Chapter 381
“Jupien’s going to be shocked. She’s gotten insanely strong. She’s already reached the very edge of 6th Star.”
Chris was stunned.
It was an unbelievable achievement.
“How much is she pushing herself exactly?”
“Hmm? Maybe she’s facing death’s door about ten times a day? You know how stubborn she is. It’s a miracle she’s still alive. Honestly, if I go back to the family, she might already be dead. She’s pushing herself that hard.”
“…”
Chris fell silent.
Activating potential through the blessing he had bestowed put an enormous strain on the mind and spirit.
Surviving multiple brushes with death every day meant she was pulling her potential up from the very depths.
“She’ll probably have reached 7th Star by the next time I see her.”
Or maybe even beyond that.
Because from 7th Star onward, you enter the realm of true enlightenment.
If you risk your mind and push your potential to the limit like that, you can achieve things no one ever imagined.
“Of course, the chances of everything collapsing because she can’t hold on are much higher.”
Jupien had endured so far because she was a natural training fiend, with a grit stronger than anyone else.
Chris sighed and shook his head.
“Don’t overdo it. Neither Jupien nor you.”
“Oh? You’re worried about us?”
“…Not really.”
“Ha, even as the Soma King, you’re still adorable. Still can’t drink, huh? Maybe next time I’ll bring some strawberry cake.”
“…No thanks.”
Chris frowned at Yulian, who still treated him like a child.
With Chris stepping forward, various factions rallied to protect Ruina’s kingdom.
Of course, that alone wasn’t enough to stop the Swordsmanship Family.
Chris made a decisive move.
He invoked the name of the Dark Demon King.
[The Contemptuous Demon King and the Overlord Demon King are eyeing the Gray Zone!]
For reference, both Christian and Nordian had officially earned the title of Demon King.
Both were certain to rise to the lower 9th Star soon, having achieved the feat of toppling a Four-King Star.
Nordian was the Overlord Demon King (Ha Ma Wang).
Christian had earned the title of the “Dark Radiance Demon King.”
‘…Why do they keep calling me the Contemptuous Demon King instead of Dark Radiance?’
For some reason, the title “Contemptuous Demon King” was used more often.
Even those around him said it suited him better.
Anyway, the Overlord Demon King and the Contemptuous Demon King were the most feared figures in the alliance.
The Swordsmanship Family had no choice but to halt immediately upon hearing the rumors.
“The ruthless Demon Kings are targeting the Gray Zone?”
“This isn’t the time to be squabbling with the Opalma Kingdom.”
The Swordsmanship Family’s knights murmured anxiously.
Most of the regular knights had opposed this war from the start.
The justification they gave was utterly flimsy.
“We need to prepare to face the Dark Demon Mages.”
“We can’t do it alone. We have to ask other nations for help and declare a holy war!”
“We need to summon a hero!”
The Dark Demon Mages were a rising power in the Mage Empire.
No matter how prestigious the Swordsmanship Family was, facing them alone was impossible.
The problem was, neither a holy war nor a hero could be mobilized.
Both the Three Empires and the heroes had sided with the Opalma Kingdom.
“That’s why everyone opposed this war in the first place.”
“We have to expose the truth, even now!”
Opposition grew stronger, and the Swordsmanship Family found it impossible to forcibly raise an army.
Then, a decisive event occurred.
A letter arrived.
—I am Evan, the rightful heir of the Meyer family. I will correct the family’s corruption.
I challenge you to a duel for the position of head of the family.
This was Evan’s challenge to the Sword King.
The Swordsmanship Family was thrown into chaos.
“Evan is coming back?”
“I’ve always believed he’s the true head of our family.”
Many of the regular knights supported Evan.
Everyone knew he had been falsely accused and driven out.
Moreover, the Sword King’s recent misdeeds against the Opalma Kingdom had completely turned public opinion.
Of course, their opinions didn’t matter much.
The Swordsmanship Family was controlled by its leadership, especially the Sword King.
Deep within the family’s core, the Sword King was secretly meeting someone.
With a grim expression, he spoke.
“What is the meaning of this? I thought there was no sign the Contemptuous Demon King was moving.”
[Don’t whine like a coward.]
“!!”
Such disrespect toward the head of the great Swordsmanship Family?
Who on earth was this?
[Do you not trust our Holy Assembly?]
A startling word slipped from the other’s mouth.
The Holy Assembly.
A gathering of four Sacred Beings.
That meant the other party was one of the Sacred Beings as well.
The other’s identity was the Dark King.
Another absolute power in the Gray Zone.
“…It’s not that I don’t trust you. But the opponents are the Contemptuous Demon King and the Overlord Demon King.”
The Sword King looked troubled.
“In this situation, even the knights below won’t follow me. Sacrificing the people of the Opalma Kingdom is impossible.”
As Chris had suspected, they were indeed aiming for human sacrifices.
[Don’t worry too much about the Dark Demon Mages. The Mystic Mages have agreed to help us.]
“!!”
An astonishing revelation.
The Holy Assembly was definitely the alliance’s absolute powers.
Yet they had allied with the Mystic Mages?
