No One Left Behind

Chapter 135 — No One Left Behind

The battle inside the Origin cavern became increasingly violent as the Blackridge cultivators realized that their numerical advantage was meaningless against a group that fought with such coordination. One of the Stage 8 cultivators suddenly broke away from his opponent and rushed toward Aria from behind, intending to catch her off guard. Before he could reach her, Lyra intercepted him, her weapon colliding against his attack with a sharp metallic sound. Aria immediately turned around and joined the fight, and the two women began fighting side by side. Aether noticed the situation but didn't interfere. They had trained for this, and more importantly, they needed the experience of facing powerful opponents themselves instead of depending on him to solve every dangerous situation.

Across the cavern, Vaelira was locked in combat with another Stage 8 Blackridge cultivator. Her Voidmoon Physique allowed her to perform short spatial shifts, causing her figure to disappear and reappear several meters away whenever her opponent attempted to predict her movements. Every Void Step was followed by a precise counterattack aimed at a weakness in her opponent's defense. The dense Origin Energy surrounding the cavern was also helping her understand her physique more deeply. Each exchange strengthened her control over spatial energy, and Aether could sense that she was slowly approaching the next bottleneck in her cultivation.

Sylvara and Evelyn fought together against two Stage 7 cultivators while Elara supported them whenever an opening appeared. None of them were simply waiting for Aether to solve the battle. They were fighting, cultivating, and improving through their own efforts. Seris remained near the center of the formation, using her Moonlit Life Physique to heal injuries whenever necessary, but she was no longer limited to support. When a Blackridge cultivator attempted to rush her, Seris raised her hand and condensed Life Essence into a brilliant emerald spear before launching it directly at him. The attack struck his chest and sent him crashing backward across the stone floor.

Aether glanced toward her.

"You've improved."

Seris smiled. "I've been cultivating too, you know."

"I noticed."

Her smile became slightly brighter. "I don't intend to remain the weakest person in the group."

Aether gave a quiet laugh. "Good."

Those simple words warmed Seris more than she expected. She had spent a long time wanting to become strong enough to stand beside Aether instead of constantly being protected by him. Now she was finally beginning to move toward that goal. The same was true for the others. Their cultivation wasn't something they did merely between adventures anymore. Every battle, every dangerous environment, and every opportunity to refine Origin Energy was helping them become stronger.

A sudden explosion shook the cavern.

Aether's expression changed.

The strongest presence in the area had finally moved.

The Blackridge leader stepped forward.

His aura erupted with overwhelming force, far greater than that of the other cultivators. The pressure spread throughout the cavern, forcing several weaker members to take a step backward.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

"Stage 10."

The man's expression became arrogant.

"Now you understand the difference."

Aether was currently at Stage 9, and the difference between Stage 9 and Stage 10 was substantial. The man's Origin Energy was denser, his physical body stronger, and his techniques more refined. Aether couldn't afford to underestimate him. The Blackridge leader raised his weapon and attacked without another word.

The first collision sent a violent shockwave through the cavern.

Aether was pushed several meters backward, his feet carving deep marks into the stone.

His eyes narrowed.

So this was Stage 10.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Interesting."

The Blackridge leader attacked again.

This time, Aether disappeared into his shadow.

Shadow Step.

He reappeared behind the man and struck with his fist, but the Stage 10 cultivator reacted instantly and blocked the attack with his elbow. A violent shockwave erupted between them. Before the enemy could counterattack, Blackfang emerged from Aether's shadow and lunged toward his legs.

The cultivator jumped.

Grimhorn attacked from above.

Ironhide appeared beneath him.

For the first time, the Stage 10 cultivator's expression changed.

Aether wasn't fighting alone.

His three Origin Shadows weren't individually equal to the Stage 10 cultivator, but their coordination with Aether created a dangerous formation. Every time the enemy focused on one shadow, another attacked from a different direction. The shadows weren't ordinary beasts either. They were formed from Aether's Origin Energy, and their existence was fundamentally connected to him.

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The battle continued.

Blackfang was struck apart by a powerful attack, his body dissolving into black mist.

The Blackridge leader laughed.

"One down!"

The black mist immediately returned to Aether's shadow.

A moment later, Blackfang emerged again.

The man's smile disappeared.

"What?"

Aether looked at him calmly.

"My shadows don't die that easily."

The Stage 10 cultivator's expression became serious.

The battle continued for several minutes. Aether was forced to use nearly everything he could without revealing the full extent of his abilities. He took several hits, and blood appeared along his shoulder and the corner of his mouth. But the Blackridge leader wasn't unharmed either. His breathing became heavier as wounds accumulated across his body.

Aether's shadows continued attacking relentlessly.

Whenever one was destroyed, its Origin Energy returned to Aether and eventually reformed.

The enemy finally understood the problem.

He couldn't win through attrition.

Aether's expression became cold.

"You're running out of options."

The Blackridge leader roared and released every bit of Origin Energy within his body. A massive attack formed above him, causing the entire cavern to tremble.

Aether immediately looked toward the others.

"Stay back."

Aria understood his intention.

"Everyone, move!"

The others retreated while Aether stepped forward with his three shadows beside him. His Origin Energy surged through his body as Blackfang, Ironhide, and Grimhorn gathered around him. The Stage 10 cultivator launched his attack.

The collision shook the entire underground cavern.

Stone shattered.

The Origin River erupted.

