Months passed in the land of Arourian. Marcus—now Aethonix—had leveled up from a floppy meat potato to a crawling rock gremlin. He could *barely* drag himself across the ground like a heroic inchworm, but hey—progress is progress.
His system HUD had stayed maddeningly silent.
> "Still no new powers," Aethonix thought, sighing dramatically. "All I've got is immortality. What am I supposed to do with that, arm wrestle time?"
For a while, he began to think maybe that was it. Maybe he was just a very durable caveman baby.
Then one day, something happened.
While gnawing on a stick (because, y'know, baby instincts), a pop-up *finally* flashed in front of his face.
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**Congratulations!**
**You've survived your first year!**
**Happy Birthday, Aethonix!**
**New Ability Unlocked: Cryokinesis**
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He blinked.
> "No way. Cryokinesis? Bro... I'm Aokiji now? *Arara~ Ice Age!*"
His little baby brain went full anime mode. He immediately clicked the glowing word to open the description like a hyper kid unwrapping a birthday present.
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**Cryokinesis**
*The user has absolute control over all forms of ice. Create, manipulate, and weaponize it. Summon blizzards. Slide through frozen terrain. Become fully ice-elemental. Basically, Elsa meets Sub-Zero meets the Arctic itself.*
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> "Okay… okay this is *crazy*. I'm like a Devil Fruit user but without the annoying swimming curse. I'm literally immortal *and* I've got ice powers. I'm a 1-year-old with endgame stats. What now? Create a glacier and open an ice cream shop?"
### **Xylareth's POV (Mom Mode)**
Xylareth was minding her own business, skinning some animal hide like a seasoned prehistoric queen, when she heard a *crackle*.
She turned.
Her baby was holding… glowing shards of ice in his hands.
> "WHAT IN THE GODS—"
She dropped the skin and bolted, her golden eyes wide as dinner plates.
> "KRAELOS!!! OUR SON HAS MAGIC ICE HANDS!!!"
Moments later, a booming voice echoed down the cave corridors.
> "WHAT?!" *thud thud thud*
Enter Kraelos: Arourian chad, beast-slayer, and professional bear lifter. He stormed into the cave with a giant bone axe and saw his son, sitting casually, tiny hands swirling with cold mist.
He blinked.
> "…The gods have clearly blessed our child. Or cursed him. Either way—he's awesome."
Then he grinned and did what any proud tribal father would do.
**"EVERYONE, GATHER! MY SON IS MAGIC!"**
Cue drum beats, shouting, and villagers pouring in like it was Black Friday at Caveman Costco.
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### **Aethonix's POV**
So yeah… I accidentally revealed my powers. Now half the tribe was bowing, the other half was crying, and a few were whispering stuff like "The Ice Child has awakened," which sounded way too cult-y for my comfort.
> "Guys, it's just ice. I'm not a messiah. I'm a glorified fridge."
But it didn't matter. I had become a walking legend. My cave turned into a high-security VIP suite with 24/7 warriors stationed outside. They even started referring to the area as "The Ice Nest."
One day, I made a few **giant ice cubes** because the cave was basically a prehistoric sauna. The guards found them and started poking it like confused toddlers.
Then the ice melted.
**Cold water happened.**
The tribe went *insane*.
> "IT'S LIQUID COLD FROM THE STONE!"
> "HE TAMES THE FIRE WITH FROST!"
> "HE BIRTHS DRINKABLE SNOW!"
> "It's literally water," I muttered. "Like… chill, guys. It's not vodka."
They started storing the ice in wooden barrels, sipping the cold melt like divine nectar. One guy cried tears of joy. Another offered me three goats. Things escalated *fast*.
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A few months later, my system updated again.
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**Name:** Aethonix
**Age:** 2 Years Old
**Race:**Aurorian
**Abilities:** Immortality, Cryokinesis
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> "Finally, some progress. Also—damn—I'm two now. I can walk. I can run. I can *talk.* And yes, I talk *fluently*. Tribal folks lost their minds."
One day I looked up at my mom mid-lunch and said, "Hey, uh, no more breastfeeding, please."
She *sobbed.*
> "MY BABY IS BECOMING A MAN!"
I felt guilty… but also very relieved.
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## **Tribe Leveling Up (with Baby Guidance)**
After a Year,
Once I got the hang of walking and talking, I started poking at ideas to civilize these people a bit. I suggested, casually:
> "Hey Dad, why don't we… track years? Like call this… Year 3 of Aethonix?"
The **Bone Circle** (a group of wise old men who looked like they were one sneeze away from turning to dust) debated it like it was a philosophical crisis.
But eventually, they agreed.
Thus, the tribe began a calendar.
> "It is now the Year of Aethonix, Year 3!"
> *…Also known as: Year We Stopped Being Total Time Noobs.*
Now we celebrate my birthday *annually*, and the entire tribe treats it like a festival of the gods. There are dances, chants, and a guy who paints my name on tree bark like it's sacred scripture. It's both flattering and terrifying.
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## **Population & Giant Snakes**
Turns out, our tribe is about **9,000 strong**. And apparently, we've never encountered *anyone* else. No rival tribes. No outside threats.
> "Are we alone on this planet? Are we the first sentient species? Is this *No Man's Sky: Caveman Edition*?"
One day, my father—ever the beast slayer—came home looking like he had fought the final boss.
He had been bitten by a **25-foot snake**.
It was like *Titanoboa with an attitude problem.*
My mom freaked out. My dad just grunted and said, "It's just a scratch."
He *slept for three days* and then woke up perfectly fine.
> "Bro, you're literally Kratos. No healing potions. No medicine. Just naps."
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## **Tribal Hierarchy (Because World-Building Is Fun)**
So apparently, we have a whole structure now:
1. **High Chieftain** – That's my dad. Big boss. Tribal king. Definitely lifts.
2. **Bone Circle** – Elderly senators. Most are so old I think they've forgotten how to blink.
3. **Clan Chiefs** – Mayors of different sectors. Four of them. Kinda cool. Kinda dramatic.
4. **Warbringers** – Generals. Battle-hardened. Always yelling. Probably listen to drum metal.
5. **Bloodhunters** – Stealth squad. Think ninja cavemen. Very into hiding in bushes.
6. **Iron Fang Warriors** – Soldiers, hunters, muscle. Basically the tribal SWAT team.
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## **Weapon Upgrades with Baby Genius**
One day, I approached **Knox**, one of the Warbringers. He's like the caveman version of an ex-military gym bro.
> "Hey, ever thought about *round shields*? Like defensive pancakes you hold?"
He blinked. Nodded. Then ordered the smiths to start making them. *Immediately.*
> "I didn't expect him to listen that fast. I might've accidentally invented shields. You're welcome, history."
He now visits me daily for "tactical advice." I'm not saying he's a fanboy… but he did name his new war hammer "Aethon's Justice."
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**meow
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