William was traveling through vast farmland using the carriage portraying his family's emblem.
William was returning home after solving most issues; the only person accompanying him was Jerome, who was driving the carriage. After returning to Kelsein, he re-enacted his protocol, and everything was set in motion again.
After traveling for what felt like hours, William had finally returned home.
William needed a much-needed rest. Although he wasn't physically exhausted, thanks to his Aura, mana, and even aspect, he was mentally drained.
His mind had been constantly working on plans since he returned without rest, to the point where it had taken a toll on him despite having a mana brain.
As soon as the carriage arrived inside the estate, a little girl rushed out, screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Will! YOU ARE FINALLY BACK, MOM! DAD! William is back!"
The little girl was Rose, who had grown taller, but the Aura in her body had increased. Every move she made looked like a dance, with flames constantly appearing here and there thanks to her aspect, [Flame Dancer].
It had been over a year since William last saw his family, but seeing his energetic little sister, he couldn't help but smile. Rose's fiery enthusiasm was contagious. He stepped out of the carriage, his fatigue momentarily forgotten as he embraced his younger sister.
"Rose! You've grown so much,"
William said, lifting her up and spinning her around.
Rose giggled, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I've been practicing every day! Look what I can do now! It's just like your Magic!"
She extended her hand, and a small flame danced on her palm, flickering and shifting in intricate patterns. William watched, impressed by her control and precision.
"That's amazing, Rose. You're becoming a true warrior."
His parents didn't exit the house when they heard of his return, but servants and the head butler, Manuel, did, greeting him.
"Welcome back, young master William," Manuel said with a respectful bow. "The household has been eagerly awaiting your return."
"Thank you, Manuel," William replied, nodding in acknowledgment. "It's good to be back. I trust everything has been well in my absence?"
"Indeed, sir. The estate has been running smoothly. Your parents are in the hall, but I'm sure they will be pleased to see you soon."
William handed his travel bag to Jerome and began walking towards the house, Rose still clinging to his side. He could feel the weight of responsibility lifting off his shoulders as he stepped onto familiar ground.
Inside, the house was warm and inviting, filled with the comforting smells of home-cooked meals and the faint scent of flowers from the garden. The familiar scene couldn't help but make him relax.
He slowly moved through the building, his sight falling on his parents, who seemed to be discussing something.
His father's extensive, muscular frame and his mother's petite, beautiful appearance always created such a stark contrast.
"Mother, Father, I'm home!"
He called out, a genuine smile appearing on his face.
----------------------------------------
In a remote village inside the Thelwedean empire, a group of hooded figures gathered around a ritual site.
On the ground, countless corpses could be seen, while a magic circle was drawn in human blood. The place smelled of gunpowder, iron, and decomposing corpses. It was a horrible sight, but the hooded figures were utterly unfazed.
Standing in the middle of the altar was an elderly woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes. Her figure stood tall while mana rushed through her entire body.
The elderly woman casts a spell, utilizing the sacrifices and blood on the ground as the catalyst. She chanted in an ancient, guttural language, her voice echoing through the night air. The hooded figures around her joined in the incantation, their voices merging into a chilling harmony.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
As the spell progressed, the magic circle began to glow with an eerie crimson light. The bodies on the ground twitched and convulsed as if the residual life force within them was being forcibly extracted. The air grew thick with the stench of sulfur and decay, and a palpable sense of dread permeated the atmosphere.
With a final, forceful utterance, the elderly woman completed her spell. A surge of immense mana and demonic energy erupted from the magic circle, spreading outwards like a shockwave. The ground trembled, and a dark, ominous cloud formed above the ritual site.
The hooded figures remained in their positions, their faces hidden but their eyes glowing with anticipation. The elderly woman raised her arms, her expression bright.
"Finally, I'll get rid of this useless body. My original, bless me with power!"
She shouted glee as a bolt of red lightning struck her from the sky, creating a large crater on the ground. However, unlike what was expected, the woman was unscathed and had even changed.
Her skin was no longer wrinkled, and she had regained her youth. Her face was beautiful and ageless, and her blue eyes had turned into a shade of purple.
She laughed hysterically at her new form, pleased with the results. She had been planning meticulously for this moment for months and finally succeeded.
