Arios descended through the portal, and it was pulling him with tremendous force. He thought to himself, I feel regret about this, because my body is not like theirs.
After that, his body began bending and twisting between dimensions until he lost consciousness.
After some time, he opened his eyes and found himself lying on a grassy mountain at sunset. After getting up, he said, "How strange... Where am I?"
He looked around and said, "This is the Material Dimension. I think I really have returned to this dimension. That is good. Unfortunately, I can no longer travel through the higher dimensions, and I can no longer roam freely outside this world. What a shame. Before I separated from that bastard, I wanted to destroy and erase those beings from existence completely. But unfortunately, my plan failed.
However, I was truly shocked when Ernas separated Eldi Prime from me. I am certain he did not intend to do that at all. It seems that idiot was actually a victim of Nora's schemes. The idea of separating Eldi Prime from me never crossed my mind. I only considered it as a possibility in case I was betrayed.
And those versions we killed were not my versions at all. They all belonged to Ernas. Why they wanted to do that, I do not know, but it no longer matters to me.
I am free, and they will not be able to reach me. This world is completely outside their control. They will not know anything about me from now on.
I am free. Hahahahaha! Now I can live however I want, without restrictions.
Ah... How wonderful it is to be your own master."
Suddenly, the System appeared before Arios, and the words Self-Lock: Deactivated appeared on it.
Arios was surprised and said, "Has this thing returned?"
Arios looked at the System and said, "You abandoned me, you bastard, and now you return?"
After that, words appeared on the window:
The user has been cleansed of the foreign entity. The original state has been restored.
Arios said, "What are you talking about? Do you mean you disappeared so that Eldi Prime could not discover your existence?"
Arios fell silent and thought to himself, So the System has absolutely nothing to do with Eldi Prime. Then where did it come from?
Suddenly, Arios's status appeared.
Arios said, "How strange... My level never increased throughout all those years. I relied on Eldi Prime's power and never used my own power. That prevented me from developing.
When I was Eldi Prime, my power level was practically limitless, even though I only possessed half of that power at the time. That is why I never cared about increasing my physical power, and eventually I forgot about it.
I lived for a very long time in the past as an absolute being, and I only lived as a mortal for a short period. That is why I could never accept this matter back then.
But now, I am living the way I want, without restrictions. No one can dominate me or control me. I am the king of myself and the master of my own existence."
Arios smiled and flew away.
He said, "I have to train during a short period. My current power is 600 septendecillion, and at maximum potential in my normal state, it reaches 6 octillion. My power numbers need to increase further.
I have witnessed the power of Clarice and Nahira. They were far stronger than this. If it were not for Eldi Prime's power back then, I would have actually died from that attack I received that day.
I am Arios, one of the five strongest beings. How could I nearly die from a single attack by someone like Clarice? I will not allow that to happen again."
Arios flew far into space. No one knew where he had gone or what he intended to do after becoming stronger and stronger.
Several more months passed.
One day, on Arios's planet, Izola was preparing food for little Izak, who was now three years old.
When Izola finished cooking, she took a plate to feed the child, but she could not find him.
She began searching throughout the house, but she could not find him anywhere.
She then called for Zaykors, who appeared before her and knelt on the ground.
She asked him, "Have you seen Izzy, Zaykors?"
He looked at her and said, "My lady, he is fine. He is currently with us in our private dimension, playing with the soldiers."
Izola said, "Didn't I tell you not to leave this place?"
Zaykors said, "Forgive me, my lady. But the young master wanted to enter the dimension, so we brought him with us. I hope you will accept my apology."
Izola said, "Take me to him."
Zaykors said, "As you command, my lady."
He opened a portal for her, and she entered it.
She arrived in a completely empty land. There was nothing there except barren ground, along with palaces and settlements belonging to the soldiers.
Izola walked with Zaykors and said, "So this is where you live? This place is frightening."
He said, "Forgive us, my lady, but this is the best environment for us to grow stronger, just as Lord Arios ordered."
Izola said, "Speaking of that, is there any news about Arios? He has been gone for eight months."
Zaykors said, "No, my lady. Lord Arios has neither summoned us nor taken any soldier with him. No one knows when he will return."
