Chapter 115
Just in time, the level Nordian showed was like a milestone for Chris to aim toward.
A will that surpasses mere will.
A power akin to authority.
It was the goal Chris had to devote himself to as he moved toward the 5-star realm.
Chris couldn’t hide his gratitude and bowed his head again.
“I sincerely thank you for your teachings, Lord Patriarch. I will never forget this grace.”
[…]
Meanwhile, Nordian, who had no such intention at all, couldn’t find the words to respond and had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.
[…Enough talking. Let’s finish this match.]
Fwoosh.
Magia rose from the sword sheath in Nordian’s hand.
It was the manifestation of magia at the 2-star level.
It was a basic technique used by ordinary dark beings, even inferior to the Black Blade, but who would dare belittle it?
[With this one strike, I will cut you down.]
“!!”
[If you can block it, I will acknowledge your victory.]
A firm declaration.
Since Nordian had spoken, it would indeed be so.
The moment Chris tightly gripped his sword with a tense expression—
Fwoosh!
Nordian’s body vanished.
And immediately appeared right in front of Chris.
[Take it. You should be familiar with this swordsmanship.]
Nordian’s sword slashed downward.
Absurdly, it was the sword technique of the Count Khazar family.
Not the bloodline’s technique, but the basic Mud Sword style used by ordinary dark beings.
It wasn’t like earlier—there was no authority used, nor will imbued in it.
It was the pure, original form of the Mud Sword style.
But even so—
‘It’s dangerous. Far more than the previous attacks.’
Chris clenched his teeth.
Compared to the full-force strike Count Khazar delivered using Black Steel Aura, Nordian’s current casual blow was far more lethal.
‘I need to find a way.’
He couldn’t block it, nor dodge it.
But Chris did not give up.
Just like Nordian’s teachings always had, there would be an answer this time too.
‘There must be a hint in the demonstrations he showed earlier.’
In an instant—
The scenes Nordian had shown played back in his mind like a stream.
A miracle—elevating will to a higher dimension, like authority, and using it to contain the essence of existence and interfere with the phenomenal world.
It was a method Chris couldn’t dare replicate.
But—
Chris, how can one transcend the rank of existence?
A conversation he had in the past with the Hero Evan came to mind.
Chris had not trained in swordsmanship or magic, but with his unparalleled five-star genius, he often gave astonishing advice whenever the Hero’s party hit a wall.
In truth, it was an absurd thing.
Chris didn’t even understand what level of achievement they had reached—how could he advise them?
It was like a blind man leading the way.
‘But I could do it.’
Chris possessed insight that allowed him to pierce through the fundamentals of all things, and he instinctively understood the walls they faced, making it possible to give them fitting advice for the situation.
Transcending the rank of existence?
Yeah, unless you surpass this wall, you’ll never reach the 9-star Transcendence Realm.
Evan, the final hope of the Faction of Light, was suffering under the immense pressure of being unable to overcome the wall of the 9-star realm.
Chris replied casually.
If you want to cross it, you have to empty yourself first.
…What?
With all that burden on your shoulders, how could you possibly leap over it? It’s too heavy.
It’s unknown what kind of realization this advice gave Evan.
But it clearly helped.
Because not long after, Evan reached the 9-star Transcendence Realm.
Still, why was it?
Why did that moment come to mind now?
‘What I need right now is no different!’
Chris manifested the Black Sword.
The Black Sword, imbued with Chris’s will, possessed power incomparable to an ordinary Black Sword.
But it wasn’t enough.
The moment it clashed with Nordian’s sword strike, it would undoubtedly shatter.
‘I have to strengthen this will—strong enough to endure.’
Chris didn’t know how Nordian elevated will to the level of an authority that surpasses limits.
Nor did he need to imitate it exactly.
For the paths to truth are as numerous as the branches of all creation.
Chris, in his own way, strengthened the will infused in the Black Sword.
First, he emptied the will that was already within the Black Sword.
Only when emptied can it be filled again.
In its place, he infused a different will.
It was the layering of will.
That occurred in an instant, repeated several times.
Chris felt the will within the Black Sword transforming, unlike before.
More precisely, he sensed it ascending to a higher level.
Fwoosh!!
Chris’s Black Sword trembled violently.
The sheer amount of will exceeded the Black Sword’s durability—it couldn’t withstand it and began to break apart.
To fully contain this will, he would need Black Steel Aura.
But that was fine.
‘Just once. I only need it to endure once.’
The Black Sword, on the verge of collapse, clashed with Nordian’s sword while carrying the layered will.
[!!]
KWAANG!!!!!
Though it was merely a collision between two swords, a thunderous boom rang out as if an explosion had gone off.
The underground training hall shook violently, as though struck by an earthquake.
The result was devastating.
“Keugh!”
“Christian!”
Chris was hurled backward helplessly, coughing up blood.
The sword in his hand was completely shattered.
“…Master, that was excessive.”
Merian spoke out in reproach.
But Nordian responded in an unexpected way.
With a hardened expression, he said this:
[Excessive? Look at this.]
Nordian held out the sword sheath in his hand.
“!!”
A deep cut had been carved into the sheath.
Chris’s Black Sword had pierced through Nordian’s demonic energy!
An unbelievable feat.
And that wasn’t all.
“…I won, didn’t I?”
