Chapter 53: Aetheldawn Family: Ticking Clock
Two hundred years ago, when the monsters descended, the first Awakened sacrificed their lives to seal the huge crack in the space... These first Awakened families were known as Ancient Families. They were the undisputed royalty of the modern world, holding monopolies over dungeons, global economies, and the very laws of the Awakened Association. But in records, only four of the awakened have descendants; the last and strongest amongst them doesn’t. That fifth bloodline had been considered extinct, a mythical ghost story whispered among the high-tiers.
But now, Aetheldawn has made it to the top five, and due to the system, Asher was now the last descendant of this awakened, placing him amongst the super elite. The shift wasn’t just digital or bureaucratic; Asher felt a sudden, profound heat flush through his veins, a fundamental restructuring of his very existence.
{Blood, cells, and bloodline have all been altered.}
{From now onwards, Master isn’t the descendant from the Starfire family, your DNA is also different from your past father.}
The invisible, suffocating chains of the Starfire lineage—the family that had discarded and abused him—were completely severed. He was no longer their trash.
’Whao! This system is simply too powerful, it even altered my DNA... Now, my claim to Luna is proven true. From today henceforth, I am Asher Aetheldawn.’ He smiled, feeling a surreal sense of liberation wash over his soul, the next moment:
{DING!}
{Due to new family bloodline, Master gained the Ultimate Awakened Blood.}
{Talent Has been upgraded to SSS-RANK.}
{Ultimate Awakened Blood: Master can gain a Total of Ten Physiques.}
{Current Physiques [02/10]: Sword Body. Shadow Body.}
’Ten Physiques?! Is this family this powerful?!!’ He thought in shock, and stopped tapping his phone. The biological limit for any Awakened, even the most legendary prodigies, was a single physique. Having ten meant he wouldn’t just rule the world; he would be a walking god.
"It’s done... From now on, our family name is Aetheldawn." He said with a smile, tearing his eyes away from the staggering golden panels to look at the woman standing beside him.
"Aetheldawn? What’s the meaning?" Kelly asked, tilting her head to the side. Her curiosity was genuine, completely unaware that her husband had just casually rewritten world history to protect her.
"Aetheldawn." Asher turned towards the checkpoint, watching the Association guards.
"It means Noble New Beginning... From today forward, we forget everything from our past, and live our lives to the fullest."
Kelly smiled, the tension completely leaving her shoulders, and grabbed his hand: "To our new beginning."
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[Present.]
"Ah! Where to now?" Asher asked, turning to Kelly as the neon lights of Silverspire reflected in the taxi window.
They still have some hours for the cure to wear off. The invisible timer hung heavily over Asher’s head, a cruel reminder that this brilliant, capable woman would soon revert to a fractured shell of herself.
"Driver, take us to the western district, edge of the city." Kelly instructed, her tone carrying the effortless authority of a former CEO, and the man nodded his head, quickly changing lanes.
"Edge of the city?"
Asher blinked, watching as she moved her head towards him, resting it on his shoulder. The gesture was incredibly intimate, a sign of absolute trust. A small smile appeared on his face, and he rested his head on hers, savoring the quiet warmth of the vehicle.
’With my new family, I am sure I’ll draw the attention from those super powerhouses from Ancient Families. I planned to visit the A-Rank dungeon tomorrow, but now... Once the sun rises, I will be gone.’ He stared at the time on the phone, mapping out his brutal schedule to ensure he became strong enough to protect this peace.
__
[03:27 AM.]
’We already used more than five hours, only five hours left.’ He turned to Kelly, his heart aching. He felt bad he couldn’t fully cure her right now, that he had to subject her to the trauma of losing her mind all over again, but at least this little time had brought them closer.
__
[03:45 AM.]
"We are here." Kelly jumped out of the taxi the moment it parked, energized by a sudden, nostalgic rush, while Asher paid the driver, and stood beside her on the desolate road.
"So? Why are we here?" He asked, looking at the dense, unlit foliage bordering the road.
"Come on."
Kelly said, and rushed into the bushes before them, her expensive clothes catching on twigs, though she didn’t seem to care in the slightest.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
Asher gasped in surprise, and quickly followed her inside the bushes. He couldn’t see anything but leaves, the canopy completely blocking out the moonlight, so he could only follow the sound Kelly made ahead, and after one minute of continuously moving through green, he finally reached the exit.
".....?!"
Asher paused, the cool night wind immediately hitting his face, staring at Kelly, who stood on the cliff, her face facing him, her hair dancing in the wind. He walked towards the edge, and was stunned, staring down at the whole Silverspire City. The metropolis sprawled out beneath them like a glittering ocean of stars, silent and breathtaking from this high up.
"How is this? We came to the edge through the mountain way, how did we get here?" He exclaimed in shock, marveling at the hidden geographical secret.
"This here is my special place, my mother was the one who showed me this spot." Kelly said with a smile, her eyes reflecting the city lights, and sat down on the smooth ground.
"After I got the news of her death, my little mind couldn’t bear the pain and I went through a very bad childhood. My father wasn’t a good person; luckily, when I turned 16, my grandfather called a very good Healer who finally healed me. At age 17, I lost my father. Age 18, I remembered this spot, and occasionally visit." She smiled softly, looking up at him, stripping away the armor of the ’Cold Queen’ to reveal the scarred girl underneath.
"At age 18, I was given rights to the company, and in less than two years, I turned it into a business giant. Age twenty, we went on the expedition, which flared my childhood trauma; and I, well, ran crazy for the second time in this life... For three whole years, I only remember two things: staring at empty space, remembering images I couldn’t even make out, and eating. In these years, the shareholders broke down, and sold everything to rivals, and my incompetent family lost everything I worked hard to build, even selling their daughter; and the spirit mines to your father, just for some cash." She turned back to the city, a small, sad smile on her face, making peace with the empire she had lost while locked in her own mind.
"Everything in this life happens for a reason, if I didn’t go through all this, I might not have met and married you."
Asher stared at her, absorbing the immense weight of her tragic timeline, then looked up at the city, organizing his thoughts. He wasn’t just a fighter anymore; he was a husband tasked with mending three broken souls.
"When the mind unravels, it feels like the ultimate betrayal. It makes you feel vulnerable in a way few other things can." Asher started, his voice steady and deeply empathetic, his words causing Kelly to look up at him, while he continued:
"But those episodes were events you fought, and survived. It’s not the definition of who you are. The person who lived through the chaos, who picked up the pieces afterward, and who is sitting here today trying to heal—that is who you actually are." He lowered his gaze to her, locking eyes with her, a warm, unshakeable smile on his face:
"Kelly, You are the survivor of the storm, not the wind itself. Always remember this."
"....?!!"
Kelly blinked a couple of times, his profound validation shattering the last of her insecurities, then turned back to the city, her eyes watering as a single tear escaped down her cheek: "Thank you, Asher."
{Affection: +10%.}
{Current Affection: 75%}
{Congratulations on cheering up your first wife, Kelly; and the massive Affection boost.}
{Gained one hundred billion dollars.}
{Money sent to the bank.}