Chapter 140: Our peaceful days are over
"Aurelia, what do you mean by 'wipe your memory'? You will forget about me?" Fruity asked, looking at the young lady beside him.
Aurelia gave him a complicated smile and replied, "I know, Fruity. But I can't be the reason people come after you. If I know about your ice, it only makes it more dangerous for you."
"But you will forget about me. You're my only friend," Fruity said, his voice tinged with sadness.
"And you are my only friend too," Aurelia said, tears welling up in her eyes. "But I can't let my presence put you in danger. I have to let go of the small memories we have. I can't risk your life for my own unwillingness to forget."
The Ice Princess spoke up, "Aurelia is right, Fruity. She needs to forget. But don't worry. I will take her to the Ice Palace. Once you're strong enough, you can come search for her. For now, you should return to the monastery.
It's the best place for you to hide and grow stronger."
Fruity looked troubled. "But how can you help me? You don't even know me."
The Ice Princess nodded, understanding his concern. "I know it's hard to trust me, but I will do my best. I can cover your tracks and protect you for now. I can't promise everything will be perfect, but I will try my hardest to help you."
Fruity felt a mix of frustration and gratitude. He knew the Ice Princess was trying to help, but the uncertainty of his situation weighed heavily on him. He glanced at Aurelia, who gave him a final, tearful smile.
"Thank you," Fruity said quietly. "I appreciate everything you're doing."
Aurelia nodded, her expression resolute despite her tears. "Stay safe, Fruity. And remember, you are not alone. We will find a way to be together again."
The Ice Princess and Aurelia vanished from the room, leaving only Fruity and his uncle behind. Fruity looked at his uncle and sighed deeply. His peaceful days were clearly over. "Let's go, Uncle," he said. Together, they left and headed back to the monastery.
Far from Hammon City, the Ice Princess stood atop an ice mountain, gazing at a girl before her. Suddenly, an icy mist swirled around Aurelia. When the mist cleared, a completely different person stood in her place. She looked almost identical to the Ice Princess but had silver hair and a natural charm that made her seem more in tune with nature.
"Sister, do you think he will be alright?" the Ice Princess asked, her voice tinged with concern.
The woman, now looking like a more mature version of Aurelia, responded calmly. "He will be fine. You and I both know he's not as simple as he seemed. He just needs a few years to grow, and everything will be fine."
She noticed the worried look on her sister's face and added with a gentle smile, "You know you can't tell him everything right now. He has to figure things out on his own."
The Ice Princess nodded slowly. "I know, sister. It's just that when I saw him, he was so happy and full of life. Now, he looks like the weight of the world is pressing down on him."
Aurelia, now in her mature form, reassured her. "Don't worry, Tasha. He will be fine. For now, we need to ensure that no one discovers him. After all, he hasn't just awakened Annihilation Ice. He has also awakened Chaos Ice and Devouring Ice.
The world is about to become chaotic, and we need to be prepared."
"What?" The Ice Princess exclaimed, but her shout was cut off by the sudden shattering of space. The two women vanished into the void.
Back at the monastery, Fruity stood before six imposing figures, each radiating a terrifying presence. The room was thick with tension.
"So you're saying he has awakened Annihilation Ice?" one of the ancient monks asked. Uncle Monk nodded in response.
"Good. This is good," the ancient monk said with a smile, and the others followed suit, their expressions showing approval. Fruity was taken aback by their reaction.
"Grandpa, why is this good? People will literally come after me. They will try to kill me just for possessing this ice. How can this be good for me?" Fruity asked, his voice filled with confusion and fear.
The ancient monks exchanged glances before one of them spoke. "What you have awakened is incredibly rare and powerful. While it does put you at great risk, it also marks you as someone of immense potential. The power within you could turn the tide of many conflicts and bring great change. It is a double-edged sword, but it is a significant strength."
Fruity struggled to see the positive side of the situation. "But how can I protect myself from those who will want to harm me?"
The ancient monk nodded thoughtfully. "That is why we are here. We will help you train and prepare. Your journey will be difficult, but with our guidance, you can learn to control and harness your powers."
Fruity studied the monks for a while as if trying to gauge whether he could trust them. After a moment, he sighed and extended his hand. Dark ice, red ice, and dark gold ice materialized in the air, shimmering with a powerful aura.
The monks' eyes widened in shock as they saw the three types of ice. Their jaws dropped in disbelief.
"Annihilation Ice, Chaos Ice, and Devouring Ice," one of the ancient monks said, his voice trembling.
Fruity looked at them, confused. "Grandpa Monk, what are these types of ice?"
The ancient monk took a deep breath to steady himself. "Each of these ice types is incredibly rare and dangerous. They represent different aspects of the Ice element."
He pointed to the dark ice. "This is Annihilation Ice. It can erase anything it touches, reducing it to nothingness. It is one of the most feared types of ice because of its destructive nature."
Next, he gestured to the red ice. "This is Chaos Ice. It causes instability and disorder. It can disrupt the balance of elements and create chaos wherever it is used."
Finally, he indicated the dark gold ice. "This is Devouring Ice. It consumes and absorbs other energies, growing stronger with each thing it devours. It is nearly impossible to stop once it starts feeding."
Fruity listened carefully, absorbing the information. "So, each type of ice has its own unique power. Why are they so dangerous?"
The ancient monk nodded. "These ice types are dangerous because they can cause great harm if not controlled properly. They have the potential to change the world in significant ways, which is why they are so feared and sought after."
"I see," Fruity said. "So, they are afraid I might become too powerful in the future and can't be stopped." Grandpa Monk nodded in agreement.
"I understand," Fruity continued, his voice calm but carrying a note of resignation. "I will train and become stronger." His usual lively demeanor was gone, replaced by a more mature and somber attitude.
Grandpa Monk looked at him with a heavy heart. He turned to Fruity's Uncle Monk. "Take him to the Soul Temple and let him select any skill or technique he wants. After that, take him to the Immortal Cave."
He then addressed Fruity directly. "Use whatever resources you need to grow stronger. Your life is in your own hands now. As for us old fossils, we will stay here and stand guard."
Fruity nodded, accepting the responsibility. He left with his Uncle Monk, heading toward the Soul Temple. There was nothing he could do now but train and grow stronger.
Once they were gone, one of the ancient monks turned to the Grandmaster Monk. "Activate the formation and get everyone ready. Our peaceful days are over."