Thousands Of Years Ago
"Brat, the child you're about to bring into this world will be terrifying, you know." An old man, his white braids falling over his pristine white robe, said this calmly while sipping tea. His ancient eyes, filled with experience and a hint of warning, locked onto the younger man across from him.
The man opposite him, Laden Albert, a striking figure with golden hair and sharp green eyes, broke into hearty laughter, his voice echoing through the quiet garden. "Old man, I know! And I can't wait to hold my child in my arms, to show the world what I've created." Laden's grin widened as he tilted his cup back, draining the last sip of tea, his excitement palpable.
The old man glanced at him with a glint of dark foreboding in his eyes, his lips curving into a wry smile. "You lucky bastard. I just hope you can protect what you hold dear." His voice carried a weight of unspoken truths, but Laden was too absorbed in his own thoughts, too elated to notice the shift in the air.
Laden Albert, the new patriarch of the esteemed Albert Family on the God Ascension Plane, was no ordinary man. His rise had been meteoric, a force of nature in a world where legends and myths walked among mortals. Calling him a top genius barely scratched the surface of his achievements; he was the prodigy of his generation, a true monster in the eyes of those who witnessed his cultivation journey.
Born into the prestigious Albert lineage, Laden's birth was heralded by a celestial phenomenon—rays of golden light piercing the heavens, marking him as someone destined for greatness. Even in his infancy, Laden was different. By the time most children were learning to walk, he was deciphering ancient cultivation scrolls.
He ascended through the realms of cultivation like a comet blazing through the night sky, each phase more terrifying than the last.
By the age of ten, he was already outpacing the veterans of his clan, mastering techniques that had taken others centuries to comprehend. Laden's monstrous talent wasn't just in his cultivation—it was his mind, sharp and cunning, always three steps ahead. He was the kind of genius that made others question whether they even belonged on the same plane of existence.
His peers, those born with their own legacies and aspirations, were reduced to mere specks of dust in his wake.
The elders of the God Ascension Plane whispered about Laden's potential to surpass even the Ascended Gods, those celestial beings who had long since left the mortal realm behind. His name alone invoked fear and admiration in equal measure. Yet despite all the glory and power he wielded, Laden was driven by something far more personal—his wife, and soon, his child.
But Laden's journey had not been without hardship. The road to his supremacy had been paved with blood, sweat, and betrayal. His own uncle had once sought to eliminate him, fearing that Laden's brilliance would overshadow his own claim to the family's throne. Laden had crushed that threat with ruthless efficiency, solidifying his position as the unshakable patriarch of the Albert Family.
Now, with the birth of his child on the horizon, Laden's gaze turned not only to the future but also to the dangers that lurked. He was no fool—he knew that his rise had earned him countless enemies, both seen and unseen. But the old man's warning still hung in the air, a reminder that even the strongest could fall if they lost sight of what mattered most.
Laden smirked, his eyes gleaming with confidence as he leaned back in his chair. "Old man, I've never lost anything I truly wanted to keep. And I don't plan on starting now."
The old man watched him in silence, his expression unreadable. He nodded slowly, though the shadow in his eyes remained. "Time will tell, brat. Time will tell."
All of a sudden the sky darkened, casting an ominous shadow over the entire Divine Plane. Thunder roared like an ancient beast awakening from its slumber, while jagged streaks of lightning split the heavens, illuminating the chaotic scene below. The ground trembled violently, as if the earth itself was alive and restless.
The midwives scurried around her, their hands shaking slightly as they prepared for the birth, fully aware of the significance of the moment.
Aria's breath came in controlled, shallow gasps. She gripped the sides of the bed, her knuckles white, yet her expression remained calm—steadfast, even in the throes of pain. Every flicker of emotion that passed over her face was fleeting, quickly replaced by a determined resolve.
In that room, Aria was not just a mother; she was a warrior, fighting a battle of her own, a struggle between the body's limitations and the will to overcome. Her power radiated, an invisible aura that seemed to press down on the room itself, making the air feel heavier. The midwives exchanged uneasy glances, as though afraid of disturbing the quiet storm within her.
Outside, the storm continued to rage, the howling winds and booming thunder seeming to mirror the intensity of the scene unfolding within the room. Laden Albert, standing nearby, watched his wife with an unwavering gaze. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by a rare look of concern, though not for her. He knew her strength, her unyielding nature. She was, after all, his equal.
But his thoughts were with the child—his child. He could feel the tremendous energy building, not just in the room but throughout the God Ascension Plane. Whatever power this child was about to be born with, it would be unlike anything the world had ever seen.
Suddenly, Aria's body tensed, her muscles coiling in one final, agonizing push. A low, guttural sound escaped her lips, a sound of raw power, as though she were drawing from the very essence of her being to bring this child into the world. Her eyes blazed with determination, glowing gold like molten fire as the energy around her seemed to spike, the room crackling with the sheer force of her will.
And then, it happened.
The cry of a newborn pierced the air, a sound both delicate and powerful, as if the universe itself paused to acknowledge the arrival of something—someone—extraordinary. Aria collapsed back against the bed, her chest heaving with exhaustion, but a satisfied smile played across her lips.
Her eyes, though heavy with fatigue, glimmered with pride as she watched the midwife carefully lift the child into her arms.
The baby was small, but already radiated an unusual energy. Its tiny body glowed with a faint golden aura, as if the heavens themselves had blessed this newborn. Laden stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest as he gazed down at his child for the first time. The midwife, trembling slightly, handed the infant to him.
Laden took the child in his arms, his rough hands cradling the newborn with surprising gentleness. His eyes softened, a rare tenderness crossing his usually hardened features. He could feel the strength of the child, even in this fragile state. It was as though the universe had wrapped itself around this tiny being, protecting it, empowering it.
Laden smiled, a genuine smile that seemed almost foreign on his face.
The old man's words echoed in his mind—"The child you're about to bring into this world will be terrifying, you know." Laden knew now that those words had been more than just a warning. They had been a prophecy.
Beside him, Aria reached out, her hand brushing against the baby's cheek. The child stirred, and for the briefest moment, the baby's eyes flickered open—deep pools of gold, burning with an ancient, unfathomable power.
Aria smiled through her exhaustion, her voice soft but filled with pride. "Our child," she whispered, "the future of the God Ascension Plane."