CHAPTER 57: MEET WREN

Richard examined the ring casually. It was a Storage Artifact, though the space inside was far smaller compared to the one he had taken from Damon.

He saw two objects—hand and left leg bones that glimmered like diamonds.

Without hesitation, he drew them out from within the ring, along with the right-side parts stored inside his own.

Although the amount of Aether he had absorbed was still little, there was no issue with obtaining an Aether Skeleton earlier.

He directly absorbed them into his body.

DING!

(Your hand and leg bones have been replaced with Aether Skeletons. You gain an additional 2000 Aether Accumulation originating from your Aether Hand and Leg Bones!)

[Aether Accumulation: 4360 Tier 3]

"Compared to cultivating, this method is much easier. Unfortunately, raising the Realm still requires training for everyone," Richard said.

He felt so delighted that he wanted to laugh.

But then, his brows furrowed.

"Is something wrong?"

He wondered as he looked at his own hands.

He wasn’t entirely sure what was happening. Nothing felt wrong or uncomfortable, yet his instincts seemed to be searching for a hidden problem inside his body.

---

Meanwhile, in the Royal Academy, inside a dark chamber that served as Wren’s training room, the young man who was cultivating suddenly opened his eyes, narrowing them coldly.

"So the one who killed Damon is here in this city," he muttered with a cruel gaze.

The right hand and leg bones Damon once possessed had been his gifts—a reward for carrying out his dirty work.

From the very start, he hadn’t believed Damon would live long enough to use them, so he had sought the help of an expert to leave behind a tracking seal. It was in anticipation of Damon being slain and his belongings plundered.

As long as those bones fused with someone, the mark would activate, allowing him to trace the person.

To him, killing his dog was no different from slapping his face. How could he possibly let this go peacefully?

"If Damon hadn’t died, I would’ve gathered plenty of souls, enough to defeat Gray in an actual fight. But since Damon was killed, my plan failed, and I was forced to pay Gray heavily to make him surrender in the tournament."

Wren’s eyes grew even colder as he thought of the truth behind the matter.

Some believed him to be brilliant for making Gray concede. Even his father and the Moonshadow Clan leader had praised him.

But reality was far less glorious. He had been forced to do it, and even now it left a bitter taste in his heart.

He stood, lifted his greatsword, and strapped it across his back.

Of course, he would now seek that person out.

---

Richard still hadn’t realized what was truly happening, though he knew something was amiss.

He trusted his instincts—there was no way they were wrong without reason.

For now, he could only wait until Lilith returned.

Surely, there was no way that woman wouldn’t know what the problem was.

He then stood, feeling the urge to walk around again.

His confidence had risen drastically after his increase in power.

He even felt he might not be far from Gray and Wren’s strength.

Even if their Aether was three times greater than his, he could make up for the difference with his elemental affinity that reached 90%, coupled with his Mind Attack that would effectively weaken them.

"Ehh..."

Just as he stepped out of Lilith’s house, he was stunned to see a blond man with cold eyes and a massive sword suddenly appear, standing in the courtyard.

"Wren?"

How could he not recognize the man who had just forced Gray to surrender?

Why was he here? And why was his gaze so sharp upon him?

Before Richard could even think, the man suddenly charged at him.

"I didn’t expect you to be just a child," Wren said coldly.

As he lunged, he didn’t release any kind of aura, as though he were just an ordinary man—but his speed was enough to make Richard wary.

However—

BANG!

A faint light suddenly appeared at the front porch of the house, forcefully rebounding Wren back until he staggered when he landed.

Shock flashed across his face as his eyes narrowed sharply.

Richard, who had initially been worried, was stunned and then overjoyed.

"This is Princess Lilith’s house. You’d better not act recklessly here, or your entire clan will be annihilated," Richard said.

With that, he retreated back inside, leaning against the door.

Fortunately, Lilith had arranged protective formations around her house, or else he would have been in serious trouble, forced to face Wren directly.

Even though he wasn’t afraid, he knew it would be troublesome.

He was beginning to understand what was going on.

It had to be because of Damon’s death—and Wren had a way to track him.

Naturally, he quickly concluded it was related to those bones and the strange sensation he had felt.

Would Wren dare oppose me, knowing I’m backed by Lilith? Richard wondered as he peeked out the window, seeing Wren hesitate.

He’s only the governor’s son. Lilith should be stronger than that governor. She’s also a Princess of the Holy Star Kingdom—what are they compared to her? They should be afraid, Richard thought.

Although Lilith had once been a discarded princess, Richard knew her identity had since been restored.

The kingdom could never let go of such an extraordinary genius. Yet it was Lilith herself who had chosen not to return, preferring to roam freely.

"Ohhh, he’s finally leaving..."

Not long after showing hesitation, Wren turned away with a gloomy expression.

Richard almost laughed when he saw his face.

After that, he sat down.

From late afternoon, the sky gradually darkened.

Richard waited for Sister Lisa and Lilith to return.

"Mm..." He suddenly heard the cry of a crow outside not long after nightfall.

Click!

The door opened, revealing Lilith’s figure.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Richard.

"Did something happen?" she asked.

It seemed she was aware someone had come with ill intentions.

"Sister Lilith, it was like this..." Richard recounted what had happened.

Lilith looked slightly surprised but only smiled.

"There shouldn’t be any problem. That governor—I already beat him up when I first returned to this city," Lilith said casually, before pointing her finger toward Richard.

Shua!

Suddenly, a beam of light filled with many symbols emerged from Richard’s body, landing in Lilith’s hand before shattering into tiny fragments and vanishing.

"There’s no need to be afraid of roaming around. That boy, Wren, is the type who bullies the weak but fears the strong. He won’t dare touch you. Perhaps he even thinks you’re my disciple," Lilith continued.

"Hehehe, Sister Lilith, I’m really grateful you support me," Richard chuckled.

"Naturally, I’ll support you. Besides... I still want to see your adult self someday. You might just be a good match to stand beside me," Lilith replied with a wink, making Richard roll his eyes.

His face flushed slightly, something he couldn’t control.

So this is what it feels like to be teased by a beautiful woman? he wondered.

If only he had an adult body, he felt he would’ve pounced on her already.