Aenon lay on the massive bed in the mansion's master bedroom, just staring at the ceiling above. Just like the rest of the mansion, it too had elaborate decorations and intricate carvings. But his mind was not focused on the imagery. He was lost in thought about the recent happenings, and how his life had upended so quickly. He had gone from a loner who shunned any human interaction to the leader of a city full of people. He could feel the subtle weight of the chains that were starting to wrap themselves around him.

Even though he was ok with helping those that needed it, he did not want to be burdened by the wants and needs of an entire city. But these chains were harder to break than the others. He could break away from the control of tyrants without worrying about the consequences because then it only affected him. But this was different. If he was to walk away from this, the people who would suffer would be the ones who had no one to rely on. People who were in the same position as him and Harley after their parents were killed. And walking away when he had the ability to do so would burden him with guilt.

"So, the question is, do I don the chains of responsibility, or carry the burden of guilt," Aenon whispered to himself. He wondered what his parents or sister would say about it. Would they ask him to do the right thing, knowing well that he would be restricting his freedom. Or would they ask him to care just for himself, ignoring the plight of the unfortunate.

"A question every Alpha has to face at some point," Bane spoke up from where he was lying next to the bed.

"And how does one decide the right answer?" Aenon asked while sitting up in bed and turning towards Bane.

"There is no right answer, Alpha. You just learn to live with the decision you make," Bane responded morosely.

"Well, that was helpful," Aenon said sarcastically before falling back down onto the bed. But Bane continued.

"Let me rephrase my last statement. It depends on which decision you can learn to live with," Bane said.

Aenon thought hard about what Bane said, and the answer was obvious. But it didn't make it any easier to make the call. He had made it his life's mission to live free, and this was deviating away from it.

"If only it were that simple," Aenon replied softly. He grumbled internally while pulling up his stat sheet to finally spend some of his SP. He currently had 170 SP to spend, and his Tracking (woods) was at Expert rank. He also had a Tracking (urban) skill which he never used, which is why it was lagging at Novice rank.

Skill Upgraded | Tracking (Woods) – Expert → Savant | 24 SP used

Skills Upgraded | Tracking (Urban) – Novice → Savant | 30 SP used

Skill Merged | Stealth (Urban/Woods) + Tracking (Urban) + Tracking (Woods) | 40 SP used

Skill Upgraded | Mana Manipulation – Master → Savant | 20 SP used

That left him with 56 SP left, which he left for any future upgrades. The rate at which he gained SP was still significant when compared to average, but still slow. He had even gained a level in his Void Stalker Class after beating Gorin in the duel.

Level Up | Void Stalker: Level 26 → Level 27 | +4 INT | +10 WIL | +4 PER

He pulled up his state sheet to check out the changes.

Aenon/Ashryn Fenrast

Race: Ascended Human (M)

Age: 13 years

Level 32

Class: Void Stalker (Level 27)

Subclass: Abyssal Warden (Level 36)

HP: 16580

HP Regen: 331/min

MP: 20620

MP Regen: 460.8/min

Stats - Multiplier: 128 (Locked)

STR: 1658

CON: 1657

DEX: 1662

INT: 2062

WIL: 2304

PER: 1772

Titles (1680 points)

Unfettered Soul (+65 all), Alpha (+20 all), Domain Walker (Withheld), Bulwark (+5 all), Speed Runner (+10 all), Hoarder (+5 all), Landlord 2 (+25 all), Planetary Forerunner (+30 all), Ancient Killer (+20 all), Untouchable 2 (+40 all), Archivist (+5 all), Royal Assassin (+30 all), Corruption Cleanser (+5 all)

Lone Wolf (+2% Title stats)

Prodigious Mage (+10% Title stats)

Nature's Attendant (+200 all stats when within 50 meters of sapling)

Skills (Available SP: 56)

Weapons (Unarmed, Daggers, Traps) | Savant

Stealth and Tracking (Woods, Urban) | Savant

Mana Manipulation | Savant

Empty

Internalized Skills

Identify

Mana Sense

Soul Authority – Sovereign's Eye, Soul Beacon, Soul Purge, Soul Syphon (Unfettered Soul)

System's Grace

He got a mild headache as the Skill upgrades kicked in. But luckily since he had much higher WIL stat, the effect was not that bad. He was not sure what to equip in his last free slot, or what to spend the 56 SP on. So, he let them be for now. Maybe he would find something useful while hunting the other alphas. Speaking of which, he asked Bane the question that had been delayed for so long.

