Chapter 115

It just so happened that the level Nordian revealed was exactly the kind of milestone Chris needed to move forward.

A will that transcends will itself.

A power akin to divine authority.

This was the goal Chris had to dedicate himself to if he wanted to reach five stars.

Chris couldn’t hide his gratitude and bowed deeply once more.

“Lord Patriarch, I sincerely thank you for your teachings. I will never forget this kindness.”

[……]

Meanwhile, Nordian, who had no such intention, was left speechless, unable to find a word to say.

[…Enough talk. It’s time to wrap up this wager.]

With a flash, dark energy bloomed from the scabbard in Nordian’s hand.

It was a manifestation of second-star-level magical energy.

A basic technique used by ordinary mages, even weaker than a black sword.

But who would dare underestimate it?

[I will cut you down with this single strike.]

“!!”

[If you can block it, I will acknowledge your victory.]

A firm declaration.

When Nordian spoke, it was certain to come to pass.

As Christian gripped his sword with a tense expression—

Flash!

Nordian vanished from sight.

Then, just as quickly, he reappeared directly in front of Christian.

[Take this. It’s a sword technique you’re familiar with.]

Nordian’s blade slashed downward.

To Christian’s disbelief, it was the sword style of the Kazarr Count family.

Not even the bloodline’s refined technique, but the basic mud sword style used by ordinary mages.

And unlike before, there was no divine power or will infused into it.

It was the pure, original form of the mud sword style.

Yet still—

‘Dangerous. Far more than the previous attacks.’

Chris gritted his teeth.

This single strike, lightly executed by Nordian, was far deadlier than the full-powered strike the Kazarr Count had delivered with his black sword.

‘I have to find a way.’

He couldn’t block it. He couldn’t dodge it.

But Christian refused to give up.

Just as Nordian’s teachings always did, there had to be an answer this time as well.

‘There must be a hint in the demonstrations he showed earlier.’

In an instant, the images Nordian had displayed flashed through his mind.

A miracle that elevated will to a higher plane of divine power, embodying the rank of existence itself to interfere with the physical world.

A method Chris could never hope to imitate.

But—

—Chris recalled a conversation he’d had long ago with the hero Evan.

Though Chris hadn’t mastered swordsmanship or magic, as an unparalleled genius five-star, he often gave the hero party brilliant advice whenever they hit a wall.

It was absurd, really.

How could he give advice on achievements he didn’t even understand?

It was like a blind man guiding others.

But—

‘I was able to do it.’

Chris possessed insight that pierced the very essence of all things, and he instinctively understood the obstacles they faced, allowing him to offer fitting advice.

—“Transcend the rank of existence?”

—“Yes. You have to overcome this wall to reach the nine-star transcendent realm.”

Evan, the last hope of the Light faction, was struggling under the immense pressure of failing to surpass the nine-star barrier.

Chris had answered casually.

—“If you want to overcome it, you have to empty yourself first.”

—“…What?”

—“You can’t cross if you’re weighed down by so much on your shoulders.”

He didn’t know what realization this advice gave Evan, but it clearly helped.

Evan soon reached the nine-star transcendent realm.

So why had that memory come to him now?

‘Because what I need now isn’t so different!’

Chris manifested his black sword.

The black sword infused with his will was far more powerful than an ordinary black sword.

But it wasn’t enough.

The moment it touched Nordian’s strike, it would shatter.

‘I have to strengthen this will. Make it strong enough to endure.’

He didn’t know how Nordian had elevated his will beyond its limits into divine power.

Nor did he need to replicate it exactly.

There are countless paths to truth.

Chris strengthened the will within his black sword in his own way.

First, he emptied the will inside the black sword.

You can only fill something once it’s emptied.

In its place, he layered another will.

A stacking of wills.

This was done repeatedly in an instant.

Chris felt the will within the black sword change, unlike before.

More precisely, he felt it advancing to the next level.

Flash!!

Chris’s black sword trembled violently.

It couldn’t withstand the volume of will surpassing its durability and began to collapse.

To hold this will fully, he’d need a black steel blade.

But that was fine.

‘Just once. If it can hold just once.’

The black sword, on the verge of breaking, held the layered will and collided with Nordian’s blade.

[!!]

KRAAAASH!!!!!

The clash of swords sounded like an explosion.

The underground training hall shook as if an earthquake had struck.

The result was brutal.

“Ugh!”

“Christian!”

Chris spat blood and was flung backward, utterly battered.

The sword in his hand was shattered to pieces.

“…Lord Patriarch, that was excessive.”

Merian scolded him.

But Nordian’s reaction was unexpected.

With a stern face, he said:

[Excessive? Look at this.]

He showed the scabbard in his hand.

“!!”

It was deeply cut.

Chris’s black sword had pierced through Nordian’s magical energy!

Unbelievable.

And that wasn’t all.

“…I won, didn’t I?”

