Aiden smiled at Ryker's response, heaving a sigh of relief within.
"Father, you just spoke of building my own power, my own strength, right?"
"Yes, I did. What of it?" Aiden responded, trying hard to stifle the grin threatening to form on his face.
"I want to begin my training now."
"No."
"But you just—"
"I know what I said, but the answer is no. You are too young to undergo the training I've planned for you. In all honesty, you would have to be at least five years old to barely be able to start. Much less now, and that's considering your overwhelming talent."
"Father, just the other day, I felt my bloodline stir in response to certain emotions I was feeling."
"And you are telling me this because...?" Aiden said, a smile spreading across his face.
Ryker, with a confident posture, looked his father straight in the eye and said, "I am far more talented than you could possibly imagine me to be."
"Oh ho."
"Why don't we put that to the test? Two years from now, when you are three, I will give you a trial. If you pass, I will immediately begin your training. If you don't, then you will have to wait for me to give the green light. Deal?"
"We have a deal, Dad, but I have a question."
"Shoot."
"Don't you have to run this by Mother first?"
"What makes you think that I need to tell your mother before making a decision? Have you forgotten I am not just your father but the clan head?"
"That may be true, but I know a certain clan head who turns mute and becomes a harmless rabbit whenever his wife is around. What was his name again... hmm, can't seem to remember, but it begins with an A and ends with an N. Do you happen to know this person?"
"I don't know who you are talking about," Aiden said with a serious look on his face.
"Are you sure, Dad?"
Hmph let's see how smug you are two years later.
Word of the decision spread quickly through the estate, and when Ryker's mother, Lila, heard of it, her reaction was swift and fierce. She stormed into the family's private quarters, her elegant yet commanding presence filling the room.
"What are you thinking?" she demanded, her voice laced with both anger and concern. "He's only a child—a year old! And you're already planning to start his training in two years? The training of the Phoenix Clan is grueling, relentless. It will break him!"
Her husband, standing near the balcony, turned to face her with calm composure. "Lila, Ryker insisted. His potential is unlike anything we've seen before. If he is to lead, he must begin preparing sooner than others. Besides, I never said I was going to train him—it's only a trial."
Lila's eyes blazed with protective fury. "He's a child, not a weapon! Must he sacrifice his entire childhood for the sake of tradition and strength?"
"Lila, the boy is determined. If he manages to pass this trial, then he is indeed qualified to begin his training. It would also make him the most talented member in the history of the clan."
"Is that all you see when you look at him? Talent?"
"We both agreed that Ryker needed to be hardened, to be strengthened. So, why this hesitation now?"
"What I agreed to was for us to strengthen his mind, not put him through hell!"
"And how do you suppose we do that?"
"I don't like this."
"Neither do I, but it must be done. It's too late to do anything else."
"Very well," Lila conceded, though her tone was reluctant. "But if anything happens to Ryker, I'm holding you responsible." With a huff, she exited the room, leaving Aiden to his thoughts.
two years later...
Aiden and Ryker stood before each other, their expressions serious. The man standing before Ryker now was not Aiden the father but Aiden, the clan head of the Phoenix Clan—one of the most powerful individuals in the current world.
"Are you ready for your test, your trial?" Aiden asked, his voice steady.
"Yes, Father. I was born ready," Ryker replied with a confident tone.
"Very well."
Aiden waved his hand, and two leglets fell at Ryker's feet. "Put them on," he instructed.
Acknowledging the command, Ryker bent down to pick them up. Immediately, he realized they were heavier than they looked. With some effort, he managed to put them on.
"Those leglets have a weight adjustment feature," Aiden explained. "Right now, each is set to 3 kilograms. Now for the trial: the circumference of this room is 150 meters. You are expected to run five laps with those leglets on. During the course of the trial, the weight of the leglets will increase by 1 kilogram every minute. The more time you waste, the more difficult it will become. So, I urge you to make it snappy."
Ryker grimaced at the difficulty of the challenge but quickly steeled his resolve. He remembered why he was doing this in the first place. He would prove his strength, uncover the mysteries surrounding his bloodline, and surpass his father. The memory of what Li Shenlong accomplished in the arena two years ago further fueled his desire for strength—strength so overwhelming that no one could question his authority when he made decisions.
Ryker stepped to the starting line, his mind focused entirely on the task at hand. All distractions faded away, leaving only the singular goal of completing the trial—and wiping the smug smile off his father's face.
Over the past two years, Aiden had made it his mission to taunt Ryker, crafting lifelike flame projections of him failing the trial in comical fashion for the family's amusement. On one particular night, Aiden even wrote across the night sky: "Ryker, my dear son, I love you, but I'm going to make you cry and beg for mercy during your trial." Laughter echoed through the estate. Even now, Aiden wore that same smug smile, but Ryker intended to shatter his father's expectations. A small smile of his own flashed briefly before his face grew serious.
"Ready... go!" Aiden shouted, and the trial began.
Ryker sprinted forward, his movements sharp and determined despite the weight of the leglets. Over the past two years, he had devised his own training regimen, borrowing tips from his uncle Zander, who was now watching from his military base. This was Ryker's moment to showcase his strength and silence his doubters. Lila, too, was watching from a distance, her heart conflicted as she struggled to bear the sight of her son enduring such a grueling test. The entire Phoenix Clan was tuned in, though they were forbidden from approaching the site. All eyes were on Ryker.
He completed the first lap just before the one-minute mark. The leglets grew heavier, increasing to 4 kilograms each. Adjusting to the added weight, Ryker kept his movements controlled, though signs of strain began to show. Aiden, despite his outward amusement, was observing Ryker closely, assessing his son's endurance, resilience, and willpower—qualities essential for any future leader.
Ryker cleared the second lap in under two minutes and thirty seconds. By this time, the weight of the leglets had risen to 5 kilograms each. Now visibly straining, Ryker pushed forward, his determination unwavering.
Ryker pushed through the third lap, completing it in four minutes and fifteen seconds. The weight of the leglets had now increased to 7 kilograms each. His pace slowed significantly, his body clearly straining under the burden. Sweat poured down his face, and his eyes were bloodshot, but he refused to stop. With every ounce of willpower, he kept moving—step by agonizing step.
By the fourth lap, with the timer at six minutes and twenty-eight seconds, the leglets had reached a combined weight of 18 kilograms. Ryker was barely moving, his body crawling under the tremendous load, but his resolve was unbroken. Determination lit his eyes as he continued forward, refusing to yield. When the leglets' weight increased yet again to 10 kilograms each, they threatened to pull him to the ground entirely.
He let out a roar that came from deep within him, primal and ferocious, echoing through the room like the awakening of an ancient beast. His bloodline surged to life, his body radiating an intense heat as his skin flushed crimson. The temperature in the room rose dramatically, and everyone watching felt a ripple of awe.
Ryker stood tall, renewed strength coursing through his veins. His resolve, unshaken, drove him forward, step by determined step. With this newfound strength, he completed the trial, collapsing to the ground the moment he crossed the finish line. Before he could hit the ground, Aiden caught him, holding his son tightly. His expression was a mixture of pride and sadness—pride in Ryker's incredible ability, but sadness at the cost of his son's fleeting childhood.
Cheers erupted across the estate as the clan celebrated Ryker's success. The boy had achieved what most adults could not, proving his unyielding spirit and extraordinary talent. But for Aiden, this moment was bittersweet. He knew that Ryker's journey was just beginning, and while his achievements would become legendary within the Phoenix Clan, the burdens of leadership and strength would weigh heavily on his young shoulders.
The Odyssey of the Phoenix Emperor had begun.