"Do you think he's going to wake up?"Aiden's attention was drawn to the whisper of Gregg, a few feet away from where he sat cross-legged on the floor meditating while Risa watched him worriedly. "The only thing this shithead has done is to eat our food," Gregg said softly before turning his gaze back at Aiden who still has his eyes tightly closed in meditation pose. "I can hear you two, you know." He opened one eye slowly while keeping the other shut tight until both of them turned their heads toward him. "Closing my eyes doesn't mean I'm deaf or blind...or stupid for that matter!" His voice rose slightly on the last part but not enough to make anyone flinch away from him like he expected it would have been if someone else had spoken those words in an intimidating tone instead.Aiden's lips twitched into a smile as Risa let go of the breath she was holding in and Gregg looked at Aiden with an expression somewhere between shock, disbelief, and amusement all rolled up together. "Aid
Mr. Smith's eyelids fluttered open, the harsh bite of cold against his flesh breaking his mind free from the numbing abyss of unconsciousness. His body protested as he attempted to move, his muscles felt weak and drained, the skin marred with cuts and bruises from the unforgiving stone floor beneath him. A strange cold weight on his ankle momentarily distracted him from the throbbing ache that was beginning to build in his skull. He tried to sit up, fighting through the waves of dizziness, his vision blurry, his surroundings eerily dim. Panic gripped his heart as he felt the coarse cold iron chain attached to his ankle. There was a faint glow around the chain, the mark of a magic-dampening spell. Each attempt to access his mana was met with an intense pain coursing through him, the spell was draining his mana. It was a chilling realization - he was not only captured but weakened significantly.In frustration and rage, he pulled at the chain, and a defiant roar ripped from his throa
Gregg and Risa shared a glance, before complying with Aiden’s command, retreating to the sidelines. Their eyes remained fixated on the spectacle about to unfold. Aiden squared his shoulders, turned back to Davis, and smirked at the enraged expression on his face. The smirk was one of defiance, one that screamed that Aiden was not afraid of the man standing before him."You're really itching for a fight, aren't you, Davis?" Aiden said, his gaze locked onto Davis. "But let me make something clear to you. If you want to sever the bond I have with Draed, you'll have to kill me. And trust me, that is not happening."Davis' eyes narrowed, and his hand moved to his side, drawing forth a massive sword, glistening ominously in the dim light. It was unlike any sword they had seen before, its entire construction reminiscent of icy shards, a clear sign of Davis' freezing abilities. "What if I am willing to do more than just kill you? What if I'm also willing to take your precious lover from you?
A thunderous roar shook the air as the swarm of monsters attacked, their grotesque faces twisted in a mix of rage and hunger. Aiden held his ground, electricity sparking around him as his powers surged to life. His eyes gleamed with fierce determination, and with a swift movement, he summoned two double blades, their edges glistening in the chaos. The first monster lunged at him, but Aiden sidestepped it with ease. With a swift slice of his blade, he cut a deep gash across the monster's body, letting the blood spill onto the rubble-littered street. He dipped his finger in the monster's blood, and then reached into his pocket, pulling out a vial. It was a potion from his system, designed to return these monstrous creatures to their human forms. But it came with a hefty price for its little blue elixir—$15,000 per bottle. Yet, to Aiden, it was worth every penny if it meant saving these innocents from their monstrous fate. He uncapped the vial and carefully mixed the potion with the m
The days passed, with the trio recuperating and preparing for the impending trials that lay ahead. On one such day, Aiden found himself on the rooftop of the dilapidated building, his gaze fixated on the dark city below. The city was in a state of utter chaos as if reflecting their inner turmoil. Aiden's gaze was directed towards a specific direction, where he knew Draed was. "Show me what you've seen, Draed," Aiden telepathically communicated with his dragon companion. Images and memories from Draed's mind flooded into Aiden's, creating a mental map of the city. His gaze grew focused as he absorbed the information. Draed had witnessed monsters rampaging through the city streets, the citizens paralyzed with fear. He had also seen the Shadow King's forces, their ominous presence further deepening the city's despair. The Lyridian Resistance Force, where Aiden and Gregg had once worked, was in tatters. The brave soldiers who stood against the onslaught were overwhelmed, their defenses
"Liam," he murmured, the name leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "It has to be him."Risa nodded, "Yes, Liam. He was killed during the dragon attack. He was the one who cursed Gregg, but with Liam gone, devoured by Draed, the mark must have lost its power. It's... it's the only logical explanation."Aiden heaved a sigh of relief, "Then we have hope."Despite the good news, he knew that they still had a long journey ahead. Gregg might be recovering, but he was far from being fully healed. They had spent weeks in distress over Gregg's deteriorating health, and all along, the key to his recovery was right in front of them. "I... we need to help him through this," he muttered, already accessing his stats.–––––––––––[Name: Aiden Lancaster][Gender: Male][Age: 22][Level: 2][Height: 180cm][Inventory: 2][Spending Quota: $150000][Merit points: 29219][Ability: Enhancer, Tracker]–––––––––––“Risa, I need you to do something for me," Aiden asked.“What is it?” she asked, her eyes fill
The heavy weight of the words was palpable. Risa took a moment to let them sink in. Her mind spun, thoughts jumbled up in a mix of shock, fear, and disbelief. But there was no time for any of that now. She took a shaky breath and nodded at Aiden.“Alright, let’s do it,” she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.As Aiden and Risa moved swiftly through the deserted streets, the chilling sight of Brad's lifeless body still echoed in their minds. His fall was a painful reminder of their vulnerability, a symbol of the brutality of the world they inhabited. They carried their grief along with them, their faces set in grim determination. The duo reached the makeshift sanctuary they had prepared for Gregg, hidden away in an abandoned building, its once grand structure now a skeleton of its former glory. The interior was dimly lit, only the faint glow of a few candles lighting their path. Gregg lay in a corner, his body frail and lifeless as though the very essence of life ha
"You should be thanking me for sparing your life, Brad," Aiden said, his voice icy, his eyes hard as he glared at Brad. His anger was a raging storm, threatening to consume everything in its path. "I could've easily handed you over to Draed, just like Liam."Brad's face paled at the mention of the dragon, a shiver of fear running down his spine. He was silent, unable to meet Aiden's gaze.He coughed, clutching his chest in pain. His pale face was a stark contrast to the crimson blood staining his shirt. "You… You think you're better than me, don't you?""And don't you dare try to defend yourself," Aiden continued, his voice low and dangerous. "You watched as Liam sent those monsters after Gregg, as they attacked and hurt him, Brad. You aided the Shadow King. What kind of a monster does that make you?"Aiden’s eyes were blazing now, his voice shaking with barely contained fury. The room fell silent, all eyes on him.Brad's expression faltered, his eyes brimming with guilt. He remembere