Chapter 9(edited)
The forest was in ruins.
Blades of wind and thunder had torn through the trees, shattering trunks and scorching the earth. The battlefield bore witness to the collision of two monsters—one a mutated beast, the other a ten-year-old boy who moved like a force of nature.
Arthur's sword clashed once more with the Black Flame Lion's claws, the impact ringing like thunder. Each strike sent tremors through the ground. Arthur kicked off the beast's paw and flipped back, his sword crackling.
"[Thunder Strike]!"
A bolt of concentrated lightning surged forward, ripping through the air and crashing into the lion's chest with explosive force. Smoke erupted. Trees shook. Birds fled.
But as the dust settled, the lion still stood.
Charred. Bleeding. Enraged.
Arthur narrowed his eyes and activated [Appraisal].
[Black Flame Lion]
[Level: Peak Rank 1]
[Status: Very Low Stamina]
"…Still alive," Arthur muttered, lips curling into a tired smile.
He could feel his body straining. Hours of combat had pushed him beyond exhaustion. His limbs screamed, his breath came ragged, and his mana reserves were nearly gone.
But his resolve had never been stronger.
"One mistake… and I die."
His golden eyes sharpened. He raised his blade.
This was the end.
The lion's corrupted flames surged, black and crimson. Its maw opened, charging a devastating fireball infused with Evil Remnant—a trait only possessed by abyss-tainted beasts. Its aura distorted space itself.
Arthur's sword shimmered with concentrated light, his golden aura radiating in all directions. His mana condensed to a fine point, centered at the blade's tip. His very presence felt divine—overwhelming.
Even his eyes turned pure gold.
The fireball came.
And Arthur moved.
"[Heaven's Descent]."
He became light itself.
A streak of gold pierced through the inferno, cleaving it in two. The fireball shattered, scattering harmlessly into embers.
The lion's pupils shrank.
Before it could react, Arthur's sword drove into its skull—clean, precise, and merciless. The blade sank through its mana core like butter.
The beast didn't roar. It simply… collapsed.
[+1000 Points]
Arthur stood still, chest heaving, blood on his cheek. But a victorious smile played on his lips.
Then his watch blinked.
[First Round Complete]
[Transferring All Participants from the Virtual World]
The world around him began to blur.
Arthur let go.
Darkness claimed him.
[Total Points: 3000]
—
Outside, in the Real World…
The stadium was silent.
A silence deeper than shock.
Projected on massive screens, the final clash had played out before the eyes of millions.
Even among the thousands of spectators—nobles, merchants, warriors—no one dared to speak for a moment.
High Priest Robert's hands trembled. His aged face was pale, lips parted in disbelief.
"He… he really did it," he muttered.
Beside him, Elyra Valerian stared at the screen, her expression unreadable. For the first time in years, she had no words.
A ten-year-old had slain a Peak Rank 1 mutated beast.
A feat that defied logic, experience, and common sense.
"…To think he hasn't even formed a mana core yet," Robert added, voice low. "That boy… no, that monster…"
Elyra exhaled slowly, crossing her arms.
"So now you understand," she said quietly. "He's not just the Count's son. He's something else."
Robert gave a silent nod. "Indeed… even Count Valerian wasn't this strong at his age."
With no more to say, Robert stood and walked toward the announcement platform to deliver the official results.
—————
Feldine Sagnius sitting in the heart of the lavish VIP room, a 12-year-old boy whose appearance was striking and unusual. His alabaster skin glowed softly under the room's light, and his features were sharp, giving him an almost otherworldly look. His white hair, unkempt and cascading down to his shoulders, seemed to have never seen a comb. It contrasted with his jet-black eyes, deep and cold, with no warmth or emotion.
The faint gleam of his fangs peeked from his lips, a sign of his vampire heritage. Despite his young age, Feldine's body was strong and lithe, far more mature than any normal child. He moved with the confidence of someone far older, his gaze sweeping over the room as his thoughts remained fixed on one thing: the tournament.
"2,300 points," his bodyguard said proudly. "No participant has ever reached such a score in a thousand years, my lord."
Feldine smirked. "Of course. I'm a Sagnius, born of immortal blood. What are humans compared to us?"
The bodyguard hesitated. "However… I heard the Valerian boy is participating. Arthur, the Count's son. Rumors say he has nine mana circuits already."
Feldine's expression darkened.
In his eyes, humans were inferior in every way.
They lived short lives, their bodies incapable of handling the true power of magic. They could never master the elements the way vampires did. The very idea of comparing humans to any other race felt like a joke to him. Vampires, after all, were born with innate magic and superior physical strength. But even then, they had their limits. Vampires didn't live forever. Unlike the long-lived elves or dragons, their lives were finite, but they made up for it with unrivaled power in the short time they lived.
