Reincarnating As A Prince in the DC Universe

Three years.

That's how long it took for Aiden, now Aida, to completely recover his memories, sort them out, and think about his current situation and the future that awaited him.

He understood that in any situation, information gave one the key necessary for understanding basically everything.

With access to knowledge being easily accessible to him, he focused on the next thing: his personal strength.

He understood his situation pretty well and knew that although it wasn't apparent yet, there would surely be a war for succession. Hence, his physical condition needed to be at its most optimal state.

There was a need to consider recruiting potential allies, but that thought fell through when he learned that his maid, Alina, would be his only attendant both within and outside the castle.

With this in mind, Aida focused on picking the best knowledge he had from Earth and matched it with this new world he learned was called Gaia.

So far, whether it was the basic human body's physiology or other fundamental aspects, they were all the same.

He compared languages and found them similar yet dissimilar at the same time, so he gave up and focused on the current one.

He still had to review his memories, so he didn't immediately discard the languages he knew from Earth. They were well over fifty years of knowledge, after all.

Growing up, Aida made sure to have a say in things related to his health, both in the kitchen and in the training grounds, which he found all royals were required to participate in as soon as they could wield a sword.

While he found this absurd, he didn't lag in the slightest.

As a grown man who had seen all he could about life, while his fellow children complained and whined, he took their wails as motivation.

When they were finally asked to choose a particular martial art, he decided to focus on all. In the weapons category, he did the same: sword, blade, dagger, axe, battle axe, spear, halberd, bows, and others.

While some laughed and cajoled him for it, he couldn't bring himself to squabble with kids, so he ignored them. A few were motivated by him but gave up midway, while some persisted but decided to focus on fewer disciplines.

Aida didn't particularly care, but he made sure to focus on them all.

While he did this, he didn't slack in the educational aspect. With his already ingrained knowledge on various subjects, all he had to do was recognize the similarities, and the rest was easy.

His thoughts lingered on the test he had to pass. His father, King Thallan, had set a high bar with the Imperial Knight Captain test. It was a challenge designed to prove not just physical prowess but also mental fortitude and strategic thinking.

Aida knew it would be rigorous, but he welcomed the challenge as an opportunity to showcase his true potential.

Aida got up and began putting the books in his room in order. He meticulously organized them by subject and difficulty, ensuring that everything was in its rightful place.

As he finished arranging the last of his books, he took a moment to admire his work. The neatly aligned volumes gave him a sense of accomplishment and readiness. With a satisfied nod, he turned towards his bed, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over him.

He climbed into bed, the weight of the day's events and his thoughts settling in. As he lay there, staring at the ceiling, his mind wandered to the future.

—

The night was silent as the moon let its radiant light shine down on the earth.

In a quaint room in the Atlan Empire royal castle, Aiden's sleeping figure laid peacefully when suddenly, his tranquility was shattered when a sword, held by an unseen figure, cut through the peaceful silence of the night.

The sword was emanating a menacing aura, its blade shimmering in the darkness. Aiden's eyes snapped open, immediately alert and aware of the threat and swiftly moved away from his sleeping position at a speed humanely impossible as he reached for his sword.

"Who are you!?" He asked as he swung the sword towards the darkness where the perpetrator should be. "How did you get into the palace!?"

"I was sure you were sleeping comfortably." A voice from the darkness said and light slowly shone towards that area to reveal a rather familiar man. "I guess your senses aren't too bad."

"You…" as if recognising the person, Aiden stopped his swing midway and jumped back. "...are Sir Arlsan!"

The man, Arlsan in question, sheathed his sword and said. "It's past midnight." He said with a deep voice as he looked down on Aiden. "You will refer to me as Commander, Aiden."

"I feel you quite don't like referring to me as 'your highness', I understand. It's a mouthful too, but that isn't reason enough to wish to kill me in my sleep." Aiden said in jest as he gradually calmed down.

"Though your senses may be good, your observational skills are lacking." Arlsan said and looked upward. "Do you not think there's something strange with your surroundings?"

"Huh?" It was only then that Aiden realized the refreshing air of his room was absent, replaced by a humid, soggy atmosphere permeating the place. "It is a dungeon that was used as a training ground in the past," Arlsan explained, his voice steady.

