The Aether Chronicles

All eyes turned toward the source of the explosion. When they looked back at Zelda, an uneasy silence settled over the crowd. She lay against the barrier, a thin line of blood trailing from her lips. Her clothes were torn and ragged, the result of the brutal assault. The barrier flickered, unstable, on the verge of collapse.

Everyone present, except for Sam, wore grim expressions.

Their gaze shifted to the source of the matriarch's predicament. A heavy, oppressive bloodlust radiated from the group, the atmosphere thick with intent. It was clear—this intruder was not going to leave alive.

One of the elders, his voice trembling with fury, addressed the rest of the family. "We can't stand by any longer. It's time to eliminate this intruder!"

Lara eagerly peered through the swirling dust. As it cleared, she saw that the family estate was still standing, and she breathed a sigh of relief. However, her relief was short-lived as she noticed the barrier flickering.

Panic crept into her movements as she urgently shook Sam. "Sam, do something! The barrier is about to break!" she cried, her voice laced with desperation.

Without missing a beat, Sam channeled his energy toward the barrier. A force, both tangible and intangible, flowed from him, stabilizing the weakening shield.

"Phew, that was close," Sam muttered under his breath. "I didn't think any attacks would land on this barrier."

Lara, now visibly calmer, shot him a pointed look. "I told you so. I don't know what makes you so confident this intruder won't cause damage to our family."

Sam didn't respond right away, his focus still on the battlefield. His eyes flicked from Zelda, now standing atop the barrier and ready to continue the fight, to the intruder, whose bloodlust still hung in the air.

What are they both thinking? Sam wondered. Aren't they pushing this fight too far?

Lara noticed the frown tugging at the corners of Sam's mouth as he observed the scene, her curiosity piqued. What does he know that I'm missing?

As if answering her unspoken thoughts, Sam appeared in front of one of the elders who was preparing to charge into the fray. His tone was firm, without a trace of hesitation.

"I would advise against what you have in mind," Sam said.

The elder paused mid-step, glancing at Sam with surprise before stepping back.

The rest of the elders, commanders, and all the Cruz family members bowed their heads in unison. "We greet the Grand Elder," they said, their voices filled with respect.

A frail-looking elder, his presence still radiating immense power, stepped forward, his eyes piercing through the scene.

"How may I assist you, Elder Gary?" Sam asked, acknowledging the elder with a respectful nod.

"Grand Elder, I'm curious as to why you stopped us from intervening. We can see the matriarch is losing. We can't afford to delay," Elder Gary said, his voice tinged with impatience.

Sam looked at him as though he had just made a fool of himself.

"Losing?" Sam laughed, his tone light but filled with incredulity. "Do you really think if the matriarch were losing, I'd still be standing here? I'd have already gone to assist her."

The elders and other onlookers exchanged confused glances. They turned to Zelda, who was covered in bloodstains and visible injuries—but none of them seemed serious. The intruder, however, had suffered fewer wounds.

"I don't understand, Grand Elder," Elder Gary said, furrowing his brow in confusion.

Sam fought the urge to facepalm. His patience was thinning.

"Our matriarch is one of the strongest beings in the world—far stronger than you can imagine. Apart from the patriarch, she's among the ten strongest in the human domain. Do you truly believe some nameless intruder could bring her to this state?" Sam let his words hang in the air, allowing the weight of his statement to sink in.

An elder, clearly curious, stepped forward. "Who is stronger, you or the matriarch?" Elder Han asked, his tone serious.

All eyes turned to Sam, waiting for his answer.

Sam's smile was as calm as it was confident. "Elder Han," he began, his voice filled with certainty, "while the matriarch may look rough around the edges right now, that's because she's only using the base of her powers. She's a battle maniac, and her true strength is far beyond what any of you can imagine. Just watch the battle—then you'll understand."

The crowd murmured, some amazed by the confidence Sam had in Zelda's abilities, while others were skeptical, wondering if Sam was merely downplaying the situation.

Sam noticed their uncertainty but didn't feel the need to explain any further.

The battle, however, was escalating.

Turning his attention back to the situation, Sam called out, his voice sharp and commanding, "All the elders should evacuate the citizens and residents into the barrier."

"Yes, Grand Elder," the elders replied in unison, their voices filled with obedience.

Lara appeared at Sam's side, casting him a teasing glance. "So, Mr. Sleepyhead isn't sleeping anymore?" she teased, raising an eyebrow.

Sam turned to face his wife, a smirk forming at the corner of his mouth. "Not like I have a choice. I don't want to sleep and have nightmares about people I could have saved," he replied, his tone dry.

Lara grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, it's good that you're doing something other than sleeping," she remarked, her tone playful.

Sam let out an exaggerated sigh. "After this, I'll go back to my nap. This is the most I've worked since becoming Grand Elder," he muttered, as though the title was more a burden than an honor.

Lara's smile widened, a glint of humor in her eyes. "Who told you to become Grand Elder in the first place?" she teased, her lips curling into a grin.

Sam sighed dramatically. "I was tricked into thinking I could spend the rest of my days lounging in the comfort of my bed," he said dreamily.

