My Soul card is a Reaper

Azzy smiled and nodded. "Yeah, tell me. What do you want as a present? A weapon? Skill card? I'll give you anything you want as long as it is in my hands and your mother is okay with it."

As Zion hesitatingly glanced at Leah, the latter's face slightly darkened. She moved her head slightly, as if she was gesturing to him not to ask a certain thing that she would never approve of.

In the end, taking a breath, Zion said. "I heard that you're stronger than my mother. So, I would like it if you would spar with me."

"Eh?" "Huh?"

Both Leah and Azzy were taken aback by his request.

But Zion continued, clarifying his wish. "Everyone in Camelot either fears me or flatters me. Outside Camelot, I can only battle strong opponents in world champions, which is like once a year. The only person who could find joy in fighting is my mother. The rest are all… not worthy. Since my childhood, I have grown up hearing stories of your battles, with a Celestial grade beast: Galarian King, with the Great Demon Berith, against a demigod Fenrir, against the God of Death's apostle, your past incarnation, the Clan founder's stories, and everything. Every day I trained, I dreamt of the day I would surpass you one day. So, I want to use this opportunity to see your prowess. To see where I stand right now. Of course, to show you that I'm really worth being the son of the two most powerful individuals on the planet."

Leah frowned. "Zion. You're asking him to fight right after meeting him?"

But Azzy raised a hand. "It's fine. I don't mind."

He turned to his son with a spark in his eye. "I knew that I couldn't avoid a spar the moment I learned about you. Come on, then. Let's see what you're made of."

They climbed together to the Stairway to Hell, an ancient mountain peak training site in the White Mountains of Camelot where the gravity was twenty times normal, designed to force growth under pressure.

At the summit stood the Gravity Dome, the training chamber for those who are from royalty.

After entering the dome, both stood ten meters apart.

Zion rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles.

Azzy stood calm, hands behind his back. "Don't hold back," Azzy said.

Zion nodded, and in a flash, his body erupted in Jupiter lightning, the same divine-bright arcs Azzy once used. Mixed with his mother's fire attribute energy, a dual attribute layer formed over his skin.

"Here I come."

He then shot forward.

Azzy didn't move from his spot, though.

Zion's fist swung fast at supersonic speeds, but Azzy casually tilted his head, letting it pass by. Zion spun into a sweep kick, only for Azzy to hop lightly over it as if enhanced gravity didn't exist.

A dozen moves flew in a flurry of fists, knees, palm strikes, soul energy-coated jabs, but Azzy parried every single one with just his fingers and forearms.

"You're holding back," Zion growled, panting.

"Then, make me not hold back," Azzy replied calmly.

Zion stepped back, narrowed his eyes, and summoned his soul weapon, his Arcana spirit, a long white spear wrapped in blue lightning. It reminded him of Fiona's. Both have similar Arcana spirits, even including the fact that both are celestial grades, except that Fiona's gave off a stronger Aura.

Zion then leapt and threw a technique: Heaven-Split Arc Thrust. It wasn't any soul skill and was just pure spear technique, but the strike was deadly enough to pierce mountains.

However, Azzy only raised two fingers.

Clang!

The spear met them and stopped.

The air exploded around them from the impact, though.

But Azzy remained rooted in his spot. The spear vibrated, then cracked down the shaft. Zion landed on the floor, staring in disbelief.

Azzy finally stepped forward and said. "Good control. I can see the hard work you put into reaching such weapon mastery."

Zion exhaled. "Then… will you show me your strength?"

Azzy gave him a smile. "Hmm… how about one-millionth? That would seem right…"

"One-millionth? Is he really that strong, or is he looking down on me?" Zion thought, furrowing his brows.

But in the next instant, Azzy's body blurred.

Zion's instincts screamed as Azzy appeared behind him.

Tap.

A finger flick was given to the forehead.

Zion blasted away and crashed into the wall, falling to the floor.

"Ugh…"

Groaning in pain, as Zion got up, Azzy reached him but didn't attack. Instead, he simply patted his shoulder. "You're strong, Zion. But you seem too eager and competitive. I can sense that from the little exchanges we had. If you go down this path, you are going to hit a wall when you become the Supreme Being."

Zion looked up, still panting. "What?" He was taken aback. Criticism was the last thing he wanted from his Dad.

Azzy then smiled as he continued. "Don't strive to become the best, Zion. Strive for excellence. Remember that your opponent isn't your mother, me, or someone you fight in world championships. Your opponent is the yesterday you. I can only advise you this. The rest depends on yourself."

"Strive for excellence and not to become the best?" Zion murmured, repeating the same line a couple of times in a daze.

After a while, Azzy stood outside the training dome, watching the soft swirl of snowflakes falling on the ground. Zion had long returned to the palace, probably soaking in a warm bath or already jotting down notes about their spar.

Leah stood beside him in silence for a while, enjoying the quiet warmth while watching the snowflakes alongside him.

Then Azzy turned, looked at her directly. "Leah."

"Hmm?"

"Should we have a wedding?" he suddenly proposed.

Her eyes widened slightly. "What?" She was so surprised that she couldn't help but almost scream.

"For Zion's sake, I mean," he clarified in a calm tone. "He's my son, and I'm proud of him. I don't know what people talk about you or Zion, but I'm sure they will talk badly behind your backs. Such is human nature. So, I wonder if I should announce him to the world as our son."

Leah sighed and turned her gaze to the snow-covered valleys below. "You're already married, Azzy."

"I know," he said. "But Leiza and I… she understands me."

"Trust me, she doesn't," Leah cut in with a grin on her face. "You don't know the nature of a woman. If you had a political marriage through the hidden clans, those women might understand sharing a husband, but someone like her, who grew up in the modern world… you will not only destroy your marriage but your relationship with your son, too. Had you not been married, I would have readily agreed to it, but I can't destroy someone else's happiness."

Taking a brief pause, Leah continued. "Moreover, I had Zion for Camelot's future. If I marry you, following the tradition of Camelot, my son and I will have to follow you to the Death Clan. I can't do that. I want my son to forever carry the surname of Pendragon, as he will rule Camelot."

"I wouldn't ask you to leave Camelot. You don't have to stay with me. I'm just speaking about recognition," he said, his voice almost a whisper.

"I know," she replied, smiling faintly. "But it'll still be a headache to deal with."

Azzy looked away. He knew she was right. Finally, he exhaled with a nod. "Alright. I understand."

Leah nodded, stepping back. "Just… be there for him. That's all I ask."

Azzy gave a light nod. "You bet, I will."