Fake Solarion

Elius's heart pounded heavily inside his rib cage.

I can't do it again.

With his sweat trickling down his temple, he clenched his fist.

The Golden Lion Roar had worked, but only once. The moment of tutorial had passed. He had no way to replicate it—at least, not yet, after all it's just a tutorial on how to use Qi in combat.

And Radiant Man—no, Colt the Solarion—was staring at him now with an unreadable expression.

Then, slowly—he turned his head.

His golden eyes shifted toward Shannon.

Elius froze.

Every single hair on his body stood on end. Like his bodily instincts were screaming again.

Just what is he planning to do?

In his eyes, Colt wasn't just looking at her. He was thinking about something.

Something.

Elius thought that Colt was planning to kill his mother again. With that, he forced his mind to work.

He was screaming at his body to move, to do something, to stop his father from even thinking about it—

But then—

He calmed down.

Right.

The tutorial.

The first phase—Spiritual Qi cultivation—was over.

Yet, it's not over.

And in the game from his first life, there were always two parts of tutorial in the game.

If the first was Spiritual Qi…

Then the second was—

Body Cultivation.

His heart pounded, uncertainty gnawing at him.

The Golden Lion Roar had worked—somehow.

But Body Cultivation was different.

It didn't attack directly.

It used Spiritual Qi to strengthen the body.

Would that even work?

Could he hurt Radiant Man with it who can only be hurt by those fellow races that awakened their Bloodline?

Would it be enough?

Suddenly—

A familiar mechanical voice rang in his mind.

[ Host will now begin the second phase: Body Cultivation.

[ Prepare yourself. ]

The screen, out of nowhere, materialized before his eyes, flickering with different datas about what his body is going to do.

Elius exhaled.

Slowly, he assumed a stance.

—His left leg bent, firmly planted on the ground.

—His right foot slightly raised, only the ball of his foot touching the floor.

—His core tightened, his body coiled like a compressed spring.

—His arms raised, but his fists remained open, fingers curved—not quite a claw, not quite a fist.

—His elbows bent, positioned close to his ribs, ensuring protection but also flexibility.

—His chin tucked slightly, his gaze locked forward, steady.

It looked almost like a Kung Fu stance.

But it wasn't.

This—

This was something else.

Something entirely foreign to this world.

A stance designed for true immortal cultivation.

A Martial Skill stance for body cultivators.

On the other hand—

Colt the Solarion… smirked.

So, he was going to fight him with his body now?

Amusing.

Earlier, he had been hurt by that strange energy-based attack.

That was unexpected.

That was interesting.

And he needed to see if it could happen again.

If this child's attacks could truly affect him…

It would mean only one thing.

It would mean—

This offspring, this child he never acknowledged, the one he had already decided to kill—was also a Solarion offspring.

He would have no choice but to accept it and spare him.

To train him.

His lifelong goal—to raise a true Solarion warrior on this planet—would finally be possible.

Colt's smirk widened into a grin.

His golden eyes burned with anticipation.

He raised his hand—

And beckoned.

"Come on." His voice was low, almost teasing. "Attack me, my child."

Elius tensed, it was the first time for him hearing that. However, that sent shivers throughout his body.

Suddenly, he felt a strange warm Qi spread through his body.

His hair began to glow.

For the first time—Colt's eyes widened.

"What—"

But before he could even finish his thought—Elius moved.

Detonating the air around him like a sonic boom.

His body shot forward at speeds that defied reality.

The floor beneath his feet shattered.

The walls trembled from the sheer force of his launch.

His vision blurred, but his target was clear.

He only had one thought.

If I miss, my body will break.

If I hit him and the body cultivation martial Skill doesn't work, I'll die.

But if it works—

His fist hurtled forward—

And then—

It landed.

Contact.

But—

Something was wrong.

Instead of a deafening bang—

There was only—

A pop.

A small, soft sound of a pop.

Like an insignificant bubble bursting.

Elius's eyes widened.

Looking at his father's feet that were floating mid-air, he didn't sense that it moved back even a little!

Slowly, he looked up—And saw Colt's face.

Expressionless.

Unreadable.

And behind those dark golden eyes—were dark.

