Novel's Extra: I Awakened The Strongest Physique From The Start

Fourth Peak of Originveil City.

The Fourth Peak of Originveil City—the realm of emperors and disastrously powerful entities—was where Alex found himself. He was in the hall of an obsidian mansion, almost twice the size of his own, seated at a round table positioned in the center of the grand chamber. The mansion's ominous air was palpable, and Alex, patient as ever, waited without hesitation.

He hadn't announced his visit, nor had he knocked on the door. Here, on the Fourth Peak, formalities weren't necessary. Those who resided in this rarefied atmosphere—the strongest of their races—could sense the presence of any visitor the moment they crossed into their domain. Whether they acknowledged the visitor depended entirely on their whims. Some chose to greet their guests immediately, others sent word, and the rest simply ignored their intruders, leaving them to languish until they left of their own accord. No one overstayed their welcome here; the unspoken rules of the peak demanded it.

It had been ten minutes since Alex had arrived, and he was prepared to wait as long as necessary. The individual he sought to meet was no ordinary being; they were a vital obstacle preventing him from advancing against Keryu. As he waited, his mind drifted to his earlier conversation with Zahara.

"Do you love me less now?" Zahara's voice trembled with vulnerability. She had asked this after Alex had told her everything. She had been the first person he spoke to that day, and her question lingered in his mind.

Alex's heart ached at the pain etched across her face. He replied honestly, his voice steady but tender. "I love you the same as before, if not more, Hara."

His words, like a balm, seemed to lift the gloom surrounding her. Zahara's face lit up, her arms encircling Alex as she giggled sweetly, jumping into his embrace. "I knew you would say that," she said, her expression so genuinely happy that it made Alex question if she was masking deeper emotions.

He then asked her if she really was fine, which made her giggle.

"If you keep loving me the way you do and don't ignore me, why would I care about how many girls you have?" Zahara had smiled, her words disarming. "The fact that you came to tell me all this with guilt clear in your eyes shows you care about me more than the others. It means I'm still second, so I'm fine." Your journey continues on empire

Her happiness seemed so authentic that Alex decided against pushing the matter further. He wanted to say that there was no first or second among them and that he loved both Sophie and her equally, but even he knew that would be a lie, and Zahara didn't seem like someone who wanted counseling or comfort, so he simply held her close, letting her bask in the warmth of the moment.

Now, having tied up loose ends, Alex focused on his current mission. The previous night, he and Mira had left their encounter without incident, but that didn't mean everything was fine.

The man who had tried barging into their air balloon—or better said, he did barge in—was unable to find Alex and Mira, all because of Alex's shadow veil that covered both him and Mira.

He hid both himself and Mira, unwilling to tarnish Mira's first date with unnecessary bloodshed. But as said before, Alex wasn't letting this slide.

Alex was certain that the assailant from the night before—the one who had tried to barge into the air balloon—was one of Keryu's operatives, who was waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Unlike Ben, who was an easily manipulable pawn, Keryu's influence ran deeper. The man controlled a shadowy organization, his reach extending far beyond what was publicly known.

So, although Ben was fine in his place, letting Keryu be for longer would only bring more trouble than good—something Alex knew for sure.

The silence stretched as Alex remained in his thoughts. The dimly lit chamber radiated an oppressive energy. Obsidian walls shimmered faintly with traces of ancient magic, their surfaces etched with intricate, glowing runes. Alex sat motionless, but his senses were alert, every fiber of his being attuned to his surroundings. Then, the silence was broken.

"You've grown," a voice drawled, smooth yet sharp, each word carrying an undercurrent of power.

Alex's gaze shifted to the figure now seated across from him. The man lounged with an air of casual authority, his crimson eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and disinterest. His red-black hair fell in messy waves, framing a face that seemed carved from shadow and fire. Two polished horns jutted from his head, their dark surface catching the dim light like obsidian blades.

It was the Demon Lord, Anos Voldigod.

The weight of his presence filled the room, making the air feel heavier. Anos's lips curled into a faint smirk as he continued, his voice dripping with derision. "Vanessa's son."

The words hung in the air, a deliberate reminder of Alex's lineage. Alex met the Demon Lord's gaze, understanding the tactic immediately. Anos was asserting dominance, testing his composure. Alex, however, refused to rise to the bait.

'Trying to take the upper hand from the start, huh?' Alex thought but maintained an outward calm. His expression betrayed nothing as he offered a polite smile. "Lord Anos, it's a pleasure to see you again."

Anos raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Alex's measured response. "Hmm..." he mused, leaning back in his chair. "I wasn't expecting you to show up here of all places. Tell me, Alex, what could possibly bring you to my door?"

Their prior encounters had been brief—Anos had crashed one of Alex's birthday celebrations uninvited, more for his own amusement than anything else. They were far from acquaintances, let alone allies.

Alex straightened in his seat, his tone respectful but resolute. "I wouldn't dare waste your time with idle visits. You're right; I'm here for a purpose."

Anos chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "Good. I'd hate to think you've inherited your mother's habit of unpredictability. It's exhausting dealing with her, you know."

Alex fought the urge to roll his eyes. 'Says the man who gatecrashes parties for fun,' he thought wryly but kept his expression neutral. A glint of humor flickered in his eyes as he replied, "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Take it however you like," Anos said dismissively, waving a hand. His crimson eyes narrowed, their piercing gaze locking onto Alex. "Get to the point, Alex. I'm not a fan of long conversations unless they amuse me, and I know you're not here for a friendly chat."

Alex's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. He met Anos's gaze unwaveringly and delivered his request without a preamble. "I've come to ask for your daughter."

The room fell into a profound silence, the weight of Alex's words hanging in the air like a storm cloud. Anos didn't react immediately; his crimson eyes fixed on Alex with a piercing intensity. Slowly, the Demon Lord straightened in his chair, the air in the room growing heavier with an almost tangible pressure. His lips curled into a smile—sharp and dangerous—as he regarded Alex with newfound interest.

"Well," Anos finally said, his voice low and edged with amusement, "this just got interesting."