Aaron assumed another identity using the phantom mask, strolling leisurely through the ruined city. His steps were unhurried, each footfall crunching softly over debris scattered across the cracked streets, his eyes scanning the devastation with calculated indifference. His purpose was clear: to locate General Maxwell amid the chaos of the aftermath.

He found General Maxwell tending to the wounded soldiers, his hands steady as he bandaged injuries and offered words of encouragement.

"You were easy to find. I kept my promise. I hope you will be keeping yours," Aaron said to the general, his voice calm and laced with subtle authority, standing just a few paces away under the dim light filtering through the shattered buildings.

"Who are you?" General Maxwell asked, turning to look at Aaron with confusion clouding his eyes. He straightened up slowly, wiping his hands on his trousers, his brow furrowing as he tried to place the unfamiliar face before him.

The phantom mask, combined with a shape-shifter variant from the Night Father Codex, rendered Aaron completely unrecognizable to General Maxwell.

His features had morphed into those of a stranger, sharp jawline, nondescript brown hair, and eyes that held no hint of his true identity, blending seamlessly into the shadows of the war-torn surroundings.

Aaron sent a telepathic message to General Maxwell, the words slipping into his mind like a whisper on the wind, revealing his true identity without uttering a sound aloud.

"You? Why do you look different? Or is this your actual face?" General Maxwell asked Aaron, his voice dropping to a hushed tone, surprise flickering across his rugged features as realization dawned.

"Nope. Just staying low for the meantime and hiding my identity. Now, the conversation we should have," Aaron went straight to the heart of the matter, his tone direct and unwavering, cutting through any potential small talk with precision.

General Maxwell set aside the medical supplies he had been handling, his full attention now riveted on Aaron. He nodded slightly, the weight of their prior agreement hanging in the air like an unspoken oath.

"Here's not the place for conversation. Let's go somewhere better, and it will aid my goal in convincing you," Aaron said, conjuring a rift in space with a casual wave of his hand. The portal shimmered like a tear in reality, edges glowing faintly with ethereal energy that hummed softly in the still air.

Glancing at General Maxwell with an inviting yet commanding expression, Aaron stepped through the rift without hesitation. The portal swallowed him whole, leaving behind a faint ripple that distorted the view of the ruined cityscape.

General Maxwell stared at the rift, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he weighed the risks. His heart pounded with a mix of apprehension and curiosity, the unknown beckoning him forward despite the instinct to remain grounded in the familiar.

In the end, he steeled his nerves, drawing a deep breath to steady himself before following behind Aaron shortly. The rift's energy tingled against his skin as he passed through, a brief sensation of weightlessness enveloping him.

General Maxwell emerged on the other side, greeted by a rare sight that nearly made his jaw drop in awe. Stars twinkled endlessly around them, vast and mesmerizing, stretching into infinity with a beauty that defied comprehension.

"Welcome to my empire," Aaron said to General Maxwell, as they both hovered suspended in the starry night. The void embraced them gently, cool and silent, with distant nebulae painting swirls of color against the black canvas of space.

General Maxwell gazed at the marvelous expanse before him, his eyes wide with wonder. Countless planets orbited in harmonious patterns, celestial stars twinkling like diamonds scattered across velvet, creating a perfect universal tapestry that pulsed with life and energy.

He strained his eyes to discern the boundary of this immense space, squinting into the distance where galaxies seemed to blend seamlessly. But his efforts ended in futility, the sheer scale overwhelming his senses and leaving him breathless.

"I would have been surprised if your eyes could find the boundary of hundreds of solar systems bound together," Aaron chuckled from the sidelines, his laughter light and confident, echoing faintly in the vast emptiness around them.

"Where is this?" General Maxwell couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with genuine curiosity that bordered on reverence, as he turned slowly to take in the full panorama.

"This is my empire. A utopia where war ceases to exist and strife for resources is nonexistent. An empire you will be part of if you pledge your allegiance to me," Aaron said calmly, not hiding his true intentions. His words carried a subtle undercurrent of persuasion, his posture relaxed yet commanding against the backdrop of stars.

General Maxwell absorbed Aaron's words deeply, his eyes still fixed on the breathtaking marvel unfolding around him. The planets below teemed with vibrant ecosystems, their surfaces dotted with sprawling cities that glowed softly in the cosmic light.

"It will be an honor to be a part of this empire. But I can't. I have pledged to serve the Truy Empire till my very last, and I will uphold my promise no matter what," he explained, his voice steady despite the internal conflict brewing within.

His eyes held a minuscule level of worry that Aaron might be petty enough to destroy the empire in a fit of anger. Tension coiled in his muscles, ready for any sudden shift in the atmosphere.

But Aaron did the opposite of what he had imagined, responding with unexpected composure.

"Very well. I understand. So you must serve under the leader of the Truy Empire?" Aaron asked, a playful look dancing across his face, his eyes twinkling with mischief under the starlight.

General Maxwell nodded his head solemnly, careful not to offend Aaron. His stance was respectful, shoulders squared as he maintained eye contact, the weight of his loyalty evident in every line of his body.

After seeing what Aaron called his empire, which encompassed hundreds of solar systems, General Maxwell became more docile in his dealings with Aaron, especially considering Aaron's overwhelming strength. Humility tempered his words, a newfound respect coloring his demeanor.

"If that's the case, wait here," Aaron instructed, exiting the sanctuary through another rift that materialized with a soft shimmer. The portal closed behind him seamlessly, leaving General Maxwell alone in the vast expanse.

A few minutes after Aaron exited, and as General Maxwell waited patiently, floating amid the stars with his thoughts swirling, he suddenly felt the aura of many powerful beings encircling him. Their presences were like electric currents in the air, intense and commanding.

"Who are you? How did you access the sanctuary?" one of them demanded, his voice cold and laced with raw power, his entire body crackling with tamed lightning that arced like blue veins across his skin.

"I was brought here by Aaron High... Emperor Aaron Highborn," General Maxwell rephrased his statement carefully, his tone measured to convey no threat, as he faced the imposing figure.

"He's back? I thought he had forgotten his way home," a soft, cherry-like voice belonging to a lady interjected, light and melodic, cutting through the tension like a gentle breeze.

General Maxwell was stunned into silence by the lady's beauty, staring at her for several seconds longer than usual. Her features were ethereal flowing hair that shimmered like starlight, eyes that held depths of ancient wisdom, and a presence that radiated warmth and authority.

"Empress. There would have been no need to stress yourself and be here. I would have completed my duties perfectly," the man with blue hair, Michael, said softly to the lady, his voice deferential and protective.

"I'm aware, just couldn't help it when I thought I could see him after so long," Alice replied, her face one of longing, her eyes softening with memories that danced like shadows across her expression.

"So what did he say he was going to do?" Alice pressed further, her curiosity piqued, leaning slightly forward with genuine interest.

"That he will be back after some discussion," General Maxwell replied, keeping his response concise and respectful amid the gathering of powerful figures.

"Oh. Seems our empire is about to get bigger. I will have to go make preparations before that," Alice said thoughtfully, her mind already racing ahead, before taking her leave immediately after with graceful poise.

"Grow? How does it grow?" General Maxwell asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes at the words Alice had uttered before departing, his gaze following her retreating form.

"You will find out," Michael simply replied, his tone enigmatic, leaving the question hanging in the cosmic silence.

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