Learn the ropes

The battlefield lay in ruin, a fractured landscape bearing witness to the cataclysmic duel between Shaun and the Warden. The air buzzed with residual energy, and the once-solid ground was marred by jagged fissures and craters. A noxious haze hung over the devastated island, the aftermath of the Blight Catalyst's detonation still resonating ominously.

The Warden stood amidst the chaos, his body battered and his reserves dwindling, relying on sheer brute force to fend off the relentless Blight Griffin. His movements were heavy, his breaths labored, but his defiance was unwavering. As he delivered another crushing blow to the abomination, he sensed an eerie shift in the atmosphere. The pervasive silence became oppressive, almost unnatural, as if the very world was holding its breath.

Surveying the destruction, the Warden allowed himself a grim smile. Shaun was gone—eradicated by the overwhelming power of his own creation. Yet, a flicker of unease gnawed at him. The silence was too still, too absolute, and the air itself seemed charged with latent anticipation.

The Blight Griffin screeched, its corrosive attack spreading like a cancer across the battlefield, forcing the Warden to reengage. He grappled with the monstrous creature, his fists smashing into its twisted form even as its blight-stricken essence threatened to consume him. He should have fallen long ago, yet sheer will kept him standing—a testament to his demigod nature.

And then it happened.

A tremor surged through the earth, a deep, resonant pulse that radiated outward, shattering the fragile peace. The ground beneath the Warden cracked and groaned, emerald light spilling from the widening fissures like molten glass. The glow grew brighter, more intense, as if the island itself was being torn apart to birth something new.

The Warden's eyes narrowed, disbelief mingling with apprehension as the light began to coalesce. It solidified into a jagged crystalline cocoon, grotesque and pulsating with a corrupt energy that felt disturbingly familiar. A presence stirred within, and the Warden's dread deepened.

The crystalline shell fractured with an otherworldly sound, shards falling away like shattered stars. From within, a figure emerged—not in an explosive burst, but with deliberate, unrelenting grace. The Warden's breath hitched as Shaun stepped forth, his form untouched by the ravages of their battle, his youthful appearance restored. His hair was slightly longer, and his aura clung to him like a second skin, shifting and twisting with unnatural vitality.

But it was his eyes that froze the Warden. Once warm and ember-like, they now burned cold, an emerald fire that consumed all it beheld. These were not the eyes of the boy who had fought and fallen; they were the eyes of something reborn, a predator forged in the crucible of destruction.

Shaun stood tall, his presence filling the battlefield as the remnants of the crystalline cocoon dissolved into glowing dust. He raised a hand, emerald energy swirling at his fingertips, and smirked. His voice, deep and resonant, echoed across the desolate expanse.

"Round two?"

The Warden's lips curled into a grimace, his exhaustion masked by grim determination. He gestured toward the Blight Griffin, now shifting from its monstrous form into a roiling mass of blighted corruption, its essence reforming into something even more grotesque and deadly.

"How about you take on your pet first?" the Warden spat, his voice carrying a mixture of taunt and challenge.

Shaun turned, his sharp gaze locking onto the mutated griffin as it lunged toward him, its corrosive form leaving a trail of rot in its wake.

The Blight Griffin's attack was relentless, a tempest of corruption and decay that descended upon Shaun without warning. The creature's corrosive energy struck faster than expected, grazing Shaun's arm and leaving a faint, sizzling mark on his otherwise flawless skin. His emerald aura flared instinctively, shielding him from further damage as he stepped back, fluidly dodging the griffin's follow-up assault. With a brief, glowing touch to his arm, the scratch vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Shaun's expression shifted from irritation to mild curiosity, his fingers brushing over the now-healed spot. He locked eyes with the monstrous creature, his sharp gaze scrutinizing its twisted form.

"Man, I just got my body revived," Shaun muttered, annoyance dripping from his tone. "And I'm already getting scratched? What the hell are you?"

He paused, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the aura radiating from the griffin. The eerie familiarity of it sent a chill up his spine, and his irritation turned to intrigue. "And why does your residual energy feel… somewhat similar to my aura?"

The griffin screeched, its form pulsating with raw corruption, as if taunting him in response. Shaun's stance shifted, his emerald energy coiling around him like a living thing, ready to strike.

"Well, guess I'll just have to figure it out the hard way," he muttered, a smirk creeping onto his face as he prepared to confront the enigmatic creature head-on.

