Alpha Reborn!

[Ding! Congratulations on securing victory over Eric Frostweaver. You get +100 experience points. You have defeated your bully. You will get an additional reward for your bravery. You gained +40 EXP]

[The second task of the mission [Slippery Slush Smackdown!] completed!]

[Gained +1 Skill Upgrade Card!]

The System's notification echoed in Evan's mind, its melodious tone bringing a smile to his face.

Evan stood at attention in front of the assembled personnel of the Frost Clan, his head held high and his shoulders back. The cold wind whipped through the training ground, but he didn't feel it. All he could feel was the rush of victory surging through his veins.

"I won the duel of obedience fair and square," Evan announced in a booming voice, making sure his words carried to the very edges of the training ground and rang in the ears of everyone present. "As per the rules, Eric is now demoted to the status of my slave and will be registered as such."

The air was heavy with tension as Evan's words sank in.

Some members of the frost clan looked at him with respect and admiration, while others glared at him with hatred and anger.

"You can't do that," a stern voice cut through the tense atmosphere, interrupting Evan's triumphant speech. It was a middle-aged man with a stern expression and piercing eyes.

Evan recognized him as Garth, an elder of the clan.

"Why not?" he asked, his tone sharp.

Garth took a step forward, his eyes locked with Evan's. "Because it's not right. Eric is a frostweaver, and he deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. He doesn't deserve to become someone's slave."

Evan's eyes narrowed in response. He despised being schemed against, especially by someone who was fed by his family but still acted like a dog for the minor families. However, he knew he couldn't simply walk away and ignore Garth's words, or else bad rumors would spread about him in the clan. He had to give a valid reply, or the situation would turn unfavorable for him.

He didn't want to bicker with Garth, but the latter had forced his hand.

"You must be going senile. I am not just "someone." I am the crown prince of Frost, and by the authority vested in me by the Frost Clan, I can demote anyone, even an elder like you, to the status of a slave if I have a valid reason! And I am demoting Eric based on the fact that he lost a sacred duel, granting me the power to decide his life! If you have a problem with that, go and complain to the Grand Patriarch or the punishment hall elders. But if you dare to stop me again, it will be considered rebellion. Do you want to rebel, Garth?" Evan said with sharpness.

Garth flinched and lowered his head, "No, I don't dare."

"I thought so," Evan chuckled.

He then ordered his servants to take Eric away and tend to his wounds. He couldn't wait to see Eric's face when he woke up and realized he was no longer Evan's equal but his slave.

"As you wish, your highness," the servants said as they put Eric on a stretcher and carried him away.

Evan thought: I have got what I came here for. With the quest successfully accomplished, there is no longer any reason for me to linger in the training ground.

He strode out of the arena with his entourage of eunuchs and maids trailing behind him. The air seemed to part for him as he walked, his presence commanding the respect of those around him.

'It's good to be reborn,' Evan thought.

After recalling his previous life, he matured overnight. He had transformed into someone superior, someone worthy of admiration and reverence. His metamorphosis was so profound that he felt as though he had been reborn.

The change became more profound when he struck down Vera.

After that moment, he was no longer just a pathetic little prince, but a force to be reckoned with.

He felt proud of the man he had become.

He had become someone who not only instilled fear in those who dared cross him but was also respected by those who had eyes and could see Mt. Tai.

"Girl, he's coming. Time to make your move," Ylva nudged Annika, who stood frozen at the entrance of the training ground.

Annika's eyes were fixed on the approaching figure - it was Evan, the man she had been waiting for. Her heart raced as she realized that this was the moment she had been preparing for, for years. But now that it was finally here, she couldn't muster the courage to greet him.

As Evan walked past her, Annika tried to say "Hi," but her nerves got the best of her. She felt like a statue, unable to move or speak, as silly as a broken recorder.

Ylva watched Annika's frozen state with resignation and sighed. He had seen this before. Young, inexperienced maidens often find themselves overwhelmed in the presence of their future husband. He didn't expect that his best friend would also be like that.

Ylva stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Annika's shoulder. "Listen, girl, if you can't even say hello to him, how do you expect to get together with him? I know how overwhelming it can get when you are in the presence of the person you love, but you need to overcome it. If you don't, you won't be the one getting together with His Highness Evan. Next time, you need to summon all the courage you have and make a move, or else someone else will beat you to it." He said firmly but kindly.

Annika looked up at Ylva, her eyes wide with anxiety. "But what if he doesn't like me? What if I mess it up? What if I come off as a loose woman?" she said, expressing her fears.

Ylva reassuringly grabbed Annika's hand and said, "You'll never know unless you try. And trust me, His Highness is a good man. He is known for being kind and gentle. He'll appreciate your honesty and your efforts. Just be yourself and give it your best shot."

With those words of encouragement, anyone would be positively affected.

Annika looked up at Ylva, feeling grateful for his guidance. "But how do I do it?" she asked, her voice quivering.

Ylva smiled reassuringly. "You just need to believe in yourself and your abilities. Remember your love for him, and let that drive you forward. His Highness is just a man, after all. He won't bite."

Annika nodded, taking in Ylva's words. She knew that she couldn't let her nerves get the best of her if she wanted to win Evan's heart and become his bride.

"Next time, for sure, I will introduce myself properly to His Highness Evan."

...

On their way back to the manor, Seraphine just wouldn't stop pestering Evan.

"Wow, your highness, you really showed those Frost Clan prodigies who's boss. The elders are going to be shaken when they hear about it. You haven't even awakened your soul plate yet, but you still managed to take down two of the top 10 youngest-gen talents. Your future is looking bright. Maybe the whole clan will even side with you when you finally awaken your soul plate," Seraphine chirped, but Evan could feel the bitterness emanating from her, even without seeing her expression.

The Frost Clan was massive, and Evan's generation was still considered the youngest. Eric and Jack were practically his peers in age, with only a few years of difference between them.

Evan let out a sigh, feeling the weight of his future on his shoulders.

"Once my soul plate is awakened, there won't be any peace," he murmured cryptically, confusing everyone listening in.

Seraphine was curious and asked, "What do you mean?"

"You won't understand even if this prince told you. Now let you continue the rest of the walk in silence. We no longer want to continue listening to your incessant chatters, Havelock." Evan said authoritatively.

Seraphine noticed that he referred to himself as "This Prince," a term he only used when he was in no mood for jokes. Understanding this, she decided to keep her mouth shut and avoid further annoyance, knowing he would retaliate otherwise.

Evan knew that he would be awakening a Control-Type soul plate that was considered pathetic by the empire's standards.

In the empire, cultivators were classified into several types based on the soul plate they awakened.

There were Defensive, Offensive, Sensory, Special-type, and Control Type Cultivators.

For example, Seraphine was a sensor, and her soul plate made her extremely sensitive to all types of energy, including a person's life force. Eric Frostweaver, on the other hand, was a defensive-type cultivator, and his soul plate added a defense effect to all his skills.