"How's the assessment?"
Inside the cozy Ashford Household, as Mother and Father were going crazy over his birthday, Urapus invited Roxanna to sit in the backyard.
"It was alright. I went home immediately after I was assessed, though."
"How about your talent?"
Facing Roxanna's barrage of questions, Urapus smiled softly. He did not answer, and instead, the ash around them started to flow toward his hand, forming a small vortex of ash.
"Wow!" Roxanna stared in awe.
In her previous life, her talent revolved around physical might, so for her, a talent to manipulate matters seems so fascinating.
Urapus slowly cupped his hand, and the vortex slowly revolved and formed into a sphere, and when his hand bloomed, the ash scattered, forming a beautifully intricate pattern made from ash.
"Amazing!"
"Unfortunately, ash could only be produced from burned vegetation, so unless a Fire-type Awakener is present, I found it quite hard to be useful."
Actually, because of this ability, the Ashford family has a close tie with the Pyros family. But because of the former's decline, the relationship between them starts to fall apart.
In the past, the fusion of these two families would cause havoc on the battlefield.
"Anyway, Roxanna, how is your training?"
"It's going great. I almost reach the realm of First Lieutenant."
Urapus nodded inwardly. Her progress is not bad.
Regarding training matters, he couldn't help but feel it was a pity. Most of his abilities came in physical form, and to train his body, he must abide by the rules and reach age 7 first.
It's to maximize the growth of bones and muscles and to complete the transition from a toddler to a kid. Supposedly, back in the old era, people would consider training at the age of 18.
But because of the threats, mankind was at edge at every moment. Therefore, children were advised to start training at the age of 7.
The main reason is related to the innate energy. It could benefit the children when they continuously nourish their constitution by circulating it throughout their bodies.
With the growth spurt that generally happens by the age of 7 to 15, it was advised to let the children train so the innate energy would accompany their growth, resulting in a much stronger body and bones.
The primary reason is to create the meridians in their body.
Yes, meridians. The imaginary part of the human body that was assumed to be fictional until the Mutation Era began.
For children who grew up with innate energy circulating in their bodies, creating these meridians would be easy.
It was different from untrained adults. In several cases, some even took over 10 years just to create a meridian.
These imaginary parts would be created, and when they trained enough, these imaginary meridians would be condensed, creating a new part that connected to the organ!
And when once succeed in condensing a meridian, they will officially step into the path of the Awakeners.
In extraordinary cases, even children below age 5 could condense these meridians. This was the case for Roxanna and Urapus, who condensed their meridians early.
If one had already experienced the whole process like Urapus and Roxanna, then it could be said that the improvement would be as smooth as a cleanly shaved head.
Urapus was reminiscent of the past. He remembered how he was stuck in the twelfth meridian, the so-called Sovereign realm, and was lost. In the end, at age 30, he found the path beyond the twelfth meridian.
It's the eight extraordinary meridians! Of course, now that he knew the extended path of power, he began to doubt if it was the right path.
So back then, he couldn't be called a Sovereign powerhouse. He had already surpassed the realm by over eight meridians!
It's like the difference between an Elite Soldier expert and a General expert, utterly incomparable!
But regardless of what happened, he will condense them again. He has a feeling that it was something very crucial. A missing piece that will bring him further in the path of power.
"Alright, let's begin our daily training."
"But today is your birthday?"
Roxann was perplexed, yet Urapus, with a gentle smile, replied, "To be more powerful is the best present gift I could receive."
Inside the house, Ren and Natashya were preparing for the party when they heard his declaration. They looked at each other, with pride and adoration coloring their eyes.
"Urapus... That kid, I'm so proud that I want to shout to the Sovereign himself!"
"Dear, rather than these pointless decorations and party, wouldn't it be better if we train Urapus? After all, it's our job to ensure that our child will get what he wants on his most treasured day."
The previously adamant Natashya suddenly turned against her own will. Ren smiled widely, hugging her with his stout figure.
"I wasn't wrong in choosing you to be my wife!"
"Dear..."
Not knowing the lovely atmosphere inside the house, Urapus began to concentrate, ignoring the frozen Roxanna beside him.
First, let's draw out the imaginary picture of the eight extraordinary meridians. He already drew the rest of the meridians in the past 2 years.
Roxanna clearly didn't hold back in sharing her knowledge. If that is so, then, he also wouldn't hold back in guiding her in the future.
