Aestra closed the distance between him and Elera in an instant, his body blurring with speed far beyond what a normal fourteen-year-old could achieve. His eyes locked onto hers as he prepared to strike.
But Elera was ready. She had anticipated his movement before he even shifted his stance. With a swift motion, she blocked his attack, her own sword gleaming as it intercepted his. Without missing a beat, she attempted a counter-attack, a lightning-fast slash aimed at his midsection. Aestra, however, leapt into the air, the motion fluid, almost unnatural, evading her blade effortlessly.
If someone had judged them by raw physical ability alone, they might have assumed Aestra and Elera were merely talented youths—strong, agile, and quick learners. But that would be a grave underestimate. They were no longer ordinary humans; they were anomalies. Both had received powerful swords through their Magicswordsman classes, artifacts that enhanced their already exceptional potential. Aestra wielded the Sword of the Void God, capable of cutting through illusions, magical matter, and even defenses that no ordinary weapon could pierce. Elera held her Soul Sword, a weapon as legendary in potential as it was in design, capable of channeling the energy of defeated souls into magic.
To the untrained eye, their fight might have looked like a display of extraordinary skill. But every parry, thrust, and feint was a lesson in itself. They had trained together in their past lives with Louis; they already understood each other's tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses. Now, the 500% training and learning boost granted by their awakened class made each motion exponentially more effective. Ten minutes of sparring for them equaled hours of learning for anyone else.
Elera launched herself forward, aiming a swift kick at Aestra's legs. He vaulted backward just in time, closing the distance with a punch aimed at her back. She twisted mid-air, deflecting the strike and delivering a counter-attack with a spinning sword motion. Their clash sent a ripple of energy through the hall, the sound of metal on metal echoing like thunder.
"You're fast," Elera noted through their telepathic link, her golden eyes narrowing in concentration. "But don't forget, my strength gives me an advantage in close combat."
"And don't forget, my speed lets me control the flow of the fight," Aestra replied, feeling the subtle hum of void energy around his blade. The air around him seemed to bend, distorting slightly with each swing. He could already feel the versatility of the element, capable of tearing through illusions, slicing through magical defenses, and even fusing with other techniques in a way that no ordinary sword could.
The fight continued, each movement a delicate balance of offense, defense, and learning. Aestra's strikes became sharper, more precise, as he began to intuitively control the void energy in his blade. Elera's counter-attacks grew more efficient, her soul-fire subtly enhancing the damage of her sword while keeping her movements fluid.
Forty minutes passed in what felt like seconds. Sweat ran down their faces, their breaths coming in controlled bursts, yet neither had gained a clear advantage. They paused, facing each other across the hall, blades raised, panting but exhilarated. There was no winner, but both had learned more than they would have in hours of conventional training.
"Aestra," Elera said, wiping a strand of white hair from her eyes, "tomorrow morning, we head to the forest. Hunt monsters and start experimenting with our elements. That's the real test of what we've learned."
He nodded. "I understand. A forest… plenty of space, minimal risk to others. Perfect for training."
"Good. A room has been prepared for you. Ask any servant, and they'll show you."
Aestra left the training hall and soon spotted a servant waiting in the corridor.
"Hello," he said politely. "Could you show me the way to my room, please?"
The servant froze for a moment, staring at him. Aestra blinked, puzzled.
"Oh… uh… sorry, come with me," the servant stammered, her face flushing. She hurried down the corridor, glancing at him repeatedly. Aestra had forgotten how striking he looked in this new body—tall, well-built for his age, with long midnight hair damp from sweat. It added an unexpected charm, and the servant couldn't help but notice.
As they walked, other maids peeked from doorways, whispering and blushing at the sight of him.
"He's so handsome for his age…" one murmured.
"No wonder Her Highness summoned him here," another said.
Finally, Aestra reached his room. He closed the door behind him, took a long shower to wash off the sweat and exhaustion, and collapsed onto the bed.
Tomorrow would be difficult. Hiding his immense power from others while still testing their abilities in the forest would be a delicate balance. And yet, even that challenge paled in comparison to the trials that awaited them in the future.
He stared at the ceiling, mind racing through the events of the past few years. The apocalypse. The meeting with the goddess. Being transported to another world. Everything that had led him here, and yet it felt like it had happened in a single, surreal moment.
"System, show me my quests," he muttered.
[Quest]
[Main Quest: Become the strongest]
Time Limit: None
Penalty: Failure to go to the second world
Reward: Access to the second world + one week in your original world
[Secondary Quest: Enter the World Academy]
Time Limit: 1 year
Penalty: All stats reset to E-
Reward: Unlocks Shop
[Secondary Quest: Visit every kingdom]
Time Limit: 5 years
Penalty: One element removed
Reward: Unlocks Map
He exhaled, reading the list carefully. The academy quest aligned perfectly with their plan, and traveling through the kingdoms would naturally occur as they trained and explored—though he knew the protagonist would inevitably interfere, creating chaos in his wake. Aestra smirked faintly. That would be an interesting challenge, indeed.
"Tomorrow is going to be long," he thought, sinking into the bed, "but it's only the beginning. The real journey is just starting."
The forest awaited. Their elements, swords, and anomalous potential would be put to the test. And soon, the ordinary world of the Aetheric kingdom would meet the extraordinary powers of two anomalies determined to carve their path to the top.
For Aestra and Elera, the stakes had never been higher—but neither would back down.