1 Zeus Walton

"...it's not a dream."

A child opened his eyes and stared at the bright ceiling. 

It's been 4 years since he transmigrated to this unknown world but even then, he found it difficult to accept that reincarnation was real. 

Even though it's already been 4 years, the memories of his previous life were still vivid as if it happened yesterday. 

'Earth… mom, I hope you're okay.' 

The boy ruffled his gray hair that had the same color as his eyes and stood up. Rays of sunlight streamed to his face as he gazed through the window. 

However, despite the sun's brightness, he could see that another could be seen behind it albeit a little smaller. 

'I'm really in a fantasy world.'

Sorting out his thoughts, he stretched himself, got out of bed, and did his morning routine before going out of his room. 

As soon as he opened the door, his father's cheerful voice greeted him. 

"Oh, Zeus, you're awake!" 

A voice of a middle-aged man called him. It was coming from the kitchen. Zeus looked at his dad's figure. 

A man with a sturdy physique, short dark hair, and numerous scars throughout his face stared at him with a proud gaze. 

Immediately, he threw off his dazed expression and opened his mouth with a high-pitched voice.

"Good morning, old man!" 

"Hahaha, energetic as always. Come here boy, breakfast is ready." 

Zeus' father grinned widely and motioned him to come. 

Looking at his father, Zeus couldn't help but smile. 

Abel Walton.

An elite royal knight serving the king himself. In his prime, he's one of the strongest knights in this kingdom but due to an unfortunate event, he was forced to retire and became a knight instructor instead. 

Zeus didn't know the reason why that happened. His father would always frown whenever he mentioned it. 

He was thankful for him as he thought he would become part of the 'no parents transmigrators'. 

Zeus sat on the seat across from his dad and started eating. 

"Are you excited for tomorrow?" Abel asked, enthusiastic about the occasion tomorrow. 

Zeus smiled but quickly hid it and responded, "Not really."

"It's your birthday, why not?" 

"It's nothing special."

"How about I give you a gift?" Abel retorted. 

Zeus remembered his past birthday gifts and quickly rejected, "No."

"Why?" 

"Didn't you just give me a 20% discount coupon last time? I have no money, how am I supposed to use that?"

"Eh? When you earn money you use that. Anyways, it's different this time. I promise."

Zeus stopped eating and stared at his dad. He could vaguely guess what it was. Just thinking about it made him ecstatic. 

After eating, Zeus got out of the house with his father's permission. 

… 

From the center of the Rocco Kingdom, the Beastial Mountain Peak could be seen. This was also the place where Zeus and his father lived. It was deep in the mountain where no man could see. 

Zeus sat on a wooden swing and gazed at the Kingdom from afar. 

Although reluctant to say it, he really wanted to see the Kingdom but it seemed like his father had some resentment towards it. 

Zeus didn't want to pry but it should be related to his mother whom he never saw anymore aside from the time he was born. Aside from that, he couldn't think of any other reasons for it. 

Till now, the existence of his mother became a mystery to him. 

Was she a high ranking noble? 

Or just a sweet simple commoner?

However, one thing is for sure. 

She was beautiful. Although it's just a silhouette, he could still recall that loving smile when he was just born. 

"I really want to see what this world has to offer." Zeus smiled as he reached for one of the suns. 

In his previous life, he was nothing but ordinary. Although his dad's already gone, he was blessed with a loving mother which keeps him from moving forward. Living there was tough but he somewhat managed to survive despite their financial difficulties. 

And when he was about to step forward with his dreams of being a writer, an accident happened. 

'If not for that truck…' 

The only regret he had was not being able to give a stable life to his mom. 

He died at 23 and was also a virgin. 

Zeus shook his head, trying to get it out of his mind. 

He already died but he was given another chance to live. A life where endless possibilities are waiting for him. 

The past is the past. What he had to do now was to carve out his own future. 

This time, his will is firm like steel that cannot be penetrated. 

Zeus stood up, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. With a determined expression, he whispered. 

"I've decided, I'm going to become the strongest."

But before he could achieve that, he had to train. His father wasn't always in the house and most of his time, he was on his work teaching new recruits in the kingdom. 

Zeus was always left alone. He sometimes wondered if his father had a screw loose in his head, leaving his 4 year old son to fend for himself.

Wasn't he afraid of a beast suddenly attacking his son while he's gone? 

Although Zeus had many questions, he didn't ask. 

Thus, whenever his father wasn't around, he usually trained himself to the best of his ability. 

After all, this world is a fantasy world ruled by magic and endless unknowns. 

For someone like him who had no power at all, working hard was his only choice. He couldn't always rely on his father and expect him to save him from danger anytime. 

For Zeus, only with his own strength could he survive in this world. 

…

It was already late at night when he came back. Aside from training, Zeus would hunt small beasts he could take on like rabbits, slimes, and mutated worms. 

As he had no one to compete with, fighting beasts was the only thing he could do to enhance his battle capabilities. 

After all, he's not really a native warrior but rather a regular human from Earth.

Holding two rabbits in his hands, Zeus entered the house. 

From afar Abel and another man stood atop a large tree branch. The night blended perfectly with their bodies making them almost invisible to the naked eye. 

"Abel, what in the living hell are you up to?" The man beside Abel frowned as he stared at the little boy entering the house. 

A touch of guilt flashed across Abel's face before quickly changing back to his affirmative expression. 

"I have no choice, brother. Zeus must learn to survive on his own. My enemies would come endlessly as long as I live with him and I don't want them to find out that I have a child."

The man beside Abel snapped. 

"You!? Aren't you afraid of the consequences of your actions!? You're putting him in danger!!!" 

In a fit of rage, the man grabbed Abel's collar and glared at him eye to eye, "What's wrong with you!?" 

Abel looked at his brother, Cain, and smiled deprecatingly. "Even if it's you, brother, you won't be able to change my mind." 

"But… but he's just a child. You're the only one he has and now you're leaving him alone?" 

Cain and Abel were both victims of war and their parents died when they were 10. However, due to the merits of their parents and the talent they both possess, the kingdom valued them so much that living wasn't as hard as they thought. 

However, for Zeus, it was completely different. 

Cain tried to reason but seeing his brother's firm expression, he let go of his collar and heaved a deep sigh. 

"Does the king know you have an offspring?" Cain mumbled. 

"No, I already changed Zeus' surname to Walton to avoid him being linked to me. That's the only way I could protect him."

Abel looked at his son one last time before turning around to leave but before he could do so, a hand grabbed his shoulder. 

"I hope you don't regret this, Abel. One day, eventually, he would know the truth." Cain said. 

"I know so I will leave the rest to you, brother." 

"You're dreaming." 

"Please." 

Cain looked at Abel's begging eyes full of emotions. He looked back at Zeus who was preparing for his dinner before he nodded. 

"Fine but don't ever appear in my sight anymore or I'll kill you."

Abel smiled bitterly before vanishing into the night. 

… 

"Dad is not here yet?" Zeus frowned. 

It's not like it's the first time his father didn't go home but he would usually tell him at least. 

"Hmm… he said that he'll give me a surprise tomorrow. Maybe he went to buy something?"

Zeus prepared his dinner. This had become a daily routine and knowing his father would eat once he got home, he left some food for him. 

He went back to sleep with a giddy smile on his face completely unaware of what was about to come.