Stranger: Back Home

As Aerum's cold words lingered in the air, Agent M didn't hesitate. He activated his Shadow Travel Technique, disappearing into the surrounding darkness and reappearing within inches of Aerum. With a swift motion, he unleashed his Shadow Blade Technique, a slashing wave of dark energy aimed directly at her.

Aerum's glowing red eyes locked onto him, calculating every detail of his movement. Her voice dripped with icy resolve. "You're eager to die, Agent M."

As the shadow blade closed in, Aerum transformed her gun into dual blades. With fluid precision, she twisted her body, using the blade in her right hand to block the incoming attack.

Clang!

The impact of shadow energy against her weapon sent a brilliant flare of red light, accompanied by a shockwave that tore through the ground and stirred the air into a violent gust. Dust and debris scattered as the two forces clashed.

Agent M's attack faltered, but his expression remained unreadable. Before Aerum could regain her footing, his six subordinates—MA, MB, MD, MF, MH, and MI—activated their Shadow Cloud Technique, transforming into black, swirling mists. The dark smoke encircled Aerum, each operative waiting for an opening to strike.

Aerum's sharp eyes darted around as she defended herself against the relentless onslaught. Agent M pressed her with his superior skill, while his subordinates took turns launching sudden, precise strikes from the shadows.

Blood trickled down her arms and legs as cuts began to accumulate. Each strike tested her defenses further. For ten grueling minutes, Aerum endured, blocking and dodging in an increasingly desperate dance.

But Aerum was no novice. Despite the pain and exhaustion, she began to notice subtle patterns in their attacks. Timing. Weak points. A glimmer of opportunity. Her grip on her blades tightened, and her expression, though fatigued, held an edge of determination.

"Big Sis," she murmured internally, "I need full energy. Now."

Renhuang's voice responded in her mind, calm and assured. "It's yours."

Aerum felt it immediately—a surge of power coursing through her veins. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest, pumping energy to every corner of her body. A bolt of electric sensation raced from her brain to her limbs, sharpening her reflexes.

Her red eyes flared with golden light, and time itself seemed to slow. Every movement of her opponents became predictable, like a choreographed dance.

Without hesitation, Aerum moved.

In a blur, she struck. Her blades glinted as she pierced MA's heart core with deadly precision. Pulling back in the same motion, she whirled toward MB, driving her blade into his chest before spinning once more to sever MD's core.

Shink! Shink! Shink!

The sequence was over in an instant. Golden light faded from Aerum's eyes, leaving only the stunned aftermath.

Agent M and the remaining subordinates, MF, MH, and MI, froze, their gazes locked on the scene before them. Blood splattered the ground, and the lifeless bodies of their comrades crumpled like puppets with cut strings. For a moment, silence reigned, broken only by the soft drip of blood.

"What… just happened?" MF whispered, his voice trembling.

Agent M was the first to snap out of his stupor. He noticed Aerum's labored breathing, the weariness in her posture. A grim determination crossed his face as he barked an order.

"Form up! Darkness Deprive Formation—now!"

The three remaining subordinates sprang into action, positioning themselves around Aerum.

Aerum's golden eyes dimmed to their normal hue, but her sharp instincts remained. She readied her blades, expecting another wave of attacks. But the agents did not strike.

Instead, they performed a synchronized series of hand signs. Shadows thickened unnaturally, swirling and gathering around her. The world seemed to tilt as darkness consumed the area.

Aerum's surroundings vanished into an all-encompassing black void. She turned her head sharply, but there was nothing—no light, no ground, no sound beyond her own breathing.

"What is this?" she whispered to herself, gripping her blades tightly.

Renhuang's voice echoed in her mind, calm yet cautious. "Stay sharp, Aerum. This isn't just darkness… it's illusion domain."

The illusion enveloped Aerum before she could even register what was happening. A haze of colors swirled around her before settling into vivid clarity.

February 26, 3018

"Ae-in, Ae-in…" A soft, familiar voice called out, breaking the silence.

Aerum, just five years old, stirred in her bed. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up to find her mother, Layla Al-Mansur, smiling gently at her. The moment Aerum's gaze met her mother's, tears began streaming down her small face.

Layla's smile faltered. She pulled Aerum into a warm embrace. "What's wrong, baby? Did you have a nightmare?" Her voice carried both love and concern.

As Aerum clung to her mother, her sobs shook her tiny frame. Hearing the commotion, Elliot Fitzgerald, Aerum's father, entered the room. His eyes immediately filled with worry as he saw his daughter crying.