"How was your recon mission?" Aenon asked. With back-to-back fiascos, they never got around to talking about it. Bane sat up straight before answering.

"We were not able to locate any other alphas," Bane replied. "But I got a feeling the ant colony should have had a leader variant. Did you not get an update for your Title quest after the kill?"

Aenon checked his quest log, and indeed he had not received any update for his Domain Walker title, except the addition of another settlement to his Domain. Which was strange, since he was sure an Fire Ant Queen would be considered a leader variant. And they were in fact predators too.

"This means either they are not counted as an alpha variant, or that I missed something," Aenon spoke his thought out loud.

"Unlikely," Bane shook his head. "If I was to guess, they may be in the process of raising a new queen. Many hive predators are like that."

"Hmm. Looks like it," Aenon nodded in acknowledgement. "I may have to pay them a visit again. I didn't really get train my fire spells either. Nor did I enter the dungeon."

"I'd suggest fixing your weapons before that," Bane said. "And perhaps better prepare this time. You have an entire city's worth of resources at your disposal. Would be a waste if you didn't use it."

"True. I should probably grab some potions and things," Aenon said while recalling how Ignar's party fought the Treant. The potions were something he was really interested in. "Anyway, that still leaves two more unknown alphas I need to contend against. One of which is definitely amongst the Treants."

Bane simply nodded and lay back down.

Aenon quickly jumped off the bed and ran to take a shower, eager to get back on the road after making a few stops in the city he now owned. It took a great deal of self-control not to smash the obnoxious golden statues that decorated the insanely luxurious bathroom. It would just create more work for the maids and servants. He would ask Henry to melt those down too.

After getting dressed, Aenon was about to head out when he sensed multiple people marching towards his room. He quickly asked Bane to dive into his shadow and turned to face the door. Henry entered the room with the maids in tow, carrying silver trays laden with far too much food for one person. Like a well-rehearsed dance, they went about setting the food before standing in line at the edge of the room. Aenon was flummoxed at how to address this. He had specifically asked that they not do over the top things like this. At least they all seemed well fed.

"I believe I asked you not to do these kinds of things. Specially since I will be leaving the mansion for an extended period, and all this food is simply too much for me anyway," Aenon said curtly.

"I apologize on behalf of my men and women, but this is something they themselves wanted to do. To thank you for what you have done for them. And worry not Lord Fenrast, the food that you cannot finish can be packed for your journey. The head chef is a Master level Cook, and the foods will give many valuable buffs for the journey," Henry replied formally with a bow.

Aenon didn't know how to respond to that, since he could clearly feel the sincerity and gratitude radiating off all the maids and servants present. He was trying to come up with an appropriate reply when one of the maids, a twenty something woman of decently good looks stepped forward and got down on one knee.

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"Words cannot express how grateful we are to you, Lord Fenrast. We just wanted to extend a token of our appreciation," she said politely.

Aenon internally sighed in defeat.

"Very well then. I will gladly accept the gift," Aenon replied while trying desperately not to scratch the back of his neck in embarrassment. His response brought a bright smile to the woman's face, as she got up and bowed while guiding him to the dining table on the side of the room.

Aenon sat down and ate in utter silence, as the army of helpers served him from all sides. He bit down any rhetorical statements and simply tried to enjoy the food. And it was truly delectable, making him scarf down more food than he thought possible. His eagerness to eat though, delighted those around him. And true to his word, by the time he was done eating, he had a bunch of status buffs, such as higher movement speed, improved rate of Skill proficiency improvement, and even additional stats. Too bad they were temporary and would expire after 4 hours.

