Chapter 150: The mysterious power (1/2)

Aiden looked at the dilapidated mansion for a long time digesting the words of the honest-looking brown-haired youth, Cole.

”Haunted? Huh… Are you sure?” He mumbled mostly to himself, but Cole still answered the questions.

”Yes, though it's just what the people say. Nobody dares to come close, there's some weird barrier that surrounds the premises. No one can cross it.”

Aiden turned his head, looking at the boy slightly behind him.

”So this is all just speculation, and nobody really knows?”

”I… I guess? Still, there were several missions posted already and nobody could complete it, so it eventually turned into this myth. One traveling 5-star adventurer came once and accepted the mission to investigate this place. After a few days, he came back with a ghastly expression and returned the quest saying that the place is haunted, and nobody should disturb its peace.” Cole explained.

Aiden raised his eyebrows hearing this. No one questioned his words ever since, and just accepted it as the absolute truth? What kind of logic was this?!

He looked at the building ahead once again with a solemn expression.

”Let me see this barrier…” He mumbled as he took a step forward, slowly striding forward towards the entrance.

”Wait! It's dangerous!” Cole shouted from behind but did not dare to take even a step forward from the street and trespass into the spooky territory.

Although the boy was sincere and kind-hearted, Aiden did not pay any attention to his warnings. From what he felt with his [Dark Sense] even as he tried infiltrating with empowered energy pulses was that it had similar warding as the underground slave-traders had in the Slums.

His pace was slow and steady, and he looked calm from the outside. Inside, however, he was focused, his mind was pacing at high speeds. He continuously tried to attack the barrier with Energy Pulses, testing its defense.

As he got closer, he could feel slight fluctuations, vibrations in the air. There were no visible distortions or blurred visage, but the slight trembling he felt was definitely not carried by the wind.

After a few more steps, he stopped in his tracks and looked at the air in front of him. He slowly reached out with his right hand. As it neared a certain point, the seemingly invisible air suddenly trembled, he could feel an increase in the pressure as he tried to push forward.

Ripples ran through the surface as it revealed a transparent energy shield surrounding the mansion. The golden light in Aiden's eyes suddenly lit up, his piercing gaze was plastered on the invisible barrier.

He removed his arm but did not place it down to rest. Instead, he slowly cocked it back, while it also slowly morphed. Golden scale rapidly grew out from his bronze skin, strengthening the surface. The end of his fingers once again changed, revealed thick, ebon claws.

Taking in a deep breath, he took a moment to gather all of his power into his arm, and in the next moment, he decisively struck forward. His whole arm blurred and left behind an afterimage in its place as it rocketed forward.

In the next instant, it collided with the barrier, releasing a massive explosive sound that resounded in the entire 'Adventuring' Street. The massive burst of air that was released from the collision broke several windows in the two nearby stores and even flung a few unaware passersby on their backs. The powerful blow sent massive waves from the point where Aiden's clawed arm crashed into the magical surface, causing visible distortions as they rippled through the entire surface.

Still, even with this power, the barrier stood still. Eventually, the ripples died down, and the serenity returned to its transparent surface. He only managed to barely dip the tip of his claws a few millimeters into the surface, but the resistance proved too much for him to push through.

”Huh… This is strong. I'm not sure that even if I transform completely and use all of my power, I would be able to break through…” Aiden muttered seeing the results. He wasn't mad, or dissatisfied, but had an expectant grin on his face. This place was important… He couldn't explain how or why, but he felt that he needed to overcome this challenge! It was as if the place was calling out to him, inviting him…

His thoughts were interrupted with a trembling voice shrieking out from behind.

”J-j-just w-what are you?! W-what was that power?!” Cole exclaimed with a horrified expression looking at Aiden.

Aiden slowly removed his arm. As it returned to its resting place at the side, it rapidly changed back into his original appearance. The golden light also faded from his eyes as he turned around and gave a friendly smile to the shaking boy looking at him from the street.

As he walked back, he noticed that the previously busy street was eerily silent. All the eyes were plastered on him, the long black-haired, bronze-skinned boy in the cheap, linen, farm boy clothing.