Gulp.

Wolfgang swallowed nervously.

In his eyes, Theo was no longer just a fool—he was a madman.

‘He actually dared to propose a deal to the Patriarch!’

Kyle was a tyrant.

Whatever he decided to possess, he took, no matter the cost, and whatever he resolved to do, he accomplished, or he wouldn’t rest.

For such a man, a "deal" was unthinkable.

Deals were things made between equals, after all.

So Wolfgang thought: this clueless boy, getting bold just because the Patriarch showed a bit of favoritism.

It was obvious what kind of ending awaited him—

"Very well."

‘What?’

An answer he never expected.

Wolfgang’s eyes widened.

"If you’re aiming for the position of successor, then naturally, you should have the boldness to back it up."

Kyle turned his gaze to Ed.

"If this boy withstands my single strike as he desires, I’ll give him ownership of the Camellia Palace. Any objections, Angry Dragon?"

"...Everything of Ragnar belongs to you, Patriarch. Who am I to question your decision?"

"With Angry Dragon’s assurance, there shouldn’t be any issues."

Grit—

Ed ground his teeth quietly, careful not to let the Patriarch notice.

"Good. Then prepare the stage immediately. I’ll test Theo Ragnar right now."

With Kyle’s command, the Nine Dragons moved swiftly.

* * *

[Observing ‘Kyle Ragnar’.]

+

**Kyle Ragnar (67/Male)**

- Title: Incarnation of the Dragon.
- Talents: Sword Affinity, Dragon Blood, Dragon’s Eye, Dragon’s Strength, Dragon’s Essence, Leadership, Tyranny, Charisma, and the Sovereign’s Feats. (List continues)
- Status: Feeling intrigued by his son's newfound qualities, which he hadn’t noticed before.

+

‘List continues? That’s the first time I’ve seen that… So many talents… Truly remarkable.’

Even with all his message access fully unlocked, Theo couldn’t match the number of talents Kyle possessed.

How difficult would it be to reach Kyle’s level?

But even upon realizing the vast difference between them, Theo wasn’t daunted.

Instead, he felt exhilarated.

It meant that if he kept working hard, one day he might reach that height.

Thud… Thud…

His heart pounded wildly.

The thrill of anticipation.

‘But it’s impossible to withstand Father’s strike with my current strength. Time to use the message’s power.’

Pretending to stretch, Theo caught a glimpse of his own reflection in his sword’s scabbard.

‘Observe.’

[Observing ‘Theo Ragnar’.]

+

**Theo Ragnar (15/Male)**

- Level: 2
- Stats (▼)

  Strength: 18  Agility: 16  
  Stamina: 17  Mana: 195  
  Intelligence: 16  Luck: -20  

  Extra Stats: 5 (new!)

+ [Not viewable]
+ [Not viewable]

+

‘Yes!’

Theo clenched his fists.

The new “Extra Stats” field was marked with a factor of 5.

It looked like he could adjust his attributes at will, just like he’d guessed from previous messages.

Thump, thump, thump!

His heart raced wildly.

Adrenaline surged through his mind.

‘Which attribute should I boost?’

Despite his excitement, Theo’s gaze remained sharp as he studied his status window.

To a beginner like him, a single point could make a significant difference, but it might not matter much before his father.

‘Even if I put all five points into one stat, it may not be enough. What should I do?’

He pondered deeply for a brief moment.

‘Wait… What if I use that method?’

With a sudden inspiration, Theo brought his hand to the status window without hesitation.

* * *

‘Damn, damn, damn!’

Ed clenched his fist as he looked at the open area in the middle of the Court of Law.

Theo and Kyle faced each other.

Though there was a height difference, their resemblance was striking, as if time itself had wound back.

Midnight-black hair that seemed to absorb the dawn sky,

Fiery crimson eyes,

and expressions that were unreadable, filled with intensity.

The legal officers in the court watched Theo with envious eyes.

Receiving a strike from the Patriarch was a great honor for any member of the clan.

It meant the Patriarch himself would be imparting his swordsmanship.

The entire clan would likely be buzzing after this event.

Ed was feeling like his insides were burning.

The stage he’d arranged to capture Theo was now turning into one to elevate him.

