"Atreus Vermillion...? Is he a descendant of Lord Vermillion...?!"
The question bood from Sylvaris in the center of the throne room, causing Ilyana’s soldiers and aides to stare intently at .
"Yes, he is Lord Vermillion’s son. And he entered Lathiar Village by breaking the seal Lord Vermillion placed on Lathiar Village," Ilyana answered calmly.
I saw the soldiers and aides looked impressed, but there were a handful who didn’t like Ilyana’s answer.
And those people were Sylvaris and his loyalists.
They stared at with disgust and hatred, as if they hadn’t expected Ilyana to bring new hope to Lathiar Village—which, of course, to them, posed a threat to his coup plot.
"Princess Ilyana...! Do you want to justify what that human did...?! He has boldly broken the seal that disguised our location! The Dragomir Kingdom will surely target us if the seal is gone!" Sylvaris protested.
I had expected this kind of reaction.
Honestly, Sylvaris’s reasons were quite reasonable.
However, Ilyana had other considerations: saving Lathiar Village from the Golem and Sylvaris’s evil desire to force her into marrying him.
Facing a cunning enemy like Sylvaris likely wouldn’t suffice, as I knew his evil intentions.
Before Ilyana could answer, I tapped her on the shoulder, urging her to sit down.
"Atreus Vermillion...why?" Ilyana asked.
"Sit down, let answer Sylvaris’s questions," I said reassuringly.
Ilyana was silent for a mont, before finally sitting down on her throne.
After Ilyana sat down, I took a step forward and glared at Sylvaris.
"I ca here to fulfill the promise of my father, Lord Vermillion, who established a loyal alliance and friendship with Lord Faelor Lathair. As per the agreent, Lord Vermillion and Lord Faelor Lathair only intended the seal to be temporary," I explained calmly and slowly.
"I wonder what kind of wine has made this human so drunk that it’s so easy to make such a deviant decision. Hey, human! Don’t you know that the Dragomir Kingdom can now enter Lathiar Village...?! Many elven villages have been destroyed and their inhabitants slaughtered because the Dragomir Kingdom is hunting them! You’ve brought us to the abyss of hell, Vermillion brat!" Sylvaris exclaid, filled with hatred.
He imdiately drew his sword and pointed it at Ilyana.
"Princess Ilyana...! You, who should be responsible for the security of Lathiar Village, have instead allowed this foolish human to enter and allowed him to remove the seal that protects Lathiar Village...?! You’ve truly brought us to the brink of destruction...! I must be firm with you for the good of Lathiar Village...!" Sylvaris exclaid, seizing this mont to tarnish Ilyana’s reputation.
His words managed to make so of the soldiers and aides in the throne room hesitate.
I heard their whispers, growing fearful, worried about an attack that might co and destroy Lathiar Village.
"Lathiar Village is no longer sealed...? T-that ans the Dragomir Kingdom’s army can enter, they say...!"
"Oh, my... not just the golems, but the Dragomis Kingdom’s army could also slaughter us. Why is this getting so chaotic?!"
Amidst the whispers, I saw Ilyana, whose face was visibly irritated by Sylvaris’ open defiance in the throne room.
"Lower your sword, Sylvaris. You’ve dared to point your weapon at ...!" Ilyana rebuked him sternly, but Sylvaris remained firm.
I knew Sylvaris was using this mont to legitimize his coup.
"I will not lay down this sword because your decision was truly reckless, Princess Ilyana. Let reign supre, and I will resolve this chaos for the peace of the people of Lathiar Village! Be my wife, Princess Ilyana! Make your husband, Xenia’s husband, and Xavina’s husband!" Sylvaris exclaid firmly.
Ah, Sylvaris finally revealed his true self.
Well, this makes it easier for to fight him.
"...it seems soone is eager to protect Lathiar Village, although we can see your great personal ambition to beco the new leader here," I said calmly amidst the escalating situation.
"Don’t interfere, human...! You are the source of the problem...!" Sylvaris exclaid loudly.
"I ca here with a solution. Your current problem isn’t the Dragomir Kingdom, but the Golems that are targeting Lathiar Village," I said calmly, unmoved by my emotions.
"Oh, you know about Golems too? Then what can you do, human?! You may be a wizard, but not all wizards can—"
’WUUUNNGGG...!’
A black aura radiated strongly from the Black Star symbol on my right palm.
Everyone, including Sylvaris, was imdiately stunned by the sight of the Black Star symbol.
I could see the soldiers behind Sylvaris fall silent, their bodies trembling as they sensed the strength of my magical power, amplified by the Black Star.
"Many Wizards have been slaughtered by the Dragomir Kingdom, but I am different. As Ilyana said, I am the strongest Wizard still standing, sworn to overthrow the Dragomir Kingdom," I said calmly amidst the pressure of the Black Star’s black aura that filled the throne room.
"B-Black Star... could it be you... the Wizard who has achieved ’that’?" Sylvaris briefly lowered his sword.
Doubt was clear on his face.
"Yes, Sylvaris. I am the Wizard who has made a magical pact with the Great Wyvern and the Terra Golem."
I saw Sylvaris’ face suddenly pale when I declared that.
He couldn’t deny it, because the Black Star symbol on my right palm was concrete, irrefutable proof.
However, under that hateful gaze, he gritted his teeth, refusing to give in.
He brandished his sword again, this ti not at Ilayana, but at .
"I don’t know what manipulation magic you’ve created, but the elves aren’t the kind to easily believe fake magic tricks! Princess Ilyana was definitely fooled by this cheap magic trick!" Sylvaris shouted, still denying it, trying to convince the soldiers and Ilyana’s aides behind him that I was a fraud.
"Stop embarrassing yourself, Sylvaris! He’s far stronger than you!" Ilyana exclaid in exasperation.
