Chapter 278. Excellency Vhorn 2

September 7th, 2332.

The headquarters of the International Union was bustling with activity.

Situated on a massive island in the Western Seas, the headquarters had become the center of attention across Endra.

Today, the International Union would hold an inauguration ceremony unlike any in its history.

A Rank 3 warrior would officially become a member of the International Union.

But that was not all.

The same warrior would also become its first honorary patron, a position that had never existed before his rise.

And that warrior was none other than Aiden Vhorn, the Devil of Endra.

Every major media organization on the planet had sent representatives to cover the event. Countless broadcasting drones hovered around the island, transmitting live footage to screens across Endra.

From the largest cities to the smallest settlements, people gathered around their screens to witness the occasion.

Some watched from their homes. Others gathered in public squares, restaurants, universities, and training centers.

Even warriors who had spent their entire lives avoiding public attention found themselves curious about the man who had brought the Paranormal Liberation Order to its knees.

After all, Aiden Vhorn had accomplished something that had seemed impossible.

He had helped expose an organization that possessed hundreds of Legendary Rank 4 warriors and had been preparing to unleash thousands of powerful chaotic beasts upon Endra.

And now, he was about to receive the highest recognition the International Union could offer him.

---

Inside the grand ceremonial hall of the International Union headquarters, prominent warriors and influential figures from across Endra occupied their designated seats.

The hall was enormous, capable of accommodating thousands of people. Its polished floors reflected the brilliant lights illuminating the ceiling, while enormous screens displayed the International Union’s insignia.

At the center of the hall was a raised platform.

Several seats had been arranged upon it for the occasion.

Armstrong Lee, Excellency of the International Union, stood near the center of the platform, dressed in formal attire.

Beside him stood several other prominent members of the Union.

However, the attention of the audience was drawn to the man seated at the front.

Aiden Vhorn.

His brown hair was neatly arranged, and his black eyes remained calm as he surveyed the surroundings.

He wore an expression that suggested he was attending an ordinary meeting rather than an unprecedented ceremony being broadcast across an entire planet.

Sitting right beside him was Desmonda Creed.

Her long, silky blue hair, accented by electric-blue highlights, fell gracefully over her shoulders. Her deep, dark eyes were perceptive, and her composed expression contrasted with the excitement radiating from the audience.

She sat confidently beside Aiden, perfectly comfortable in her place.

The rest of Aiden’s loved ones were seated nearby.

Cosmo, Pamela, Luke, Asmodeus, Candice, Seraphina, and the others had all attended the ceremony.

For them, this was an important occasion.

For Aiden, however, it was primarily an obligation he had agreed to fulfill.

He had initially intended to skip the inauguration altogether. Only after Desmonda and his other loved ones insisted had he agreed to attend.

Now that he was here, he saw no reason to make things difficult.

He would complete the ceremony and return to his affairs.

Beside him, Desmonda glanced at his face.

"You look as though you’d rather be somewhere else."

"I would," Aiden replied calmly.

Desmonda couldn’t help smiling.

"At least you came."

"You insisted."

"And you listened."

Aiden turned his black eyes toward her.

"Don’t make a habit of it."

Desmonda’s smile widened slightly.

"Too late."

Aiden chuckled at her words. Then, he turned his attention toward the platform.

Their brief exchange went unnoticed by most of those around them.

However, the cameras broadcasting the ceremony captured the two sitting side by side.

Across Endra, countless viewers saw it.

The Devil of Endra, the man whose name had become synonymous with fear and ruthless efficiency, was sitting beside a beautiful woman with long blue hair. His woman. Many young ladies looked in envy.

Desmonda Creed. A genius in her own right. Seated across them were Aiden Vhorn’s other loved ones. Each one of them was terrifying. It was just that Aiden Vhorn such a monster that they looked ordinary in comparison.

People discussed them animatedly.

But the ceremony was about to begin, and their attention soon returned to the stage.

---

Armstrong Lee stepped forward.

The murmuring inside the hall gradually subsided.

Within seconds, the entire hall fell silent.

Armstrong looked toward the audience before speaking.

"Today, the International Union has gathered to recognize an individual whose achievements have surpassed the expectations of this organization and the entire planet."

His voice was transmitted through the hall’s sound system and broadcast to every corner of Endra.

