............The next day, morning at the Rossi Family Estate,"Screech...!!""Click... Step...!"The sleek, luxurious car glided to a stop in front of the mansion gate. The driver, swift and efficient, opened the back door with a sense of urgency."Hmmm," a young man with a lean physique and average appearance emerged. The driver, showing deference, gestured respectfully.Dressed in stylish yet casual attire, the young man carried an air of arrogance and nonchalance, his demeanor screaming attention."Hahaha! Welcome... welcome, Young Master Blackthorn, please come this way!" Antonio, standing at the entrance, laughed heartily, extending a warm welcome."Fufu! Young Master Blackthorn looks handsome as always!" Sophia Rossi, standing beside her husband, flashed a flattering smile as she praised the guest."Hahaha! Thank you, Uncle and Aunt!" Darius Blackthorn maintained an amicable smile, expressing gratitude for the warm reception.'What are they playing at, inviting me so suddenly?
............"Hello, Elara! It's been a while!" Darius greeted her with a sense of familiarity, as if he were a very good friend of hers."Please don't address me by my first name; we aren't so close. Keep a respectful distance, Mr. Blackthorn!" Elara's response carried a chill, her words creating an invisible barrier. Her displeasure with his presence was evident, rejecting any attempt at a casual rapport."Dear, do you know Young Master Blackthorn? Are you acquainted with him?" Sophia asked, sensing the tension between them."Hahaha! Yes, Aunt, we sure are acquainted. Actually, I know her quite closely for a while now!" Darius laughed, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Sophia caught the subtle hint, and her smile widened."Oh, that's great. Elara, dear! You shouldn't show such a rude attitude toward the guest. If you both have some misunderstanding, I'm sure you can talk it out!" Sophia beamed as she chided her daughter for being rude to Darius just now while attempting to diffuse
............"Huh, did you say, Blackthorn?" Aarav's face contorted upon hearing the name; he was visibly angered and ready to hack the bastard into pieces.He was so consumed by anger that he didn't notice Elara, for the first time in a while, softly speaking to him and asking for a favor.Aarav stepped forward, his imposing figure standing tall in front of Darius Blackthorn, veins visible on his forehead, revealing the depth of anger and rage he felt seeing his archenemy before his eyes.He even imagined what he would do when he came face-to-face with Darius, contemplating how to make him experience pure pain, and how to make him beg for death.But today, Aarav could only seethe with rage as he looked at his archenemy, unable to take any action against him.With his in-laws and Elara present, he didn't want to scare them or become a criminal in their eyes.Most importantly, Aria, his sister, was there, and he didn't want to remind her of the trauma she had somehow forgotten about.
............"Bammm... Gaaahhhh!"As the cry of pain echoed, the guards at the door were momentarily stunned before quickly responding, rushing towards Darius to assess the situation.The crashing sound was revealed to be a gift pack that had hit Darius in a particularly sensitive area, causing him to wince in agony and crumple to the ground."Sir, are you alright? What happened to you?" The concerned guards approached Darius, their eyes wide with worry, asking if he needed any help."Hey... serves you right!" Aarav arrived in front of Darius with a look of contempt, his tone carrying a threatening edge."You... Ahh, Shit...!" Darius could only glare back, the intense pain evident in his expression.The guards, unaware of the context, tried to understand the situation and offer assistance."Is he hurt? What happened?" one of the guards inquired, kneeling beside Darius."He's fine. Just a little accident. No need for your help," Aarav retorted, dismissing the guards with a casual wave
............"Brother, who is this lady?" Aria asked innocently, her curious gaze fixed on the lady driving the car as she and Aarav occupied the back seat."She's a good friend, her name is Ms. Maya Vasudeva!" Aarav introduced his clueless sister to Maya, who glanced at them through the rear-view mirror with an amused smile playing on her face."Huh, where did I hear that name?" Aria muttered, her brows furrowing as she tried to recall."Ahh, don't tell me she is related to that Vasu Family!" Aria's eyes widened in shock as she made the connection."Yes, she is!" Aarav nodded, confirming her guess."Wow... how did you manage to get to know her..." Aria, now composed, asked with an impressed tone, leaning in to hear the story from her brother."Well, it was a pure accident. I treated her grandpa, and now they seem to show me favor!" Aarav shared, ruffling his sister's hair affectionately."Cheez... big brother, stop doing that! Anyway, are you two-timing, brother!" Aria playfully sto
