I am very sorry for the late update, I had an issue at work.
Please enjoy.
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Chapter Three — The Viscount
Azeroth soon learned of his grandfather.
Alfred Clinton—the head of the clan, bearer of the viscount's title.
In just a few short days, Azeroth had heard his name whispered often enough to piece together a rough image of the man. The servants spoke of him in hushed tones, their voices carrying a mix of reverence and awe. Even the guards unconsciously straightened their backs whenever Alfred Clinton was mentioned.
The old man was in closed-door training.
Not the casual kind, but a critical stage—one that would elevate his personal strength and, with it, the standing of the entire Clinton family.
That was why he hadn't been present at Azeroth's birth.
Ironically, that absence only made Azeroth want to meet him more.
To someone who had lived a normal life on Earth, the situation felt almost cliché. A powerful noble grandfather, secluded in cultivation, whispered about like a legend.
The whole thing felt like the setup for a protagonist grandpa, Azeroth thought dryly.
And honestly? He was curious.
Over the past two months, Azeroth had also begun to understand the strange energy he sensed flowing around the people of this world.
They called it essence.
A power source that could be cultivated and controlled—used to breakthrough limits physical and spiritual alike, pushing beyond what should have been possible through the process of evolution.
Back on Earth, it would've sounded like complete nonsense.
Here, it simply was reality.
Unfortunately, knowing its name was about as far as his understanding went.
He could sometimes observe soldiers training from a distance, but it wasn't as if his mother or sisters would take him there regularly. His opportunities were limited, frustratingly so.
He wanted more.
He wanted to see real movements—explosive strikes, refined techniques, chaos and precision intertwined.
Would they leap around like wuxia experts?
Exchange blows at super human speeds?
Throw energy blasts like the characters in an anime?
He didn't know.
And being a baby, there was no way for him to find out.
Sigh… being a baby sure stinks.
If he could talk, he would have complained endlessly. There was so much he wanted to do, to learn, to understand—but he was trapped in a tiny, helpless body that could do nothing but eat, cry, and soil itself.
"Well… sucking boobs is a plus, I guess," he admitted silently.
Another month passed—three, since he arrived in this world.
Life was calm. Almost peaceful. Days blurred together into a routine of sleeping, eating, and being carried around. He had even begun to appreciate the simplicity of it.
Then, one morning, the atmosphere within the estate changed.
And it was by no means subtle.
after all—
His grandfather had come out of closed-door training.
And the first thing Alfred Clinton did…
Was come straight to him.
"Haha! Let me take a look at my grandson."
The room seemed to shrink as Alfred approached.
Azeroth felt it immediately—an overwhelming presence pressing down on his tiny body, like a mountain leaning forward.
This man… was dangerous.
Alfred stood over the crib, his sharp eyes studying Azeroth with an intensity that felt almost predatory.
"Oh?"
"Interesting…"
Normally, even grown soldiers found it difficult to remain composed in Alfred Clinton's presence. Children, especially, broke down instantly—crying under the invisible weight of his power.
Yet Azeroth remained quiet.
"It seems my grandson has a strong will," Alfred mused.
Azeroth meanwhile, fought the urge to panic.
Something about his grandfather's gaze made him feel exposed—like those old eyes could peel back layers of flesh and soul, uncovering truths he desperately wanted to keep hidden.
Calm down. Don't look suspicious.
A ridiculous thought, considering he was only three months old.
Then suddenly—
Alfred reached out.
Azeroth froze.
A large, calloused hand wrapped around his tiny right fist—warm, steady, impossibly strong.
Before he could react, a surge of energy burst from Alfred's palm and flowed into his body.
Azeroth's mind went blank.
Warmth spread through him like a gentle spring, washing over his nerves, muscles, and bones. His thoughts smoothed out, replaced by a blissful calm so intense it nearly made him melt.
It felt… good.
Dangerously so.
Seconds later, the sensation completed its circuit and faded.
Alfred's eyes lit up.
"Good. Very good."
He straightened, laughter bursting from his chest.
"Hahaha! The Clinton family will reclaim its glory at last! Leon, you useless brat—you finally did something right besides marrying Selena."
Leon and Selena, who had been standing nearby, stared in confusion.
"What is it, Father?" Leon asked. "Is Azeroth that talented?"
"Talented?" Alfred scoffed. "That's an understatement."
"Your son possesses a mutated physique—a positive mutation at that. Such cases appear only once in a million births."
Selena's eyes widened. "A-are you certain?"
"Do you think I make baseless claims?" Alfred snapped. "His blood vessels and nerves are three to four times wider and sturdier than normal. Even his core is already in a semi-opened state."
"What?!"
"Does that mean he can use essence already?"
"Oh no—what if he hurts himself?!"
Selena panicked immediately, scooping Azeroth up and inspecting him from head to toe.
"Calm down," Alfred said, waving a hand dismissively. "Semi-opened doesn't mean he can manipulate essence freely. He can't draw it out unless he forces it—and he lacks both the awareness and strength to do so."
Then his tone softened.
"In truth, this benefits him. When the time comes to unlock his core, he'll have a tremendous head start. His body will adapt to essence far faster than other children."
He smiled—proud, satisfied.
"In short, your son is a prodigy. A once-in-a-lifetime genius."
Leon and Selena exchanged looks of disbelief and pride.
Azeroth, meanwhile, was just relieved his secret was safe. For a single, terrifying moment, he really thought Alfred had seen through him.
Leon stared at his son. "So… doesn't that mean he would evolve faster?"
"Yes," Alfred replied without hesitation. "After basic physical conditioning." Then added, "He may even evolve without any."
"Oh, th—"
Selena had more questions—many more—but a sharp glare from Alfred eventually silenced her.
Soon after, his parents left the room, eager to let Azeroth "rest."
The moment they were gone, Azeroth opened his eyes.
"Phew… safe."
Just as the tension faded—
A shadow lingered at the doorway.
Alfred had turned back.
His gaze swept over the crib—quiet, intense—lingering just long enough to make Azeroth's tiny heart do a nervous backflip.
Then the viscount smiled faintly… and walked away.
Azeroth waited until the last echo of footsteps vanished.
Then he exhaled.
"F**k… my delicate baby heart almost exploded."
His first meeting with the strongest man in his new family had shaken him deeply.
And somehow—
Left him even more excited.
This world was only getting more interesting.