Chapter 40: Sealing.
Aiden saw the strange expressions on his parents' faces.
He looked at them seriously as he said, "Mom, Dad, I think that heart is somehow connected to me. It didn't attack when I helped you escape the illusion, and even when I saved you just now, it didn't move — it completely stopped its attacks."
He paused for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly before continuing.
"And the voice in my dream... it also came from this heart. When you were trapped in the illusion, it called me again and again. It's calling me even now. Can't you hear it?"
Jonathan and Sara exchanged a quick, tense glance.
Jonathan then asked cautiously, "We don't hear any voice, Aiden. Are you sure you can hear it?"
Aiden nodded with certainty. "Yes, Dad. I can still hear it calling me, and it's the same voice as in my dream."
Jonathan's expression darkened at his words. His tone grew serious as he said. "Let's talk about this later. For now, we have to focus on sealing that artifact."
Sara nodded silently, her gaze fixed on the pulsating black heart that floated ominously before them.
At that moment, an idea sparked in Aiden's mind.
He looked at his parents and said, "Dad, if the heart doesn't attack me, how about I take the lead and act as your shield while you two support me from behind? That way, it'll be easier for us to approach it safely."
Jonathan's eyes narrowed as he replied. "No. We can't take that kind of risk. We still don't know how it reacts to you or how far it'll tolerate your presence."
Aiden wanted to refute, but when he saw the firm look on his father's face, he understood there was no changing his decision.
Still, his mind was made up.
Without saying another word, he used Blitz.
He vanished from sight.
Jonathan's eyes widened in shock as he shouted. "Aiden! What are you doing?! Come back right now!"
But before his voice could echo, Aiden appeared far away — directly before the heart.
The black veins that were twisted around the chamber didn't attack him at all. Not a single one moved to stop him.
Instead, as Aiden stepped closer, the veins shifted downward. They bent, trembling faintly — almost as if they were prostrating themselves before him.
It was as though they were kneeling to greet their king.
Aiden's eyes narrowed. His heart beat rapidly in his chest as he took another cautious step forward. Then, after confirming they wouldn't attack him, he used Blitz again — and reappeared beside his parents.
Sara's voice broke through the silence, filled with anger and fear. "Aiden! Why did you do that?! What if it had attacked you? We wouldn't have been able to save you!"
Aiden looked into her eyes and replied seriously, "But Mom, it didn't attack me."
Jonathan's tone hardened as he said, "Don't ever do that again."
Aiden nodded obediently but spoke again, his voice calm and determined. "So, Dad, can I act as a shield now? It doesn't attack me, even when I'm close to it."
Jonathan fell silent for a few seconds. Then, reluctantly, he nodded.
Aiden took the lead. He moved forward slowly, his parents following close behind him.
From the sides, several black veins shot toward them — striking like snakes. But none dared to touch Aiden directly.
The veins were careful not to retaliate too powerfully. If they missed even slightly, they could end up harming Aiden. The veins only used small scale attacks.
Step by step, they moved forward until they reached the center, where the heart floated silently in the air.
Jonathan took a deep breath. His voice was steady but low as he said.
"Aiden, I'll collect the sealing chains that are on the side. You and your mother approach the heart. Sara, use teleportation to retrieve the sealing chest behind it. Aiden will use Blitz to defend us both when the attacks get too heavy. Understood?"
Aiden and Sara both nodded firmly.
The next instant, Jonathan vanished — arriving on the far side of the room. He reached the set of ancient chains that shimmered faintly with blue inscriptions.
Sara also disappeared, teleporting behind the heart. She reached for a large, dark chest embedded in the floor and pulled it free.
Moments later, she reappeared behind Aiden, with the huge chest in her hands.
Jonathan returned shortly after, holding several glowing chains. He stood behind them and said, "Aiden, we have to get a bit closer. Only then can we use these chains to seal it properly."
Aiden nodded once and stepped forward. The heartbeat of the black heart echoed louder with every step he took.
When they were within arm's reach of it, Jonathan and Sara began to move into position. But before they could act, something happened.
A single black vein moved.
It was thin, sharp — almost invisible — like a needle in the dark.
Before anyone could react, it shot forward and pierced through Aiden's body. Aiden gasped as his entire body tensed.
The vein coiled tightly, pulling him toward the heart.
