Two months passed quietly after the birth of Kosoku Nozomi.
Life inside the Nozomi household slowly settled into a comfortable rhythm. Their house stood in a quiet neighborhood in Manila, far enough from the city's busiest districts to avoid constant noise, yet still close to the central headquarters of the Philippine Warrior Association.
The world outside remained dangerous.
Portals continued appearing across different regions of the country, and warriors were constantly deployed to eliminate the monsters emerging from them.
But inside the Nozomi home, life felt peaceful.
At least for now.
Sunlight streamed through the large living room window that afternoon, casting warm light across the wooden floor. A small blanket lay spread on the carpet where Kosoku rested.
Most babies at two months old spent most of their time crying, sleeping, or staring blankly at the ceiling. Kosoku did none of those things.
Instead, his ocean-blue eyes moved slowly around the room, carefully observing everything.
The ceiling fan, the curtains moving in the breeze and the shadows cast by sunlight. His gaze followed every small detail with surprising focus.
Nearby, Alisa sat on the sofa reading a book, though her attention often drifted back to the baby on the floor.
For weeks now she had been watching him carefully and every day she became more convinced of one thing. Kosoku was not a normal child.
"Kosoku," she called softly. The baby immediately turned his head toward her voice. Alisa lowered her book slightly.
"You see that, Honey?" she said with a small smile. Standing near the wall, Gabriel Cruz nodded calmly. "He responds quickly."
Alisa placed the book aside and leaned forward slightly. Kosoku's silver hair glimmered faintly under the sunlight as he continued looking at her. Then something unexpected happened, the baby pushed his arms against the blanket. His upper body lifted slightly.
Alisa's eyes widened. "Did you see that?"
Gabriel stepped closer. "Yeah, I noticed."
Kosoku managed to hold the position for two seconds before his arms relaxed again.
Alisa covered her mouth. "Two months old, Honey."
Gabriel remained calm. "That's earlier than average development."
Kosoku blinked slowly. Then his gaze moved toward a small toy placed beside him, a colorful cube. He stared at it for several seconds then his hand moved slowly like a baby and carefully like an adult. His fingers wrapped around the cube.
Alisa laughed softly in amazement. "He grabbed it!" Gabriel crossed his arms. "Most babies start doing that around three months."
Kosoku held the cube for a moment as if examining it then he released it. The toy rolled slightly across the blanket. He followed its movement with clear interest.
Alisa shook her head in disbelief. "He's learning very quickly." Gabriel said nothing.
But the same thought returned to his mind again. It was different, Kosoku was clearly different.
Meanwhile, deep inside the baby's mind, faint fragments of memory drifted like distant echoes. A massive palace hall. Rows of armored warriors. Kings seated on towering thrones.
"You admit it?"
The voice echoed through darkness.
"Yes, I stole it."
Chains tightening around his wrists. A crystal heart floating above an ancient platform then everything shattered into darkness. Kosoku blinked again, the fragments had vanished. The living room returned, a warm sunlight and his mother watching him. For now, the memories remained incomplete.
Later that evening, the quiet sound of the front door opening echoed through the house. Gabriel had returned from a mission. He stepped inside calmly, removing his coat as he entered the living room.
"I'm home."
Alisa looked up from the kitchen. "You're back." "Portal again?" Gabriel nodded.
"B-Rank portal near Pasig."
Alisa leaned against the doorway. "Association deployment?"
"Yes, Honey."
The Philippine Warrior Association handled most portal incidents across the country. Once a portal appeared, nearby warrior teams were immediately dispatched depending on the portal's rank.
Gabriel, as an SS-Rank warrior, was often assigned to high-level missions.
Even B-Rank portals could become dangerous if left unchecked.
"Was the team okay?" Alisa asked.
"Yeah, they handled it well."
Gabriel placed his gloves on the table and walked toward the living room. Kosoku sat quietly in a small baby chair now, calmly observing the room. His ocean-blue eyes lifted the moment Gabriel approached. For a second, father and son simply looked at each other then Kosoku lifted his tiny hand, a faint spark appeared, a lightning element. The flash lasted less than a second.
But Gabriel saw it clearly, his eyes narrowed. Kosoku blinked again as if nothing had happened. Gabriel glanced toward the kitchen.
"Honey," Gabriel caleed his wife. "Yes?" Alisa asked immediately. "Did you see that?"
She walked into the living room. "See what?"
Gabriel pointed toward Kosoku's hand. "Lightning element."
Alisa frowned slightly. Kosoku lifted his fingers again but nothing happened. Alisa sighed. "You're imagining things."
Gabriel didn't respond immediately. Then Alisa placed her hand gently against Kosoku's chest. Her healer senses activated instinctively. Mana flowed softly beneath her palm.
Her eyes widened. "It's stronger." Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "The mana?"
"Yeah." She looked at him seriously. "It's growing faster and stronger, Honey."
Kosoku suddenly moved his hand again. This time, a faint breeze flowed across the room. The curtains near the window shifted slightly.
Gabriel looked at the window. It was closed. He slowly turned back to the baby. Kosoku stared upward as if playing with something invisible, the breeze moved again. Gentle, unstable and uncontrolled but it's real.
Alisa whispered quietly. "Wind..." Gabriel exhaled slowly. "Lightning and wind."
Kosoku yawned. The breeze disappeared instantly within seconds, the baby's eyes closed. He had fallen asleep and silence filled the room.
Alisa slowly stood. "Gabriel, if the Association finds out..." He shook his head.
"They won't, Honey."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah, don't worry." Gabriel hugged his wife.
The Warrior Association monitored unusual mana activity carefully, especially in young children. A baby awakening elemental power this early would attract enormous attention. Gabriel looked down at his sleeping son.
"We keep this quiet." Alisa nodded. "For now."
Gabriel gently lifted the baby into his arms. Kosoku slept peacefully but deep within his mind, the fragments of another life stirred again.
A throne, a shattered crystal heart and a name echoing through darkness.
Erebus. The baby shifted slightly then the memories faded again.
For now.
Because the power sleeping inside of Kosoku was still growing and when the Warrior Association eventually discovered it...
The entire world would begin paying attention.