Chapter 269

The hall fell into a heavy silence.

One unexpected event after another was unfolding.

First, the duel between the Grand Dukes.

Who here had predicted that Christian would win? And so decisively?

Christian had always been known as a madman, but now he was being etched into everyone’s minds as a madman of an entirely different caliber.

But that wasn’t all. More unbelievable things kept happening.

Jessica, the vice head of the house, knelt before Duke Shupen.

No one had seen that coming.

As everyone struggled to process these results, Duke Shupen said something that shocked the entire assembly.

“That was a fine match. If it weren’t for the injuries I sustained from Grand Duke Christian, I would have been the one defeated.”

Though meant to preserve Jessica’s pride, people knew that Christian had actually dealt her a blow during the duel, plunging them into even greater confusion.

“How is this even possible?”

“Is Grand Duke Christian truly insane?”

And the shock didn’t end there.

Other high-ranking mages continued dueling, and one after another, the Dark House’s mages emerged victorious.

First, Count Kazar and Marquis Felpes of the Destruction House.

In terms of rank, the 7-star Count Kazar was inferior to the 7-star-plus Marquis Felpes.

Yet, surprisingly, Count Kazar won.

And not by a narrow margin.

He won comfortably.

“How…?”

“It’s not because you lacked skill,” Felpes said in disbelief.

Count Kazar casually replied, “I just raised my son well.”

“!!”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Christian again.

Christian shrugged.

“It’s all about strategy.”

It’s common knowledge that lower-ranked fighters rarely defeat those above them.

Especially as ranks rise, the gap widens, making upsets rare.

“But that’s a simplistic way to look at it.”

Many factors influence victory or defeat.

Christian placed great importance on compatibility.

“Even at the same rank, individual traits can make someone strong or weak against certain opponents.”

So Christian played a trick.

He arranged the matchups to favor the Dark House’s mages.

“That’s why I deliberately bruised the pride of the Destruction House—to ensure we could pick our opponents.”

Of course, that alone didn’t guarantee victory.

“I also trained them to exploit their opponents’ weaknesses.”

What does “favorable compatibility” mean exactly?

It means your strengths work against your opponent’s weaknesses.

Christian had thoroughly identified the weaknesses of the Destruction House’s mages and drilled his fighters to exploit them.

“My pawn Kashmir in the Destruction House helped me gather that intel.”

Meanwhile, the duels continued.

The results were astonishing.

Though there were tense moments, the Dark House swept all the matches.

No one had imagined such an outcome, and a heavy silence settled over the hall.

“This can’t be.”

“What happens now? Is the Destruction House really going to submit to the Dark House?”

“No, it’s not over yet. The group battle of the regular mages remains.”

The final event of the Dark Tournament was a 50-on-50 team battle between the core senior mages of each house.

They fought wearing shielded magical gear; once the gear’s defense was depleted, the mage was eliminated.

Since the Nordian faction had withdrawn, the Dark House, expected to lose the head-to-head duel, had to win this team battle to claim overall victory.

“Though we’ve pulled off these upsets so far, there’s no way the Dark House can win the team battle.”

But people overlooked one thing.

The Dark House had been underestimated because they lacked any 7-star-plus top-tier mages.

However, they had no shortage of strong 5- and 6-star senior mages.

In fact, their lower ranks were even more solid, compensating for the absence of the highest ranks.

“And the compatibility advantage still applies.”

The Dark House was naturally strong in team battles.

As a family of magic swordsmen, their balance made them adaptable to any situation, specializing in group combat.

“Plus, the 5- and 6-star mages have grown even stronger under my guidance.”

The Dark House’s team entered the battle with a spirit and strength far beyond before.

Each had grown at least one rank, some two or three.

Their determination to win was fierce.

They had been looked down upon for so long, and the resentment fueled their resolve.

“The Destruction House has been mocking us for too long. It’s time to settle the score.”

“It’s time to show the greatness of the Dark House.”

And there was one more factor that spelled disaster for the Destruction House.

Christian himself.

He was participating in the team battle.

As commander.

“Only the Grand Duke commands the team battle.”

Though wounded, Christian was still capable of leading.

His command skills far outmatched Schwarz, the Destruction House’s commander—even injured.

“Form the battle lines!”

The team battle began, and the result was a crushing victory for the Dark House.

Their mages fought with the ferocity of those finally avenging years of scorn.

Jupien, recently promoted to 5-star, was especially impressive.

“You’re weaker than I expected. Boring.”

And Christian’s masterful command, dismantling the enemy’s formation like a puppeteer, sealed the Destruction House’s fate.

They collapsed with almost laughable ease.

“Of course, if this had been a full-scale war with all forces involved, we would have lost.”

