Chapter 6: Penality

To the far north, where the D clan resides, in the middle of the continent, there stands a massive mansion spanning over 1 kilometer (0.62 miles). Behind this enormous mansion is a garden, where a child, though only 2 years old, appears closer to 6. He is fiercely swinging a sword as part of his training, with each swing generating powerful gusts of wind.

You might wonder how a 2-year-old could create gusts of wind with a sword. Well, that's because we're talking about the main character and the villain of the story. He needs to have at least a mastery over swordsmanship; otherwise, it would be a waste. I don't like weak characters.

As you already know from the author, I am Levi D. Tempest, and I am now two years old. In just two years, I've become incredibly powerful, advancing from Viroth to Zarith-Middle—a feat practically unheard of. I believed that by staying hidden, I could keep growing stronger and fully embrace my role as a villain. That was the plan—until two months ago. Something happened that made me rechange every plan again.

[FLASH BACK - 2 MONTHS AGO]

It was a fresh morning with the sun rising in the east as I woke up from bed. My mother washed my face and told me that my grandparents were coming home from the front lines. The front lines refer to the battle against the Hollows—there have been a lot of them emerging lately across the central continent, and rifts have been appearing in all four continents. This has put immense pressure on the Nexus, and they've been using all their efforts to close each rift before it disappears.

It all started happening ten days before I was born and continued until one month ago. Today, my grandparents are coming home, and I'm excited to see them. Just as I was lost in thought, I heard a sound from the system.

[Ding..]

[Host, you have a message from the author.]

[Do you want me to open it?]

A message, huh? Open it.

[My Dear Character,

I am your favorite author, Celestial_Creator, and I'm here to inform you of a penalty for your mistake. You may wonder what mistake I made; well, you didn't narrate the history of the world you are in correctly for the readers, and I received some complaints from one of them. So, I am removing the mask on the mana core. But don't worry—this only affects the mask, not the rank. Hehehe, I'm sure you'll enjoy the gift.

Your loving author,

Celestial_Creator_.]

What the hell! This messed up all my plans, and he didn't even tell me my dialogues were being narrated in the story. Just as I was getting angry and trying to think of a solution, I heard the door open. My mother walked in with a shocked expression, followed closely by my father.

"Did you awaken your mana core, Levi?" my father asked.

"I don't know; I just feel something weird in my body."

"Hahaha! I'm sure it's your mana core. I knew my son was a genius, especially since you've grown so strong and tall at just a year and a half!"

"Is that true, Levi?" my mother asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Can you feel it? What does it feel like?"

"I'm not sure, Mom. It's like a warm energy swirling inside me," I replied, trying to describe the sensation.

"Warm energy? That sounds like a good sign!" she exclaimed, smiling proudly. "You must be developing your mana core faster than we expected, as normal children usually awaken their mana cores at ages 6 or 7."

"Just wait until you see him in action!" my father added, his voice full of excitement. "Levi is going to surpass us all one day."

"Don't get ahead of yourself," my mother laughed. "Let him enjoy being a child first. There's plenty of time for training later."

"I want to train now!" I declared, feeling determined. "I want to be strong like you both!"

"Then we'll make sure you get the best training possible," my father promised, ruffling my hair affectionately. "But remember, strength comes with patience and practice."

"Yes, and don't forget to have fun along the way," my mother reminded me, her expression softening. "It's important to enjoy your childhood too."

Then suddenly, a person barged in and hugged me tightly. It was my grandfather! His black hair glistened in the sunlight, and his deep blue eyes sparkled with joy as he held me close. "Levi! So you are my grandson! I'm sorry I didn't come to see you sooner; I was busy at the front lines," he exclaimed, lifting me off the ground with ease.

"It's okay, Grandpa! I understand," I said, beaming up at him. "I'm just happy you're here now!"

He set me down and ruffled my hair affectionately. "I wouldn't miss this for the world. I've heard so much about you from your parents. They say you're already showing signs of being a great warrior."

"Really? You think so?" I asked, my heart swelling with pride.

"Absolutely! With the right training, you'll become even stronger," he replied, his voice filled with encouragement. "Now, tell me everything! What have you been up to?

"My father said that I awakened my mana core and that I can become a mage. Is that true?" I asked, looking up at my grandfather with wide eyes.

His expression shifted, a mixture of shock and delight crossing his face. "Wait, you've awakened your mana core already?" he exclaimed, his blue eyes widening in disbelief. 

"Yes, it's true! He awakened his mana core just before you arrived," my father said, pride evident in his voice.

"Incredible! My grandson is going to surpass me!" my grandfather exclaimed, his shock transforming into pure excitement.

This is what happened at that moment, and after that, I eagerly asked my grandfather to teach me both swordsmanship and magic. He agreed with a proud smile, excited to pass down his knowledge.

As I sat down to prepare for my training, I decided to open my status to see how much I had progressed:

[Status]

Name: Levi D. Tempest

Age: 2 years

Title: [None]

Physique: Chaos Destroyer (Active)

Mana Core: Zarith-Middle

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[Stats]

Strength: 39

Agility: 35

Stamina: 47

Endurance: 33

Intelligence: 30

Luck: 25

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Skills:

Identifying Eye : (Level Max)

Shapeshift : (Level Max)

Swordsmanship: (Level 3)

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Affinities:

Space: 10%

Lightning: 15 %

Ice: 15%

Fire: 15%

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Sorry, I didn't mention that affinities awaken when you reach the Zarith stage. I have four affinities but only show three—Fire, Ice, and Lightning—while keeping Space hidden, as I need a separate affinity for my villain character.

I was happy with the progress I had made.