The next day
Aries was in his training room as usual . His current routine comprises of only training , sleeping , eating and training again . His hard works over the past one and half months had shown results and thus no one objects to his lifestyle .
Except for one person . His mother .
Evelyn always watches her son . She noticed that Aries had the habit of training till late at night but he wakes up early in the morning to train again . The mana fluctuations inside Aries's body had given her the idea that he had reached Upper level of Rank 1 .
Even now as she thinks about it , it felt ..complex . Reaching the Upper Rank 1 in less than 2 months of his awakening is an obviously difficult and complex task . The students who enroll in the Academy in their freshman years are either Lower Rank 1 or just Awakened .
Some geniuses can reach Middle Rank 1 but Aries was a genius even among geniuses . When Rena had been admitted into the Academy , she was also a Middle Rank 1 expert.
But ….
Her hard work over the years had given her the ability to remain the strongest in her respective years . She was the 'Apex' of the first years and currently 'Apex' of the second year and also the student council president of the Academy with a huge council pressure .
…..
Aries was currently training his 'Star Core' . The fact that he awakened it is kept a secret by the Voidhaven family but he had received permission from his father to use the 'Star Core' during the entrance exam of the Academy and that also if needed .
He was currently trying to feel the transformation of his energy to star essence due to the presence of his core . His system screen had also changed itself according to the changes in his body .
'Status !'
[Name] : Aries Von Voidhaven
[Race] : Human
[Bloodline] : Origin Bloodline (Voidhaven Clan)
[Talents] : Eternal Void (X-level) , Chaos Lightning (SSS-level)
[Physique] : Formless Sword Physique (Incomplete)
[Rank] : Rank 1 (Upper)
[Qi and Blood] - 300
[Spirit ] - 300
[Star Essence] - ∞
[Stat Points] : ∞]
[Skills] : Thunder Punishment (SS , Master) , Thunder Strike (S , Master) , Thunder Armor (S , Master) , Thunder Sword Art (SS , Master) .
[Magic Level (Star Core)] : 2-Stars
[Sword Level] : Sword User (Advanced)
[Skill Points] : ∞
Aries just silently watched the holographic screen in front of him . After awakening his bloodline , he came back to his room and opened his status screen for the first time . His status made him suck a cold breath as he was bewildered with excitement and worry .
The 'Formless Sword Physique' was a physique which hadn't appeared for the last 3000 years . The humans believed it to the pinnacle of all sword physiques and is disappeared into the depths of history after once appearing during the time when humanity needed help .
Aries concentrated on the star essence . He doesn't really understand as how is star essence different from normal energy but as time forwarded and more of his energy is being converted , he felt the basic difference between them .
'Star Essence' is atleast 10 times more concentrated than 'Cosmic Energy' . It is a rule that the concentration of the energy depends between people to people and thus , everyone has various levels of potentials . The concentration of that energy in the body means the amount of energy a person can hold and the damage of the particular concentration of energy .
Star Essence is not only more powerful and potent than Cosmic Energy but the consumption is less than Cosmic energy in equal skill usages .
It can be said that Star Essence is an all-rounding energy which is more powerful , potent , durable and less consumption than Cosmic Energy . Morover , Aries has an [infinite] amount of Star Essence as his whole body was modified by the system .
...
Aries got up from the hard ground of the training room . He went towards the changing room as he took his towel and wrapped it around his neck and exited the training room . His training room is at the 27th Floor while the residences of the members of the main family descendants is on the 32nd floor .
Aries entered the lift and pressed the button to rise up to his floor . He exited the lift on his floor and entered his room and the door slid to let him in and then it slid closed .
Aries entered the bathroom and took a shower as he came out with a wrapped towel . Today was the scheduled 'date' with Aurelia . He couldn't be said to be particularly excited but he felt an unusual happiness inside his heart which he never felt .
He quickly dismissed his thoughts as he picked some outfits from his cupboard and changed .
The outfit he wore was simple . He wore a black sweatshirt along with a cream coloured jeans but the outfit made him more handsome . His face was well defined along with his silver locks which fell on his forehead . His amethyst eyes radiating an otherwordly hue .
He was ready to head out as he saw it was nearly 6:45 pm . He came out of his room and went towards the lift . It went down to the Basement B1 which was the garage . Aries had already decided the car he would take and brought it's keys with him .
