As they drove through the town, the car stopped and started, navigating through the traffic. In the car, Aster sat beside the window, watching the world go by. Kaliyah sat calmly, looking straight ahead, her beauty radiating in the dim light of the car.
"I'm over it, and that's fine. I'm excited to see Dad. But why does Aster have to tag along? I wish I could keep my dad's identity private, but I guess I have to go along with it since he requested this," Kaliyah thought, her eyes fixed on some point ahead.
She then checked her expensive watch. "We've made good time despite the traffic. We'll arrive soon," Kaliyah thought, a hint of anticipation in her mind.
"Could we move a bit faster, please?" Kaliyah asked the driver, her voice polite but with a hint of urgency.
"Of course, I'll do as you ask," the driver replied politely, accelerating the car.
As they drove, the scenery outside changed, and soon they arrived at a large, imposing house. The house was white with gold accents, and its grandeur was evident from the outside. The driver parked the car beside the gate, which was also adorned with gold and white designs.
Kaliyah opened the car door quickly and stepped out, feeling the hot sun on her skin. Aster followed suit, getting out of the car calmly and deliberately. As they walked towards the gate, Aster's left hand was in his pocket.
The driver rolled down the window and said, "I have to go, but I'll pick you up later. Go have your meeting with your dad."
"Alright," Kaliyah replied calmly.
The driver nodded and drove off, leaving Kaliyah and Aster alone.
"Don't get too full of yourself just because you're meeting my dad. And keep your hands to yourself, especially around my mom," Kaliyah said, giving Aster a warning look.
Aster's expression remained calm, and he thought to himself, "So that's the first thing she says? She's totally clueless, huh."
"You really misunderstand things way too much," Aster said to Kaliyah.
"I'm just warning you, don't read too much into it," Kaliyah said calmly, standing her ground.
Kaliyah knocked on the gate, and it swung open, revealing a gray shadow soldier standing guard. The soldier bowed low, its features masculine and imposing. It held a sharp, futuristic-looking weapon.
"Judging by the look of it, this doesn't seem like something Kaliyah would own. Must belong to her dad," Aster thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Let's get in. This shadow belongs to my dad," Kaliyah said, walking towards the house.
Aster followed her, his eyes taking in the grandeur of the house. The building was large and decorative, with golden symbols adding to its beauty.
"Anyone would be impressed by my house. Feel free to say something," Kaliyah said, a hint of expectation in her voice.
"There she goes again, getting the wrong idea," Aster thought, his expression unreadable.
Just then, a voice spoke up, "Well, look who we have here." The voice was calm yet commanding, and Aster and Kaliyah knew exactly where it was coming from.
A masculine man stood on the rooftop of the house, his tall frame silhouetted against the sky. His piercing purple eyes seemed to bore into Aster and Kaliyah, his gaze cold and unyielding. His dark purple hair was styled in a way that made it look like he had black-purple hair, and it added to his rugged charm. He wore a black t-shirt and black jeans, exuding an air of confidence and authority that was hard to ignore.
But Kaliyah knew who the man was, and she said, "Dad, what are you doing up there? Just get here and tell us the main reason why you invited us." Her tone was calm, but with a hint of frustration.
The man looked at her with a mixture of surprise and anger. "Dad? Who's your dad?" he said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
Kaliyah's eyes narrowed. "I didn't come all the way here to play games," she said, her voice firm.
The man's expression turned cold. "Don't refer to me as your Dad. Now you've gone too far," he said, his voice low and menacing.
Kaliyah's frustration boiled over. "Just wait till I get there," she said, her voice tight with anger.
She started walking towards the house, but the man's voice stopped her. "Don't dare make a move. Or else you'll pay with your lives," he said, his voice commanding.
Kaliyah's eyes flashed with anger, and she closed her fists in frustration. "You're making me look stupid in front of someone new," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aster watched the exchange, his expression unreadable. "This is getting interesting," he thought to himself.
The man continued, "I remember I told you not to refer to me as your Dad. Now you've crossed the line." His voice was demanding, and the Grey shadow soldier beside Aster drew its weapon, pointing it at Aster's neck.
Aster didn't flinch, his face remaining expressionless and calm.
"Nice try," Kaliyah said, her voice steady. "But that won't back me down."
