Level Up: Assassin.

In a grand hall that gleamed like polished obsidian, enormous decorations adorned the walls, giving the impression of a majestic castle. Fifty people, men and women of all ages, stood solemnly, their faces etched with worry.

The muffled sounds of a fierce battle raged outside. Cannons roared, energy beams crackled, and explosions thundered in the distance, shaking the very foundation of the building. Every so often, a warship would hurtle overhead, causing tremors that rattled the ground beneath their feet. Yet, the people inside remained indifferent to the chaos, their eyes fixed on a nondescript steel door at the far end of the hall.

Finally, the steel door hissed open, breaking the tense silence. A woman in a crisp white medical uniform emerged, her face pale and drawn. A tall man with dark, raven hair and piercing silver eyes, Lord Augustus Havensworth, stepped forward. As the leader of the Northern Stargen and the one surrounded by his people, most of whom were his kin, it was clear he held a position of authority.

"Well? How is she? Is everything alright?" Augustus bombarded the woman with questions before she could even utter a word, his voice edged with worry.

"Peace, Lord Augustus," the woman soothed;

"Your wife and son are perfectly healthy."

Augustus froze.

"Wait, did you say...son?" His eyes widened in disbelief.

Without waiting for confirmation, he brushed past the woman and hurried through the steel door, his heart pounding in his chest.

The door opened into a spacious room that had been transformed into a makeshift birthing chamber. In the center lay a beautiful woman with silver hair and sparkling blue eyes, a tiny bundle swaddled in a white blanket cradled in her arms. Two young women, who had been tending to the new mother and child, stood and bowed respectfully as Augustus entered.

"Greetings, Lord Augustus," they chorused.

"Hmm," Augustus replied absently, his gaze fixed on his wife and newborn son. In that moment, they were his entire world, eclipsing everything else.

"Come, come," his wife, Aurora Havensworth, beckoned with a radiant smile.

Augustus obeyed instantly, drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

"Look, isn't he just perfect? He looks just like you," Aurora cooed, her voice filled with love and wonder.

"He is," Augustus whispered, tears welling up in his eyes. To see this tough warrior, a man who had conquered countless enemies and star systems, brought to tears by the sight of his family was a rare and moving spectacle.

"He has your hair," Augustus added, gently stroking the baby's soft silver hair.

As if on cue, the baby's eyes fluttered open, revealing startling silver irises, just like his father's.

"And your eyes," chuckled Aurora, eliciting a rare and genuine smile from her husband.

Their happy bubble was soon broken as the door swung open, and the room filled with well-wishers eager to greet the newest member of their family. Laughter and chatter replaced the previous quiet, creating a joyful atmosphere that belied the war raging just beyond the walls.

____

The joyous reunion lasted for a while longer before everyone finally retreated, allowing the new mother and baby some much-needed rest. Besides, many of them were powerful warriors who had a crucial role to play in defending their home planet.

As the crowd dispersed, leaving Lord Augustus, Aurora, and their sleeping baby in the quiet room, a palpable tension descended upon the atmosphere.

"Things aren't looking good out there, are they?" Aurora finally asked, her voice soft yet heavy with unspoken fear.

Augustus sighed, his grave tone doing little to ease the tension.

"Our men are holding the last line, but it won't hold for much longer."

"What about the other lords?" Aurora pressed, her gaze flickering with a sliver of hope.

"Have any of them responded?"

"Those snakes," Augustus spat, his voice laced with bitterness and anger;

"They've all made their excuses. None of them want to lift a finger to help. Our fall would only benefit them."

Aurora longed to offer words of comfort, but the dire situation left her speechless. She could only steal glances towards the cradle where their newborn son lay, blissfully unaware of the impending doom.

"What about our son? We have to protect him," Aurora's voice trembled with barely suppressed panic.

Augustus fell silent, his inability to offer a solution evident in the defeated slump of his shoulders.

"We have to send him away," Aurora declared, her voice gaining strength from a mother's fierce determination;

"Far away from this madness and bloodshed. He deserves a better life, a chance at a future free from all this."

"But this is his home, his birthright," Augustus began, a flicker of protest in his voice.

"How can I..."

"How can you say that? He's your son!" Aurora whirled around, her previous calmness replaced by a fiery intensity.

"But…"

"No buts, Augustus!" Aurora's voice was laced with steel.

"Prepare him to be sent away, to a place where he can live a normal life. If you won't do it, I will." Her demeanor, now fierce and determined, was enough to make even the most hardened warrior tremble.

Lord Augustus, a man who had stared down countless enemies and emerged victorious, felt a shiver run down his spine. His wife, usually a beacon of peace and serenity, was a force to be reckoned with when angered.

"Alright, alright, I promise, I'll send him away," Augustus conceded, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"But before we do, don't you think we should at least give him a name?" a small smile flickered across his lips.

At his words, the tension seemed to drain away from Aurora, her expression softening back to its usual serenity.