The problem was in another place . The number of cars in the garage amounted to a total of 153 and finding a particular car required the help of Eva . Aries entered the garage as he stood in front of the cars . He called out :
"Eva , you there ?"
[Of course , Young Master Aries]
"Please bring out 'that' car"
[Young Master , that car is the favourite of Young Miss Rena]
"That's the exact reason why I want it"
[Understood]
[Bringing out 'Azure XR 100']
A platform got up from the cars as it was moved to the exit point from it . Aries went towards the car as he stared at it for some time . The car is icy-white colour and has butterfly wings . Equipped with an in-built AI , it supports 100% auto-drive . The car uses 'mana fluid' as the fuel to run the engine . It's mana powered engine generates 1152 hp and a torque of 1500 Nm . It's maximum speed is as high as 420 km/h .
Aries opened the door as he entered the car . The platform got alligned towards the exit of the garage . He raced the car and went out to the streets of the Solarion Empire . It was evening and the city was bright with neon lights with people travelling and hanging out on the streets .
The law of the empire allows individuals above the age of 14 to drive and are considered adults . Drinking permissions are relaxed as well with the minimum age being 15 .
Aries was driving towards the Central Square . He had told Aurelia to wait for him near the Central Square State Building .
…..
Aurelia was waiting near the planned location . It was at the center of the Empire's Capital and was quite populated as well . She had planned today's date and told her mother about it . She agreed but sent bodyguards along with her .
They came to drop and protect Aurelia before Aries arrives . She was the princess of the Rainhafer Family and naturally her admirers were spread across the empires among nobility . She wore a ice-blue dress and had put on light makeup . She was never fond of makeups but the light makeup she put had already levitated her to the level beyond a goddess .
With extremely cute and beautiful face and a perfect body she was the target of many families even the ducal families of the Solarion and the Eclipsion empire but they were all rejected .
The reason ?
Because of Aries and his family . Aries belonged to the Voidhaven Duke Family and it was the strongest ducal family in not only Solarion but also Eclipsion . The other dukes had to maintain respect equal to the emperor himself in front of Duke Voidhaven .
He was known for being Kind to allies and Ruthless to enemies .
The people who had witnessed the Great War almost 50 years ago knew what kind of person Argent is . He is to be feared if not respected and his children are said to be exactly like him . They were cold to enemies and kind to friends .
Rena had her reputation around both the Empires for her status and her cold , icy attitude . No one had ever gathered the courage to approach her for marriage . Although Aries is not as famous as her but he has his own reputation .
The only X-Rank Awakener of Humans and also someone with Dual Affinities is a case which is unheard of . He hasn't made much public appearances and that kept him more in a veil of mystery .
Aurelia was standing between the guards sent by the family for her protection . Even though most of the crowd gathered around was ordinary humans and she was a Middle Rank 1 expert but it is better to be safe than sorry . The guards assigned to her were three men and one woman . These three were Upper Rank 5 experts and the woman was their leader at the Middle Rank 6 .
Any one of these people would gather a name for them and become famous in any corner of the Solarion Empire but they rather stayed in the Rainhafer family as mere guards . The reason is that the guards of one of the ducal families are with potential and they are all elite teams who can even fight with an advantage against any Rank 7 experts .
Aurelia looked a bit bored . She came here at around 6:30 hoping to not be late but Aries himself was late by more than 15 minutes . She turned towards the woman and said :
"Amelia , when will Aries come ?"
"I don't know Miss Aurelia . Young Master Aries should arrive any moment"
"Come on Amelia . It's not like we're strangers . Stop being so formal"
"But…Miss you are the princess of the Rainhafer family . How could I dare to be disrespectful"
"Please keep those 'princess' titles when we are in the family building . We are outside and you can be informal"
"Alright"
In that moment , Aurelia and Amelia heard the sound of a supercar engine coming towards them . Aurelia immediately recognised the sound because it was the car of Aries's big sister Rena . She had gone to many trips with them in that car .
The icy-white car came and stopped in front of the crowd . They immediately started to murmur among themselves . In that moment , the door of the car opened upwards as an extremely handsome young man stepped out . He was wearing a casual outfit but his charm was enhanced more in that outfit itself .
Aurelia's eyes lit up when she saw the young man . It was Aries and he came to pick her up . She immediately rushed towards the car through the crowd . The three men were protecting her from the people in the crowd . Seeing this scene in front of her , Amelia couldn't help but let out a sigh .