The two continued walking until they reached a deep hole.
They entered it. Inside, the place looked like an enormous ant colony.
Zaykors illuminated the path, and they continued walking.
Suddenly, while they were walking, a powerful light appeared inside the tunnels and passed in front of them.
Izola saw her son Izak flying past her in the blink of an eye.
Izola was shocked by what she saw.
She shouted, "Izak! How did you do that?!"
Zaykors said, "Actually, the young master possesses a talent. Despite his age, we discovered that he is capable of flying."
Izola looked at him angrily and said, "Catch him! Quickly!"
Zaykors immediately flew after Izak and grabbed him, stopping him.
Izak laughed.
Zaykors then brought him back to his mother.
Izola grabbed him and said, "How are you doing that, you mischievous little one?"
She looked at Zaykors and said, "Do not attempt to teach my son anything like this ever again."
Zaykors bowed and said, "Forgive us, my lady. We thought this would be best for him. Lord Arios wishes for his son to become as strong as he is, and we thought that—"
Izola interrupted him.
"You thought what? My son will not become a fighter or a bloodshedder. He will live a normal life, far away from all these problems. Do not do this again. Now, take me home."
Zaykors said, "As you command, my lady."
He opened a portal, and Izola left through it.
She said angrily, "When Arios returns, he will hold you accountable. I promise you that."
Zaykors said nothing.
Izola left the place.
Dark then arrived with Raynos.
Raynos asked calmly, "Where is the young master?"
Zaykors looked at them and said, "He has returned home. It would be better if we stopped trying to make him stronger. The lady became extremely angry."
The two looked at him.
"Very well. No problem."
After that, Illyria arrived and said, "Listen to me carefully. Commander Arios is about to return. He told me himself."
They all stood up.
"The Supreme Commander has returned?"
She replied, "Yes. He told me to gather the entire army and organize it before he arrives. It seems he has finished his personal task, and now he is returning."
Each commander immediately took his assigned task.
Meanwhile, on Arios's planet, Izola was scolding Izak over what had happened.
He stood in a corner with tears in his eyes.
Izola said, "How many times have I told you not to leave my sight and disappear without my permission?"
Izak said, "I'm sorry, Mom. I was only playing with my uncles."
Izola said, "Listen carefully. You are grounded until you stop behaving like this. You keep worrying me, little one. You know that we live in an isolated place, and if you get lost, I will not be able to find you."
Izak said, "Forgive me, Mom. I promise I will never do it again."
Izola felt slightly saddened. She picked him up and said, "I am not angry with you. I am just afraid for you. You are still very young.
And also, do not repeat that move you did earlier."
Izak said, "Uncle Zaykors told me that Dad likes flying, and I enjoyed it. He taught me because Dad does it too."
Izola said, "Your father is accustomed to it, and your father is not a little child, my son. He completely understands what he is doing. But you are still far too young.
And I do not want you doing those things again. I want you to be like me—a normal person—so that you can live a normal life.
Now, go to your room and change your clothes so I can bathe you."
Izak said, "Okay."
She put him down, and he went to his room.
Ten minutes later, while she was waiting, she suddenly heard someone knocking on the door.
She went to open it and found Mithos standing there.
She said, "Hello, Mithos. Is something wrong?"
He said, "Actually, I came to tell you that my master will return today. He contacted me through our auditory communication and told me that he would return before sunset."
Izola felt somewhat happy, but suddenly remembered what had happened that day, and her smile disappeared.
"Good, then."
Mithos told her that he was currently heading to another planet, then asked if she needed anything.
She replied, "No, thank you. We do not need anything right now."
He said, "As you command."
He then left the place, flying away at tremendous speed.
After some time, Izak came out completely naked.
Izola said, "To the bathroom, now!"
On the other side, Arios was training inside the white chamber of the System.
He was covered in sweat.
Afterward, he thought to himself, This is good.
Even so, three months have passed, and I still did not know what I would do. I completed every dungeon the System sent me to, and all I received from them were pieces of scrap, healing materials, and a few boxes that gave points for increasing my level.
Well, this is good. My power has increased tremendously compared to what it was only a few months ago. My growth rate has increased dramatically.
