After Yuan Jin met his ancestor, he and Aether decided to return home. The long training session had finally come to an end, at least for now. However, they didn't need to walk back.
Aether simply raised her hand, and in an instant, the scenery around them shifted. The vast grassy plains disappeared, replaced by the familiar sight of Yuan Jin's home.
Yuan Jin took a deep breath. The air here felt far more comfortable than the heavy, oppressive atmosphere of the training grounds.
"After such a long training session, you've improved quite a bit," Aether remarked, folding her arms.
"It's all thanks to your teachings. Thank you," Yuan Jin replied sincerely.
Aether observed him for a moment before saying, "I need to leave for a while. There's a conflict I have to resolve on one of my created planets."
Yuan Jin was slightly surprised. "What's happening there?"
"A minor threat," Aether said nonchalantly. "But still, I must handle it myself. When I return, I expect you to have advanced to the next level."
Yuan Jin nodded. "Alright. I hope you succeed in resolving it."
Aether simply gave a small smile before her body slowly faded into particles of light.
Meanwhile, Yuan Jin entered his house and lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind filled with questions.
"Will Aether be okay?" he muttered.
But then, he sighed and shook his head. "No, he should be fine. She's the Supreme System, after all."
With that thought, Yuan Jin soon fell into a deep sleep, exhaustion from the intense training finally catching up to him.
---
In another part of the universe, Aether had arrived at her created planet.
The sky was covered in thick dark clouds, the ground trembled violently, and ruins of once-great cities lay scattered everywhere. A dense black energy shrouded the entire land, as if death loomed in every corner.
Aether hovered in the air, observing the destruction below. Her golden eyes narrowed.
"What's going on here?"
Closing her eyes for a moment, she used his mind to scan the planet's recent history. In an instant, all past events unfolded clearly in her thoughts.
"So, this is the work of an evil god and his army," she muttered.
Aether let out a short sigh. "How foolish."
Without hesitation, her body flickered and vanished.
The next moment, she reappeared right in front of a towering figure radiating a sinister aura that dominated the sky.
The entity was massive, clad in a billowing black robe, with glowing crimson eyes that burned like embers. Surrounding him stood hundreds of demonic creatures, waiting for his command.
The evil god sneered at Aether with disdain. "Who are you? Just an ordinary girl, daring to stand in my way?"
Aether smirked coldly. "An ordinary girl? You should be more careful with your words."
"Hmph, pathetic," the god scoffed. "If you wish to die so quickly, I'll grant your request."
Aether raised an eyebrow, then casually lifted her hand.
"Alright then. Let's see if your power matches your arrogance."
In an instant, her body vanished—not through teleportation, but because the very space around them had begun to shift.
The wind stopped blowing.
The once-dark sky transformed into an endless expanse of stars, shimmering brilliantly. The land beneath them vanished, replaced by an infinite sea of light.
The evil god noticed something strange. The space surrounding him was no longer the world he knew.
Aether reappeared in the distance, her golden eyes glowing with brilliance.
"Welcome to the Cosmic Domain."
---
The night was eerily silent. Yuan Jin lay in his room, exhausted from his training, finally getting the rest he deserved. But unbeknownst to him, a pair of glowing red eyes watched from the darkness.
On the rooftop of Yuan Jin's house, a man in a black robe stood still. Behind him, a group of demons awaited his command.
Yuan Jin suddenly woke up. He heard a strange noise coming from outside, something unusual. Curiosity got the better of him, and he left his room, stepping into the yard.
But before he could even react...
SRAK!
A strong hand clamped over his mouth, silencing him instantly. Yuan Jin struggled, but it was futile.
In the blink of an eye, he was taken away at an unimaginable speed, crossing forests and mountains until they finally arrived at a dark, sinister place—Fengyi Valley.
---
Yuan Jin was tied to a massive stone pillar. A group of demons gathered around him, while their leader—the man in the black robe with glowing red eyes—stood in front of him.
Without hesitation, the man began torturing Yuan Jin.
"AARGH!" Yuan Jin screamed in pain. His body was covered in wounds, blood dripping from the corner of his lips.
"Help... Aether..." his voice was weak, but still filled with hope. "Come back..."
However, elsewhere, Aether was still locked in battle with the evil god who threatened his created planet.
---
The evil god could feel an overwhelming pressure. "What kind of domain is this?" he asked, struggling against the energy crushing him.
Aether stepped forward calmly. "This is the Cosmic Domain. A place where you will witness the true majesty of the vast universe. But this is just the beginning."
The evil god smirked. "Do you think I'll be scared just because of this domain?"
Aether smiled faintly. "We are fundamentally different. You are still bound by the laws of the universe, whereas I am not bound by any laws or concepts. That is why I am known as The Infinite."
The evil god's eyes widened. "Impossible!"
Aether raised her hand, and suddenly, a translucent screen appeared before them both.
---
[Eliminate the Enemy]
• Erase thei existence
• Banish them to the Void Realm
• Remove them from the story
---
"Choose one," Aether said casually.
The evil god glared at the screen in confusion and rage. "What is this? Do you think you can kill me with your ridiculous system?"
But after a few seconds, his eyes narrowed. "Wait... What's the difference between Erasing Existence and Removing from the Story?"
Aether answered indifferently. "If I choose Erase Existence, you will still be part of this story but without any meaning. If I choose Remove from the Story, it will be as if you never existed in this universe's history."
The god clenched his fists. "I won't choose! Who do you think you are to command me?!"
Aether sighed. "In that case, I will choose for you."
---
[Selection Confirmed]
➜ Erase Their Existence
---
In an instant, the evil god's body began to fade. He screamed, but no one could save him.
"NO...!!"
His army of demons vanished along with him, as if they had never existed.
Aether let out a small sigh of relief, but suddenly, an uneasy feeling washed over him. Something was wrong.
"Damn it... I have to save Yuan Jin!"
Closing her eyes, she used his mind to scan what was happening elsewhere.
What she saw made her blood boil.
"The demon race dares to lay a hand on him...?!"
With speed surpassing light, Aether moved.
---
Yuan Jin was barely conscious. His vision blurred, his body drenched in blood.
But suddenly, a fierce wind howled through the valley.
The sky turned a deep violet. The space around them trembled violently.
"What's happening...?" one of the demons whispered in fear.
In the blink of an eye...
"ZRAK!"
Aether appeared before them, her expression cold and emotionless.
Yuan Jin weakly opened his eyes. "Aether... Y-You came back..." his voice was barely a whisper.
Aether glanced at him briefly before turning toward the demons who had tortured him.
"You truly don't know your place."
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed drastically. An unfathomable energy pressed down on the entire valley.
Aether's eyes glowed intensely.
"Prepare to die!"
To be continued...