Aurelia went and stood in front of Aries and he noticed her . Aries was never someone who compliments others but he was momentarily stunned when he saw Aurelia . His eyes roamed around her entire face and dress but those eyes didn't contain any lust or hint of alterior motives . It was simply the eyes of someone who admires people .
Aurelia felt a bit shy when she noticed him staring at her . Her face was slowly turning red as she immediately stopped and said :
"Will you keep staring at me with those eyes of yours"
Aries immediately retracted his gaze and cleared his throat a bit before saying :
"Sorry , I just didn't imagine you would look so beautiful"
Aurelia's face which was slowly turning red immediately became like a ripe tomato as she quickly hid her face and said in a embarrassing tone :
"Let's go and don't say such things in public"
"Sorry"
Aries went towards her door as he opened it for her to sit comfortably . He closed the door and walked back towards his own seat . Before entering , his eyes fell on Amelia who was standing not far away . His face which was now unpredictable slowly gave a nod towards her which she replied with another nod .
The meaning was clear :
'I will take her from here' Aries nodded .
'Take care of her , Young Master' Amelia replied .
He sat back in the driver's seat as his door closed too . The engine roared once more as the car immediately sped up and vanished . Amelia looked towards that direction for some time before ordering her team :
"Let's go back"
...
Aries and Aurelia sat inside the car . The car was filled with an awkward silence as they both were quiet . Aries concentrated on driving as Aurelia was watching the neon lights in the night sky of the city . He was the first to break silence :
"Where do we go ?"
"How about a movie together"
"Okay"
Aries sped his car towards the movie theatre of the city . They weren't acting like direct lineage of the ducal families , for today they are like any other ordinary couple who are out for a date in the city .
The car quickly reached the movie theatre as it stopped . They both came out of the car and headed towards the theatre . Their car activated the AI and forwarded itself towards the parking space and parked inside in a safe location .
The movie Aurelia planned for them was a romantic movie 'Path towards Light' . It was a good movie but the both of them who never watches movies were instantly bored . The scenes of the movie weren't for adults and it was a normal love story of two young couples .
To avoid being crowded , both of them had altered their appearances . They still looked as handsome and beautiful as always but their faces were not of Aries and Aurelia . It would be a disaster if someone recognises them .
The movie quickly withdrew the interest of Aries and Aurelia as they left during the intermission . They went towards the car which was parked in the parking area as Aries made Aurelia sit and was about to sit himself when he sensed a disturbing presence .
His hand was stopped at the car's door and was unmoved . Aurelia sensing something was wrong with Aries sneaked out and asked :
"What happened ?"
Aries didn't reply and got in . The presence weren't for their safety , he was clear about that much . The only problem is that the person who watched them was atleast a Rank 3 expert . Although , Aries can defeat him but he refrained from causing commotion .
He entered the car with a cold look as Aurelia felt a shiver down her spine . Aries was subconciously releasing a bit of his aura and Aurelia was stunned to notice it . It was the aura of an Upper Rank 1 expert . She hadn't even realized that Aries had reached that level so soon .
Aries just informed the car's AI about their location and didn't drive personally . He said :
"Take towards Sky View Hotel"
[Okay , Master]
The car sped up towards the Sky View Hotel which was atleast 5 km from their current location . Aries didn't drive because he wanted to keep his notice towards the enemy trailing them . Aurelia looked at him and asked with a bit of worry :
"What's wrong ?"
"We're being followed"
"W..What ?"
Aurelia was confused and surprised . She didn't expect that if she came out of her house alone , she would be followed . Although she gained a bit of confidence with Aries near her . She quickly clenched Aries's hand as he looked towards her . He saw that she stared at him with a bit panicked expression . He gently placed his hand on top of her to calm her down .
"Don't worry"
"B..But..If he a..attacks ?"
"I told you not to worry . I can handle him"
"You are just an Upper Rank 1 . What can you do ?"
"Do you not trust me ?"
"I..It's not that" she quickly refuted fearing she might have gone overboard .
"Trust me and see" Aries said with a confident tone . Aurelia suddenly felt warm in her chest .
Although , Aurelia and Aries were childhood friends but they never encountered any situation . Whenever in the face of danger , Aries used to cover her in the sense of protecting her . She had always felt that Aries is more mature for his age and whenever she heard his confident voice , she subconciously felt warm in her heart .
