In a room that defied modern architecture, the atmosphere was dim and eerie. The lights were off, and thick brown curtains blocked the sunlight from entering, casting the space in a muted, shadowy glow. The room was vast—25 feet high and 15 feet long, with a rectangular shape that gave it an imposing presence.
On the left side of the room stood a cauldron, its base resting on a bed of charcoal. To the right, near the bed and window, was a bookshelf devoid of books, accompanied by a bench, a desk, and a small notebook resting on its surface. In the center of the room lay a single bed, where a figure lay motionless, their identity obscured by the dim light.
The only sound in the room was the heavy breathing of the person on the bed. An unknown amount of time passed in silence until an unnatural breeze swept through the room, causing the curtains to shift slightly. A sliver of sunlight broke through, illuminating half the room and revealing the figure on the bed to be a 12-year-old boy.
The boy's face was drenched in sweat, his body trembling despite the warmth of the sunlight. He wasn't shivering from cold—it was fear that gripped him. His aura radiated unease, a palpable tension that would have been noticeable to anyone with even the slightest sensitivity to energy.
The boy's head jerked left and right, as if he were resisting something in his dreams. His breathing grew ragged, and his movements became more frantic. Suddenly, he gasped, sitting bolt upright in bed. His chest heaved as he clutched it, his eyes wide with terror.
"What... what was that?" he whispered, his voice trembling. The boy, Zilon, felt as though he had just run three marathons without rest. His head throbbed with a splitting pain, and he clutched it, groaning in agony.
"Zilon..." a voice echoed in his mind, deep and demonic. It grew louder, more insistent, until it roared, "ZILONN!"
"AHHHHHHH!" Zilon screamed, the pain intensifying tenfold. His vision blurred, and his ears rang as he curled into a ball on the bed, unable to escape the torment. Just as he felt himself on the verge of passing out, a soft breeze filled the room, carrying the scent of sandalwood.
A woman appeared beside the bed, her presence calming yet commanding. She wore a brown dress that covered her from neck to toe, its design neither too heavy nor too light—perfectly balanced. Her angelic face and ravishing figure were enough to tempt even the holiest of men, yet her expression was one of deep concern.
This was Layla, the woman who had introduced herself earlier. She frowned as she observed Zilon, her eyes narrowing at the dark fog enveloping his body.
"Hmm, I didn't expect him to awaken with just this small amount of energy," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "At this rate, he might destroy this boy's soul and take over his body... This is bad."
She sighed, her mind racing for a solution. The dark fog around Zilon was a manifestation of a powerful entity—one that even she, in her weakened state, struggled to contain. The laws of this world restricted her power, and she couldn't afford to unleash her full strength without risking catastrophic consequences.
"I guess I don't have any other choice," Layla said, her voice resolute. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, they glowed a brilliant bronze. She began to weave intricate hand signs, her movements precise and deliberate. Energy gathered around her, forming a golden talisman that hovered in the air.
The talisman pulsed with power, its golden light illuminating the room. Layla's expression was focused as she channeled her energy into the seal. The process was delicate, and even the slightest mistake could have dire consequences.
[Aetheria Voidbane - A powerful sealing technique capable of suppressing a target for 1,000 years.]
[Condition 1: Can suppress anything below universal threat level for 700 years.]
[Condition 2: If the target's bloodline is strong, half of their power will be sealed indefinitely until the seal is broken.]
[Hidden Effect: Once activated, the seal becomes unavoidable for targets under universe type 1A.]
Layla's frown deepened as she read the system's description. The seal was incomplete, but it was the best she could do under the circumstances. She pointed her fingers at Zilon, the golden seal spinning rapidly at her fingertips.
"ARGHHHHHH!" Zilon screamed again, the entity within him reacting violently to the threat of the seal. The dark fog around him thickened, and a figure began to materialize—a demon with pale red eyes, sharp claws, and an aura of pure malevolence.
"Oh, do you think this is enough to stop me?"** the demon sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You seem to not know who I am."
Layla's knees buckled under the demon's overwhelming pressure, but she refused to falter. She tapped a ring on her left hand, and a small blue crystal appeared in her palm. The demon's eyes widened in shock.
"What... how did you... where did you—"
Layla crushed the crystal without hesitation, its energy merging with the golden seal. The bronze orb at her fingertips crackled with blue lightning, its power magnified tenfold.
"You cannot stop me!" the demon roared, his voice filled with fury. "I will break free, and when I do, you'll regret this!"
Layla's expression remained indifferent. "I don't care what you do," she said coldly. "All I know is that you will never win—not now, not ever."
With a burst of energy, she launched the seal at Zilon. The room erupted in a blinding light as the seal struck its target, binding the demon within Zilon's soul. The chains of the seal sapped the demon's energy, rendering him powerless.
The room fell silent, the only sound being Layla's soft panting as she collapsed to the floor. The battle had lasted only 40 seconds, but it had drained her completely. Zilon lay still on the bed, his breathing steady once more.