Read Novel Full Chapter 424: PHASE TWO
Chapter 424: PHASE TWO
[What do you wish to know?]
the system prompted, its voice echoing in his mind like a calm echo in an empty void, neutral yet insistent.
"Everything," Aaron replied mentally, his thoughts sharp and demanding.
"The reason you prevented me from
devouring the fear of others. The reason you’re allowing me now. Why can’t I devour the fear of a group of people? And lastly, what’s so important about these mystic organs?" He bombarded the system with questions, his internal voice laced with frustration and curiosity.
[First off, preventing you from devouring fear was for your own good,] the system explained, its tone measured and deliberate.
[Devouring fear doesn’t only heal your soul and increase your strength, but it also helps to strengthen your night bloodline.]
Aaron leaned back against the headboard, the soft fabric of the sheets cool against his skin.
He closed his eyes, visualizing the dark tendrils of fear he’d absorbed earlier, how they’d woven into his essence like threads repairing a torn tapestry.
[But there’s the risk of losing yourself and becoming the abomination just like the first night father,] the system continued, its words dropping like stones into still water, rippling through his thoughts.
Aaron’s eyes snapped open, brows furrowing in confusion.
"The first? I thought my predecessor was the first Night father," he inquired mentally, his pulse quickening slightly.
The room’s shadows seemed to deepen, responding to his unease, creeping along the floor like silent watchers.
[First Night father? He wasn’t even a proper Night father. There’s a reason he is dead right now. It will take a lot to kill a Night father.]
The revelation hung heavy, stirring a whirlwind of questions in Aaron’s mind, ancient lineages, forgotten horrors, the true depth of his bloodline’s legacy.
He rubbed his temples, the faint ache of overexertion from the night’s devouring lingering like a dull echo.
"Can you please just explain once and for all?" Aaron asked, a frown appearing on his face.
Irritation bubbled up, hot and insistent, his fingers clenching into fists against the sheets.
The system’s piecemeal disclosures felt like teasing crumbs when he craved the full feast of knowledge.
[I can’t reveal too much. But just be aware that the first Night father was corrupted from devouring too many fears until he became a fear monger. Trapped by the rest of the Origin parents.]
Aaron exhaled slowly, the breath steadying him as he absorbed the gravity of it.
[I was trying to prevent such a situation from affecting you, but that’s the least of our worries. Recovering your strength should be the major task we should worry about.]
"Then why can’t I absorb the fear of some certain people?" Aaron asked, realizing the summarized version was the only one he was going to get from his system.
[Consider it a filtration form to reduce the damage and risk you incur on yourself. The fear of those you can’t control are actually people with good karma. It prevents you from incurring too many karma by sparing their life.]
"I see," Aaron replied, finding the entire story to be mind-boggling, with great difficulty to wrap his mind around.
"Let’s hope the risk is worth it," Aaron muttered under his breath, deciding to trust his system’s actions once more.
The words escaped his lips in a quiet whisper, the room absorbing them into its silence.
He felt the subtle mending in his soul, a warm, reassuring pulse that promised strength amid the uncertainty, and resolved to press forward, the night’s conquests fueling his determination.
----
The second day of the event was organized swiftly, with everything set in order in the twinkle of an eye.
Dawn broke over Aiz with a crisp clarity, the sun’s rays filtering through the domed arena, casting golden hues across the assembled platforms and spectator stands.
Crews bustled like well-oiled machines, holographic barriers shimmering into place, refreshment stations stocked with energy-infused drinks that carried the faint, citrusy scent of revitalizing elixirs, and medical teams on standby with glowing scanners humming softly.
The air buzzed with anticipation, the low murmur of crowds building like a gathering storm, scents of fresh-baked provisions wafting from vendor stalls to mingle with the metallic tang of activated tech.
With more news of losing galactic clusters spreading like wildfire through comm channels, whispers of void-scarred voids where stars once shone, the event became an extremely needed one to deal with the Celestial Devourer.
Tension rippled through the participants and observers alike, faces etched with determination, the weight of cosmic threats pressing down like an invisible hand.
Aaron sensed it in the air, a collective resolve sharpened by fear, the arena’s energy crackling with urgency.
Why didn’t the Sovereigns take care of it? The answer was simple: it was the very thing that had allowed Dracula to grow undisturbed until he became the greatest in the universe.
They were lazy and arrogant, and dealing with an enemy that wasn’t a Sovereign was not an option for them.
Aaron mused on this as he stood among the qualifiers, the irony curling a faint smile on his lips, the mighty too complacent to stir, leaving the burden to lesser forces.
Aaron once more was standing amongst the qualifiers, alone with his thoughts.
The crowd’s eyes bore into him, a sea of curious gazes from the stands, but he remained unfazed.
"The first phase tested your survivability skills and how well you can survive," Nick addressed the group, his voice amplified and resonant from the flying podium.
He hovered above them, uniform impeccable under the morning light, a holographic display flickering beside him with stats from the previous day.
"This phase will do more than that. It will deliberately test your abilities, as well as your tracking skills, which will be paramount for the hunt against the Celestial Devourer."
The words stirred the qualifiers, shoulders straightening, eyes sharpening with renewed focus.
Aaron crossed his arms, shadows playing subtly at his feet, unnoticed amid the tension.
"Let the second phase begin!" Nick declared, beginning the second phase with a dramatic flourish of his hand.