This was Elara, the clone of the demon Uriltia. Since Uriltia couldn't grant bloodline power to her clones through a normal method, the clones had to utilize a sacrificial ritual to acquire more power.
Right now, the clone had 25% of the original's strength. However, due to the autonomy the clones possessed, it was obvious that the clone had plans of its own, so Uriltia had to maintain contact with her so it could continue her plans.
Elara raised her hand, her eyes glowing ominously.
"Although I would rather do what I wish, what I originally planned has interested me. Now that I have more power, I should include myself more in the grand scheme. Servant's clear up the area!"
The hooded figures sprang into action at Elara's command, swiftly moving to clear the ritual site of corpses and evidence. They worked with precision and efficiency that spoke of long practice in such grim tasks. As they labored, Elara took a moment to revel in her newfound power, flexing her fingers and feeling the surge of strength coursing through her veins.
Elara's transformation was more than skin profound. She could feel the demonic energy humming within her, an intoxicating mix of power and darkness.
As the hooded figures disposed of the bodies and cleaned the blood, Elara considered her next move. The ritual had succeeded, and she now possessed a fraction of Uriltia's strength. However, she knew the path ahead wouldn't be easy, even with her current strength.
The demonic seeds planted throughout the world had been slowly eliminated, to the point where only a portion of corrupt nobles, half-demons, and true demons were left. In the last few days, she had received reports that a vast majority of demonic seeds had been uprooted from Baryngoria and Dustmih. The Thelwedean empire had also long eliminated all signs of demonic seeds after the emperor took matters into his own hands.
Elara found it odd how fast things were moving, as if another figure like her master was manipulating the scene from behind. It was as if that person knew the future and acted accordingly, but she knew that was impossible, even for those belonging to the Soul's order.
The Soul's order had always been a headache for the demons that wished to invade since they obviously could predict the future to a certain extent. They were extremely hard to deal with, and their numbers were unknown.
One of the hooded figures approached Elara, bowing deeply.
"Mistress, the area is secured. What are your orders?"
Elara smiled, a cold, calculating smile that sent shivers down the figure's spine.
"We move to the capital. The time for subtlety is over. We will begin activating our sleeper agents and the half-demons throughout the entire world. It is about time we started with the plans to destroy the 5 God spirits and open the barrier."
----------------------------------------
While Elara was beginning her true plans, another hooded figure appeared in Arithsanat, the capital city of the Thelwedean empire.
The figure walked through the crowd effortlessly, as if he were just a specter moving through people. What was also odd was that no one seemed to notice it. Energy seemed to writhe about outside their body, while two blue lights could be seen shining through the hood.
Soon enough, the figure reached outside the palace, its eyes narrowing slightly. With one swift motion, the figure leaped hundreds of meters in the air, gently landing on the palace.
"Well, I thought I should come here since the time deviation seems to come from this country, but it's not the capital city that originates the traversal. Returning home after such a long time feels odd, though the memories aren't unpleasant."
The figure muttered, removing his hood to reveal his face. It was the face of a young man with long black hair and sharp blue eyes. However, what made him stand out was that half of his face was covered in countless snakelike roots that seemed writhing every few seconds.
"Time, where did you go… You brought me to this cursed timeline despite me fixing everything already. You ruined me, and you ruined my future… Not to mention that this timeline's me has perished before my arrival. This is just fucked… Just why… time…”
The man scratched his face in rage, his eyes turning bloodshot. However, not even a second later, he calmed down. Taking a deep breath, he extended his hand forward, summoning a small syringe out of thin air like it was always there.
He soon plunged that syringe deep into his thigh, his eyes opening wide while a look of glee overtook him. Licking his lips, he removed the syringe and made it vanish with a slight flick.
As the potent substance coursed through his veins, the man's demeanor shifted, a manic energy now crackling around him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting the effects of the injection settle. The snakelike roots on his face seemed to pulse with life, reacting to the influx of power.
"Alright, much better."
He muttered to himself, a twisted smile playing on his lips.
"Time, you don't seem to even be able to detect me, and you are living your life foolishly without caring about the world. Well, I should try to find your true name rather than keep calling you time, though that crystal is probably already part of you now, so I guess it's not that far off."
The man spoke to himself as if it was normal. It was a habit he had built through countless years of loneliness.