Child of Destiny

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Soaring Continent, Eastern Sea Region, Ace City

Nathan was reading the reports of his subordinates inside his room when someone rang the bell. Given his strength and attainment in Martial Arts, he did not need to look at the projector connected to the door camera to see who his visitor was. He could just use his powerful sense to see who was on the other side of the door.

It was Elias Stuart, the Warrior Sage of the Stuart Family of Mentalism.

Sighing, Nathan stood up and walked to the door to open it and let Elias enter. "What's the matter? It is quite rare for you to visit me."

"But if you did, it could only mean that there is some sort of emergency," he added as he led his friend inside.

Elias found himself in a comfortable position on a sofa before answering. "We have some trouble. The elders have contacted me, and it seems like Elder Ryong has encountered Jan Mateo and got in a fight."

Hearing that, Nathan could not help but raise his brows as he clearly understood what would happen when two powerful Demonic Partitioners fought one another, especially when either one got consumed by the other.

"It is not like what I think it is, right?" asked Nathan solemnly.

Elias shook his head and reassured the latter. "None of them got consumed by the other, but the elders have said that both sides suffered serious injuries."

Nathan heaved a sigh of relief when he heard that before continuing. "So, what's the problem?"

Everyone was too wary of Jan Mateo due to his unique demonic powers, particularly his ability to combine his Martial Arts and Mentalism and partially fuse his Demonic Force and Spiritual Force.

The Government was currently setting up a trap for this guy, trying to capture him.

Now that Jan Mateo was seriously injured by a powerful elder like the Thousand Arms Demon Asura, Nathan could at least relax a little since he did not have to worry about Jan Mateo targeting Shin once this Great Demon had discovered his nephew.

"The Great Demon is at it again," said Elias with a solemn tone.

Nathan's eyes suddenly turned wide when he heard that as he clearly understood what those words meant.

There was a time before Jan Mateo was known to the world when a certain capital of a region overseas was massacred without anyone's knowledge. It was only when an expert passed through the place that it was discovered and reported to everyone.

This event occurred for a couple more times before the Government discovered the perpetrator of that event. That was also when Jan Mateo first earned his title as a Demon.

But during that time, the government could no longer do anything to him since he was way too strong, especially when a group of powerful individuals was following him.

What Elias was trying to say was that Jan Mateo was repeating those incidents once again.

"Which city is affected this time?" asked Nathan solemnly.

"It is not a big city. It is just a village in the mountains. But this village was quite famous and has a lot of visitors due to their special medical and medicinal knowledge, particularly the unique treatments that they offer," said Elias, pausing and continuing.

"We don't know much about what happened, but bae on our investigation, the people in the village seemed to have their life force sucked out of their bodies, which resulted in their death."

"It is pretty much the same as those cases when Jan Mateo first made his name in the world," he added with a solemn tone.

"He must be trying to recover from his injuries as soon as possible, especially since he is in our territory," commented Nathan as his eyes turned cold.

"If that is the case, then we can easily track him down as he will leave certain traces behind," said Elias.

He paused for a moment to take a deep breath before continuing. "There is an ethnic group residing in the nearby mountain where the incident occurred. They have a quite strong chieftain and shaman, who is comparable to a peak Domain Realm Experts and Venerable Mentalist."

"Given their strengths, they are supposed to put up a fight decently, especially with their unique discipline. But after using 'Time-Vision Rewind' to see what happened, they did not even manage to showcase their powers before dying."

"Are you sure that it is Jan Mateo?" asked Nathan.

Elias nodded. "I can recognize him even if he turned into his Demonic Form."

He then took another pause as he hesitated. But after considering it for a couple of seconds, he continued. "But there is something strange with his current power this time around."

"We both know that he has this unique ability to copy other Demonic Powers that he has consumed. But it seems like he can do it now without consuming the others," he added with a solemn tone.

Hearing that, Nathan seemed to have realized something and asked. "Are you telling me-…?"

Before he could even complete his words, Elias nodded his head and confirmed his friend's suspicion. "That is right. It seems like he can use the unique powers of Elder Ryong."

"Even if it is still incomplete – it seems like he has already made decent progress," he added as his tone became more solemn with each word.

"Then he must be trying or testing these powers to nearby experts while also consuming their lifeforces after defeating them and recovering from his injuries," said Nathan.

Given the current information that they had, it seemed like they had to make haste and chase Jan Mateo away even if he could not capture him.

Reading the thoughts of his friend, Elias dropped yet another problem. "But that is not the only issue that we are facing."

Hearing his tone, Nathan felt like there was something equally troublesome was happening.

