While Ivan's parents were talking, he slowly opened his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling. It was as though he couldn't comprehend what was happening to him.
After all, it had been so long since he'd seen any light. Yet now, as he gazed at the glow, he couldn't even begin to understand what it was.
He had long forgotten the memories of his past lives and, with them, his emotions. Yet, at this moment, something deep inside him stirred. His soul seemed to awaken, as though it had found the hope it had been longing for. But he couldn't express what he was feeling. His face remained a blank canvas.
Then, as if the entire world suddenly understood his emotions, the atmosphere around him began to change. The air shimmered with an ethereal glow, like a dance of fairies, and birds seemed to sing just for him. Even the animals around the room seemed to cheer in celebration.
His parents and the midwife, who had been watching in silence, stared in awe at what was unfolding before them.
Elena, her voice trembling with concern, turned to her husband. "What's happening to our son, Hugo?"
Hugo didn't answer right away. His eyes were wide with wonder. Elena's anxiety grew, and she reached for Ivan, intent on holding him. But Hugo's hand shot out to stop her.
"Don't! Don't touch him now, Elena! If you do, something terrible might happen."
Elena's heart pounded. "Why? What's going on?"
Hugo's face lit up with joy, his voice filled with awe. "Our Ivan… he's receiving a blessing. A blessing from the will of the world itself."
Elena blinked in confusion. "A blessing? From the will of the world?"
"Yes," Hugo said, his voice filled with reverence. "It's an incredibly rare occurrence. No one has received such a blessing in hundreds of thousands of years."
"Is it… really that powerful?" Elena asked, still struggling to grasp the full meaning.
"Powerful doesn't even begin to describe it," Hugo replied, his voice full of pride. "With this blessing, no one below a Tier 9 rank will be able to harm our son. He's protected. And my own path in cultivation will be smoother, too, with fewer obstacles. There are many benefits, though I don't know all of them. I read about this in an ancient text, but the book didn't give many details. Few people even know about these blessings."
Elena opened her mouth to ask more, but before she could, something even more startling occurred.
A silhouette appeared beside Ivan. It was semi-transparent, a figure of a male elf. He radiated a powerful, ancient aura, as though he had stepped out of the river of time itself. His white robe shimmered with runes that seemed to shift and swirl as if alive.
Without a word, the elf placed his hand gently on Ivan's forehead. Ivan, wide-eyed, gazed up at the figure, his curiosity clear.
Hugo and Elena were both startled by the sudden appearance of the elf. Hugo's instincts kicked in. He immediately drew his sword, his hand shaking as he swung it toward the intruder.
The elf didn't flinch. He didn't even glance at Hugo, his focus entirely on Ivan.
Hugo's rage flared. He swung his sword with all his might, aiming for the elf's neck. At least I can injure him, Hugo thought, his eyes burning with determination.
But to his shock, the sword passed right through the elf's body, as if it wasn't even there. Hugo froze, his heart hammering in his chest.
How is this possible? he thought, his mind reeling. But no answer came. The elf didn't even acknowledge Hugo's existence.
Frustration and helplessness surged within Hugo, but there was nothing he could do.
Then, as suddenly as he had appeared, the elf withdrew his hand from Ivan's forehead. A symbol—a glowing ancient tree—formed on Ivan's skin, swirling with a mysterious green light. The elf vanished just as quietly as he had arrived, leaving only the symbol behind.
Elena gasped, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Hugo… is… is that the symbol of the Elven race?"
Hugo's voice was barely a whisper, filled with awe. "It is. That's the mark of the ancient royal clan of the Elves. It hasn't been seen in centuries… maybe even millennia."
Before either of them could process what had just happened, more figures began to materialize around them. Fourteen in total, each exuding an overwhelming, terrifying aura. The very air seemed to shudder beneath the weight of their presence, and the space around them cracked like fragile glass.
One of the figures moved, and everything froze. Time itself seemed to stop. The space around them, filled with such immense power, was now a frozen tableau. The only being who remained unaffected was Ivan—his very presence seemed to be the center of their attention.
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