"I don’t believe it! If necessary, I’ll prove it in this throne room...!"
Sylvaris’s threat bood as a flash of lightning appeared on his sword.
I knew the lightning was a manifestation of his magical power fused with his sword.
Elves combine their magical abilities with the gear and weapons they wear, creating a variety of magic that differs from human wizards.
"Sylvaris...! Are you insane! You want to fight in this sacred throne room...?!" Ilyana exclaid, her anger boiling, but Sylvaris seed unconcerned.
"Princess Ilyana...! For the sake of Lathiar Village, I will do whatever it takes...! I will make sure this Vermillion brat is a fake who intends to deceive us all with his tricks...!" Sylvaris shouted loudly.
Judging by his murderous gaze, I knew Sylvaris couldn’t be stopped with words.
Even if Ilyana tried to intervene, it seed his lightning magic was much faster than .
But it doesn’t matter, I was used to be challenged like this.
I aid my right palm at Sylvaris, causing black lightning magic to appear directly on my Black Star.
In re seconds, Sylvaris’s lightning and my black lightning collided.
A series of lightning explosions that ripped through the floor and surrounding walls imdiately shook the throne room.
I saw Sylvaris shocked to see the lightning from his sword being balanced by my black lightning.
But how naive he was to think his lightning could match mine.
I had only used a few percent of my black lightning’s power, and as I concentrated further, it grew thicker and stronger.
With just one flick of my hand, my black lightning shot out, disintegrating all of Sylvaris’s lightning into streaks of light, finally striking Sylvaris’s sword.
’BZZZZZTTT.....!’
"Aghhh.....!"
Sylvaris was forced to let go of his sword before my black lightning could continue to spread through his body.
He knelt down, holding his burning hands and his body trembling from the shock of my black lightning.
And then all the chaos stopped.
There were no more lightning bolts clashing.
Only the cracks in the floor and surrounding walls remained, punctuated by the pained sounds of Sylvaris still holding him.
I saw everyone, especially Ilyana, stunned to see the arrogant Sylvaris kneeling, holding back the pain of losing the duel.
I slowly walked toward Sylvaris, black flas blazing in my right palm.
I saw Sylvaris’ loyalists moving quickly to protect their master, but I didn’t back down or stop.
Every step I took was steady, and my sharp gaze was fixed on Sylvaris.
I was prepared; if even one of Sylvaris’ loyalists moved to attack , my black flas would devour them all.
And my threat worked.
The intense heat from my black flas made the loyalists take a few steps back, fearing my explosion.
I saw their desire to protect their master diminish.
"Bastards...! Are you afraid of this wizard brat...?! Where is your dignity as Lathiar warriors...?! Attack him...!" Sylvaris shouted, annoyed by the hesitation of his loyalists.
Oh, so it turns out the loyalists imdiately took action, reluctantly, of course, because they were scolded by Sylvaris.
I saw ten loyalist warriors, and each of them drew their swords sheathed at their waists.
Fire blazed from each of their blades, which then rged to form a large fireball in the center of the throne room, ready to strike .
Interestingly, these elves could combine magic with each other, multiplying the power of a single spell tenfold.
Unfortunately, the power of this fireball was far inferior to the power of my black flas.
I used a combination of black wind magic and black flas, causing the black flas in my right hand to blaze fiercely into a small, concentrated black fireball that ford a very dense black fla.
"Attack! Defeat him!" Sylvaris shouted loudly.
That shout caused all ten of his loyalists to imdiately launch the large, gathered fireballs at .
At the sa ti, I released the small black fireball in my hand, resulting in a clash of flas.
Initially, everyone there scread in fear, expecting a massive explosion that would shake the throne room and undoubtedly kill them.
But there was no explosion.
The two clashing fireballs only emitted a scorching heat that was initially painful, but gradually faded on its own.
"W-what is this...?! Why are the fireballs—"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOO.....!"
Sylvaris stood still, his mouth agape, unable to believe that the massive fireball his loyalists had created was slowly turning black.
I hadn’t created my small black fireball to compete with others, as I knew the effects of my explosion would cause unnecessary damage to the throne room.
I had created my small black fireball to control my enemy’s fireball.
Now, the massive fireball beca a black fireball that completely under my control.
Sylvaris and his loyalists imdiately fell silent, trembling with fear, knowing that even though this black fire didn’t emit a scorching heat, if it exploded, its power would be enough to destroy them within a second.
I continued walking, passing Sylvaris’ loyalists who were still silent, their bodies trembling with fear, until I finally arrived before Sylvaris, who was still kneeling, sweating profusely.
I saw his face, a mixture of anger and fear, as he saw my composure.
I knew that Sylvaris and his loyalists were still amazed by the power of my Black Star.
"Do you believe in my power now, Sylvaris? You and your loyalists should understand that I have no intention of destroying you all here to ashes in here, but I want to prove it to you...and of course, humiliate you in front of Princess Ilyana," I said calmly.
Sylvaris and his loyalists were stunned, unable to respond because they truly had no choice but to listen to my every word.
"T-this Black Star’s power is indeed formidable...but you won’t be able to fight a golem with just this Black Star, Vermillion...!" Sylvaris exclaid impatiently.
Well, he was damn right about that.
Fighting the Golem and Dragon was quite challenging in a way that I couldn’t rely solely on my Black Star powers.
To fight the Golem, I still had to find the letters that would form its na.
I had already extracted the secret of the letters from Ilyana’s body, and now I had to search for them from Xenia and Xavina.
"...as long as I can et Princess Xenia and Princess Xavina, I still have a chance to fight the golem," I said calmly.
"It’s no use...! Princess Xenia and Princess Xavina have been captured by the golem...!" Sylvaris retorted.
"What...?"
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