Lyners consciousness floated within a boundless space, there were billions if not trillions of energies, each had their own colour and "felt" different. But in the midst of the resplendent chaos, there was a unity that guided the motions as if following rules that Lyner couldn't even fathom.
Lyner felt no connection with his body, which made sense to him in this 'spirited away' state he found his consciousness in. Burning through all his energy, and then shattering his core to direct the energy one last time to make it back to see his sister and comrades before he died. The World Devourer had not truly died, it claimed it's own vengeance as a beam of condensed energy shot from its horn, nearly blowing apart lyners entire upper body.
It was only with sheer willpower Lyner held death at bay just long enough to say his final words. There was nobody but himself to blame even with his mixed heritage, Earth could not support his growth and even ended up stunting it. While he did have an ancient token to leave Earth, Lyner did not have that ambition, at least not anymore. Despite knowing the pain it would cause Leyara, Jasmine and his comrades, Lyner found solace in his death. He did regret not being able to raise Leyara further and see what she would make of her life, he regretted not having the chance to make a family, he especially regretted not being able to drink one last time. Lyner remembered the bottle of Disaronno he hid in the hideout, those bastards were probably going to drink it without him.
Lyner became distracted as the energies swirled and wrapped his consciousness up with them. Before if he felt like the void, now he could actually feel the various energies. A thought struck him, and he tried fishing through the chest pocket of his shirt, but instead he felt nothing at all. Sighing he also came to a sad realization, his stogies were gone.
"Wow, your main concern in death is not about how they will mourn over you. But instead about not being able to drink or smoke up. I guess the apple truly doesn't fall far from the tree." A mocking voice sounded out from behind Lyner, it was eerily similar to his father but he didn't dare to believe it.
Lyner felt his limbs all of a sudden, the familiar feeling of blood flowing through his body, there were various smells both enticing and horrid, there were so many impressions Lyner felt like he was over-stimulated and didn't know how to react.
"I'm proud of you, my son." That same voice sounded out, but from in front of Lyner this time. Before he could react a calloused and scarred hand reached out ruffling his hair. "You've grown into a fine young man, son." A pair of burly and scarred arms pulled Lyner into a bear hug. "You fought hard my son, harder than any would have expected you to. Your mother would be proud of the young man standing in front of me right now."
Lyners hand balled into a fist and he punched Aaron in the gut with everything he had. "Where the hell did you go?! Do you have any idea how much Leyara cried when you left?! Do you have any idea how hard I struggled as a 10 year old child to provide food for the both of us?! Do you have any idea how goddamn much I bled and suffered to become this strong?! It's not because I wanted to! I had no fucking choice when you abandoned Leyara and I to fend for ourselves! Why father! WHY?!" Lyner howled and pounded his fists into Aarons body. "Do you know what Leyaras birthday wish was every year? It was that you would come back home to us! You missed Leyaras first dance recital, you missed her graduating a year faster than others her age! You missed so goddamn much father! Despite me raising her to the best of my capabilities. Leyara always wished and dreamed of you coming back so we could be a family again!"
Aaron took the beating, there was no physical pain but instead emotional. Every word Lyner said struck him to the core of his being. How could he not know how much his children suffered? There was numerous times his subjects and the power houses of the Lazarus clan stopped him, even when he had to witness the death of his own son, the clan stopped him. When the System got involved and tried to rip his son away from him forever, Aaron snapped and fought his way through the Multiverse to stop the System. Even going so far as to offering the System a sliver of Oblivion.
"There is nothing that I can say that will change what has happened, Lyner. But I can do things that will make change going forward. I can only change Leyaras and your own destiny, Lyner. Since the beginning of this new era I have been in a constant power struggle with the System. If you need to direct your anger at anybody, do not direct it at me. The reason I left was to avenge your mother. The System found me when your mother was giving birth to Leyara, and it erased her Karma when she was at her weakest. Time is limited even at the height of power I have achieved, I cannot defeat the System with my old injuries. I can only hold it back until you mature, Lyner." Aaron looked Lyner in the eyes with a grave look.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"Is what you said true about mother?" Lyners voice quivered as he asked, not knowing if he wanted to get the answer from his father.
Aaron nodded with seriousness. "Leyara and you were both born with our mixed heritages. We made numerous sacrifices to make you both born as humans, the weakest race in the Multiverse. But it gave you both a great gift that other races do not have despite their superiority. Humans are not locked down to certain Daos, and can improve limitlessly if given the time to mature. That is why humans across the multiverse are slaughtered like animals. The System would never expect our offspring to be Human, it is the greatest shield we could provide Leyara and you, Lyner."
