The first monster clawed its way through the nearest portal — a hulking, chitinous beast with too many eyes and a maw dripping void ichor. It roared, shaking the street, windows shattering in the blast of its scream.
Arios froze. His instincts screamed at him to run, but Seraphyx's voice cut through the fear like a blade.
"Go on, Young Lord." Her tone was calm, mocking almost, as if watching a cub take its first steps. "This one is yours."
"Mine?!" Arios shot her a look. "That thing looks like it could eat me ten times over!"
She tilted her head, unbothered, tendrils rippling lazily. "If you are truly his son, this insect will not last a breath."
Arios swallowed hard. His fists trembled, but his system flared in response, text scrolling in his vision:
Quest Generated:
Prove Your Inevitability
Defeat the first invader. Failure is not an option.
The monster lunged. Instinct overtook hesitation. Arios raised his hand, and violet-silver light erupted around his arm, forming a jagged blade of void and mirror essence. It wasn't polished, it wasn't perfect, but it was his.
The beast's claw met his blade — and Arios's entire body rang like a bell from the impact. He grit his teeth, sliding back across cracked pavement. His heart pounded, but the system whispered again:
Passive Title Effect Activated — Son of Inevitability.
The next strike must land.
Arios's eyes widened. He pushed forward, blade humming with power. When he swung, it wasn't skill or training that guided the arc — it was inevitability itself. The blow cut through the beast's claw, through its chest, and exploded out its back in a spray of void ichor.
The monster staggered, howled — and collapsed, splitting apart as its body dissolved into ash.
Arios stood there, panting, staring at his glowing arm. "I… I actually did it."
Seraphyx clapped her clawed hands slowly, mockingly, tilting her head with that eerie insectoid grace. "Mm. Adequate. Barely."
He whipped around. "Barely?! Did you not see that?! I just cut a monster in half!"
"Your father could erase entire pantheons before breakfast," she replied without missing a beat. "Do not get cocky."
Arios froze, blinking at her. "…What do you mean, entire pantheons?"
She leaned closer, her many eyes gleaming with mischief. "Ah, your father. The Sole Exception. The Inevitability Incarnate. His mere presence once caused worlds to weep. A true emperor of existence, unmatched in power, unbent by law or fate."
Arios groaned, running a hand through his hair. "You sound like you're in love with him."
Her voice dropped into an almost reverent hush. "Love? Hah. That word is too small. To speak of Lord Lucien is to sing hymns to inevitability itself."
"Yeah, definitely in love with him," Arios muttered, rolling his eyes.
Still, a thought gnawed at him, pulling at the edges of his mind. "Seraphyx… if I'm just awakening now, why are my stats already so high? I'm stronger than anyone else I know… it doesn't make sense."
Seraphyx paused. For once, her playful tone slipped into something sharper. "Because, Young Lord… even sealed, you were never ordinary. Before your memories and power were locked away, even as a child… you were terrifying."
Her gaze cut through him, serious now. "Your youngest self could have crushed the Arios standing here today. Power was never your problem. Control was. Your father sealed you… not to weaken you, but to give you time to live, to grow, to understand the weight of inevitability before it consumed you."
Arios's throat tightened. He clenched his fists, staring at the ground. "So… even now, I'm not even at my starting point."
Seraphyx's laughter was soft, melodic, alien. "No, Young Lord. You are not even crawling yet. But you will."
She gestured at the darkening sky, where more portals rippled open and beasts clawed their way through. Her tendrils unfurled, shadows stretching across the street. "Now. Shall we see what inevitability's heir can truly do?"
Arios smirked despite himself, lifting his glowing blade once more. "Fine. But you're not allowed to make those creepy speeches about my dad while I'm fighting."
"Impossible," Seraphyx purred, eyes glimmering. "Every moment is an opportunity to glorify him."
Arios groaned. "Unbelievable…"
And then the monsters descended.