Then Kaliyah said with preparedness, "Emerge." Two black shadow soldiers appeared from behind her, their large weapons sharp and ready.
The shadow soldiers instantly reached the Grey shadow soldier and punched it, but the Grey shadow soldier was prepared. It used its long metallic bar to block both Kaliyah's shadow soldiers' weapons at the same time.
Kaliyah sprang into action, her feet moving swiftly as she kicked off the ground. She landed on the Grey shadow soldier's head, her knees bent and her gown fluttering behind her. She rolled over, using the momentum to carry her over the soldier's head, and landed safely on the ground.
The Grey shadow soldier crashed into the gate, causing it to shake violently.
"That was surprisingly easy," Kaliyah said, landing gently on the ground. "I expected more."
Aster stood there, his expression unchanged.
"Let's keep this going, shall we?" the man said, his voice dripping with amusement.
Kaliyah denied to fight with the man and argued, while at the same time, Aster observed, his mind lost in thoughts but was focused.
"This situation seems suspicious," Aster thought. "If he's really Kaliyah's dad, his behavior doesn't add up. Maybe he's testing us or Kaliyah messed up."
The man's eyes narrowed, his expression cold and calculating. "Then I'll have to take action," he said, his voice low and menacing.
The Grey shadow soldier that had collapsed earlier got up, its weapon at the ready. Kaliyah saw it and prepared her two shadow soldiers.
The Grey shadow soldier began to run towards Aster, its movements swift and deadly. At the same time, the man stretched his arms and jumped high, his body flying towards Aster with incredible speed.
As the man flew towards Aster, two simple yet deadly weapons appeared in his hands. They were boomerang-like swords with curved blades and sharp edges. The man grabbed tightly on the handle of his weapons.
Aster saw both the man and the Grey shadow soldier coming towards him. He didn't flinch, his expression calm and collected.
The man exchanged positions with the Grey shadow soldier, suddenly appearing beside Aster. He swung his sword at Aster, but Aster dodged it easily, bending down to avoid the blow.
The Grey shadow soldier landed at the spot where Aster had been standing, its weapon striking the ground with incredible force. The impact created a large hole in the ground, and the house shook violently.
Kaliyah's eyes widened in surprise. "He couldn't have avoided that," she thought.
But Aster was nowhere to be seen. Kaliyah's eyes scanned the area, her expression shocked. "What the..."
The man held his weapon at the ready, his eyes scanning the area. "I wonder where he is," he thought. "I'll need to stay alert."
Suddenly, Aster appeared on top of them, his foot stepping down on the Grey shadow soldier's face. He pushed the soldier back, sending it flying towards the house.
The man quickly threw one of his swords at Aster, but Aster dodged it easily. The sword flew through the air, turned around, and came back, heading towards Aster on its own.
The man threw his other sword at Aster, and the two swords flew towards Aster from opposite directions. At the same time, the man launched himself at Aster, his foot kicking towards Aster's back.
Aster landed on the ground and quickly jumped back into the air, dodging the man's kick and the two swords. His face remained expressionless, his movements calm and calculated.
The swords redirected themselves, flying back to the man's hands. Kaliyah watched the battle with her two shadow soldiers, her eyes fixed on Aster.
Aster landed safely far enough from the man, his eyes fixed on his opponent. The man also came prepared, his sharp sword at the ready.
"He shares abilities similar to Kaliyah, but his strategic use is impressive," Aster thought. "He's clearly holding back – he must be Chairman."
"Let's see how long you can keep this up," the man said, his voice dripping with confidence.
"He's testing me, huh, and his skills are far superior to Kaliyah's," Aster thought, his expression calm and collected.
Kaliyah walked and stood beside Aster, her two black shadow soldiers at the ready. "You can't win alone – you're too weak," she said. "Let me handle this."
"Even together, it won't be easy," Kaliyah added, her expression serious. "And he will still be holding back."
The man listened to their conversation and smiled, impressed. "Thanks for the remark – time to end this," he said.
With that, two more Grey shadow soldiers suddenly appeared, each with unique weapons. The man's group now totaled four, including himself.
The first Grey shadow soldier had a grey bow, ready to shoot arrows. The second had a modern Grey gun for shooting and a long white sword connected to its back.