Aenon almost burped out loud when he was done. If this was the food prepared by a Master ranked chef, he couldn't imagine the food made by someone at Savant rank. He checked his skill list and saw his cooking was at Adept rank. Having lived by himself for so long, and cooked a variety of wild game, he had fashioned himself to be a decent cook. Sadly, the System didn't agree. He immediately decided to equip cooking into his last free slot. He would not spend SP to level it, but planned to raise its rank the hard way, if only for the satisfaction of enjoying delicious meals.

"Ahem. Thank you for this splendid meal. I have truly enjoyed it," Aenon replied, trying his hardest to maintain a neutral tone. "But I do not think I have the room to carry all this food with me."

"You need not worry about that. We will deposit all of this, and additional supplies into a storage ring that you can carry with you," Henry said with a bow. He then directed the others to start the cleanup as he escorted Aenon down to his office.

Dread filled Aenon's heart as he noticed the long line outside his office. They looked to be from all walks of life, from simple farmers to seasoned warriors, and even some nobles. They all looked like they needed something, since everyone looked impatiently at him as he passed.

"Am I meeting all of them?" Aenon asked casually, even though internally he was sweating. If he started meeting everyone, he would never get to leave on his mission. And after his violent display yesterday, and the humble surprise from the mansion staff, he did not have the heart to spurn everyone.

"Oh, heavens no, sire. They are waiting in line for me," Henry replied with a smile. "There is just one group you need to meet while I will address the others."

Aenon breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that. One group was at least tolerable. And sensing who it was he was supposed to meet, he could potentially kill two birds with one stone. He followed Henry in and saw Thalindra, and Ignar's party stand up in respect. The Guild Leader though was nowhere to be seen. Aenon quickly took his seat at the head of the table, followed by everyone else.

"How are your injuries?" Aenon asked Ignar before anyone could dive into the official business they no doubt were here for.

"I am recovering relatively quickly, thanks to Lady Sylvathorn's help," Ignar responded while casting a furtive glance towards the soul mage. Aenon was sure, the sly woman had asked Ignar to mention that to Aenon to clear some of the bad blood between them. Not that Aenon cared one way or another. He was neutral when it came to her. He wasn't overtly fond of her, but neither did he hate her. She had done what she felt was right. But Aenon would always be on guard around her due to her powers.

"Good to know," Aenon replied tersely to show his displeasure at the subtle hint of political scheming. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting? And where might the Guild Leader be?"

He could clearly see the Assistant Guild Leader deflate at his response. She at least had the presence of mind not to shield her soul like usual in his presence—not that it would have helped since Aenon's upgrade. She hesitated for a moment before putting on a professional demeanor.

"The Guild Leader is still recovering. His injuries have been particularly difficult to heal," she replied before pausing, perhaps expecting Aenon to lend a hand in the healing process. But when Aenon said nothing, she continued in a defeated voice, "As such, I am the acting Guild Leader for the moment. Which is why I am extending an unconditional apology on behalf of everyone at the Guild, for all our actions towards you. That of course is in addition to the reward that you are owed for your help in ridding the city of a significant menace."

"I don't need the reward. You can negotiate with Henry about it and extend it towards the Jadefall citizens to help them recover," Aenon said dismissively. The lesser ties he had with the Guild leadership the better. He would gladly interact with members such as Ignar, but he would choose who he liked. He did not want anyone to expect a favor in return.

"That… is very generous of you," Thalindra responded tactfully. Aenon could sense the turmoil within her soul, which indicated the meeting was not going as she expected. "Which brings us to the main reason we are here: The elf. What do you intend to do with him?"

Aenon stared at her in silence. The elf was currently being held in the mansion's dungeon, after Aenon had thoroughly interrogated him. But he could pick up on the unasked question with ease.

"You mean, do I intend to execute the elf too?" Aenon replied while interlacing his fingers on the table. Everyone tensed up at his statement.

"Ummm, yes," Thalindra responded hesitantly. "Unlike the Mayor and Rowanth, the assassin is a well-known figure amongst some powerful political circles. The deaths of the two can perhaps be negotiated, but the death of…"

"So?" Aenon interrupted her.

"I… I don't follow?" Thalindra asked in confusion.

"Are we supposed to let him go with a slap on his wrist because of his connections?" Aenon elaborated.

