Lucian Atticus Darkbourn.

I juggled the unfamiliar name in my head.

Although some time had passed, I still couldn’t wrap my head around how any of this was possible. Despite the never-ending list of doubts and questions at the back of my mind, I was slowly beginning to settle into this new life. The life of a demon. To make matters worse, I’d been reborn as the son of my mortal enemy, Demon King Valtair.

From dying a miserable death to reincarnating as a baby, to being stuck under the same roof as my arch-enemy, it was a miracle my mind was still in one piece. Even though I loathed Valtair with every fiber of my being, Cassius’s betrayal had left me shattered and drowning in despair.

The memory of his betrayal cut me to the core. It was a wound that refused to heal. Regardless of how many years passed, I knew the pain and anguish would always be as raw and fresh as when it first happened. The memories were so vivid that I could almost hear the words he whispered as he stabbed me in the back.

Cassius and I had been best friends since childhood. We’d grown up together, shared everything, and supported each other no matter what... Just thinking about everything we had lived, made his betrayal hurt more...

Damn bastard...

Faced with this new life, I knew I had two choices. The first was to give up and wallow in self-pity. The second involved becoming strong. Strong enough to get my revenge.

The decision was easy to make. When it came down to it, I knew giving up wasn't an option. I had come too far and fought too hard to let my enemies win. I had to find a way to make them pay for their sins.

Wasting no time, I quickly began to incorporate the rigorous disciplines that had proven successful in my past life.

My journey started with a series of breathing exercises I had personally conceived. I was well aware that the first crucial step in mastering magic was to develop a magic core capable of retaining a vast amount of mana. I needed a core that would have the potential to not just compete against, but surpass those of my enemies. The only problem was, that since I was a baby, I’d have to wait at least another ten years before my body developed a core of its own.

Unfortunately, patience wasn’t one of my strong suits, so I decided to test a theory I had been working on in my previous life.

In my past life, after fighting hundreds of demons, I had come to an unfortunate realization. Humanity’s greatest disadvantage against demons was the size of our cores. They were too small... It was a daunting obstacle that put us completely on the back foot.

In an attempt to overcome this hurdle, I dedicated a good chunk of my past life to research. I had hoped to create a treatment that would allow for the re-structuring of a magic core.

After decades of researching endlessly, I’d come up with a theory to build a new core entirely. A core with not just more storage space, but with much more versatility.

As I embarked on this perilous path, the first order of business was to attune my body to the mana frequency of this world. If I couldn't condition my body to hold mana, crafting a core would remain a distant dream. Thankfully, my young body could handle small amounts of mana without going into a frenzy.

The process of creating a magic core wasn’t easy by any means. It was something I had never done before, and even the smallest mistake or miscalculation could lead to disastrous consequences. Regardless, fear of failure wasn’t going to stop me.

As days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, I felt like I was barely making any progress. My young body was very limited in its ability to handle raw mana, and because of this, I couldn’t afford to rush the process. Using my breathing technique to refine the flow of blood in my body, I slowly began to build a supply of mana.

It took just over a year of relentless training to adapt my body to the mana in this world. For many months I kept to my routine, not knowing if my methods were working. It felt like I was carving a pathway through a dense forest that had no end in sight. Fortunately, after some time, I began to feel tendrils of mana coursing around my chest, slowly but surely building what was soon to be my core.

It wasn’t until I turned two that I finally started making real headway. After two years of accumulating and condensing small traces of mana particles, the particles morphed into an orb of energy, which eventually became my core.

My newly built core glowed with such fierce intensity, that I could feel surges of mana radiating out of it whenever I stopped suppressing my magic. It was a remarkable achievement, one that filled me with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Despite my achievements, there was more work to be done. A lot more work. Building a magic core was hard, but wielding that energy was even harder.

Before I could wield mana, I needed to open channels throughout my body, so the mana could flow freely. The process was complex and required extreme focus. It was like carving canals through a mountain.

Just like before, my progress felt slow in the beginning, hindered by the limitations of my younger body. But I refused to give up. I reminded myself that every step, no matter how small, was a small victory.

Although I retained the memories of my past life, on the outside, I was still a young child. Harnessing the power of mana at such a young age was undoubtedly risky, and I couldn’t risk drawing unwanted attention to myself. Regardless of whether I was human or a demon, no one would react well to seeing a baby possessing magic. Any hint of magic could spell disaster for my plans. I had no choice but to hide my strength.

After much reflection, I concluded that the safest way to conceal my magical abilities was to restrict my training to the cover of darkness. Nighttime became my sanctuary, a time when I could hone my powers and experiment without the fear of being discovered.

It was critical, that I kept my growing pool of mana a secret, not just from “my father” but from everyone around me.

Night after night, I pushed myself to the limit, seeking to harness the full extent of my potential. I experimented and practiced with unwavering determination and discipline, fueled by the knowledge that I had been reborn for one sole purpose. VENGEANCE.