"I'm not entirely convinced, but if this is a chance to push my limits, I'm in," Kaliyah said, preparing herself.
But before she could finish, the Grey shadow soldier with the bow made an arrow appear in its hand and targeted Kaliyah and Aster. The arrow flew towards them, but they both dodged it easily. The arrow landed on the ground and exploded like a bomb.
Kaliyah and Aster quickly jumped in opposite directions, separating themselves. At Kaliyah's side, after jumping, there were three of the man's Grey shadow soldiers. One shot an arrow, and the other shot a bullet from his gun. The one with the metal bar as his weapon came aiming for Kaliyah at the same time.
Two of Kaliyah's shadow soldiers pushed Kaliyah backwards and took the hits for her. Then an explosion came from them, but Kaliyah was safe, jumping backwards while maintaining her gown's safety.
The explosion from Kaliyah's shadow soldiers was a direct response to the Man's Grey shadow soldiers. Though frustration simmered beneath her surface, Kaliyah's composure remained unshaken. "I should've anticipated Dad would strike without warning, even when I least expect it," she thought, her expression serene. "I need to stay vigilant and think several steps ahead if I want to stay one step ahead of him."
Meanwhile, Aster landed safely, but his relief was short-lived – the Man was nowhere to be found.
Aster watched the scene, his expression calm. Just then, the man appeared behind Aster, mid-air. He swung his weapon aiming for Aster's head, but Aster grabbed his arm, preventing the attack without even looking at him.
Aster then threw the man calmly far in front of him. The man landed safely, his face looking impressed as he stared at Aster. It was as if they stood face-to-face.
"You're not even trying to attack, just dodging on the fly," the man said, his voice filled with admiration. "I can read your movements – and I have to admit, your strategy is wild."
Aster's expression remained calm and collected. "Just being polite," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "No need to read into it."
The man's smirk grew wider as he got his weapon ready. With lightning-fast speed, he appeared above Aster, a smile spreading across his face.
Aster watched him, his eyes fixed on the man's movements. He noticed that the man wasn't holding any of his weapons, and a moment later, one of his weapons came flying towards him at incredible speed.
To Aster, time seemed to slow down. He watched as the weapon hurtled towards him, its trajectory perfectly calculated. He glanced over his shoulder, seeing the man's other weapon heading towards his back, moving on its own.
At the same time, the man brought his knee down, aiming for Aster's face. Aster's gaze never wavered, his eyes locked on the man's movements.
"He really thought that would work, huh?" Aster thought, his mind racing with calculations. "Strategic move, I'll give him that. But against me? No chance. Wish he'd come up with something better."
Aster's gaze flicked towards the panel, where the audience was watching and reading about the battle. Everything around him seemed to be in slow motion.
Then, without warning, Aster walked forward, moving away from the attack. Time seemed to snap back into normal, and the man's knee crashed into the ground, creating a massive hole.
The man's weapon slowed down and landed in his hand, and he looked up to see Aster standing in front of him. The man's eyes widened in surprise.
"Thought I had him this time," the man thought. "But the guy's lightning-fast... Maybe this is just getting good."
The man's face broke into a smile as he looked at Aster. "You're a pretty interesting guy," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "Maybe I'll have a bit more fun with you."
With that, the man charged at Aster, their movements a blur as they clashed in a flurry of punches and kicks.
As Aster and the man fought, their speed and movement seemed blurry, like shadows clashing. Meanwhile, Kaliyah and the three Grey shadow soldiers were engaged in their own battle.
Kaliyah's eyes darted towards Aster and the man, her gaze intense. "Aster's holding his own against Dad – impressive. But it looks like neither of them is pulling out all the stops."
Just as Kaliyah was lost in thought, the Grey shadow soldier with the bow targeted her. An arrow appeared in its hand, and it placed the arrow on the bow, aiming directly at Kaliyah.
The arrow shot out, flying towards Kaliyah with unimaginable speed. Kaliyah watched with preparation, her focus snapping back to the present. She jumped to her right, avoiding the explosion that followed.
The explosion rocked the ground, but Kaliyah landed safely, her determination evident. She noticed the Grey shadow soldier with the gun and sword combined weapon, its eyes fixed on her.
"Dodging or blocking won't be enough," Kaliyah thought. "Unless... there's a way to turn this to my advantage."
