Darkness.
Adrian Cross felt the poison burning in his lungs and coursing through his veins. He stumbled and leaned against the glass wall of his office, thirty stories above the sparkling city below. Neon lights blurred together as his vision faded. His knees buckled, and he lost control of his body.
But he could still see him—his cousin. He stood tall, wearing a smug grin that had hidden behind false loyalty for years.
"Did you really think," the man sneered, lowering himself to meet Adrian's gaze, "that someone as perfect as you would be allowed to live freely? You had everything, Adrian. Intelligence, strength, the family fortune at your fingertips. And me? I was just a shadow of your greatness. But tonight… that shadow consumes you."
Adrian's hand twitched on the carpet, reaching out, though he knew it was hopeless. His throat tightened as the poison burned deeper, stealing away his voice. Yet with what little breath he had left, he rasped:
"You'll… regret this…"
"Regret?" His cousin grinned, slapping Adrian's cheek lightly. "No, I'll take all the wealth you couldn't protect, all the power, all the legacy. And the world will never know that Adrian Cross was meant to be the heir. You'll be a mere whisper."
The cruel laughter that followed echoed in Adrian's mind as his strength faded.
Fury and desperation boiled within him, clashing like storms and flames. So this is how it ends? Not defeated in battle, not outsmarted in business, but betrayed by my own kin?
His soul cried out as the darkness closed in:
If I had another chance… just one… I would master all ties, all strengths. I'd ensure no chain could bind me, no blade could strike my back. I wouldn't fall to betrayal again.
The world fell into silence.
And then—
A voice. A deep, booming sound, neither human nor divine, filled the emptiness.
> "Your vow has been heard. Your second life begins now."<
Light. Bright and blinding.
Adrian's eyes opened to brightness, and his lungs—once full of poison—now breathed in fresh air for the first time. His body shook, thin and weak, no longer the powerful man he had been. A shrill cry escaped his throat—foreign and embarrassing—but undeniable.
He was no longer a man. He was a baby.
Shrieks filled the room around him.
"The heir has been born!" a midwife declared, her voice filled with awe. "The blood of Veylar continues!"
That name—Veylar—thundered in Adrian's ears. He didn't understand it yet, but even as a newborn, he could sense the reverence it carried. Whoever these people were, their name commanded nations.
Heavy footsteps shook the ground. A massive man approached the crib, his golden hair glowing in the torchlight like flames. His presence was overwhelming, primal, as though a lion had taken human form. His fierce eyes locked onto Adrian, and when he spoke, his voice roared like thunder.
"Thus my son." His words brimmed with pride. He leaned closer to examine Adrian, like a predator sizing up its prey. "See him, Seraphina. He already has the eyes of a hunter. My blood runs true."
A stunning woman moved to his side, dressed in flowing scarlet silk. Where the man represented strength, she exuded grace. Her black hair cascaded like velvet, and her smile shone like moonlight breaking through clouds. She came closer and touched a gentle finger to Adrian's cheek.
"Don't scare him, Darius," she chided with a light laugh, her voice melodic. "He's just minutes old. Not even a lion's pride should expect him to roar yet."
"Scare?" Darius laughed heartily, his chest rumbling like thunder. "Nonsense! He is my son. From the moment he's born, he must know he's not meant to crawl. He's meant to roar."
Adrian blinked, his sharp mind wrestling with his weak body. So these are my parents? A rose and a lion. Terrifying to the world, but kind to me.
Seraphina leaned in, whispering softly, believing she spoke only to an infant. "You've been born into power, little one. But remember… real strength comes not from fear but from what you protect. I will teach you that, my dear Adrian."
Her words cut deeper than she realized. In his past life, he had lost everything—not due to weakness, but because he hadn't defended what mattered most.
The room grew quiet. The air felt heavy, charged with energy.
A golden light erupted from Adrian's small chest, swirling above the crib into a brilliant sigil. Mana flowed like a torrent, and letters of light formed in the air for all to see.