The third and fourth years of my new life were a constant struggle. I had always struggled with mana control in my past life, and it seemed like that weakness had followed me. The flow of mana in my body was like an unsolvable maze, with twists and turns that were impossible to navigate. Despite the heartache, I refused to give up. If I wasn't able to control the mana in my body, I would never have the strength to get my revenge.

Finally, a month after I turned five, I had a breakthrough. It was like a light bulb had gone off in my head, and suddenly, everything clicked into place. I had unlocked the secret to controlling the flow of mana.

I was now able to not only direct mana to any part of my body but also control the flow. It was a moment of pure elation, one that I would never forget. From that day forward, everything became easier. The once unsolvable puzzle was now clear and straightforward, and I felt like I had the power to accomplish anything.

Thinking back on where I started, to where I was, I realized without a doubt that the past five years had been rough. But they were also some of the most rewarding. Through hard work and dedication, I was able to overcome insurmountable obstacles and find myself one step closer to my goal.

As I lay on my bed lost in thought, a gentle knock on my door startled me back to the present. Hastily, I suppressed my mana.

“Come in,” I called out.

The door creaked open as Lady Clair, my maid, and caretaker, walked in. “Your Highness,” she said, bowing deeply. “I apologize for disturbing you. Have I awakened you?”

I smiled warmly at her. “Don’t worry, Clair. I’ve been awake for a while now.”

Lady Clair had been a constant presence in my life for as long as I could remember. Among all the maids in the castle, she was the one I felt the most connected to. It was strange, really. Though I couldn't describe it, there was something about her that made me feel comfortable. Whenever she was around, I felt safe and protected.

Perhaps it was the way she moved, with a grace and elegance that was captivating. Or maybe it was the warmth in her eyes, the way they seemed to light up whenever she looked at me.

Clair frowned as she walked to the other side of my room to fill up the bathtub. “Is there a particular reason for your early rise, Your Highness?”

Shrugging my shoulders, I slipped out of bed and headed towards the balcony. “I’m not sure. I just couldn’t seem to fall asleep last night.”

As I looked out the window, I couldn’t help but feel excited. The gardens below were a hive of activity, with an unusually high number of guards stationed at every corner.

I cast my gaze towards the front gate, watching as dozens of limousines and carriages drove into the palace. Each vehicle was adorned with a banner that bore a crest symbolizing its origin. Even from this distance, I recognized they belonged to some of the most influential and powerful noble families from all over the world. And they had all traveled here for one reason and one reason only... The Crown Duel.

In the demon world of Azurax, power was not bestowed through birthright or democracy. The strong ruled, and the weak followed. To earn a position of power, you had to fight for it. There was no manipulating your way to the top or relying on inheritance. Even Valtair, the King, had to abide by this rule.

I had read countless books detailing the tumultuous history of Azurax, a place once plagued by chaos and anarchy. That was until a Demon King by the name of Atlas set in stone a code of law for every position of power, including the throne. These laws brought order to the land and set in place what was today known as the Crown Duel.

Every five years, the demon with the most merit earned the right to challenge the Demon King for the throne. The winner would reign supreme, while the defeated would fall into obscurity. The Crown Duel was a highly anticipated event, and for the first time since my reincarnation, I would be witnessing it firsthand.

The indescribable excitement had kept me awake for most of the night. I knew I wouldn’t be able to calm down until it was over.

As I tore my gaze away from the window, I assessed my own strength. After five years of hard work, I estimated I had the same level of strength as a Silver Class Mage on Earth. If I were to compare myself to other demons, I was about as strong as a second or third-year at Nocturna Academy.

Nocturna Academy was a school built exclusively for children of noble blood, where they learned to fight, think, and lead. Allegedly...

Though I was pretty certain I was the strongest five-year-old in the world, I had a long way to go if I wanted to be stronger than Valtair. From the memories of my old life and this one, I calculated that he was at least ten times stronger than a Champion. Back on Earth, the Champion class was a bracket created for anyone who exceeded a mana reading of one hundred thousand. Funnily enough, the champion class was a class the government had created solely for Cassius’s sake. Before him, there had never been a human who had a magic level of over a hundred thousand...

Enough about Cassius! I thought to myself as I started to feel my body temperature rise.

“Is something bothering you, Highness?” Lady Clair asked as she finished filling the hot tub.

“I’m nervous,” I replied as I began to undress. “What if my father loses the Crown duel?”

“Don’t worry, Highness,” Clair said with a reassuring smile. “Your father is one of the strongest demons to have ever lived. I’m confident he will come out victorious.”

I nodded, but truthfully, I couldn’t care less if he won or lost. If the challenger managed to kill him, then all the better. He’d be doing me a favor. Unfortunately, I had to maintain the image of a well-behaved son, one who was deeply concerned for his father’s safety. I didn’t want to draw the attention of curious eyes, especially not today.

As Lady Clair stepped out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts, I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves. I knew the moment had finally arrived to put all my doubts and questions to rest. Today, I would finally be able to gauge Valtair’s strength. I was going to learn everything I could from this fight.

“Let’s see how strong you’ve become, Valtair,” I whispered as my lips curled into a smile.