Arios looked at the statistics screen and discovered that the System's level had finally reached 90.
He also saw his power level.
At 10% of his power, it was around 3 octillion.
At 100%, it was only 30 octillion in his normal state.
Arios said, "The normal state is what allows me to advance, and it is the foundation.
In the past, I trained through transformations, and I never gained the full benefit of development until I realized that transformations are merely supplements to the normal state.
But what amazes me is that silver transformation of mine.
Even though I have been using it for years, I still do not have a proper name for it. I used to give it random, strange names because I did not understand that state, despite being able to transform into it so easily."
Suddenly, the System displayed a name on the screen.
Arios read it and said, "Loria? Is that the name of the silver transformation?"
The System replied on the screen, "Yes. The true name of the transformation is Loria."
Arios said, "Amazing. That is actually a beautiful name.
However, every time I transform into that state, I feel fear and change. I feel as if I am losing myself and becoming something completely different.
Despite its power, that state is worse for me than when I transformed into Eldi Prime.
The feeling makes me shudder.
And yet, it is my ultimate weapon against any enemy.
With it, I have never lost to anyone. Whenever my enemy is stronger than me, I suddenly become stronger than them by an enormous margin, as if I completely crush their level.
However, that form has one drawback that I still have not been able to fix.
It steals my emotions at an insane rate.
I genuinely feel as if it devours my emotions just to grant me power.
That is the only flaw of this transformation.
But it does not matter. I will not need to use it often.
Still, I will try testing it."
Suddenly, Arios closed his eyes and took a breath.
Then he transformed into Loria.
His expression became completely cold.
Arios began looking at the System's power meter.
He was shocked by what he saw.
His power level had reached approximately 30 Undecillion—a tremendous number.
Suddenly, the room began collapsing, cracking, and breaking apart.
The white reality shattered and turned black.
Then it broke again and became purple.
The room began stretching and shaking.
Arios was shocked.
The number on the screen had begun increasing without him doing anything—without increasing his energy or performing any other action.
Suddenly, as the number continued increasing, it disappeared completely.
Arios was stunned.
He immediately stopped the transformation.
He thought to himself, I only transformed for five seconds, and all of this happened? Damn.
The System said, "The chamber has been destroyed. In order to contain all that energy, additional dimensions began forming to withstand it. Even so, the transformation's influence remains overwhelming, and the chamber continues creating more dimensions to contain the pressure."
Arios said, "Five seconds made me feel as if my soul had been ripped out of me.
When I fight, I never feel this way.
Damn... Yet I felt an incredible amount of power.
I have transformed into this form many times, but this is the first time I have felt that I am actually controlling the transformation.
Could it be because I used to be Eldi Prime?
I never felt this pressure when I was Eldi Prime because Eldi Prime possesses limitless power and does not recognize numbers as a measure of strength.
Perhaps that is why I never felt the true characteristics of this transformation.
It is truly amazing... and terrifying at the same time."
After that, Arios looked at the surroundings and said, "What a mess.
If I had done this in the real dimension, I wonder what would have happened."
Arios then left the place and used instantaneous teleportation to disappear.
He returned to his planet at sunset.
Arios said, "I told the soldiers to prepare the entire army, but I think they have not finished yet.
I will leave them for today until they finish.
Now... how wonderful it is to return home.
I have missed this place."
Arios opened the door.
He immediately smelled something delicious.
When he entered, he looked around and found the house beautifully organized.
He walked through the hallway and saw Izola preparing a salad at the table.
Izak was sitting beside her, helping her.
Arios stood at the kitchen doorway.
Izak said, "Mom, I'm starving."
Izola said, "Wait. Your father will be here any moment. Be patient."
Izak said, "Dad is really fast. Why doesn't he come quickly?"
Izola laughed and said, "Because sometimes he only uses his speed when necessary. He does not use it all the time."
Izak said, "Oh, I see. That's why you couldn't see him when he passed beside you."
Izola suddenly looked around but saw nothing.
She looked at her son and said, "Don't scare me like that."
Izak laughed and said, "Look behind you."
She replied, "Yes, yes. As if I'm going to believe you."
