"Ehhh!?"
Lucian didn't expect such a thing.
At most, he thought his mother and father would be someone who had accidentally stumbled upon the Honkai, a researcher about the Honkai or even a former B or A-rank Knight and Valkyrie.
But this changes everything. After all, an S-Rank Valkyrie equals to having a ballistic missile on home.
S-Rank Knights or Valkyries are someone whose strength is easily at the top of the hierarchy, they can be considered the final stronghold for the Earth's Frontline.
Though the thing is, as strong as they are, S-Rank Valkyries are quite scarce, much more so for Knights as males have lower Honkai Resistance than females.
And what did his family got? An S-Rank! And they are a pair at that! It seems that his family was more scarier than he has anticipated.
But wait…
If such a monstrous couple existed… Doesn't it mean that his family's roots reaches deeper than he could have ever imagined?
Considering that his mother should be a Schariac if his guess were correct since his his mother added a Schariac in the middle of his full name, wasn't it possible that his lineage was a bloodline that wouldn't lose out against the Schariac and Kaslana lineage?
And if his assumptions are correct, doesn't that mean his family is closely related to that simp, Otto?
Is that why he met Rita when he was taking a walk because that simp was already tracking him down?
Dang it!
Lucian bit his lips the more he thought about it. He thought he could have it easy in this world but no!
The world doesn't seem to follow the script and willingly rewrote its existing one and retconned all of it just to put his existence along with its schemes!
In his mind, it was okay to have one S-Rank parent in the family, at least it wouldn't be that eye catching.
But a couple? Hell no! It is tantamount to taunting the superpowers in this world! In fact, he wouldn't even get surprised if someone actually tried to kidnapped him!
"Hmm. Do you remember what happened during your 4th birthday?"
His mother suddenly asked.
"Uhm, yes."
Of course he remembers, how could he forget about such a thing? His birthdate is exactly at February 1, 1996, therefore, during his 4th birthday, it was coinciding with the Great Honkai Eruption, the 2nd Honkai Eruption.
Lucian suddenly furrowed his brows. Then he exclaimed.
"Ahh!! Mom, Dad, is the reason why you suddenly left during that time was because of your duty?"
His mother nodded, pleased by her son's intelligence. Although this young boy is indeed quite a fool, he was not dumb, at least he isn't a muscle head unlike his father!
"That's right. And I'll now start explaining you about the truth hidden in this world."
During that time, Aurelia already stood up and took out a stick for lessons and glasses. She pointed at the white board which was already filled with some drawings and words.
"First of all, what is Honkai?"
"Erm. A corrosive energy that can create various beasts?"
Aurelia was surprised that her son already possesses some knowledge about Honkai despite the fact that she and her husband did their best to keep him away from the Honkai World.
"Well. I met a girl around my age who was wielding a scythe. She saved me from the two giant white mosquito looking beasts, and she also explained a bit about them."
Aurelia frowned at her son's answer. It didn't take her some time to know who was behind that young girl.
'Damn Otto. Sending kids like that to such dangerous things. I really want to see what is behind that metallic skull of his.'
"Ahh! I think that was the reason why my so called Stigmata awakened, Mom!"
Lucian added, to which Aurelia just nodded and continued her explanation.
"What you said is right, Honkai is indeed a corrosive energy that creates beasts, but that is not only so. The Honkai is an energy that is naturally corrosive and can make humans mutate to zombie-like beings
However, that is not the only use for that. In fact, the Honkai can be used as a fuel for a lot of things."
Aurelia paused for a moment as she pushed her glasses.
"I think it is better if I show you."
She then took out a flashlight, and showed it to him.
"You see this? It doesn't need a battery. Look."
She suddenly tossed the flashlight to him, making him puzzled.
'Wait, ehh? There are some tech that is like that?'
"Wha- It really doesn't have any battery but… Wait ehh!? It works!?"
"Of course that works, because it fuels residual Honkai Energy."
Aurelia pushed her glasses and rhythmically tapped the white board with a stern face of a teacher.
"Now then lesson two. What are the Honkai Beasts?"
'Ahh, crap…'
Thought Lucian.
It seems that he needs a long while to fully integrate all of these. And he knows that once his mother got absorbed in teaching, she won't stop!
If he ever became disobedient and tried to slack even a single second and not pay attention, his backside will get the full might of the almighty slippers again.
…
During this time while Lucian is getting lectured by his strict Mother.
In another part of the world.
Specifically in the Shenzhou, Arc City.
In a hidden place in the metropolis city in the world.
A cybernetic man stood there, wearing a mask that covered his face. The left side of his mask has an intricate X-shaped mark resembling a crossed swords while the right side exposes a single, glowing red eye.
He wears a long, hooded black trench coat with an armoured tactical shoulder plate on his right shoulder.
Across him is a girl with light gray hair styled styled with a notable ahoge on top. Her eyes are sharped magenta pink eyes, coupled with her beauty mark right below the right side of her lower lip, complementing her beauty.
At this moment, the young woman seems to be reading something as her eyes squints while her temples furrowed.
"Ahh… Reading those real estate pamphlets and island brochures again? Have you never get tired of it Raven?"
