A beam of light shone into my eyes, and I slowly closed them, lost in my thoughts.

"Cain?" A gentle voice called my name with warmth and tenderness. I opened my eyes and gazed at the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on. "Mom," I whispered. Missing her warmth embrace.

"What are you doing here? Aizen has been looking for you everywhere," Mom said, slowly approaching me. As she came closer, I embraced her, feeling the warmth I had missed, especially her smile.

Looking above Mom, who was smiling at me after our embrace, I asked, "Mom, do you love me?" Her expression turned to shock. "Of course, I love you, you're my precious son..." she gently caressed my cheek.

Then, she slowly faded away, and for the first time, tears welled up in my eyes.

"Cain!" A voice as annoying as a chicken's screech interrupted my thoughts. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Aizen, drenched in sweat.

"Don't tell me you were dreaming about Aunt again?" he shouted. Annoyed, i hit his head. He winced in pain, rubbing his head where I hit him.

"That hurts, you know!" he complained and kept rubbing his head. I smirked in satisfaction.

"Serves you right," I muttered.

"The test is about to start," Aizen said. I glanced at him, and his face darkened. This test was not as harmless as it seemed. It determined the new successor, the one who would become the Imperial Crown Prince and eventually the emperor. There were seven candidates, each from a different imperial bloodline, and the competition was a deadly game of survival. Now there are only six since I quit.

"I'm not interested, and I think you should quit. Your defeat is inevitable," I said. As I looked at him, tears streamed down his face. Maybe I had been too harsh?

"I mean, Aixer and the others are strong opponents. I was just saying that so you wouldn't get hurt," I explained, attempting to comfort him. I reached out to touch him, but he dodged my hand and looked at me with teary eyes. "Your words hurt even more!" he shouted before running away without looking back. I was only trying to protect him, but I guess I was the one who hurt him even more.

I admit I had been harsh, but I was only stating the truth. Aixer and the others were formidable opponents. As for me, I had no interest in becoming the emperor. Aizen's skill level was still lower compared to Aixer. Aixer could freely control the spirit of fire, while Aizen struggled with the spirit of water.

In our world, there were spirits, such as the spirits of light and darkness, the most powerful ones being the spirits of light and darkness. The spirit of darkness was particularly terrifying. Each child approaching the age of fifteen would be granted a spirit, which they could control or, in the worst cases, be controlled by. I feared something might happen to Aizen, but it was his choice. Once he made his choice, no one could stop him.

I walked away and entered the palace, hurrying to my room. However, I bumped into someone disgusting. Filthy and more annoying than Aizen.

"Aixer..."

"Cain? Fancy meeting you here, or is it a coincidence?" he sneered. My face turned into a poker face, facing an idiot.

"It's not a coincidence. This is where I live too, you nitwit," I rudely replied. His face grew angry, and he seemed ready to do something to me, yet he remained calm. I guess my provoking wasn't enough.

"Hmm... I didn't know you had a sense of humor, Cain. Father told me you wouldn't participate in the test. I understand that you're scared—" he began, but I cut him off.

"Yeah, I quit. I'm just scared that I might kill you if I participated. I don't want to witness Aizen's tears because of the loss of his ugly twin, right? Seeing Aizen cry boils my blood." I sarcastically remarked, a smirk on my face. His expression darkened, and he swiftly punched me. Instead of dodging, I welcomed his punch to my face.

"Cain!" He furiously shouted.

I tilted my head and grinned, asking, "So, how was it?" Confusion filled his face, his eyebrows furrowing. "What?"

"I mean, how was it? Your filthy hands on my perfect face. Did it satisfy you? Well, you're the first ugly person to touch—no, punch me. It must be an honor for you," I chuckled, mocking him. I expected him to punch me again or unleash the spirit of fire, but instead, he gave me a creepy look.

"Ugly..." I whispered.

"Later, you'll regret making fun of me. Mark my words, Cain! Let's see that proud face of yours later!" With that pitiful threat, he walked away. Does he think I'll run away and yell, 'Help me! Some ugly pervert wants to punch me'? If he isn't my cousin I'll gouge his eyes!

