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

Next Day.

Alex was sleeping in the dream space—a place where one can't sleep, but he was doing it. Dream space was his area of control after all; he could do anything he wanted here, and sleeping was just one of those things.

Alex was sleeping because Sophie prohibited him from raiding dungeons today.

"If you dare to do anything worrying today, then I won't talk to you anymore!" This was her warning to him.

Sophie didn't want any more stress, as the tension she had felt yesterday when Alex was dealing with the Demon Lord, Anos Voldigod, was way too much for her to take in. She didn't want to see him doing anything risky—especially raiding a dungeon that he had been stalling until now—today.

Maybe it was because of the movie where a guy loses his memories during his 18th birthday because he was pushing himself to his limit that she suddenly remembered, but she felt uneasy.

Sophie didn't understand why, today of all days, that movie's name would flash in her mind. Taking it as a bad omen, she had decided to make the decision to not let Alex do anything risky for today—or at least try not to let him do anything that involved the risk of him dying.

Alex didn't know why she was making him do this, but feeling Sophie's emotional turmoil—the way she seemed really serious about this—Alex relented to her request.

Right now, Alex lay on the bed in the dream space with Sophie cradling in his arms. The two of them were entwined beneath a soft blanket, their bare forms shielded from the chill of the dream realm. Sophie's head rested against his chest, and her warm breath brushed against his skin.

Her mind still wandered around the deal he had made with the demon, wondering if it was fine. After all, Anos was not a person someone of Alex's caliber could trick into doing something.

But she trusted Alex, and she knew how capable Alex was—probably the reason she even agreed to this plan of Alex.

"Hm~." It was then that the serene silence filled only with the subtle rhythm of their breathing and the unspoken bond that tied them together was broken as Alex shifted in his sleep, his eyes fluttering as if he were about to wake up, and Sophie, noticing that, turned to look at his contour.

"Happy birthday, Alex," Sophie whispered the moment she saw his blue eyes revealing themselves. Her voice was soft yet vibrant with affection as she nuzzled closer to him, her fingers tracing lazy patterns along his chest.

Alex smiled, his heart swelling at her words. 'Ah, what a great start to the day...' He muttered inwardly as his hand caressed her cheeks, tucking in the few strands of hair behind her ears.

"Thank you, Sophie," he spoke as he tilted her chin up gently, his lips meeting hers in a tender kiss. Time seemed to pause as they shared this moment, savoring the connection that transcended words.

Eventually, Sophie pulled back, her royal blue eyes glimmering with an unwillingness to let him go even though they had a blast last night, but she still advised, "It's a big day for you, Alex. You need to wake up."

Alex, who heard her voice sighed as well, reluctant to let the peacefulness of the dream space slip away, but he knew she was right. With a final kiss on her forehead, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to return to the waking world.

The next second, as Alex's eyes opened, he was greeted by the warm sunlight that streamed through the grand windows of the imperial castle, bathing the room and him in golden hues.

He blinked against the brightness as he woke, his senses slowly adjusting to the opulence around him. Rising from the plush bed, he moved to the window, his gaze drawn to the sprawling city below. The view from the imperial castle of the Drakathor Empire was breathtaking, the vibrant city alive with preparations and celebrations.

This castle, a symbol of power and grandeur, belonged to Maurice Drakathor, Alex's uncle and the reigning emperor. Today, it felt more like a stage set for something monumental, and Alex was at its center—it was the 18th birthday of the rising star of the human race.

It was then, as he found himself completely awake now, that a voice broke his reverie. "Happy birthday, my lord."

Alex turned to find James, his most trusted aide, emerging from the shadow by the door. The man's loyalty was unwavering, his presence a constant reassurance in Alex's life.

Alex was sure that this guy must have stayed by his room's door the whole night, only coming in now when he felt movement inside the room.

"Thank you, James," Alex replied, his tone warm, but then she folded his arms, huffing annoyance as he added, "And how many times do I have to tell you not to address me as 'my lord' or 'master' when we are alone?"

James shook his head at Alex's playful outburst, recalling how more than 16 years had passed with him being by Alex's side. He moved to one knee, bowing his head deeply. "Everything I have is because of you."

James's voice was laced with sincerity and devotion and his fists clenched in determination as he continued, "My life belongs to you, and I live only to serve."

His grey eyes found Alex's as he spoke resolutely, "Even though I have no material gift to offer, my loyalty will only grow. Should there come a time when your life is at risk, I would gladly take your place."

Alex's chest tightened at the sincerity in James's voice. He could tell that James meant every word he said even without looking at it, but as he looked at the favorability meter above James's head, he noticed the sudden shift in loyalty. It went from [87] à [91] in an instant.

Reaching down, Alex helped him stand.

"James, you've already done more for me than I could ever repay," he sighed, meaning every word he spoke. "Your dedication means everything to me. Let's not speak of such sacrifices again," Alex added firmly, clasping James's shoulder.

Alex's mind drifted back to a pivotal moment from the past. It had been around 5 or 6 months into the academy, months after the harrowing awakening ceremony incident. When Alex saw that James had grown considerably strong, Alex confessed the truth about the awakening ceremony incident to James—that he had been indirectly responsible for the deaths of many, including James's lover.

"You can leave if you want," Alex had said, his voice laden with guilt. "I won't stop you."

James's response, however, had shocked him. "You finally decided to tell me, huh?" Read latest chapters at empire

Alex had been stunned, but James had continued his tone calm. "I've seen through you, Your Highness. I've known you for 14 years. I know just what you are capable of." Alex, at that time, wasn't sure what to do or what to say.

"The sadness you showed back then—the way you roamed around absentmindedly because of the deaths of some people you didn't even associate yourself with—it wasn't real."

Those words had made Alex realize that he had thought too low of James—this guy was supposed to be a master assassin later on. How could a master assassin not notice things like that?

Alex had thought that James would want revenge at that time, but James's next series of words proved him wrong.

"But I also saw the guilt in your eyes every time you looked at me—and that was real." James had smiled at him, and although there was sadness in that smile, Alex had seen trust in him as well. "You've been trying to make up for it ever since, preparing me to stand on my own when you finally decided to reveal everything to me and give me the choice to leave if I wanted, haven't you?"

That question had tied Alex's tongue as it was the truth. All he did was out of the guilt he had felt, and he was trying to make it up to James in this way. But James went on, "I'm your servant. Even if you had done nothing, I couldn't have raised a hand against you. So, I was happy to have a master like you."

James had looked at Alex with depression as he had spoken, "Am I useless now? Do you not want to keep me by your side, Your Highness?"

That question was all Alex needed to hear, and Alex knew that James wasn't someone who would betray him, nor was he looking for revenge. To James, there was just one person in this world who could be called a close one, and that guy was just trying to stay by that one person's side.

That day had solidified their bond, and Alex had introduced James to the dream system, creating a partnership that transcended ordinary loyalty.

It was then that James's words pulled Alex back to the present.

"As you wish, Alex," said James in reply to Alex's words. There was a faint smile on his lips before vanishing into the shadows. He was happy that his Lord hadn't changed, and he was happy to be able to serve a guy like Alex.

Alex, on the other hand, shook his head, 'At least you called me by my name.' A smile tugged at his lips as he began to prepare for the day.

Today was no ordinary birthday after all. For the first time, he was celebrating in the imperial castle rather than Vanessa's mansion. The city below was alive with festivity, the decorations a testament to the significance of his 18th birthday—the day he would officially be recognized as an adult.

As he got ready, anticipation hummed through him. He was finally going to see the results of the seeds he had sown over the years.

Today would set the stage for many of his future plans.