Episode 120
The ancestral mansion of the Dark Maga clan.

Among the grand rooms that reflected the might of the Baron Duke’s family, one stood out—lavish and spacious.

This was Eshed’s quarters.

“…”

A heavy silence hung in the air.

Where once countless fiends had come and gone, filling the space with noise and bustle, now no one came to see Eshed.

‘Damn that Christian.’

Eshed ground his teeth.

His isolation had all started with that trial.

Though he had lost the fiends’ favor by showing his ugly side, Eshed blamed everything on Christian.

‘Not much time left. Once I cut off Christian’s head in today’s judgment duel, it’ll be over.’

Most of the retainers who once followed him had already shifted their loyalty to Christian.

But soon, they would realize their grave mistake.

‘Christian, you won’t die peacefully.’

Eshed muttered coldly.

He felt no tension.

Christian was a rank 4.

He was rank 5.

He could toy with him like a bug.

At last, the awaited moment arrived.

“Your Highness, it’s time for the duel.”

“Very well.”

Eshed rose from his seat.

He followed his attendants down the mansion’s corridor to the dueling grounds.

The arena was already packed with countless fiends.

The guards announced the arrival of the protagonist.

“His Highness Eshed!”

A hush fell over the crowd.

Eshed twitched his eyebrows.

Normally, a roaring cheer would have followed.

But now, all he received were cold, hostile stares.

‘They’ll all regret this.’

Eshed gave a slight bow to Marquis Langham seated in the judgment box above, then stepped into the arena.

He raised his sword high above his hand, showing it off for all to see.

A towering pillar of dark energy surged upward.

The fiends in the stands stirred uneasily at the sight of the Black Steel weapon he brandished.

They could now see with their own eyes that Eshed had truly reached Elder Class.

‘Not some rank 5 who barely mastered Black Steel, but a genuine Elder Class.’

‘Can Christian possibly win?’

The fiends thought with dark expressions.

Most in the arena were rooting for Christian.

During the last trial, Eshed had abandoned those who once followed him, while Christian had protected even his enemies.

How could they not support such a remarkable man?

Still, no matter how optimistically they thought, the odds seemed slim.

Some even thought this:

‘If Christian’s life is ever in danger, I’ll break the law and intervene.’

They were the ones Christian had saved during the trial.

Of course, outside interference during a judgment duel was a grave crime.

But since Christian had saved their lives from Eshed’s wrath, they were determined to help him by any means.

Then, a quiet voice rang out.

“Is Christian not here yet?”

Everyone jumped to their feet in surprise.

The Lord of the House had arrived.

Even Marquis Langham, seated high above, descended and knelt.

“How is it that the Lord has come?”

“Ha, ha, no need to worry. This old man is here just to watch.”

Nordian added with a word.

“It’s the duel of a disciple I gained late in life. I had to come see it.”

“!!”

The hall was stunned.

A disciple of the Lord?

Who?

All eyes turned to Eshed.

But soon, they shook their heads.

It couldn’t be Eshed.

‘Then could it be that Christian is the Lord’s disciple?’

‘That’s unheard of!’

Many had studied under Nordian.

But none had ever been recognized as his disciple—his standards were too strict.

The fiends nodded, thinking Christian was worthy of such recognition.

‘Christian is definitely someone who would catch the Lord’s eye.’

‘From talent to character, everything is perfect.’

Meanwhile, Eshed’s face flushed red.

‘That damn Christian.’

In truth, Eshed had once hoped to become Nordian’s disciple as a child.

But after a single glance, Nordian had said,

“You lack what it takes to learn from me.”

Since then, Nordian had never looked back at Eshed.

Perhaps that was when the seed of inferiority took root in Eshed’s heart.

Clenching his fists, Eshed said something he would never have imagined before.

“Lord, may I make a humble request?”

“What is it?”

“If I defeat Christian today, would you accept me as your disciple instead?”

Everyone in the hall was shocked.

Even Eshed wouldn’t dare make such a request to the Lord.

“Child.”

“…Speak.”

Nordian’s voice was indifferent, cold to the point of cruelty.

“You’re overreaching beyond your place.”

“!!”

A rejection without even a glance back.

Eshed’s face went pale.

“More than that, I expect the winner of this duel to become my disciple, so your request isn’t even worth considering.”

“…”

Nordian left Eshed behind and returned to his seat.

Eshed bowed his head in shame, his fists trembling.

‘Damn it. Christian, I won’t let you get away with this.’

At last, the duel began.

But everyone wore puzzled expressions.

Christian was still not here.

‘What’s going on?’

‘Why isn’t he coming?’

As the question spread, Christian appeared, gasping for breath.

Everyone was shocked.

Christian looked terrible.

“Your Highness? Are you alright?”

“Blood?”

Not a single part of his clothes was intact.

