Leaving Aeon's Hidden Dimension
Andrew had just emerged victorious in a fierce battle against three powerful demons. The intense fight had left him drained - both mentally and physically. His mana levels were nearly depleted, and he felt like he was almost hitting rock bottom.
Despite his fatigue, he knew that he couldn't rest for long. The hidden dimension was already exposed to the dark forces, and the threat of a more powerful demon arriving and endangering his existence was always looming. Therefore, he needed to quickly push past the exhaustion and leave with Aeon's magical pagoda.
Luckily, there was a spacious hall on the eighth floor of the pagoda that was filled with nourishing energy. It could provide him with the best environment to rest and meditate.
After settling down on a comfortable meditation mat beside the giant and life-like nine-headed hydra statue, he closed his eyes and began to focus his mind. He soon visualized an arcane ancient symbol consisting of hundreds of tiny runes, which he had inherited from his Valkyrie bloodline.
This symbol was an essential part of the Valkyrie method for training the soul and body, and it was supposedly more effective than the Robinson family's soul abacus meditation technique. The technique, combined with its visualization symbol, could help him regain his strength and vitality swiftly.
As he took a deep breath and regulated his breathing rhythm, the ancient symbol flickered to life within his soul space. He was amazed by the sensation as waves of invigorating energy, both mana and spiritual, poured into his body and soul.
It was as though he had been infused with fresh air. He felt as if he was being lifted up on the wings of an eagle, soaring high above the world, experiencing a renewed sense of vigor and vitality. His mind quickly cleared, and his body started feeling rejuvenated.
He eventually emerged from the deep meditation session after an hour. His eyes flickered with a sharp gleam, and he sensed a sudden surge of energy coursing through his body. The Valkyrie soul and body technique had worked like the best charm, leaving him feeling revitalized and ready to take on the world.
His face lit up with a smile as he marveled at the efficiency of the Valkyrie technique. It was highly effective and restored his mana and mentality much sooner than anticipated.
For a few moments, Andrew couldn't contain his overflowing happiness. However, he soon forced himself to calm down as he couldn't shake off the feeling that he had overstayed his welcome in the hidden dimension. He knew he had to leave before anything unexpected happened.
As he rose from the meditation mat, a sense of serenity lingered around the hall. He took a deep breath and headed towards the spiraling staircase that led to the lower floors. And soon enough, he reached the fourth floor and paused to take in the view.
As the quietness enveloped him, Andrew finally broke the silence. "Hey there, Little Hydra! I think it's time for us to depart. I plan to shrink the pagoda before storing it in my soul space."
"As you wish, Forefather," Little Hydra's voice resounded in his mind.
Andrew was not surprised when he heard Little Hydra's voice echoing directly in his mind. He knew that the pagoda was an incredible soul artifact bound to his soul. This meant he could communicate telepathically with Little Hydra, the artifact spirit, even if she was in another part of the pagoda.
With unwavering determination, he took another deep breath and eagerly stepped into the shimmering mirror portal exit. As he emerged on the other side, he looked around and was greeted by the breathtaking sight of the towering pagoda and the starry night sky illuminated by the radiant full moon.
Everything around was as breathtaking as before. But Andrew didn't bother to admire the sights. He quickly stretched out his hand before pulling on the magical soul connection he had with the magical pagoda.
"Fold!" he muttered, and his deep voice echoed around the dimension, triggering something incredible.
Suddenly, the enormous pitch-black pagoda started shrinking and growing smaller at a visible rate. In just a few minutes, it was transformed from a majestic structure towering over the clouds into a small form similar to a children's toy, with the height of an adult human palm. It was an incredible transformation to behold!
"Keep!" Andrew muttered again while suppressing both his surprise and excitement.
He knew what he had to do next! He had to tug on his connection with the pagoda and attempt to pull it into his soul space.
With bated breath, he concentrated all his spirit on the task. And just like that, the pagoda transformed into a dazzling ray of light. It disappeared in the spot between his eyebrows, leaving Andrew feeling both awed and empowered.
"Sweet!" exclaimed Andrew. He immediately began to meditate, allowing his awareness to sink deeper and deeper into his soul space.
And there it was - the magical pagoda, floating above the sea of his consciousness and beside his book totem. It was smaller but no less impressive.
The intricate details and the magical aura surrounding it made him feel like it was a long-lost treasure crafted by the gods. Andrew felt a sense of wonder wash over him as he gazed upon it.
"The wonders of sorcery will never cease to amaze me." He sighed and allowed his awareness to leave his soul space. He opened his eyes only to realize that the hidden dimension seemed empty without the towering pagoda.
Even then, Aeon's mystical realm was still a sight to behold. Andrew's heart filled with wonder and awe as he took one last look around. But it was time to bid farewell to this magical place and return to reality.
He made his way towards the mirror portal with mixed feelings of joy and pensiveness. As he stepped through the glowing gate, a rush of mana coursed through his veins, reminding him of all he had achieved.
With a newfound sense of confidence, he knew he could face most of the dangers that could come his way. Becoming a rank-one sorcerer in just a month was no small feat, and he felt proud of himself. He only had to throw off the demons that might come after him before eventually returning to Heathgate Border Town.
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As soon as Andrew left, an eerie silence descended upon the hidden dimension. But just when everything seemed peaceful, a mirror portal flickered to life, and two gigantic, ghostly figures emerged from it with a menacing aura.
Their wolf-like eyes glowed with a fierce and terrifying demeanor that could send shivers down the spine of even the bravest souls. These ghostly beings radiated demonic energy, causing an instant stir in the air.
The tension was sky-high as the two demons surveyed the surroundings. "The culprit seems to have escaped some hours ago!" growled one of them in a deep voice. "What should we do now?"
"We track him down, of course," replied the other demon, his eyes flashing with determination. "The Shadow Queen's orders are crystal clear. We cannot afford to fail in capturing the princess' murderer. Do you know what will happen to us if we do fail?"
The first demon shuddered, his heart pounding with fear at the thought of the Shadow Queen's wrath. "You're right," he muttered. "We must track the murderer down and deliver his soul to the Shadow Queen for judgment."
Without hesitation, the second demon took the lead to guide them through the mirror portal leading out of the dimension. The first demon followed closely, eyes scanning the rich and vivid landscape with a fierce intensity.
The clock had already started ticking, and they couldn't afford to waste a single moment.
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