OLD-WORLD EXTRA-Chapter 132: The Age of Myths

[I was assigned to work with a team to find anything on Earth, anything that would increase our chance at survival, and that is what I did...]

[You see... What happened to us was supernatural, fantastical even, so I focused my mind on that, and guess what?]

"You've discovered Aether."

[Yes! I've found it, I've found Aether!]

[And with it, we finally went beyond Sol's domain.]

[Us Arcanists lead the charge... But we were too late, the second Cold War erupted and we've never heard of the voice again.]

Emir took a long moment to process that information.

And after a minute or so, his face didn't show surprise like before.

It only showed genuine astonishment at the man in front of him.

"You are someone great, you know that?" He said with a chuckle.

Silent joined him in laughter.

[And you are too, not anyone can say that they are a child of an Apex.]

"True... It all fits now, like pieces of a puzzle..."

"But it makes me wonder, if we had such an ancestor, why would they let their children die off like that? Is it simply because we were a failed experiment of some sort? And what of that warning?"

[Who knows... We haven't seen or experienced anything yet. Though your words regarding your ancestor might be true, or they might not be. You can never know with higher beings.]

[And you see, I've always wondered if that voice was truly your ancestor or if they were someone else, there might be other Primordial or even Cosmic Emperors that we don't know about.]

[The First Epoch, The Age of Myths, holds many mysteries that we might never fathom...] "The Age of Myths, on the nose, don't you think?" Emir asked with a chuckle.

Silent's gaze shifted away from him as if resisting a laugh.

"Look at us... Look at me... Talking about Mythics when I was just struggling to fight against a low-ranking Tyrant."

Silent returned to look at Emir, but when he saw the snicker plastered on his face, the lecture he was about to give him flew out of his mind as they both joined each other in laughter.

["AHAHHAHAAH!"]

Moments passed, and Emir's head began to throb due to how loud Silent was, but he accepted it this time, enjoying the moment.

However, Silent still noticed his twitching eyebrow, so he calmed himself down and spoke:

[...Alright, alright, consider your reward now over. So let's get you to kill that monster to fulfill your side of the deal, shall we? Otherwise, all this training would have been for nothing.]

Emir nodded, proceeding to don his augmented suit and secure his rucksack on his back. Wearing his augmented suit after so long felt off, but for now, it was still useful to him.

Though, he knew that the time for shedding its necessity drew near, an imminent transition awaited him upon achieving the rank of Seraphim.

The rank where most celestials leave behind technology and embrace true strength...

...

Emerging from the pulsating portal, Emir found himself once again within the sprawling expanse of the underground cave system that had been his refuge for so long.

However, this time, his return marked a significant shift in his role.

No longer the hunted, he had become the hunter.

As promised, he came back to pay his dues.

A blood debt that was formed the moment he lost to the Maligorth. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

And as his eyes scanned the dimly lit surroundings, he took a purposeful step forward.

With each stride, he covered a considerable distance, his movement spanning numerous

meters.

The caverns stretched out before him, their eerie silence broken only by the faint echoes of his footsteps.

The air hung heavy with the scent of dampness, and a cool breeze whispered through the cavern, carrying with it the distant sound of trickling poison.

Stalactites clung to the ceiling like jagged teeth, their pointed forms adding an ominous touch to the underground realm.

The uneven ground beneath his feet didn't disturb his speed in the least, nor did the shadows that danced along the walls.

Stepping out into the open, Emir's voice resonated with power as he chanted:

"Flash step."

There was no then.

In the blink of an eye, he traversed a staggering kilometer, effortlessly bridging the vast distance between himself and his destination.

However, unaccustomed to such incredible speed, he stumbled upon landing, losing his balance and flipping upside down before crashing into a nearby rock formation.

Crash! Rumble, rumble...

The impact unleashed a symphony of sound as it reverberated through the surroundings, a chorus of crumbling rocks and shattering echoes, setting off a chain reaction.

The ground quivered as cracks snaked through its surface, and a rumble filled the air.