"What about Alastor?" she suggested, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

"Alastor Havensworth."

"Alastor," Augustus echoed, testing the name on his tongue.

"A strong name. Alastor Havensworth it is, then." He leaned down and gently caressed their son's soft cheek.

For a brief moment, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, a shared smile of love and hope passed between them.

_____

Moments later, Lord Augustus emerged from the room, his son, now swaddled in a thick white blanket, cradled securely in his arms. He walked purposefully towards the far end of the hallway, stopping before a heavily guarded door.

"Prepare the escape pod and activate the portal," he commanded the two guards flanking the entrance. Their black armor, radiating an aura of power and menace, did little to ease the grim feeling in the pit of his stomach.

The guards bowed robotically in acknowledgement before moving swiftly to carry out his orders.

Clutching his son close, Augustus stepped out of the grand hall and into the chaos that awaited. The once majestic castle was now overshadowed by the fiery spectacle unfolding in the sky above. A shimmering blue dome, strained to its limits, protected the planet from a relentless barrage of enemy fire.

With a heavy heart, Augustus made his way towards a large spacecraft stationed nearby. It was their only hope. As he approached, he spotted the two guards awaiting his arrival.

Gently placing the tiny baby into the prepared pod, Lord Augustus let out a heavy sigh.

"One hundred percent bloodline activation at birth," he murmured, his voice laced with a mixture of pride and sorrow.

"You truly are your father's son, displaying such extraordinary talent. It's a tragedy you had to be born into this chaos. You would have made a formidable warrior."

His gaze softened, his silver eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"I'm sorry I failed you as a father," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

"I couldn't even keep my promise to your mother, to give you a better life. But this universe is a cruel place, burdening you with such a grim fate."

Augustus gently placed his hand on the baby's chest, a surge of energy flowing from his palm into the sleeping infant.

Wah! Wah!

The baby, jolted awake by the unexpected influx of power, let out a series of distressed cries.

"Even if I can't provide the life you deserve, I can at least grant you a semblance of normalcy." Augustus murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

With another, gentler surge of energy, he sealed away his son's powerful bloodline, ensuring it remained dormant until the time was right. This time, the energy was soothing, lulling the baby back to sleep within seconds.

Once his son was peacefully slumbering once more, Augustus focused his energy, channeling it into his fingertips. A faint glow emanated from his hand, slowly taking the shape of a small, intricate crown. With utmost care, he placed the glowing crown upon his son's forehead, transferring the energy within. A matching mark, a glowing tattoo in the shape of a crown, momentarily appeared on the baby's skin before fading from view.

"The authority of the Death Guard is yours now, my son," Augustus whispered, his voice heavy with the weight of his decision.

"It's the least I can do as your father."

Turning away from the pod, he addressed the two guards who stood flanking the entrance, their dark armor making them appear as silent sentinels.

"From this day forward, I am no longer your master," he declared, his voice ringing with an authority that brooked no argument. The loving father was gone, replaced by the commanding presence of a ruler.

"My authority is bestowed upon my son. He is the only one you answer to. Your loyalty lies with him. You will fight by his side and, if necessary, die for him without hesitation!"

Without a word, the two guards bowed simultaneously, their movements precise and robotic, acknowledging the sleeping infant as their new master.

Augustus nodded in satisfaction before turning back to the pod. Removing a simple necklace from his own neck, a rough-hewn piece of obsidian that seemed almost insignificant compared to his regal attire, he fastened it around his son's neck.

"This has been protected by our ancestors for generations," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion;

"Hold onto it, my son, and may it guide you in their footsteps."

He leaned down, pressing a final, lingering kiss upon the pod's transparent surface.

"Farewell, my precious son, fate has robbed me of the chance to raise you, but perhaps, if the universe is kind, we will meet again," he whispered, his voice breaking with barely suppressed grief.

With a heavy heart, he gestured for one of the guards to approach. The guard, with careful precision, lifted the pod and carried it into the waiting spacecraft. His partner followed closely behind, sealing the entrance behind them.

The spacecraft hummed to life, its engines preparing for departure.

Augustus, his heart aching with a profound sense of loss, raised his hand towards the portal array. A surge of energy erupted from his palm, activating the array.

A swirling vortex of energy materialized before them, a portal large enough to accommodate the city-sized spaceship.

With a bittersweet smile, he watched as the vessel carrying his newborn son, the son he barely knew, vanished into the unknown. It might be forever before their paths crossed again.

Once the spacecraft was safely through, Augustus unleashed another surge of energy, shattering the portal array beyond repair. No one would be able to follow.

As the echoes of the collapsing portal faded, the sound of the protective dome finally shattering echoed across the land. The enemy was upon them.

Augustus's expression hardened, the sadness in his eyes replaced by a steely resolve.

"Time to make those bastards bleed," he growled, his voice now as cold and unforgiving as the coming battle.