It was a long time ago, we, The Gracia family was the strongest family of the Kingdom, are currently on a downfall.

My wife, Almira is impotent, meaning that we can't have a successor for my position and i don't want to take any concubines so Me and Almira decided to adopt a son to continue me. We found one talented boy from the streets he was 5 years old back then, he's pretty handsome and mature for his age, he's an orphan trying to keep living, facing hardships wherever he goes.

At that time, he somehow offended a noble and are being harassed by the noble's guards, we stepped in and saved the boy, offering him to be our Foster son, we haven't told him that we are the strongest family in the kingdom at that time since it's not really useful to tell him that then.

He accepts the offer and he became our son, he was named Ray, we gave him lost of care and love since we had always dreamed of having a child, we pamper him a lot, dote on him and more. He kept his tough attitude even when he's living in riches. We saw potential dwelling inside of him so we gave him an aptitude test to measure his talent, and sure enough, he's talented. He have a high grade fire and air aptitude.

In the next 20 years, he was already 25 years old, we had trained him, giving him the best tutor and skill books, herbs, and more to enhance his power. He reaches level 170 at that time.

Our family prosper even more in that era, with Ray leading my family, no one can stand a chance in the kingdom, we might also have a chance to be a noble family in the Empire. But all of that ends on one faithful night...

Ray.....he tried to assassinate me and Almira, His parents! Luckily Almira's senses are really sharp, sharper than my own and block the attack but that didn't end there. Ray managed to land a big spell on to my chest, making me feel weak.

The guards came in 5 seconds after the clash making Ray leave the room, his face seemingly disappointed....

The guards saw my wounded chest and started calling in the healers, somehow Ray managed to get a fire spell that negates healing powers, he may have learned it or used a scroll to use the spell, either way it's a deadly skill... making my chest wound un-healable and almost made me permanently weaker.

The next day, news spread that Ray, our son has joined the Black Empire's no.2 Noble family by marrying the family's second daughter and cutting off all ties with the Gracia family. My wounded state had also spread far and wide, making the kingdom's other noble family commence an attack on my family.

Our family was slaughtered one by one, we do have lots of elders and guards to defend but facing 2 powerhouses from the other 2 noble family means the end. We could probably fend off one of the family with Almira and the elders but not 2...

That day, me and Almira are sitting on our throne room, accepting our fates that the Gracia family will cease to exist tomorrow, just because of the sudden betrayal of our foster son, no the demon. We don't know how to feel, we loved Ray so much, spending tons of money just to make him stronger and experienced enough to control my family, but what did we get in return?

While we were crying over our poor decision on taking Ray as our son or our bad parenting, or maybe both, both the powerhouse of each family came in, looking for us with sharp gazes, they readied their weapons, Me and Almira can only accept our faith and receive the attack....

Suddenly a loud bird cry resounded throughout the Kingdom, making all of us even me freeze for 10 seconds, unable to move while both powerhouses have fear plastered on their face and started leaving the room the second they regain their body, seemingly not caring about us anymore....

Both of us are relieved and scared at the same time, relieved since the powerhouses left and scared of the one who cried the sound.

20 seconds later, something went straight into our throne room, it's speed is so fast that even me nor could see it coming here at all! When the dust brought by the thing cleared out, we could see a bird, no, a Phoenix, that's right, a phoenix carrying 2 babies on top of it....

The phoenix then suddenly transformed into a human, a man with a big stature, short hair and a bushy beard while wearing a flame robe, making him look majestic and powerful.

The man came in front of us and asks

"Do you want a second chance?"

[A/sS, (Author's Small Spoiler) just a fun fact, at first i made Ray level 300 when he's 25 YO but it won't make sense in the long run so i lowered it...by a lot hehe]