[Transmigration commencing in 3... 2... 1...]
[Transmigration successful.]
[The system has expended too much energy on host.]
[The system will be offline to replenish its energy.]
[The system will come online upon host awakening.]
[...]
---
A handsome, middle-aged man paced anxiously in front of a modest cottage nestled deep in a remote and secluded forest. Far removed from any semblance of civilization, the place was quiet, save for the gentle chirping of crickets in the grass.
Criii... criiii...
The creak of the cottage door broke the stillness. A young woman of ethereal beauty stepped out, her every movement exuding grace and quiet power. In her arms, she carried a newborn wrapped tightly in a soft towel. The man's eyes lit up as soon as he saw the child, a mixture of hope and cautious anticipation on his face.
As he moved forward to take the baby, the woman paused, pulling the child closer to her chest.
"Are you looking to go back on our agreement?" Her voice was soft, like honey warmed by the sun, but carried a subtle edge of warning.
The man didn't flinch. Without a word, he tossed her a small, transparent crystal. It shimmered faintly with an inner light as it soared through the air. She caught it with practiced ease and inspected it for a few seconds. Satisfied, she nodded, her expression calm.
"As per our agreement," she said, her tone now completely neutral, "I have fulfilled my end of the deal. This child, born of my body, is no more than a product of barter. I hold no emotional ties, no blood claims, and no maternal bond. A transaction, nothing more."
Without waiting for a reply, she raised her free hand. A sudden, immense pressure descended out of nowhere, warping the very air. From thin air, a colossal flying creature appeared a majestic, fearsome beast with radiant wings and glowing eyes.
As the man gently cradled the baby in his arms, a protective energy flared from his body, encasing the child in a soft aura. The woman leapt gracefully onto the creature's back. In one fluid motion, it ascended, the sound of its massive wings beating against the wind echoing across the forest. She didn't spare another glance at the man or the baby.
The man watched her figure shrink into the sky, his eyes contemplative. As the last trace of her disappeared beyond the treetops, he sighed and looked down at the tiny face nestled in the crook of his arm.
"You cost me a fortune, little one," he said with a faint smirk, brushing a finger across the child's cheek. "You'd better be worth it."
He stared for a long moment, his gaze softening. "From now on, your name is Tarkan. Tarkan Drazmir." A hint of pride crept into his voice. "You carry the blood of Drazmir, a name that commands power, respect, and legacy. You, little king, will grow up to be the finest of all Drazmirs."
Unbeknownst to him, the baby could hear every word. He couldn't yet move or speak, but he understood, every word. His mind was sharp, alert... alive.
And that baby? That baby was Ali, a feared mafia boss from Earth's underworld in a past life. When the transmigration process ended and consciousness returned, what greeted him was a blinding light and a strange prompt
[Transmigration successful...]
[Timer: 0]
[Eternal Monarch Physique (Sealed)]
Ali jolted inwardly. He couldn't see the woman who held him moments ago, but he'd heard everything. Every word, every note of detachment in her voice, a woman who traded her own child away. It echoed in his mind like a cruel joke.
Even in this bizarre, dreamlike situation... she gave me away, he thought bitterly.
He'd long since built walls around his heart, shutting out sentimental attachments. Yet, something about hearing those cold words... stung. Still, there wasn't much a newborn could do. The weight of fatigue pulled him under, and he slipped into sleep, cradled in the arms of a man who had just claimed him as his son.
---
15 years and several moons later...
A windswept cliff bathed in the fading amber light of dusk overlooked a powerful waterfall. At the edge, a tall man with streaks of silver in his hair stood motionless, watching the roaring cascade below.
His gaze was fixed on a young teen beneath the waterfall, half-naked, wielding a sword. The boy swung it with precise, practiced movements, his muscles flexing with every strike. His body bore the marks of rigorous training, bruises, scars, and sinewy strength carved from discipline and pain. With a face almost ethereal in beauty and a body that seemed sculpted by the gods, he was a vision of both elegance and deadly power.
The man on the cliff narrowed his eyes. "Come up here,"
The boy paused mid-swing, annoyed. He tilted his head, water streaming down his body as he looked up. His expression was one of irritation, his tone flat.
"What is it now, old man?" he called back. "You better have a good reason for interrupting my training."
The older man's lips twitched, half amusement, half disbelief. "Good. Good. Good," he muttered, almost to himself.
Without further warning, he picked a simple leaf from the ground and flicked it toward the boy. It cut through the air like a razor. Reacting on instinct, the teen raised his sword and blocked it, but the impact was so powerful it sent him flying backward like a rag doll, slamming into a rocky wall with a sickening thud.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. "Damn it, old man !" he cursed, coughing. "Can't you take a joke?!"
The man, Aries Drazmir, shook his head, bemused. This boy... no, this son of his,
had never feared him. Not once. It was strange. Refreshing, in a way, but also deeply frustrating for someone like Aries, who had long been revered and feared by everyone around him.
He stepped closer, the wind picking up around his cloak. "This marks the end of your training, Tarkan. I've taught you all I can. The rest... is for you to learn through living."
The teen wiped the blood from his lips, watching his father warily.
"Tomorrow is when you turn 16 which means you have officially become an adult and also the day of your awakening," Aries continued. "From then on, you'll forge your own path. But remember, you're banned from using the Drazmir name. You'll step into the world like any ordinary person. Only when you reach the Second Dimension will you earn the right to claim the Drazmir family name."
Aries' voice hardened slightly. "Don't you dare bring shame to the Drazmir lineage. Especially not my name."
"Yeah, yeah..." Tarkan waved a dismissive hand. "Save the drama for someone who cares."
Aries chuckled softly, almost fondly. "You've always had that mouth on you," he murmured.
With nothing more to say, he took a step back. His body began to shimmer, slowly disintegrating into glowing particles that drifted into the wind. Just like that, he vanished,leaving Tarkan alone on the cliffside, staring into the setting sun.