Episode 260
”Damn it. I have to come up with a way, no matter what.”
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Christian’s mind.
His plan was to establish the Dark League by ultimately defeating the Blue Stream Demon King.
There were a few ways to strike her down, but all were incomplete.
“But I can’t just stand by and take this.”
As the overwhelming force pressed down, his vision darkened.
Then, suddenly, something unexpected happened.
“Stop this, Demon King.”
[!!]
With a sharp crack, the oppressive pressure crushing Christian vanished as if washed away.
At the same time, a thick darkness rippled through the surroundings.
It was a familiar darkness.
“Dark Dominion!”
The domain of Nordian’s rule!
Startled, Christian turned to see Nordian standing there—not in his avatar form, but in his gaunt, skeletal true body.
“Christian, stand down.”
“…Grandfather.”
“Hurry. I will handle this.”
Christian clenched his fists.
Nordian’s complexion was deathly pale.
He trembled faintly, barely able to stand, but perhaps because of his will to protect Christian, his eyes burned fiercely.
“I don’t understand what’s going on, Demon King.”
[…Head of the Nordian family.]
“If my grandson has committed some grave offense against you, please tell me. As head of the family, I will apologize on his behalf. But—”
A dark aura surged from Nordian’s body.
It was a powerful energy, nearly matching the force the Blue Stream Demon King had just displayed.
Among the twelve great magical families, Nordian’s power was ranked at the very top.
“If you intend to unjustly persecute my grandson, understand that I will not stand idly by.”
[!!]
A tense silence fell.
The Blue Stream Demon King made no move, only staring at Nordian.
‘Even the Blue Stream Demon King can’t take the head of the Nordian family lightly.’
Especially since the moral high ground was on Nordian’s side, it was a burden for her.
Finally, the Blue Stream Demon King withdrew her energy.
[Head of Nordian, since you insist, I will leave this be for now.]
“……”
[But remember this.]
Her gaze shifted to Christian.
[I am watching you. Next time, it won’t end like this.]
A threat.
But—
“Demon King, remember this as well. If anyone harms my grandson, this old man will not let them go unpunished.”
[!!]
Their cold gazes locked.
The Blue Stream Demon King spun on her heel and vanished in a flash of space.
“Thank you, Head of the family.”
Christian approached Nordian, but his reaction was strange.
He stood rigid, silent.
“Cough.”
He coughed up black blood!
“Grandfather!!”
“Don’t worry about it. A little rest will make me better.”
Nordian shook his head weakly, but then coughed up blood again.
‘His condition is serious.’
He was already in poor health, and the effort to repel the Blue Stream Demon King’s energy had taken a heavy toll.
‘At this rate, he won’t last long. Maybe a few days, at most ten.’
Perhaps sensing the shadow of death approaching, Nordian grasped Christian’s hand tightly.
“Heh heh, still, I’m glad you’re here.”
“…Grandfather.”
“Don’t forget. You are the hope of our Dark Maga family.”
His eyes began to cloud as consciousness slipped away.
If he lost consciousness now, he might never wake again.
“But… in the end… thanks to you, I was happy. I wanted to protect you longer, but I’m sorry I couldn’t.”
His voice grew hoarse.
Christian bit his lip and said something unexpected.
“You’re speaking too soon.”
“…What?”
“Sorry, but I’m not going to let you die like this.”
Nordian looked at him blankly.
“What do you mean? No one can save me, not even you. It’s impossible.”
“No, there is one way.”
Christian continued.
“You need to reach the Ninth Rank.”
“!!”
Nordian’s eyes widened in shock.
That was it.
The reason Nordian was dying was simply because his lifespan was running out.
No method could save him—except one.
Reaching the Transcendent Realm.
‘At the Ninth Rank, a mortal transcends their limits and becomes almost immortal. Naturally, lifespan limits are overcome.’
But Nordian shook his head with a bitter smile.
“I’ve thought about that too. But it’s impossible. The Ninth Rank is not granted to me.”
“No, it is possible. If I help you.”
“!!”
Christian’s gaze grew serious.
“Of course, it won’t be easy. Honestly, the chances are slim. Above all, you must perform a miracle yourself.”
“……”
Slim chances.
He meant it.
The Ninth Rank was no joke.
‘It’s not like just teaching you. You have to achieve it entirely on your own.’
Christian could only provide a small catalyst.
Still, he grasped Nordian’s hand firmly.
“But I believe you can do it.”
“Heh heh.”
Nordian chuckled.
‘Me, the Ninth Rank.’
Honestly, he didn’t believe it.
But why?
Looking into Christian’s unwavering eyes, a faint hope stirred.