The griffin screeched in response, its crimson eyes glowing with malice. Shaun's eyes narrowed as he sensed an eerie familiarity in the creature's aura.

"I see now," Shaun said, his tone shifting to calm determination. "You're not just some mindless beast. Fine, let's end this properly."

He raised his left hand, the bracelet on his wrist glowing with an otherworldly black light. From it, a blade began to form—a sleek, obsidian weapon that seemed to devour everything around it. The Void Blade pulsed with energy, its edge shimmering with a spectral glow that hinted at the immense power it carried.

Shaun's aura flared, merging with the blade as he infused it with attributes learned from Umbra: the Void Style, a technique designed for precision and overwhelming force and utilizing attribute of void. The air around him grew cold and still, as though the battlefield itself held its breath.

The Blight Griffin roared, sensing the shift in Shaun's energy, and launched another barrage—corruption-laced flames, acidic winds, and blighted spikes converging in a deadly storm. Shaun stepped forward, his movements a blur as he deflected the attacks with the Void Blade, each strike dissipating the energy in a cascade of shimmering black light.

When the griffin dived at him, claws outstretched, Shaun vanished in a flash of speed, reappearing behind it. A dark spot appeared on the ground where he stood, an ominous void-like distortion forming beneath his feet.

"Let's see how you handle oblivion style," Shaun said, his voice cold and unwavering.

He drove the Void Blade into the black spot, the energy resonating outward. From the distortion, blades of void energy erupted in multiple directions, slicing through the air with precision and speed. The attacks reappeared simultaneously around the griffin, striking it from every angle. The creature screeched in agony, its form writhing as the void energy reaped through its corrupted body in a relentless, coordinated onslaught.

Shaun maintained the assault, his aura fueling the combo move with unwavering focus. Each strike of the Void Blade was calculated, exploiting the griffin's weaknesses and bypassing its regeneration with the blade's annihilative properties.

The Blight Griffin faltered, its massive wings struggling to lift it as the barrage continued. Its screeches grew weaker, its aura dimming as the void energy consumed it. With one final, decisive thrust of the Void Blade, Shaun released a surge of power that pierced through the creature's core.

The creature let out a deafening screech, its massive form trembling under the onslaught. As the barrage subsided, it stumbled backward, its wings faltering, its aura dimming. Shaun held his ground, his Void Blade gleaming in his hand as he prepared for the final strike.

But then, something shifted.

The Blight Griffin's burning crimson eyes softened, its once-malicious gaze replaced by a flicker of recognition. The battlefield grew eerily still as the creature lowered its head slightly, emitting a low, rumbling growl that resonated through the air. Shaun frowned, sensing the change.

"What's this now?" he muttered, cautiously maintaining his stance.

The griffin took a step forward, its movements slow and deliberate, as if testing Shaun's reaction. The oppressive Blighted Aura around it began to wane, the once-toxic energy receding like a tide. Shaun's aura flickered in response, an echo of something deeper stirring within him.

And then it hit him.

"This... you recognize me," Shaun said, his voice laced with surprise and curiosity. "You're drawn to my aura, aren't you?"

The griffin let out a soft, guttural sound—not a growl of defiance, but a rumble of submission. Its massive form lowered further, its scaled chest nearly touching the ground as it folded its serrated wings. The creature's eyes remained locked on Shaun, glowing with an almost reverent light.

The Warden wasted no time in recovering from the Blight Griffin's curse and corruption. His aura stabilized quickly, and he glanced at Shaun with an amused smirk.

Warden: "Why wouldn't it be attracted to you? It's a creation of yours, after all."

Shaun, narrowing his eyes, stepped closer, his tone sharp. "My creation? What do you mean?"

The Warden shrugged nonchalantly, his tone calm but firm. "It was born as a result of the self-destruct attack you unleashed last time. You know, the one you so recklessly called the Blight Catalyst. All that excessive energy you left behind twisted into that creature. That's why it's drawn to you."

Realization dawned on Shaun, his fiery eyes gleaming with intrigue. "So, that's it. The Blight Griffin is the byproduct of my power. Fascinating... That explains the resonance between us."

The Warden, now fully healed, adjusted his stance and raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, would you like to start the second round? Or are you ready to quit?"

Shaun smirked, his fiery blade vanishing into his bracelet as he cracked his neck. "Your call. I'll fight, no matter how long it takes. You've seen what I can do."

The Warden's expression shifted, his posture relaxing. Despite being physically ready, his gaze betrayed a lack of interest. "Nah, I think I'll pass. I've seen enough for today. Let's just say I accept my defeat."

