Taking His First Step

'System, do you have an equipment screen? It would be nice to keep track of my various items in the future.' Alfred asked while looking at himself in the mirror.

...

[...]

...

Not even bothering to answer the lazy fellow, the system directly displayed all his items in one go.

---

[Equipped]

[Main Weapon: Darkwyrm Stinger 1 (Blue)]

[Secondary: Darkwyrm Stinger 2 (Blue)]

[Armor: Son of Kui Battle Armour (Black+)]

[Head: NIL]

[Shoulders: NIL]

[Left arm: NIL]

[Right arm: NIL]

[Gloves: Lord Kui's Digits (Left: Silver, Right: Silver)]

[Legs: Son of Kui Leggings (Black+)]

[Boots: Stampede of Kui (Black++)]

[Accessories]

[Neck: NIL] [Ear: NIL]

[Belt: Grounded Tactical Belt (Black)]

[Rings]

[Left: NIL] [Right: NIL] [Functional: NIL]

[Auxiliary]

[Swimming Dragon, Diving Crane Rope (Black)]

---

Alfred felt quite accomplished as he looked at his stats and equipment. He had a feeling that sleep wouldn't come easy this night.

***

Elsewhere, to the direct west of the Oolong Continent, where the Republic of Oolong is situated, lies the Central Continent.

The distance between the two continents was approximately 109,000 kilometers. Such a vast distance can deter many things. For example, the delivery man with your long-awaited iPhone 13 pro. Or maybe the booty call won't go through? Who knows.

But one thing such a distance will never deter is the ambitions of man.

...

Sitting in his gigantic throne room, was a tall 195 cm muscular man with very aggressive features. He sat on his solid gold throne decorated with multiple cat's eye sized diamonds embedded from the armrest to the haunches. He leaned to the left languidly, with his left hand on his cheek.

Even with such a languid posture, his aggressive features still stood out like a sore thumb. His long flowing orange hair was left to its own devices, flowing about without the presence of wind. While his eyes resembled that of a bird of prey.

Those eyes.

They were upturned at the corners, with fierce golden pupils. Whenever he looked at anyone, they could feel their souls shaking. Such dreadful and ambitious eyes. Above his eyes lay a pair of orange eyebrows resembling roving eastern dragons. On the lower half of his face, was a nose resembling a hawk perched above his paper-thin lips, as if ready to complete the hunt.

Such a fierce countenance coupled with a tall and ridiculously muscular physique could send children crying to sleep. His cream-coloured skin could be seen having various pock-marks, a testament to his advance in age. To top it off, he was garbed in armour made from the skin and fangs of various beasts. Looking quite fierce, but very majestic. Such a beast of a man, offend him, many dare not.

...

After looking to the northwest for a few minutes, he heard footsteps hurrying from outside.

As the newcomer entered the throne room, he hurriedly got down on one knee in fear of dying before being able to deliver his news.

The beast of a man known as Emperor Tronald Jean Poutine turned his gaze towards the unfortunate soldier nominated to deliver such terrible news.

Although the emperor looked quite calm and at ease, Lionel felt his soul quake when the man in question looked at him. His heart was racing away, almost as if chasing the moon that he had never seen. He tried calming himself. But that was impossible. He could only grit his teeth, man up, and relay it all in one go.

"Your Majesty, the Draco Emperor has replied to your request of alliance to devour the western continents." Lionel released it without being asked. He didn't dare breath too loudly, lest his little life be snatched away.

Tronald looked at Lionel with displeasure in his eyes. But didn't act upon his impulse.

"Oh? What was his reply?" He asked disinterestedly.

'I am finished!' Lionel shivered.

"Y-Y-Your M-Majesty, he-he said that he doesn't need to ally with a m-mere human to control the west..." poor little Lionel was on the verge of tears.

"Understood."

Tronald silently stood up.

"Why did you think you have the right to speak before you are spoken to?" He took a few steps forward.

Lionel's mind went blank.

Did he want to take the initiative? Of course not! It's just that the pressure radiating from the emperor was too much for a small stage 4 King Realm to bear. Who would willingly offend this tyrant?

"Your Majesty, p-p-please forgive me! Your m-magnificence was just too much for a s-small person l-like me to bear." He cried while trying to save himself. He wanted to flee, but the pressure locked him in place. He felt like a small deer caught in the headlights.

Tronald's orange hair started billowing even faster.

"So your saying I'm a tyrant. Good good."

Without waiting for a reply, he lightly waved his palm.

"NO! Plea-"

Lionel's cry was cut short, just like his life. He gradually dispersed with the wind. Crumbling from the head down.

Tronald was indeed displeased with Lionel's lack of propriety. However, what really pissed him off was the lame Drake to the Northwest. Although he had the blood of dragons, he thought he was above everything and everyone.

"Damn wild beast!"

"Do you think that you alone can swallow Vault, Aria, and Gonodor to the west? Hmph! When I'm done with Jamaica to the north and Oolong to the east, I'll sort you out. As a peak Star Realm, who dares defy me in this world!?"

Tronald was furious! Who in this world can stop his ambition for domination and grandeur?

"I will make Murrica great again!"

"No one can stop me!"

***

That night, Alfred had the best sleep of his entire two lives.

The growth in his strength gave him a sublimation of his mind, body, and soul, causing him to feel pleasurable and at ease.

...

The next morning after breakfast.

John grabbed Alfred and hauled him out to the training grounds within the compound of the barracks across Lake Myr on the opposite side of the Mansion.

Alfred was quite embarrassed because he knew it was for him to start his training.

"Dad, why can't we just use a training room?" Alfred grumbled.

"Do you think that you can choose where to fight whenever and wherever you please? If you don't get rid of that useless mindset, it will burn you in the future." John was displeased.

"Let's begin. You'll run 800m, do 50 pushups and frog-jump up those stairs 30 times. When you're done, you can go do whatever you want. But you must do these exercises every day to build up a solid foundation." John looked at Alfred seriously.

Alfred didn't complain, because he was busy checking his new daily mission.

---

[Ding!]

[New Mission generated]

[Mission Name: Get Physical]

[Mission Type: Daily]

[Description: You are too weak. Because you have abandoned yourself to indulge in the pleasures of life, you are out of shape and being doubted by the world]

[Objective 1: Run 0/1000m. Note: Walking is not calculated]

[Objective 2: Do 0/100 push-ups. Note: Knee push-ups are not calculated]

[Objective 3: Climb 0/70 stairs]

[Rewards: 50 Exp, 10 silver]

[Remark: Have fun. Don't be a bum]

---

The mission was the same, the rewards were also the same, but almost all the tasks had doubled. However, Alfred wasn't upset or displeased.

Reason?

Because after this mission, he could finally take his first real step on his path toward martial might.