The storm began before the child's first cry.
Dark clouds had gathered above the Arcime estate long before the night fell. Thick, heavy rain pounded against the tiled roofs and stone walls, while thunder rolled across the mountains like a war drum.
Lightning tore through the sky again and again, illuminating the vast lands surrounding the Arcime territory.
Servants whispered nervously in the hallways.
Storms like this were rare.
And yet tonight… it felt different.
Almost alive.
Inside the noble manor, one room was filled with urgency.
A newborn baby cried loudly in the arms of his exhausted mother.
The moment the child was born—
CRACK!
A violent bolt of lightning split the sky above the estate. The thunder that followed was so loud that the windows trembled in their frames.
It sounded as if the heavens themselves were screaming.
The maids froze.
Even the midwives exchanged uneasy glances.
It was as though something catastrophic had entered the world.
But inside the room, none of that mattered to the woman holding the child.
Her tired but gentle eyes shone with warmth.
"My child… you're finally here."
Sophia Arcime smiled weakly as she looked down at the tiny baby in her arms.
The boy had soft black hair, still damp from birth, and small golden eyes that blinked slowly as he cried.
His tiny fingers grasped weakly at the air.
One of the maids stepped forward nervously.
"Lady Sophia… you should rest," the maid said gently. "The weather is very bad tonight. It might put more stress on your body if you remain awake."
Sophia breathed slowly.
Her body was indeed exhausted. Sweat clung to her forehead and her strength had nearly vanished.
Still, she nodded softly.
"Yes… you're right."
She looked toward the door.
"Tell Daron he may come in now," she said quietly. "The child should meet his father."
The maid bowed slightly.
"Understood, my lady."
She quickly left the room.
Only moments later, footsteps echoed in the hallway.
A tall man stood outside the door, hesitating.
"Am I allowed to enter?" he asked.
The maid smiled.
"Lord Daron, the mistress has permitted you."
The man immediately stepped inside.
Daron Arcime was a strong man with deep blue eyes and long dark hair tied behind his back. Though he carried the calm dignity of a noble, there was concern in his expression as he approached the bed.
"Oh, Sophia…" he sighed softly. "You've exhausted yourself."
He looked down at the baby.
The small child was still crying softly.
"May I hold him?"
Sophia nodded weakly.
"Yes… please do."
Daron gently took the newborn into his arms.
For a moment, he simply stared.
Then a faint smile appeared.
"This child…" he said quietly. "He has the same hair as you, Sophia."
The baby's tiny head rested against his arm.
"And these eyes…" Daron continued. "They're golden. Just like mine."
Sophia let out a soft laugh.
"They're quite intimidating for such a small baby."
She slowly reached out.
"I wish he could have had your blue eyes… but he's still adorable."
Her smile widened faintly.
"Give him back to me for a moment."
Daron carefully returned the baby.
"His brother and sister should see him as well," Sophia said gently.
Outside, the rain continued to fall endlessly.
Thunder echoed through the sky as if the storm itself refused to calm down.
As Daron stepped out to bring their other children, Sophia looked down at the newborn resting in her arms.
The boy had stopped crying now.
His golden eyes blinked slowly as he stared up at her.
"My child…" she whispered softly.
"You are both beautiful and cute."
Her fingers brushed gently across his tiny cheek.
"You have your father's eyes… and my hair."
Another thunderclap shook the sky.
Sophia laughed faintly.
"The thunder is strong tonight."
She glanced toward the window where lightning flashed again.
"Haha… perhaps it's you making the sky cry."
She thought quietly for a moment.
Then suddenly—
Her eyes lit up.
"Aizen…"
The name rolled off her tongue naturally.
"Yes… Aizen."
She smiled warmly.
"Aizen Arcime."
"That will be your name."
Just then, the door opened again.
Daron returned, followed by two small children.
Sophia looked up excitedly.
"Dear! I've thought of a wonderful name!"
She lifted the baby slightly.
"Aizen Arcime. That will be his name."
The small children stared curiously.
"Woah! Mummy, he's so small!" said the younger girl.
