Noah remained seated on the cold stone ground of the massive cave, his heart beating faster than before. Excitement and uncertainty clashed within him, refusing to settle. The idea of controlling Ether thrilled him, yet past failures whispered quietly, planting a subtle anxiety deep inside his chest.
He inhaled slowly, then pushed himself up.
"…Let's do it."
His hands trembled slightly as he steadied his breathing. Without wasting time, he focused inward, recalling the exact sensation he had felt earlier in the forest. His awareness expanded outward, stretching to its limits—until he sensed it again.
The flowing energy.
Ether.
Countless glowing particles drifted through the air like a river. This time, he could perceive their colors clearly—shimmering currents moving endlessly. It felt alive, almost conscious, yet bound by an invisible order he couldn't fully grasp.
"…So this is Ether."
Noah focused and extended his Intent toward the particles, attempting to pull them closer. For a brief moment, they reacted—but immediately scattered in all directions, emptying the space before him completely.
"…Tch… didn't work."
He tried again, increasing the intensity of his Intent. This time it was sharper, more forceful, almost commanding. But the result worsened—the particles dispersed even further, as if rejecting his control entirely.
His brows furrowed.
"…Still wrong."
A third attempt followed, this time with minimal Intent—gentle, controlled, almost passive. Yet once again, the particles ignored him completely, drifting away without response.
Three failures.
Back to back.
Noah stopped.
Instead of forcing another attempt, he calmed himself and began thinking deeply, letting his breathing stabilize as his thoughts sharpened.
"What am I missing…?"
He reviewed everything within his control.
Intent.
Aura.
And…
Will.
"…Let's try Aura."
He released it slowly.
A faint pressure spread from his body, thickening into a dense field around him. The air felt heavier as his Aura expanded outward, reaching toward the Ether particles, wrapping the space like an invisible layer.
Sweat formed on his face as he pushed further.
The Aura made contact—
And passed through.
Completely.
Noah froze slightly.
"…It phased through them?"
There was no resistance, no reaction, nothing at all. It was as if Ether existed on a different layer entirely, untouched by his Aura.
Exhaustion hit him instantly.
Maintaining Aura drained him rapidly, forcing him to drop back down, breathing heavily as his chest rose and fell unevenly.
"…Damn… this takes too much…"
He rested briefly, his senses spreading across the cave again. Massive claw marks lined the walls—deep, ancient, and terrifying. Even without fully analyzing them, he understood one thing clearly.
Something monstrous had lived here.
After a few minutes, he stood again.
This time—
His expression changed.
"…Will."
He recalled the moment he destroyed the System.
That overwhelming force.
That uncontrollable desire.
That refusal to be suppressed.
He found it.
Deep within.
Raw.
Unrefined.
Absolute.
Noah didn't hesitate.
He directed his Will outward—not forcing violently, but imposing its existence upon the Ether itself.
And then—
They reacted.
The particles trembled.
Shook violently.
Then—
Slowly began gathering.
A small cluster formed in front of him, unstable yet real. Noah's breathing hitched slightly as he watched it take shape within his perception, every detail etched into his mind.
"…It's working…"
But suddenly—
The control broke.
His Will slipped.
The cluster scattered once again.
Silence followed.
Then—
A smile appeared.
"…So this is the key."
He panted heavily, his mind strained, yet something within him felt clearer than ever before.
"…Not Intent… not Aura…"
"…Will."
A low laugh escaped him.
"Hah… haha…"
His laughter echoed through the cave, raw and unfiltered. What he didn't realize was how absurd his achievement truly was.
Controlling Ether this quickly—
Was not talent.
It was monstrous.
Even the original prince of this body had tried countless times and failed. Despite royal teachings and guidance, he had never managed to grasp Ether, leading to ridicule and eventual exile.
But Noah—
Had found the answer in minutes.
His physique accelerated his recovery rapidly. Fatigue faded unnaturally fast, his body adapting with each strain, each attempt refining him further.
"…Again."
Meanwhile—
Velzahar walked through the Elven territory, his horns radiating a restrained yet overwhelming presence. Ancient trees pierced the sky, their roots forming entire cities. His gaze softened slightly as memories surfaced, long buried within time.
"…I wonder if she is alive…"
Without effort, he had already sensed her presence the moment he entered this land.
"…I'm here."
Before him stood a massive structure.
Not a house—
A palace.
The Royal Palace of the Elves stretched across kilometers, carved seamlessly into the World Tree. Ancient symbols decorated its surface, while the massive double doors bore the emblem of life itself.
As Velzahar approached—
The doors opened.
A figure emerged.
Graceful.
Radiant.
Royal.
Her long gown flowed to the ground, her crown gleaming faintly. Her elongated ears marked her lineage, but her beauty felt almost divine. The moment her eyes met his—
They trembled.
"…V-Velzahar?"
Her voice shook.
Disbelief.
Shock.
Emotion.
Velzahar smiled slightly.
"How have you been… my silly little sister?"
That was enough.
She broke.
Closing the distance instantly, she embraced him tightly, her body trembling as tears fell freely, her composure shattering completely.
"W-Where did you go… brother…?"
Velzahar gently placed his hand on her back, calming her.
"…Shouldn't you let me inside first?"
Even after centuries—
Some bonds never fade.
Far away—
In the continent of Norox—
King Velzar had secluded himself within his chamber, abandoning his usual routine. This was not unusual, yet today felt different—quieter, heavier, as if something unseen lingered behind his actions.
He sat on his lavish chair, slowly swirling a glass of wine in his hand. The liquid reflected dim light as his gaze shifted toward the door.
"You're here… Melly."
The space before the door tore open.
Not the door—
Reality itself.
From within the distortion, a seductive female figure emerged. Her gown revealed the curves of her body boldly, cuts along her waist and chest exposing smooth skin. Two crimson horns curled from her forehead, her beauty dangerously intoxicating.
A succubus.
A demon.
Velzar watched her calmly, though his gaze lingered.
Melly stepped forward without hesitation, her movements slow and deliberate. She climbed onto his lap, one leg crossing over the other, her body pressing lightly against his.
Her lips moved closer.
"You should stop now, Melly," Velzar said calmly, raising his hand between them.
"I have an important report for the Demon King's General."
Melly paused, her lips inches away from his.
"Hmph… fine," she muttered softly, irritation mixing with curiosity. "What is it?"
Velzar smirked faintly and began explaining everything—from Velzahar's awakening to his sudden disappearance.
Then—
He added one crucial detail.
"…Velzahar might be weak right now."
Melly's expression changed.
A slow smile spread across her lips.
Then—
A grin.
"Fufu~… You've done well, my future hubby," she whispered seductively. "I'm sure you'll be rewarded generously. Our General has been quite… busy lately."
She leaned closer again.
But once more—
Velzar stopped her.
"Tch…"
Melly clicked her tongue in annoyance before stepping down from his lap. Without another word, space tore open once more behind her.
She stepped into it—
But not before swaying her hips slightly, leaving behind a lingering, deliberate temptation.
Then—
She vanished.