Capital City.

The six cloaked figures stood eerily still before Aiden, showing no reaction or even responding to his taunts. Their silence gave him a weird feeling about them.

"Heh, the silent type, huh?" Aiden grinned. "Breaking you will be more fun."

Suddenly, two of the cloaked figures vanished from where they stood, reappearing on each side of Aiden. Their black-armored hands shot toward his face with blinding speed.

Swoosh Swoosh

But Aiden's reflexes were faster. He grabbed their outstretched hands mid-air, halting their attack effortlessly. His grip tightened, applying pressure to the metal gauntlets as cracks began to form.

Grip

Crack

The cloaked figures didn't even flinch. They made no sound of pain, no effort to retreat—just continued their mechanical attempts to free themselves.

Before Aiden could finish crushing them, two more figures materialized behind him, black swords gleaming as they aimed for the back of his head.

"Hmph, whoever sent you must be underestimating me," Aiden muttered as he smirked.

Swoosh

With a swift leap, he released the two he was holding and moved high into the air, evading the sword strikes. His swift movement made him appear a few meters ahead of them. He pointed his finger at one of the attackers below.

"Take this—Sun Flare!"

A thin but intensely bright beam shot from his fingertip, racing down toward the red-cloaked figure.

Boom

The searing beam sliced through the red-cloaked figure with ease, its intense heat igniting the cloak in an instant. The figure, now engulfed in flames, crumpled mid-air and plummeted toward the ground, smoke trailing behind as the burning body slammed into the earth.

"One down, five to go," Aiden said, landing on one of the buildings lightly on his feet. He glanced down at the now-burning figure, completely unbothered by the carnage.

The remaining five showed no sign of alarm or hesitation. The two who stood still didn't even glance at their fallen comrade. Instead, the other three rushed toward Aiden, two wielding swords while the third attacked with fists.

Clang Boom

Aiden remained calm, barely breaking a sweat as the cloaked figures lunged at him. Their attacks, though coordinated, felt sluggish and predictable. With swift, precise movements, Aiden dodged their blades and fists, spinning between them effortlessly.

He didn't dodge only, but also delivered quick, powerful punches, each one landing and sending his opponents staggering backward. One by one, the cloaked figures crumpled to the ground, joining their already burning comrade, who lay motionless nearby.

Thud

Thud

Thud

Aiden dusted his hands off, unimpressed. "Is this all you've got?"

Aiden turned his attention to the last two standing figures, who had yet to make a move. He raised an eyebrow, disappointed by the lack of a challenge.

"Are you two only going to watch? Do you think I'll let you go away just because you didn't attack me? " Aiden said, flexing his hands.

Suddenly, one of the two remaining cloaked figures spoke, its voice distorted, almost mechanical. "As expected from the youngest Top 1000. You handled my Black Knight puppets easily."

Aiden raised an eyebrow as he heard the word "puppets." His eyes shifted to the fallen figures on the ground, noticing something odd about their stillness. He glanced back up at the two remaining in the air, piecing things together quickly.

"So, you're controlling them from somewhere far away, aren't you? That voice… it's not even you here in person," Aiden said, his tone sharp. "You've set up a magic formation to communicate. I'm impressed."

A low, mocking laugh echoed from the figures, confirming his suspicion. "Yes, very perceptive and thank you for the compliment. These armors were crafted by me, and I've perfected them over the years. Controlling them remotely like this—it's a delicate art. But surely, you've seen their kind before?"

As the words hung in the air, Aiden watched with growing curiosity. Suddenly, the fallen figures started to stir. The one he'd burned with his Sun Flare was now standing again, although the red cloak had been scorched away. The others, in unison, pulled off their remaining cloaks, revealing their full forms.

Aiden's eyes narrowed in recognition. The figures were encased in the same black armor he had seen before—identical to what Rei had worn from the Black Market Alliance during their battle on the flying island. The only difference? These armors were clearly hollow, empty shells controlled from a distance.

"These are the same armors…" Aiden muttered to himself. "one of the nameless titans wore one just like this. But you're not even here. You're just a puppet master, hiding behind your creations."

