The Duke had watched from his elevated seat, his stern face softening with a rare pride.
watching Gon stand victorious in the arena, the Duke felt a deep satisfaction settle in his chest.
The boy had exceeded his expectations, bringing honor to him in a way few had before.
Even if Gon failed to win at the kingdom stage, it wouldn't matter to the Duke. He was already impressed, and that was no small feat.
What the Duke didn't know, however, was the depth of Gon's ambition.
The title of duchy champion, while a milestone, was merely a stepping stone for the young mage.
Gon wasn't content with pleasing the Duke or earning his approval.
His hunger ran deeper than that, down to the marrow of his bones.
He wanted to be the best mage in the world, not just in the duchy or the kingdom, but in all the realms known and unknown.
The years of being dismissed as a nobody had carved a cavernous void within him, one he intended to fill with greatness.