"What happened?" he asked Layla, his voice edged with tension.

"Nothing serious," Layla replied, cradling Aerum. "I think she just had a bad dream."

Elliot sighed in relief, crossing the room to wrap his wife and daughter in a comforting hug.

Layla kissed Aerum's tear-streaked cheek. "No more tears, sweetheart. Today's your birthday, remember? We're going to Disneyland, just like we promised!"

Aerum sniffled and managed a small smile. "Yay!"

The day unfolded in a wonders of joy. Aerum laughed and shrieked on rides, her parents' faces lighting up with every smile she gave. By the time night fell, the three were still basking in the warmth of their time together.

At around 9 PM, as the family rested near a fountain, Elliot's wrist device chimed. A notification flashed across the screen.

"Layla," he said in a low voice, his tone serious. "The home security system sent an alert."

Layla turned to him, worry etched into her features. "What's wrong?"

"Someone's breached the house," Elliot said grimly. "From the footage, it looks like the Shadow Organization."

Layla's face paled. "Why would they come after us? Our families might not approve of our marriage, but after Aerum was born, they've softened. This can't be their doing."

Elliot shook his head. "No, I don't think it's our families. I suspect the other ruling factions in the Central Region—maybe the Von Hohenbergs or the Volkovs. They'd want to destabilize any unity within our family."

Before Layla could respond, Aerum, who had been sitting quietly on her mother's lap, looked up. "Mommy, are we going home now?"

Layla forced a smile, smoothing Aerum's hair. "Not yet, sweetheart. Let's explore a little more, okay?"

Elliot and Layla exchanged a look, unspoken understanding passing between them. As they walked, Elliot noticed shadows flickering unnaturally in the distance. He signaled discreetly to Layla.

Layla knelt beside Aerum, her voice calm but firm. "Aerum, how about we go on the Indiana Jones Adventure? It's full of treasures!"

Aerum's eyes lit up with innocent excitement. "Yes, Mama!"

Inside the labyrinthine maze of the Indiana Jones attraction, Layla crouched down and looked her daughter in the eyes. "Listen to me, Aerum. There are bad people following us. We're going to play hide-and-seek, okay? Whatever happens, you need to hide and stay quiet. No screaming, even if you're scared. Can you do that?"

Aerum's lower lip quivered. "Mommy, why are you saying this? Are you and Daddy coming too?"

Layla fought back tears, cupping Aerum's small face in her hands. "Be brave, my love. Live a happy life. Don't seek revenge. Just be a good girl, okay?"

Tears streamed down Aerum's face as she whispered, "I want to stay with you…"

Layla pulled her daughter into a tight hug, Elliot joining them. For a moment, the world seemed to still. Then, with a deep breath, they moved.

They found a hidden nook within the maze, concealed by overgrown grass. Layla kissed Aerum's forehead one last time. "Stay here and follow the plan, no matter what."

Aerum watched as her parents disappeared deeper into the maze.

Minutes passed. Then she heard it—the heavy thud of boots and the muffled sound of voices. She stayed perfectly still, as her mother had taught her.

Suddenly, the distant sound of a fight broke out. Blades clashed, and gunfire echoed through the attraction. Aerum's tiny hands clutched the doll her mother had given her, her knuckles white with fear. She wanted to scream, to run to them, but she stayed hidden, her parents' words anchoring her.

When the noise subsided, Aerum followed her mother's instructions, slipping out of the maze. She didn't look back, even as her heart screamed for her parents.

She ran.

The forest loomed around her as she sprinted through the dark, branches clawing at her clothes. Her breathing was ragged, and tears blurred her vision. She didn't stop. She couldn't.

But as she ran, the world shifted. The trees melted into shadow, and the ground beneath her vanished.

Darkness. Complete, suffocating darkness.

Aerum stopped, her footsteps swallowed by the void. "Mommy? Daddy?" Her voice trembled, but only silence answered.

Clutching her doll, she called again. "Mommy!"

The air grew cold. A chilling voice whispered from the shadows. "It's your fault they're gone. If you hadn't been born, they would still be alive."

"No!" Aerum cried, covering her ears. But the whispers only grew louder. "They died because of you."

She curled up on the ground, her small body shaking. Her cries echoed in the emptiness, her mind teetering on the edge of despair.

Then, a faint light pierced the darkness.

