—

Following his Aspect’s activation, the area within a small radius of Kieran plunged into a space devoid of vibrancy.

An amalgam of black, red, and dark grey energy fused into an aberrant power that exuded a chaotic, destructive, and dismantling presence.

The existence of such a power was lost upon many that tried to grasp it. Many people had their speculations, but the principle of this power was far too elusive.

Not many individuals could grasp the transient essence required to create an Aspect, much less one that triggered an ominous phenomenon.

However, although most spectators were mystified by the power Kieran had just revealed, there were some dismayed by it precisely because they were aware of such a presence.

Aspects were the base form of Dominions, a power that no one under the level of a Second Awakening should grasp.

‘This damned boy! He’s even hidden something like this from me?! Not only has he awakened a Soul Trait powerful enough to crush the agency of semi-Advanced Being, but he’s even formed an irregular Aspect?! I must’ve been too lenient for him to keep such secrets from me. Damned brat!’ Scar thought with an uneasy expression.

If Kieran had revealed this under better circumstances, he wouldn’t have been so worried. But, Aspects fused multiple facets of one’s power by extracting a focal point from the user’s desires and manipulating it as the heart of the Aspect.

When Kieran first created this Aspect, a fragment of his soul resonated with three major principles at the time.

The first: destroying the enemies before him and emerging superior.

The second: negating his enemy’s attacks, leaving them void of energy.

The third: finding order within the chaos to achieve a genuinely unpredictable power.

When these three melded as one, it created his currently incomplete Aspect, which could still grow. Despite the magnificence of this feat, even General Zieg and Scar looked upon the unruly energy with fearful expressions.

What kind of soul could serve as the basis for an Aspect centered around the rudimentary forms of three major powers? Such a power did not come without a cost.

While the others looked at this battle with apprehension and fear, curiosity grew within Thrax’s eyes. He wiped the side of his face and noticed a bead of sweat flowing down his forehead, something he hadn’t expected.

‘I’m sweating? Do I feel fear that I’m not aware of? It can’t be the temperature of this place because I sense nothing unusual besides this boy,’ Thrax mused, shifting his gaze from his damp finger to Kieran’s contorted expression.

Rather than approach Kieran, Thrax glanced in General Zieg’s direction. “What is wrong with this boy? Why is he emitting such a strange power? Furthermore… why is he still standing?”

“The answer to the latter question is something I do not possess. However, the reason for the former is this young boy has created an Aspect,” General Zieg truthfully admitted.

But, what he didn’t reveal was his inner thoughts.

‘The energy level isn’t that strong… but the purity of this Aspect surpasses my own. In its current form, the Aspect’s density is irrelevant. As long as it is pure….’ General Zieg gulped as an appalled light flashed in his eyes. ‘There’s a chance it can jump levels and inflict damage.’

Even if Kieran failed to complete the Herculean Round, his current actions confirmed one thing—he would undoubtedly be named an elite of this generation. A Soul Trait and an Aspect while merely an Intermediate Being?

This level of talent was unheard of.

After all, even though the Arcane One stepped in, there was no guarantee his Akashic Seal could unearth Kieran’s Soul Trait. Some people lacked a defined soul, meaning it was bare and undeserving of specified traits.

Moreover, the difficulty of unlocking one’s soul was directly related to its strength, even if someone employed transcendental means. The potential of one’s soul was an unchangeable matter. The only variable was how much of one’s soul was unearthed.

No one could mentally prepare themselves for these abnormal circumstances.

“An Aspect,” Thrax muttered with a strange light in his eyes.

He had heard of Aspects before because all the personnel above a High Commander status possessed one, but he had never heard of someone creating one at this age.

All of the Generals were hundreds of years old at the least. But the boy before him seemed no older than 20 years old, and it could be confirmed by his skeletal age if they ran some tests on Kieran’s vessel.

Kieran’s brow twitched after he tried to move his body but noticed half of it felt inoperable. It was naturally the half of his body holding Crimson Ashrune. Even the effects of Tormented Beliefs: Dull couldn’t offset the damage inflicted by Thrax’s attack.

“Hmm,” Kieran grumbled, his throat rumbling like a growl of a feral beast. He waved his arm in a chaotic manner before grasping a tendril of the ominous energy that circulated his body.

Once he grasped this energy, Kieran’s eyes lifted from the wound and fell upon Thrax with a peculiar glint. Despite the state of his gaze, describing his current emotion as wrath was incorrect.

Kieran’s only desire was to inflict the same damage he suffered, perhaps even greater. Because of this thought, Kieran lifted his right hand with his index finger extended, pointing at Thrax.

