Aster didn't delay and reached for the Null Stone that was stored in his Fanny pack. He almost forgot about it while spending time with Vanessa, but thankfully, the pack was thrown on top of the bed, preventing the seal from breaking prematurely.
"..."
He gripped the transparent stone, now filled with cracks and seemed like it would break soon, and recalled what he read from the text file earlier. A confident smile appeared on his lips as he put strength on his fingers, smashing the stone into fine powder.
*WHOOSH!*
As soon as he did, the mana in the room started to rampage. Marks of frost appeared on the walls, while embers started to eat up the furniture around. If not for the protective spell cast on the items, then this event would incur collateral damage over his entire fortune!
Of course, Aster realized what was going on, and grinned.
"What? Are you angry that you were sealed right before taking over my body?" he taunted. "Then why don't you try taking over me now?"
As if responding to his provocation, the mark over his right hand started to glow a mix of red and blue. Mana started to rampage even more violently, as the entire room got covered in half-frost-half-ember. The barriers protecting the place were reaching their limits, as the security personnel of the auction house were rushing to Aster's room.
"...!"
But the next instant, his consciousness left his body and entered deeper... a familiar place that he visited once before. The same altar where he was dragged towards during the ambush of the Anti-Human Movement.
Aster had no idea what it was before, but now that he had read the message from his mother, he was different.
"The Ritual Space looks the same as before, huh?" He whispered arrogantly. "This means your strength remains the same as it was previously, right?"
"Cocky bastard! If not for the Null Stone, I would've gotten control already! Now, give me your body!????"
Again, voices started reaching his ears from all directions, making it hard to figure out the location of the source. The voice, filled with fierce ambition, soon turned confused and scared.
"H-Huh? What's going on? Why can't I take control?!????"
"Human... Aster, you increased your level by so much in just a few days?❄"
The other one quickly figured out the reason. Aster smiled, staring right at the altar without pointing his gaze away, and explained. "I did. I even got a skill that boosts my stats, so right now, I should have enough WIS to prevent your takeover."
Pyra flew up, floating about five meters in the air, with balls of flame on both palms. The scenery around her looked distorted as the heat was causing a mirage to form.
"Take this, you cocky bastard!????"
Without any warning, she threw the two fireballs toward Aster. He saw this and was amazed at the heat coming from them, enough to sear the skin of his spirit form.
"Pyra, as per the ancient contract, heed my command and stand down!"
"...!????"
But the next moment, after Aster spoke, the fireball dissipated like an illusion.
*BAM!*
And at the same time, the fire spirit Pyra slammed toward the ground, as if she forgot how to fly suddenly. Her face warped in pain and disbelief as she tried to push herself off the ground.
Just as she tried to open her mouth and ask, she realized that she lost even the ability to speak!
"Master Aster Mystral, son of Roger and Mary Mistral," the ice spirit, Crysta, stood before Pyra as if covering for her. "Please show us your magnanimity and forgive my foolish sister.❄"
She walked forward. Her movements were calculated, precise, and graceful, making one unable to move their gaze away from her figure.
"In exchange, we would swear our unfaltering loyalty to you.❄"
"..."
Aster watched her, before sighing.
"Crysta, as per the ancient contract, heed my command and stand down."
"...!❄"
Of course, Aster didn't lower his guard just from listening to her promise. With his words, the ice spirit, Crysta, fell to her knees and bowed her head.
"Whether I forgive her or not is up to me, and me alone," Aster declared with a scoff.