[Add's Point of View]

...

Right before their very eyes, the atmosphere started to change. I now had the ability to manipulate space as well as time, so I could recreate any landscape I knew of. I started off with the Tree of El in Ruben, where Banthus temporarily hid after he had stolen the El Crystal.

"Th-This is the Tree of El, isn't it?! I can recognize this smell and this place from anywhere!" Elsword exclaimed. "H-How are you doing this?!"

"Power. Anyway, onto the next part of the simulation. You must defeat any monster you see in your path. Similar to a training room, you could say. No animals will be harmed in the process of this, as it is all fake. Remember that. Long story short, your task is to just wreck everything. How fun."

"Wait, we have more questions!" Lu spoke up.

"Well, that's too bad." I waved, then disappeared from their sight. In reality, I was simply watching behind the scenes to observe their progress.

...

They were doing well, following my instruction and all. It was time to change it up. Instead of Ruben, the environment turned into Hamel. The Halls of Water, to be exact. Where Aren resided. I was even able to replicate him. This was all for Ara's sake.

I glanced at Ara, I could see her eyes widening at the sight of her Brother. "A-Aren, i-is that you...?" her voice grew quiet.

"Tch. What are you doing, Glave?" Raven asked.

"Oh, it is simply part of the simulation. The purpose of this is to increase the capabilities of your body and mind, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Now please, proceed on." I explained.

I was probably the antagonist to Ara's story right now, but it had to be done. One day, she'll be able to murder that bastard she calls her Brother alone, and this was going to be her stepping stone to that. As long as I can support her passively, that'll work, too. I had to make use of my title as the Administrator of Time and Space, after all!

"I get it! This is a great exercise, Glave!" Elsword grinned, unsheathing his Conwell afterwards to charge at Aren.

The others followed, including Ara, to defeat the Dark Earl.

...

"Phew, that was a close one!" Rena commented.

"Wahh! I didn't want Brother to die..." Ara whimpered.

"It will be fine, Ara. This is fake." Eve reassured her.

Ara walked up to me. "Y-You're so mean, Glave!" she sniffled. "But... thank you. B-Because all of this will really help me in the future when I do find Brother on that fateful day. So thank you."

I wasn't expecting that at all. "You're welcome." was all I could say. I really did want to talk to her more, though. My girlfriend was in front of me, but it tore my heart apart, because I couldn't hug her, stroke her soft, silky hair, and none of that crap that couples usually do when they reunite. At least I was able to see her, right?

...

--[CHAPTER 18 - THANK YOU : END]--