Supreme Ruler: Reincarnated as the Emperor's Bastard Son

[I am sick of this, I so fucking sick of this]

Draco spoke as he stared at the soon-to-be 10-year-old boy while in his intangible form.

[Not only did you master Aura, you even managed to reach higher proficiency in Omni-Perception! Y-you! you are really not a human, are you?]

Three years have passed since Ashoka took first place in the trainee knight selection.

Many things had happened since then, but the most noticeable thing was Ashoka's growth.

He had grown into a fine young man with a well-built body and handsome face.

Not only his appearance, but his power also increased by leaps and bounds.

_______________

<Status Window>

Name: Ashoka Maurya

Title: First Victory.

Mana Attribute: Umbra (Shadow and dark)

Trait: Resistant against all attributes (Level 3), Heart of Iron.

Mana circulation method: Enhanced art of mana circulation(Proficiency- E).

-------

Strength: 45

Agility: 46

Stamina: 43

Energy: 35

Perception: 52.9(46+6.9) ->due to passive skill<-

------

Skills:

Active: Revolving Tiger palm, Empire-swordsmanship(proficiency- D).

Passive: Omni-Perception(Proficiency- E = 15% increase in perception).

_______________

The changes in his status were proof of it.

For the past years, Ashoka didn't slack off and was giving it his all in the training.

He had successfully learned how to fine-tune his control over his new mana attribute, Umbra.

Since the Umbra attribute was something that no one was aware of, it was difficult for him to train.

Unlike the dark and shadow attribute, the Umbra attribute stirred up his whole insides whenever he tried to practice his control over it.

It was like his mana was refusing to bend to his will.

But thanks to his unwavering will and determination, Ashoka was finally able to have good control over his mana.

And that wasn't the only favorable result.

Ashoka learned the empire swordsmanship that is taught to every knight of the empire and also achieved good proficiency in it.

He also managed to rank up the proficiency of Omni-Percpection skills that he got as a reward from Draco.

"I have always behaved the same way since I met you so there is no need to overreact"

He said in response to Draco's exclamation.

But Draco wasn't convinced, even for a dragon-like Drakorinith, the growth of Ashoka was too fast to the extent to be considered monstrous.

Dragons in general lived for a very long time.

It was right to say that an Old dragon-like Drakorinith has seen everything there is to in this world.

But even for him, it felt like he was seeing a new creature every time he looked at Ashoka.

His tenacity, monstrous talent, determination that didn't suit a 10-year kid, and especially the weird feeling he got every time he tried to take over Ashoka's body.

It was like Ashoka was being from another world.

He didn't understand how a soul which just passed the river of reincarnation was this strong.

[One day this monarch will discover all your secrets]

"Yeah~yeah~ try it"

Knock- Knock-

Someone knocked on the door of Ashoka's room.

"This is Cain, prince Ashoka, it is time for your training"

"Oh! It's already time, I will be there"

Currently, Ashoka was training two skills simultaneously.

'The Supreme Darkness Manipulation' technique that he received as a reward from the emperor after winning the duel with Ahmed.

It was a technique used by the late emperor.

Since there was no one suitable to learn this technique after the previous emperor, It was collecting dust in the royal treasury.

But as Ashoka possessed the same attributes as the previous emperor, he decided to learn this technique.

The emperor was a little hesitant to give this reward to Ashoka, but as to not lose face in front of everyone he agreed to Ashoka's request.

As there was no one who knew enough about the technique to teach him, Ashoka was learning it on his own using the manual left behind by the previous emperor.

The other was the empire swordsmanship, which he was learning from Cain, the knight in charge of the tempest manor.

And after that, he will go to the training grounds where he trains with other noble children under Alberad.

As a result of that, he had a very busy schedule and no time to rest on a daily basis.

When Ashoka opened the door and exited his room, Cain politely bowed.

"What will today's lesson be about, Sir Cain?"

"As you already have good mastery over combat footwork and joint lock techniques, we will be studying different striking techniques using both punches and kicks"

Some may be misunderstood hearing this as to why Ashoka who was supposed to be learning the empire 'swordsmanship' was learning footwork techniques, punches, and kicks. It was because Ashoka personally requested Cain to teach him other combat techniques than swordsmanship as he felt the need for them.

'A stylish swordsmanship will not guarantee my survival in the outside world.'

Time was getting closer, and it wouldn't be long before when he need to return to the capital.

Ashoka wanted to get as much stronger as possible by then, so he was trying his best to learn whatever he can.

On the other hand, Cain who followed Ashoka outside the castle was very tense.

As he looked at the back of Ashoka, he was emitting the aura of dignity and majesty of a ruler.

As the guardian knight of the tempest manor and the instructor of the prince himself, he should have been very proud of the child's growth.

However, he was on edge and nervous whenever he trained the young boy.

'I mustn't slack off and idle around while teaching the young prince'

Cain had taught the empire swordsmanship to a total of six children in the tempest manor.

The bully brothers, Sharath and Hayara, who left the tempest manor two years prior, Vigor Maurya, the 4th child of the emperor, Mithili, the 5th child of the emperor, and the twins, Sudhatta and Ashoka himself.

All of them except Ashoka and Sudhatta had left the tempest manor already.

'I've never felt like this when I was teaching the others. They were either busy keeping up with the training or they learned whatever I thought them but....'

He looked at Ashoka's back.

'He is absorbing everything from me, it's like he is devouring me. There is something different about him'

Even when he was teaching Sudhatta, who was his twin hailed as a genius, he didn't feel this pressure.

It was like Ashoka was the one evaluating Cain than the other way.

Evaluate.

Normally, the instructor is the one who would evaluate the student, it was like a relationship between a master and a disciple.

But, Cain could sense that Ashoka was inversely evaluating his teacher's skills.

It happened on daily basis during their training sessions ever since their first day of training.

During the exhausting physical training, when Ashoka would sweat buckets, during when he was bruised and when his youthful skin would tear and burst, even during their spars when he get thrown to the ground.

Ashoka would always be closely observing Cain's techniques.

This was the first experience for Cain....NO, he had seen it somewhere else too.

'....'

Cain silently watched Ashoka's back.

He didn't feel uncomfortable. On the contrary, he felt like Ashoka possessed the quality that a Ruler should have.

'No wonder, Sage Chanakya shows great interest in him. I must teach to the best of my abilities.'

Cain focused his attention as flames of enthusiasm sparkled in his eyes.

He and Ashoka then moved to the training grounds inside the castle.

"Prince Ashoka."

"Speak freely, Cain."

"It's a great honor to be able to instruct you. I promise to provide you with the best possible training regime and guide you to the best of my abilities in the next few months, until your 10th birthday."

"I appreciate your thoughts. I'll be in your care until then."

It was only after the combat training session had ended that Ashoka could go to the training grounds, despite his complete exhaustion.

There he practiced the sword under the guidance of Alberad along with the noble children.

Many things had changed since three years ago in the training grounds.

No one was trash-talking about Ashoka anymore.

The mentality of a child seemed to have been erased by the harsh training as no one was complaining any longer.

Paul and Tish were still beside Ashoka training like usual, but Tish was no longer lifting weights heavier than him, not because she stopped copying him but because she couldn't lift the number of weights Ashoka could.

Vikram left the training in the middle due to some family matters.

But the most noticeable change in the training ground was Ahmed!

He was swinging his sword with the same movement for more than three hours now.

His muscles that got drenched in his sweat were visible to everyone.

There was no trace of his past in his movements, neither arrogance nor conceit.

It was pure determination.

Determination to surpass the one on top of him.

---***---

Volume 2 - "The Rise and Fall" will be started from the next chapter.