A figure emerged—a woman of ethereal beauty, radiating the aura of an empress. Her soul shimmered with cracks, as though barely holding together. She knelt beside Aerum, lifting the child into her lap.

"Shh," the woman whispered, stroking Aerum's hair. "Even now, you can't let go of the past after two decades... Wake up. Get your revenge in reality."

The woman placed a hand on Aerum's chest, sending a surge of soul energy into her.

Aerum jolted awake, the illusion shattering around her. The backlash from the broken formation sent a shockwave through the area, killing MF, MH, and MI instantly.

Agent M, bloodied and gasping, lay on the ground, his breaths shallow. Aerum's cold gaze fell on him as she approached.

He chuckled weakly, his voice rasping. "A good day to die, it seems."

Aerum said nothing, her expression unreadable.

Agent M's lips curled into a faint smile. "I hope… you find your revenge."

With that, his body went still.

Aerum stood frozen, her breath ragged as she stared at Agent M's lifeless body. The faint metallic tang of blood lingered in the air, mixing with the cold energy swirling around her. Just as she turned to leave, a commanding voice echoed in her mind.

"Duck and backflip!"

Renhuang's warning left no room for hesitation. Without a second thought, Aerum dropped to the ground as a blur of fur and claws flew over her. The alpha wolf's snarling form missed her by a hair. She followed the instruction with a quick backflip, creating precious distance between herself and the predator.

The wolf skidded on the ground, its glowing eyes fixated on her with unbridled fury. Its growl rumbled through the stillness like a thunderclap, echoing through the dark forest. Aerum crouched low, every muscle tensed, as the beast circled her.

Neither noticed the faint glow emanating from Agent M's corpse. Intricate symbols began etching themselves into his skin, pulsing with ominous energy.

Suddenly, the air exploded with force, throwing debris and dead leaves into the air. A swirling portal emerged where Agent M's body once lay—a jagged, pulsing rift releasing waves of spiritual energy.

Aerum shielded her eyes from the harsh light, her heart pounding. From the portal, grotesque creatures began to emerge. The first to crawl out was a massive slug-like entity, its slimy surface gleaming under the unnatural light, its presence reeking of decay.

Renhuang materialized in front of Aerum, her form radiating authority despite the cracks lining her ethereal body.

"Aerum! That's a portal to the Negative Realm! If it stabilizes, it will unleash unimaginable destruction. Negative realm creatures can't be killed by normal means—they're beyond mortal comprehension. Run!"

Aerum stared at Renhuang, the shock of seeing her for the first time colliding with the urgency of her words.

"No, Sis! I've already lost my parents. I won't lose you too!"

Renhuang's expression softened momentarily. "Silly girl, I'm not your sister. I am you. As long as you live, so do I. Now, go! Live your life!"

With a powerful gust of wind, Renhuang pushed Aerum far back. Aerum tumbled through the air, crashing against a tree.

Renhuang turned back toward the portal, her hands glowing with her remaining soul essence. As she prepared to seal the rift, a screech erupted from the portal. One of the slugs lunged out, its slimy appendage piercing into the wolf.

The wolf convulsed violently, its body twitching as the slug merged with it. A guttural growl escaped the wolf's throat, its eyes now a sickening green. Renhuang froze. Her energy was dwindling, and now there were two threats: the portal and the corrupted wolf.

A heavy sigh echoed through the air.

"Who's there?!" Renhuang demanded, spinning around.

A figure stepped forward, his presence radiating an otherworldly calm. Xenos.

"You've drained yourself considerably, Renhuang. If you use any more energy, you'll cease to exist, even in the cycle of reincarnation."

Renhuang's eyes narrowed, assessing him. "Your aura… It's like my father's. You must be a paragon, but that's impossible. The human race's paragons are long gone. Who are you?"

Xenos gazed at her, unperturbed. "You ask too many questions."

With a casual wave of his hand, golden runes appeared in the air, weaving together the laws of life, karma, time, space, and fate. The sheer complexity of the energy left Renhuang stunned.

"You… control so many top-tier laws? You're an Extreme Paragon? How is this possible?"

Xenos smiled faintly. "Take your rest, Renhuang. Heal. We'll speak when you're whole again. I'll handle this mess and watch over Aerum."

Before she could protest, the runes enveloped her, forming a cocoon of glowing light. It pulsed gently before zipping into Aerum's soul sea, settling deep within.