Before she could finish her thoughts, the Grey shadow soldier pressed the gun, firing a bullet that hurtled towards Kaliyah with immersive speed. It hit her, and a loud explosion followed, causing smoke to billow out.
Just as the smoke began to dissipate, the grey shadow soldier with the gun continued to fire, unleashing a relentless barrage of bullets that struck Kaliyah with explosive force. Each impact sent shockwaves through the air, the cacophony of explosions growing louder and more intense.
Meanwhile, the grey shadow soldier with the bow summoned a flurry of arrows, each one striking Aster with pinpoint accuracy. The arrows detonated like miniature bombs, sending bullets flying in all directions and causing the ground to shudder violently. The third shadow soldier, armed with a metal bar, watched the chaos unfold, its weapon at the ready.
As the battle raged on, Aster and the Man clashed at incredible speeds, their movements a blur as they dodged and countered each other's attacks. The Man jumped back, his eyes narrowing in approval. "Aster's definitely impressive," he thought. "Though I'm holding back, he's keeping up... And Kaliyah's holding her own against my group. She's going to be a handful."
The two grey shadow soldiers ceased their attack, and an eerie silence fell as the smoke hung heavy in the air. The third shadow soldier sprang into action, using its metal bar to create a gust of wind that slowly dispersed the smoke. As the air cleared, the three grey shadow soldiers sensed a shift in Kaliyah's energy. They took a step back, their movements cautious.
The Man's eyes lit up with interest. "Finally, she's getting serious," he thought.
Aster, too, felt the change in Kaliyah's aura. "The same energy as before, when she went all out in Kennox's domain," he thought. "Though this time, it's not as intense. She's probably holding back."
When the smoke cleared, Kaliyah stood there, unharmed. A purple-black aura flowed through her entire body, like a shield protecting her.
"Now we're getting somewhere," Kaliyah thought, her determination growing.
The Grey shadow soldiers seemed frightened by Kaliyah's aura, their movements hesitant. One of them, wielding a metal bar, charged towards Kaliyah with speed.
Kaliyah was ready. She grabbed the metal bar and kicked the soldier's head, sending it crashing to the ground. The other two Grey shadow soldiers retreated in fear.
"This is what happens when you underestimate me," Kaliyah said, her voice cold.
She threw the metal bar at the Grey shadow soldier with the bow, who was trying to flee. The bar hit its face, and the soldier fell to the ground.
The Grey shadow soldier with the gun started running in fear, but Kaliyah noticed. "How pathetic," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
Two of Kaliyah's shadow soldiers appeared in front of the Grey shadow soldier, their expressions serious. In unison, they punched its face, the force of their blow sending it flying into the house.
The Grey shadow soldier's body left a shape on the wall, a testament to the force of the blow.
The man was fighting Aster, dodging and weaving with incredible speed. Aster jumped backwards, his eyes fixed on the house. That's when he saw one of the Grey shadow soldiers emerge from the house, creating a massive hole in the wall.
"Uh-oh...Nexia's still inside, and I'm so busted!" the man thought, panic rising in his chest.
Suddenly, a rush of huge, angry wind came from the house, and the Grey shadow soldier was thrown out, hitting the gate with a loud thud. It was as if someone had thrown the soldier out of the house.
Kaliyah's eyes widened in shock as she realized who could be behind the sudden display of power. "Uh-oh...Mom's been here the whole time. I didn't think she'd be home so early," Kaliyah thought, her mind racing with panic.
The wind around the house grew stronger, circling the house like a small tornado. A female voice, angry and commanding, echoed from the house. "Who dares to wake me up from my sleep?"
The man quickly recalled his Grey shadow soldiers, stepping back with a mixture of fear and respect. Kaliyah did the same, her dark shadow soldiers disappearing into her shadow.
"Dad's in for it now," Kaliyah thought, a hint of amusement in her mind.
Aster watched the scene unfold, his expression calm and collected. "There's a woman in the house yelling like that? She sounds just like my mom when she's mad. I know this feeling," Aster thought, his mind calm and analytical.
The door to the house burst open, and a woman emerged, surrounded by a strong wind. Her smooth black hair flowed behind her, and her normal eyes seemed to burn with anger. She was beautiful, with a perfect figure, just like Kaliyah.