Slowly but surely, the stability of the rocks surrounding him began to crumble, until a sudden cascade of debris rained down upon him, enveloping him in a chaotic storm.

Amidst the chaos, Emir remained composed, his laughter mingling with the cacophony of destruction.

But before the rain of rocks reached him, he summoned forth an impenetrable barrier, his voice resounding once more as he chanted:

"Aetheric Shield."

The shield materialized, enveloping him from head to toe, becoming an impervious fortress.

The massive rocks hurled against it, but they were no match for its protective embrace.

Each impact only served to bounce off harmlessly, as if the weight of the debris were inconsequential.

And as the barrage of rocks finally ceased, the dust began to settle, revealing a scene of utter devastation.

The remnants of the shattered rocks and debris lay scattered around him, a testament to his newfound strength, his heightened potential for destruction.

Through it all, he stood unscathed, shielded by the formidable barrier he had conjured.

With a boisterous laugh, a single thought echoed in his mind:

"That certainly will announce my arrival.'

Scratching his hair in excitement, he rose from the wreckage, a wild smile forming on his lips

as he bellowed:

"MALIGORTH, I HAVE ARRIVED! COME FORTH, OR I SHALL UNLEASH DEVASTATION UPON

THIS VERY PLACE YOU CALL HOME!"

In response, a deafening cacophony shattered his echoing words.

The monstrous bellow of the Maligorth reverberated through the air, its deep, guttural tones resonating with raw power and primal fury.

The ground trembled beneath Emir's feet as the sound waves rippled through the surroundings, sending vibrations that seemed to penetrate the very core of the ground.

It was a symphony of menace, an intimidating roar that echoed far and wide, announcing the

impending clash between two formidable forces.

'There you are!' Emir thought eagerly, unfazed by its screams.

Without hesitation, he swiftly chanted:

"Flash step."

With each step he took, he vanished from one spot and materialized closer to his desired

location, a blur of motion in an instant, as if he was teleporting.

And a few steps later, he came to a halt, a calculated distance away from the source of the

Maligorth's roar.

Taking a brief pause, he surveyed his surroundings with an astute gaze, his keen eyesight absorbing every detail.

Simultaneously, he continuously absorbed Aether, filling up his reserves.

'I need to check out the area first,' he thought, looking to his right, at a mountain-like

structure.

With a jump, Emir propelled himself upward, his hands grasping the rugged edges of the rock

formation.

He dug his fingers into the stone, granting him a secure hold as he swiftly ascended.

Each movement of his arms brought him closer to the pinnacle.

And then, suspended in mid-air for a fleeting moment, he swung himself back and forth.

He released his grip after harnessing enough momentum, surrendering to the laws of gravity.

Soaring through the air, he flung himself to the top.

'Now... Where are you?' He thought, just as his feet landed with his eyes darting around.

Emir's gaze possessed an extraordinary range, allowing him to perceive great distances with

unparalleled clarity.

Combined with his heightened night vision, spotting the imposing figure of the Maligorth

was an effortless task.

The monstrous entity stood defiantly in the center of a meticulously cleared-out field, as though it were purposefully prepared for their impending battle.

Amused by the Maligorth's apparent desire for a fair duel, he couldn't help but chuckle

inwardly.

'You want to have a proper fight now, do you?...If you think I'm so stupid that I would let go

of my advantage, then you're already dead.'

Without even needing to turn around, he effortlessly extended his hand backward, retrieving

his Aetherstorm Launcher.

Carefully positioning its stock against his shoulder, he flashed a triumphant smile.

His lips moved silently, reciting the incantation:

"Aether Overdrive."

Those simple words caused the Aether in his surroundings to begin to fluctuate, being

absorbed and processed in his body at an incredible rate.

And that... Wasn't something that the Maligorth would fail to notice.

Emir watched as the monster turn in his direction with a surprised expression on its face, or at

least that's what he understood of it, as the monster's face was far from human.

And before it could even move a single muscle, he chanted:

"Aether Blast!"