‘If only that brat would just die from the strike…!’

Bloodshot veins appeared in Ed’s eyes.

But then a thought jolted him back.

‘Wait, die…?’

The realization struck him.

Theo was just a beginner who’d barely started wielding a sword.

Could he actually withstand a strike from the Patriarch?

Even top-tier swordsmen struggled against it.

There was a high chance he’d die.

Or, at the very least, he’d be so broken that he could never hold a sword again.

A twisted smile crept onto Ed’s face.

Meanwhile…

“Hm?”

Kyle suddenly gave Theo an odd look, sizing him up and down with a quizzical expression.

He’d sensed a change.

‘Sharp as always. Even the Nine Dragons haven’t noticed yet.’

Feigning ignorance, Theo asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“Did you… perhaps take some miracle medicine without me noticing? No, that doesn’t seem right. But still, such a change… hm.”

Kyle stroked his chin in thought before shaking his head.

“Then again, at your age, you grow by the day. So, are you warmed up?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Let’s begin.”

With a slight smile, Kyle raised his sword.

In that moment…

The atmosphere shifted.

Woosh—

A powerful aura swirled around Kyle like a storm.

And an intense pressure weighed heavily on Theo’s shoulders.

‘Ugh!’

Crack!

The ground sank beneath Theo’s feet, and his body was nearly forced to the ground.

But.

Theo clenched his teeth, straining to withstand Kyle’s overwhelming aura.

‘I can’t lose here.’

The blood vessels in his eyes bulged,

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

The heart of the dragon beat madly, sending surges of vitality and mana through his body.

Thanks to his allocated stat points, he felt sturdier than usual.

Grr—

His bent knee began to straighten with renewed strength.

Standing tall once more, Theo fixed his gaze on Kyle.

Veins bulged under his skin, as though they might burst.

“Impressive endurance.”

Kyle watched with satisfaction as he unleashed several waves of aura, each one striking Theo like a sledgehammer.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

But with each blow, Theo gritted his teeth, pumping his dragon’s heart harder and gradually standing tall again.

[A tremendous pressure dominates your entire body. You have gained a large amount of experience.]

[Ragnar’s traits have been activated.]

[Your level has increased.]

[You exhibit an indomitable spirit in the face of an unbeatable foe, earning massive experience points.]

[Ragnar’s traits have been activated.]

[Your level has increased.]

...

‘Just as I hoped!’

He’d anticipated that “facing Kyle” would yield experience points, and he was right.

Just as Evelyn’s party play had counted as a real battle, this gamble had paid off.

With his newly earned levels, Theo gained a total of 6 levels, adding 30 stat points.

He dumped them all into [Strength].

[Strength: 53]

Crack, crack—

Suddenly, Theo felt his body transform.

His skeletal structure subtly adjusted, his muscles tensed, and his grip on his sword tightened.

And a thrilling sensation shot through him.

It was a sense of liberation.

—The liberation that comes when one steps out of the ordinary and into the realm of the extraordinary.

It felt as if part of the chains that had bound him across both his past and present lives had finally fallen away.

At that moment.

Slash—

Kyle moved.

From above to below.

A single gleam of light descended over Theo’s head.

Though he hadn’t infused mana into the strike, as one would expect of the “Dragon God’s Son,” Kyle’s sword swung with terrifying speed.

But.

‘I can see it!’

It was a flash of light he wouldn’t have been able to perceive before.

Boom!

Theo twisted his body, pressing his foot firmly into the ground.

The scabbard in his left hand separated from the hilt he held in his right.

What emerged was the broken zweihander he’d had since it shattered three months ago.

Though he’d thought about replacing it, he’d kept it by his side as his trusted partner.

Clang!

The two swords collided.

And—

Crack—

The intense friction generated sparks, and both swords slipped to the side.

Theo veered right. Kyle veered left.

Crash!

In the process, the remaining half of Theo’s zweihander shattered completely, scattering into the air.

Amid the sparkling fragments, Theo stood, exuding a beauty that left the spectators breathless.

He’d done it.

Though every ounce of his strength was depleted and his body felt like it was about to collapse,

he couldn’t help but feel a profound satisfaction from facing his father’s sword head-on.