This was Baretta Arcime, only three years old. Her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned closer.
Beside her stood her older brother.
"Mother… the rain is so loud I can barely hear," said Gareth Arcime, who was five.
He looked at the baby with a serious expression.
Daron chuckled softly.
Then his expression slowly turned thoughtful.
"This child…" he said quietly.
"Perhaps he will be the one to help our family survive in this unfair world."
The room fell silent.
The Arcime family once held great power in history.
Thousands of years ago, their bloodline was feared across many lands.
But now…
They were only shadows of what they once were.
"Even if the old books call us strong," Daron continued, "that was thousands of years ago."
His voice lowered.
"Now we are nothing more than weak nobles."
"We can barely compete with other Beastman races."
Sophia gently shook her head.
"Dear… do not place such heavy expectations on him."
She looked lovingly at the newborn.
"Even if he cannot change the world…"
Her gaze softened.
"We will still love him with all our hearts."
She glanced at their two other children.
"And we must not forget to love Baretta and Gareth as well."
Daron smiled faintly.
"You're right."
The Dream of Another Life
For several years, Aizen Arcime lived peacefully as the son of a noble family.
He was raised within the Arcime estate, learning etiquette, reading, and sword basics under the guidance of the family's elderly butler.
He often played with his older sister Baretta, who adored him.
But when Aizen turned five years old…
Something strange began happening.
He started dreaming.
Not ordinary dreams.
Dreams of another world.
In those dreams, he was someone else.
A boy named Raizen.
Raizen lived in a modern city filled with tall buildings, strange metal machines, and bright lights.
He was strong.
A fighter.
A gang leader.
The strongest student in his high school.
He trained in martial arts and Taekwondo.
And he had a younger sister he protected fiercely.
These dreams returned again and again.
Night after night.
Aizen didn't understand them.
He didn't know those memories belonged to a past life.
But those memories slowly began to change him.
Then one day—
He fell ill.
The sickness lasted an entire month.
His body weakened.
His mind blurred.
Doctors and healers visited the Arcime estate repeatedly.
But none could fully explain what was happening.
And then…
Aizen fell into a deep sleep.
A sleep that lasted three years.
Inside his mind, Aizen felt cold.
Endless cold.
He wandered through a strange space filled with dim light.
Then suddenly—
A warm glow appeared ahead.
The moment he stepped into that light—
Everything changed.
His memories shattered and reformed.
His past life.
His present life.
Everything collided.
And he awakened.
Three Years Later.
When he Woke up.
Thick clouds rolled across a crimson sky.
The land was silent.
Burned.
Destroyed.
The air smelled of ash.
A boy stood alone among ruins.
Barefoot.
Trembling.
His black hair clung to his face.
His golden eyes were barely open.
This was Aizen Arcime.
Now thirteen years old.
A Black Lion Beastman.
Though he did not yet know it.
Around him lay countless corpses.
Men.
Women.
Children.
His people.
Massacred.
The Dragonkin had attacked.
Their massive wings had darkened the sky.
Their flames had devoured entire villages.
Their claws had torn through homes like paper.
Aizen didn't understand why.
He was just a boy.
A confused, frightened boy.
His legs gave out.
He collapsed to his knees in the blood-soaked dirt.
His hands trembled.
His heart pounded wildly.
"Why…"
His voice shook.
"Why did this happen…?"
No one answered.
Only the wind responded.
It brushed against his face like a cold whisper.
You are alone now.
Thunder rumbled again.
Then something awakened inside him.
A pulse.
A spark.
Lightning erupted across the sky.
The clouds cracked open.
Electricity danced wildly through the heavens.
Aizen screamed.
Not out of rage.
Not out of despair.
But from something deeper.
Something ancient.
His golden eyes blazed.
His black lion tail moved behind him.
His blood burned with forgotten power.
Then—
He collapsed.
Unconscious.
Above him, the storm continued to cry.
Even after awakening from his three-year coma, Aizen's body remained weak.
His recovery would be slow.
And the path ahead—
Would be far more cruel than he could ever imagine.
End of Chapter 1