"Uh, no that is not what I meant," Thalindra tried to explain uncomfortably, but Aenon cut her off.

"Then what did you mean?"

"His life can be a bargaining chip when dealing with those powers. We can do a prisoner swap or ask that the deaths of Damaris and Rowanth be forgiven. It is only a few months before this planet is open to all. We will need political leverage if we are to survive the oncoming storm. Surely you see that," Thalindra pleaded.

Aenon looked at everyone in the room. Only Henry and Thalindra had fear etched across their faces. Ignar and his party, on the other hand, had steely gazes. The hate was obvious, as was the reason behind it. But they held their tongue out of respect for their superior. The berserker was downright livid but controlled himself remarkably well given his Class's disposition to anger.

Silence lingered in air for a while. But Aenon's question spread nothing but confusion all around.

"What is a Path?" Aenon asked with an intense gaze.

"Why do you ask?" Ignar asked, momentarily forgetting his anger in the process. When Aenon didn't respond, he answered. "It's a conviction rooted in the soul—an understanding of who you are at your core. It unlocks your outer soul space, and the System grants a Title for it… but that barely scratches the surface. Those who walk a true Path are called Awakened."

"Then you know that I have one," Aenon said quietly. "A Path."

Ignar studied him for a long moment, then gave a solemn nod. Aenon didn't elaborate. Instead, he turned toward his shadow, decision made.

"Bane. Bring me the bargaining chip."

Gasps rippled through the room as his shadow slithered away. The door creaked open—then shut as the silhouette slipped outside.

Aenon spoke again, voice soft yet resonant. "I hate being tied down in any way. But I can't ignore suffering—not when I hold the power to stop it."

Aenon got up and walked up to the window, looking at the bustling city.

"The best thing about freedom is that you answer to no one. You live—and die—on your own terms. That is what I crave above all. That… is my Path."

Silence. He could feel every eye locked on his back.

"Unfortunately," he whispered, "everything has a price."

Just as the tension grew unbearable, the floor burst open as a shadow streamed in. Bane emerged, dragging the muzzled elf and tossing him to the ground. The wretch looked up in panic, pleading with his eyes—though no sound escaped past the gag.

A minute passed.

"The desire for freedom in me screams to abandon this town," Aenon said. "To run from responsibility, break every chain, and disappear. But I know I'd live the rest of my life with the guilt of leaving people behind."

He turned to face them fully.

"So, I chose chains over regret. That's why I took this position."

His eyes met each person's in turn, steady and unblinking. The elf, confused and desperate, sensed the weight of the moment, sensing that his life was in the balance.

"Letting this man live—because someone stronger demanded it—would also leave me with guilt. And I refuse to carry that." Aenon's tone was final, resolute. "So, I leave the choice to you. Let him live—and cut ties with me forever. Bow to those above you and live in their shadow. Or end him—and tie your fates with mine."

Aenon's Aura flared unabated at his ultimatum. Utter silence reigned in the room. Everyone was stunned speechless, for it was not what anyone had expected. Many were probably under the impression that Aenon would force them to comply with his demands or at least threaten them with dire consequences. Everyone except four people.

"Heh. Just like last time, eh?" one of the dwarves from Ignar's party chucked loudly.

"But instead of a coin, the price is sparing this vermin's life," Velastra added with disdain.

"But the prize is the same, isn't it?" Ignar continued with a melancholic smile.

"Coin? Prize? What are you talking about?" Thalindra asked in a desperate tone, trying to make sense of the situation.

No one answered her. Everyone's gaze was locked onto Aenon. But Ignar put forth a question Aenon wasn't expecting.

"Our lives. What are they worth to you?"

Aenon's gaze locked with Ignar's—and for a moment, time slowed. He saw it. The same soul-fluctuation Jenny had exhibited before her Awakening. And not just in Ignar. Velastra. The dwarves. All four of them were close.

His Soul Beacon had gotten stronger too. It pulsed with growing urgency, syncing with his heartbeat. Each thrum revealed more of their souls than words ever could.

Even Thalindra, being an experienced soul mage, began to feel it. Aenon sensed a deeper connection between the elite party and her. But he didn't have time to think about that.

