, Aria’s supposed boyfriend had just taken down a Fire Dragon Prince with ease, and it was clear he wasn’t someone easy to be trifled with. But even so, Mikail’s pride and feelings for Aria clouded his judgment.
“But I love Aria,” he whispered fiercely, his eyes still locked on the pair. “I want to marry her. Should I just give up on my wish? Answer me, Delilah.”
Princess Delilah sighed, unsure how to respond to her brother’s stubbornness. “If that’s how you feel, then you’ll have to win her heart—not through force, but by earning her love. Good luck, my foolish brother,” she whispered with indifference.
Mikail barely listened to her advice, his thoughts already spiraling into something sinister.
As his sister’s words drifted away, his face twisted into a cruel smile. He wasn’t about to give up on Aria, not by a long shot. If he couldn’t win her heart with love, he had other means in mind, far more sinister.
Aria and Aengus slowly pulled away from their embrace, both of their faces glowing with warmth and slight smiles. Aengus could feel the depth of Aria’s love for him, far more intense than what she let on, and it stirred something deep within him.
As they stepped apart, their companions began to gather around them, sensing the tension in the air. On the opposite side, the Dragon Royalties and their servants stood united, their postures rigid and expressions determined.
The air between the two groups was thick with unspoken intentions, the atmosphere electric with the anticipation of what was to come.
Yona and Drake exchanged nervous glances, realizing the gravity of the confrontation ahead. The Dragon Princes and Princesses weren’t just formidable; they were renowned for their power and pride.
Sofia, Hank and Nate, though still confused about Ethan’s true identity, also felt the rising pressure of the situation.
Aurora, Melina, and Sigard, bruised but standing strong, watched Aengus with a newfound wariness. They knew this was no ordinary human.
Sigard’s eyes widened as he suddenly recalled who Aengus was. He was the same high-human he had sensed a threat from earlier, just before entering the battlefield. He had launched a preemptive attack back then, aiming to eliminate Aengus swiftly, but to his frustration, the attempt had failed.
Sigard in his human form, still nursing his injuries, let out a low growl of frustration, while Aurora’s icy gaze lingered on Aengus, like a smitten cat, but seeing Aria and Aengus together made her jealous.
The battlefield was silent, except for the soft rustle of the wind.
The thousands of crowds could sense that a clash was inevitable, the final showdown between these powerful figures was on the brink of erupting.
Among the spectators, still remained a lot of young powerhouse, their eyes full of interest as they waited for the show, or if they could get some benefit in return.