Xenos turned to the unstable portal, his expression unreadable. "I didn't expect the hidden disciple to involve themselves in Aerum's parents' deaths."

With another wave of his hand, the portal folded into itself and collapsed, leaving the air still once more.

But as he surveyed the area, his sharp eyes narrowed. The corrupted wolf was gone.

"So, it's chasing her, is it?" he murmured. His voice carried a hint of amusement and resolve. "Finally, it's time to meet Aerum."

Xenos vanished, the forest falling silent in his wake.

The dense forest seemed to close in on her with every frantic step. The woman's breath came in ragged gasps, her chest heaving as she pushed herself to run faster. Her heart pounded with fear, each beat echoing the dread that clawed at her insides. The monstrous growls behind her felt like a storm chasing her, relentless and filled with malice.

The creature pursuing her was an abomination—a monstrous wolf, its body grotesquely distorted by a dark, slimy slug-like parasite writhing under its skin. Its red eyes glowed with a malevolent hunger, and its claws tore into the ground with every step, leaving deep gouges in the earth.

She stumbled, her foot catching on a gnarled root hidden beneath the underbrush. The world spun as she fell, tumbling down a shallow incline. Pain shot through her body as she rolled over jagged stones and broken branches. Finally, she came to a stop, bruised and scraped, her palms bleeding as she pushed herself up.

The wolf-like creature appeared at the top of the incline, its red eyes locked on her. It began descending slowly, savoring her fear. She could hear the guttural growls vibrating in its chest, each step deliberate, calculated.

Panic gripped her as she scrambled to her feet, her back pressed against the rough bark of a tree. Her mind screamed at her to run, but her legs felt like they were made of lead. Suddenly, amidst the oppressive silence, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind her.

Her breath hitched. Was it help or another threat? Too terrified to turn and look, she kept her eyes fixed on the monster. The sound of steps grew closer, steady and unhurried, but before she could muster the courage to glance back, the wolf leaped toward her, its claws outstretched.

She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the pain.

A sharp sound sliced through the air. The creature never made contact. Instead, a wet, tearing noise filled her ears, followed by the dull thud of something heavy hitting the ground.

Cautiously, she opened her eyes. The wolf's mangled body lay before her, cleanly sliced into pieces. The monstrous slug wriggled briefly before dissolving into an inky black mist, dissipating into the air.

A voice broke the silence, low and calm. "The slugs are parasites," the man said, as though talking to himself. "They take control of animals and humans, twisting them into negative creatures. Weak on their own, but lethal to mortals."

Her eyes darted around until they settled on the figure standing nearby. A man, tall and commanding, stood amidst the carnage. His golden-purple eyes seemed to shimmer like gemstones in the faint light filtering through the trees. His face was strikingly handsome, framed by dark hair, and his fair skin seemed to radiate an unearthly calm.

He turned to her and chuckled softly. "Girl, you can open your eyes now."

She blinked, her mind struggling to process what had just happened. Slowly, she let herself breathe and truly looked at him. His presence felt otherworldly, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos she had just survived. For a moment, she forgot her fear, mesmerized by him.

When she didn't respond, he tilted his head slightly. "Are you okay?"

The question pulled her from her trance. Stammering, she replied, "Y-yes… I'm okay. Thank you… for saving me. Who… who are you?"

He offered a faint smile. "Xenos," he said simply.

She swallowed hard and nodded. "I'm Areum… Han Areum."

Xenos stepped forward and extended a hand to help her up. Hesitantly, she reached out, but suddenly without warning, she pulled a dagger from her waist and lunged at him.

The blade sliced through the air, aiming for his heart.

Xenos didn't flinch. With effortless grace, he flicked open a folding fan that appeared in his hand and blocked her strike. The sound of metal clashing rang through the clearing.

His lips curled into a bemused smile. "Feisty, aren't you?"

From the Author:

Hello, everyone! How are you all doing?

Han Aerum's introduction took a bit of time because she's a key character in my novel, and I wanted to do her justice. I've put a lot of effort into developing her, and I hope you've enjoyed getting to know her. To keep things exciting and avoid dragging things out, I uploaded chapters daily to complete her introduction.

Now that she has finally met the protagonist, I'll return to releasing one chapter per week. I hope you'll understand this shift in schedule.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about the latest chapter! Your feedback means a lot to me, so feel free to share your opinions. If you're happy with the story so far, don't forget to throw in some power stones—they really motivate me!

The next chapter will be published on 4th December. Stay tuned!