She turned around and saw Arios standing behind her, holding some flowers.
She jumped in surprise.
She said, "When did you appear behind me?"
Arios looked at her and said, "Ever since you said I was very fast. I went to a flower shop and came back before you could finish your sentence."
He laughed.
Izola looked at him, then noticed that his clothes were torn.
She said, "Did you come out of a battle as usual?"
Arios opened his arms and said, "Is there no hug?"
Izola stood up and walked toward him.
She hugged him tightly and said shyly, "Do not leave us and disappear again without permission."
He replied, "Yes, as you command, my lady."
Izak jumped from his chair into his father's arms as well.
He said, "Dad, I missed you."
Arios said, "That is wonderful. You speak very well now, little one. The last time I saw you, you could barely say two words."
Izak said, "Dad, Mom taught me how to speak properly."
Arios said, "That is good. I had been waiting for the day you would be able to talk, little one.
Now, tell me, are both of you okay?"
Izola raised her head and said, "Yes."
During dinner, Arios ate greedily.
Izola said, "Wow. It looks like you came back from a huge war."
Arios said, "I have not eaten for eight entire months. Not even a single bite, literally."
Izola asked, "Were you imprisoned?"
"No. I was only training."
Izola said, "So no one was torturing you, and I was worrying for nothing."
Arios looked at her and said, "I was worried about both of you as well."
Izak said, "Dad, I have a surprise for you. I will show it to you tomorrow."
Arios said, "All right, little one. As you wish."
Izola was watching Arios carefully, examining his expressions, his eyes, his appearance—everything.
She was afraid that he might suddenly transform into that entity at any moment.
She suddenly said coldly, "Izak, go to your room immediately."
Izak looked at her and said, "But I want to spend more time with Dad."
She gave him a sharp look.
Without saying another word, he stood up and immediately went to his room.
Arios looked at her in confusion.
"Why did you send him to his room? I wanted to spend some time with him."
Izola said, "It is his bedtime."
Arios said, "I see.
But tell me, are you okay?"
Izola became nervous.
"Yes. I'm fine."
Arios said, "All right. But I feel that something is bothering you. What is it?
If someone is troubling you, tell me."
Arios's expression suddenly changed.
"I will kill them."
She looked at him and said, "Nothing. Don't worry."
After dinner, Arios stood up and washed his face in front of the mirror.
He looked at his reflection and remembered Eldi Prime.
He clenched his teeth and said, "I hope he cannot reach this place again.
I truly hope so.
Unfortunately, no matter how powerful I become and no matter how many levels I reach, it is impossible for me to face that thing.
I may be a bastard, but he is far worse than me, and he may do the impossible to achieve what he wants.
I do not know what happened to Ernas. He remained there with him."
He sighed.
"Why should I care about that bastard? Let him go to hell with him.
And what does any of this have to do with me?
I hate metaphysical beings.
If I had one wish, it would be to erase all of them from existence.
I may have lost my chance for revenge, but I think the idiot Eldi Prime will carry it out now that he has returned to the higher world.
I may not have the ability to know what is happening, but I expect him to erase them.
His will was once part of my own will, and that was what he intended to do.
Neither he nor I told Nora about it.
Therefore, I believe he will execute that plan secretly, far from her eyes.
And since he will be beside her outside the narrative world, she will not be able to read his plan because he is fundamentally outside her story.
Those two are truly dangerous.
In their hands, all of existence is treated like a book that they can edit however they please.
I realized that when I was Eldi Prime.
This entire world, everything within it, is merely a story inside a paper book.
Nora is the one reading the book and editing it however she wants.
Eldi Prime rules the entire world within the book, but he has no authority over the narrator, Nora.
That is how I used to live.
I ruled everything within that book while Nora narrated it and altered it according to her will.
All those creatures believe they live in an ordinary world, but despite everything, it really is a natural world—it is simply part of a book.
And now, I am the only one who knows all of this.
Fortunately, my memories were not erased when that bastard separated from me.
What matters now is that I live my life however I want.
Neither some ridiculous narrative nor a few altered words will change my fate.
Fundamentally, the world I am in is strange. It cannot be altered by either of them.
