Chapter 263: 3.20 TLOC (10)

Zander woke up early and went for his morning run, arriving home to practice his martial arts. He proceeded to his workout area in the basement and lifted weights for every section of his body, as well as push-ups, crunches, squats, etc. for another two hours. He wiped himself off and walked over to the dojo in the next room.

He picked up the training sword and practiced on the self-repairing magical dummies on SSS rank. After obliterating 5 of them by parrying, striking, blocking and infusing magic with his attacks, he increased the number. He repeated this until he was up to 50 training dummies. He defeated them all without a problem using a combination of magic, swordskill and martial arts. Teleporting helped him get out of the stickiest situations. After two hours, he called it a morning.

He practiced this exact routine since he was 3 years old. After breakfast, he would shower, then spend the next 4 hours studying about whatever he wanted in his parents massive library. It contained a nearly unlimited amount of books, continuously updated from different planets or new scripture from the gods themselves.

After lunch, he practiced his magic, including jumping through realms to Limbo, the Underworld and Paradise. If he needed to make a quick escape, he could quickly trace a portal, jump through it, snap his fingers while thinking 'close,' and he would be free from danger.

"Zander, come eat breakfast with us." Athena shouted down the stairs.

"Sounds good, coming mom!"

Zander excitedly sprinted up the stairs, arriving to magical decorations, a "Happy 18th birthday" floating sign, as well as his mother and father sitting down with a table filled with eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, pancakes, ham, toast and salmon.

"Happy birthday!" His parents cheered.

"Love you Zander," His parents said.

"Thanks so much for the awesome breakfast and decorations! I love you two!"

They ate while reminiscing about his younger years, how much he'd grown and how much he aided in keeping Paradise a place of the worthy souls. Zander expressed his concerns about interacting with people and they encouraged him to talk to people like he'd talk to Zephyra, as they were best friends from birth and much less formal than the interactions he had with goddesses and gods.

"I remember the first time you tried flying. You fell flat on your face and felt so sad!" Athena gushed, remembering her toddler son with small wings.

"He got right back up and never stopped trying, though. Every night he'd train with her, sometimes he'd even sneak out when he should be sleeping just to get a flight in!" His father added.

After dinner is when he'd train with his companion, who lived inside of him. He could use her as an extension of his body, activate her eyes, wings, magic or fully transform into her Phoenix form. He could also let her out and attack as a duo. She was special and he was the only god with a beast.

"Yes I agree she is definitely my best friend. It's nice we can speak telepathically whether she is inside my body or out on her own," Zander said cheerfully.

"Well you two have definitely taken your training seriously. You've been so easy to raise Zander I hope you know how much your father and I appreciate what amazing son and god you truly are."

They finished eating and he noticed his father's gift was sitting on the counter.

"Well, go on then!" They cheered.

Zander stood up, took a deep breath and within seconds, his entire set covered him and his sword appeared in his right hand, so he grabbed it with his left to avoid an awkward grip. He was strong enough to hold it with one hand, but with the sudden surge in energy and power he felt, he wanted to know more about the buffs his father mentioned the night prior.

"What did you mean by buffs when my set is complete? Do I need the sword as well?"

"No, try putting it in your dimensional space in the case and see what happens."

"I just feel extremely light, like I'm just in regular clothes."

"Good. You won't run out of physical energy and you will passively regenerate your health if you aren't in danger or taking damage. This suit is designed for the fight with the Val'Kreen, but you should wear it whenever you feel the need or want to practice fighting with it. Remember, it's an extension of your body so use it as such."

"Awesome, thanks dad!"

His mother cleared the table and asked Zander to walk out back, where she performed her formal blessing on him to interact and interfere with planetary affairs. He tingled when she finalized the process and felt the urge to leave to Earth immediately. The blessing ensured all of his godly power remained when he left the heavenly realm and entered the lower dimensional plane of the Universe.

"Is that normal mother? I wanted to have my birthday here with you two."

"I love you son, but it's time for your descent. There is a nice home for you between the demon and human territories. You know Earth well, you've studied it your whole life. You can't do this alone, Zander, and you must remember that Earth is not like Paradise. It is not as quiet and peaceful, but maybe you'll fall in love or what it means or feels like to be alive. I love you and can't wait to see you again. I know you can do this!" Athena said while giving him a large hug.

"You can always pray if you want me to hear from you." She said while tears lightly fell from her beautiful golden eyes.

"I will, every night mom. I love you and I'll miss you too."

He wiped his moms tears away with a cloth he pulled from his dimensional space.

His father walked outside, hugged him, told him he loved him and wrapped his arm around Athena.

"I'll miss you both," he frowned.

"I love you very much. Wish me luck!" Zander said while quickly drawing a portal to Earth and walking through it. He was already in his front yard and snapped his fingers.

'This is going to be really weird.'

*****

He walked to his front door and turned the handle.

He walked into a large living area with nice furniture, with walls painted white and fancy pictures hanging from them. He walked into his kitchen and saw the refrigerator was full with fresh food and his favorite sports drink and smiled. 'Mom always thinks of me,' he thought while continuing to check out his one story home. It included a master bedroom, workout room, a room with a computer, cell phone, and note from his parents.

"Learn to use these. Your number is 262-652-3938. Your computer pin is 0328. It is up to date with all the latest technology on Earth. It's the year 2242 and your house has an automated security system and everything, including your refrigerator, has technology that will allow you to research the internet, send messages… you can learn the rest. The Royal Five have a meeting tomorrow at 7:00 PM at their normal location in the center of Earth so all races have an equal distance to travel. The location is in your phone's GPS. They don't know you're coming, and don't hesitate to point out anyone who is evil. -Your parents."

'If by pointing out she means kill, then yes, I will probably point them out.'

"You can't think like that here. If you just go around killing everyone, the war will just get worse." Zeyphra politely scolded him telepathically, like they always communicated.

"Yes, that's true, but what area should I check out first?"

"Demons. That was the race you paid the least attention to while growing up and a young adult I don't think you watched them at all."

"Ok, we'll head there after I do my morning routine."

"You're going to have to change that routine, Zander. You can run and work out, but I don't think you need much more practice with fighting. Your skills and abilities are unrivaled, even by the gods."

"That makes sense." He frowned before he had a fun idea

"Wanna fly?"

"Do you really have to ask me that?!"

Zander smiled and locked his front door. He sprouted beautiful white wings with purple highlights and took off into the Earth's air.

'Feels so much heavier here than Paradise, but the air is nice!'

He continued flying southwest, flipping, spinning and screaming, "Woooooooooo." The echo made him smile and he decided to fully transform into a phoenix.

'Nothing echoes in Paradise, that's so cool!'

In the demon kingdom, a beautiful and strong young woman with black hair, black eyes with pink pupils, and a beautiful body stared off into the nighttime sky.

"Why is there a phoenix flying over here? That's weird." She whispered, avoiding getting caught. She snuck out of her castle's bedroom again.

"I wonder if he is an ability user or something more?" She muttered in the midnight air.