Through the torn fabric, gruesome wounds were visible.

Blood had dried in patches all over him.

His face was pale, as if he might collapse at any moment.

He had just fought border demons and battled Sherad, then rushed here without rest.

Naturally, he looked like this.

Those unaware of Christian’s border mission tilted their heads.

‘What kind of training did he do?’

‘He seems stronger than before.’

‘Rank 4… no, almost upper rank. To advance again in just a month?’

The discerning fiends noticed Christian’s level had risen another step and stared in disbelief.

‘But it’s still impossible. At this state, he can’t stand against Elder Class Eshed, especially so exhausted.’

Eshed, who had come to a similar conclusion, smiled bitterly.

“How do you look? Tired. If you want, I can postpone the duel.”

“No, no need.”

Christian shook his head and stepped into the arena in his pitiful state.

“This is enough to face someone like you.”

Eshed’s face hardened.

“You must be out of your mind, wanting to die.”

“Enough noise.”

Christian spat coldly.

“Afraid to swing your sword because you’re a fake Elder Class made by human sacrifices? Stop babbling like those union fools and fight.”

“!!”

Eshed charged fiercely at Christian.

A dense pillar of Black Steel energy surged up.

A dark pillar of destruction descended upon Christian.

“W-What?!”

“Why aren’t you dodging?!”

The fiends in the stands shouted in shock as Christian stood still, watching the attack.

Then—

Christian raised his sword.

A black blade flared like a flame.

It was a pitch-black sword, so pure with demonic energy it was breathtaking.

But compared to the Black Steel pillar descending from above, it seemed insignificant.

“Trying to block it? Foolish. Dodge it!!”

Only another Black Steel pillar could block one.

No matter how excellent the black sword was, it couldn’t withstand the Black Steel pillar.

Just as everyone braced for disaster—

Flash! Boom!

A fierce explosion echoed.

It wasn’t the sound of the black sword breaking.

It was the impact of two powerful energies colliding head-on.

The unresolved energy rippled outward in circular waves, and everyone in the stands widened their eyes in disbelief.

“…He blocked it?”

“With a black sword against a Black Steel pillar?”

Christian stood unharmed.

His sword neither broken nor damaged.

Eshed scowled deeply.

“What trickery is this?”

“Trickery?”

“Yes, if it’s not trickery, there’s no way to block a Black Steel pillar!”

Christian smirked.

“You have no eye for it. No wonder you barely reached Elder Class through human sacrifices. No talent, no ability, just greed.”

“!!”

Enraged, Eshed swung his sword.

Christian gave no chance to use any trickery, unleashing a flurry of sword strikes in the blink of an eye.

A continuous assault with both speed and power.

Once, it was the fierce attack of the most promising heir.

But again, the impossible happened.

Christian’s black sword swept away the Black Steel pillars raining down like a storm.

Without a single tremor.

Unshakably.

“N-No way?”

“How?”

Everyone stared in shock.

It was as if they were witnessing an impossible illusion.

Only a few high-ranking fiends understood the cause of this phenomenon.

“The will embedded in Christian’s black sword is so strong it overwhelms Eshed’s Black Steel pillars.”

The high-ranking fiends were even more shocked upon realizing this.

Normally, a black sword cannot carry will.

The fact that Christian had done the impossible was astonishing enough.

But to strengthen the black sword to rival a Black Steel pillar? That was beyond belief.

Just how strong is the will behind this?

“No, it’s not just evenly matched. It’s actually starting to overpower me bit by bit!”

Ashid’s face was growing paler by the second.

Every clash with Chris’s black sword was inflicting internal damage.

It was unbelievable, even to the eyes.

“Damn it…!!”

Gritting his teeth, Ashid tried to summon an even stronger black spear.

But Chris suddenly lunged inward.

“Want to know why your black spear can’t beat my black sword?”

Slash!

Chris swung his sword.

Ashid’s arm snapped back.

When Chris struck again, Ashid stumbled back two steps.

He was clearly being pushed back.

Chris sneered with contempt.

“It’s because you’re a fake Elder Class.”

“!!”

Fake.

Half true, half false.

Ashid’s achievements were real.

His black spear wasn’t a fake either.

But something essential was missing.

“What kind of will did you set, exactly?”

Chris smirked.

If Ashid had forged a strong, unwavering will—

If he had truly become an Elder Class—he wouldn’t be getting pushed around this badly.

“Wait, did you even set a will? Aside from your terrible greed, what do you really have?”

Ashid’s eyes bloodshot.

“Shut up!!”

KRAAAASH!!

His black spear exploded wildly.

Then, the secret technique of dark magic unfolded.

Dark Magic, Form Five:

Chain Black Spear.

Like a barrage of throwing spears, dark energy rained down on Chris from all directions.

The sheer intensity made the onlookers widen their eyes in shock.