Lyner calmed down and asked the burning question he had. "What about the quest I was given? The World Devourer did not die before my death, I should have failed my quest."
Aaron harrumphed angrily "The System muddied the quest as it had escaped from its prison. But our time is running short here Lyner. There is no more time for questions, so I need you to listen to me carefully."
"I am going to start your process of Rebirth, and you will be stripped of all your Daos, Sword Heart, Talents and Cultivation. Your brain is going to be enhanced numerous times, increasing your sensitivity to the Dao significantly. I will reform your cultivators core, and integrate it into your entire being. In your next life, it will constantly improve your Mana channels, Mana and control over it, leading to a higher tier of Mana Body. Your Sword Heart and talent will be used as a base to increase your overall talent, you will comprehend Sword techniques and the Sword Dao at a speed far faster than the rest of the races across the Multiverse. All of the stats that you have gained now, will be reformed into a Soul Flame Foundation, constantly empowering your Soul, physique, muscles, bones and internal organs. The Demon Emperor and Seraphim bloodlines will be abolished, and turned into their respective Dao Peaks of Light and Dark, giving you a higher sensitivity and talent with both Daos. Your Race as Human will be converted into the Ancient Human, with the blood of Dragons, Phoenix, Vermillion Bird, and Wolf King. The high tiered bloods will enhance your basic attributes giving more overall stats per level, the Ancient Human race will greatly increase your stats maximum capacity until your race evolves into a higher level. Each blood comes with its own diagram that you must fill up with energy. The Dragon Scale, Phoenix Scale, Wolf Scale and Vermillion Scale diagram. Every 100 lit scales gives you the bonus status points." Aaron explained
"Leyara will have the exact same opportunity that I am giving you. The both of you will be reborn onto the same world, you will keep all your memories of this life, but will have to unlock them as you grow in strength. When the time is right, we will reunite as a family. I promise. Until then, you must protect your younger sister. And please treasure your lives, do not do anything reckless. I cannot lose you and Leyara too." Aaron pleaded Lyner, losing his wife and Dao partner was already torture enough.
[Aaron Lazarus. You have not been given permission to grant such boons to your progeny. Bow down. Or it is war!]
The System materialized again, millions of holy gates waiting to spew out reinforcements behind it. Numerous auras of those at the peak Saint Destroyer stage burst out into pillars of might, they circled Aaron and Lyner in a circle. There were fluctuations in Mana and Dao, Aaron felt them trapped in multiple layers of killing and entrapment arrays. Aarons injuries throbbed, meaning only one thing. The System was present in person to stand in his way again. Clearly with the mindset, with any means necessary.
"Fuck right off you stupid robot!" An overbearing aura that made even Aaron flinch appeared not far behind him. A demonic gate ripped through the Karmic Rivers, Aaron felt a bloodline resonance with those that have appeared.
"Where are my grandchildren Aaron?" A woman who looked no older than twenty years old appeared, she put Aaron into a chokehold and gave him an old fashioned noogy, a tried and true tested method of making others submit and say "uncle."
"The Lazarus Clan and our allies will hold back the System and the Multiverse, Aaron. The grandchildren are not ready to join the Multiverse yet. We have brought Andrias keepsake and have reactivated the time distortion inside, unlocking the bare minimum facilities inside. One week, we can only hold on for a single week. That is 2.5 million years in the time distortion, build my grandchildren's foundations so that they will be rebirthed, and have the knowledge needed to thrive in the Multiverse. As for you stay out of this fight and make up the lost time to Lyner and Leyara. Besides, your in no condition to take part in this kind of fight anymore." Lescelas said matter of factly before flicking Aaron, the most feared being across the Multiverse in the forehead.
"Fucking mothers." Aaron grumbled unhappily, but not willing to appear weak in front of his son. There is only one individual in a man's life that he must have a healthy fear of, his mother. Because let's be honest here, mothers are just bat shit insane. They are way more gangster than any gangbanger, and will fuck you up just because.
Mother fuckery, it doesn't have to make sense, just know that it does. Done with his ranting, Aaron put his index finger and middle finger to his head. Just kidding, he ain't no Goku. Although that would be pretty badass. Vanishing from place, Aaron picked up Leyara off of Earth and then quickly returned.
"Time is of the essence and things can be explained after the training has started. Without further ado, it's time to drill the basics into the both of you." Aaron said to both Lyner and Leyara, taking one soul form and one physical being into Andrias keepsake necklace.