The woman's angry expression deepened as she took in the destruction around her. "What the hell happened here while I was asleep?" she yelled, her voice like thunder.
She spotted the man and pointed at him, her finger trembling with rage. "You'd better explain what went down." A strong wind spread throughout the surroundings, despite which Aster, Kaliyah, and the man stood their ground. Kaliyah held her gown to prevent it from being blown away.
The man sighed and said, "I can explain, you know." But the woman didn't seem to hear him, her anger and frustration boiling over.
She summoned a great wind around her body, lifting herself into the air. Aster watched calmly as she flew towards the man. The woman landed gently in front of the man and punched him in the stomach.
The man didn't flinch, a smile spreading across his face. "I'm really sorry about this mess," he said, giggling. But his giggle only seemed to enrage the woman further.
She knocked him on the head, her expression furious. "Sorry doesn't fix it, though," she yelled, her voice echoing through the surroundings.
The man tried to brush it off, his voice calm. "I'll fix this mess myself. Sorry for my mistake."
The woman's expression turned stern. "You're not getting off that easy. I've had enough, and today will be the day I settle this."
Kaliyah walked towards her mom, her expression calm and collected. "Mom, calm down. Let's not make things worse. Just take a deep breath."
The woman's frustration boiled over. "When did you start talking back like that? You're sounding just like Valtira. Don't disrespect me like this; show some respect."
Kaliyah sighed, her voice even. "You're not getting it, huh?"
But before she could finish, the woman interrupted, her voice rising. "I see how it is. You're in charge now? After everything I've done for you, this is the thanks I get?"
Kaliyah's voice remained calm. "I'm just trying to say that we have a visitor here."
The woman's gaze snapped towards Aster, her expression transforming from anger to surprise. "When did he arrive? I'd better compose myself," she thought.
The woman swiftly composed herself, her demeanor shifting from frustration to courtesy. She whispered to the man, "Let's discuss this later. For now, please clean up the mess." Her voice was calm, polite, yet firm.
Then she took a deep breath, her demeanor changing to one of polite courtesy. She walked towards Aster, a warm smile on her face. "Hello, nice to meet you. What's your name?"
"I'm Aster," he replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
The woman's smile widened. "I apologize for the commotion. My husband's competitive nature sometimes gets the better of him. I hope you can understand."
Aster's expression remained neutral. "No need to worry about it. Don't overthink things. No apologies necessary."
The woman's smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "You're a...unique individual," she said, her voice polite. "I'm Nixia from the Nexarion family. Nice to meet you again."
"Likewise." Aster calmly replied.
The man stood up, a proud smile on his face. "And I'm Alexander, head of the Nexarion family." he said, his voice dripping with confidence.
Kaliyah rolled her eyes, her voice dry. "You've already heard my name, so let's skip formalities," she said.
"Please excuse my daughter's behavior," Nixia said, her smile warm and polite.
"Yeah, that's just how she is," Alexander added, his smile friendly and amused.
"I'm used to it, don't worry about it," Aster replied, his voice neutral.
Kaliyah watched the exchange, feeling frustrated. "Why are Mom and Dad taking his side?" she thought.
Nixia's expression turned gentle as she looked at Aster. "Let's go inside. I'll make you a snack. What would you like?"
"Anything is fine," Aster replied. "I'm sure anything you make will taste adequate."
Nixia's smile widened, and she laughed. "Oh, thank you. I like your candor."
As they walked towards the house, Nixia turned to Kaliyah and Alexander. "Let's go, Kaliyah. Your dad is fixing the mess."
"Yes, Mom," Kaliyah replied, her voice soft but filled with frustration.
Nixia's gaze turned serious as she looked at Alexander. She pointed at her eyes and then back at him, her expression a clear warning. Alexander just smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Once they entered the house, Alexander's demeanor changed. He summoned three of his Grey shadow soldiers, who appeared before him with a faint hum.
"Clean up this mess," he ordered, his voice firm. "And don't think about slacking off. I'll have my wife deal with you if you don't."
The three shadow soldiers nodded hastily, their eyes wide with fear. They surveyed the destruction, their expressions dismayed.
"I believe in you, guys," Alexander said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Have fun."
With that Alexander walked to the house as the three grey shadow soldiers were thinking of a way to fix their mess.