Chapter 51
The clan head twitched his eyebrows.
[This is an offer for your sake.]
“I’m aware.”
[Are you trying to be overly ambitious with a childish heart?]
Chris shook his head.
To be honest, it wasn’t just faith in his talent—there was a more important reason.
“This isn’t overambition. Whether I succeed or fail, this is something I absolutely must accomplish. For the sake of the Dark Maga.”
Nordian’s expression hardened.
[What do you mean by that?]
“Pardon my boldness, but may I ask you something first? It’s a different matter, but… Lord Clan Head, why do you think the current Dark Maga has lost the strength it once had during its heyday and is now in decline?”
Merian beside him inhaled sharply.
The weakening of the clan.
It was true.
In the past, the Dark Maga was one of the most formidable among the twelve great magical families.
It stood shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Cheonwaecheon, and while it wasn’t quite at the level of summoners, it rivaled families known for destruction, obsidian, and curses.
But gradually, its power waned, and now it was considered relatively weak among the twelve.
To speak of this so bluntly in front of the clan head…
[You believe there’s a reason?]
Nordian’s tone turned icy.
The atmosphere froze instantly—so sharply it felt like it could cut skin.
Yet Chris held his gaze and spoke plainly.
“Yes. I didn’t know before, but after speaking with you just now, I understand the reason.”
[Speak.]
“It’s because of you, Lord Clan Head.”
[!!]
Merian’s eyes widened as if they might tear from shock, staring at Chris anxiously.
Simon was the same—he looked at Chris as if he’d lost his mind.
[What… did you just say?]
Chris’s heart pounded.
There was no pressure, no threat—just a calm question.
Yet it felt like his soul was freezing solid.
Still, Chris didn’t back down.
‘I’m not wrong.’
Besides, hadn’t Merian advised him?
This was his chance to win over the clan head’s favor.
So he spoke even more boldly.
To capture the clan head’s heart completely.
Even if anger came now, eventually he would see that Chris was right.
“If my words anger you, I apologize. But may I ask you to hear me out for a moment?”
Nordian fell silent, a quiet consent.
“The Dark Maga has grown far larger than before. It has prospered beyond compare, thanks entirely to your grace, Lord Clan Head. Yet, despite this, others say the Dark Maga is weaker than it once was.”
An ironic truth.
Nordian had led the Dark Maga to prosperity.
Its power had grown immensely, and its material wealth was staggering.
Yet the world said it was weaker.
There was only one reason.
“The lack of Absolutes.”
[!!]
“Since Lord Noga’s time, not a single 8-star demon has appeared. There are only two 7-star demons left.”
There are many ways to measure a clan’s strength—its forces, wealth, influence, territory.
But there was one factor that trumped all.
The Absolutes.
At least 7-star level.
Beings who could perform miracles with their human bodies.
They determined the true power of a clan.
What good is a large force if a single Absolute can crush it?
A prime example was the Bloodthirsty Demon King.
When she invaded the Dark Maga, Nordian had already died in a certain incident.
The rest gathered to face her.
The Dark Maga had over ten thousand demons.
She was just one.
The battle became legendary throughout the alliance.
Over ten thousand Dark Maga demons charged at the Bloodthirsty Demon King.
But not one of them could even touch her.
What followed was a brutal massacre.
The Dark Maga barely escaped annihilation by her mercy.
Afterward, they became her dogs.
‘The Dark Maga lacks not only 8-star but even 7-star Absolutes. Only two remain.’
On the other hand, there were many 6-star demons—more than anywhere else.
That was strange.
Now Chris understood why.
“It’s because the limits were set by themselves. If those limits hadn’t been imposed, the Dark Maga would look very different today.”
If they hadn’t restricted the Seongheuk during the Seongheuk Ceremony.
If they’d abandoned the absurd idea of fair competition and let the strongest take all the Seongheuk.
‘Honestly, not everyone needs to wield such immense power. It’s like putting a pearl necklace on a pig’s neck.’
Chris looked at the dark magic swirling around him.
This was not a power anyone could handle.
If unfit people tried to master it, it would be like forcing a weapon too big for their frame—more harm than good.
In Chris’s view, dark magic was a power meant only for a select few exceptional individuals.
[…….]
The room fell silent at Chris’s words.
They were shocked.
The clan head remained silent for a long moment before speaking.
[Your words are problematic. What if, without limits, someone absorbs a Seongheuk beyond their capacity and hits a wall, only to be crushed? That would happen countless times.]
He was right.
Many would fall behind.
But—
“Of course, that’s unfortunate. But may I speak frankly from the clan’s perspective?”
[…Speak.]