"Rumors," he scoffed. "That's all they are. Do you think I fear a mere human brat?"
He leaned back and narrowed his glowing crimson eyes.
"My father, Count Azrael Sagnius, is a Rank 8 Archmage. He crushed entire battlefronts during the Abyss War. Even he said: 'The Valerians may carry a sliver of draconic blood, but they are still just human.'"
Feldine stood and waved his hand. "Enough of this nonsense. Go check the rankings."
The servant bowed and left quickly.
He waved his hand.
"System."
A translucent red interface materialized in front of him.
[System Interface – Feldine Sagnius]
Age: 12
Race: Noble Vampire
Mana Circuits: 9 opened
Physique: Magus Physique – Natural affinity with all basic elements
Affinity: All Natural Elements (Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning, Ice)
Unique Skills:
• Vampire Eyes – See mana levels and energy fluctuations in living beings/artifacts
• Blood Regeneration – Heals wounds twice as fast when exposed to blood
• Night Sovereign – Greatly enhances physical and magical combat ability during the night
Stats:
• Strength: 50
• Stamina: 55
• Agility: 40
• Mana: 90
• Intelligence: 78
System Quests:
• Rank Top 3 in YCT Round 1 – Reward: +5 to all stats [Ongoing]
• Join Erinoguard Academy – Reward: Unknown
Titles:
• "Scion of the Eternal Night"
• "Heir of Count Azrael"
Feldine smirked at the interface.With this i will surpass everyone become the strongest
Just then, his bodyguard returned—pale and shaking.
"Young Lord… th-the results…"
Feldine snapped, "Spit it out!"
The man handed him a crystal tablet.
Feldine's eyes scanned the list—and froze.
[Top 6 Rankings – YCT Round 1]
1.Arthur Valerian – 3,000 points
2.Feldine Sagnius – 2,300 points
3.Julien Reinhart – 1,800 points
4.Georgina Evans – 1,500 points
5.Nyx Akers – 1,300 points
6.Davis Aisenworth – 1,000 points
His hands trembled. "Impossible… this is rigged. It has to be."
He stormed outside, scanning the giant screen in the central plaza.
The results were the same.
His face twisted with rage. "No… I refuse to accept this!"
The bodyguard mumbled, "Young Lord, the tournament magic seals prevent any cheating. The results are accurate…"
Feldine's eyes narrowed. He knew that. Deep down, he knew the results couldn't be faked—but his pride wouldn't let him accept it.
"That can't be…" he muttered. "How could I… lose to a human?"
His fists clenched, red blood leaking slightly from his fingertips. It wasn't just about the points. It was about the insult. About a weak race—one he always saw as beneath him—placing above him.
A moment of silence passed.
Then he whispered, his voice cold as ice, "Fine. Next round… I'll make sure he can't even stand."
——————————-
Arthur stood silently near the edge of the central plaza, his gaze fixed on the massive floating screen that displayed the tournament rankings. The plaza buzzed with excitement, students pointing and whispering as the Top 6 names glowed proudly.
He had just returned from the healing ward. His wounds had closed, and thanks to his mother's mana potion, his core was fully restored. The battles of the virtual realm still echoed in his bones—but now, he felt alive, stronger than ever.
His eyes narrowed as a loud voice suddenly cut through the noise.
"Impossible… this is rigged. It has to be!"
Arthur didn't even turn his head. He already knew who it was. That voice, dripping with rage and disbelief, belonged to only one person.
Feldine Sagnius.
The vampire heir stood just meters away, trembling with fury, his black eyes locked on the rankings. His pale face twisted in disbelief. "No… I refuse to accept this!"
Arthur's eyes glowed faintly for a moment as he activated Appraisal.
Name: Feldine Sagnius
Race: Vampire
Mana Circuits Opened: 9
Unique Skill(s): [Blood Regeneration], [Night Sovereign] [vampire eyes]
Status: Emotionally Unstable – Pride Wounded
So he really was strong—on par with Arthur in terms of mana circuits. And yet, his emotional instability was clear. Arthur had seen this before… people who thought the world revolved around them. Another self-proclaimed genius.
Arthur closed the skill window and looked at him properly for the first time.
"Another protagonist, huh?" he thought to himself, not angry, just calm.
"Arrogant. Overconfident. Blind to anyone below him."
Arthur didn't smirk. He didn't scoff. He simply stared at Feldine's trembling form and thought one thing—
"Alright then… I'll break that arrogance of yours. Completely."