Chapter 373: DORMANT POWERS

[Your powers. You may have lost them. Temporarily though. With time, you may be able to get them back]"Just what are you talking about?" Aaron asked further, a deep frown creasing his brow, one that Alice noticed immediately, her expression shifting to concern.

[Your soul was severed and greatly damaged. Some of your abilities had to be dormant for your wounded soul to bear the weight]

"Guess I suffered quite the blow," Aaron said inwardly, not a fan of the weakness he was suffering, the vulnerability gnawing at him like an unrelenting predator.

"So what power did I lose exactly?" Aaron asked, trying to grasp his current situation, his mental voice edged with determination.

[More like what abilities you have right now. You suffered quite the heavy blow and most of your strength has grown dormant.]

"What are you talking about?" Aaron asked, dreading the answer he would get from the system, a cold dread settling in his chest like icy fingers.

[For starters, every variant of your origin bloodline has gone dormant aside from the shadow variant bloodline. All your talents have also gone dormant aside from your transcendent talent, space time which is partially functioning. You only have control over space after all. Of course, your mystic eyes are not affected by it.]

"That’s not just a deadly blow. That’s a killing blow," Aaron said, feeling his heart ache with the weight of loss, as if a part of his very essence had been ripped away.

"What’s wrong? You don’t look good," Alice asked, a worried look etching lines on her face, her hand reaching out to touch his arm gently.

"Let’s just say I have quite the setback," Aaron replied vaguely, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside, before diving back into his conversation with the system.

"Does that mean everyone I granted bloodline will have it reversed? What of Loki, Thor and the others? Will my actions against them be destroyed?"

[No. It won’t. You haven’t lost your powers. They are just dormant for the meantime. So actions you have made in the past remain]

"I see. Guess I will have to get used to living life with just Shadow bloodline and space talent," Aaron muttered inwardly, the reality sinking in like a heavy anchor.

"How do I fix my condition?" Aaron asked, seeking a path forward amidst the ruins of his strength.

[Well. One requires just time for your soul to heal. The other requires you leaving this universe and going to the origin universe of the cause of your wound to find a way to fix your condition]

"Great. A lot of work," Aaron muttered under his breath, already tired from the series of information, exhaustion weighing on him like an invisible shroud.

"Guess I will just sleep a bit and worry over the future later," Aaron muttered, closing his eyes as fatigue pulled him under, and he fell asleep once more, the world fading into a merciful void.

----

Aaron opened his eyes, the fog of pain lifting slightly as he rose to his feet himself, his movements steadier now, though a lingering ache reminded him of his fragility.

"You are better now?" Alice asked, her voice hopeful, eyes searching his face for signs of recovery.

"I am. Thanks to you. I owe you more than you know," Aaron replied, a genuine smile breaking through as he planted a gentle kiss on her lips, the touch soft and reassuring, conveying unspoken gratitude.

"I arrived in the sanctuary with someone. Did you find him?" Aaron asked, his mind shifting gears, already prepared to resume his adventurous activities, determination flickering in his eyes like a rekindled flame.

"Yeah, we did. He’s in custody now," Alice confirmed, her tone matter-of-fact, yet relieved that order was being restored.

"I see. That’s good. And the other me. Did they disappear?" Aaron asked, probing further into the aftermath.

"Yes. They all disappeared following your demise. The sanctuary is a mess now without Retribution to accomplish the Imperial tasks. Blue star and Rose have their hands full thanks to that," Alice informed, painting a picture of the chaos with her words, the sanctuary’s once-orderly halls now buzzing with uncertainty and urgent duties.

"Quite the daunting tasks. I would have loved to share in their burden. But now I have pressing matters to attend to from now on," Aaron replied, a pang of guilt twisting in his chest like a subtle thorn.

Alice tilted her head slightly, her fingers intertwining with his in a gentle, reassuring grip, her touch warm against his skin, conveying unspoken worry.

"I see. What’s the task you have to do?" Alice asked, holding Aaron’s hand with evident concern, her eyes searching his face for any sign of the resolve she knew so well.

Aaron met her gaze steadily, the weight of his responsibilities settling over him like a heavy cloak in the dimly lit room, where soft rays of light filtered through cracks in the stone walls, casting elongated shadows that danced faintly on the floor.

"I need to increase my rank as fast as I can and visit a particular universe," Aaron explained, his voice firm yet laced with the underlying urgency that pulsed through his veins like an unyielding current.

Alice’s expression softened further, a mix of affection and apprehension clouding her features, her free hand reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead.

"Aaron. I almost thought I lost you. You can’t go directly to battles when I just got you back. You need to rest a bit," Alice expressed her concerns, her tone pleading, infused with the raw emotion of someone who had teetered on the edge of loss.

He nodded slowly, feeling the sincerity in her words wrap around him like a protective embrace, the air in the chamber thick with the scent of ancient stone and faint herbal incense that lingered from healing rituals.

"And I will. I promise. But for now I need to repair my soul as quickly as I can. I need all the strength I can get," Aaron explained, his determination shining through despite the fatigue that still clung to his limbs like invisible chains.

Alice’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, her grip on his hand tightening just a fraction, as if to anchor him to the present moment.

"At least rest for one day. And allow us to share in your burden. We can fix things together," Alice pleaded, her voice soft but insistent, echoing the deep bond they shared amid the sanctuary’s hushed atmosphere.