I tried doing so in the past, but I could not.
It is like a virus that infiltrated the entire collection of worlds contained within the book.
It cannot be erased.
It cannot be altered.
It exists with a power of its own.
But that benefits me.
They will not find it.
It is isolated and thrown far away from the other worlds, so they will accomplish nothing."
Arios stood up from the sink and headed toward the living room.
He did not find Izola there, so he went to their bedroom.
He found her combing her hair.
Arios began changing his clothes.
She looked at him and noticed the old scar on his back.
She watched every detail of him.
After changing his clothes, Arios lay down on the bed and said, "What is wrong with you?
You have been acting strangely around me since I arrived."
She looked at him through the mirror and said, "Do not pretend to be ignorant.
You know everything.
Do not act as though you do not know."
He looked at her from his place.
"I understand now.
You are still upset about what happened back then."
She said, "So you remember?"
He replied, "I wanted to apologize to you, but my pride would not allow me to.
I only wanted to protect you back then."
She said, "Through what? By stealing my soul?"
He said, "It is not what you think.
It was only a test to see how much you trusted me.
And I was not actually serious about taking your soul. I was only testing you."
She turned toward him and said, "You played with my feelings, Arios.
You mocked me and looked at me with contempt, as if I were nothing more than a doll you owned.
Ever since you transformed into that thing, you have viewed everything as absolutely meaningless."
Arios shouted loudly, because that was indeed how he felt.
"I am everything, and the rest is nothing!
Are you happy?"
She looked at him and said, "Are you raising your voice at me, Arios?"
He replied, "Yes."
He grabbed the air freshener and threw it away.
"I only wanted to protect you.
I did not want to lose anything else.
Back then, I possessed a power that no one could stand against.
I had the opportunity to make you a queen whom no one could ever touch.
But you betrayed me back then, and now you are blaming me for it.
Did you not promise me one day that you would always trust me?"
Izola looked at him as tears began falling from her eyes.
"Yes, I said that.
I said that to the Arios I love, not to that terrifying thing."
Arios said, "That terrifying thing was capable of bringing your parents back to life.
But now that thing is gone.
Do you know why?"
He smiled with a frightening expression.
"Because I abandoned it.
I abandoned that person to be with you.
I could have continued that act and remained with a being who was existentially above you.
But I refused.
I chose you.
And now you blame me and do not trust me."
Arios sat on the floor and began crying.
Then he collapsed where he was.
"All I ever wanted was for you to stay by my side.
I never wanted to hurt you.
Believe me.
I swear to you."
Izola covered her mouth with her hands and knelt on the floor.
"Please, Arios, do not cry.
I am sorry.
I was only confused by what happened before.
I did not realize you were doing this for us."
Arios continued crying intensely.
After that, Izola lifted him and hugged him.
"Please, do not cry.
I promise I will never doubt you again, my dear.
Please, stop crying."
Arios smiled cunningly and said in a deceptive voice, "And I am sorry for frightening you back then.
There was something strange controlling me.
I was not fully conscious."
He smiled even more cunningly.
Suddenly, the System appeared and displayed Arios's honor meter.
His honor percentage was 4%.
Then it decreased to 2%.
Arios noticed it and did not care in the slightest.
He continued his performance in order to gain his wife's trust and sympathy.
After that act, the night passed between the married couple.
They turned off the lights and spent a happy night together.
The next morning, Arios woke up to the sound of someone knocking on the door.
He went to the door and was surprised to find one of Nahira's guards standing before him.
"What is it?"
The guard said, "Lady Nahira wants to see you immediately."
Arios said, "Can't she wait?"
The guard replied, "It is extremely important."
Arios said, "Fine. I will get ready and go."
The guard left and disappeared from the place.
Arios returned inside.
"Damn. Now I will not escape that bastard Nahira.
I used her because of Eldi Prime's greed, and now I am the one who has to deal with it.
Damn.
Fine. I will see what she wants.
She must want to reward me for eliminating those elders for her."
Indeed, Arios put on his black clothes.
Izola got out of bed and asked, "Where are you going, my dear?"
He looked at her with a smile.