The voice chuckled again, this time with a note of amusement. "These are my finest works, an upgrade from the one Rei wore. They move at my will, from a far distance away."

"So, you're a Mage who uses the psionic element to control and fight with these puppets," Aiden said, his tone cool but still interested in this voice magic power.

The voice responded with a mocking chuckle. "Ah, seems like you do have some brains after all. I was starting to think you were just all muscle, judging by that flashy transformation of yours."

Aiden's eyes narrowed. The sarcasm didn't faze him, but it only confirmed his theory. In the world of magic, there are 12 primary elements that warriors and mages alike can possess an affinity for: Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness, Poison, Nature(Wood), Metal, Psionic, Space, and finally Time.

Each element comes with its own strengths and unique characteristics, but the psionic element stands apart from the rest in its mysterious power. The psionic element specializes in manipulating the mind and soul, making it the foundation of spells like illusions, telepathy, and null magic—abilities that don't fall under the traditional scope of the other elements.

It is the perfect element for launching attacks that bypass physical defenses, striking directly at a person's consciousness. Mages who wield psionic power can invade the mind, distort reality, or paralyze foes with fear, making it one of the rarest and most feared elements to control, even more elusive than Light or Darkness.

What makes psionic spells especially dangerous is that they can also target the soul. Unless someone has an exceptionally strong mind or soul, resisting these attacks is nearly impossible.

Mental fortitude is key when facing psionic mages, but many crumble under the pressure of such invasive magic.

Despite the danger that the psionic element may represent, Aiden wasn't overly concerned. His divine meditation technique had strengthened his mind and soul, allowing him to control and focus his energy with remarkable precision.

It was one of the key reasons he could wield Sunshine so effectively, as his spiritual resilience had grown with each level of his training. His weapon, Rhitta, also being a soul weapon, gave him an even greater edge in this type of battle. He was confident that the psionic tricks wouldn't be enough to bring him down.

Aiden tried to inquire more as he glared at the puppet armor in the center, his voice cold and firm as he said, "You must be one of the Black Market Alliance members. I've seen that same armor before—on one of your so-called nameless titans."

The robotic voice on the other end let out a sigh, sounding almost weary. "Sigh, it seems my master still keeps his old habits and hasn't told you anything. No matter. I'm only here to see the strength of the people he travels with, nothing more. Honestly, I'm not sure why they are so much worried about you."

Aiden clenched his fists, his energy beginning to pulse with heat. "Overestimate me? You think that your toys will take me down?" He smirked. "Let's see how they hold up when I turn up the heat."

The voice chuckled as it sounded amused by Aiden statement, "Oh really? Well, Let's see what you..."

Aiden cut the voice off before it could finish. His eyes flared with power, and his voice was ice-cold. "Cruel Sun!"

With a swift gesture, an enormous fireball, burning as bright as a miniature sun, manifested in front of the six armored puppets. The scorching heat radiated through the air as the fireball immediately swallowed the figures, sending them hurtling into the sky with immense force.

BOOOOOMMMM

The sun-like fireball soared upward, carrying the puppets far into the sky before Aiden clenched his fist. At that moment, the fireball erupted, detonating in a massive, blinding explosion that lit up the heavens. The sheer force of the blast incinerated the armor into molten fragments, leaving nothing behind but glowing embers that slowly rained down.

Aiden hmphed, his expression hard as he watched the aftermath. "Hmph. you talk too much," he muttered, unimpressed by the threat or the puppets that tried to stop him.

Hu Zhao, Vito, and the others stood on the rooftops, watching the entire scene unfold. They couldn't help but notice Aiden's usual destructive flair in battle.

Hu Zhao sighed, glancing at the now-scorched sky. "He never holds back when people underestimate him."

Dian Long nodded in agreement. "It's their fault for thinking they could take him on. Aiden's not like most people—he'll spare the weak, but if you look down on him, it's game over."