But there was something even more thrilling.

‘Father’s sword… It was beautiful.’

That single flash of light from his father’s strike.

It reminded him of the single flash he’d once seen from Yulius.

—He wanted to emulate it.

Once again, an intense desire blossomed from deep within his chest

.

—To one day wield that sword himself.

The trajectory of that radiant strike remained vividly in his mind’s eye.

For a long while, Theo stood entranced by the inspiration it left him with.

And then—

"......"

"......"

"......"

In the profound silence.

Ed, Wolfgang, and the Plum Blossom Lord stared blankly at Theo.

Had he actually withstood the Patriarch’s strike, face to face, without being thrown back?

A mere apprentice who hadn’t even awakened his mana?

Could such a thing even be possible?

Paft—

Yulius leapt onto the stage to check on Theo.

He intended to prevent Ed or Wolfgang from doing anything foolish.

“He’s merely fainted. There’s no need to worry.”

It wasn’t until Yulius spoke that everyone realized Theo’s eyes were wide open, but he was unconscious.

Quickly, he checked his pulse.

Thankfully, it was normal.

His breathing was steady as well.

‘Even without mana in the strike, to withstand the Patriarch’s sword and not sustain major injuries… How fast has he grown?’

But the most surprising part was something else.

Theo.

He was smiling.

“Hah…”

Yulius couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Could he have enjoyed crossing swords with the Patriarch that much?

Anyone else would have been trembling in fear.

‘A true warrior… A true Ragnar.’

To think he fainted while still standing.

How strong must his will have been?

What a remarkable young lord.

“...Honestly, you have a knack for making people worry.”

As Yulius murmured softly, Kyle turned and addressed the crowd.

“Theo Ragnar has proven his innocence by his own will. This trial is now concluded!”

* * *

"Ugh…"

Theo slowly opened his eyes.

He remembered his zweihander shattering against Kyle’s sword.

And the blinding inspiration that had seared into his mind afterward.

That flash.

Father.

Yulius too had possessed that one strike.

He could still see it, vivid in his mind…

But he had no recollection of what happened after that.

“Young Master? Are you alright? Can you recognize your mother’s face?”

It was then that Theo noticed Cecilia was touching his face with a worried look.

“I’m… fine.”

“Do you have any idea how shocked I was to hear you faced the Patriarch’s sword! How’s your arm? Any injuries? Try moving your shoulder. If there’s even a fracture or dislocation, I’ll call a physician immediately.”

Though Cecilia’s fussing wore on him, Theo also felt an odd sense of peace.

It felt strange, knowing that someone cared for him.

“You look paler than usual…! This won’t do. I’ll have to brew some elixirs, no matter the cost.”

Just as Cecilia was about to rise in a flurry, laughter sounded from the doorway.

“The young master’s skin is simply fair, so it appears that way. His pulse is fine; there’s no need to worry so much, Madam.”

It was Yulius.

Realizing that Yulius had brought him back from the Court of Law, Theo attempted to stand and thank him.

“Ow…”

But his body felt as heavy as soaked cotton.

“Please, just sit still. While you may be unharmed, you must be exhausted. Who told you to push yourself so hard?”

“Still, I wanted to thank you. Without your help, I wouldn’t have returned safely.”

“Such a small matter. But if you’re truly grateful, perhaps you’ll consider joining the Black Armor Dragon Unit after your Blooming Ceremony. Haha.”

Same as ever.

Theo managed a wry smile, but then he noticed Cecilia’s burning gaze as she observed them.

‘…No wonder my back feels hot. She’ll be asking plenty of questions later.’

Pretending not to notice his mother’s attention, Theo turned to Yulius.

“But where is this place?”

He looked around, noticing unfamiliar furnishings and decorations.

“Are you telling me you don’t even know where you asked the Patriarch to give you as a reward?”

“What do you mean…?”

In an instant, Theo’s eyes widened.

Yulius grinned and nodded.

“The Camellia Palace. By the Patriarch’s decree, the Camellia… or rather, former Camellia Lord, and Axion, left in disgrace along with the Director of the Intelligence Bureau. You should’ve seen their faces as they stormed out in outrage. Hahaha!”