"Annoying dogs bark badly. Their saliva is even worse! Filthy."

It was time for the survival test. Aizen still ignored me after my hurtful words. I understood his feelings, so I didn't talk to him either. All I wanted was for him to quit so he wouldn't get hurt. Emperor Kaizer Ace, my uncle, and also Aizen, Aixer, Malia, Thorin, Ashrin, and Lana's father, presided over the test.

Uncle had been quite productive during the nights with the empress and his concubines, resulting in only three failures. Yep, one of the three failures is Aixer!

As the prince and the emperor's only nephew, I sat next to the emperor, his beloved sister's son.

"I'm a little disappointed in you, Cain. I thought you would participate in this test. Your mother would be very proud," Uncle said, facing his children. Sneaky old man, just like father and son.

"I apologize for disappointing you, Your Grace, but I have no plans to become the emperor. As for my mother, I don't think she would let me participate in such a dangerous test, would she?" I replied calmly and wisely, a smirk on the emperor's face showing his amusement.

"The test will begin!" The host shouted loudly, almost deafening. The audience cheered, excited to watch the young princes and princesses before them. "The rules are simple: you must go to the Death Forest and retrieve the black gemstone at any cost. You have three hours. Cheating and killing are strictly forbidden. Those who break the rules will be punished by His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness Prince Cain themselves," the host announced, and the audience clapped enthusiastically, looking like fools.

Looking down, I locked eyes with Aizen. Beside him stood Aixer, who kept giving me a disgusted look. I glared back at him. As the Emperor left his seat for a while, I smirked and discreetly pointed my middle finger at Aixer and smiled.

I glanced at Aizen and whispered into the air, "May the goddess of light, Celine, protect Aizen."

"May the goddess of light, Celine, protect Aizen."

There are six scattered gemstones for each participant. Those gemstones will follow the participants and record all of their actions. In front of us is a large gemstone connected to the six scattered gemstones.

The gemstone in front of us is showing all six of them. My eyes are focused on Aizen and Aixer. Aizen is near a lake, while Aixer is fighting three rapist goblins. Those goblins really get on my nerves. They harass every girl they see.

The others are fighting assassins sent by the emperor. But even though they are assassins, they cannot kill a member of the royal family. The only thing they can do is threaten them to give up their seat as the successor.

Everyone may think that the Emperor is kind, but it's the opposite. He's a scheming old man. My mother's death is still unknown due to a curse placed on her by a dark magic user. If I ever find out who cursed my mother, I swear I'll gouge their eyes out and torture them. Hearing someone scream brings me satisfaction. Then I would slice them into pieces and leave their body near the death forest so that semi-demons and goblins can feast on it. And those relatives of 'that' person, I will erase their existence from this world.

"Cain?" The emperor interrupted my thoughts and I flinched. I glanced at him and noticed his follower staring at me. "Yes, your majesty?" I politely said. "Have you ever thought about your biological father?" My eyes went bigger and it shocked me. I never once thought about my biological father. I calmed myself and answered, "Never once did I think about my biological father, but now that Your Majesty mentions it, I'm having thoughts about him right now. I don't really care about him, maybe by now he's dead."

"Ohh... you really resemble your father and act the way he does, cold and prideful as always..." I flinched. "What?" I glanced and stared at him, waiting for his response. He just smirked and didn't reply. I bit my lower waiting for his response.

"Your Highness, Cain. It is impolite to stare at His Majesty," Ronny, one of his followers, reprimanded. I was angry, so I shifted my gaze to the large gemstone and immediately noticed Aizen crawling in the grass, sporting a bruise on his face. It had only been a few seconds, maybe minutes, since I turned to His Majesty, but I didn't expect Aizen to be injured so quickly.

I examined him closely, trying to determine who had harmed him. My primary suspect was Aixer, but he was preoccupied with battling a weak demon in the other gemstone.