............"Forget it, I'll do the introduction again. My name is... Oliver, Oliver Chambers. Does it ring a bell now?" He spoke with a defeated tone, looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to jog her memory."Oh, Chambers... right, now that you mentioned it, you do look like Dr. Chambers. How did I miss that? My apologies, Mr. Oliver, please come in!" Iris Karl finally recalled the surname Chambers, glancing again at his appearance.With a tall and athletic build, Oliver carried himself with quiet confidence. He resembled his father quite a bit, a fact not lost on Iris.Iris nodded and gestured for him to come into the office, offering an apology that seemed less sincere from her expression."Fine... fine, let's just enter," Oliver said, feeling a bit frustrated with dealing with her. He didn't want to argue anymore.So much for being the son of the head surgeon, a genius medical graduate. The encounter left Oliver a bit disheartened by the lack of recognition and appreciati
............"It's an emergency, a large number of injured patients just arrived. Some kind of fire broke out, and they are victims from there. Anyways, we need to hurry back!" Iris Karl replied, reporting what happened as she urged the director."I am sorry, Mr. Veridian and Ms. Vasudeva, but I have to attend to this emergency. We can discuss this matter later!" Victoria turned to Aarav and Maya, apologizing for the unexpected situation."No problem, Director. Actually, I was wondering if I am allowed to lend my hand, as I haven't officially joined yet!" Aarav suggested, offering his help."Really, that would be great... please help us. We need as many hands as possible!" Victoria beamed with a smile, hearing his suggestion, and accepted his offer with open arms."Then please follow us to the Emergency department." Iris Karl and the Director then led Aarav after leaving the office.Maya and Aria followed along, their curiosity piqued about how Aarav would handle the patients in this
............"If I remember correctly, then this is the legendary Healing Point Technique. It's a unique method used to treat injuries by tapping various healing points in the human body." Director Victoria muttered with a mix of shock and amazement evident on her face.She watched intently, marveling at the skill Aarav displayed."Healing Points... what...!" Head Nurse Lily remained perplexed, her eyes widening as she struggled to grasp the concept that Director Victoria was trying to explain."Never mind, you wouldn't understand!" Director Victoria shook her head, her hazel eyes reflecting frustration as she looked at the confused expression on Head Nurse Lily's face."Here, I'm done. You can check the wound and apply the bandage; he'll be fine now!" Aarav stopped his hands, a sense of relief in his eyes as he gestured that he had successfully treated the patient."Oh, that's great. Leave the rest to the nurses; they can handle it!" Director Victoria nodded, her sharp gaze observin
............"What... do you know them? Who are they?" Emilia asked in a serious tone, hearing that Aria was familiar with the attackers."Yes... these are the same people who attacked Elandor's domain a while back. And I am pretty sure you can guess whose forces these are," Aria said with a contemplative look before she gave a glance at Emilia, who seemed to understand what Aria was trying to point out."I know... looks like we can’t overlook it any longer. Lady Aria, may I request you to get reinforcements, as I am not sure about the extent of the destruction these forces can cause in our land?" Emilia nodded, her face turning even graver before she bowed towards Aria and made her request."Please, you don't have to request it from me. I will help you either way, as it's also a threat to our land. While I go and gather reinforcements, can you hold on for a while?" Aria asked, stopping Emilia from bowing to her as she smiled in determination and agreed immediately."Yes, we will hol
............"You will be even more amazed, Lady Emilia, if you meet Lord Veridian in person. He is an amazing Divine Heir of God Elandor, from how he conducts himself to the way he carries the light with him," Aria said with respect in her tone, showing how great an impression Aarav Veridian had left on her."Now I am even more eager to meet Lord Veridian. Let's hope he is as great as your words describe him to be," Emilia said with a slight smile, raising the corner of her mouth as she met Aria's eyes, who returned her gaze with a confident stare.After that, Aria and Emilia talked about their plans—how they were going to weather the upcoming storm.The discussion went on for hours before they decided to walk out of the temple."By the way, Lady Emilia, if you are busy and have something important to attend to, then you don't have to personally accompany me," Aria said as she walked alongside Emilia, who had decided to show her around their capital city, Phelia."No way, Lady Aria.
