Episode 114

No matter how much his power was restricted, who in this room would dare to even touch Nordion’s cloak?

It was practically impossible.

Yet, Chris had a strange thought.

“…I think I can manage that.”

An unfounded confidence.

But oddly enough, he truly felt he could do it.

Why?

Because he was a genius.

“This is actually an opportunity.”

A chance to leave a stronger impression on Nordion’s eyes.

And also, a chance to get what he wanted.

Chris decided to take a gamble.

“Can we change the conditions?”

[What?]

“I’d like to use the same 4-star magic as Your Grace. But if I win, in addition to lifting the restrictions, could you grant me one more favor?”

[…….]

Everyone around fell silent for a moment.

They hadn’t quite caught what Chris was saying.

Then, Count Kazar and Merian’s faces drained as they realized Chris had just made a crazy proposal.

Nordion’s voice turned cold.

[You’ve lost your mind.]

“……”

[Are you blinded by arrogance just because you have some talent?]

His voice was genuinely angry.

But Chris had expected this reaction.

He calmly delivered the answer he had prepared.

“You misunderstand. I’m not speaking out of arrogance.”

[Then what is it?]

“First, I wanted to witness Your Grace’s greatness more vividly. Sparring with you is a rare opportunity for a mine like me, regardless of the outcome.”

Nordion fell silent.

Though his brow furrowed, the sharp edge of his words softened slightly.

[What’s the other reason?]

“Second, as your grandson, I want to show you a better version of myself.”

[…….]

“To be honest, whether you use 2-star or 4-star power, it would be equally difficult for me to handle. So I want to give my best under tougher conditions. After all, you wouldn’t kill me in this sparring match.”

Chris bowed respectfully.

“If I sounded presumptuous, I apologize. I ask forgiveness for any disrespect toward Your Grace.”

Nordion remained silent, his face deeply furrowed.

Merian and Count Kazar were on edge, fearing things might spiral out of control.

But Nordion felt his anger ease somewhat.

“…That arrogant brat.”

Though the explanation was blunt and rough, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

This wasn’t a life-or-death duel.

Even in the worst case, Nordion wouldn’t kill Chris.

So how could he blame him for wanting to challenge himself as much as possible?

Still…

“…This is the second time that arrogant brat has brought up being my grandson.”

Previously, when Chris had gifted him activated chocolate, he’d mentioned it then too.

Strangely, it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

But—

[Grandson? Do you really think of me, your lord, as just family?]

“That’s absolutely not the case. But…”

Chris met Nordion’s gaze squarely.

“It’s true that I’m your bloodline. There’s no need to be cautious or secretive about that fact.”

[!!]

A bold statement.

Nordion chuckled dryly.

But he didn’t dislike it.

Honestly, he felt a bit proud.

To think someone dared speak like that to him, whom everyone else feared.

A mine should have that kind of spirit, after all.

[You’re talking too much. I wonder if your skill matches that long tongue of yours.]

“……”

[The conditions won’t change. I’ll only use 2-star power. That alone will be beyond your ability to handle.]

Nordion’s eyes darkened.

[If you even touch my cloak, I’ll lift the restrictions—and grant your additional request. Though that’s probably impossible.]

“!!”

And so, the duel began—like a fragile egg striking a rock.

---

It was impossible.

Not an empty threat.

The 8-star ‘Almighty’ class was called the Absolute Realm.

They had reached the position of an absolute being.

Like omnipotent gods, 8-star absolutes completely dominated their surroundings.

They bent even the laws of reality to their will, forcing the opponent’s mind and body to submit beneath them.

Therefore, those who faced 8-star absolutes couldn’t even fully manifest their own power.

Their authority was on a completely different level from lower ranks.

‘Nordion wouldn’t use that kind of power on me, though.’

Chris forced a small smile.

‘He’s definitely no pushover. Even more than I expected.’

Ahead of him stood Nordion, a small boy’s body but an imposing presence, watching silently.

He wasn’t drawing on any magic or power, yet there wasn’t a single opening.

If Chris tried to strike, he’d be crushed without even getting a chance to move.

[Why are you just standing there? The sun’s going down.]

Nordion said with a bored tone.

Then suddenly—

[If you don’t move, I’ll come to you.]

“!!”

Chris instinctively twisted his body.

CRACK!

The ground beneath him shattered.

The problem was, he couldn’t figure out what Nordion had done.

Nordion still stood with arms crossed, looking bored.

‘Is this some kind of destructive dark magic? No, I don’t sense any magic being cast. Just a simple magic release?’

But he couldn’t think further.

Nordion was already launching his next attack.

