A week had passed since Lycius's birth, and in that short time, his world had been filled with nothing but joy. Elizabeth had moved in with Lana and her son, ensuring that every moment of Lycius's first days was spent surrounded by love.
Each sunrise marked another leap in his growth, both physically and in power. With every passing day, he gained a level, and now, at merely a week old, he stood at level eight. However, what set him apart was not his level but the sheer potential he held he possessed extra stats equivalent to a level 800 adventurer.
Yet, despite his overwhelming strength, the world remained unaware of his existence. His lack of interest in the system had unconsciously slowed the allocation of his stats, keeping his true power concealed.
---
POV: Lycius
Lycius stirred from his sleep, nestled between two of the most beautiful beings in existence, his mother and his aunt. Though identical twins, he saw them as two distinct individuals, each possessing a unique beauty that comforted him.
Speech had yet to interest him. He had no reason to develop it; his mother and aunt always understood him without the need for words. Their connection transcended spoken language, making verbal communication seem redundant.
With precise and silent movements, he carefully slipped from their embrace, ensuring he did not wake them. As he exited the room, holographic blue screens flickered into existence before him, each displaying various notifications from the system.
---
[Ding! Extra Stat Points have exceeded 400,000!]
[Permission to set settings to A.S.B?]
Lycius dismissed the prompt with a simple telepathic response. No.
---
[System Update]
[New Missions have been created]
[Permission to display new missions?]
His curiosity was piqued. These missions might be a fun activity for me, Mom, and Aunt, he mused.
"Permission granted," he responded telepathically.
---
New Missions Unlocked
[Mission Title – The Impossible]
Briefing: Achieve a feat that is impossible for you at your current age.
Reward: Depends on the feat.
[Mission Title – Bonding]
Briefing: Bond with your family, learn about their ways, and adapt to your life.
Reward: Genetic Skills.
[Mission Title – Voice]
Briefing: Find your voice. Say your first words.
Reward: Genetic Skills.
---
As Lycius read through the mission details, he made his way to the living room. Yet, upon arriving, he was met with a sight that had become all too familiar—his mother and aunt already seated on the couch, as if they had never been asleep in the first place.
He let out an internal sigh. I blame myself for thinking I could finally be the first one awake.
No matter how quickly he moved, they were always ahead of him. He had long since realized that outpacing them was a futile endeavor. Their reality-bending abilities allowed them to exist beyond the constraints of time and logic, making something as simple as waking up first an impossible feat.
Even so, Lycius was undeterred. If anything, the challenge only fueled his desire to one day surpass them.
Lycius stood motionless, gazing at his mother and aunt as they sat on the couch with their usual air of quiet dominance. Their long, flowing hair shimmered in the dim morning light, their presence as otherworldly as ever. No matter how many times he observed them, he couldn't help but acknowledge how absurdly beautiful and powerful they were.
Lana and Elizabeth met his gaze, their crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. They already knew what he was thinking. They always did.
"You wanted to be the first awake?" Lana asked, her voice laced with mirth.
"You're adorable when you sulk, Lycius," Elizabeth added teasingly, leaning back against the couch with a smirk.
Lycius frowned. It wasn't fair how effortlessly they stayed ahead of him. But rather than dwell on it, he turned his attention back to the mission prompts still hovering in front of him. The 'Bonding' mission in particular intrigued him. It felt almost unnecessary since he already shared an unbreakable bond with his family, but if completing the task granted him Genetic Skills, it was worth pursuing.
"Mother, Aunt, accompany me outside," he requested telepathically. "I have missions I want to complete with you."
Lana raised a brow, interest flickering across her face. "Missions?"
Elizabeth leaned forward slightly. "Oh? The system gave you something entertaining?"
In response, Lycius projected the mission details directly into their minds. The moment they absorbed the information, their amusement deepened.
"Bonding, huh? How sweet," Elizabeth mused.
"And 'The Impossible' could be fun," Lana added.
Without further delay, the three of them exited the house. As soon as they stepped outside, the dense and ominous atmosphere of the massive forest greeted them. Towering trees with twisted black trunks stretched toward the sky, their branches curling like claws. The air pulsed with the presence of powerful creatures lurking in the shadows, their eyes glowing like distant embers. This forest was a place that could devour ordinary beings within moments, but to them, it was merely home.
Lycius, despite his lack of allocated stats, felt no fear. With his mother and aunt beside him, there was nothing in this forest that could pose a real threat.
"What exactly do you want to do first?" Lana asked, stepping forward with effortless grace.
Lycius considered his options. The 'Voice' mission was simple enough, but he felt no urgency to complete it. The 'Bonding' mission was bound to happen naturally. That left 'The Impossible.'
"I want to attempt an impossible feat," he declared.
Elizabeth chuckled. "Impossible for a one-week-old, or impossible in general?"
"Both."
A wicked smile spread across Lana's face. "Then let's find something absurdly difficult."
Without hesitation, she extended a hand, her nails elongating into sharp, onyx claws. The moment her fingers curled, the air trembled. A pulse of raw, demonic energy surged outward, and the entire forest responded. The shadows thickened, and the ground beneath them rumbled as monstrous roars erupted from all directions.
Lycius felt the disturbance ripple through him. His mother had just issued a challenge to the strongest creatures in the forest.
"You're calling out the apex predators?" he asked, a hint of curiosity lacing his mental voice.
Elizabeth smirked. "If you want an impossible feat, you'll need to face an impossible enemy."
No sooner had she spoken than the trees in front of them exploded into splinters, and a massive creature emerged from the darkness. A behemoth of a beast, resembling a fusion of dragon and nightmare, loomed over them. Its obsidian scales glistened with malevolence, and its crimson eyes burned with unholy rage.
The monster's presence alone would have driven lesser beings to insanity, but to Lycius, it was merely another stepping stone.
"Defeat it without using your extra stats," Lana instructed. "That would be truly impossible for a newborn."
Lycius narrowed his eyes. He had no intention of allocating his stats just yet, but overcoming this beast without them would indeed be a challenge.
"Fine," he replied. "I'll do it."
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself forward, ready to face his impossible challenge.
Lana and Elizabeth stood side by side, watching as Lycius engaged the monster. His small frame contrasted sharply with the towering beast, but neither of them doubted him.
"Should we intervene if he struggles?" Elizabeth asked, her tone casual.
Lana chuckled. "Only if he's on the verge of death. It's good for him to learn."
Elizabeth smirked. "Agreed. Let's see how our little dragon handles his first true battle."
With that, they observed in silence as Lycius prepared to defy the impossible.
_______________
-------------
°°°°°