............“LORD HEIR!” The crowd cheered again, even louder this time. Aarav raised his hand, gesturing for silence.“Alright, alright,” he said with a smile. “I get your enthusiasm. But we don’t just need high spirits—we need unity. We need all of you to step forward together, to face this reality as one and bring about a bright future.”His voice was filled with fervor, carrying a weight that seemed to stir the very air around them. The believers of Elandor below shook with goosebumps, feeling the power in Aarav’s words, which were infused with a subtle trace of Divine Energy.Aarav had intended to boost their morale—and it worked far better than he had expected. The crowd stood straighter, their faith and the fire burning brighter than ever.Aarav looked at the crowd one last time before waving to them. He stepped down from the podium and returned to discuss their next steps with the Pope and Cardinals.He wasn’t the only one making preparations. As Aria had promised him, she a
............A sudden, overwhelming pressure exploded from the throne, sending him hurtling through the air and crashing into one of the tree’s thick branches outside the temple."Cough, cough...!!" The High Prophet spat blood but slowly made his way back into the temple. Kneeling once again, he showed no anger or frustration at being injured—only trembling fear in the face of the figure’s fury on the throne.Sylas’s eyes, glowing with an unnatural light, cut through the darkness as he sat motionless on the throne, his presence suffocating. The High Prophet of Pestilence didn’t dare lift his head. The air around them was thick with the stench of rot and corruption, heavy with a crushing pressure.“Elandor’s Heir... and the Heir of Astraia,” Sylas muttered, his voice filled with disdain. “How dare she interfere in my plans?”His words echoed, each one pressing down harder on the High Prophet. Silence followed, broken only by the distant howling wind outside the temple. The elder remai
............“Thank you,” Aria replied, her movements graceful as she took a seat across from him. Between them stood a small circular table, with a basket of snacks and fruit placed in the center, adding a touch of warmth to the room’s otherwise solemn atmosphere."Mr. Aarav, what are your plans regarding the cultists? I’m certain they won’t stop invading this continent and causing chaos," Aria asked, sitting back in a relaxed position, her eyes steady on him.Aarav sighed, his tone dim and unconfident. "What can I do alone? Even with the Crystal Healing Organization backing me, I’m not confident in facing those lunatic cultists." He spoke with a heaviness, aware of the overwhelming power he had witnessed in their last battle.He knew his own limitations. The devastation left by the cultists was a harsh reminder. Even Pope Aurelius, with all his influence, wouldn’t be enough to turn the tide. Aarav understood that unless he reached the fourth stage, the *Virtuoso of Vitality*, he wo
............"Ah... thank you! And how should I address you?" Aarav quickly snapped out of his daze, expressing his gratitude before asking with a respectful tone."Aria... Heir to the Goddess of Stars, Astraia. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Heir..." Aria smiled, her face radiant like a flower blooming under the soft glow of moonlight. The sight made Aarav's heart race uncontrollably."Aarav... it's just Aarav, Miss Aria. Please, don't be so formal; it makes me feel uncomfortable." He interrupted her before she could speak too respectfully again, gently requesting that she call him by his name instead.Aarav didn’t want to come off like some spoiled young master, or as if they were stuck in some ancient civilization that hadn’t learned how to speak casually about simple things."Oh... alright, Mr. Aarav." Aria seemed a little surprised but then covered her mouth and chuckled. "Fufu...You don’t seem to like the ancient etiquette, do you?"Her soft laughter filled the air, the warm
............"Enough of this!" One of the cultists yelled, raising his hand into the air. A dark aura began swirling around him, corrupting the very energy in the atmosphere. The others followed, channeling the same malevolent force, preparing for a combined attack.Aarav could feel the shift—their power was immense. He flinched, sensing the ominous energy closing in around him."You think that’ll be enough to get rid of me?" Aarav’s voice cut through the tension. "You’ve forgotten who you're dealing with."As the dark energy swirled and gathered, Aarav took a deep breath and raised his weapon high. The blade gleamed with a blinding light, and the ground trembled under his feet as his divine power flared to life."Let me show you what true divine power looks like," Aarav declared, his voice steady. With one decisive motion, he shattered the one-use divine tool he carried, instantly replenishing the lost energy within him.And then, with explosive force, he unleashed it."Craaack... B
............"Clanngg....Boomnn...!!""Swiish....Bammn...!!""Ahh... Cough... Cough...!" Aarav took another relentless hit, sliding back a few steps before losing his balance and dropping to one knee, blood dripping from his mouth."Hahaha... Elandor's Heir, already broken? I was hoping to play with you some more!" The bald cultist cackled, his words dripping with contempt.Aarav wiped the blood from his lips, smirking. "Feeling smug, huh? It’s just a scratch, nothing worth mentioning." He rose to his feet, his body glowing as the injury healed instantly, as though it never existed.The cultist's eyes widened, then his expression twisted with anger. "Damn it! I forgot Elandor is the God of Healing and Medicine!" Realizing his mistake, fury replaced his shock, and he lunged at Aarav in a blind rage, furious at being humiliated.Aarav's smile turned cold. "Heh, let me show you what else I can do," he muttered under his breath."Swishhh... Whoosh...!!"The cultist attacked wildly, but A
............In the middle of the cultist Camp,The clash of metal and the roar of power filled the air. "Whoosh... Boom!" "Swiish... Swiish... Claanng! Claanng!" Two figures were locked in a high-speed battle, while four others stood on the sidelines, amusement clear on their faces.“Is this all you’ve got, Heir of Elandor?” The bald man, wearing a black robe with dark tattoos on his head, sneered sarcastically at Aarav Veridian, who met his gaze with a cold, steely stare.“Are you really that eager to meet your end?” Aarav shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm."Swiish... Bannng...!!"Aarav swiftly blocked the cultist’s strike aimed at his throat and, in one smooth motion, delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to the man’s ribs. The bald cultist’s eyes widened in pain as he stumbled backward, trying to regain his balance.“Argh... you bastard!” the cultist cursed, groaning in pain as he stood up, clutching his side where Aarav’s kick had landed. His eyes burned with fury.“