CHAPTER 34: 34: SHADOW GUARDIAN

"Hmm. As long as you remain neutral, I have no qualms with you, scary old woman," the Lightning God replied rudely, his tone laced with mockery. Though his words were sharp, he wasn’t itching for a fight—not with the Dreamer. Even if he did win, the cost of such a battle would be far too steep. It simply wasn’t worth it.

---

"Hahahaha!!"

Levi couldn’t stop himself from bursting into uncontrollable laughter. Aaron’s frustrated expression was just too much—utterly priceless. This was a guy who had dared to talk to the Lightning God without flinching, who had stared down a demigod without batting an eye, yet now he looked like a child robbed of his favorite toy.

"That look... that’s gold," Levi wheezed.

"You really like him, don’t you?"

Rhea finally took her seat behind Levi, leaning forward and whispering into his ear, amusement dancing in her voice.

"He’s lovable. Even that stick-up-his-ass Joseph loves him now—so why wouldn’t I?" Levi replied, grinning widely.

---

Back in the Valley of Conquest...

Aaron had stopped moving.

Absolutely.

Not.

Moving.

Every falling leaf was a suspect. Every pebble—a potential assassin. The very air was plotting against him. He eyed the trees with suspicion, narrowed his gaze at innocent-looking shadows.

"System, what the fuck is going on? Did I offend some cosmic power that’s now messing with me for fun?" Aaron complained inwardly, rubbing his temples in pure stress.

[Host might have forgotten his first-ever reward. It seems host is retarded.]

Aaron sighed deeply, choosing not to argue with the system. He had long accepted that verbal sparring with that thing only led to ulcers and broken pride.

---

One long, long day finally passed.

The week-long exam continued, but most students had already found shelter for the night, using the opportunity to rest and recover. Even the audience—scattered across Blue Star and beyond—had left their screens to rest.

With the ceremonial hype over and nothing but the exam grind left, there was no longer any reason to stay glued to the broadcast. They could always tune in again from their homes.

---

Day Two

Aaron opened his eyes to the morning breeze, whispering through the trees. He stretched with a groan, whispering a silent prayer:

"Please, let me not be too lucky today..."

He scanned his surroundings, prowling through the valley in search of a real fight. It wasn’t long before he found one.

A young man emerged from between two thick trees—tall, heavily built, and carrying a massive greatsword strapped to his back. His aura screamed confidence.

"Heh. Another free point ripe for the taking," the student scoffed, smirking as he laid eyes on Aaron.

Aaron, however, was overjoyed.

His face lit up with childlike excitement. Finally! Someone he could actually fight. Someone to let him display even a fraction of his real strength.

Sure, he was topping the ranks. But no top university was going to recruit a student who hadn’t shown any of their own power—just the absurd blessings of Lady Luck.

"Hey, uh... by any chance, are you hurt?" Aaron asked sincerely, glancing at the guy’s limbs. He couldn’t afford his first real fight to be one-sided.

"Huh? You think you stand a chance, even if I am injured?" the student barked a laugh. "Don’t kid yourself. Even half-dead, I’d still bury you."

Aaron blinked, unimpressed. "How long would it take for you to be at full strength? I can wait," he said, plopping down onto the grass with crossed legs, refusing to budge.

"You bastard! How dare you look down on me like that!" the student roared, pulling out his greatsword in blind rage.

He charged, his boots pounding the earth—and tripped.

Kicked an exposed tree root.

Spun midair.

And impaled himself on his own damn sword.

"FUUUUUCK!!!" Aaron screamed, clutching his head in utter disbelief.

Ting!

His watch vibrated again.

Another point.

Another accidental kill.

Another brick in the tower of his silent suffering.

---

"I can’t take this anymore," Aaron muttered, trembling. "This won’t do. This just won’t do!"

A thought struck him.

If he was this lucky, then maybe... just maybe...

"System, draw," he ordered without hesitation.

[Congratulations! You have drawn a god-rank summon: Shadow Guardian.]

Aaron, still sitting cross-legged and mourning his nonexistent fight, started laughing like a maniac. He laughed until his sides ached and tears gathered in his eyes. To anyone watching, he looked like a lunatic having a mental breakdown.

[Shadow Guardian: A being born of the darkness in your shadow. It exists solely to protect the host. It will only intervene when your life is in imminent danger. It cannot be ordered. It acts independently. It holds the strength of an elite god and bears a god-rank shadow bloodline.]

Aaron’s eyes gleamed.

"Hahaha... I’m invincible now," he muttered, the fire of confidence burning again in his chest.

He could finally move boldly. His hybrid bloodline ensured ridiculous regeneration, and now he had a god-rank guardian in his shadow to protect his life.

It was game on.

---

"Now then..." Aaron cracked his knuckles. "Time to actually show my skills."

He ventured deeper into the valley, actively seeking enemies. He was absolutely sure his insane luck had run its course.

And thankfully, this time, it seemed to be true.

One monster after another fell to his hands—his skills. No randomness. No falling leaves of death. Just raw strength, speed, and precision.

---

"System," Aaron called as he sat atop the corpse of a freshly killed beast. "What was that bizarre phenomenon from yesterday? You got an explanation for that?"

[It happens to every being, host. A day when their fate aligns, and it feels like the entire universe is helping them.]

Aaron snorted. "Yeah. Sure. Helping me by ruining all my chances to fight."

Still grumbling, he stood up and moved on, brushing blood from his boots.

That’s when he noticed something strange.

The trees felt... different. The space around him warped subtly, almost imperceptibly. The air felt heavier. His senses sharpened.

"Huh... so that’s how they plan to weed out the weak ones," Aaron muttered.

He could sense the illusion. The valley was shifting—closing in.

"Dream... you’re really something else," he muttered, giving silent props to the demigod of illusion.

Her control was terrifying. The valley was so real, so tangible, he’d almost forgotten it was fabricated.

He groaned.

"Guess I shouldn’t have panicked yesterday... I would’ve gotten my chance eventually," he admitted with a reluctant sigh.

Looking back now, yeah—he might’ve overreacted a bit.

Not that it was his fault! All he wanted was to flex a little. Just a little! Too many people were looking down on him lately.

Boasting? No, no. He wasn’t the type.

He was as humble as they come.

He could’ve singlehandedly wiped out every student in the valley without even breathing hard—and he didn’t. He held back. He limited himself. That was humility, pure and simple.

And if anyone disagreed?

They could sue him.

He’d gladly compensate them...

...with a middle finger.