As Elius stood frozen there, the darkness in Radiant Man's expression suddenly changed—like it was gone.

Confirming it—he saw his face brighten, with a smile spread across his lips.

Then—he laughed.

At first, a small chuckle.

Then another.

And another.

And then—

It grew.

Louder.

And louder.

And louder.

His voice shook the walls.

It rumbled like thunder.

It echoed through the entire house.

It didn't stop.

It went on.

And on.

And on.

And on.

And on.

And on.

Elius could only stand there, watching in horror as the man who had just tried to kill him and his mother earlier was now laughing like he had just heard the funniest joke in the universe.

Shannon, with her hands clenched at her sides, stood stiff one side of the room.

She looked afraid to speak. Didn't dare to move. Didn't even breathe.

She just stared.

Finally—after what felt like an eternity—tye number one superhero Radiant Man wiped his eyes.

And he said—"That hurt."

Then—he laughed again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

Elius and Shannon just stood there, in complete silence, waiting for what would happen next.

They didn't know what to do.

Or what to say.

Finally—the number one superhero Radiant Man stopped.

And—he turned to his mother, Shannon. He stopped floating and walked toward her gently.

Her entire body was trembling from the tension that had happened earlier.

"Colt—" she whispered.

But before she could finish—he hugged her.

Tightly. Gently. Lovingly.

Shannon froze.

Her eyes went wide.

And then—Radiant Man spoke.

"I'm sorry." His voice was soft.

"Shannon," he whispered her name, sincerely.

In fact too sincere.

"Shannon… you know-" he sounded like he didn't have a choice, "I had to do this, right?"

His arms tightened around her.

"I had to push him. To make sure. To awaken his power. To see if he could handle it."

He pulled back slightly, looking her in the eyes.

"I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt him."

He stroked her cheek.

"I love you, Shannon."

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

"I should have told you sooner," he continued. "I should have explained everything before. I was afraid. Afraid of losing you. Afraid that you wouldn't understand. But you do, don't you?"

He smiled.

And Shannon—she blushed.

Radiant Man—

The number one superhero.

The most powerful being on the planet.

The indestructible symbol of justice.

Was looking at her like she was his entire world.

His golden eyes softened.

"Shannon, you are the only woman I have ever truly loved."

Elius face twitched.

He felt sick.

How many offspring does this man have in the comic? He couldn't even remember.

But Radiant Man wasn't done.

"You are my light. My warmth. The reason I stayed on this planet. The reason I fought. The reason I survived."

Shannon's breath hitched.

Her fingers trembled.

Elius's stomach churned.

Too corny, how could his mother fall for this?!

He wanted to cover his face.

Radiant Man's voice dropped to a whisper.

"I have seen galaxies burn. I have watched stars be born and die. I have fought wars beyond mortal comprehension. But none of it—none of it—meant anything."

He cupped Shannon's face.

"Because I didn't have you."

Shannon's eyes welled with tears.

Elius groaned internally.

This was insanity.

Just a moment ago—this man had been about to kill them.

And now?

Now he was acting like a romantic lead from a drama.

And worse—

Shannon was falling for it.

Again.

Elius gritted his teeth.

Mother! Don't act easy! Look at yourself!

However, there is a saying: there are two hardest people to convince in the world: men who have money and women who are in love.

But—he understood.

This meant—they were safe.

His mother wouldn't die.

He wouldn't die.

Not today.

Not yet.

But—that didn't mean they were safe forever.

Because Elius knew.

Knew that the only reason they were alive—was because Radiant Man thought he was a Solarion.

And if he ever found out the truth—they were dead.

No hesitation.

No second chances.

They would be gone.

Elius felt his body weaken.

His limbs shook.

He was drained.

He needed—

Rest.

Suddenly—

He spoke.

"You did all this… to see if I awakened my powers?"

His voice was hoarse.

Shannon and Radiant Man turned to look at him.

Elius met his father's gaze.

And then—he exhaled.

"I won't disturb you two."

He stepped back.

"You can explain everything later."

His vision blurred.

"But now… I need… to rest.

"Because right now—

"Right now, I couldn't process any of this…"

Because his father—

The number one superhero in the world—

Was also the most dangerous person alive that would kill him anytime in this real life.