New Name

As Ryan gazed up at his mother, Lana, his eyes locked onto hers, and a warm smile spread across his face. He felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and security in her presence, as if she was his entire world. The holographic blue screens that had been hovering in the air, displaying cryptic messages and data, were momentarily forgotten in the joy of their reunion.

But Lana's attention was drawn back to the screens, and her eyes widened in excitement as she took in the information displayed on them. "Wow! Is that a system?" she exclaimed, her voice a primal expression of her happiness. She gently swept Ryan up into her arms, lifting him high into the air as she asked, "Did my baby already awaken his system?" Her words were punctuated by a playful toss of Ryan into the air, catching him with a soft laugh as he giggled with glee.

*Giggles*

The room was filled with the joyful sound of Ryan's laughter, his bright smile illuminating the space as he and Lana played together. Despite the dark aura that surrounded them, an aura that seemed to scream danger to anyone who might encounter it, the love and joy that radiated from the pair was palpable. Lana's aura, in particular, was a formidable force, one that could inspire terror in those who crossed her path. But Ryan, still just a newborn, was immune to its effects, and Lana's best friend was one of the few people who could withstand its power.

As they finally calmed down from their playtime, Lana's expression turned thoughtful, and she gazed at Ryan with a look of realization. She had forgotten something important, something that made her feel a pang of guilt. "I haven't named my son," she thought to herself, her eyes scanning Ryan's face as if searching for inspiration. And then, it came to her - the word Lycius, meaning the Abyss Wolf. "Lycius, my little prince," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion as she gazed at her beloved son.

A blue screen flickered to life, startling Lycius and drawing his attention to the words emblazoned on it. Lana's eyes sparkled with excitement as she read through the message, her voice filled with anticipation. "Oh, your first mission! I wonder what amazing rewards you'll get." She exclaimed, her words dripping with enthusiasm.

As they read on, the mission briefing became clear.

[Mission Title - The Prince's Name] [Mission Briefing - The title is self-explanatory. Acquire a new name from your beloved Mother.]

The reward for completing the mission was a Basic Passive Skill, but due to the first mission clear effects, the reward had been upgraded to Legendary-Grade. Lana's eyes widened as she took in the optional rewards that were bestowed upon her son.

[Choose:]

[Two-handed Swordsmanship - Legendary Rank]

[One-handed Swordsmanship - Legendary Rank]

[Spearmanship - Legendary Rank]

[Scythemanship - Legendary Rank]

[Archery - Legendary Rank]

Lycius was unsure of what each option meant, his face scrunched up in confusion. Lana noticed his uncertainty and with a snap of her fingers, the medieval dark-themed room vanished, replaced by a training room. The new room was filled with an array of weapons and training dummies, each one carefully arranged to showcase its unique characteristics. Lycius's eyes grew wide as he took in the sudden change, his tiny mind struggling to process the sheer amount of information presented to him.

Lana's voice cut through the silence, her words calm and soothing. "Now then, my baby, watch the displays of each weapon, and then you just need to touch the one you want." Her explanation was met with a look of intense focus from Lycius, his eyes darting from one weapon to the next as he tried to make sense of it all. It was a sight that would have been comical if not for the fact that Lycius was a newborn with the intellectual capacity of a 7-year-old child. Despite his tender age, Lycius was different, and Lana's words were not lost on him.

*SNAPP*

With another snap of her fingers, Lana brought the training room to life. The lifeless dummies, once mere props, now sprang into action, each one grasping a different weapon. The air was electric with anticipation as the dummies faced off against each other, their weapons at the ready.

The first dummy, wielding a two-handed greatsword, charged forward with a mighty roar. Its massive blade sliced through the air, leaving a trail of whirling wind in its wake. The greatsword's unique movement, "Crescent Moon Slash," was a majestic arc of steel that seemed to cleave the very air itself. The dummy's opponent, armed with a slender one-handed sword, darted and weaved with incredible agility, its blade flashing in the light as it executed a flurry of swift, precise strikes. The one-handed sword's exclusive movement, "Raindrop Slash," was a dizzying array of tiny, staccato cuts that seemed to rain down upon its opponent like a deadly storm.

