Edward raised his hand slowly, and the soul flag manifested within his grip as if it had always been there. The spectral knight, still standing tall before him, did not resist. Blue shadows wrapped around its form as it dissolved into streams of indigo light, each strand flowing back into the flag. In a single breath, the soul was absorbed completely, sealed once more under layers of refined restrictions. The flag trembled once, then vanished, sinking into Edward’s control as if it had never existed.
The battlefield fell into an unnatural quiet.
The broken ground still smoked. Cracked stone and scorched earth stretched outward in every direction, marked by the aftermath of powers far beyond mortal reach. The bodies of the fallen had long gone cold, and the oppressive presence of the Duke was gone entirely, leaving behind a silence that felt heavier than noise.
At a distance, Valerius slowly began to walk forward.
Each step felt heavier than the last. Not because of fear, but because something inside him was shifting. When he finally reached a respectful distance from Edward, he stopped. His remaining hand clenched at his side. Then, without hesitation, he lowered himself to one knee.
His knee struck the ground with a solid sound as he bowed his head.
"Any doubt I once carried is gone," he said, his voice steady but heavy with emotion. "I questioned your strength. I questioned your methods. I questioned whether you were truly fit to stand above others. All of that has been erased."
He lifted his head, his eyes burning with conviction.
"The death of an Archmage is not something one witnesses lightly. It is not something that happens by chance. To kill an Archmage, to defeat his domain, to refine his soul and command it as a weapon... that alone is enough for a man to stake his entire existence on you."
Valerius pressed his fist to his chest.
"My blade, my loyalty, my remaining life. All of it. I offer it without hesitation. Not out of fear, but because I have seen what you are capable of. Following you is not a gamble. It is certainty."
Edward looked down at him quietly.
There was no pride on his face. No satisfaction. Only calm understanding.
"Stand up," Edward said.
Valerius obeyed immediately, rising to his feet.
Edward turned slightly, gazing across the ruined estate. "Archmage. Archmage. Archmage," he repeated slowly. "Yes, at the peak of the Adept Stage, you are nothing more than a speck of dust before one. That is a fact. But being aware of that difference does not mean you should cower before it."
He looked back at Valerius. "Power gaps are real. But they are not absolute."
Valerius listened intently.
"An Archmage’s greatest weapon is not their spells," Edward continued. "It is their domain. Their authority over space, mana, and law. But domains are not invincible. The first thing is originality. A copied domain is weaker than an original one. If a domain is derived from another, its strength is immediately reduced by to less than half."
Valerius frowned slightly, absorbing the words.
"That reduction alone increases survival odds dramatically," Edward said. "If you can endure the first wave of the domain attacks, even briefly, then you create opportunity. Opportunity is everything."
Edward gestured with his hand, mimicking a sword stroke. "Sword mastery is another factor. At seven-star mastery, sword arts stop being simple techniques. They become expressions of law. At that level, a blade can pierce mana barriers, disrupt spell constructs, and even damage a mana core if it lands cleanly."
Valerius’s eyes widened.
"You lack the physique and comprehension for that now," Edward added bluntly. "But that can change. Body Tempering is not optional if you wish to walk that path."
Edward’s voice softened slightly. "And then there is mindset. Most people lose before the fight even begins. They accept inferiority and bind themselves with fear. That is the fastest way to die."
Valerius nodded slowly, his thoughts racing.
"There are many ways to kill an Archmage," Edward said. "You do not need to overpower them. You need to outsmart them. Their overconfidence. Their reliance on overwhelming force. Once you see those things clearly, they become predictable."
Edward paused, then added, "I would not say these things if I did not intend for you to survive long enough to use them."
Valerius felt something tighten in his chest.
He bowed his head slightly. "Then tell me what comes next."
Edward’s gaze shifted toward the horizon.
"The Duke is dead," Valerius continued carefully. "He was the king’s brother. How will the kingdom respond? Will they acknowledge you as the Marquis? Or will they send an army? Or an Archmage?"
Edward did not answer immediately,. pausing briefly to let the moment sink in.
"Power invites attention," he said finally. "Silence invites suspicion. The kingdom will react, but not all at once. Some will call for blood. Others will wait and observe."
He glanced at Valerius. "Whether they name me Marquis or criminal depends on who benefits more from either choice."
Valerius frowned. "So we prepare for both."
Edward gave a faint nod. "Exactly."
"And if they declare you an enemy of the crown?"
"Then they reveal their intentions early," Edward replied. "That is not always a disadvantage."
Valerius hesitated, then asked, "And if they accept you?"
Edward smiled faintly. "Then they buy time. For themselves."
Valerius exhaled slowly. "You speak as if all outcomes are acceptable."
"They are," Edward said. "As long as I control the pace."
He then closed his eyes briefly, releasing his spiritual sense outward. It expanded across the shattered estate, sweeping over broken walls, scorched ground, and distant survivors who trembled as unseen pressure brushed past them.
Everything was within reach.
Edward opened his eyes.
’With the first step taken,’ he thought calmly, ’the journey has begun once more.’
━━━━⊱༒︎ VOLUME 1 END ༒︎⊰━━━━
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A/N: With the end of volume 1, I hope everyone enjoyed the ride.
As an author, I need motivations to keep writing, so power stones and golden tickets would be highly appreciated. And there are gifts, if you wish for me to do a mass release this Sunday, here are the options:
Dragon 5 Chapters
Magic Castle 10 Chapters
Above Magic castle 15 Chapters