Chris coughed up blood but grinned.

A cocky smile.

Yet Nordian had no answer.

Just now, contrary to his promise, Nordian had drawn forth magical energy beyond second-star level.

He’d used power equivalent to fourth-star just to prevent his scabbard from being cut.

He had broken his own conditions, so it was as good as a loss.

But then Christian said something unexpected.

“Look at my sleeve.”

[!!]

Nordian’s eyes widened.

The edge of Chris’s sleeve was faintly torn!

‘When?’

Impossible.

How had he managed that without Nordian sensing it?

Chris wiped the blood from his mouth and said:

“It’s thanks to your teachings, Lord Patriarch.”

[…My teachings?]

Nordian, who had never given such instruction, was silent, listening to Chris’s incomprehensible nonsense.

“I layered wills during the black sword transformation to embody the will to ‘hide.’”

[…You layered the will to hide? You mean you used a different kind of will?]

Not only Nordian, but Merian, the Kazarr Count, and Simon all looked shocked.

Manipulating a different kind of will—transforming will itself—was a prerequisite to reaching the sixth star, ‘Willpower.’

A realm only those aiming for six stars could hope to reach.

And yet, Chris, who was only fourth star, had done it?

“Yes. While trying to strengthen my will, I felt like it might work, so I tried it. Fortunately, it succeeded. It was unconscious and accidental, so I doubt I can do it again.”

Those who heard this fell silent.

He just said he tried it and it worked.

‘…Insane.’

That was the word on everyone’s mind.

Unfazed by their shock, Chris bowed casually.

“It’s all thanks to your teachings, Lord Patriarch. I will never forget today’s lessons and will continue to strive toward this goal.”

Nordian let out a dry chuckle.

‘I always knew he was a genius.’

He recalled a thought he’d had before.

His grandson wasn’t just a genius.

He was an unfathomable monster.

‘…Maybe, just maybe, this child can fulfill my lifelong wish.’

Nordian’s wish.

The reason he extended his life through forbidden arts of reversing fate.

A sudden surge of unbearable hope welled up inside him, but he forced it down.

‘…I can’t be certain yet. Above all, time is too short.’

Nordian didn’t have much time left.

In truth, he should have died long ago but was barely holding on.

Could this child grow enough in such a short time to realize his wish?

He didn’t know.

But one thing was certain: no one else could do it but this child.

[You’ve won the wager. I will lift the ban. But there’s a condition.]

“What is it?”

[You must return alive. Do you understand?]

Merian and the Kazarr Count looked slightly surprised.

They’d never heard Nordian express such concern for anyone before.

Not only that—

‘A father’s gaze.’

The look Nordian gave Christian was different from before.

Previously, it had been cold and detached.

Though he recognized Christian’s greatness, he had always evaluated and scrutinized him endlessly.

But now, it was different.

It was a look of complete acceptance.

“Yes, I will return safely. Please don’t worry.”

[Don’t be so arrogant.]

Nordian scolded him.

[What’s the other request? You said if you won the wager, you’d ask for one more favor.]

“……”

[Let me be clear: if it’s a request that involves the family’s affairs, I cannot allow it.]

It would be difficult to recognize Chris as the heir or anything like that.

‘Though asking for something like a family treasure might be possible.’

Chris said something no one expected.

“Please continue to teach me.”

[Hmm?]

Nordian looked puzzled.

[Didn’t you refuse that yourself?]

“This is after the next month. Even if not now, there will be plenty of time later.”

Chris said.

“I believe your teachings are more excellent than anyone else’s.”

Merian and Count Kazar exchanged bewildered looks, clearly taken aback by how terrible Nordian’s teachings must be, but Christian spoke with genuine conviction.

After all, both last time and now, Chris had been genuinely impressed by Nordian’s instruction.

[Heh heh, if you’re that eager, fine. From now on, come to this training ground once a week, away from prying eyes.]

“Would it be possible to visit your lordship’s private quarters instead of this secret training ground?”

[…What did you say?]

Everyone froze for a moment.

They had just realized what Christian was implying.

“What I want is not to receive unofficial lessons like this, but to become your lordship’s formal disciple.”

[!!]

Nordian’s voice turned heavy.

“Do you even understand what that means?”

“Yes, I do.”

Christian nodded firmly.

“It means becoming the only blood relative officially recognized by your lordship.”

If he became Nordian’s disciple, the whole family would be shaken.

Nordian had never taken any blood relative as his student before.

It would be as if he had earned the lordship’s recognition, bringing him one step closer to the position of Grand Duke.

It was a way to leverage Nordian’s influence without Nordian having to step forward as the head of the family.

[You’re cunning.]

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

[What if I refuse your request?]

“If you decline, then I have no choice but to accept that. But I truly believe there’s no one more fitting to be your lordship’s disciple than me.”

Christian grinned.

“As your lordship knows well, compared to me, the other bloodlines are nothing but fools.”