............"Hey, don't lump me with those greedy fools from the Starcrest Family. It's just me here, serving my Lord!" Astrid's voice dripped with disdain as she spoke about her family, her eyes locked onto Phia's, challenging her silently."Heh, pretty confident there, Astrid Starcrest. But do you really think you can compete with me? Hmph!" Phia's smirk grew wider as she retorted, her eyes gleaming in response to Astrid's challenge.'But this is good,' Phia thought to herself, her mind racing with possibilities.'It seems Astrid is making her move independently, not taking orders from her family,' she concluded, maintaining her condescending smile as she observed Astrid's changing expression."We'll see. Anyway, I didn't call you here to argue, but to warn you!" Astrid's expression turned serious as she sat up straight.Astrid pulled out an object that looked like a small umbrella, resembling a toy."What... why are you setting up a barrier?" Phia's curiosity peaked as she recogn
............"I wanted to warn you about the heir of the Everglen Family, who, according to my sources, should be arriving tomorrow. So, expect chaos in the city!" Astrid finally revealed, her posture relaxing as she slouched down and began to sip her drink."Before I go, can you tell me why you're being so cooperative in sharing all this info?" Phia asked, her eyes narrowing with curiosity and suspicion."Oh, just trying to show some goodwill by sharing what I know," Astrid replied with a grin, swirling her drink."Do you think I'll let you off easy just because of this?" Phia rolled her eyes, not buying Astrid's act, before she stormed off, leaving her alone."Fufufu!" Astrid couldn't help but chuckle at Phia's reaction as she savored her drink before eventually leaving the pub herself.Meanwhile, after Phia passed on the information to her family, the Lumara Family wasted no time in making their move.Even if the information wasn't entirely reliable, they knew there was a possibil
............As the new morning dawned in Grace Neighborhood, the first light of the day peeked through the curtains, accompanied by the melodic chirping of birds.Their cheerful songs echoed through the quiet streets, gradually awakening the sleeping residents.Amidst the tranquil scene, a sudden outburst shattered the peaceful ambiance."Shut your damn bird, you old asshole!" a man's voice boomed across the neighborhood, cutting through the morning calm.In response, the elderly neighbor, unfazed by the disturbance, fired back with equal fervor. "Yeah, yeah, you fucking dork, useless bum!"Such exchanges had become a daily occurrence in the neighborhood, and the other residents had grown accustomed to the bickering that marked the start of each morning.Amidst the usual morning commotion, another household seemed to buzz with an unusual liveliness, catching the attention of their neighbors.It was the Veridian house, known for its quietness, now alive with activity."Hey, looks li
............"Thank... thank you for helping me, and I am deeply sorry about everything," Elara composed herself, quickly changing her tone and expression as she expressed her gratitude to Aarav and apologized for the chaos she had caused in their home."Hmmn..!"Aarav simply nodded at Elara, his expression heavy with understanding as he observed her deep in thought. She sat with her head bowed, strands of her tousled hair falling messily around her face, a reflection of the chaos within her mind.The room was bathed in a soft morning light, casting gentle shadows across the furniture. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, mingling with the faint scent of lavender from a nearby destroyed vase of flowers.Elara's emotions churned inside her, her thoughts weighed down by the weight of her situation. She sat in silence, her eyes focused on a spot on the floor, lost in her own turmoil.Birds chirped merrily outside the window, their cheerful songs a stark contrast to
............"Alright, let's get going! I don't want to be late," Aarav shouted as he emerged from his house, dressed in his work clothes."Coming, my lord! Wait for me!" Astrid came running shortly after, her graceful smile lighting up her face.The Aurora Imperium roared to life as Astrid took the wheel."Vroom...Vroom!" "Take care, Aria. Don't trouble Phia too much. And Phia, can I leave her in your hands? Now that everything seems fine with her, I want you to look for a college where she can finally start her education after a long break," Aarav turned to Aria, making sure she understood not to cause trouble for Phia.He also discussed his plans with Phia, wanting her to assist his sister in a particular matter."Yes, leave it to me. I'll take good care of Young Miss!" Phia replied cheerfully.Aarav nodded before taking a seat beside Astrid in the front, and she sped away.Earlier, after Elara left their house, both Astrid and Phia had shown up. Aarav was ready to leave for Astr
............"Well... shit... that was definitely not normal," Aarav muttered to himself, shaking his head before refocusing on treating the second patient, the memory of the eerie sound lingering in his mind."Just like earlier, I instructed, make another concoction. No, scratch that, bring a larger container and concoct a larger quantity as we need it for others too," Aarav turned to the earlier Nurses who had prepared the medicine, realizing they would need more for the number of patients awaiting treatment.Three hours later,Treating two hundred or so patients took a toll on his energy and time. After treating the last patient, he retired directly to his office space, feeling drained yet accomplished."Here, my lord," Astrid said, back to her usual self after three hours, handing him a glass of water, her hands steady despite the exhaustion evident in her eyes."Thanks," Aarav replied gratefully, taking a sip of the warm water before relaxing into his chair, with Astrid standin
............"It belongs to...."Before Astrid could finish speaking, Aarav's phone interrupted them with its insistent ringing."Ring... Ring...!""Who is calling me?" Aarav glanced at his phone with an annoyed expression, his brows furrowing in irritation at the interruption, but his annoyance softened when he saw who was calling, a flicker of concern replacing his initial irritation."Yes, Bella. What do you need?" Aarav answered the call gently, his voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern, as he tried to discern the reason behind her unexpected call."Um, I'm sorry for disturbing you, but... but, can you help me..." Bella's voice came through weakly, her tone quivering with uncertainty, like a fragile thread on the verge of snapping."What happened? Is there a problem? Tell me where you are..." Aarav's concern grew as he sensed something was amiss in her shaky voice, his mind already racing through the possibilities of what could be troubling her. Bella's uncharacte
............"So, Bella Rossi, what have you thought about our previous proposal? Think carefully before you answer!" Lorei's expression also turned serious as she awaited Bella's response, her gaze piercing."What proposal? I'm sorry, but I don't think we have anything to discuss," Bella sharply said, her fists clenched under the table with anger, her knuckles turning white.Ever since her family company, Rossi Energy Solutions, went bankrupt, cutting off her company's main investment and leading other investors to withdraw, Bella had been left with nothing. Despite having some profits from previous products, they barely covered production costs, office rent, and staff salaries, leaving her with zero balance.These two snakes sitting across from Bella saw an opportunity to trap her in their schemes, but she was wise to their nature and didn't fall for it.Now they were here again, and Bella knew she couldn't simply make them leave peacefully like last time, as they had discovered h
............"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.“