She still doesn't understand what this warmth signifies but she felt relieved and protected whenever she is with him . Aries had returned to his emotionless face as he asked the AI :
"Drive faster"
[Yes , Master]
It wasn't that Aries was not feeling a bit frustated but there is nothing he could do . The strength of the opponent is Rank 3 while he is merely an Upper Rank 1 . In terms of stats alone , the opponent is quite superior to him but it wasn't which he was actually tensed about .
It was the aura behind it . He was able to sense the 2nd aura after concentrating his senses and raising to another high level . The person behind is atleast a Rank 4 expert . He was confident that his current strength would be enough to kill the Rank 3 expert but the Rank 4 behind was the real danger .
If he doesn't approach carefully then he could get killed . The stats of a Rank 4 expert is not particularly high . Only about 2500 points but it was a huge gap for someone with only 300 points of attribute stats . The skills a Rank 4 can use are also higher than a Rank 3 .
In front of a real lower Rank 4 person , even a peak Rank 3 would be helpless , not to mention , just an Upper Rank 1 but Aries was atleast confident that he can defeat the Rank 3 expert .
They were just entering the compound of the Sky View Hotel when Aries sensed the Rank 4 to vanish into thin air leaving only the Rank 3 . Aries tried to sense the aura of the Rank 4 with his hightened senses but was unable to . It was as if the person had vanished into thin air .
'A spatial ability ?'
'No , it's an artifact ?!'
Artifacts are valuable and enchanted weapons and tools created by atleast a master level blacksmith . The artifacts are categorized into different grades :
Common , Uncommon , Rare , Epic , Legendary , Unique and Mystical .
Common Artifacts to Rare Artifacts can be created by a Rank 7 blacksmith but to create weapons and armors above that , only Rank 8 blacksmith's are able to craft it . Unique and Mystical artifacts are rare because they can't be created .
The high-grade Artifacts can be found inside the 'Skylit Forest' area in some hidden locations . Till now , only three legendary grade artifacts are present in the Family Treasury .
First is an Legendary Grade Spear .
Second is a Legendary Grade Staff .
And Third is the 'DemonSlayer Sword' which is a growth-type artifact . These artifacts are rare and are created by atleast an Rank 9 blacksmith . The special quality of this artifact is that these artifacts are bound to the user and grow stronger along with them . This was the reason why these type of artifacts are called 'Soul Weapons' .
Aries's eyes widened in surprise . Even though he belonged to the Voidhaven Family but these family had it's own set of rules as mentioned . The rule of this family is that nothing will belong to someone according to their status but rather their hardwork . This means that your status of direct or indirect lineage doesn't matter within the family and only through hardwork would one gain something here .
Aries had only received his current weapon from the Patriarch after he awakened 'Star Core' . This weapon was a 'Soul Weapon' and created by a dwarf of the dwarven race . This sword was like a katana with only one edge being an extremely sharp blade and other side blunt . The blade was black with glowing red rune like patterns on the dull side of the blade coming down from the hilt towards the tip of the blade .
It not only increases the beauty of the weapon but those runes acts as enchantments which increases sharpness , attack speed , accuracy and decreases the weapon's weight . These runes are complex and only proficient crafters can forge one .
Aries cold voice sounded again :
"XR , you there ?"
[At your service , Master]
"Stop here"
[Sure]
The car slowed down it's speed and stopped . The place it stopped wasn't an highway . Aries instructed the car's AI to take this road because it's quite here without the commotion of civilians . Aries got out of the car as Aurelia was staring at him with surprised and confused eyes .
Aries just smiled a little towards Aurelia as he said :
"XR , lock the doors and head straight towards the Rainhafer Tower through the main highway"
[Understood]
The doors locked as Aurelia returned to her senses . She immediately understood what Aries was trying to do . Her breaking voice was heard by him outside .
"A..Aries , please don't g..go"
"It's alright . You go home first"
"B..But…it's dangerous"
"I know and that is the reason why I am sending you back home"
"N..No!!"
"XR , go"
[Okay]
The car immediately sped up and moved towards the road leading to the main highway . Aries just stood and watched the car leave . As soon as it moved from his point of view , Aries turned around and called out :
"Now , please refrain from hiding and show yourself"