đź“– Chapter 40: The Voice That Stayed
The shadow didn't move.
Yet—
it felt closer.
Aren stood still.
For the first time since gaining power…
his body refused to move.
"…Chosen?"
His voice was low.
Uncertain.
The air pressed down on him.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
"Yes," the voice echoed.
"You are different."
Aren clenched his fists.
Energy gathered instinctively—
but something felt off.
Not fear.
Something else.
A memory.
A voice.
"…Focus," it whispered.
His eyes widened.
That voice—
it wasn't the shadow.
It was softer.
Familiar.
"…Why am I remembering this now…?"
The pressure increased.
The shadow expanded further.
"You do not belong to this system."
The rival stepped back again.
Far now.
Watching.
"…This is bad…" he muttered.
But Aren—
wasn't listening anymore.
His mind drifted.
Back.
A quiet room.
A voice explaining words.
Patient.
Calm.
"You're improving," the voice said.
Aren's fingers trembled.
"…Ma'am…"
The memory faded—
but the feeling remained.
Warm.
Steady.
"…I'm not weak."
The shadow pulsed.
"Oh?"
Energy rose again.
But this time—
it wasn't wild.
It was calm.
Focused.
"…I learned how to stand," Aren said.
The ground beneath him cracked again—
but didn't break.
"I learned how to keep going."
The shadow shifted.
"…From someone who believed in me."
Silence.
For the first time—
the presence hesitated.
"…Interesting."
Aren lifted his head.
His eyes—
clear.
"No system."
"No rules."
"…I decide what I am."
The blue screen shattered completely.
[ERROR: SYSTEM FAILURE]
The rival's eyes widened.
"…He broke it…"
The shadow moved—
faster now.
Closer.
"Then prove it."
The pressure returned—
stronger than before.
But Aren didn't step back.
"…I will."
Energy gathered—
not exploding—
but compressing.
Perfect control.
For the first time—
it felt like his.
Not borrowed.
Not given.
His.
BOOM!!!
He moved.
Straight into the darkness.
🔥 End of Chapter 40