The Last Primal

After pondering about it for a while, Aiden had decided to just go with his gut feeling, and not care about revealing some of his secrets to royal siblings anymore. After all, he was sure that Drake was already questioning if he was really a human or maybe something else, something more.

Also, Enya's words have convinced him that it would be truly beneficial for him. He would be able to see the sibling's true characters and also finally learn more about himself and understand his origins better.

So, coming to a decision, he grabbed the heart, and with a sudden, swift move, he gulped it down.

Almost instantly, as it entered Aiden's body, the heart dissolved, releasing a huge surge of energy into his body. His body involuntarily jerked under the sudden inner explosion, the luster in his eyes flared up for a brief moment before it returned to its calm state.

The physical fatigue, the weariness that overwhelmed him just a moment ago, vanished in an instant, leaving only his mental tiredness behind. Even that seemed to be less obstructing than before. The revitalization of the absorption was truly wondrous, even now, without the aid and guidance of the system.

The energy rapidly seeped into his stream, merging together with his own pool of [Soul Power]. Although he could feel that there was a difference in quality, almost familiar in nature, he could also feel that a silent and smooth transformation was starting. Slowly but steadily the sahuagin champions inner power was being transformed.

As he felt that the transformation was steady and passively going without requiring his constant focus, Aiden couldn't help but ponder.

'Isn't this energy from that creature is mana? Shouldn't that be violent and explosive? Why is it so stable then? What is different?'

Unfortunately, even though he was prepared for it this time, he felt no memories invading his subconscious. Unlike before, swelling this creature's heart did not give him any memories of this beast.

What did that mean? Did this mean that the absorbed life essence from the beast was too little to create the new form? Or perhaps, it just meant that the creature wasn't 'intelligent enough' for his experiences to be transferred over? Aiden was wondering about this mystery as he sat down on his knees in a 'seiza' pose.

His hands were resting over his tighs, he was deep in thought calmly observing, focusing on his inner self, making sure that the conversion of energy was running smooth. After all, he was fairly certain that what his body was converting was the same mana that proved its incredibly violent, explosive tendencies! Even if he wasn't sure what he would be doing in case something went wrong he wanted to at least monitor the situation.

"What the hell are you doing, Aiden? Why did you… What did you do with that… that thing?!" Suddenly, shattering the ensuing silence that Aiden's shocking action caused, Drake exclaimed from behind. Following his cry, Scarlet's coughing fit could be heard, her abrupt battle against withholding the barf that threatened her with its escape.

"Don't bother my brother. He needs to focus. He is concentrating." Answering their question, Lily spoke with a strangely cheerful tone. Strangely there was no trace of her sorrow from a moment ago, she was smiling, sitting amidst the sea of mutilated corpses, playing with the two dogs that were even larger than her situated self.

"What do you mean? What is he doing now?" Drake asked with confusion. Seeing how the little girl was playing with the two dogs as if what had happened a moment ago was merely a dream. An illusion of the mind, she was playing and chuckling.

Regaining some of her lost composure, Scarlet stepped closer to the blonde girl, sitting down on the ground in front of her. With a gentle, kind smile, she reached out patting the back of Sam.

"How nice…" She mumbled as she felt the soft, short fur of the dog whisk between her fingers under her warm caress.

"Right? Try Biggy as well!" Giggling, Lily offered, still seemingly lost in her own little world.

"Lily… Can you explain what you meant before?" Walking to them, Drake crouched down and asked the girl, repeating his question with a wry, question-filled look on his face.

Finally getting confirmation to his questions related to Aiden and confirming that he was definitely not a human, he really wished to learn more about him. However, despite his look, he had no ill intent, he really just wanted to learn more about this friend of his.

"Lily, my brother has no bad intentions… He… No… We just really want to learn more about your brother." Scarlet added, worried that Lily would misinterpret their concern and think they were afraid of him.

However, their worry was unfounded. Lily was keenly aware of their true feelings behind their questions. Trained by the master and living with her brother for all the years she had, her senses were honed, much sharper than average. 

Without looking away from her canine companions, she smiled and answering their question.

"He is… taking the power of that big monster and making it his. He is growing stronger."

"Did he do this before?" Drake asked again, turning his head and looking at the back of the meditating boy's back with a complex look.

"Yes." Lily curtly responded not bothering with the conversation any more and instead focusing on rubbing Sam's big head and giving her a big smooch on his nose.

As she leaned closer, the big dog suddenly flicked his long tongue and licked his master's face completely, causing her to squint her eyes and erupt into an unabated giggle.

She clearly wasn't worried about his brother at all, she was sure of that

Meanwhile, a bit away from them, Aiden was deep in his own thoughts, focusing on the coursing energy inside his body. He was astounded, the surge of mana was already almost completely transformed and integrated into his own stream without any issues, violent torrents, flares whatsoever!

He could also feel an increase in the quantity. Although it wasn't too much, it was still an increase, whatever marginal the increment would turn out to be.

Still, he just couldn't explain what was happening. Why did his own body, his own [Soul Power] react differently inside than outside? What was the difference?

Interrupting his pondering, Enya's voice suddenly resounded in his mind, reminding him that he still hasn't done what he wanted to.

'[Without the system, I cannot answer that question with certainty Aiden, I am sorry. On the other hand, you shouldn't lament on it too much either. After all, you still need to go and absorb the creature and get back to town before nightfall.]'

'Right…' Aiden nodded, shifting his posture and stood up, alerting his team at the same time.

"Aiden… Are you okay?" Surprisingly, it was Scarlet who voiced the question the siblings had, looking at their friend's back with worried, concerned gazes. On the other hand, Lily suddenly stood up and walked towards her brother with a bright smile over her face. Sam and Biggy didn't follow but instead laid down on the ground, resting without any care.

Aiden didn't answer the question, he was already focusing on the task at hand. As he walked towards the two torn parts of the carcass, he was already trying to think back of the sensation when he absorbed a creature the last time. 

He usually simply relied on thought, and let the system manage everything. It was smooth and convenient. Now, however, there was no assistance, the only guidance was his spiritual aide, who herself was still shrouded in mystery.

She obviously wasn't just a construct created by the system or the god, Ioris, but a sentient being that was now tied to his existence. Was he someone he should know?

As he was focused on the task in front of him, he didn't even register as Lily took her seat next to him. She didn't bother him, didn't whisper a word, just kept sitting next to him with a gentle, warm smile.

As for the siblings, they watched from a short distance away with apt attention and raised interest. To be honest, they felt slightly awkward, as if they have stumbled upon a family secret and that they should give the two some space. 

Still, they didn't want to turn away, their curiosity wouldn't let them.

Trying to calm his racing mind and agitated nerves, Aiden sighed a couple of times whilst slowly reaching out and putting both of his hands over the two separated parts of the creature's corpse.

'[Focus on the feeling Aiden. Try to remember what you did and how it felt before. At its core, you will find that it's mostly the same whether you rely on the system or not. You just need to will your body, free it up from its restraints and concentrate.]'

Enya's words, gentle guidance rang in his mind as he slowly cleared his mind of all the unnecessary thoughts. Focusing on the sensation he felt before, a command, a singular word slowly emerged from the back recesses of his mind, steadily rising, demanding his attention.

As the image cleared out, suddenly a confident smile emerged at the corner of Aiden's lips. His eyes suddenly sprung open, glowing in vibrant golden luster, his lips parting, he whispered into the air.

"Absorb!"