I was so focused that I failed to notice a massive explosion in the Death Forest, even though the gemstone didn't detect it, and to make matters worse, the gemstone was shattered. The audience panicked, but the imperial knights reassured them, ensuring their safety.

"What is going on?" I whispered as I stood up, nervously biting my fingernail while observing Aizen, whose hands were bleeding profusely. Aizen might be in danger with those bruises and the continuous bleeding. I scanned the surroundings, determined to find something helpful.

I spotted a horse near the audience's seats, so I promptly mounted it and couldn't hear what His Majesty had said. I landed safely and then looked up, encountering the furious emperor. "Cain! Where do you think you're going?" The emperor bellowed. He was genuinely angry, but why?

"I'm heading to the Death Forest. I'm afraid Aizen might be seriously hurt," I explained. The people stared at me, shocked that I dared to talk back to their beloved emperor. But he seemed unconcerned, neglecting Aizen and favoring Aixer.

"So what? Come back here. Aizen is fine. Why do you always have to worry?" His remarks darkened my face as I bit my lip again and shouted back at him.

"Forget it! Aizen can't fully control his magic, while his opponents are all formidable, and that explosion just now! It must be the work of your despicable assassins!" All eyes were on me, and it was embarrassing. For a moment, I regretted my words. Even if I despised him, he was still the one who raised me. But still, "Tsk!"

"Cain! Return here immediately! That is an order!" He shouted. I looked away and obediently followed his command. "Yes, Your Grace."

"Your words are unforgivable!" He said, breathing heavily. "I might die from being a parent to all of you." The moment I heard those words, I suppressed the urge to laugh. Parent? What a joke!

Then I flinched, and my eyes widened when another explosion occurred, but this time it was larger than the first, and the forest was ablaze. Only Aixer, Thorin, and Lana had the ability to summon the spirit of fire, but it was more likely to be Aixer. However, Thorin, who recklessly summoned the spirit of fire, could also be responsible.

"Aizen," I whispered. Aizen and I grew up together and were both loved by my mother. Aizen yearned for a mother's love, but the empress couldn't fulfill it, which ultimately led to her death while giving birth to the twins. Aizen always longed for his father's love, while Aixer was always favored by the emperor. One day, when we became close, he visited the mother's palace, but his desperate attempts to be loved by his father never ceased.

It only grew stronger with each passing day. I wished for him to forget about his father, the Emperor, and focus on the life we had, but he persisted in seeking his father's affection. As for me, I never thought about my biological father. And if I did, the only image that came to mind was him lying in his grave.

Aizen is my best friend and also my cousin. Even if I coldly ignore him or say something rude, he is always there for me, always providing comfort.

"It seems that Princess Ashrin failed to retrieve the black gemstone. What a disappointing event," the host said. But on the bright side, Ashrin wasn't around. If she hears about it, she'll throw a tantrum like she always does. She's a spoiled brat, but she's also kind.

I noticed one of my uncle's followers came near him and then the emperor whispered, "Cain."

"Yes, Your Majesty?" I glanced at him, and he pointed at the back. I immediately looked to see who it was, and it was Ashrin crying. "Ashrin wants to talk to her older cousin," said the emperor. I stood up and walked towards Ashrin, who couldn't stop crying. She wiped her tears, slowly but surely.

"Ashrin..."

"Cain, I need to talk to you in private," she said, looking at the man behind me. The man noticed and bowed before leaving the two of us. "I need your help," she said desperately.

"The reason why I exploded in the Death Forest was because of Aixer. He threatened to kill me, so when he was busy fighting some goblins and semi-demons, I ran away. He also mentioned that he would kill the others. Even if I say this to Father, he would never believe me. The favorite is always him. I loathe him," she said and complained. I didn't say anything and just listened to her.

I was shocked when she kneeled in front of me. "Wha—"

"Save them..." she pleaded.

"Why would I?" I uttered. She looked above me, and both her eyes went big. "W-Why?"