Aiden's gaze swept across the space, taking in the cold, stone walls and the damp air. "Why am I here?" he asked, his tone shifting to seriousness. "And why did you attack me?"

Arlsan's expression remained unreadable. "This is part of your test. You must navigate this dungeon and solve the challenges within. It's designed to test not just your physical strength but your ability to think strategically under pressure."

Aiden took a deep breath, assessing the situation. "So this is a test of both combat and strategy. What are the rules?"

"There are no specific rules," Arlsan said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Only that you must find a way out. The dungeon is filled with deadly traps. You need to use your skills and intellect to overcome them."

Aiden nodded, his mind already working through the implications. "I understand. I'll begin immediately."

As Arlsan moved to leave, he added, "Remember, this test is as much about your inner strength as it is about your outer prowess. Good luck, Aiden."

With that, Arlsan departed, leaving Aiden alone in the dimly lit dungeon. Aiden took a moment to gather his thoughts before starting his journey through the dungeon. The air was musty, and the walls were covered in creeping moss. He drew his sword, prepared for whatever might come.

The dungeon's passages twisted and turned in a labyrinthine fashion. As he ventured deeper, he encountered various weirdly obvious obstacles.

The first challenge was a series of pressure plates on the floor, triggering arrows from hidden slots in the walls, dungeon ceilings and even the floor themselves.

Aiden carefully analyzed the pattern, noting that the arrows seemed to come at regular intervals. He crouched down, examining the floor closely, and noticed slight depressions on certain tiles, likely indicating the pressure plates. He watched the timing of the arrows, counting the seconds between each volley.

He took a deep breath, focusing his mind and slowing his heartbeat. With a swift but controlled movement, he pressed one of the depressions with the tip of his sword, activating the trap intentionally. The arrows fired, and he observed the exact trajectory and timing.

Knowing he had only a few seconds before the next activation, Aiden sprinted forward, carefully stepping on the tiles he had identified as safe.

His mind calculated each step with precision, avoiding the pressure plates while keeping his movements fluid and controlled.

He reached the end of the corridor just as the next volley of arrows fired, feeling the rush of air as they whizzed past him.

Breathing heavily, Aiden looked back at the corridor, satisfied with his analysis and execution. The meticulous observation and understanding of the trap's mechanics had allowed him to navigate through safely.

Next, he faced a room filled with shifting walls. The passages changed configuration unpredictably, creating a disorienting maze causing Aiden to pause while focusing on the subtle cues that hinted at the shifting patterns.

By observing the alignment of the walls and the slight variations in the floor markings, he was able to deduce the correct path and advance.

The final challenge was a chamber with a large, ornate door at the far end. In front of the door was a pedestal with a cryptic inscription. Aiden approached the pedestal and examined the inscription, which appeared to be a riddle.

"Only the wise may pass the gate," he read aloud. "Seek the answer in the shadows, where truth is hidden."

Aiden pondered the riddle, analyzing the significance of the shadows. He noticed that the light source in the chamber created intricate shadow patterns on the walls.

Aligning himself with the patterns, he discovered that the shadows formed a sequence of symbols.

Understanding the solution, Aiden adjusted the symbols on the pedestal to match the sequence in the shadows. The door creaked open, revealing a hidden chamber with a chest at its center.

Aiden approached the chest with caution, opening it to find a scroll. Unfurling the scroll, he read the message inscribed on it: "Congratulations, Aiden. You have proven yourself worthy enough."

And immediately, the scroll lit up and a blinding light engulfed him.

Upon opening his eyes, Aiden found himself at the dungeon entrance with Commander Arlsan waiting for him, but what surprised him the most was that he could see the gentle light of the morning sun.

This indicated that he'd stayed in the dungeon for more than 6 hours and couldn't be marveled at the results of his 12 years in this world.

The dungeon was already humid enough and breathing carelessly would just be a careless waste of air since he was unaware of how long he'd stay there.

With this reasoning, he opted to use a standard breathing technique they were taught in their meditation classes, and whether it was due to the strength of his lungs or focus, he could tell they were top notch.

"You have passed the test," Arlsan said, his voice filled with approval. "You have shown both strength and wisdom."

Aiden nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Commander, but don't think I didn't pick up on the jab at the end of the message." With that, Aiden left the dungeon,

****