Book 1 - Chapter 1: I am a cheat!? Wait! I’m an Imperial Prince too!

2023, May 05. There was this man of age 31, he could be seen inside an apartment with dim lit lights from his monitor screen. He was playing an action mmorpg MOBA game. "F*ck this jungler! I almost got their midlaner! What the h*ll was that blink!?"

The man shouted. He was too irritated, he reached out towards his left side and grabbed the can of energy drink. It was his 10th already.

"Ugghhhh….." This man already felt his nerves to be quite abnormal but he still gulped what was left within the can. "Shhhhhaaaaa~~! Let's go back and make a comeback!" He said.

A few minutes into his return game, he suddenly felt both of his hands to be shaking uncontrollably and seemed to be numbed. His mind ran fast and then he realized what has happened. He has a nervous attack! Right after, his chest begun to beat like they were being hit so hard.

As soon as that happened, he knew what's going to happen next. He'll die of heart attack. Recent reports from news already told the public about abused drinking of energy drinks and its after effects. And most victims were gamers.

And this time, he was the one who has begun hunted by it. "W-w-we-l-l… T-hi-s i-s i-t..." *Phluck* *Bam!* The man dropped hard on the floor while his teammates were kept on shouting in their voice chat on what happened to him.

The man didn't realize that he was in for a luck of his life… in his next life.

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

In a different universe, a man garbed in luxurious clothing has an anxious expression. It was due to his wife's delivery of their child. His 10th child from his 5th wife. This man was Carl Von Windsor IV and the emperor of a large empire. Half of the continent was under his rule.

Despite having good cultivation level, his wife still had difficulties on delivering their child which was quite unusual. Which was why he made the imperial doctors check on his wife to see what was wrong, but, as the doctors checked, there was nothing they could find except for the high level of energy stored within the imperial concubine's belly which was greatly praised by the doctors.

After grueling months, his wife was able to deliver but the effect was too much as his wife was grunting and making too much noise due to pain. Unbearable pain. He looked at her and never saw such expressions from his lovely concubine. It was pure of pain and anguish, like she was being burned alive.

Fortunately, it didn't last too long and a son was sired.

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

5 years has passed since the baby was born and now, the little child, dressed in a cute luxurious robe, could be seen walking slowly within a yard specified to the emperor's concubine.

Unknown to them, this child was that man who died on earth due to excessive drinking of energy drinks.

"Ah… it's good to be able to walk early." The little child thought.

"Ah! Little Eric! Don't go far away! You could get injured accidentally!" A woman quickly ran towards the child, who was named Eric, and hugged. He was lifted and carried by the woman.

This woman was the one who sired the little child, her name was Fiona Teressa Middleton, she was a noblewoman from a different kingdom, quite far from her husband emperor's empire. However, due to the emperor's love at first sight to her, she was then proposed by the emperor himself and had her as his concubine.

As for the little child, yes, he was named Eric, Eric Middleton Windsor IX. The same name of his late great-great-great grandfather. The man he was named after has been the strongest of his time. He had reached the pinnacle of this planet, which was the stage 10th of the World Realm. However, he died when he was making a crossing between the World and Void realms. The heavenly tribulation he met was just too unfair for people at the time as the power of that tribulation has destroyed at least half of the continent's land, reason why the other half of Eric's father's empire was in disarray for thousands of years and has been the haven of strong criminals as well as high level beasts.

Going back to the main character, he has now reached the age of cultivation talent testing. So, in a few days, he will be presented to his father and he will be tested for his cultivation talent.

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

4 days passed and Eric was brought along by his mother to meet his father, the emperor. When they entered the palace, Eric saw many people inside, he recognized some and mostly not. He knew that there would be his siblings present but he has yet to meet them since he was born so he was clueless. He just followed his mother and when they reached the throne, he saw his majestic father, wearing a gold laced robe looking like a nobility of those old royalties on earth.

"Oh wow… so this is what an emperor looked like?" Eric's expression was plain but his inner self was already amazed by his father's energy and look. His father has a handsome face that could reach those big actors in Hollywood!

"Would I become the same as good looking as him!? Wait… my mother is also a beauty that can rival beauty queens of earth! Then…" Eric clenched his fist hard.

Unbeknownst to him, he was actually being tested by his father by releasing its energy towards him. Concubine Fiona was also worried about her child but as soon as all of the eyes within that hall ended towards Eric's facial expression as well as his clenched fist, they were all shocked!

"How could that child bear such an energy!?" That was what all they had thought of. Truly, how could a five years old kid bear such massive energy? Who could do that? No one! Only the emperor's son could! And its in front of them!

As for Eric? He was actually daydreaming of his future self. His clenched fists also slowly relaxed. As a coincidence, that's when his father's energy receded.

"Hahahahaha! Continue the test!" The emperor was in delightful mood. He knew that his son was not an ordinary child! He was destined for something great! How could his son bear such massive energy from him? A stage 6 World Realm cultivator at that! He actually used a soul realm energy, but still, with his level, that soul realm energy should have made some earth realm cultivators on their knees!

The laugh of the emperor also snapped Eric back to reality. Eric wondered, "Huh? Why was my father laughing suddenly? Is he crazy or something? Are people of this world crazy too?" *sweats*

Two old men walked towards Eric and they stood in front of him and they both put forward their hands towards Eric. Energies could be seen created on those hands. Eric, on the other hand, felt something heavy. He felt like the gravity of the world was getting stronger, suddenly, he quickly fell from his standing position. He was surprised of what was going on, he blurted, "What-.."

His father quickly said, "Relax my child, let them pour the energy unto you, this will be good for you."

As soon as Eric heard it, he realized quickly what was going on, as a gamer, he was also an addict novel reader and has read almost everything the internet can offer so, on those stories, there were some that has talent activation plots where children must be gathered and a teacher will activate their talents as well as elements. "This could be of the same way? Right?" He thought.

Despite the heavy feeling, he persevered.

Time flew by so fast, the process of talent activation has finished. The energy released by the two old men receded and both walked back to their previous positions.

As for Eric, he kept on sitting unenergetically, as if all of his power were seeped out of his body. He even saw his own skin smoking. That kept on for a few minutes until no smoke appeared from his whole body.

He stood up and gazed towards his father and all the people around him. "Huh?" He was curious as all of them were whispering to each other while his father was just looking at him with wide eyes.

"What did I do now?" Eric thought.

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

"This kid…" The emperor uttered a disbelief tone.

An old man came right beside him and said, "Your imperial majesty, his imperial prince talent…"

"I know… only heavenly grade." The emperor's sighed in disappointment.

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

"Little Eric, are you okay?" Fiona asked while carrying the little Eric.

"I'm okay mother! What was wrong with all those people?" Eric asked.

"They were just surprised by your talent dear. Just don't mind them." Fiona said. Her expression was full of pity though.

Eric saw it but didn't comment. He knew something went wrong.

[to be continued]