"You shouldn’t be here, invader," a wave of icy mana reached Kayden before his sixth sense could detect the presence of the mage. Moments later, a towering creature standing three meters tall, its form dripping with frost, emerged in his spiritual sense. This meant that his opponent’s spiritual sense surpassed his own—a rare occurrence for someone like Kayden.
Kayden could feel that this mage stood somewhere between the ninth realm and the divine level. It was the same peculiar presence he had encountered millions of years ago with the leader of the Frozen Universe. The mage moved closer, and Kayden remained still, observing as the surrounding laws and mana were slowly encapsulated by ice. Kayden marveled at how quickly the Law of Equilibrium adapted to the new environment, seamlessly incorporating the ice as the new balance point.
"I am but a lost mage, with no interest in the quarrels of zones," Kayden said with a tone that was both respectful and unafraid. The creature studied him for a few moments, unable to sense any discernible power within Kayden. This ambiguity left the mage uncertain—was he facing a harmless wanderer or a true monster in disguise?
"You claim no interest, yet possess the strength to claim a zone by yourself," the creature remarked, casting a subtle bait. Kayden merely continued to gaze at him, his expression emotionless. "What is your name? And what is your purpose here?" The creature’s tone became sharper, its aura laced with enough aggression to hint at the ease with which a confrontation could erupt.
"I am Kayden Heart. I am here simply to cultivate, with no other motives," Kayden replied honestly, his words devoid of deceit. The creature scrutinized him but found no traces of falsehood.
"Your aura may not stand out, but your presence reeks of living, warm laws," the creature noted, its voice tinged with suspicion. Kayden raised an eyebrow. This was an observation he had not considered. Gazing into the soul of the creature, Kayden noticed faint, scaled patterns at its core.
Without effort, Kayden analyzed the traits of his opponent’s soul and integrated the insights into his own understanding. As a master of souls, such minor adaptations required no strain. The creature, on the other hand, regarded Kayden as though staring at an aberration.
"Is this better?" Kayden asked, his presence shifting in an instant. The creature hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing its expression. In mere moments, Kayden had camouflaged himself so completely that no mage in this universe could have detected him.
"How? Can you reverse it?" The mage’s mind raced with possibilities—perhaps he had stumbled upon a goldmine by sheer luck.
"That’s a secret. But if you’re asking whether I could create spies for your kind, the answer is yes," Kayden replied, his tone measured. He wasn’t naive; he knew exactly what the creature was pondering.
"I am Jormund Hayer," the creature introduced itself, its demeanor shifting to one of cautious friendliness. "I could offer an exchange for your services. I am the ruler of one of the frozen zones and among the strongest mages of this universe. Name your price, and it will be yours."
Kayden smiled faintly, his gaze steady. He had heard promises of miracles before.
"Do you have any higher backing?" Kayden asked, surprising Jormund, who furrowed his brow in confusion. "You’re strong, but not strong enough to strike a deal with me." Kayden’s words carried no malice or arrogance, yet they struck Jormund like a blow to his pride. For a moment, the frozen lord felt the sting of inadequacy.
"You overestimate yourself. I am more than capable of negotiating with you," Jormund retorted, his aura surging outward. In an instant, tens of billions of kilometers of space were frozen solid. However, before the frost could even settle…
Kayden unleashed his aura.
For a radius of 20 billion kilometers, the ice froze anew. It was an eerie sight—laws themselves seemed to decelerate as if submitting to the overwhelming force. The very fabric of space warped and curved toward Kayden, as though he were a singularity. The Law of Equilibrium was entirely rewritten, with Kayden as the epicenter.
Mana ceased to respond to ordinary beings. Jormund found himself ensnared within an absolute domain of control, his spiritual sense unable to extend beyond the 20-billion-kilometer radius. For the first time in ages, Jormund reevaluated his opponent. What realm did Kayden belong to? He couldn’t discern it. For the first time, fear crept into Jormund’s heart—a primal instinct warning against engaging this being.
As abruptly as it had appeared, Kayden’s aura vanished, leaving behind an oppressive silence.
"You cannot suppress me with aura alone. My true opponents can," Kayden said evenly. "That’s the problem. The only currency I seek is protection." His voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of someone who had endured the struggles of countless lifetimes.
Jormund retracted his own aura, deep in thought. Kayden was both an opportunity and a potential threat. Who were these entities pursuing Kayden, and how powerful must they be to force someone of his caliber to seek refuge in the farthest corners of the universe?
"My father controls four zones and is one of the five greatest mages in our region," Jormund eventually offered, his tone laced with caution.
Kayden pondered for a moment before presenting his terms. "Swear by the heavens that my life will not be endangered during or after this negotiation, and that my freedom will remain intact for 10 million years."
Jormund, seeing no harm in the request, made the oath without hesitation. "I swear to protect your life and liberty during the negotiation and for 10 million years after."
The heavens responded, sealing the vow instantly. Kayden knew Jormund was not a ten-ray mage, so there was little chance of deception. Moreover, as a ten-ray mage himself, Kayden had nothing to fear.
"Follow me," Jormund instructed, his tone now devoid of hostility. He began moving at a moderate pace, testing Kayden’s ability to keep up. As Kayden matched his movements effortlessly, Jormund increased his speed, teleporting vast distances. Yet, no matter how fast he traveled, Kayden followed with ease, never faltering.