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Chapter 6:
The Rise of Stellavore
The castle shook with a dark, resonating energy as young Catherine stared at her bloodstained hands. Her voice trembled with rage and disbelief.
"What have you done, Harry?"
A smirk curved across young Harry's face, his crimson eyes glowing with unnatural brilliance. "Yes… I can feel it. Graces flowing through me. Time for payback, little sister."
> Ether & Harry (in unison): "Negative Element — Raging Avalanche!"
The ground beneath them convulsed. Stones and dust twisted together, forming a massive surge of crushing force that slammed into Catherine. The impact hurled her across the chamber, breaking the marble floor as she fell unconscious.
"Catherine!" Luke cried, rushing to her side. "Dad, do something! Stop staring at Mom's dead body and help her, please!"
Valot stood in silence, his eyes cold and unflinching. "I don't want to get involved, but you should act, Dessers."
Dessers' voice was low, grim. "Let her handle this."
Ezra turned sharply. "She's on the verge of death!"
Catherine's eyes fluttered open, glowing with a silver hue. Her body trembled as blood ran down her arms, but she stood tall, defiant.
"Was that your best shot, big brother?" she spat. "This battle will decide whether you live or die."
Ether's voice echoed in Harry's head, nervous and trembling. "No, Harry. I didn't sign up for this."
> Catherine: "Forbidden Element — Place and Order!"
"That's my element!" Harry shouted. "Ether, dodge it!"
"Too slow!" Catherine vanished in a flash and reappeared behind him, her blade slicing cleanly through his fingers. "I'm not done yet, big brother Harry."
> Elemental Release — Dimensional Disorder!
The air twisted violently. Harry screamed as half his limbs disintegrated under the dimensional rift.
"At this rate, you'll die, Harry!" Ether warned. "We have to get out of here!"
A glowing portal erupted behind him. In a desperate flash, Ether and Harry vanished.
"Cowards!" Catherine roared, her voice echoing through the broken hall.
Dessers placed a shaking hand on Luke's shoulder. "Luke, I want you to go after Harry. Find him… and tell him this."
He leaned in, whispering words that only his son would hear.
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The Present
The firelight flickered in the Aethoria chamber as Ezra finished his story. His voice carried both sorrow and reverence.
"That's how your father, Luke Stark, was tasked to find his brother — Harry Stark. He didn't want to abandon his family… or stop training his children."
Paul exhaled slowly. "So now we know who's behind the realm's corruption."
Ashley frowned. "What do you mean?"
Kyle's jaw clenched. "Dad's brother. He caused the uprising."
Ashley's voice shook. "Why? I still don't understand… So from the story, he killed our dad after their final confrontation?"
Ezra shook his head. "Not the final. The first."
Kyle rose. "Then where can I find him?"
Paul's tone turned serious. "Calm down. You can't face Harry. Not yet. Even I can't beat him — not as I am. He's working with the Hierarchy to destabilize the realm's balance. We'll need every ally before the Realm War begins."
Ashley's eyes narrowed. "We don't need to win. We just need to beat him."
Paul smirked faintly. "To do that, you'll both need to reach Peak Creation."
"Peak Creation?" Ashley echoed. "What's that?"
Paul chuckled. "You'll know when training starts."
Ezra interjected, "We should act fast. Check the Hunt Agency list — targets 5801, 7004, and 8993."
Kyle frowned. "What are those?"
Paul replied, "Realm Hunt Fugitives. Dangerous ones. You'll need more people."
Ashley nodded. "Riley?"
Paul smiled. "Exactly. And I'll take Sai Fujimoto."
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The Gathering
On Earth Realm, Riley Stark stood before a classroom crowd, adjusting his glasses.
"You made me use my powers again, big brother," he murmured.
Moments later, on the rooftop, Kyle appeared beside him.
"You're in my team, Riley. Let's go. We have someone to find."
"Who is that ?" Riley asked.
"Maya Reyes. Paul saved her life once."
Maya stepped forward with a faint smile. "Nice to meet you."
Riley blinked. "Wait—what?! Paul's alive?!"
Kyle nodded. "Alive and leading Creations now. We're searching for Maria Badway."
"Never heard of her," Riley said, "but I assume you'll need my detection skills."
"Exactly," Kyle confirmed. "A war's coming."
"War?" Riley frowned. "That's not right."
Maya's tone hardened. "We don't have time to sit around. Let's move."
As the trio departed, Paul and Sai Fujimoto prepared their own mission.
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The Beast of Luminaria
"Alright, Sai," Paul said, summoning a glowing sigil. "We're going to hunt a Realm Beast."
Sai paled. "You mean tame a beast? Isn't that… dangerous?"
Paul smirked. "Don't you trust me?"
Sai muttered, "I do… but taming a Realm Beast can't be that easy."
"That's why we start with the strongest."
The portal opened, releasing a wave of heat.
Sai shielded his eyes. "Volcanic Forest? Where are we?"
"Lava Camp," Paul said calmly. "We're in Luminaria Realm."
Sai wiped sweat from his brow. "How am I not burning?"
Paul grinned. "A time-space barrier. Don't move beyond a thousand meters or it'll fail."
A thunderous roar split the sky.
"She's here."
Sai's eyes widened. "Oh my God—a dragon?!"
"Calm down, Sai," Paul said softly. "Don't scare her."
"Scare her?! She's going to eat us!"
A colossal shadow emerged — molten wings spread across the blazing forest. Her scales glowed like magma; her eyes, like dying stars.
"Who dares disturb my peace?" the dragon growled.
Sai stumbled back. "Paul, she's talking!"
Paul raised a hand. "Hello, Stellavore."
The dragon's gaze narrowed. "A Creation Emblem… So it's true. The Ninth Creation finally appears."
"You were expecting me?"
"Of course. Hope you're ready, young Head of Creations. Let's see if you can tame me."
Flames burst from her maw.
> Dragon Breath — Volcanic Flame of Horror!
Paul dove aside as molten fire consumed the ground. "Oi! You can't do that!"
"Are you toying with me, brat?!"
The dragon's roar shook the heavens.
> Dragon Breath — Volcanic Avalanche!
The explosion leveled half the forest.
"He's dead," Sai whispered, falling to his knees. "No one could've survived that…"
Stellavore sighed. "Maybe I overdid it. Haven't used that attack in a million decades… Raymond would've been proud."
A voice echoed behind her. "Caught you off guard."
> Elemental Release — Beast Tamer!
"Impossible!" the dragon gasped. "I saw you die!"
Paul smirked. "I teleported to Aethoria before impact. You lose."
The dragon bowed her massive head. "I, Stellavore, Realm Beast of Luminaria, pledge my loyalty to you."
Sai ran forward, trembling. "You—You actually tamed her!"
Paul laughed. "Told you to trust me."
Sai sighed. "Dragon breath? That was hellfire!"
"Stella, meet Sai," Paul said.
The dragon growled, "You dare address me so casually, human?"
Paul chuckled. "Relax, Stella. He's with me."
Sai gulped. "Thought she was going to bite my head off…"
"Less talking," Paul said, smiling. "Let's take a ride."
Stellavore spread her wings wide, lifting Paul and Sai high into the molten sky.
"This is incredible!" Sai shouted as they soared through clouds of fire.
Paul grinned into the wind. "This is only the beginning."
> TO BE CONTINUED…
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