The sun had barely risen over the sprawling Strix estate, yet the private courtyard of the heir was already alive with quiet precision. A toddler, barely three years old, sat cross-legged on the stone floor, his obsidian-black eyes—flickering faint red at the edges—scanning every corner, every shadow, every subtle movement. Zerath von Strix was not playing like other children. He was observing. Calculating. Measuring.
[Nyx] "Begin, Zerath. Awareness first. Movement second. Perception is your earliest weapon," whispered the system. Her voice, efficient and calm, flowed into his mind, guiding without overwhelming.
From the first day of his conscious memory, Nyx implanted within him the Evolving Dominion Body Cultivation Art(in short EDBCA), a method that would allow his body to adapt, strengthen, and evolve continuously. Though the Primordial Dominion Physique remained dormant in its full form, the cultivation art subtly guided every movement, every reflex, every micro-muscle contraction. Zerath's small hands and legs moved with unnatural precision; his balance was perfect, his posture flawless. Even in infancy, he was already beyond his peers.
At first, his exercises were deceptively simple. Crawling through obstacle courses, lifting miniature weighted objects, or tilting his head to track the flight of birds. To any ordinary observer, it seemed like child's play. But every movement honed his body, refined his reflexes, and trained the latent energy flowing within him. Nyx's guidance was meticulous, her instructions never louder than a whisper:
[Nyx] "Observe the wind. Note the angle of its flow. Adjust your stance before acting. Patience is a weapon, Zerath."
By age four, he could chase the family hounds and keep pace with them, his small frame moving with the strength and endurance of a seasoned warrior. Nyx ensured that he understood the subtle dynamics of dominance and observation. A glance at another child, a shift in posture, a controlled movement—he could command respect without force, his presence alone creating hesitation and awe.
The other heirs from lesser families soon realized that the Strix heir was unlike anyone they had met. They tried to challenge him in games, to assert dominance over the toddler who seemed so calm, so precise, so unflinchingly confident. Yet each attempt ended predictably. Zerath did not strike, did not scream, did not even scowl. He merely reacted—subtle, minimal, and perfectly timed. A push, a shift, a glance—small corrections that communicated authority without cruelty.
[Nyx] "Do not waste energy on needless force. Let their actions reveal their weaknesses. Efficiency is your ally," she reminded him.
Ages five to seven marked a new stage. Physical strength and coordination became the focus. Nyx introduced small sparring exercises with specially trained attendants. Even in these controlled bouts, Zerath did not attack recklessly. Every movement was deliberate, every response measured. The Evolving Dominion Body Cultivation Art worked silently in the background, adjusting his muscle density, bone strength, and reflexes with every exertion. He began to demonstrate early signs of strategy, reading opponents' intentions and reacting with an almost preternatural accuracy.
By age eight, the courtyard became a miniature arena. Young heirs attempted coordinated attacks, testing the Strix heir's growing reputation. Yet Zerath moved like a shadow of inevitability. One boy lunged with a wooden blade—Zerath twisted with minimal motion, using his small shoulder to deflect and unbalance him, leaving the child stumbling without harm but fully aware of his own inferiority.
Nyx's voice continued in his mind, teaching more than just combat:
[Nyx] "Observe their fears, note their pride, measure their resolve. True strength begins with understanding those around you. Control first, then action."
By nine, Zerath's training encompassed more than physical prowess. Nyx introduced mental exercises disguised as games: recalling sequences, predicting movements, spatial awareness drills. Even as he built his body, the Evolving Dominion Body Cultivation Art subtly refined his coordination, efficiency, and endurance, quietly strengthening the Primordial Dominion Physique beneath the surface. Every small victory, every subtle display of dominance, honed his instincts, laying the groundwork for the predator he would become.
At ten, he could run faster than any of his peers, lift weights double his age, and endure prolonged physical exertion without fatigue. Yet even at this age, the Primordial Dominion Physique remained latent, waiting for the ceremonial awakening at sixteen. Every muscle, every nerve, every reflex had grown stronger, more precise, more efficient, but always restrained, controlled. His dominance was already visible, yet not fully unleashed—a subtle, terrifying promise of what was to come.
Even in play, his personality shone through. He was calm when others panicked, precise when others fumbled, and patient when others rushed. Gun's personality—ruthless focus, quiet dominance, efficiency, and strategic instinct—was already present, woven subtly into a toddler's form.
His parents watched in awe. His mother adored him, often lingering to observe the precision and calm in his movements, her heart swelling with protective love. His father nodded silently from the terrace, recognizing the latent power that would one day make his son the heir not only of the Strix family but of a legacy unmatched among the seven supreme families.
Nyx observed as well, her systems monitoring every heartbeat, every micro-expression, every subtle motion.
[Nyx] "By the time of the awakening, Zerath, your body will be more than a weapon. It will be a force of nature. I will ensure nothing is wasted."
And so, the years passed. From three to ten, Zerath trained tirelessly, whether he knew it or not. Every small motion, every instinctual correction, every controlled interaction contributed to the evolution of his body. The Evolving Dominion Body Cultivation Art worked silently, refining the Primordial Dominion Physique and ensuring that every improvement was permanent, compounding with each passing day.
By the end of this period, Zerath was already far beyond ordinary children. He was the strongest mortal in the Strix estate who had not formally started cultivation, yet the world around him instinctively recognized the threat he posed. Peers hesitated before engaging him. Attendants moved cautiously. Even elders who observed from afar felt a subtle tremor of respect, fear, and awe.
The predator was growing, silently, methodically, inevitably. The latent strength within his body, guided by Nyx and the cultivation art, shaped him into a being that would one day make the very heavens reconsider the meaning of force.
And though he was still a child, his obsidian-black eyes with red glints already hinted at the storm to come—a predator who would never be satisfied, who would never yield, who would one day awaken fully at sixteen and dominate the world with a precision and power unmatched by anyone alive.
The making of a predator had begun.