Gasps echoed through the hallway.
"The awakening..." someone murmured. "His skill is emerging already!"
A herald moved forward, trembling as he read the glowing words.
> Skill: [Synchronization] (Mythic Grade)<
Chaos erupted in the room.
"Mythic?!" an elder cried, his cane clattering to the floor. "Impossible! A mythic skill… born? Such power appears only once every few hundred years!"
"With [Synchronization], he could bond with weapons, with animals, even with other warriors' abilities..." another noble whispered, awe in his voice. "This child… might lead armies in unity!"
Darius threw his head back and laughed, his voice booming through the room like thunder.
"Ha! Do you hear it, Seraphina? See it, Veylan nobles? My son has been blessed by the heavens themselves! Born a lion among sheep!"
He raised his fist high, his voice echoing against the walls.
"Mark this day! Adrian Veylar is not just an heir—he is the roar that will shake the world!"
Nobles murmured amongst themselves. Some looked in awe, while others felt fear. A child born with such power was both a gift and a threat.
Seraphina smiled, her scarlet lips curving as she leaned toward her son once more.
"My dear Adrian. With this skill, the world will try to bind you, to claim you. But you belong to me, and I will ensure that no chains can hold you."
And then—something that went unnoticed by everyone else.
In front of Adrian's newborn eyes, another line of golden script appeared.
> Secondary Skill Unlocked: [Sacrifice] (Grade: Unknown)
Adrian froze. A second ability? That's impossible.
He felt it thumping inside him like a whisper. [Sacrifice]—the power to give anything and, in return, receive its essence. Objects, creatures, even pieces of himself—he could take their traits, their strengths, their very abilities.
A shiver ran through his tiny body, but with it came a sense of freedom.
Synchronism to share, Sacrilege to devour. Together… I can claim any power I want.
His lips parted in what others would interpret as a coo, but in his mind, a promise blazed more fiercely than flames.
This time, I won't be betrayed. This time, I will conquer ties, consume limits, and rise above all. I will not be a pawn. I will be the one who sets the rules.
With nobles gossiping and his parents reveling in pride, Adrian Veylar closed his infant eyes.
The world would eventually learn the truth.
Adrian Veylar wasn't just born great. He was born to reclaim it.
As the nobles stared and his parents beamed with pride, baby Adrian squirmed awkwardly. Seraphina leaned closer, cooing.
"Something wrong, little one? Already trying to speak?"
Adrian's sharp mind longed to reply, "Mother, I have just awakened two world-changing abilities, and I will rewrite destiny itself."
Instead—
Burrrrp!
A loud, rumbling baby burp filled the chamber.
The nobles fell silent. Darius blinked and then threw his head back with booming laughter.
"Ha! Did you hear that? Even his burps roar like a lion's pride! Truly, my own son!"
Seraphina released a tired breath, pinching her nose, though her lips twitched with laughter. "Yes, Darius. Very regal."
Adrian, trapped in his small body, simmered with anger. I swear before all the gods listening… one day, humanity will tremble at my name, not my belly sounds.
Suddenly, the great doors to the chamber crashed open. A hooded messenger, pale and trembling, stepped inside.
"Lord Darius! Lady Seraphina!" he shouted. "Forgive my interruption, but… the Oracle has spoken. The child—"
His gaze flickered toward Adrian, then widened in horror as if he saw something the others did not.
"The prophecy… it has begun anew!"
Gasps filled the room. Whispers of alarm rippled through the nobles. Darius's hand dropped to the hilt of his sword, his golden eyes flashing.
Seraphina's smile vanished, replaced by a sharp, calculating look.
And Adrian, in his crib, clenched his tiny hands.
A prophecy? Already?
The air grew thick, the chamber vibrating as if the world itself leaned in to listen.
The story of Adrian Veylar was just beginning—and already fate itself was against him.