After their reunion, Drake, Yona, and Princess Delilah quickly regrouped. Behind them, Prince Mikail stood, seething with anger. Though he had survived, he was still injured.
“Ethan, where were you? We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Drake asked casually.
Aengus gave the same response he had given to Aria. “I was thrown far from here because of the aftermath of their fight. I was lucky to survive, at least,” he said with a light chuckle.
“That’s terrible, Ethan. We’re just glad you’re safe. You don’t know how worried Lady Aria was,” Yona said, visibly relieved.
Aengus glanced at Aria’s exhausted yet beautiful face and softly replied, “Yes, I can guess.”
Just as he finished speaking, a loud, commanding voice rang out from behind them, instantly drawing thousands of eyes toward Aengus and his group.
“Hey, boy, come here!”
It was the voice of the Fire Dragon King, Helios. His sharp, intense gaze locked onto Aengus.
Aengus remained unfazed as he approached Helios, gently breaking away from Aria’s grip.
“What’s the matter? Why is the mighty Helios seeking my presence?” Aengus asked boldly, aware that the other party was an S-Rank powerhouse.
Helios’s expression darkened at Aengus’s lack of reverence. “Kneel!” he commanded with a domineering tone, unleashing his Dragon Aura with the intent to crush the boy’s pride and force him to submit.
However, Aengus stood firm, like an immovable mountain, shocking everyone around. The oppressive aura seemed to have no effect on him.
“And why should I?” Aengus replied coldly, refusing to release his own aura. He knew that exposing too much would attract unwanted attention from other lurking powerhouses. Yet, the mere thought of acting weak and subservient made him nauseous.
Perhaps it was an unknown pride from his past—once an embodiment of arrogance and power—surfacing unknowingly.
He was aware of it, and he chose to accept it on his own volition.
“You…Insolent.. Die!” Helios growled, preparing to attack, eager to test Aengus’s strength. But just as he was about to strike, Aengus remained relaxed, sensing a formidable and familiar aura nearby.
“Enough! Helios, what are you trying to do?” an icy voice interrupted, freezing the air as he spoke.
Helios flinched slightly as he turned to face Leon Isotherm, the transcendental Ice Guardian of the Araknis Kingdom. His tone shifted, becoming more humble, though a simmering tension remained.
“General Leon, my son is dead, and I’m investigating if anyone is involved with that demonic creature. There could be an imposter among us, and I heard this boy and his group had a conflict with Sigard. He could be a demon in human skin. I only seek the truth. Surely, your respectable self wouldn’t want to stop me, would you?”
Though his words were respectful, the underlying threat was clear.
General Leon glanced at Aengus with a slight smile, completely ignoring Helios as if he were insignificant. “Ethan, it’s good to see you again. You’ve certainly become quite strong.”
Aengus returned the smile. “Yes, General. It’s been far too long. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
Leon chuckled lightly. “It’s nothing. He’s just an annoying fly—stupid, really.”
Helios’s face turned red with anger at the open insult. “General Leon, what’s the meaning of this? Do you not intend to show me the basic respect I deserve?”
“Respect? Helios, instead of hunting down the demonic creature, you’re bullying these juniors. If that’s not stupidity, what is? Can’t you see this boy is of the High Human race? Why are you still doubting him? Or are you just venting your anger because of your own incompetence?”
Helios’s temper flared. “Nonsense! My people have already begun searching the entire area. I won’t let anyone escape after hurting my son!” he barked, refusing to back down.
“Flash!”
But just as Leon was about to make a move, he sensed a sudden attack aimed at Aengus. But it was not from Helios, from someone else.
“Divine Arctic Fortress!”
Leon instantly conjuring an immovable ice fortress around Aengus, protecting him from the deadly blow.
“Clang! Creak!”
With the violent collision, nearby hunters were flung aside like ragdolls, their bodies crashing against the ground in a chaotic mess.
Only Aria remained untouched because of her mysterious nature energy, as if the force was nothing more than a gentle breeze. She rushed forward, concern etched on her face, sensing the growing hostility in the air. Her teammates were protected by her gentle nature energy, held safely within her aura.
Leon’s eyes burned with fury as he glared at the assailant. “Elyon, you dare!” he spat, his voice cold with outrage.
Inside the shattered remnants of the Luminescent Ice Fortress, Aengus stood unphased, his eyes flickering with a deadly calm as he fixed his gaze on Elyon. The sudden attacker, bathed in divine radiance, wielded a brilliant Sword of Light that hummed with dangerous energy.
“Tch, evil creature!” Elyon sneered, clearly frustrated at his failure to strike Aengus down in a single blow.
Aengus glanced at Elyon, an adult man in his 50s with white hair, but Divine presence.
As the ice fortress crumbled around him, Elyon gave a disdainful snort, his attempt to eliminate Aengus thwarted. But before he could make another move, Aria appeared beside him, her eyes blazing with anger.
“Do you want to die?” she hissed, her voice trembling with barely restrained fury as she glared at Elyon, the famed Hero of Light. Despite the other party’s Transcendental power, she remained unshaken ready to defend Ethan at all cost.
Her protective energy surged, ready to defend Aengus against further threats.
Elyon, momentarily caught off guard by Aria’s fierce presence, tightened his grip on the Sword of Light, his divine radiance clashing against the nature power emanating from her.
“Stand aside, girl. This is no concern of yours. He’s a evil creature and he needs to be punished for harming my heir.”
But Aria’s unwavering gaze told him she would not back down. She would protect Aengus at any cost.
General Leon stepped in front of Aengus and Aria, his expression stern.
“You too, Elyon? I never expected this from the famed Hero of Light. What happened to your reputation for protecting the weak and serving humanity? This was originally a competition between the younger generation—why interfere?”
General Leon had heard rumors of Valen’s light powers vanishing, but he still didn’t know the connection between that and Elyon’s sudden hostility.