The Dark House’s victory was only possible because the duel had a strict 50-on-50 limit.

Considering the entire family’s strength, the Destruction House would have won outright.

“Well, a win is a win. We did it.”

As the Dark House’s victory was confirmed, a heavy silence returned to the hall.

This silence was far heavier than before.

The Dark House’s mages themselves were quiet.

Despite winning, they couldn’t celebrate freely.

They were wary of the Destruction House’s reaction.

More precisely, they didn’t know how Grand Duke Besen would respond.

“Will Grand Duke Besen accept defeat?”

Everyone cautiously watched Besen’s expression.

His face was flushed red with rage.

He looked ready to explode.

There was no sign he would concede.

Christian shrugged.

“We have won. Will you accept your defeat?”

“…No. I will not.”

Besen rose from his seat.

A fierce aura radiated from him, as if a giant’s grip was squeezing the life out of the room.

Everyone held their breath.

“What meaning do these childish duels have?”

“……”

“If anyone from the Dark House can defeat me, I will accept defeat. If not, the Destruction House is victorious. Your vermin of the Dark House will kneel before us.”

An absurd demand.

Yet no one dared to argue.

No one present could break Besen’s will.

“Just as expected.”

Christian frowned.

“Well, I never thought this duel alone would make the Destruction House submit.”

It was the reaction he had anticipated.

He had a plan.

But then something unexpected happened.

“You insolent brat! How dare you speak against the main house? Calling us vermin?”

A sudden voice rang out.

Those who turned to look were puzzled.

A young boy stood there.

No more than ten years old.

He had the dark hair and red eyes characteristic of the Dark House’s bloodline.

“Who is that?”

“A kid?”

But Besen’s reaction was strange.

He glared at the boy with wide eyes.

Only then did people begin to wonder.

Soon, some began to open their eyes wide—not because they recognized the boy, but because of the strange aura he radiated.

At first glance, there was no visible energy.

But some of the highest-ranking mages recognized the deep, unfathomable power coiled within the child.

A power that far surpassed even Grand Duke Besen.

“Who on earth is this?”

Finally, the boy’s identity was revealed.

Only Christian, Count Kazar, and Merian recognized him and bowed their heads, exclaiming:

“Your Grace!”

Yes.

The boy was Nordian.

“How… how can he be in such a young body?”

“An avatar? No, that’s his true body. A reverse reincarnation?”

A transformation beyond rebirth—his body had reverted to a child’s form.

A state achievable only through ultimate enlightenment.

“Could it be…?”

A single thought flashed through everyone’s minds, and their eyes widened.

Nordian had originally reached the pinnacle of 8-star rank. What did it mean that he had gained further enlightenment?

At that moment, Nordian spoke softly.

“Why is there no answer? Did you not call our Dark House vermin?”

“……”

Besen snapped his mouth shut.

He could say nothing.

He had no choice.

Because darkness began to spread around Nordian.

It was no ordinary manifestation of magical energy.

Not a domain.

It was as if another world made of darkness itself was unfolding before their eyes.

Whoooosh!

A world of darkness engulfed the minions of the Destruction Maga.

The minions were crushed under the weight of the darkness, unable to move, and even Grand Duke Besen was no different.

As if overwhelmed, his face drained of color, he stumbled backward.

An unbelievable sight.

Someone whispered it with a sigh.

“Genesis Descend.”

Though still incomplete, it was unmistakable.

This was the power of a nine-star transcendent realm—not just controlling the surroundings by will, but bending reality itself to create a world entirely their own.

Yes.

Nordian had finally reached the nine-star advancement.

The moment the Mage Empire learned of the birth of a new Demon Lord-level minion.

*    *    *

Grand Duke Besen conceded defeat.

He had no choice but to accept it.

The moment he faced Nordian, he realized—

Nordian had become a being beyond his ability to confront.

With Besen’s surrender before a single fight, the Destruction Maga’s defeat was sealed.

One of the Mage Empire’s top five Destruction Magas had been brought to their knees by the Darkness Maga.

It was an event that could have toppled the entire Mage Empire, yet no one paid it much mind.

All because of Nordian.

“Nine-star advancement?”

“The birth of a new Lesser Demon Lord.”

The nine-star rank was classified separately as a Lesser Demon Lord.

The ruler of the Four Kings’ Castle and head of the Command Maga, Pliton the Death Bringer, was such a Lesser Demon Lord.

As difficult as becoming a Demon Lord itself, Nordian was now, aside from the eight Demon Lords, the undisputed strongest in the Mage Empire.

“This isn’t the end. Now that he’s a Lesser Demon Lord, won’t he eventually rise above even the Demon Lords?”