For many, the biggest surprise came with the revelation that Leon was connected to the old City Lord''s lineage—albeit through his relationship with the former City Lord''s daughter, Luna. This connection granted him legitimacy in the eyes of the kingdom, establishing him as a suitable choice under Azure''s tradition-bound rules.

    With the announcement, Luna could sense a renewed energy in the air. The people had hope again, a sense of optimism she hadn''t seen in years. Overnight, the entire city had transformed from a place of fear to one buzzing with anticipation.

    Meanwhile, Leon spent the night focusing on his system notifications, diving deeper into the abilities and options his recent growth had unlocked. He had advanced to Tier II, a significant leap forward in his power, and with it, new paths and skills had become available. However, one feature intrigued him the most: the next pact.

    "Cherry, my Origin Conjurer ability is affected by my will, right?" Leon asked as he stood in a spacious room, his tone thoughtful.

    [Yes, Leon,] Cherry replied promptly.

    "Then how was I able to summon such a dangerous being the first time I used it?" he asked mentally, recalling the immense power of the being he had summoned.

    [Host, at that time, your wish for a powerful pact was intense. Aether Magic is one of the most powerful magic types out there, so the ability summoned the nearest Aether Magic wielder.] Cherry''s explanation made Leon nod thoughtfully.

    "Hmm, that makes sense. But what should I choose next?" he wondered aloud.

    [Due to Host''s special mage class, the Paradoxical Mage, you are capable of learning any kind of magic. Cherry suggests choosing a pact that grants additional capabilities, such as physical strength or versatility, to complement your current abilities.]

    "You''re right," Leon agreed. "But what specifically should I go for?"

    [Cherry believes Host is already powerful enough for the current stage. It might be wise to explore more dungeons and then decide on a pact that aligns with Host''s future needs. Alternatively, Host could save this pact opportunity and aim for an even stronger one later.]

    Leon nodded in agreement. "You''re right. Summoning another being and forming a pact without a specific goal would be a waste. My current skill set is sufficient for now."

    He paused before asking another question. "By the way, why haven''t any new Aether Magic abilities unlocked?"

    [Dark Pact Level 1 only allows access to three few perks sharing. Host needs to upgrade the skill level to unlock more Aether Magic or other perks from the pact.]

    "Show me my skill points," Leon said, switching focus as the Challenger System interface appeared.

    {Challenger currently has: 103 skill points.}

    Leon nodded, understanding the numbers. Each level up granted him 10 free stat points and 1 skill point per level. Since he was now Level 103, he had accumulated 103 skill points to allocate.

    "Show Status" Leon said as his Challenger status sprang up.

    [ Ascender Name: Fang ]

    Class: Paradox Mage (???)

    Title: Unique Class, Unique Ability

    Legacy: None

    LVL: 0

    Rank: Tier II (Temporary)

    Level: 103

    STATS

    AGI: 650

    VIT: 800

    INT: 1050

    STA: 780

    STR: 610

    HP: 8000/8000

    MP: 10,500

    Unassigned Stat Points: 0

    Skill Points : 103

    Hidden Stats

    Luck: ???

    Charm: ???

    Reputation: ???

    Abilities

    Origin Conjurer (??)

    Permanent Gains:

    Unlocks 1–3 exclusive spells from the Eternal Night King''s Legacy.

    Exclusive Spells:

    Night''s Dominion (Ex): Grants absolute control over darkness within a 500-meter radius, allowing creation, manipulation, and weaponization of shadows for combat or defense.

    Eclipse Surge (S): Temporarily creates a localized eclipse, nullifying enemy buffs and debuffs while empowering dark magic by 200% for 5 minutes.

    Starlit Abyss (Ex): Summon a massive rift that traps enemies in an illusory, starless void for 30 seconds, dealing psychic damage and causing terror.

    Temporary Power Surge:

    Increases all dark magic-related stats by 150% for 15 minutes.

    Restores 100% HP and MP instantly.

    Mana regeneration rate increased by 300% during this period.

    Eternal Night Aura:

    Grants an aura of darkness for 10 minutes, reducing enemy visibility and slowing their movements by 30% in a 50-meter radius.

    Immunity to Light:

    Negates all light-elemental damage for 5 minutes during use.

    Permanent Effects

    Legacy of the Eternal Night King:

    Permanently increases dark magic affinity by 500%.

    Increases MP pool by 20% and mana regeneration by 300%.

    Grants immunity to basic light-based curses.

    Shadowborn Ascendance:

    Permanently enhances stealth and invisibility abilities, making the user undetectable in low-light or dark conditions.

    Increases evasion rate by 50% in darkness.

    King''s Aura:

    Instills respect or fear in dark-aligned creatures, granting bonuses when interacting with them.

    Side Effects

    Eternal Price: If consumed more than once, the user''s soul will bear a permanent mark of darkness, leaving them vulnerable to soul-binding or corruption.

    Post-Surge Exhaustion: After the temporary effects wear off, stamina and mana regeneration are halved for 1 hour.

    Conditions of UseThe user must possess a dark affinity of S-rank or higher to unlock the elixir''s full potential.

    Overuse may result in permanent alignment with darkness, limiting access to holy or neutral magics. ]

    Leon eyes sparkled as he looked at the Item description but his eyes widened more as he realized he can donate it and obtain something better or just 25 of such items.

    Leon analyzed the Elixir of Eternal Night''s description thoroughly, his mind racing with possibilities. The power it offered was extraordinary, but the risks of overuse or permanent alignment with darkness made him pause.

    "If I use this right, it could be a game-changer," Leon mused, "but donating it might open doors to something even greater. Cherry, keep this as a top priority in my inventory for now. I''ll decide once I''ve explored more options."

    [Understood, Leon.] Cherry''s confirmation brought a sense of assurance.

    With his path set and the city looking to him for leadership, Leon knew that every decision he made now would shape his future—and the challenges awaiting him would demand nothing less than perfection.

    Leon spent the next few days settling into his role as the new City Lord of Blue Wind City. The responsibilities were vast, but his sharp mind and Luna''s unwavering support made the transition smoother than he had expected. Together, they focused on rebuilding the city''s defenses, restoring order, and creating opportunities for its people.

    Word of Rex''s downfall and Leon''s rise spread quickly throughout the Azure Kingdom. Many were skeptical at first, given Leon''s outsider status, but his decisive actions and the visible improvements in the city began to change public opinion. He addressed the citizens directly, ensuring they understood his intentions were to protect and uplift them, not exploit them like Rex had.

    One of his first major projects was establishing a council of trusted individuals to help manage the city''s affairs. Luna took a prominent position, naturally stepping into the role of advisor and strategist. Leon also recruited a few skilled individuals he had encountered during his travels—each of them bringing unique expertise that strengthened their efforts.

    Though unknown to everyone in council, Leon has also left Roselia to make sure none use the power he has granted them to make the already almost destroyed city more devastated.

    One evening, as Leon sat in his private quarters, he summoned Cherry for a progress report.

    "Cherry, update me on the city''s state and my current objectives," Leon said, leaning back in his chair.

    [City defenses are now at 60% operational capacity. Trade routes have reopened, and merchant activity has increased by 35%. Recruitment for the city guard has brought in 120 new trainees. Additionally, Host''s renown has spread to neighboring regions, and some travelers have expressed interest in serving under Host''s banner.]