[Merian, the sword.]

“…Here it is.”

[Why the scabbard?]

“If Your Grace swings the real sword, that boy will die.”

[Heh.]

Nordion took the scabbard without further comment.

Then, raising his hand above his shoulder, he swung down in a horizontal slash.

There was no finesse or technique in the movement.

He didn’t even come close to reaching Chris.

Yet—

“!!”

Chris jerked his head back sharply.

In that instant, his bangs were sliced clean off.

Unbelievably, Nordion’s sword had reached him despite the distance.

An incomprehensible phenomenon.

Chris realized what was happening.

‘He twisted the laws.’

It was the 8-star’s unique power: the Absolute Realm.

Within their domain, they could bend reality’s laws to their will.

But Chris still looked puzzled.

‘He didn’t expand his domain. How is he twisting the laws?’

Nordion hadn’t unleashed his power.

He was only using a tiny fraction of 2-star magic, as promised.

Yet he was manipulating the laws as he pleased.

‘Could it be that he’s embedding the domain’s principles into each attack?’

That seemed likely!

To artificially twist the laws, you’d normally have to expand your domain and dominate the world.

Nordion was clearly weaving the domain’s principles into every strike, bending reality.

‘This is incredible. No wonder Nordion is one of the strongest among the 8-star warlords.’

But one question remained.

‘Why use such an inefficient method?’

Honestly, if Nordion wanted to overwhelm him, he could do so easily with basic techniques.

It was like showing off his high-level power.

‘Surely he’s not just trying to brag.’

Suddenly, Chris had a flash of insight.

‘Could it be… he’s trying to teach me something? Using this duel as a lesson?’

That made sense!

Nordion had always wanted to guide Chris.

‘Your Grace wants me to gain enlightenment, so he’s showing me these high-level techniques.’

Chris steadied his stance.

He recalled when Nordion had taught him dark magic before.

Though the trials were unbearably tough, there was always a deeper meaning behind them.

‘This time will be no different. There’s definitely a purpose. I just have to find the answer.’

And that answer wouldn’t be far off.

‘I need to understand the principle behind embedding the domain’s power into each attack.’

In truth, it was a ridiculous misunderstanding.

Nordion wasn’t thinking about any of that.

He was simply using his high-level power to humble Chris’s arrogance.

Chris had just misread the situation.

‘That brat.’

Nordion frowned.

‘Is he studying my attacks?’

At first, he thought he was mistaken.

But no.

Chris was dodging narrowly, watching his moves like a student.

It was absurd.

What was even more baffling was that Chris seemed to be learning something—his movements were gradually improving.

More precisely, his evasion was becoming more precise.

‘Is he reading my attacks?’

Nordion felt unsettled.

Considering the kind of power he was wielding, it was impossible.

Finally, Nordion lowered his hand and asked.

[How are you doing that?]

“Huh?”

[You’re reading my attacks, aren’t you?]

Chris scratched his head.

“I’m not reading them. I’m just sensing them.”

[Sensing?]

“Yes. You’re manifesting your will to create the domain’s effect, twisting the laws to control the area, right? So I’m detecting the manifestation of your will and estimating the distortions in reality to evade.”

[…….]

Nordion fell silent.

What was that guy saying?

To be clear, Chris’s explanation was accurate.

But how on earth had he figured it out?

And Chris’s crazy story didn’t end there.

“I understand that Master deliberately chose this method. It was meant to reveal various manifestations of will and to grant me insight. But I was lacking—I could only faintly sense that Master’s will was interfering with the very fabric of the physical world.”

[…Speak precisely.]

“Well, then.”

Christian paused, considering carefully.

Using will as a power of dominion is, in truth, an impossible approach.

Only the Nordians, having reached an unfathomable level, could pull off such a loophole.

Because it’s a concept that shouldn’t be possible, it’s hard to define clearly.

“Did you imbue will itself with the rank of existence?”

[……]

“Will is merely the expression of intent. On its own, it can’t carry the rank of existence. So you elevated will into a higher form of power, didn’t you?”

The Nordian fell silent.

A stunned silence.

It was accurate.

‘How could he know this?’

He couldn’t have seen or heard it anywhere.

This was a method the Nordians themselves had devised.

Yet, with only a few glimpses, Christian had pierced through to the principle.

‘…Insane.’

A curse, unbefitting of the exalted Master, slipped out from within the Nordian.

Meanwhile, Christian bowed his head, unaware of the Nordian’s inner turmoil.

“Thank you for demonstrating such an exalted level. Surely, Master intended to show me the path I must follow.”

…It was a baseless misunderstanding.

But Christian truly believed it.