Meanwhile, a third dummy, hefting a sturdy spear, lunged forward with a powerful thrust, its shaft vibrating with the force of the blow. The spear's unique movement, "Dragon's Tooth," was a series of swift, jabbing strikes that seemed to pin its opponent in place, leaving it vulnerable to a devastating finishing blow. A fourth dummy, wielding a scythe, swung its curved blade in great, sweeping arcs, its movement almost hypnotic in its rhythm. The scythe's exclusive movement, "Soul Harvest," was a ghastly, scything motion that seemed to cut down everything in its path, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Lastly, a fifth dummy, armed with a bow and quiver full of arrows, stood calmly to the side, its eyes fixed intently on its opponents. With a swift, fluid motion, it drew back its string and loosed an arrow, which shot forth with a deadly whisper, striking its target with unerring accuracy. The bow's unique movement, "Wind's Whisper," was a subtle, almost imperceptible motion that seemed to blend seamlessly with the wind itself, making it all but impossible to anticipate or defend against.

As the dummies clashed, their movements became a blur of steel and shadow, each one showcasing the unique characteristics and exclusive movements of its chosen weapon. The air was filled with the ring of steel, the creak of leather, and the sound of grunting effort, creating a symphony of combat that was both beautiful and deadly. Lycius watched, entranced, his eyes wide with wonder as he took in the dazzling display of martial prowess.

As Lana gazed at her son, she was struck by the spark of fascination in his eyes. But what truly caught her breath was the breathtaking handsomeness that radiated from Lycius's tiny form. In that moment, Lana felt an overwhelming sense of pride and wonder, for she had never laid eyes on a being as beautifully handsome as her own child. The intensity of her emotions was almost palpable, and she couldn't help but feel grateful to be the mother of such an extraordinary being.

As Lycius continued to watch the dummies with rapt attention, his eyes remained fixed on the one wielding the scythe. The system, sensing his admiration, responded by bestowing upon him the scythemanship skill, rendering the other rewards moot. Lana, attuned to the subtle energies at play, felt the effects of the bestowed skill and smiled knowingly. "It seems my son has already chosen his preferred weapon," she murmured, her voice tinged with a mix of amusement and awe.

As Lycius's gaze followed the movements of the scythe-wielding dummy, Lana noticed that he was now able to discern the flaws in its technique, a testament to the innate talent that lay within him. It was as if her newborn son possessed the battle-hardened experience of a high-level Grim Reaper, a notion that both thrilled and unnerved her. Lana could have ended the projection at any moment, but she chose to let it continue, enthralled by the joy that radiated from Lycius as he watched the dummies clash.

As the hours passed, Lana sensed the first stirrings of fatigue in her son, and she knew that it was time to bring the projection to a close. With a gentle smile, she caressed Lycius's soft hair, and he slowly drifted off to sleep, lulled by the soothing sound of clashing steel. As the training room dissipated, revealing the dark, opulent bedroom, Lana gently kissed her son's forehead, her lips brushing against his soft skin. "He sure likes to sleep," she mused, a hint of amusement dancing in her voice.

With Lycius safely tucked into the blankets, Lana made her way to the ensuite bathroom, where she began to prepare a relaxing bath. As she slipped into the warm water, she felt her muscles begin to unwind, the tension melting away like ice in the sun. With a contented sigh, she closed her eyes, letting the soothing waters work their magic.

The water, sensing her presence, began to freeze, its temperature plummeting to near-zero levels. Lana's golden eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she settled into the icy waters, her body relaxing into the cold, dark depths. "Hhaaa," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper, as she let the chill of the water wash over her, carrying away her fatigue and leaving her feeling refreshed and renewed.

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