“Disappear,” Kieran uttered.

Ooom!

The chaotic energy swathed Kieran’s arm like a coiling snake before discharging from his one fingertip. A crude beam of energy arrived before Thrax in an instant, dismantling space in the process, but it was only temporary, recovering a moment later.

Nevertheless, the incoming attack wasn’t something Thrax could overlook. So he threw his gauntlet toward the incoming belt of energy and swayed to the side in one fluid motion.

Although Kieran’s attack seemed weak, Thrax grimaced when he felt his gauntlet contact the energy. ‘What the hell?! What type of energy is this?’

The contact was brief and slight, but Thrax felt as if his muscle and bone had become feeble for a moment, reverting to a fragility possessed during his years as an Intermediate Being.

“This boy’s power is strange. My power hasn’t receded, but meeting that attack gave off the impression that it did. It was as if all my progress was destroyed,” Thrax muttered, confounded by his discoveries.

This power was too dangerous to let run amok!

After resolving himself to do what was required, the look in Thrax’s eyes changed as a deep yellow aura surfaced around his body.

“Advanced Pressure: Herculean Brawn!”

Thrax’s body grew twice as large, gaining the size of the Giant Ogre Kieran battled against inside Forest of Marshullum. Additionally, he retrieved his second gauntlet, achieving a complete presence.

General Zieg inwardly groaned after witnessing this scene.

Not only had Thrax equipped his second weapon, he even activated his Advanced Pressure which had a suppressive effect on any being below his standard, including weaker Advanced Beings.

Were such drastic measures necessary against an opponent that could barely move?

Most people asked themselves this question after failing to grasp the true nature of Kieran’s Aspect.

While others feared the outcome of Thrax’s actions, Kieran indifferently glanced at it as if it were insignificant. Like the pressure that held him in place earlier, Kieran’s Aspect dismantled Thrax’s pressure once it invaded his realm of supremacy.

As General Zieg feared, such a pure Aspect blurred the lines between power differentiation. Of course, it wasn’t an omnipotent power. Not only did blood slowly trickle from Kieran’s eyesocket, but he also couldn’t create more of this aura.

General Zieg noticed that after Kieran sent that attack toward Thrax, the chaotic tendrils surrounding Kieran’s body lessened by an equal amount.

‘This power mostly likely has a ceiling under which Thrax happens to fall. If he isn’t careful, Aatrox will undoubtedly seek vengeance. Based on his personality thus far, he has reciprocated the attitude of every opponent. Thrax began this match on the wrong foot, and Aatrox will probably end it terribly. That is my conclusion.’

While General Zieg predicted the outcome, Thrax suddenly received a telepathic message from High Commander Igris.

‘Finish that young boy right this instant. His Aspect is dangerous and destructive. Do not let him continue with the false notion that he is your equal or superior.’

Thrax didn’t respond as it was something he was incapable of. But, his response showed in his actions.

Bang!

Thrax dashed toward Kieran while pointing the gauntlets toward one another. An ember of yellow energy flickered before growing into a flame-like presence.

However, it could truly be considered a flame. It was merely a manifestation of his might in a practical form.

Unfortunately for Thrax, he made a grave oversight by stepping into Kieran’s limited range of activity. Beyond this point, perhaps he stood a chance by dodging, but by stepping amongst the chaotic tendrils, Thrax resigned himself to fate.

“Ruin his heart,” Kieran spoke, stabbing his right hand forward like a blade. Half of the tendrils massed as one, wreathing Kieran’s arm.

Kieran didn’t defend against Thrax’s incoming fist and matched the speed of the strike. If Thrax continued, Kieran’s strike would undoubtedly pierce his chest since it was an attack aimed at his heart.

A moment of hesitation befell Thrax’s actions, where he considered withdrawing. But, the delay was foolish, providing Kieran an opportunity to act haphazardly.

Kieran completed his attack regardless of whether Thrax advanced or retreated.

Schrrrk!

A ripping noise sounded after Thrax dodged at the last second. As Kieran claimed, he wanted to ruin Thrax’s heart, in other words, kill him. Kieran’s abnormal attack ripped off a large part of his armor as blood flowed down Thrax’s arm.

However, Kieran didn’t stop there. He exhausted the remainder of his Aspect after instantly dropping Crimson Ashrune to make a secondary attack.

This one, however, pierced through Thrax’s stomach, leaving a gaping hole.

Time seemed to stop for everything after this happened.

Had he just killed last year’s Champion?!

***

A

/N: Please read the Creator’s Thoughts for a link to the discord if you’re interested!