"I have some urgent business. I will finish it and return. I will not be long."
Arios left the planet and flew at an insane speed.
He said, "This is incredible.
My speed has increased tremendously compared to before, even in my normal state.
Now it will only take me thirty minutes to reach that woman's palace.
Flying without instantaneous teleportation...
I have not flown like this in a very long time.
I should enjoy it a little."
Arios flew through the vastness of space, passing between worlds.
He passed over the first world.
After a short while, he passed the second.
He continued flying at incredible speed.
Eventually, he arrived at Nahira's Sacred World.
He entered the world and flew until he reached the palace.
He landed before the gate.
The guards let him in.
Smith welcomed him at the entrance.
Arios said, "Tell me. Is there some problem?"
Smith said, "You will know inside."
They entered together.
As they walked through the palace, they eventually reached the floating throne room.
It resembled a golden theater floating in the void, overlooking all universes.
After entering, Arios looked forward and saw Nahira sitting upon her throne.
He approached her.
"Is there something wrong?"
Nahira said, "Welcome.
It has been some time since the last incident."
Arios said, "Yes. It has been a while."
Nahira said sarcastically, "Why have you not asked again?
Or have you started forgetting what you got me involved in?"
Arios was completely serious.
"I have not forgotten.
But there is no reason to bring it up.
Tell me what this is about."
Nahira said, "Actually, there is nothing dangerous.
I simply want to introduce you to our daughter.
Come here, darling."
The little girl emerged from behind the throne.
She was beautiful and charming.
Her hair was bright purple, and her dark blue eyes resembled her father's.
Her delicate face was gentle, and her elegant appearance showed how noble she was.
Nahira said, "Now that we have gotten rid of the elders, there is no longer any problem with announcing that she is my daughter.
And now, there is no authority except mine, so there is nothing to worry about.
However, I wanted little Nora to meet her father.
Look, little one.
This is your father, Arios."
The little girl, who was holding onto her mother's leg, looked at Arios.
Arios looked at her without any obvious interest.
He said, "Is that all?"
Nahira looked at him in surprise.
"What is wrong with you?"
He looked at her and said, "Did you summon me just to show me your child?"
Nahira said, "What is wrong with you?
A few months ago, you were bargaining with me over her."
Arios said, "At that time, I was barely conscious.
I was ignorant and did not understand how difficult the situation was.
But are you seriously going to raise this thing?"
Nahira was shocked by what she heard.
She said sharply, "Arios, what is wrong with you?
Why have you started going too far with your words?"
The girl looked at Arios and said to Nahira, "Mom, why is my father like this?
He is very mean.
He is scary."
Nahira said, "It seems your father has lost his mind.
Or perhaps he never had one in the first place.
Arios, are you all right or something?
What happened to you?
How did you change so much within a few months?"
He looked at her and said, "I have not changed.
You are the one who changed.
Look at yourself.
You want to establish a relationship with me through a child I did not even know existed until I found out by accident.
And now you are telling me this?
I do not care about this child's fate.
You can keep her or get rid of her.
I do not care.
Just do not bother me with her again.
And do not speak to me again, Nahira.
I am warning you."
He looked at her with sharp, bloodthirsty eyes.
Nahira said, "Do not become arrogant just because you claim to be a supernatural being."
Arios laughed.
"Do not compare me to that filth.
He possesses every disgusting trait that you do."
Arios then turned around to leave.
Nora suddenly flew toward him to attack him.
Arios looked at her.
With a single look, she fell unconscious onto the ground.
Nahira stood up and rushed toward her daughter.
She shouted at Arios, "You will pay for this, Arios!
You will not leave here alive!"
Arios looked at her with a murderous expression.
"Let us see who dares to stop me.
I will kill anyone who even thinks about approaching me."
He then left the place.
Not a single soldier dared to approach him.
After leaving, Arios clenched his teeth.
"Damn. How could I forget about this?
That child was born because Eldi Prime's lust took control of me.
I am Mira Arios.
I see Nahira as a target that must be eliminated.
I viewed her as nothing more than something to satisfy my lust with.
Disgusting.
I cannot believe that back then I used to flirt with her and say sweet things to her."