‘If my grandson believes that much, I can’t just give up.’
More than anything—
‘I haven’t even seen him become head of the family yet. I can’t die now.’
“Alright. I’ll try.”
Nordian looked at Christian with fierce determination.
“It’s time to show you the greatness of your old grandpa.”
And so it began.
The Dark Maga family.
No, beyond the Southern Magic Kingdom, a reckless challenge that would shake the fate of the Magic Empire itself.
First, they returned to the Dark Maga family’s main estate.
“Head of the family? Christian?”
Count Kazar, acting as the family head, greeted them in surprise.
“I’ll be using the closed training hall. No one is to enter until I come out.”
Count Kazar nodded firmly.
Once inside, Christian gave Nordian a dose of the pure blood serum obtained from the Blood Sword Maga family to restore his energy.
It was only temporary, but his complexion improved noticeably.
“Next is the elixir.”
“…You’ve prepared a lot.”
“Yes. After the elixir, you’ll need to take this poison.”
“!!”
Nordian frowned.
“Poison?”
“Yes, it’s the ‘Death of the Mind,’ a rare poison from the Extreme Poison Maga family.”
“…You want me to drink that?”
It was a famous poison.
As the name suggested, it destroyed the mind.
It induced a state akin to mental death.
“Of course, with your mental strength, you won’t fully succumb.”
“No, you must drink it after dismantling all mental barriers. Your mind must be completely broken.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
Nordian pursed his lips, but Christian didn’t back down.
‘There’s no other way. What I’m about to do can’t be done through mere indirect experience with illusion stones.’
Realizing Christian’s sincerity, Nordian’s expression hardened.
“Is there a way to restore a broken mind?”
“No. There isn’t. The only way is for you to reach the Ninth Rank. Please, don’t let me be an unfilial grandson.”
Nordian laughed bitterly.
“You brat. Fine. I’m going to die anyway, so I’ll show you I can succeed.”
He downed the poison in one gulp, his mental barriers dismantled.
Then, his eyes went blank.
‘His mind has been erased.’
Erased.
A chilling thought.
The ‘Death of the Mind’ poison erased the victim’s consciousness beyond the laws of nature.
More precisely, the surface-level consciousness died.
‘But it’s not complete annihilation. The deep subconscious remains intact.’
Just as intended.
‘Thanks to the serum and elixir, his body still has strength.’
Christian took a deep breath.
Now, the real challenge began.
‘Can we really succeed?’
Uncharacteristically, he lacked confidence.
It was a gamble.
‘The Ninth Rank is a realm beyond mortal limits. Even I can’t artificially grant enlightenment.’
Nordian had to achieve it entirely on his own.
Christian could only provide one thing: a perfect catalyst.
‘I have to give him the perfect trigger.’
Placing his hand on Nordian’s head, Christian reached into his deep subconscious.
A soft glow.
A calm, dark space.
Nordian’s unconscious world.
Though there was no sign of life, Christian felt Nordian’s subconscious watching him.
He spoke as if to be heard.
“Watch carefully. I will prepare a teacher to help you reach the Ninth Rank.”
If Nordian were conscious, he’d think it nonsense.
But Christian pressed on.
“The teacher who will help you… is me.”
He raised his hand.
“To be precise, the me from the future. So—”
A brilliant light flared.
Darkness unfurled from Chris.
It was a vision—a kaleidoscope of possibilities.
But not just any vision.
This place was the realm of the unconscious.
So Chris was no longer bound by his current limits; here, he could unleash truly infinite potential.
“So this is possible too,” he thought.
Chris closed his eyes.
His consciousness sank deep, and within the swirling images of the vision, he began to imagine.
He pictured his future self.
That is—
Reaching the seventh star, mastering his microcosm, bending the laws of reality to his will.
Advancing to the eighth star, establishing an absolute supremacy beyond all else.
He imagined it as vividly as he could.
He was already powerful now.
But what would he become at the seventh and eighth stars?
And beyond that—
The ninth star?
Suddenly—
Chris’s eyes snapped open.
From the depths of his pupils, a profound darkness flickered.
A darkness so immense and overwhelming that even light seemed to bow before it, inspiring both fear and awe throughout the world.
Yes.
This was the being destined to awaken the Nordians.
The image of Chris, now the Demon King.
Chris planned to project this transcendent form of himself into the unconscious minds of the Nordians, guiding them toward enlightenment.
* * *
“I will become the most perfect Demon King, beyond anyone else.”
What kind of Demon King he would become remained unknown.
But one thing was certain: he would be a being unlike any Demon King in history—closest to the ultimate ideal.