Chris gave a crooked smile as he coughed up more blood.
An arrogant grin.
Yet Nordian could not say anything in return.
Just now—
Contrary to what had been agreed, Nordian had drawn upon demonic energy beyond the level of 2-star.
To prevent the sheath from being cut, he had used demonic energy at the level of 4-star.
Having violated the very conditions he had set, it was no different from admitting defeat.
Then Christian said something unexpected.
“Please, look at your sleeve.”
[!!]
Nordian’s eyes widened.
The edge of his sleeve was faintly torn!
‘When…?’
Impossible.
For Chris to pull this off without Nordian noticing?
Chris wiped away the blood and spoke.
“It’s all thanks to your teachings, Master.”
[…You’re saying it was because of my teaching?]
“Yes. Didn’t you teach me today to aim for a will that surpasses will itself?”
[……]
Nordian, who had never given such a teaching, remained silent as he listened to Christian’s incomprehensible nonsense.
“I overlaid my will onto the Black Sword transformation and instilled the will to ‘hide.’”
[…You instilled the will to hide? Are you saying you used a different type of will?]
Not only Nordian, but also Merian, Count Khazar, and Simon all looked shocked.
To handle a different type of will—meaning to transform one’s will—was a prerequisite to reaching the 6-star level of “Will Manifestation.”
It was a realm only those aiming for 6-star and above could even attempt.
And yet Chris, who was merely at 4-star, had done it?
“Yes, while trying to strengthen my will, I felt like maybe I could do it for some reason, so I gave it a try, and fortunately it worked. Since it was something I did unconsciously and by chance, I doubt I can reproduce it again.”
Everyone fell silent at Chris’s words.
He just tried it—and it worked.
‘…Insane.’
That was the word that came to everyone’s mind.
Oblivious to their shock, Chris bowed his head innocently.
“It’s all thanks to your teachings, Master. I will continue to keep today’s lesson in mind as my goal and work hard.”
Nordian let out a dry chuckle.
‘I knew he was a genius…’
Nordian recalled the thought he had before.
His grandson wasn’t just a genius.
He was an incomprehensible monster.
‘…Maybe, just maybe, this child truly could fulfill my lifelong wish.’
Nordian’s wish.
The reason he had extended his life by invoking the forbidden techniques of defying heaven.
For a moment, an uncontrollable surge of hope rose within him—but he forcefully suppressed it.
‘…I still can’t be sure. More than anything, there’s not enough time.’
Nordian didn’t have much time left.
He should have long since reached the end of his lifespan and died, but he was holding on forcibly.
Could this boy really grow enough in such a short time to fulfill that wish?
He didn’t know.
But one thing was certain—no one else but this boy had even the possibility.
[You’ve won the wager. I’ll unlock the restriction for you. But there’s one condition.]
“What is it?”
[You must come back alive. Understood?]
Merian and Count Khazar looked slightly surprised.
It was the first time they had heard Nordian say such a word of concern to anyone.
And that wasn’t all.
‘Father’s eyes…’
The look Nordian gave Christian was somehow different than before.
In the past, it had always been filled with cold, calculated scrutiny.
Even when recognizing Christian’s brilliance, he constantly assessed and evaluated.
But now, it was different.
It was a look that fully acknowledged Christian.
“Yes, I’ll return unharmed, so don’t worry.”
[Worry? Don’t get cocky.]
Nordian rebuked him.
[What is your other request? Didn’t you say that if you won the wager, you’d ask for one more favor?]
“……”
[I'll say this in advance—if it’s a request involving official duties of the family head, I cannot accept it.]
He meant that something like recognizing Chris as the heir apparent would be too much.
‘Asking for a family treasure or something similar might be acceptable, though.’
Chris made a request no one could have anticipated.
“Please continue to teach me.”
[Hmm?]
Nordian looked puzzled.
[Weren’t you the one who rejected my teaching before?]
“I’m speaking of after this month is over. It doesn’t have to be just this opportunity—we have plenty of time ahead of us.”
Chris said,
“I believe your instruction is more valuable than anyone else's.”
…Merian and Count Khazar, who knew how terrible Nordian’s teaching was, looked dumbfounded, but Christian’s words held sincerity.
Both last time and this time, Chris had been deeply impressed by Nordian’s guidance.
[Heh… If you want it that badly, fine. From now on, come to this training ground once a week, away from others’ eyes.]
“Instead of this secret training ground, may I come to your private annex instead?”
[…What did you say?]
For a moment, everyone froze.
They had realized Christian’s intent.
“What I’m asking for is not informal instruction like now, but to become your official disciple.”
[!!]
Nordian spoke with a weighty tone.
[Do you know what that means?]
“Yes, I do.”
Chris nodded.
“To become the only blood relative officially acknowledged by you.”
If he became Nordian’s disciple, it would shake the entire family.
Until now, Nordian had never accepted any blood relative as his disciple.
Being acknowledged by the family head—this would bring Chris significantly closer to the position of Archduke.
It was a way to carry Nordian’s prestige without Nordian having to make any public endorsement.
[You’re cunning.]
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
[And if I refuse your request?]
“If you refuse, then it can’t be helped. But I don’t think anyone else suits the role of your disciple better than I do.”
Chris gave a sly grin.
“As you already know, compared to me, the rest of the bloodline are all fools anyway.”