**Chapter 16-A New Path**

The evening after their emotional reunion passed in warmth and laughter. For the first time in either life, Aiden felt at peace. The dinner table was lively—Elisa's cooking filling the air with rich aroma, Den cracking jokes between mouthfuls, and Elena smiling more than he'd seen in months. Emilia, ever the anchor of their strange little family, made sure the mood stayed light.

But beneath the joy, a storm churned in Aiden's chest.

As the last plate was cleared and everyone sat back with full bellies, he stood, his expression sobering. "There's something I need to share," he said, voice steady.

The shift in tone was immediate. Den leaned forward, Elena folded her arms, and Emilia gave a quiet nod. Even Elisa, ever gentle, straightened in her seat.

Aiden took a deep breath. "It's about cultivation—and potential."

He looked at his hands, remembering the damp stone walls of that accursed Category 6 gate, and the voice of the old elf, raspy yet filled with wisdom.

"Earth's cultivation system is flawed. Incomplete. What we call 'Star Rank' talent is only the beginning. In other worlds… people refine their mana itself, purifying it. This process increases their star rank over time. A one-star can become a two-star. Then three, and so on."

They blinked, confused.

"Here, a one-star awakener is considered lucky to reach Level 3 or 4. But elsewhere? Even a one-star has the potential to become a Sovereign. The journey is just longer, harder."

Elena frowned. "And you learned this… how?"

He hesitated, then answered, "My Gift. It showed me. I can't explain everything, but I know this path is real."

It wasn't entirely a lie. The chaos core had awakened something, even if the knowledge came from a half-mad elf in a crumbling prison.

"There's a catch," he continued. "Going from one to two stars? Three to four years. Two to three stars takes a decade. Three to four takes twenty. And going from four to five stars… can take seventy years, maybe more."

"That's too long," Den said immediately. "we doesn't have seventy years."

"No," Aiden agreed. "We don't. Twelve years, at best. That's when the Category 6 gate in India opens. And after that… rest will fall in about 8 more years."

They stared at him in stunned silence.

"I didn't told you guys this to scare you," he said softly. "Even if 4 stars can't reach five stars in time, those with lower talent can still rise. One-star talents can become strong. Three-stars can reach levels they were never supposed to. And those with higher potential—if they begin now—they might just make it."

He turned to Elena. "You're one of them. If we move fast… I believe you could become a five-star in 60 years. And if you do and we somehow delayed the world,s end you will become a sovereign and become our hope rest of level 9 will follow and ."he looked at emilia "we will too"

Elena's eyes widened slightly. "You think that's possible?"

"It has to be. And I want you to share this method with the Emperor. Make it public. Let everyone try. Even if we can't save everyone… we can save enough."

A moment passed in silence.

Emilia reached out, placing a hand over his. "We'll make it happen."

Den nodded. "Damn right we will."

Elena gave a rare, fierce smile. "Leave the politics to me."

Aiden allowed himself a smile, the weight on his chest lifting—if only slightly.

The Next Morning

Aiden tugged on his coat as sunlight poured through the windows. The Academy awaited—and with it, questions he wasn't ready to answer.

"You nervous?" Emilia teased, standing behind him, fresh from the shower. Her red hair clung in damp strands to her neck, a single droplet sliding down the pale skin above her collarbone.

Aiden froze.

She noticed, of course. She always did.

"You can look properly, you know," she said with a grin, stepping closer. "No one else gets to."

He flushed crimson and turned away. "I-I wasn't—"

"You're… cute," she mumbled and

laughed and leaned in, kissing his cheek. "You're cute."

Just then, the door opened.

Elena stepped in, raising an eyebrow at the scene before her. "Should I be concerned? Why is he like a tomato"

"Nope!" Emilia chirped. "Just spreading motivation."

"Come on," Elena said dryly. "Let's see this cultivation technique you promised."

Aiden sighed. "Emi…!"

But the damage was done. Emilia grinned proudly and followed Elena outside.

With a sigh, Aiden trailed after them.

In the Garden

They gathered beneath the wide maple tree in the back garden, where the morning sun filtered through the leaves in golden shafts.

"This technique is called Core Purification," Aiden explained. "Instead of focusing on collecting mana, you circulate it within your core using a specific pattern. The goal isn't quantity—but quality. You remove impurities from your mana, refining the core itself. Over time, this raises your star talent."

He sat cross-legged, eyes closing. Slowly, mana began to flow within him, swirling through the dense, dark space of his core.

Elena, Emilia, and Den mirrored him, following his guidance.

But then something unexpected happened.

Aiden's Chaos Core stirred.

As his mana flowed in the purification pattern, the Chaos Core began absorbing the impurities directly—devouring them with terrifying efficiency. What should have taken hours was happening in moments.

His eyes snapped open, stunned.

This… this changes everything.

He focused again, feeling the way his chaos-infused core accelerated the process. He could clean an entire core in a fraction of the time. And not just his own.

He looked up, heart pounding. "If this works the way I think it does… India might have a chance."

Emilia opened her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I can speed up the purification. If I help Elena break her bottlenecks… she could reach five-star talent in twelve years."

Elena's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

"I can't help everyone," he admitted. "But I can help those closest to me. If I focus on a few key people—train them, purify their cores with my chaos powers—we can create protectors strong enough to hold the line."

He looked at his family, resolve burning in his eyes.

For the first time since he came back… he see a path forward. A real path. With this technique, and my Chaos Core… he might actually be able to save the world.

He didn't cheer. He didn't laugh.

But his silence was louder than any promise.

Hope had returned