"Yes, why would I bother to save someone useless? Isn't it better for them to die? It also benefits you, no one to compete anymore?!" I coldly said and waited for her response. I was expecting her to cry or beg more, but to my shock, she stood up and punched my face fast. She grabbed me by the collar and faced me desperately.

"Because they're your cousins, that's why I begged you to save them! You're truly a tyrant," she said, her voice filled with anger and frustration. Before she could hit the ground, she fainted, and I quickly caught her, preventing any harm. I called out for assistance, urgently summoning Ronny to my side.

"Ronny!" I shouted, and as he approached, I gently handed Ashrin over to him, aware of her exhaustion. "Take her to the palace and summon her maids," I instructed Ronny, my concern evident in my voice. With Ashrin in capable hands, I turned my attention towards the emperor, making my way towards him with a respectful bow.

"I wish to venture into the Death Forest," I declared, facing the emperor directly. "I desire to participate in the upcoming events."

"You are no longer eligible to participate," he interrupted, attempting to dismiss my request. However, I countered with a statement that seemed to infuriate him.

"Even as the emperor, you must abide by the rules set forth by the elders. As a member of the royal family, I too have the right to freely participate. The only restriction is during the conclusion of the test," I calmly explained, asserting my knowledge of the empire's laws and regulations. Eventually, the emperor relented, granting me permission to participate. I was grateful for my thorough study of the empire's legal system, which proved advantageous in this situation. Additionally, I found a particular rule intriguing and wished to explore its possibilities.

As I sprinted towards the Death Forest, a piercing scream reached my ears, compelling me to change direction and investigate. To my surprise, I discovered Malia, cornered by a group of goblins. I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of the situation. Both Malia and the goblins noticed my presence.

"It's a pleasure to see you, Malia," I chuckled, looking down at her. In a fit of anger, she hurled a stone at me, but I swiftly evaded it. Three goblins charged towards me, while the others remained near Malia. With calculated precision, I dispatched each goblin, their blood staining my clothes. I glanced at Malia, who had successfully defeated the remaining goblins, her breaths heavy and labored.

"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity. Leaning against a nearby tree, I paused and replied, "Let's just say I decided to participate." Her laughter filled the air as she mocked my cowardice. However, her expression abruptly changed as she locked eyes with me.

"Malia... never forget that you are merely the child of a maid. Even if you are the emperor's offspring, you are still considered illegitimate. Know your place," I stated confidently before continuing on my way.

"How dare you!" she shouted, her anger evident. I glanced back at her, and she was seething with fury. "What makes you so special? So what if my mother is a maid? And what about you? Aren't you also an illegitimate child?" Instead of becoming enraged, I approached her, whispering softly, "Illegitimate child? The eyes are the windows to the soul, and I possess the ability to discern truth from lies. The emperor's reaction when my biological father was mentioned earlier was not his usual demeanor."

Taking three steps back, I smiled at her. "This suggests that my father holds a higher rank. Otherwise, how would the emperor be acquainted with him? There is an 80 percent chance that what I am saying is true. So, shall we make a wager? Is my biological father truly of a higher rank? Calling me an illegitimate child is absurd," I challenged. Malia stepped back, her throat dry as she swallowed nervously. Satisfaction filled me as I witnessed her reaction. I continued on my way but paused midway, glancing back at her.

"Oh, and by the way, it is true that I am a coward. I fear that I might end up killing you," I uttered those words, causing her to gasp for air. Despite my disdain for her, she was still my cousin, so I erected a protective barrier around her unconscious form.

As I walked away, I noticed a flower and smirked mischievously. Plucking it from the ground, I set it ablaze with my own hands. Just as I was about to depart, I found myself surrounded by vile demons and goblins, including the forest's formidable protector and creator.

To him, every human was a threat to the forest, and the only way to draw him out was through his beloved flowers. It seemed that no one dared to challenge him, as the flowers remained untouched. "You wretched human! How dare you defile my flower! I shall grant you a death wish! I will kill you!" he bellowed, soaring towards me. I swiftly turned and fled, a smirk of satisfaction adorning my face.