After some more discussion, they finally came to a consensus. They would explore a bit more at the most until the next couple of hours. After all, if they were to return so fast, people would become suspicious of their swift victory.

They would have until before the sun would begin to set to get back, which, since they started early in the morning, was still several hours away. They each had a filling meal in the morning so spending the next couple of hours and exploring further wouldn't be an issue.

With that thought in mind, they spent a couple more minutes to rest up and restore themselves. As his team sat down and consumed a few of the prepared potions, or the dried-up meat to restore their health and stamina, Aiden finally had a few minutes to himself to check the messages he received during his duel with Drake.

He did feel different, halfway through, he felt as a previously unknown source of knowledge filled his mind. He could actually feel his mind swiftly processing and merging the new skillset.

However, what was the strangest wasn't the suddenly appeared knowledge about swords or fighting, but the strange vision where he could see and analyze Drake's current and projected movements and swiftly come up with responses related to it on the spot.

What was that actually? Would it be related to the gained knowledge, or perhaps, something else? Could it be related to his growing divinity? Or maybe, just maybe did he unlock more of his Primal Heritage? He wasn't entirely sure, nor was he certain if he could actually willingly enter that strange peculiar state once again. At least not willingly.

With that, he eagerly willed his System interface to appear and select the Activities tab. As the messages appeared, he quickly skimmed through each of the new, unread lines.

*Ding!*

[ Status | Lab | Domain | *Activities* ]

[ *Message Log* | Quests | Assignments ]

[Sword Mastery discovered! Analyzing information… Error: Prerequisite knowledge missing…]

[?!%_]

[Error: Unable to .?!$!%]

[.?!$!%… Host Entering Primal ?!% State… Enhancing Analytics feature according to new parameters…]

[Sword Mastery discovered! Analyzing information… 1%]

[Sword Mastery discovered! Analyzing information… 50%]

[Sword Mastery discovered! Analyzing information… 100%]

[Analysis complete, processing information, creating skill. Remaining time: Error: N/A]

[Analysis complete, Information processed. Skill: Sword Mastery (Lvl 1) created.]

[Note: Requirements met! The related skill: Sword Mastery: Profound Strike (Lvl -) has been processed. Absolving new information…]

The messages just kept flowing, causing an ever-increasing confusion and bewilderment to spread in Aiden's mind. What happened during their duel exactly? Even the messages were unclear, some of them were in a weird, cryptic, unreadable state.

Somehow he entered a strange, heightened mental state, which at the time, he didn't truly realize. Could it have been that when he felt the world slowed down, was the start of it? How did it actually trigger? Was it something they did or was it due to an outside force?

Whatever it happened, the two main take-aways from his short battle with Drake was his supposedly newly acquired knowledge about properly handling Ryg and not just hack and slash as he did before.

What was even weirder, why did it trigger now? He had fought against a strong, much more experienced swordsman before back in the guild: Sir Arthur. Why didn't he gain this insight then? Why did it only happen with Drake? What was different?

The only thing, the only difference that came to his mind was that now, unlike with Sir Arthur, Aiden didn't rely on any of his supernatural strength and powers but, just as Drake asked, was using only his meager knowledge to stand against him.

At any rate, the knowledge he gained directly elevated his skill from someone with any proficiency to a literal master of the way of the sword. A vast pool of wisdom related to the topic was now at his disposal. Strangely, or maybe due to the mysteries of his unique physique, he had no issues accessing any of this information, it felt as if all of this knowledge was deeply ingrained into his body and soul through years of arduous effort rather than a single instant.

Still, this wasn't the end of the miracles that happened to him during that bout. Drake's incredible attack, the ultimate sword strike that held all of his soul with it… that peak of all of his life's sweat and tears, was now also at Aiden's disposal.

The strange, unique skill, the brutal, unblockable slash, that could threaten even him despite his much higher attributes… He not only could repeat it but could actually enhance it by fusing some of his own [Soul Power] into it, possibly creating something that the world may have not seen or felt before.

Going through all of this information, Aiden actually felt guilty. What he gained, no. What he STOLE from his only friend was so immense, so deep. Meanwhile, what did he give back? His friendship? Bullcrap!

He sighed, as a bitter smile emerged on his face. Looking over at the Drake at the side, resting with closed eyes as he leaned against the wall, he was debating what he should be doing.

He clenched his fists, as he came to a bold decision. He would come clean, and not hide into the many layers of constant lies and secrets. Drake and Scarlet now truly placed their trust with them and with that tying their destiny to theirs, he himself needed to give something.

Although he would keep the most important of them all, there was one thing he would now share and explain to them.

Turning over to their group, he stepped closer to them, looking over each and every one of them.

Taking a deep breath, and slowly exhaling it out his expression turned solemn as he spoke up.

"Guys. Before we go further, I need to come clean." He looked at Scarlet and Drake as he continued. "As you have expected, I haven't been completely honest with you… about myself, my origin."

"Brother..."

"Young Master! Please don't!"

Worried about her brother/young master, Lily and Galina called out with a worried look, however, Aiden merely smiled at them.

"It's okay you two. They have the right to know. We are in this together. They are not just simply our friends, but our brother and sister from this moment. They gave us their heart and trust, we need to give something of equal value."

"The truth is…"

"Aiden, brother, listen. As I said before, you do not need to do this. With or without knowing what you would be telling, it would not change our minds. I, and I am fairly certain that Scarlet is on the same page, have decided to stick with you. Together we would rescue our missing brothers and that friend of yours as well. We would fix the deep-seated, centuries-old issues with this kingdom, or even the whole god damn world if we need to!"

Before Aiden could react, Drake looked at his smiling sister, nodding as he continued.

"Our lives have ended on a fateful day many years ago. When I saw my brothers and sister be taken away, while the king did nothing, that life for me has ended. From then on, my sole purpose was to get my siblings back and take revenge on everyone that was responsible and ultimately to that bastard as well."