It was dawn, and most people were just waking up from their slumber, while others remained lost in dreams—conquering lands, winning beauties, or escaping their mundane realities. But in the estate of the Phoenix Flame Clan, reality was far from peaceful. The clan mistress was in labor, and the firstborn son, the heir to the Phoenix Clan, was about to be born.
In the deepest part of the estate, an imposing man stood unmoving, his fiery hair cascading down his back like molten lava, meticulously kept. His face, sculpted with divine precision, exuded an unshakable aura of authority, yet at this moment, a rare flicker of anxiety surfaced in his crimson eyes. This was Aiden Phoenix, Head of the mighty Phoenix Clan. Beside him, an older man with similar fiery features watched the same door with a knowing smirk. Nestled beside him was a woman with azure hair and deep blue eyes, the very embodiment of serene beauty. Unlike her son, Zelda Phoenix bore no anxiety—only amusement. After all, she had been in his place once.
Within the labor room, the scene was starkly different. The air was thick with tension, sweat, and the sharp cries of a woman on the verge of bringing forth life. On the grandest bed, one so luxurious it would inspire envy even in royals, lay Lila Phoenix, her golden knee-length hair damp with exertion. Her face, breathtaking even now, twisted not just with pain but with frustration. Not from childbirth, no—that was secondary. Her true irritation stemmed from the midwife herself.
"Push, dear, push. You can do it," the midwife encouraged, barely hiding her amusement.
"Push, dearest. If I could push you out all those years ago, the least you can do is push my grandson out for me. You can do that, can't you, dearest Lila?"
Lila groaned, glaring at the woman hovering over her. "Mother, I swear on the heavens, if you do not shut up, I will personally ensure you never midwife another birth again!"
Ah yes, the midwife was none other than Amara, Lila's mother—who, despite her seniority, looked more like Lila's twin than her mother. Her teasing smirk only widened at her daughter's threats.
Meanwhile, outside, Aiden paced like a caged beast. Every few steps, he stopped, turned, and resumed pacing. His father, Blaze, shook his head in exasperation. "So, the so-called 'Living Comet,' the terror of battlefields, crumbles just because his wife is in labor? Where is your grit? Where is your mental fortitude?"
Aiden shot him a glare. "Shut up, old man. You act as if you were any better! I distinctly recall you almost turning into a blubbering mess when Mum was giving birth to Zander."
Zelda chuckled. "He's not wrong, Blaze."
"Zelda, don't encourage the boy. And you, Aiden, since when did you learn to talk back to your father? It seems it's been a long time since this old man exercised his arms and sticks on you. Do you think you can suddenly ascend the heavens? On account of the fact that my adorable grandson is being born, I will postpone the ass-whooping to two days later. By the time I'm done with you, even ghosts won't want to come near you," Blaze threatened.
Aiden looked at Zelda, his mother, his eyes turning pitiful, imploring her to do something about this crazy old man. Zelda, unable to ignore the plight of her son, turned to Blaze and slapped him on the back of his head. "You think you can do anything you want just because I've mellowed out? How dare you threaten my son in front of me."
.Blaze grumbled something under his breath, but before he could retort, an explosion of golden light burst forth from the labor room. The air stilled. The mana of the world itself trembled, vortexes forming as it gathered toward a single point. In the sky, an ethereal figure wreathed in flames appeared, holding a sword that blazed like a dying sun. Before him, countless figures—humanoid and beast alike—knelt in reverence.
Aiden and Blaze's eyes widened as realization struck them. The epicenter of the phenomenon… was inside the room.
Inside, a newborn baby wrapped in crimson silk lay in Lila's weak arms. A golden sigil burned brightly upon his forehead, his entire tiny body wreathed in a multi-colored flame. Though the fire should have scorched everything in its path, it did not harm him. He was like a god-child out of the most ancient of fables.
Amara stood frozen in place, her awe momentarily rendering her speechless. She had midwifed countless births, but never had she seen a newborn with such an overwhelming presence.
Outside, Aiden and Blaze exchanged glances before scanning the entire region with their perception. The sheer magnitude of the phenomenon was staggering. Aiden couldn't hold it in—he threw his head back and laughed, a booming, triumphant sound that shook the walls.
"My son is a once-in-a-lifetime genius! A genius without compare! Hahahaha!"
He ranted and raved in his joy, that was until his mother promptly smacked him on the head.
"Idiot, stop gloating and act! The mana is saturating too fast. If it condenses into him before his body forms a proper core, he will die!" Zelda snapped.
Aiden paled. Without another word, he wove intricate symbols into the air, summoning a grand phoenix of pure flame. It screeched across the sky before diving downward, transforming into a protective ward around the estate, sealing off the chaotic flow of mana.
Only once the barrier settled did Aiden rush inside, where his wife, exhausted but triumphant, offered him their son.
As soon as Aiden took the boy in his arms, a powerful connection surged through him—one unlike anything he had ever felt. His breath hitched. His hands trembled. In his arms was not just an heir but a being of limitless potential. His heart pounded as he whispered, "My boy… my son."
Blaze stepped forward, patting his son on the back. "You understand now, don't you? The weight of being a father."
Aiden nodded, eyes misting over. He looked at Lila, who, though weak, smiled radiantly at him. He knelt beside her, pressing his forehead to hers. "Lila, thank you. Thank you for this precious gift. For our son."
Lila's tired yet joyful eyes locked onto his. "I think… we should name him Ryker."
Aiden smiled, murmuring the name like a sacred prayer. "Ryker Phoenix."
Outside, the world whispered his name, the heir to one of humanity's greatest legacies.