In that instant, the familiar voice echoed in his mind again.
"Yes... Yes... Come here, Aiden... become one with me. Together, we will rule this world."
The whisper was crazy, filled with madness.
Jonathan's eyes widened in horror. He vanished instantly, reappearing beside his son. A blade of molten fire formed in his hand — a Lava Blade, the advanced form of a Fire Blade.
Without hesitation, he swung it down and sliced through the black vein.
The moment it was severed, Sara appeared behind Aiden, placing a trembling hand on his shoulder.
"Hold on!" she whispered, and the next instant, they vanished.
They reappeared far away from the heart.
Behind them, the whisper turned into a shriek of rage."No... no! Come back, Aiden! Come back!"
The veins surrounding the chamber erupted in fury. They began lashing wildly, their strikes becoming chaotic and violent.
They all targeted Jonathan.
He dodged swiftly, his movements sharp and precise. Then, using all his strength, he hurled one of the sealing chains toward the heart.
The glowing chain coiled around it instantly, binding it tightly.
The veins trembled violently as the power of the seal began to take effect. Jonathan didn't stop — he threw a second chain, wrapping it around the heart as well.
"Sara!" he shouted. "Be ready to use the chest!"
Sara's eyes hardened. She released Aiden's shoulder and vanished once again. In an instant, she appeared behind the heart, clutching the sealing chest tightly.
Jonathan gritted his teeth and threw another chain. It wrapped perfectly around the black heart, pulling tighter.
The veins weakened but continued to thrash frantically, attacking without any rhythm or control.
Jonathan moved fast, dodging each attack — until one of them struck.
A thick vein transformed into a spike and pierced his waist from behind.
Jonathan let out a muffled groan as pain shot through his body.
"Dad!" Aiden shouted from afar.
Sara's eyes filled with alarm, but she didn't move. Her focus remained fixed on the sealing process.
Jonathan gritted his teeth, summoning his Lava Blade once more. With a swift motion, he sliced through the vein that impaled him.
He turned his head slightly and shouted, "Don't come here, Aiden! I'm fine!"
Then, gathering the last of his strength, he hurled the final sealing chain toward the heart.
The chain wrapped around it perfectly — binding it completely.
At that moment, all the veins froze. Then, slowly, they began retreating, slithering back into the heart one by one.
The chamber fell silent.
Jonathan's breathing was heavy, but there was relief in his eyes as he shouted. "Sara... now!"
Sara nodded sharply. She vanished again, appearing directly behind the heart.
She lifted the massive chest, opening it wide before pressing it around the heart.
As she closed it, the chest glowed faintly — sealing the black heart inside.
Jonathan exhaled deeply. A wave of exhaustion swept through him.
Sara set the chest down carefully, then teleported beside Jonathan.
"Are you alright?" she asked, immediately conjuring healing mana.
Jonathan tried to smile faintly as he said. "I'm fine. It's just a small wound."
But Sara's expression suddenly turned serious.
Her healing spell wasn't working.
"The wound... It's not healing," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Aiden, who had been watching from afar, used Blitz to appear beside them instantly.
"Dad! Are you alright?"
Jonathan looked at him, nodding weakly. But his gaze shifted toward the wound on his waist. It had turned completely black.
He frowned deeply. "Sara... why isn't it healing?"
Sara hesitated, her voice uncertain. "I don't know... It's as if something inside is resisting the spell."
Jonathan's eyes darkened in realization as he said. "I think the artifact was corrupted — the same black energy that infected the dog before. We should purify it first."
He turned to Aiden.
Aiden immediately understood.
He raised his hand, conjuring a purification spell from his light element. A white glow surrounded his palm as he directed the energy toward his father's wound.
Black mist began to seep out slowly, hissing as it evaporated into the air.
After a few moments, the darkness faded. Red blood began to flow again — clean and natural.
Aiden ended the spell. Sara immediately followed with her healing magic.
The wound twitched slightly, then began to mend, closing completely after several seconds.
Jonathan took a deep breath and straightened himself. Sara exhaled in relief, wiping the sweat from her brow.
Both of them turned their eyes toward Aiden.
Their gazes were filled with quiet realization.
If Aiden hadn't come... both of them would have died here.
Author's Note: Fate is cruel — yet sometimes, the weakest thread becomes the one that holds everything together.