Vito, still processing what he had just witnessed, looked a bit more shaken. It was his first time seeing Aiden in action, and the sheer force behind his attacks made him uneasy. "If that kid were our enemy... we'd have serious problems," Vito muttered to himself, realizing that Aiden's power was only increasing with time. And it wasn't even noon yet.

Vito recalled what Eldric had told him during their last conversation through the magic platform: 'A man who doesn't even know his own limits. The embodiment of raw, monstrous power.'

Alex, unfazed by the display, grumbled, "Do all his attacks have to be so flashy?"

Saya laughed softly. "That's just Aiden. His sun-powered attacks are always big and... final."

Lora added, wiping some sweat off her forehead, "The heat from his power is no joke. It's like being in a furnace—he's just as dangerous to us as he is to his enemies."

Woosh Woosh Woosh

Suddenly, the sound of multiple figures arriving grabbed their attention. The Duke, Edvard, and Eldric landed next to them.

"Ah, finally made it," Eldric announced, looking slightly winded.

Not far behind, Diss arrived panting heavily, having to run the whole way. "I'm... here too..."

Lorra smiled at her grandfather. "Grandpa, you're here!" she said, rushing to Eldric's side. After meeting with the Duke, Eldric and Edvard had been on their way back to the ship when they saw the massive explosion and hurried over.

The Duke, who had also sensed the explosion from his castle, was already anticipating trouble. "What happened here?" Eldric asked, eyeing the group.

Before Lorra could answer, Vito chimed in. "Puppets attacked us. That boy Aiden took care of them. Good to see you, Eldric, Edvard, and Admonius. It's been a while."

Eldric raised an eyebrow at Vito. "Puppets? What do you mean?"

"They were empty suits of armor, controlled by someone far away," It was Aiden who answered Eldric.

Aiden, now landing on a nearby roof, kept his energy active, still wary of any more potential threats. He looked directly at Eldric, then at the Duke and Edvard. "Controlled? Was it the psionic element? So it's him again..." Eldric muttered, more to himself.

Aiden, catching the slip in Eldric's tone, narrowed his eyes. "Eldric, do you know who attacked us? It felt like they were coming after us because of you. Seems like they know you well."

Eldric sighed heavily, realizing he couldn't avoid the truth anymore. "The one who attacked you is someone I know all too well. He's my former disciple... Marcus."

Vito and Edvard exchanged knowing glances, while the others stood stunned, hearing this for the first time.

Aiden clenched his fists. "Your student, huh? Sounds like we've got a lot to talk about."

--------------------------------------

In another place, in a dimly lit room, a man sat comfortably in a large red chair. He wore a black helmet and matching gloves, his eyes fixed on a flickering screen in front of him. The display resembled the static of old television sets, filled with grainy lines and a faint buzzing sound, as if it were tuning in to a distant signal.

Despite the distortion, he could just make out the remnants of the last live image—a replay of Aiden's devastating attack on the armors. The man leaned forward slightly, the corners of his mouth curling into a curious smile as he watched Aiden summon the Cruel Sun.

The fireball had engulfed the puppets effortlessly, dissolving them with the explosion. The screen continued to flicker between static and brief images of the fight, as it end hold the transmission right at the moment of the explosion.

"That guy really doesn't mess around," the man muttered to himself, clearly impressed. "Didn't even hesitate to send them straight into oblivion. Well, I expected something like this after the idiots at the alliance put a bounty on him."

He wasn't upset in the slightest. In fact, he found Aiden's ruthlessness intriguing, exciting even. Aiden was more than a pawn in the game now—he was becoming something of interest. The man removed the helmet and gloves, tossing them aside, and reached for the glass of wine on the table next to him.

Taking a slow sip, he savored the moment, eyes still lingering on the flickering screen. "Looks like I've underestimated him. This kid's got some bite," he chuckled softly, setting the glass down. "I wonder what Master will think when he sees the mess I've made of the capital. I can't wait to see his face, hahahaha."

The man leaned back in his chair, laughing to himself, already envisioning the chaos to come. The dim room echoed with his unsettling laughter, while the screen finally dissolved into complete static, tuning out as if preparing for the next wave of destruction.