"You see, originally we tried to create an army of monsters. The Maneater monster was a failed product of our experiment. The monster wouldn't listen to anyone. In the end, we decided to place the monster into that world. But before leaving, we left a little bit of our consciousness and a small part of our souls in the monster. So that if one day, Lara's fated one manages to defeat the monster, we will be able to meet him."
"When the prophecy was revealed, me and my husband, at first didn't believe in it. At that time, our Empire was the most substantial Empire in the Grassy Plains Continent. Even if there was a 1% chance of the prophecy happening, we needed to make a second option. And our second option is you, son."
"Me?"
"Yes. Not only you're frighteningly strong at such a young age, but you're also immensely talented in cultivation. Our daughter is lucky to find you. And overall, you're a good man, Aditya."
'A good man? This is the first time anyone has ever called me a good man.' Aditya thought in his head. In his previous life, Aditya's hands were stained with the blood and suffering of many people. After coming to this world, Aditya never bothered about differentiating what is right and what is wrong. He always prioritized his interest over everything.
"I doubt I am a good man. But I have promised Rose that I will take care of Lara. I intend to keep my promise." Aditya is a man of his word. Once he had made a promise he would never break it.
"Even if you think that you're not a good man, your actions say the opposite. You could have abandoned my daughter in that cold alone but instead, you chose to take care of her even though you don't know her. You're taking her responsibility even though she has never seen her before." Lauren could somewhat read Aditya's expression and understand the thoughts that is currently going on in Aditya's head. Lauren has lived a life of 740 years. In those 740, the amount of experience that she has gained is not small.
Aditya did not reply. "If you don't mind me asking, can I know how the Great Starry Sky Empire fell and how did both of you die?"
Sigh!
Jonah sighed before clenching his fists in anger. "At that time, the military strength of our Empire had become so strong that I began to believe that its time for the Great Starry Sky Empire to spread to the Main continent. As you know, the Main continent is full of rich resources and powerful cultivators. If a Peak 5th-order cultivator wishes to break through, then he must head to the Main continent."
"At that time, our Empire had 11 Peak 5th-order cultivators. I was planning on taking them to the Main continent and letting them break through. But somehow, a powerful sect focused their attention on us. The sect leader wanted the Great Starry Sky Empire to join the sect which I refused."
"The sect leader was insistent. Joining the sect would mean that I am giving my Empire to the sect and the sect leader would be able to rule it as he sees fit. This isn't something that I wanted. Later I learned that it is extremely difficult for outside forces to establish themselves independently in the Main continent. You will either have to join a faction or sect in the Main continent or you can discard your plan of expanding to the Main continent."
"So What happened?"
"After we rejected their offer, the sect sent its members to hunt us down. Out of the 12, only I was able to survive escape. A few days later, the sect sent more than 500 Peak 5th-order members to attack the Great Starry Sky Empire. It was also at that time, that our allies cut ties with us. Without any aid from anyone, we couldn't withstand the attack. After seven long brutal days of fighting, the Great Starry Sky empire fell with my and my wife's death. This happened 59 years after my daughter Lara was put to the Icy shattered Ruin world."
"Aditya, let me give you a word of advice. The factions in the Main continent control the six other continents. I am sure that the Istarin Empire will also be approached by one or multiple factions from the Main continent. At that time, if you don't join them, you won't be able to do anything when your empire falls."
A cold smile appeared on Aditya's face as intense killing intent leaked out of his whole body. Aditya's eyes began to glow in Crimson. "Let them come. I am not afraid. My aim is to build the strongest Empire in the world. To achieve my dream, I will kill anyone in my path."
'Not to mention the fact, that I still have to get my revenge on my dear parents. I will destroy the Empire that they love so much.'
Seeing Aditya's look, Jonah didn't say anything. Jonah can feel that Aditya might be able to go against the main continent and turn things around.
The bodies of both Jonah and Lauren began to fade. "Well, it appears our meeting is about to come to an end. It has been nice talking to you, Aditya."
"Aditya, please look after my daughter for me. Take this as my dying request. I couldn't do much for my daughter. I always have wanted the best for her. Tell her, that I have always loved her. Tell her, that we will be always watching over her."
"I promise I will take care of her till the end of time."
"One more thing, before I disappear, right before the Great Starry Sky Empire was destroyed, I had hidden a few things for my daughter and for you. You can find these things when you head to the Palace of the Great Starry Sky Empire. The treasure is located under the Palace."
"Thank you." By now, Lauren's entire body already had disappeared. Aditya can barely see her face. This will be the last time that Aditya sees them.