Elias sighed and continued. "The Potter Clan has contacted my family, and they want us to conduct a joint investigation in the Magic Ace Academy."

"Apparently, someone manages to sneak inside the World Research Center and steal the data of some special projects. Most of them are even from highly classified projects that involve Professor Henry."

"They want to investigate this matter in full secrecy as those projects of Professor Herny involve the Unification of Martial Arts and Mentalism as well as the Virtual Progression Research."

"Since there is a high chance that there is a spy within the Academy, they want a reliable third party to do an investigation with them. The Stuart Family happens to fit all the requirements for this since you, the Springfield Family, have been too active recently, which makes some of the higher elders of the academy to be wary."

"Regardless, this will work well with him since I can do the internal investigation while you are dealing with the outside interference. It will also help us find the other spies that we are looking for. It is the perfect chance, so I will have to accept it."

"Things are getting chaotic recently, so we have to become more active to make those outsiders remember the might of our Continent."

Hearing that, Nathan could not help but think of something and asked. "Don't tell me this involves Jan Mateo as well?"

Elias shrugged his shoulders and did not claim that it was the case. "It is hard to tell right now, but it is too much of a coincidence to ignore that possibility."

He then paused one more time as he was hesitant to say the next words, but he continued anyway. "I am here not only to tell you this but to also pass a message from Elder Ryong."

"He told us to keep an eye on that nephew of yours as the Great Demon seems to have set his eyes on him," he added solemnly.

Nathan fell in silence when he heard that. This could only mean that Jan Mateo had already sensed the seed within Shin.

"It is still fine since it seems like Jan Mateo is still unaware that it is that kind, but only knows that an alluring 'meal' is somewhere in the continent. Elder Ryong and Sir Henry have helped the kid to conceal the scent of the seed with their respective methods, but it will never hurt to be extra careful," said Elias as he could see the worried look on Nathan's face.

Nathan nodded his head slightly before asking. "Is there anything else?"

Elias turned silent as he stared at Nathan with strange eyes. A moment later, after a few moments of hesitation, he suddenly said. "Nathan, this is a warning from my mother. I don't know if it is directed to you or someone else, but it is better if you heard it."

"A Dragon will fall from the skies and its kin with a cry in agony. A Demon will be born, and a lot will die. The sacrifice will be noble, but the outcome will remain the same."

"Those are the exact words that my mother has said, and they are from the revelation that she has gotten after undergoing the most recent ritual of our family. We still don't know who is mentioned in this prophecy that it will never hurt to be careful."

Nathan became silent once again as he contemplated those words before nodding his head. "We don't know who the dragon and demon are mentioned in it – don't worry, I will be careful. I will warn the others as well."

Elias stood up as he had already passed the message, so there was no point in staying here, especially when he had to prepare for the special joint investigation.

He was about to leave when Nathan suddenly opened his mouth again. "Elias, I know what you are thinking. But you must be careful when doing it. That place can't be touched regardless of the reason."

Elias paused for a moment before sighing. "Nathan, I may be the current head of the Stuart Family, but I am a father as well."

"I just want to find the truth about my daughter and avoid the same mistake that I have committed in the past," he added before resuming his steps and leaving the room.

Nathan did not bother to see his friend out as his thoughts were already on something else. With the current events that were continuously happening and the sudden prophecy that came out of nowhere, he could not help but think of something.

He was suddenly reminded of that time when he first tried to seek answers. – "Young Dragon, you will sour in the sky and shine bright. But keeping your position will be much harder than what it is supposed to be." –

– "The time will come when you have to come back on the ground once again and reflect on your past. That is the only way for you to survive." –

Remising the words of fortune that he had received from his mother, he suddenly felt that it might be the right time.

He stood up and went toward the balcony before staring at the starry sky. He dwelled into his memories before mumbling to himself. "The positions are said to be relative, but you have forcefully changed it and seized your fate."

"Will I be able to do the same?" he added with a sigh as he stared at a particular star in the sky, which was shining brighter than the rest.

This star had reminded him of someone who repeatedly defied his destiny and created a miracle. As if it was responding to his words, it shone even brighter.

***

In the meantime, somewhere on another continent, a couple was sitting at the edge of a cliff and watching the stars in the sky.

A moment later, the beautiful woman suddenly trembled as if she sensed something. She then turned to her husband and said. "We have to go back."

"Why?" responded her husband, who was lying on the ground and feeling lazy to move.

"One of the candles is about to be extinguished. I think-…" She was in the middle of talking when the guy suddenly sat up and said without any hint of hesitation. "It must be our dragon friend. After all, he is a close friend with the death himself."

...…

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