Chapter 69

No matter how impressive it seemed, it was only greatness at a three-star level.

“This will be over quickly.”

At last, ten seconds had passed, and Usran moved.

“With gratitude for Lord Gongja’s consideration, I shall end this in one strike.”

A pillar of intense darkness shot up.

Even at a glance, it was far more formidable than the black steel technique the masked woman had used.

A primal sense of danger sent chills down his spine.

A surge of destructive power, capable of shattering any barrier, rushed toward Chris. Just as everyone anticipated the end of the duel—

Whoosh.

Something faint brushed past Usran’s nape.

He barely twisted his neck to dodge.

“Glass shards?”

No.

It was a transparent piece of glass.

“When?”

There was no time to think.

From another direction, more glass shards flew in.

Not just one, but over five shards at once.

Targeting lethal spots—the nape, eyes, nerve clusters in the shoulder, wrist artery, and the femoral artery in the leg.

“So he prepared this while launching his initial ten-second assault. Impressive.”

Usran admired the tactic.

Countless tiny glass shards hovered in the air.

All of them were controlled by Chris’s magical energy.

“Controlling that many shards at once?”

“How skilled must his magic manipulation be?”

Onlookers gasped in astonishment.

Embedding magic into objects to move them was a trick achievable by a three-star mage.

But at best, it allowed barely moving a single object.

“No, this isn’t just about skill level. His innate magic control must be extraordinary.”

No one present could handle so many objects simultaneously.

This was the moment everyone witnessed firsthand the legendary, insane magic control Chris was rumored to have.

“A clever move, but unfortunately—”

Usran shook his head.

A black mist rose, enveloping his body.

He was defending himself with magic energy.

“Such petty tricks won’t work on me, Usran of the Black Cloud.”

True to his words, the glass shards never touched him. Upon contact with the black mist, they crumbled into dust and vanished.

His secret weapon rendered useless.

“I shall end this now.”

A fierce wave of destructive energy surged again.

A desperate situation.

Yet Chris reacted in a way no one could understand.

“Bingo. Just as planned.”

Glass shards?

He never expected to deal damage with such a trivial trick.

What Chris aimed for was this very moment.

“Knowing Usran’s rigid nature, I predicted he’d ignore the shards and defend his entire body with magic energy. That’s his fighting style.”

More precisely, Chris sought to divide his attention.

When magic energy shields the whole body, some concentration inevitably disperses.

Of course, that didn’t mean Usran’s sword lost its aim.

His black steel technique remained razor-sharp, drawing a straight line toward Chris.

A slight distraction in focus would only cause a barely noticeable difference.

But that was enough.

Chris charged forward.

“Wha—?!”

“Should we intervene?!”

Usran’s eyes widened.

“Reckless?”

He understood Chris’s intent.

Chris was trying to exploit the faintest opening to counterattack.

But it was far too reckless.

“…Talented, yes, but still too inexperienced. I’ll aim for his arm.”

Chris’s sword rose.

A surprise strike targeting Usran’s fleeting vulnerability.

But against overwhelming power, it meant nothing.

Slash!

The black steel ignored Chris’s attack and sliced through his arm.

A sickening sensation of flesh being cut.

Blood sprayed like a fountain, and the crowd clicked their tongues in shock.

Usran’s pupils trembled.

“…Is this not real?”

At the same moment,

The bleeding Chris’s figure wavered like smoke.

It was an illusion!

“Impossible?!”

Usran couldn’t believe it.

When had it turned into an illusion?

“Could it be… at the very moment he defended his entire body with magic energy?”

While Usran’s attention was fixed on the glass shards, Chris had created an illusion!

And not just any illusion.

“One indistinguishable from reality. Could he have applied the secret technique of the ‘Splitting Sword’ from the direct lineage?”

Exactly.

Chris had witnessed Jupien’s ‘Splitting Sword’ during the recent incident with the deadly magic beast and adapted its trick to create an illusory clone of himself.

The Splitting Sword was so advanced that even high-level mages couldn’t tell illusion from reality.

But to apply that technique directly to his own body?

Not only that.

Chris’s illusion moved as if alive.

—It’s best to distinguish between illusion and self.

That advice Chris once gave Jupien.

He hadn’t come up with it himself.

It was wisdom he’d heard from Lanya, the nine-star archmage of the old hero party.

If you can separate illusion from self, the illusion moves as if breathing.

A four-star level illusion magic.

Chris was a four-star mage by his magical aptitude.

So he could weave such subtlety into his dark magic illusions.

Enough to fool Usran’s eyes, momentarily distracted by the glass shards.

And when the illusion’s arm was cut, it even created the illusion of actual flesh being severed, delaying Usran’s realization.

The result was this.