Meanwhile, Roxanna's hue face was staring at Urapus ambiguously. Even on his birthday, the boy named after the First Hero did not waste his time. Instead, he wished that he'd become even stronger, for it was the best gift he could receive.
"Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe... Maybe Urapus Ashford is not the First Hero. No, he's better than that man..."
In the depth of her crimson eyes, an unknown flicker was ignited. Her hands grasp the grass, trying to suppress her overflowing admiration.
Urapus, in her eyes, is different from her. She is essentially an adult, a woman with responsibilities. But Urapus is just a kid, yet his aspirations have surpassed most adults she has met.
The fact that he wished to be a Hero, indicates that she'll fight alongside him in the future. Knowing this, a seed of affection was planted in her heart.
She feels like someone has shared a burden with her. The burden to save the entire world.
"I have to work even harder."
Now, her ridiculous goal seems to be inadequate. Roxanna steeled herself. She must reach the General realm before the age of 8!
With a newfound determination, Roxanna vigorously circulates the inner energy in her meridians.
1st January, Year 309 of the 2nd Phoenix Calendar.
Fireworks triumphed over the night sky, welcoming the new year. Inside his room, Urapus looked at the window blankly.
He looked at his status, which served as proof of his hard work this past year.
[Status]
| Host: Urapus
| Realm: Mortal Stage 4
| Quality: Rare (Legendary)
| Talent: Unbreakable Will (?), Loved by the Stars (?), Limit Break (SSS), World's Beloved (SSS), Ash Controller (C).
| Abilities: None (Locked)
| Hero Points: 768
A month ago, Roxanna and Roxenn along with Maria and Rebecca attended the Yearly Assessment. Unsurprisingly, Roxanna awakened an SSS-rank talent, the Demon Physique.
What surprised him was Roxenn. The curious little girl actually awakened the long-lost talent of the Harden family, the Divine Physique.
The twins complemented each other very well.
Roxanna's talent reinforced her physical parameters to a ridiculous degree, and she could be considered invincible under Mortal Realm Stage 6.
The little girl could dominate two whole realms above her now. Of course, he could say it with confidence knowing the fact that she was regressed.
As for Roxenn, she just started her training, thus she was currently powerless. Her talent did not grant her superfluous ability, but something even greater.
Her soul could be solidified! Meaning that she could travel the world with just her soul.
She required extensive training to do it, however. Maybe when she reaches Mortal Realm Stage 6 could she freely explore the Earth.
Urapus hadn't heard anything about Maria and Rebecca. He'll ask Roxanna the next time they meet.
"Gathering HP is harder than I expected."
He tried many things. Helping the local aunts with their groceries, guiding the duck and her chicks in the crossroads, fighting off criminals that terrorize the city...
But he could only get at most 20 HP. As for the other trivial good deeds, he would only get one.
The worst part is, he could not repeat a single good deed. If it was repeated, the reward will be halved.
The system clearly makes things more difficult. It probably encouraged him to save damsels in distress or fight off the monsters.
However, Urapus is not disappointed.
He's still a 6 years old. He hasn't even attended school yet, not to mention saving people.
It was already impressive for him to reach Mortal Realm Stage 4, comparable to a Captain expert.
He will have to wait until he reaches age 7. That's when he'll receive a huge power leap. Because he could practice the skills in his past life at that age!
His physique will undergo a huge change, which will severely boost his cultivation!
That's why Urapus and Roxanna aren't worried about their seemingly lacking cultivation despite their aloof goals.
"Haah, childhood is so boring. At least there are Roxanna and my parents."
"Oi kid, what are you mumbling about? Come down! We are grilling some barbeque!"
Urapus looked down through the window, seeing his father enthusiastically flipping the meat on the searing griller. Mother was bringing the marinated meat from the house, playfully nudging her husband to brush off some of the butter on her hands.
"Keep your hands off of me, woman!"
"So that's how it is!"
Looking at the beautiful spectacle below, Urapus tried to ignore the tears that built up in his eyes.
Back then, when he was still the First Hero, this is exactly why he wanted to become a Hero.
This is the reason why he only wished for the planet to be safe from the threat of the Outer Forces as a Hero.
It was his precious comrades. Now, it has become his family.
However, he failed his comrades in the past. He doubted the things he did to save the love of his life. Even if she was saved in the end, he bent to the people who wished for his demise.
"But not this time."
This time, he'll exterminate those who got in his way. Urapus's ebonic eyes turned dim, like a judge who detained their subjects according to their crimes.
"I'll be the Hero for the people I wish to protect."
"The rest can fuck off."