For several seconds, the center of the chamber disappeared beneath a storm of Origin Energy.

Then the dust began to settle.

Aether stood in the middle of the destruction.

His clothes were torn, blood covered one side of his body, and his breathing was heavier than before.

But he was still standing.

Across from him, the Stage 10 Blackridge leader struggled to remain upright.

He stared at Aether in disbelief.

"I surrender."

Aether walked toward him.

"You chose to attack us."

"I can explain!"

"I don't need an explanation."

The man suddenly turned and attempted to flee.

Aether's shadow spread across the ground.

Blackfang emerged behind him.

The Stage 10 cultivator froze.

Aether's expression remained completely cold.

"You made your choice when you attacked."

The shadows struck.

The man fell.

[Stage 10 Origin Cultivator defeated.]

[Origin Points +120.]

[Origin Points: 615 / 1,600.]

The remaining Blackridge cultivators attempted to retreat after seeing their leader fall, but Aether didn't allow those who had deliberately attacked them to escape. One after another, the hostile cultivators were eliminated. He showed no mercy toward confirmed enemies, but there was no pointless slaughter of unrelated people.

When the final enemy fell, silence returned to the cavern.

Aether looked around.

Everyone was still alive.

Some had injuries, but nobody had been abandoned.

Nobody had been left behind.

They had fought together.

Seris immediately began treating the injuries while the others recovered their breath. Aria looked toward Aether's wounded shoulder and frowned.

"You're hurt."

"It's nothing serious."

"That's not what I asked."

Aether smiled faintly.

"I'm fine."

Seris approached before he could say anything else and began healing the wound.

While her Life Essence flowed through him, Aether turned his attention toward the Origin River.

The battle was over, but the greatest opportunity in the cavern had just begun.

The enormous river of pure Origin Energy flowed through the center of Frostveil, and even after the battle, its energy remained incredibly dense. Everyone could feel their cultivation foundations responding to it. Those who were already close to a bottleneck might be able to break through, while those farther away could still make substantial progress.

Aether sat down beside the river.

He closed his eyes and began cultivating.

The moment his cultivation method activated, pure Origin Energy surged into his body.

His Infinite Origin Physique immediately began refining it.

A familiar sensation spread throughout his body.

Then the System appeared within his mind.

[Infinite Origin Physique — Progress: 0.82%.]

[Origin Energy Refinement detected.]

[Physique development increased.]

[Infinite Origin Physique — Progress: 0.82% → 0.84%.]

Aether's eyes remained closed.

His expression became slightly surprised.

The increase was small.

But it was faster than before.

He continued cultivating.

The Origin River was providing exactly the kind of energy his Infinite Origin Physique needed. Every cycle of his cultivation method refined another portion of the energy and fed it into the development of his physique.

[Infinite Origin Physique — Progress: 0.84%.]

[Progress: 0.85%.]

[Progress: 0.86%.]

Aether's attention sharpened.

At this rate, the distance to 1% was finally becoming realistic.

He still had a long way to go, but he could now see the milestone approaching.

And he remembered exactly what waited there.

1%.

That was the threshold he had been working toward.

Once his Infinite Origin Physique reached 1%, the dormant function connected to his physique's unique ability would finally become available.

The Physique Copy and Integration Function.

But Aether wasn't going to force it.

He would let his body develop naturally.

He continued cultivating.

Around him, the others were doing the same.

Aria sat near the river with her eyes closed, carefully circulating Origin Energy through her body. Lyra's aura was slowly becoming denser as she refined the energy. Seris cultivated her Moonlit Life Physique, allowing the pure Origin Energy to strengthen both her cultivation and Life Essence. Sylvara, Evelyn, and Elara each entered deep meditation, using the opportunity to strengthen their foundations.

Vaelira remained closest to the spatial current.

The Voidmoon Physique within her body resonated with the surrounding space, and her understanding of spatial energy continued deepening.

Hours passed.

Then a sudden aura erupted from one side of the cavern.

Everyone opened their eyes.

One of the weaker cultivators had broken through.

The new aura spread throughout the cavern.

Aether smiled.

The Origin River was already proving its value.

Not everyone needed to break through.

Some would.

Others would simply accumulate cultivation experience and strengthen their foundations.

That was how cultivation should be.

Aether returned his attention to his own progress.

[Infinite Origin Physique — Progress: 0.86% → 0.88%.]

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Slowly.

Steadily.

He was getting closer.

Then Vaelira suddenly stood.

"There is something beneath the river."

Aether opened his eyes.

His Origin Sense followed her perception.

At the bottom of the glowing Origin River was an enormous ancient stone door.

Strange symbols covered its surface.

But the symbols weren't responding to Vaelira.

They were responding to Aether.

The moment he approached, the Infinite Origin Physique began resonating violently.

The Origin River surged.

Ancient formations throughout the cavern activated one after another.

Everyone turned toward Aether.

He stared at the door.

"I don't know what's behind that."

Aria stepped beside him.

"Then we'll find out together."

Vaelira moved to his other side.

Lyra, Seris, Sylvara, Evelyn, and Elara followed.

Aether looked at all of them before placing his hand against the ancient stone.

The entire cavern fell silent.

A deep rumble echoed through the darkness.

The ancient door slowly opened.

Whatever waited beyond it had remained hidden beneath Frostveil for countless years.

Now, it had finally awakened.

Aether stepped forward.

The others followed without hesitation.

No one was left behind.