Chapter 287: Shift in presence

Even after several minutes, even as the dust continued to settle and dissipate, hardly any movements could be heard or seen from either end. 

Watching from the unknown space the shadowy figure waves his hand in front of the floating screen. At the next moment, the image changed, showing a pile of rubble. The motionless shape of Aiden's dark green limbs could be seen. Although it looked like it, the thin figure was certain that the battle was far from over, and that the boy is not out of it yet.

He flashed his dark shadowy tendril-covered fingers again as the screen changed once again, showing the body of his servant, Murus. He growled in frustration upon seeing the state he was in. His lips slowly parted, he spoke with an annoyed tone.

"Is this what you came to be?! Murus, you really disappoint me. You wanted to test the boy, yet you are defeated within 3 blows? If this is true, don't bother returning, I have no need of such a disgrace." 

He did not wait for a response, he closed the mental connection they shared and returned the screen to the battlefield again. He was certain that what was to follow would reaffirm his beliefs that the boy would be truly the key to achieving his goals…

"Don't disappoint me, boy. You should be the Inheritor." He murmured as his eyes returned to the corner of the image, focused on a particular pile of slightly shaking rubble.

---

As the dust continued to settle, finally some change can be witnessed from both sides. Murus, after hearing his Master's degrading words, managed to free himself from his makeshift grave, and slowly stood up. The silvery scythe, the terrifying and equally as a majestic weapon in his hand were no longer glowing with a silvery shine, it was now dull, looking a simple adorned and lavishly decorated weapon only. There was no aura permeating it, there was no magical presence inside it, it all died down.

Murus looked at his trusted companion with a heavy heart and sighed.

'You served me well for all these years… I never have expected you would die in the hands of such a mysterious opponent… How powerful was he to be able to snuff the life out of you?' He lamented, looking at the blade.

'Anyway… I can't feel his presence at all. Did he truly perish? No… That's impossible, Master would have killed me then…' His head swayed, looking towards the opposite side of the room.

Suddenly, his body began to uncontrollably shake, his heart began to palpitate. Before he realized it, his entire self, began to shake in trepidation. 

"What the… Why am I-" Before he could finish, suddenly he felt the presence of something truly monstrous emerge from under the pile of rubble where his opponent, Aiden laid motionlessly.

The debris began to shake and explode with power as a dark red, scarlet ray shot out from under. 

Amidst the remains, a low-toned growl could be heard, as suddenly a shadow shot out. 

In the next moment, the beaten, and battered body of Aiden could be seen. He was covered in blood and bruises, his face was akin to a mad, crazed predator. The previously golden hue that radiated from his eyes was now painted in a deep shade of red. His entire right arm was torn off, missing! His blood continued to slowly drip from his now-empty socket. Despite that, the power that radiated from his body was much more frightening.

His face looked akin to a vicious, feral, bloodthirsty animal, his eyes slowly locked on to Murus's figure.

Murus looked at the monstrous creature in front of him, his expression changed, returning to the cold, stern outlook. He grabbed the stave of his weapon with both hands, slowly raising it in front of his body, his eyes focused on Aiden's fully crimson-shaded eyes.

'Just what is happening? He shouldn't be this strong after suffering such a blow.' He couldn't understand what was happening. So far, from what he had seen from the boy, through his master's screen or personally the boy was strong and capable, but not to such an extent to be a true threat to his life. Not to mention, he had a calm deposition, he wasn't so feral.

'Regardless, I have to calm him down…'

Steeling his resolve, and with clear determination, he swiped with his scythe just at the same time as Aiden's figure vanished from his sight once again.

---

A short while before…

Sharp, searing pain, and the constantly blinking red text of a critical notification woke Aiden up. As soon as he did, he felt his nervous system flare-up and send jolts of electricity to his brain. The pain was almost unbearable, he had to focus really hard not to cry out. With great difficulty, he turned to look at the source only to be shocked that his entire right arm was torn off, only a pool of his own blood remained at its place.

The notification from his system continued to blink and rang, forcing Aiden to shift his attention and take a look at it.

[Warning: Critical Damage received, the condition has dropped to 50%!]

[Warning: Immediate absorption of Life Essence required to restore body state!]

Reading through the texts, Aiden felt rage boiling deep inside him. He was actually defeated in such a manner! One blow, it only required one decisive blow to cripple him!

No. This is not the end. This is not how this fight ends!

Anger quickly overcame his already faltering mind. The golden radiance in his eyes started to change, a red gradient started to overshadow it. At the same time, deep inside his Soul Space, the crystal-like transparent prison walls that held something locked away cracked more. The surface that was already covered with spiderweb trails grew wider. With every thump of the entity, the power made from the other side, Aiden's entire inner world trembled. Every thump was akin to the beating of a battle drum, causing his blood to boil, his body to shake under the power from whatever that was locked away.

"This is not good…" the white glowing guardian spoke in her familiar, mature feminine voice. She was still far from being back to her previous state, but she realized she was out of time. She had to act, and while she wanted to reach out to Aiden, she had to focus on keeping the barrier intact.

A white ray shot out from her, engulfing the crystalline prison. Under her majestic energy, the cracks stopped increasing. She could maintain the barrier, but her power was far from healing it. She wasn't enough, she needed outside assistance. Although she knew it wasn't fair, she couldn't see any other way out of this situation. Focusing herself, she merged her mind with the system once more…

At the next moment, another notification appeared in front of Aiden shocking him at first, however, what he saw quickly turned that into even more fuel to his already boiling anger causing his eyes to complete lose to the dark scarlet void, his mind swallowed up by the cloud of his overpowering rage. 

A new entity, a new bloodthirsty entity emerged, shifting the dominant role and pushing the previous true Aiden to the backseat. This entity was ferocious and wanted nothing more than the blood of the enemy in front of him.

'Sit back kid, let me take over for a bit.' It spoke in a much deeper tone, reminiscent of a certain mutated worgen back in the woods…

Reading the text once again, he simply snorted, and pushed it away, clearing it from his vision.

'Critical Quest huh? Whatever, I already wanted to kill the dude, so I guess it doesn't matter that much, but once the kid realizes it is you behind all the trouble, he will not be as lenient as I am…' He snickered inwardly, his words penetrating deep into the darkness of his Soul Space…

With renewed, rage-fuelled energy, Aiden's figure flew out of the rubble, landing a few feet away from the bulky giant.

'Big hunk of meat, let's see how you taste!' He grinned as his figure flashed forward, his claws aimed at the ready to swipe the opponent to pieces…

As he flew towards the opponent, he grinned, reminding himself of the text that caused Aiden's current presence to recede to the back of his own mind, and allow him to be set free...

[New Critical Quest: Absorb to survive!

Difficulty: A

Time remaining: 00 Hours 29 minutes 58 seconds

Objective: Absorb Murus to find your answers

Optional: -

Rewards: ???

Failure condition: -Failure to absorb in the allotted time limit.

Penalty: Death, Soul returned to the Wheel of Life and Death, Banished from the current world forever]

---

Back in the dark room in the unknown space, the dark, shadowy figure was shocked as he saw Aiden's new presence. Even though he was watching from through a floating window-like image, he was much keener in picking up the minute of details, changes in the boy's posture. 

His previously calm, and happy demeanor changed, shifting into seriousness as he immediately vanished from the room… Only the still floating image remained...