Raven stared at the cybernetic looking man with an icy cold eyes and annoyed look on her face.
She snorted and retorted back to the cybernetic man, clearly displeased about the man.
"Hmph. You won't understand it Grey Serpent because you don't even have anything to worry about."
She closed the pamphlet and put on an annoyed look, pouting in displeasure.
"Is that so… Alright, alright. Enough of that… hmm. I want you to see this thing, or rather, I am hiring you to take a close eye on this boy."
Grey Serpent then took out a 4x4 picture from his pocket.
In the picture, it shows a boy walking alongside the roadblocks.
The boy have a fiery red hair and bright amber colored eyes, brimming with mischief and confidence.
Yes, the boy on the picture is Lucian Aurelius.
Raven took the photo and looked at Grey Serpent with a strange gaze.
"Did you perhaps finally stooped so low that you are even planning on kidnapping a kid?"
Raven put on a disgusted look and fanned her front as if the man in front of him got sprayed by a skunk.
Grey Serpent just looked at her expressionlessly. Though inside his mask, he was feeling very helpless.
It wasn't that he was planning on kidnapping the kid okay? He wasn't that low right now as to kidnap a boy who knows nothing… Maybe.
"You- Sigh… Forget it. Just do your job. I have a plan regarding that boy, and he is indispensable to the future plot, so be sure to give me all the data you can possibly gather about that boy."
Grey Serpent then slipped in a credit card on the table, then added mechanically.
"Here is the advance payment. So be sure to do the job properly and finalize what you gain."
Raven stared at the credit card in shock. She even rubbed her eyes then looked at the credit card and Grey Serpent back and forth, as if she couldn't believe what was happening.
"You're unusually generous right now, what happened? Did a cat struck you on the back while you were on the couch?"
Grey Serpent tilted his head then blinked his glowing red eyes.
He truly couldn't understand this girl despite the fact that he can be considered her Semi guardian or adoptive father.
"Pardon, what? How does that even work?"
Raven scratched her head, her ahoge wriggling on top of her head, looking confused.
"Uhh… I don't know? Maybe it can happen?"
Grey Serpent just continued staring at the young girl across him and sighed.
Truly, truly. He could not understand these humans that much, let alone this particular entity called, Woman.
'Forget it, I'm too old for this. I'd rather focus on my job and make sure that the Sire's mission would not just be a piped dream.'
"Okay, okay. Off you go. Just do your job properly. I still have a lot to do, so bye."
Grey Serpent literally shoo'ed her out of the the room and shut the door out.
Raven just scratched her head and looked at the credit card. Then put it back on her pocket as he cloaked out her head with her hoodie again.
While walking, she muttered in a breathless tone.
"How annoying. I thought I'll get a break and properly plan out where to buy a real estate, but sigh… well, whatever. At least I got more funds for the real estate island."
She continued walking while kicking some pebbles on the roadside.
…
Back to the MC.
It was already turning dusk when his mother finished her lectures.
His eyes were literally drooping from the shear amount of information his mother implanted to him.
Even his father who was with him earlier ran away, because he doesn't have time to listen to the lectures Aurelia was giving to Lucian.
Though, before going out, he was shouting; "You can do this son! And once you are finished, if you still have time, accompany your father for some exercise! Though if not, tomorrow is fine too as we can see what you have inherited in your Stigmata."
Lucian just stared at the ceiling before his mother called out to him for dinner.
During dinner, there wasn't that much event aside from his father asking some stuff about him like whether he already has a crush in here, etc.
After dinner, once he finished showering, he directly looked himself on his room and start contemplating about what happened and summarized all the informations about the world and compared it to his existing knowledge.
There wasn't really much different aside from maybe more direct and much more summarized informations.
And yeah, he also gained more key informations regarding the world, so he didn't lose out on anything, in fact, even gained more, like the Aurelius Clan which is actually a fourth ruling clan of the Schicksal, which is of course, not existing in the original timeline.
"Sigh… I wonder what I should do now…"
He sprawled on the bed, looking like the character "大" as he looked at the ceiling.
He then remembered something, and slapped his forehead how he could have forgotten about it.
He then shouted on his mind.
'System! System! Wake the hell up! You said the Trial Phase was ready, right!? Take me in! I don't care if it is a Full-Dive VR memory overload RPG anymore! Just take me in! Hurry! Cuz… This young man needs more power, I need MOAR POWAH!'
[System Online. Do you want to boot up the Trial Phase?
Y/N]
Lucian looked at the choices in disdain, and immediately pressed the Y button.
'Is there even a need to hesitate and pick one? Of course it is Yes!'
'Now then, LINK START!'
[Ding! Loading…
Trial Phase Initiated:
World Timeline: Future (???)
Anchor: ???
Mission: W̶̳̉A̷͙͒R̸̡͘N̶̙͗I̷̤͛N̵̼̓G̸̤̃!̷̙͝ ̷̫͗P̴̪̽Ĺ̷̪Ẽ̵̳A̶̞͝S̸̖̔E̵͓͆ ̷͕̔S̶͖͑U̴̢͋R̸̙̄-̸͍̈V̶̤̓I̷̡̚V̶͚̏-̸̗̀]
"Wait. Wha-"