"He doesn't know what I did, but he can use time reversal… I guess this isn't something I was supposed to know from the future," Aion thought.
Despite that, such a technique didn't come without a price. Aion's senses began to dull, and a tingling sensation crept through his body. His limbs felt heavy as if submerged in a sea of numbing energy. His familiar connection with his physicality started to fade, replaced by a growing sense of detachment.
As the numbness spread, Aion's movements became sluggish and unresponsive. Once agile and responsive, his muscles now felt as though they were encased in ice. Even his thoughts seemed to slow as if trapped in a fog of lethargy.
"I used too much mana, I guess…" Aion assumed when the soul recovered his energy, and his body began to return to normal. "I need to be careful since this power is beyond what my body should be able to handle right now."
Vangel's eyes widened in surprise and realization as he took several hurried steps backward, his expression one of caution and uncertainty. The sudden turn of events seemed to have caught him off guard, his confidence momentarily shaken.
As Aion's previous attack landed with force, sending shockwaves through the air, Vangel instinctively retreated, his movements marked by a mix of haste and uncertainty. He glanced over his shoulder. His gaze fixated on the rift that had brought him here, his escape route beckoning to him.
With a sudden burst of determination, Vangel swiftly turned and sprinted toward the rift… he was running away. His retreat was marked by a sense of urgency, a recognition that the tables had turned, and his continued presence in this confrontation posed a significant risk.
Without a backward glance, Vangel made a swift dive into the rift, disappearing from sight in an instant. It was clear that he had chosen to withdraw for now, retreating to gather his strength and plan his next move.
"Damned coward," Aion thought as he used Teleportation to follow the enemy.
As Aion emerged from the rift and returned to the previous dimension, he found himself once again confronted by the sight of Vangel. To his surprise, Vangel stood at a distance, and his gaze fixated on the battle they had just engaged in. He observed the clash repeatedly through a nearby rift, studying the intricacies of their encounter.
Aion's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene, realizing that Vangel had found a way to manipulate the rifts, allowing him to witness their confrontation from different perspectives and moments in time. It became apparent that Vangel was driven not only by a thirst for power but also by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
"I see… you used Time Dilation and Space Expansion to surprise me like that," Vangel said. "I won't fall for the same trick again."
"You sure know how to make fun battles become boring," Aion shrugged. "Where are they… if you want to fight me and prove that you can defeat the true enemies instead of me, you don't need prisoners."
"I don't need them, but it is better if I have them," Vangel said once he closed the rift. "In order to make you a decent adversary and show me everything you can do, I will use them."
"Why do you want to copy me when I failed once?" Aion asked. "That sure sounds retarded."
"Knowledge and power can show different results according to the people that are using them," Vangel explained.
"Hmm, that seems like bullshit, even though it makes sense," Aion thought while analyzing the enemy in front of him. "What I think is that you saw the future, and you know that you can't defeat the true enemies… the ones that Malon made on his trips to other worlds. Thanks to that, you are in desperate need to learn more techniques, to obtain more knowledge, and to obtain more power."
Vangel didn't reply to that; he just glared at Aion. Through his mastery of time manipulation, he had gained glimpses into the myriad possibilities that lay ahead, each branching path offering a different outcome to their ongoing battle.
In his relentless pursuit of power and knowledge, Vangel had discovered that Aion possessed a unique quality, one that set him apart from any other adversary he had encountered. Aion's unwavering resilience, his unyielding spirit, and his ability to adapt and grow stronger in the face of adversity intrigued Vangel to no end.
Though Vangel may have possessed a surefire method to eliminate Aion in an instant, he refrained from utilizing it. Instead, he chose to engage Aion in a protracted battle, a trial of strength and skill, with a hidden agenda lingering beneath the surface.
Vangel saw in Aion the potential for growth and evolution. He recognized that only by pushing Aion to his limits, by challenging him in ways that no one else could, could he unlock Aion's true potential. By engaging Aion in battles that tested his mettle and forced him to innovate and create new techniques, Vangel sought to forge him into a formidable opponent, a worthy adversary capable of matching his own power.
The multiple futures that Vangel witnessed served as a testament to the immense potential that lay dormant within Aion. Each future outcome hinted at different paths of growth and different heights of power that Aion could attain. It fascinated Vangel, driving him to continue their battle and ensure that Aion's potential was fully realized.
For Vangel, the battle with Aion was not solely about personal victory or defeating an enemy. It was a means to both hone his own abilities and ignite the flames of greatness within Aion. Vangel saw in Aion a catalyst for his own growth, a catalyst that could push him beyond his current limits and unveil new realms of power.
"Well, is my guess right?" Aion asked. "I can tell based on your reaction. Sometimes, my brainiacness surprises me as well. Anyway, let them go, and let's fight. I also think that I will benefit by making you my sparring partner. Still, don't get your hopes up; I will kill you in the end once you become useless. But it won't be painful; pretty good deal, right?"
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