“What does it matter if the weak fall behind? They’re only mediocre fools anyway. Even if fewer in number, the Absolutes who overcome trials will be a far greater asset to the clan.”
[!!]
Everyone’s faces showed surprise.
But Chris thought calmly.
‘It’s not wrong, is it?’
Then the clan head chuckled.
[Heh heh.]
An unexpected reaction.
Not displeasure.
Nordian felt as if he’d been hit by a sudden truth.
‘No need for the weak, huh? Not wrong.’
It was a harsh truth, but magic was survival of the fittest.
Chris’s words pierced the core of what magic sought.
Still, that didn’t mean Nordian agreed.
Chris’s words were idealistic.
Superhumans who could overcome the ultimate wall were rare, chosen few.
Knowing this well, Nordian had ordered that no more than 70% of the Seongheuk be absorbed.
[I understand your argument. But no matter how convincing your story sounds, if you can’t prove it, it’s just empty talk. Can you prove your words yourself?]
Chris answered without hesitation.
“Of course.”
[Hmph.]
The clan head turned his back.
[Don’t regret this.]
Flash!
The scene shifted.
An illusion unfolded.
Merian and Simon vanished. The clan head disappeared too.
Chris found himself alone in a dense forest.
[The transmission of dark magic begins. I will give you your first task.]
A distant voice, sent by the clan head, echoed.
[Survive.]
Survive.
Chris understood the meaning immediately.
Flash!
An attack burst from the shadows!
Instinctively, Chris twisted his body and barely dodged.
A massive rock-skinned lizard demon flicked its tongue, glaring at him.
‘A 4-star rock lizard demon. Starting off strong, huh?’
Considering Chris was only 2-star level, this was an impossible opponent.
‘No way to use alliance power here.’
Then, a chilling growl sounded.
A bear the size of a house appeared.
Not just big—it had two heads and four arms.
A 4-star Twin Head Bear!
And there wasn’t just one.
Two appeared simultaneously.
Three 4-star demons in total.
Even with alliance power, a frontal fight was impossible.
‘Is this some kind of trap because I pissed off the clan head?’
Chris wondered.
Flash!
The lizard shot a dart.
Faster than an arrow.
Chris barely dodged; the tree it hit began to rot instantly.
If he hadn’t dodged, his body would have been destroyed.
‘This is serious.’
Whatever Nordian’s intention, one thing was clear.
If Chris slipped up, he’d die here.
—No kindness in the teaching.
Merian’s words made sense now.
Thud, thud.
The Twin Head Bears closed in on Chris.
True to their rank, their heads were sharp, circling him like a tightening noose.
Behind them, the rock lizard waited for an opening.
A desperate crisis.
But Chris grinned.
‘This is fun.’
A thought that didn’t fit the situation.
‘There must be an answer.’
If this were a real battle, his heart would race.
But this was a training illusion.
Surely, the clan head wouldn’t give an impossible task.
And the answer would definitely relate to dark magic.
‘If I can’t find it… I’ll die.’
Flash!
Bang!
Dodging the Twin Head Bears’ attacks by a hair’s breadth, Chris summoned his dark magic.
‘Let’s do this!’
Back at the training ground where Chris had just been speaking with Merian and the clan head.
“Again with that task?”
[Yes.]
Merian looked pale.
‘Such a twisted hobby.’
Nordian.
The strongest demon, but honestly, a terrible teacher.
No, worse than that.
His standards were impossibly high, and his teaching methods were brutal.
Among Merian’s siblings, there wasn’t a single one who hadn’t been seriously injured while training under Nordian’s guidance.
It was a teaching style not unlike a lion tossing its cubs off a cliff.
But the biggest problem was this:
“…And yet, the effectiveness of that teaching leaves a lot to be desired.”
No matter how harsh the trial, it was difficult to gain anything meaningful from it.
Why?
To be honest…
“…The head of the family just isn’t cut out for teaching.”
That was putting it politely—he was actually terrible at it.
Being strong doesn’t automatically make someone a good mentor.
This flaw was most evident in the task Chris was currently facing.
A trial every sibling had endured at least once.
[By struggling to survive in extreme conditions, you’ll come to feel the true essence of dark magic more intensely.]
“……”
Merian fell silent for a moment.
‘…That’s not true, Head of the Family.’
Not a single one of her siblings had ever gained anything from that task.
It was nonsense from the start.
How could anyone be expected to grasp the essence of dark magic when they were pushed to their absolute limits?
[To survive those beasts, you have to squeeze your dark magic dry. Naturally, you’ll come face to face with its true nature.]
It was a story that made no sense at all.
But Merian kept quiet.
‘I just hope she doesn’t get seriously hurt.’