[The Mystic Mages have sent an Apostle for this matter.]
“…If that’s the case, there’s no need to fear even the Contemptuous Demon King.”
The Sword King seemed to know about the Apostle’s power.
Still, everything was baffling.
Even if the Sword King and the Sacred Beings were corrupt, why ally with the Mystic Mages?
And to go so far as to plan human sacrifices.
The Dark King sneered as he brought up the fact.
[Aren’t you uneasy? As the head of the Swordsmanship Family, allying with the Mystic Mages.]
The Sword King frowned at the question.
“That’s a pointless question. That’s not important right now.”
What came from the Sword King’s mouth was unbelievable.
“This is also the will of the stars that bless me. I only follow it.”
Everything happening now was under the stars’ command.
At the same time, Chris was thinking along similar lines.
‘The stars and Gehenna haven’t joined forces, have they?’
No matter how he looked at it, the Swordsmanship Family’s actions were probably because of the “Glass Lake.”
Otherwise, there was no reason to do this without any gain.
They were likely using the people of the Opalma Kingdom as sacrifices to activate the “Gate” of Glass Lake.
The problem was that the Swordsmanship Family and the Sacred Beings were behind this.
—Be cautious of the Celestial Realm.
A conversation he had with the Celestial Saint Istanya.
—The stars are trying to drastically twist the “fate” of this world for their own justice.
He didn’t know what that meant.
He didn’t even know the Celestial Realm’s true intentions.
‘But if the Celestial Realm really is involved in this…’
Chris clenched his fist tightly.
‘It’s not just Gehenna that wishes for this world’s destruction. The Celestial Realm wants it too.’
After all, the Gate itself was a joint creation of the Celestial Realm and Gehenna.
So it was right to say they shared a common goal.
‘I have to stop the Gate from opening at all costs.’
To do that, there was something he had to do.
He had to make Evan strong.
‘Only if Evan becomes head of the Swordsmanship Family can we prevent this disaster with minimal damage.’
“How does it feel to give up the stars’ blessing?”
“It’s awkward. I feel a bit uncomfortable.”
It was more than that.
It was like having his wings clipped.
“To be honest, there’s no way you’ll reach the upper 8th Star by the duel. There’s less than half a month left.”
“…”
“But if it’s just about gaining the enlightenment to establish a worldview, that’s different. You don’t need to have the vessel fully formed to gain enlightenment first.”
Nonsense.
You can only gain the proper enlightenment after laying a solid foundation.
He was basically telling him to skip all the intermediate steps and gain the enlightenment of the upper 8th Star.
‘But Evan can do it.’
Evan was the continent’s greatest genius.
He could shatter common sense as he pleased.
“Let’s begin.”
Chris drew his sword.
“Time is tight, so I’ll help you.”
Chris recalled Evan’s previous life.
Evan hadn’t grown strong by quietly training.
He had grown stronger by fighting countless powerful enemies and enduring endless hardships.
The stronger the enemy, the harsher the adversity, the stronger he became.
That was Evan.
Chris planned to push him to the limit to induce enlightenment.
“Just so you know, I won’t go easy on you. Be prepared. I’ll swing my sword with the intent to kill, so you might actually die if you’re not careful.”
After Evan nodded, Chris immediately swung his sword.
Flash!
As warned, it was a fierce strike.
He held back only on the Creation Descent, Causality Manipulation, and Domain Control, but gave his all in swordsmanship.
But something unexpected happened.
Whoosh!
Evan lightly dodged Chris’s attack and thrust his own sword forward.
Evan’s blade narrowly grazed Chris’s neck.
‘What the—?’
Chris swallowed hard.
It wasn’t a coincidence.
As they continued to clash swords, the same scene repeated again and again.
‘When did his swordsmanship improve this much?’
Incredibly, Evan’s swordsmanship rivaled his own.
‘No way. I’m already 9th Star!’
His pride stung, so he unleashed even fiercer attacks, but Evan remained unshaken.
“…Are you going easy on me?”
“…What did you say?”
“I know your heart is weak. That’s why you can’t bring yourself to swing your sword with true intent—afraid you might hurt me.”
“…”
“It’s fine. I’m already prepared for whatever comes. If it’s your blade, I don’t mind dying. So give it your all!”
Whoosh!
Evan’s sword grew even sharper, more fierce.
It was as if he was saying, I’m fine—Chris, you need to fight properly.
‘No, I’m already giving it my best! What kind of monster is this guy?’
Correction: it wasn’t just a tie.
Evan’s swordsmanship was surpassing Chris’s.
Granted, this was purely about technique. If divine power came into play, Chris would obviously win. But still, it was shocking.
‘…Evan really is a monster too.’
A fact Chris had forgotten until now resurfaced.
‘Even if this doesn’t earn an 8-star award, isn’t he basically beating the Sword King?’
Just as that thought crossed his mind, Evan let out a small sigh.
“This isn’t going to work. Your heart’s too weak—this won’t be a proper sparring match.”
“…”
“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. Your worry for me comes from your inherently kind nature.”
‘…That’s not true at all.’
Feeling a bit annoyed, Chris just kept his mouth shut.