After several days, Aiden had fully regained his energy and vitality. His determination burned brighter than ever, and Cain couldn't help but smile as he watched the boy train relentlessly. In that moment, he saw his younger self reflected in Aiden's fiery spirit.
With a faint nostalgic grin, Cain murmured, "Ah… those forgotten days of youth."
He returned to his usual routine of hunting, while Aiden continued his daily training.
One day, Cain approached Aiden and said calmly,
"How about I start training you myself? You've got potential, but it's raw — untamed."
Aiden's eyes widened with excitement. Here it begins… my path to ultimate power.
He nodded firmly, then hesitated before speaking.
"There's something I should show you, Master Cain."
He reached into his bag and carefully brought out the book Anthony had once given him — the mysterious tome wrapped in dark crimson leather.
The instant Cain laid eyes on it, his expression froze. A deep shock spread across his face, followed by disbelief. He whispered with trembling lips:
"It can't be… that book still exists?"
Aiden tilted his head, confused. "You know it?"
Cain's eyes gleamed with a mix of awe and fear. "Yes… I read about it long ago, in the royal archives of the upper world. That… that is the 'Last Testament of the Dark Throne.'"
He continued, his voice low and heavy with ancient dread:
"It's said that this book was created by the King of the Banished Kingdom of Darkness himself — a monarch whose power defied reason. Legends tell that three great kings united to destroy him, yet even in death, his wrath scarred their souls forever. When that king fell, the book vanished… some said it was destroyed alongside him, others claimed it was stolen by a traitor. And now—"
Cain's gaze sharpened. "It's in your hands."
He asked, "Who gave this to you?"
Aiden replied, "Anthony's grandfather passed it down… and then Anthony entrusted it to me."
Cain frowned deeply. "Strange. Anthony never mentioned this, even when he was my disciple. Perhaps the book chooses its own bearer…"
Aiden nodded. "That's what I believe too."
Cain placed his hand on the cover, sensing the power vibrating beneath the surface. "This book… it's alive. It's not an artifact of men. It belongs to the Unknown Rank. A conscious relic."
Aiden then explained, "When I first received it, all its pages were blank. But after breaking through to the eighth stage, mysterious texts appeared — as if awakened by my energy."
Cain's eyes widened. "So the book's content evolves with your power… meaning the stronger you grow, the more techniques it will reveal."
Aiden nodded again. "Yes, and the first technique that appeared is something called 'The Eternal Inferno Art.' But it has two requirements before I can train it:
First — the user's body must be strong enough to withstand unbearable heat. I've nearly achieved that.
Second — training must take place in an environment of extreme, almost impossible temperature."
Cain rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… a place like that does exist."
He turned to Aiden and said, "There's a place not far from here… a forbidden volcano known as The Volcano of the Forbidden Pact. Its heat is so intense that even enchanted blades melt within minutes. But that's not the only danger there."
Cain's voice lowered. "That volcano is guarded by a creature — the Flame Guardian. It protects a mythical flower known as the Elemental Flame Blossom. It's no ordinary flower; it blooms only where heat reaches divine levels. The number of petals it bears determines its strength. The rarest one has nine petals — and only one blooms every thousand years."
Aiden's eyes sparkled with awe. "A thousand years… incredible!"
Cain nodded solemnly. "There are five such blossoms in existence — each one representing a different elemental force: Wind, Water, Earth, Ice, and Fire. It is said that when all five unite, a new flower is born — a celestial fusion of all elements. Its power… unknown. They say it can instantly propel a cultivator from the first stage to the fourth."
Aiden clenched his fists, his heart pounding with burning determination. If I obtain that flower… I'll master the Eternal Inferno Art — and surpass my limits.
After several days, Aiden had fully regained his energy and vitality. His determination burned brighter than ever, and Cain couldn't help but smile as he watched the boy train relentlessly. In that moment, he saw his younger self reflected in Aiden's fiery spirit.
With a faint nostalgic grin, Cain murmured, "Ah… those forgotten days of youth."
He returned to his usual routine of hunting, while Aiden continued his daily training.
One day, Cain approached Aiden and said calmly,
"How about I start training you myself? You've got potential, but it's raw — untamed."
Aiden's eyes widened with excitement. Here it begins… my path to ultimate power.
He nodded firmly, then hesitated before speaking.
"There's something I should show you, Master Cain."
He reached into his bag and carefully brought out the book Anthony had once given him — the mysterious tome wrapped in dark crimson leather.
The instant Cain laid eyes on it, his expression froze. A deep shock spread across his face, followed by disbelief. He whispered with trembling lips:
"It can't be… that book still exists?"
Aiden tilted his head, confused. "You know it?"
Cain's eyes gleamed with a mix of awe and fear. "Yes… I read about it long ago, in the royal archives of the upper world. That… that is the 'Last Testament of the Dark Throne.'"
He continued, his voice low and heavy with ancient dread:
"It's said that this book was created by the King of the Banished Kingdom of Darkness himself — a monarch whose power defied reason. Legends tell that three great kings united to destroy him, yet even in death, his wrath scarred their souls forever. When that king fell, the book vanished… some said it was destroyed alongside him, others claimed it was stolen by a traitor. And now—"
Cain's gaze sharpened. "It's in your hands."
He asked, "Who gave this to you?"
Aiden replied, "Anthony's grandfather passed it down… and then Anthony entrusted it to me."
Cain frowned deeply. "Strange. Anthony never mentioned this, even when he was my disciple. Perhaps the book chooses its own bearer…"
Aiden nodded. "That's what I believe too."
Cain placed his hand on the cover, sensing the power vibrating beneath the surface. "This book… it's alive. It's not an artifact of men. It belongs to the Unknown Rank. A conscious relic."
Aiden then explained, "When I first received it, all its pages were blank. But after breaking through to the eighth stage, mysterious texts appeared — as if awakened by my energy."
Cain's eyes widened. "So the book's content evolves with your power… meaning the stronger you grow, the more techniques it will reveal."
Aiden nodded again. "Yes, and the first technique that appeared is something called 'The Eternal Inferno Art.' But it has two requirements before I can train it:
First — the user's body must be strong enough to withstand unbearable heat. I've nearly achieved that.
Second — training must take place in an environment of extreme, almost impossible temperature."
Cain rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… a place like that does exist."
He turned to Aiden and said, "There's a place not far from here… a forbidden volcano known as The Volcano of the Forbidden Pact. Its heat is so intense that even enchanted blades melt within minutes. But that's not the only danger there."
Cain's voice lowered. "That volcano is guarded by a creature — the Flame Guardian. It protects a mythical flower known as the Elemental Flame Blossom. It's no ordinary flower; it blooms only where heat reaches divine levels. The number of petals it bears determines its strength. The rarest one has nine petals — and only one blooms every thousand years."
Aiden's eyes sparkled with awe. "A thousand years… incredible!"
Cain nodded solemnly. "There are five such blossoms in existence — each one representing a different elemental force: Wind, Water, Earth, Ice, and Fire. It is said that when all five unite, a new flower is born — a celestial fusion of all elements. Its power… unknown. They say it can instantly propel a cultivator from the first stage to the fourth."
Aiden clenched his fists, his heart pounding with burning determination. If I obtain that flower… I'll master the Eternal Inferno Art — and surpass my limits.