“Then where is Lord Christian now?”

A chill ran down Usran’s spine.

He didn’t need to see to know.

Chris was behind him.

His back was completely exposed.

“!!”

Usran spun around desperately.

But it was too late.

Chris swung his sword with all his might.

The other mages’ eyes widened as if they might tear.

This was no mere three-star movement.

Though a single strike, it was a level only achievable by a four-star or higher.

“Damn.”

Usran sensed it.

A perfect backstab with a flawless strike.

This sword could neither be dodged nor blocked.

“I must use my secret technique. But if I do, I can’t guarantee Lord Christian’s life…”

His secret technique was a deadly move designed solely to kill his opponent.

But was that right?

Normally, it didn’t matter.

In the Mage Empire, killing during duels was never punished.

However—

“Thank you for this precious lesson.”

Contrary to his reputation as a brute, Usran recalled Chris’s respectful demeanor and hesitated to use his lethal technique.

Then, suddenly, something unexpected happened.

Chris stopped his sword mid-air.

“…Gongja?”

Chris sheathed his sword and bowed politely.

“Thank you for your valuable teaching. I concede defeat.”

“!!”

Usran was taken aback.

“No, what do you mean by that?”

“Did you not ask me to hold back? I’m not so foolish as to miss that. I appreciate your consideration.”

Usran sighed.

From start to finish, Chris’s conduct was admirable.

If it had been another Gongja—especially Maysak—would they have acted this way?

Never.

Compared to others, Chris’s demeanor seemed all the more remarkable.

And Usran wasn’t alone in this thought.

Everyone watching the duel shared similar feelings.

“To show such respect… we completely misjudged Lord Christian.”

Though they served different factions and masters, they were all mages.

Chris’s repeated respect for a strong mage’s honor stirred their hearts.

Moreover, it wasn’t just his courteous attitude that impressed them.

“Defeating a five-star mage might not have been mere luck…”

Of course, Chris still had a long way to go.

But what he just displayed went beyond mere star rankings.

Innate combat sense.

Sophisticated illusions only a professional sorcerer could manage.

And above all, that final strike.

A blow impossible for a three-star mage.

One word came to everyone’s mind.

“Genius.”

Not just any genius.

An overwhelming talent beyond imagination.

“Absorbing dark magic energy beyond nine stars wasn’t a coincidence.”

Some mages even thought this.

“Even Lord Eshed, hailed as the greatest genius of the next generation, didn’t have such talent.”

“Perhaps…”

Some swallowed nervously, daring to hope.

“Lord Christian might cause a major upset.”

Of course, only a few thought this.

Still, the mere fact that anyone predicted Chris’s victory was a huge shift.

That’s how impressive his performance had been today.

“Now, I wonder if I’ve met the qualifications Lord Maysak desired.”

Chris said to Maysak.

“You… you…”

“Maysak.”

Chris smiled slyly.

He dropped the formal tone.

“As fellow Gongjas, show some respect. Or else, I’ll speak to you the same way.”

“!!”

Maysak ground his teeth.

His clenched fists trembled.

“Arrogant brat.”

But picking a fight now would spoil the mood.

Maysak was smart enough to know that.

In the end, he left with a warning.

“Don’t get cocky. Soon, you’ll be crying tears of blood.”

“Fine, got it. Just don’t tell my mom.”

“!!”

Maysak stormed off, face flushed with rage.

He looked ready to use his mother’s influence to unfairly suppress Chris.

But Chris found it oddly satisfying.

“If he’s going to play dirty, the more the better.”

Does Maysak realize that?

How Chris’s scheme would benefit him.

Chris planned to use Misaak’s maneuver as an opportunity to expand his influence within the Dark Maga.

“How could that even be possible?” you might ask.

Just look at the scene right now.

“Lord Christian, may I pay my respects?”

Glances were exchanged as more and more minions began approaching him to offer their greetings!

Not a large number, but still—

A sight that would have been unimaginable when the feast first began.

“Pleasure to meet you, Sir Caron.”

“You know me?”

“Of course. You’re the second commander of the Crimson Knights, aren’t you? I’ve also heard of your recent exploits in the skirmish against the Gold Cross faction.”

And it wasn’t just Caron.

Chris had memorized every detail about the minions of Dark Maga.

Not just their titles, but every achievement they’d ever made.

Even the small deeds others might overlook, Chris mentioned them all, impressing those who spoke with him.

They found it hard to believe the rumors that had labeled him a reckless brute.

Above all, Christian knew how to honor the reputation of others.

Who wouldn’t be drawn to someone like that?

As the number of minions seeking out Christian steadily grew, an unexpected voice cut through the crowd.

“May I pay my respects as well?”

“!!”

A soft, gentle voice.