Shaun froze, his smirk dropping into a frown. "What?"

The Warden folded his arms, a faint grin playing on his lips. "Kid, I'll become your teacher. No need for contracts or formalities. I'll abide by your wishes."

Shaun's irritation flared as he gestured broadly, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Oh, is this a joke? I went through all this just for you to back out? You call this a fair fight? Why are you showing me mercy? You think I wouldn't notice you holding back from the start? What's the deal—were you just testing me?"

The Warden's calm demeanor remained unshaken. "Testing you? Let's not exaggerate. If burning you, chaining you, cutting you to pieces, and launching attacks that could've turned you into a literal corpse counts as 'mercy' in your eyes, I'd love to hear what 'punishment' means to you."

Shaun glared, his fists clenching at his sides.

The Warden continued, his tone softening slightly. "Truth is, you performed far better than the limits I set for you. If I pushed any further, I'd have had no choice but to eliminate you outright. And that would've defeated the whole purpose. I failed to beat you within those limits, so I admit defeat."

Shaun stared at him, his irritation mingling with grudging respect. After a moment, he let out a sharp exhale, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Shaun: "Tch. Fine. But don't think this means you're off the hook. If you're going to be my teacher, I expect you to keep up next time."

The Warden chuckled, his eyes glinting with approval. "Deal. Next time, kid."

The Warden maintained his calm exterior, but his mind was a storm of thoughts, the slightest smirk betraying his true emotions.

No doubt about it... this kid has ascended to the spiritual realm. Amazing. A mere child accomplishing something that even many gods struggle with— incredible. And that's only scratching the surface of what he's shown me today. Such precision, such raw potential.

He watched Shaun, who stood resolute, his fiery ember eyes brimming with defiance and energy. The Warden's smirk grew slightly as he tilted his head, his gaze thoughtful.

I'm impressed, no question about it. What would the absolute prime of this boy look like? Unfathomable. It's been centuries since something—or someone—managed to pique my curiosity like this. Looks like I've found myself quite a toy... quite an amazing one.

Shaun ran his hand across the Griffin's feathers, the oily sheen of its scales refracting faint light. His fingers tingled as he made contact, a residual pulse of corrupted energy still lingering in the air. His mind raced as he processed the whirlwind of events that had brought him here.

Today was… something else.

He let out a slow breath, his thoughts spiraling as he pieced everything together.

A battle to the death with a god. Almost died—felt pain like nothing I've ever known. Then actually died, only to be forced into the spiritual realm to ascend. And as if that wasn't enough, I find out about some cosmic game orchestrated by a being so far beyond me it's laughable. Now, apparently, I'm a player in that game. Oh, and let's not forget the cherry on top—two of my servants back home are dead. Whoever did that…

His hand clenched into a fist as his gaze sharpened.

…they'll pay for it. I'll find out who, why, and how. And I'll deliver judgment.

Lost in his thoughts, Shaun suddenly broke the silence with a shout. "By the way, what's your name, dude?"

The Warden—no, the being standing before him—blinked in disbelief. His expression quickly twisted into one of outrage.

"What?" he roared, his voice like an earthquake. "You fought me without even knowing who I was or my name? Outrageous! Incredible! Are you some kind of buffoon?"

Shaun raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed. "Just answer the question, old man. My name's Shaun. You didn't know it either, right?"

The Warden's eye twitched, but a begrudging smirk tugged at his lips. "Hah! Like I'd care to know the name of some nobody human." He paused, his voice lowering with a touch of pride. "But be glad, Shaun, for you are about to hear a name few mortals have had the privilege of knowing."

Straightening, the Warden's presence grew even more imposing, a shimmering aura of power radiating from him as he began his declaration.

"My name is Aethralis. Before my imprisonment and corruption, I was known as the Warden of Aeons. A demi-god who served as the guardian spirit of this land, a conduit of its vitality. I was attuned to its rhythms and tempered by its storms."

His voice darkened, and his gaze flickered with a mix of rage and regret. "But greed knows no bounds. The avarice of others led to my downfall, culminating in my imprisonment and the corruption of my very essence."

Shaun tilted his head, letting the name and the story sink in. "Aethralis, huh? Big name for a big guy." His lips curled into a wry smile. "Well, nice to meet you… I guess."

Aethralis huffed, crossing his arms. "You are as insufferable as you are peculiar, human. Perhaps this won't be as dull as I feared."