21st April, Year 309 of the 2nd Phoenix Calendar.
Urapus, wearing a mask and a hoodie to hide his overwhelming aura was standing beside a cafe. He looked at the clock near the building.
"It's already 10 AM. Why is she so late, anyway?"
This year, nothing exciting happened. Urapus had to admit, as someone who used to fight against the Outer Forces 24/7, this kind of life is quite boring.
He loves his family, but the fact that he had nothing to do but meditate and train all day long felt excruciatingly tedious.
He occasionally had some fun with Roxanna and Roxenn, just like now, with Rebecca and Maria sometimes coming along, but that was it.
Unlike him, whose power will stagnant until the age of 7, Roxanna and Roxenn have their physiques to improve. He has yet to meet with Maria and Rebecca again, but he assumed they would be fine on their own.
No, in the first place, most of them would be fine on their own until age 7. Afterwards, perhaps he would intervene.
As for the Hero Points, Urapus decides to give up until he reaches the adequate realm where he can do some heroic acts.
The Breskon City, where his family resided, is too peaceful. It's a good thing, but in order for his system to work, he needs some damsels in distress to save. Urapus inwardly groaned.
He couldn't be thinking of hoping for people to fall into misfortune just for the sake of points, right?
There's also something weird about the system.
Yes. It's the will of the world. It has not responded since the system introduction. Urapus wondered if it was waiting for him to unlock the feature.
If that is so, then it's too bad.
"Hmm, maybe I should consider a spar against Roxanna. I couldn't stand a chance against Father and Mother."
Unfortunately, his parents are abysmally bad at controlling their powers. Not a very good sparring partner for a kid like him.
As he watched the passing cars, a rather eccentric individual caught his eye. No, it was that way because of Roxanna, who was being pestered.
"Roxanna Harden, look, I have a proposal for you. You'll be interested!"
"Tyr Berlyn, didn't I tell you to go away just a moment ago?"
The boy was at his age, standing at 4'5" with an attire worthy of a noble son. His white hair was slicked back, and his blue eyes shined like thunder.
Urapus watched with interest as they walked towards him. What made him more interested was the sudden notification from the previously silent avatar.
The avatar of the world, a grey-haired cute girl was waving at him in the materializing interface.
[A Chosen One has been detected! Initiate a new quest!]
[Quest: Tyr Berlyn]
[A noble son born from the Berlyn family, famous for its thunder wielders. He was the youngest son, and was meant to be scorned by his family because of his lack of talent.]
[The world, in an attempt to save itself, transferred a soul of unknown origin into the boy, hoping for a better outcome.]
[The boy possessed a blessing given by the world, which is the ability to connect with geniuses to gain 10 times of what they have, should he succeed in forming romantic/brotherhood bonds with the chosen geniuses.]
[Objective: Guide, or kill the Chosen One.]
[Requirement: Guide Tyr Berlyn into the right path, or strip him of his authority by failing him of his binding process 3 times.]
[Reward: 100,000 HP (First requirement), Binding ability (Second requirement), Unknown Gift (Both requirements)]
[Special note: Tyr Berlyn has severe Main Character Syndrome. The host better take advantage of this!]
"Those are some massive reward!"
Urapus cupped his chin. He felt a bit envious of the kid's blessing, unlike his own, which required too many damn HP.
"It's better worth the troubles of saving these HP."
[It'll be worth it! It definitely will!]
The avatar hastily persuades him with a nervous smile.
"Hoh, Main Character Syndrome, huh? How troublesome."
"Hey, how about I just kill him?"
Urapus showed a rare look of indifference.
The avatar on the interface started to look anxious. She even started to kowtow like a devoted believer.
[O' Hero, please do not act foolishly. Thou should extort the quest first, should thou kill him immediately, wouldn't it be a pity for you to miss these amazing rewards?]
"Kidding. But seriously, you actually suggest me to do such a cruel thing?"
It's like talking to a person with the sole purpose of extorting. Though Urapus was sure that Tyr was doing just that to the current Roxanna.
The avatar showed a lovestruck face, [For the Hero, I'll do anything!]
Urapus ignored the excessive remark. He already figured out that most of the things that came out of the will of the world is just sugar coated words. He did not expect any less from a billions years old girl.
[Mind your conduct!]
"So I must failing him in the process of binding. Well, isn't this an opportunity?"
Looking at the annoyed Roxanna and the persistent Tyr before him, Urapus, the former Hero, showed a wicked grin.
"I kinda like this."