"There is no need to thank us. It should us thanking you. I am grateful to you for taking care of our daughter. Both of you have my blessings." Lauren and Jonah's bodies completely disappeared. Aditya could sense their Auras vanishing from this world as well.
"At least tell me the name of the sect?"
"The Night Riders Sect." Aditya's heart Jonah's voice.
The Auras of Lauren and Jonah completely vanished from this world. Also at the same time, everything around Aditya started to break down. This world was collapsing. However, the breakdown did not harm Aditya at all.
In fact, the pain that he felt after being beaten by Jonah also disappeared. His body returned to its peak state. "I guess it's time for me to go as well."
Scene change to Aditya's bedroom,
Aditya's fingers slightly twitched. His legs slightly moved. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and found himself in his bedroom.
'I guess, others bought me here.' Aditya closed his eyes and then spread his Aura throughout the entire Azure city. Seeing that not that many things has changed in his absence, Aditya sighed in relief.
'I have been gone more almost 35 days. There are so many things that I will need to do. I will have to help Laura take over the Throne. Then there is the matter of the Northern Frost Dragon Empire that needs to be dealt with. When all that is done, I will need to head to the Beast continent and find the treasures that Lara's mother has left behind for Lara. Also now that I have been absent for over a month, surely there are many other matters that I will attend to.'
Aditya put his right hand over his forehead and thought while staring at the ceiling. 'I have been inside the Icy shattered Ruin for like 34 hours. Yet outside, almost 35 days had passed. I seriously need a few days of rest after all that fighting that I have been through.' But Aditya knew, that now wasn't the time to rest. Things will start to heat up once the competition begins.
Click!
Suddenly Aditya heard a clicking sound. Aditya saw his wife, Julia entering his bedroom with a tired and exhausted face. 'She has changed. She looks so stressed. My absence must have affected her.' Aditya's heart ached to see his wife like this.
Meanwhile, Julia's attention fell on Aditya after she closed the door. Finding him staring at her, Julia felt choked. Her entire body trembled. No matter how much she wanted, she couldn't utter a single word. Her vision became blurry and her hands started shaking. Her heart beat loudly. The goddess was overwhelmed with emotions.
Seeing tears falling from her eyes, Aditya arrived in front of Julia.
"Aditya....Aditya...." Seeing him in front of him, Julia didn't know what to say other than repeat his name over and over again. Julia felt choked when she tried to say something else. She was like a child who had been separated from her parents for months and now she was finally able to see him.
"I missed you." Aditya pulled Julia towards him. Aditya gently hugged her. But Julia tightly wrapped her arms around his back while burying his face in his chest. The goddess began to cry loudly. She let out all the emotions that she has been holding in her heart for the last 34 days.
Seeing Julia cry like a child, Aditya felt bad. He felt guilty. Aditya gently stepped backward and then sat on the edge of the bed. He picked up Julia and let her sit on his lap. The goddess wrapped her arms around his neck and then put her face on his right shoulder and began to cry even more loudly.
"What would Clara say if she saw you crying like a child?" Aditya didn't enjoy seeing the person whom he loved to cry like this. Instead, it pained him. It made him sad.
Julia did not reply. She hugged him even tighter as if fearing that he will disappear once again.
After a while, Julia finally calmed down. Aditya smiled while patting her head. He then kissed both of her cheeks and then her lips. "This time things didn't go the way I had planned." When Aditya tried to use the teleportation function of the Dragon Palace, he found that his teleportation was blocked.
"Hmm" Julia just nodded her head while burying her face in his right shoulder. The goddess wasn't planning on letting him go anytime soon.
"You can come in now." Hearing the voice, the door was soon opened by another individual. As she entered, she was found wiping her right eye. Her eyes were red.
"To think I would see the proud goddess cry. Alicia, you have changed."
"Hmph! I wasn't crying for you. Something fell into my eye." Aditya rolled his eyes. Can't she come up with a better excuse?
"Whatever. Now come here and give your husband a big hug." Aditya opened his left arm for Alicia.
"You're not my husband." Alicia blushed and look away.
"So you don't want my hug? Then I guess I will give all of my attention to..." Before he could finish, another figure was sitting on his lap and hugging him. Soon Alicia also began to cry. Unlike Julia, Alicia very rarely cried. Although she acted strongly in Aditya's absence, the people close to her knew that she was only pretending. As Alicia had hidden her weak trembling side.
"When did you leave us without saying anything?" Alicia asked in a choked tone.
"I missed you too."
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