Inside the deepest prison, it was unknown exactly when time had passed. Perhaps in the human realm, day and night had changed hundreds of times. Winter, spring, until summer had been passed over and over again, and the earth had almost melted, pouring out its yield for the living creatures.
Although a long time had passed, the baby inside Aetheria's womb still did not show any signs of being born. Her belly had indeed grown larger, but the anxious feeling of giving birth had not yet arrived. On the contrary, Aetheria was getting weaker as her baby grew. Even to speak, her breath would become heavy.
For quite a long time Aetheria had been lying weakly, on top of dry straw that Ethan had made as warm and comfortable as possible. By her side, Ethan always accompanied her, channeling the mana he still had for Aetheria. Although it tortured his body, nausea, dizziness and extraordinary chest pain, Ethan endured for the sake of his wife and the child in her womb.
Ethan touched Aetheria's stomach, wanting to calm her but instead found something shocking. "Th-this... is it true? Impossible!"
Aetheria weakly turned towards Ethan who was sitting beside her. "What is it, Ethan? Your face is very pale."
Ethan grasped both of Aetheria's hands. "Listen to me, Aetheria. Listen to me."
"I am listening to you, Ethan. What is it?"
"This baby... if it continues to be allowed to stay in your womb, then it will take your life. This baby needs a large amount of mana to grow. The reason for your weakening is because of it — it is drawing a large amount of your strength. So we..." Before he could finish his sentence, Aetheria cut him off.
"What must we do? I don't want to let go of this child! Let him take my mana, I don't care!"
Finding Aetheria rebelling and misunderstanding his intent, made Ethan immediately act. "You misunderstand, Aetheria. I don't want what you said. Listen to me until I finish."
Finally Aetheria calmed down even though she had cried. "What. What must we do? Answer quickly, Ethan."
"Do you know the core of the world?"
"Don't tell me you..."
"That is our only choice, Aetheria. I will bring him to the core of the world. There, all the power of emotions and desires of all creatures gathers, a great power. There is no need to worry anymore about his needs."
"But Ethan... do you know where that world is? Even if you do know, it is not easy to entrust him. We don't know what kind of creatures live there. And your way of transferring this baby, how? Your strength has weakened."
"I will exert everything for this child. You must accept reality, Aetheria. Even if I don't do this, sooner or later my life will soon end. Because of that, I want to do my role as a father before that time comes."
Aetheria shook her head firmly while holding Ethan's hand, and tears uncontrollably flowed down her pale cheeks. "No. There must be another way. You and this baby, I want you both. I beg you..."
"Aetheria..." Ethan in the end could not think of anything else that should be said to convince his wife. His head bowed and he also cried in his heart. Seeing the time of separation that is like the future, is very suffocating.
Ethan stood up, so the sounds of chains clashing on his body rang. He released Aetheria's hand gently and moved away from her, alone in a corner. Based on the memories of his past war invading the human world, Ethan searched for the part that led to a world that never existed.
Because he had to use a large amount of power, pain began to creep from his feet to his head. Aetheria on the straw wanted to approach him to stop him, but her weak body made her fall and only sobs were heard. Aetheria knew what Ethan was doing.
"Stop it, Ethan! Stop it! I beg you..."
"Forgive me, Aetheria." Ethan's whisper was not heard at all because of the whistling clash of mana.
Mana particles danced in the air, forming a pattern of currents on the ceiling. In the dominating whistling sound, Ethan's heavy breathing was also heard. The capacity of power used to summon a figure whose form and existence was not even known almost exceeded when he used the infinity eye.
Where did that power come from?
That power came from the sacrifice of a soul. Ethan was performing a soul burning, like burning incense for an offering. After starting, it cannot be stopped halfway and will die if not completed properly. At this moment Ethan needed high focus, even unable to heed Aetheria who was groaning behind.
"I summon you by sacrificing my own strength and soul. Come, and fulfill my summoning, face of the spectator path creature who always feels bored."
In a world that is not manifested and has no form, on a throne chair with a chessboard and points on the table, a creature with a form resembling a human grinned. He dropped one pawn and the wind began to boil very violently, blowing away the calm atmosphere of the lake and replacing it with a view of hell.
His eyes curved beautifully like the moon, but his smile was cold and full of mystery. A fan was opened harshly as he slowly stood up away from the chair. A sea of hot lava turned into lake water with ripples as his feet stepped and the scenery returned to green full of peace.
A portal appeared before him, and he passed through it without hesitation fulfilling the summoning with all his heart. Coming out of the portal, only a body was visible and a white light shimmer covered his face.
"You are the first to summon me, oh creature of the mortal world."
His voice was neither like a woman nor a man. More like a musical tune in a cathedral that echoed softly in the ear.
"If you have summoned me, your soul is mine. And as the second party, I am obliged to fulfill your request. Speak, oh creature of the mortal world."
Ethan looked up because the mysterious creature guardian of the core of the world blocked his power from being cut off, and he could focus his attention on that creature. "Let my child stay in the womb of the world. I need a great power for him."
Space stopped, at the time of that conversation only Ethan and that creature knew. "You mean the fetus in her womb?" He pointed at Aetheria whose movement was suddenly stopped by time.
"Correct."
"Do you know what kind of creature lives in its womb?"
Seeing Ethan who just stayed silent, confirmed his suspicion that Ethan really didn't know anything. "The center of destruction. He is the embodiment of destruction. His arrival gives a warning that the apocalypse is near. If the promised time comes, I cannot imagine what will happen. Are you sure you want to give birth to him into the world?"
"I believe in my child. He will grow up well if love is instilled in him."
"Love is not enough. You know, I will even have difficulty raising him in the womb of the world. That is only in the form of a fetus and think, how great is the power in its perfect form?"
Ethan was silent for a moment before answering firmly, "I am sure of him. My blood flows in him, and the light from his mother will illuminate him."
That creature was silent not responding for a long time and stared at Ethan in disbelief. "He doesn't know that with the union of light and darkness within this fetus it will bring an even greater disaster. But well, what can be done if his attitude is as stubborn as this?" So was the voice of the heart though the face was only silent.
"Fulfill my request. I have a strong soul and I have already given it to you."
"Very well. I will obey you and your soul will be obliterated. You will not possibly reincarnate."
Ethan glanced at Aetheria, "Give me time to say goodbye to her."
That creature seemed to think for a moment before deciding, "Very well because you are the first."