Name: Edric Windwalker

Age: 15 years, 3 months, and 5 days

Task: Father a biological child

Reward: A random White-level skill

Deadline: 498 days

Non-completion Punishment: Death

Techniques

* Great Knight Training: 0 / 20,000

* Mage Training: 159 / 10,000

Talents

* Knight Talent: Legendary (0 / 2,400,000)

* Mage Talent: Average (0 / 100,000)

Cheat

* Low Level: 1,000 XP per day

* Available XP: 607

"I am now officially a knight!" Edric thought, his heart racing with excitement.

In this world, knights commanded immense respect. His mother’s army of over 5,000 troops included fewer than 100 knights. Not everyone could become a knight; most were simply born without the requisite talent.

Every year, children throughout the territory underwent tests for knight and mage talent, with more than half being rejected outright.

The Bloodstone Kingdom was far from egalitarian. Men and women were treated unequally in many aspects of society. For example, women were generally prohibited from joining the army in most jurisdictions. However, exceptions were made for those with Silver-level knight talent or higher. Such individuals, regardless of gender or social status, received the highest-quality training. A noble lord who excluded talented individuals due to gender or wealth risked weakening their forces and falling into irrelevance.

As a result, while the majority of ordinary soldiers were men, nearly half of the knights were women.

The average age to achieve knighthood was 45, and knights could live up to 150 years. However, reaching the Great Knight realm did not extend one’s lifespan. Knights with average-level talent typically had no hope of advancing beyond their rank. For this reason, they often ceased serious training after attaining knighthood, choosing instead to work under noble lords, start families, and secure inheritances for their children.

Becoming a knight at just 15 was nothing short of extraordinary. Even without the system, Edric’s talent alone marked him as a prodigy. His legendary knight talent didn’t guarantee he would one day become a Legendary Knight, but it gave him a realistic hope of breaking through to that exalted realm.

Edric stood before the large mirror in his room and began removing his clothes. The flickering light of scattered candles cast dim shadows, but his enhanced vision allowed him to see every detail of his reflection with perfect clarity.

His body was the epitome of strength—muscles rippled beneath his skin, well-defined and brimming with power. Compared to the peak athletes of his previous life on Earth, his physique was otherworldly.

Beyond his physical transformation, Edric could feel internal energy coursing through him—a hallmark of knighthood. This energy enhanced his attacks, granted bursts of speed, and could even be projected for ranged strikes against opponents.

His senses—touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell—had all been heightened to extraordinary levels. In every physical sense, he was no longer an ordinary human. However, the improvements were limited to his body; his intelligence, thought processes, and spirit remained unchanged.

Although the breakthrough didn’t directly affect his mind, the sheer magnitude of his transformation carried psychological consequences. The rapid surge in strength had begun to influence his mentality. His newfound power brought an overwhelming boost in confidence, fueling wild thoughts and impulses.

Yet Edric wasn’t foolish. He knew his current status was still modest—after all, nearly 100 knights served under his mother’s command alone. Calming himself, he began to think more clearly.

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Edric knew he was still a novice in many ways. As a newly promoted knight, his skills were rudimentary at best. He lacked the experience to utilize his internal energy fully and remained unpolished in critical areas such as swordsmanship, mounted combat, and advanced movement techniques.

However, the sheer power of his physical strength and internal energy gave him a sense of security. For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt capable of protecting himself—without relying on his ever-present bodyguards. In a world where power determined safety, Edric understood that true security could only come from personal strength.

“With my cheat granting me 1,000 XP a day, I’ll reach the rank of Great Knight in just 20 days!” he thought, excitement surging through him.

The Great Knight realm, a step above Knight, was often regarded as the second stage of knighthood. While breaking through required only average talent, the transformation wasn’t revolutionary. The primary difference lay in the significant increase in internal energy volume. Physically, a Great Knight wasn’t much stronger than a Knight.

The rank after Great Knight, however, was Silver Knight—a realm where strength saw a qualitative leap. Silver Knights possessed far superior internal energy and combat capabilities. Yet achieving this rank was nearly impossible without Silver-grade talent. While nearly anyone who reached knighthood could eventually become a Great Knight, only a rare few ascended to the realm of Silver Knights.

Edric suppressed his excitement, careful not to make any noise. The guards stationed outside his room remained oblivious to the transformative moment within. He intended to keep it that way.

“Right now, the most urgent issue is the system task!” Edric muttered as he focused on the glowing panel in his mind. The task was brutally clear: father a biological child within 498 days or face the ultimate penalty—death.

"Mother has already arranged for me to marry Serene, my cousin," Edric thought, his expression darkening. "There’s no way to refuse. Noble families are infamous for marrying within their bloodlines to consolidate power."

The marriage was set for three months from now, but the timeline of the task left him little room for error. A child needed nine months to be born, effectively giving him only four months after the wedding to ensure the task’s success. The possibility of complications or failure was a chilling thought.

"I can’t take any chances," Edric concluded grimly. "To ensure success, I’ll need to secure a few mistresses. If one pregnancy fails, the others will give me a safety net before the deadline."

The logic was sound, but the implications were troubling. His mother, Lyria, would undoubtedly be furious if she discovered his actions. While noble society often turned a blind eye to illegitimate children, the associated risks of scandal and backlash were undeniable. The women involved would also face harsh consequences if their involvement became known. Discretion was paramount.

Thinking of his predecessor’s memories of Lyria and her infamous temper, Edric hesitated. He vividly recalled her punitive ways and couldn’t help but feel a shadow of dread.

"It won’t be easy to hide anything from my bodyguards," Edric mused with a sigh. As the eldest son, he was heavily guarded at all times. At least one knight and five elite soldiers followed him everywhere, even within the palace. His mother had tightened security further since tensions with the Darkwind family had escalated.

Edric’s legendary knight talent made him a valuable asset—and a prime target for assassination. His guards were both a shield and a shackle, safeguarding him while limiting his freedom.

"Perhaps I should wait until I’ve become a Great Knight," he thought. With his cheat accelerating his progress, he could achieve that rank within 20 days. At that level, he would be capable of protecting himself from most threats, including potential assassins. For now, any attempt to dismiss his guards or sneak away was far too dangerous.

"I need to focus on training and improving my skills," Edric resolved. "If I faced another knight now, I’d definitely lose. My strength might be comparable, but my lack of experience and understanding of internal energy would be my downfall."

Determined, Edric set aside his worries. Tomorrow, he would visit the training grounds to seek guidance from his mentor, Sir Baldwin, on mastering internal energy.

Revealing his recent breakthrough as a knight wouldn’t come as a shock—everyone already regarded him as a prodigy. Even so, Edric planned to keep the news quiet. He would ask Sir Baldwin to maintain secrecy, understanding that the fewer people who knew of his progress, the better.

"Maybe I shouldn’t even tell Sir Baldwin," he reconsidered. "I should consult Lyria first about whether it’s safe to reveal my breakthrough."

Yet his predecessor’s memories of his mother made him hesitate. She loomed as an intimidating figure in his mind—a disciplinarian whose approval was hard to earn. Edric felt a deep reluctance to approach her for anything.

As he lay down on his massive bed, the weight of his thoughts pressed heavily upon him. Pulling the covers over himself, he allowed his head to sink into the plush pillow. Exhaustion from his breakthrough lingered, and he drifted into a deep sleep almost immediately.