Echoes of Ice and Iron - Chapter 27: Trust Forged or Faltering

Eighty years ago, an alien war broke out in Earth’s orbit. A powerful fugitive known as Tree was pursued by an extraterrestrial force. In the battle’s aftermath, the fugitive’s heart merged with Earth’s core, giving rise to a massive tree—marking the dawn of superpowers.Awakening. A phenomenon where humans gained extraordinary abilities. Seventeen years later, nearly everyone had awakened… except a few. Those who failed were called Rejecters, the lowest in society.Zane Carter was born into infamy. The son of a fallen superhero-turned-supervillain, he faced discrimination from birth. He dreamed of being a hero, but his father’s sins made him an outcast. Even after rigorous training, his Awakening failed. Rejected by the Hero Academy, ridiculed, and cast aside—his fate seemed sealed.Until one day…[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]Welcome, User. You have been selected as the recipient of the Borderline Supervillain-Slash-Hero System.Generate your first skill? Y/NWith his newfound system, Zane is given a choice: become the hero they never wanted him to be… or the villain they always feared.

He wants indoor plumbing. They think he’s conquering the world.Arthur was a genius engineer on Earth, capable of optimizing global logistics and automating entire factories. But he lacked one thing: common sense. Now, reincarnated as Arthur von Pendelton, the six-year-old son of a powerful Duke in a medieval fantasy world, he faces his greatest challenge yet: Drafts.Armed with the T.E.C.H. Interface (Trans-Epochal Construction Heuristic), Arthur can analyze magic like code and build modern technology from scratch. His goals are simple: Double-glazed windows, hot showers, and a toaster that doesn't burn the bread.But there is a problem. The people of this world don't understand engineering.He builds a high-pressure boiler for a bath; his father thinks it’s a “Dragon-Breath Siege Weapon.”He creates a hydroponic garden; the local church declares him the God of Harvest.He ignores a Princess's flirting to analyze the thread count of her dress; she thinks he is playing “hard to get.”Follow Arthur as he accidentally industrializes a kingdom, terrifies his enemies with home appliances, and remains completely oblivious to the fact that he is becoming the most powerful man in history.All he wanted was a warm bath.

“When am I getting a new mom? ”

Maya choked and sputtered on her drink getting herself into a coughing fit while I was quite startled but showed no other reaction other than that. I was expecting it anyway

Maya got herself after some moments “You! ” She bellowed “That's no way to tal-” I dismissed Maya with a wave of my hand fixing my attention on my dear daughter .

“Why? ” I asked exuding an authoritative aura with an arrogant smile tugging at a corner of my lips

Isabelle smiled back at me, a fierce determination to win this battle evident on her face “I need a motherly figure ”

“And? ”

“Girls just want their mom sometimes ”

“And? ”

“Need someone to talk boys stuff with”

“You can always discuss it with me” I blurted out without even realizing it and the reply I got was an awkward cough from Maya and a death stare from my daughter.

“Well, we can always compromise on that ” I tried minimizing the damage done. Why does it all go south when it comes to boy's stuff?

Isabelle stood up abruptly and banged her hand hard against the table almost knocking some dishes over in the process “Just admit it!What makes you think you can be able to handle me in my rebellious teenage years? ”

I wanted to reply when I heard Maya murmur beneath her breath “As if you aren't rebellious enough now? ”

I smirked,she was definitely the perfect match for Isabella and I had the perfect plan in mind.

“So let's say I agree, who do you want for a mother? ”I said throwing the ball in her court and hoping she'll make the right choice “Tina? or.....? ”

Isabelle stared at me skeptically, obviously wondering if I was sincere or playing around. So I focused my intense and get down to business gaze on her and in a few moment, her lips twitch upward in a smirk , as if we were communicating telepathically, she said

“I want her” Isabelle announced pointing at an absent minded female entertaining herself with a grilled chicken and quite oblivious to what was going on. I smiled, Isabelle was surely my blood

“Fine by me ”I agreed knowing just how much Isabelle values promises “ I have to keep my own part of the deal then ”

I excused myself before turning to discover the horror on Maya's face but that didn't stop me, instead I added more fuel to the fire

“let's get married”

~~~~

Maya was never special especially not like her sister Kim who seem to have everything.

Nik Spencer a world known professional player, a chronic heartbreaker and the only man immune to love.

But fate seems to play a lot of twists as they both cross paths and she ends up being his daughter's Nanny.

Will she end up as one of the many women on his bed ?

Is Niklaus really immune to love?

Well, read to find out.

This story follows the rise of a regular small time criminal who had the odds against him his entire life.Just when things looked like they were about to come to an end for him, he received the power to turn his life around.Ambitious, Cruel, Manipulative, Cunning and now...Powerful.Follow his story as he makes a name for himself and grows as both a being and an organization by any means necessary, the likes of which the universe has never seen.