He turned to Ignar, letting his Skill guide him.

"A life's worth cannot be determined by any one person," he stated calmly. "You are the net sum of your actions; of the bonds you have forged with others. No one can put a price to that. Your worth, Ignar, is reflected in the eyes of those three beside you. For it is them that you share a bond with. They are the ones for whom you withstood pain and suffering. And for whom you have remained Unbroken."

Aenon's Aura leaked into the words despite himself. He then turned to Velastra.

"You command brimstone and fire—not for yourself though. But for those who you hold dear. Your worth, Velastra, is based on the fire kindling within your heart. Your Heartflame is one that eternally protects."

Aenon felt a spiderweb of cracks forming around the souls of the married couple. Satisfied, he turned to the twins last. Even with his Sovereign's Eye, he couldn't tell them apart. That is how closely they resembled each other. But they were missing something. A piece that was snatched away by force, keeping an untethered link that hung in the air. But it was pointing downward. Almost like…

The dwarves exchanged a glance, unsure why Aenon was suddenly staring towards the ground with such concentration. But they didn't interrupt, waiting patiently for him to continue.

"The bond between you three," Aenon continued in a much softer tone. "It was forged at birth. And it is not something that is easily severed. You are the Earthbound, and your worth lies beneath your feet."

Thalindra's eyes widened in surprise, as she too sensed what Aenon's words did. There was a shattering echo from the four as they stood with their eyes closed. They all opened their eyes as one before oddly staring at Aenon.

Ignar was the first to step forward.

"I am a Berserker. The Mad Berserker. I have never feared monster hordes or insurmountable odds," Ignar said while looking down at his raised palm. "That is what we are known for—our lack of fear. But I have never truly found my Path, since deep down I was afraid. Afraid of standing up against those at the very pinnacle. Fooling myself into believing that I was not ready to stand next to you. But not anymore."

With the declaration, his skin started turning red while he clenched his fist. He grew taller while his body started emitting heat. He was in his Berserker's Rage form. But unlike last time, Aenon could clearly sense that the man was in absolute control.

"They called me The Fiery Witch of the Endless Dunes," Velastra stepped forward next, placing her hand on her husband's scorching shoulder with ease. "I have tamed fire and gone on impossible missions with my husband more times than I can count. But not once have I truly felt free from the shackles placed upon us. Despite my power, I was utterly helpless as I watched my husband's soul being ravaged. The burden of guilt, I know it all too well. But not anymore," she declared proudly as fire started circling her while she looked at her husband's proud and adamant face.

"The Twin Peaks of the Undergrowth, that's what they call us. We started as three but lost one to the cruel machinations of those far above us. Fear, guilt, regret. That is all we have felt all our lives. But not anymore," the dwarves said as one, their voices blended into a chorus while the ground beneath them shook vigorously.

"I am their shield", Ignar declared resolutely. "And for their sake, I shall remain Unbroken."

"I will never helplessly watch as someone harms those I love," Velastra announced. "My Heartflame will reduce them to ash."

"They trample us because they are stronger," the merged voices of the twins echoed throughout the room. "But the earth endures. So shall the Earthbound,".

Aenon's eyes narrowed as he took in the strange sight before him. The berserker in his controlled rage form, the fire mage summoning fire without her staff or any fire wisps present, and the ground responding to the dwarves without them calling on it. The invisible layer suppressing their potential developed cracks before completely shattering.

Internalized Skill Used | Soul Authority (Unfettered Soul)

Thalindra stumbled back, voice trembling, "How?"

But no one paid attention to her in the slightest. The four Awakened surrounded the cowering elf.

"We tie our fates to yours," they spoke as one, before unleashing their attacks. The elf's life was erased in an instant, as was the body.

The world froze again as tendrils flew out of the world shard within Aenon and flew towards the party of four. It touched their frozen forms and lingered but a moment before dissolving.

The world resumed.

A familiar concern clawed at Aenon—that he was dragging others into his problems. But he dispelled the though quickly. The newly Awakened were already embroiled in the evil machinations of the established powers. At least now, they were all in this together.

He was torn out of his thoughts when a single notification window popped open by itself.

And so, the inferno spreads!

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