"Too bad for you," Lara laughed, her voice warm. "That dream is probably going to stay just that—a dream—for a long while."

Meanwhile, Zelda took note of the bloodstains and injuries that marred her once-pristine appearance. A faint frown crossed her face, though the thrill of the battle surged within her. She couldn't afford to show any sign of weakness in front of her family.

Her gaze swept across the onlookers, noting the grim and fearful expressions on their faces. Looks like they underestimate me, she mused silently, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips. I can't blame them. It's been a long time since anyone has seen me fight like this.

Her eyes then fixed on the man standing alone, watching her with a smirk that mirrored her own. A spark of amusement flickered within her.

Without warning, Zelda vanished, only to reappear in front of him in a blur of speed.

"You've gotten better," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "I'll give you that. But you're still too weak."

"Weak?" the man scoffed, his pride evident in his voice. "Who caused those injuries? Who made you look so miserable?"

Zelda's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Let me show you what weakness really looks like."

She raised her hand, and a surge of immense pressure emanated from her, a blue aura briefly enveloping her form. The very air around her seemed to bend and ripple under her will. As if in response, her bloodstains disappeared, leaving her skin glowing with renewed vitality, unblemished and smooth—a true display of her formidable power. Though her clothing remained torn, her body was restored, exuding an unearthly radiance.

The man's confident expression faltered, his annoyance now clearly visible. "I forgot she could heal."

Zelda grinned, the corners of her mouth curling in a dangerous smile. "You didn't think that was the end, did you?"

"I hoped so," he muttered, his voice laced with hope yet tinged with disappointment. With a swift motion, he raised his sword, which began to crackle with searing energy.

He slashed toward Zelda with ferocity, but she saw the attack coming long before it reached her. The air around them seemed to tremble with the force of it. She raised her hand to block, though many of the elders watching exchanged worried glances. They recalled a time when an attack of this magnitude had brought the matriarch to her knees.

When the blade struck, Zelda was sent flying back, her body carried by the force of the blow as though she were a kite caught in a storm. The impact was staggering, but before she could regain her bearings, the man was there, appearing beside her in an instant. With a powerful kick to her abdomen, he sent her soaring even farther.

Zelda struggled to recover, but before she could push herself up, he materialized above her, bringing his full weight down with a crushing stomp. The force of the impact shattered the earth beneath them, sending shockwaves through the land. Houses crumbled to dust, and the ground split open, leaving a gaping wound in the earth's surface.

Fortunately, the residents had been evacuated just in time.

As Zelda emerged from the rubble, her appearance stunned those watching. Not a single scratch marred her skin, though her clothing had been nearly destroyed, leaving only fragments clinging to her form. She stood tall and imposing, resembling a warrior queen with her muscular frame and commanding presence. She was a force of nature.

Dusting herself off, she ignored the intruder's sudden assault. His blade swung toward her head, but she dodged effortlessly, her movements fluid and precise. In one smooth motion, she unsheathed her sword and parried his next overhead slash with a sharp clang of steel.

Her riposte came swiftly—a gut punch that sent him flying through the air, crashing through debris. Without hesitation, Zelda pursued him, closing the gap in an instant. Her fists rained down on him, each blow driving him further into the devastation. Houses and walls crumbled in their wake, the clash of powers leaving a trail of destruction behind.

When she reached the rubble where he had landed, a flash of light erupted. Zelda instinctively raised her sword, blocking the incoming attack with practiced ease. From the dust, the man lunged, his strikes aimed at her neck, face, and abdomen—every attack designed to leave her vulnerable. But Zelda's blade met each strike with unyielding defense, her movements swift and deliberate.

Her gaze hardened as she met his onslaught. "After all this time, you're still this weak. You disappoint me."

"What did you expect?" the man panted, his defiance clear despite his exhaustion. "I came for a fight, not a training camp. As for beating you? Sorry to let you down."

The onlookers murmured amongst themselves, confusion painting their expressions.

"Does the Matriarch know this intruder?" someone whispered, the question hanging heavy in the air.

Lara turned to Sam, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Is that who I think it is?"

Sam crossed his arms, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe. Why don't you watch and find out?"

Before the man could react, Zelda closed the distance again in a flash. Her fist connected with his abdomen, the sheer force sending him crashing through another row of buildings. The air was filled with dust and debris as he skidded to a halt, his body sprawled amidst the wreckage. Slowly, he pushed himself upright, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth. His labored breaths were a testament to the toll the battle had taken on him.

"Weakling," Zelda sneered, her voice laced with contempt. "Real warriors see battle as an opportunity to grow stronger."

The man wiped the blood from his lips, his voice hoarse but steady. "More like a means to an end."

Zelda's eyes narrowed. "You still don't understand."

She pointed at his face. "Get that pathetic disguise off, Aron."

A flash of recognition crossed the man's face, followed by a reluctant defiance in his voice. "I suppose you knew it was me all along."

Aron raised his hand to his face, his fingers working at the rough, animal-like texture that had concealed his true identity. With deliberate motions, the facade peeled away, revealing the familiar—but now harsher—features beneath.