"Despite being an Advanced Rank 3 warrior, Aiden Vhorn has accomplished feats that even many Legendary Rank 4 warriors could never hope to replicate."

The enormous screens behind him displayed Aiden’s image.

His black eyes stared calmly into the camera.

"Through his actions, the Paranormal Liberation Order was exposed and ultimately eliminated. Had the Order succeeded in carrying out its plans, the consequences for Endra would have been catastrophic."

Armstrong paused briefly.

"The International Union recognizes that Aiden Vhorn played a critical role in preventing that catastrophe. His actions, intelligence, and contributions to the security of our civilization have earned him this honor."

He turned toward Aiden.

"Therefore, in accordance with the unanimous decision of the International Union, we hereby induct Aiden Vhorn as an official member of the International Union."

The hall erupted into applause.

Thousands of people rose from their seats, applauding the young warrior.

Among them were the powerhouses of the International Union.

Some had spent decades cultivating, enduring countless battles and risking their lives to reach Rank 4. They understood better than most how enormous the gap between Rank 3 and Rank 4 could be.

Yet today, they were applauding a Rank 3 warrior who had earned a place among them through his achievements.

A few exchanged glances, still finding the situation difficult to believe.

They weren’t unaware of Aiden’s strength. His position at the top of the Tyrant Fate Rankings had already made that clear.

But his accomplishments went beyond combat prowess.

He had discovered the Order’s plans, provided the International Union with the information needed to launch its attack, and helped bring down an organization that possessed hundreds of Legendary Rank 4 warriors.

His contribution hadn’t been that of an ordinary warrior participating in a battle.

It had changed the outcome of an entire conflict.

One of the Union’s powerhouses leaned toward the person seated beside him.

"He’s only Advanced Rank 3, yet the Order’s downfall can be traced back to his actions."

His companion nodded.

"Rank isn’t everything. If it were, the Order would still be hiding beneath the Western Seas, preparing to destroy Endra."

Neither needed to say anything more.

They had witnessed what happened when the International Union finally struck the Order’s headquarters. They knew how dangerous the situation had been and how easily it could have ended in disaster without Aiden’s information.

The fact that he had helped arrange the circumstances that allowed them to win was difficult to overlook.

Meanwhile, Ashbourne Cane watched Aiden with a thoughtful expression.

He had known Aiden and had witnessed his rise. After all, he was the former president of Derulo City University, where Aiden’s journey had begun from.

Even so, seeing the International Union formally recognize him before the entire planet was a different experience.

Aiden had gone from being a young warrior whose decisions frequently placed him in danger to someone whose actions could determine the fate of Endra.

And he had achieved all of that before reaching Rank 4.

Ashbourne couldn’t help wondering how far Aiden would go once he entered the interstellar community.

Beside him, Vandaport wore a faint smile.

She wasn’t particularly surprised by the Union’s decision. After everything Aiden had accomplished, refusing to recognize him simply because of his cultivation rank would have been absurd.

Wembley, who had only recently broken into Rank 4 and joined the International Union, was equally attentive.

He knew firsthand how difficult it was to advance through the ranks. Yet Aiden had managed to establish a position that even many warriors stronger than him could never hope to attain.

It was a reminder that cultivation rank alone did not determine a warrior’s influence.

For some of the older powerhouses, however, the occasion carried another meaning.

They had spent years occupying positions of authority within the International Union. They were accustomed to being the people whose decisions shaped events on Endra.

Now, a young warrior who hadn’t even reached Rank 4 was receiving recognition that had never before been granted to anyone.

But none of them could deny the reason.

Aiden had earned it.

"I always knew Aiden would shake Endra, I just never expected it to be this quick" Asmodeus said.

"I know right" Luke added as a glint of pride and warmth flashed through his eyes.

"I can’t wait for my man to shake the sea of stars" A glint of calmness flashed through Desmonda’s eyes.

Everyone nodded. They couldn’t wait for this monster to spread his wings in the sea of stars. What sort of crazy things would Aiden do?

Knowing him, an uproar would follow him wherever he went.

The applause continued for several seconds before Armstrong raised his hand.

When the hall finally quieted, Armstrong continued.

"However, membership alone would not adequately recognize his contributions."

The screens changed, displaying the words:

HONORARY PATRON OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION.

A wave of murmuring swept through the audience.

Although everyone already knew about the position, seeing it displayed during the ceremony made the occasion feel even more significant.