Chapter 3: New Strength

Thraxar looked at the unconscious Aether, after the dragon ritual. He trained Aether to atleast be familiar with his new found power and informed him about the other traits that will be added to his body like improving his senses, improving his physical abilities, etc.

The training didn't do anything to his body outside of course, since this was only in Aether's dreamscape, the training is just a way to make him feel familiar to his new power.

Chuckling, Thraxar spoke to the unconscious Aether, "Aether, you may not feel nor see me. But I'll always be watching over you, may our fate allow us to see each other again."

Saying those words, Thraxar slowly disappeared as his sorroundings collapsed.

xXxXxXxXxX

Aether opened his eyes, he slowly sat up to see the sun rising which created a beautiful view. Especially if you are sitting on a tree branch.

"That dream was... something."

Muttering those words, he landed on the ground, before going near the lake to wash himself.

Kneeling on the ground, he cupped his arms before washing his face with the water. Opening his eyes once again, he noticed something... different. Instead of seeing his golden coloured eyes, his eyes were now dark red in color.

"Huhh?" Aether slightly gasped, he tilted his head in confusion before rubbing his eyes only for it to be the same color again.

Standing up, Aether scratched his head before realization hit him like a brick, "Wait a minute," He looked down and saw his new body, his arms grew a little bit more muscular and some abbs were now visible on his body.

"Holy shit... it really was not a dream huh." Aether said in shocked, before his lips morphed into that of a grin showing his now much sharper canines.

"Well, I'll test out my new found strength. Let's see how long it will take for me to go back to the beach in a sprint."

Grabbing the hide where he put all of the wild boar's chopped meat, he putted it over his shoulder before sprinting like a maniac towards his safe zone.

xXxXxXxXxX

Arriving at the beach, Aether dropped the hide of meat on a nearby rock before panting a little bit.

"Man, this is awesome, I still feel like I can do a sprint again!" Aether said with excitement, after a non stop sprint, he only felt an average level of tiredness and fatigue but it slowly wore off.

"Well, I'm getting kind of rusty. Maybe I should go fight those guys I saw a week ago." Aether said to himself, unbeknownst to him. There is something Thraxar left out in their conversation about the changes in himself.

Grabbing his sword, he quickly ran towards the hill where he saw the ones he called "Masked human monsters", he ran away when he met them but now he just wants to test them.

He arrived at the top of the hill in ease, slightly panting. However, it all went away when he saw those "Masked human monsters" camp. A grin formed on his face before slowly walked towards them.

"There are about five of them. I should feel bad but they did try to attack me when I just wanted to talk to them. Besides, now that I think about it, they do not look human."

Narrowing his eyes, he walked towards the monsters slowly. Taking a deep breath, he rushed at them as he felt his adrenaline flowing through his body.

"Ogaga!" One of them noticed him and pointed his club towards him. The other looked at his direction, noticing him releasing his killing intent and rushing at them.

They picked up their weapons and they rushed towards the blonde 'human' at the same time.

*Piak!*

*Crunch*

Aether quickly striked one of them on the ribs by swinging horizontally, breaking some of the traget's rib.

(A/N: Target = Hilichurl)

*Swish!*

Aether quickly dodge a strike from one of his target, before lighting his foot on fire and kicking it on the face.

*Ting*

*Tang*

*Cling*

Aether blocked several hits from his targets, while dodging some of them. The one he hit in the face started to get back up attack him again, but the one with the broken ribs seems to be unconscious.

*Fwoosh*

Lighting his sword on fire, he cutted one of his targets in half like butter. Blood spewed out of its body, staining Aether's body and clothes.

*Piak!*

One of the target hitted him on the head, however, the target's club broke when it made contact with Aether due to his now enhance physical body.

*Sweeesh!*

*Gushed!*

Aether cut the one that hitted him in half vertically, his dull blade was still sorrounded by fire.

"Two are still kicking while one is unconscious." Aether muttered quietly to himself.

Rushing at the unconscious one with great speed, Aether opened his mouth before a torrent of flames spewed out of his mouth, burning the unconscious target.

"Oraga!"

"Gor-!?"

Not long before, Aether appeared infront of the two remaining targets. He swinged his blade horizontally, cutting the remaining two in half.

xXxXxXxXxX

Aether decided to stay to rest for awhile because using the fire to enhance his sword constantly was tiring. When he finished resting, he finally sprinted back to the beach when the sun began to set.