I stood up from the ground, frowning.

“I really thought I was going to die.”

Grumbling, Alexis narrowed one eye and looked at me.

“So who’s the one who couldn’t wait and charged in first?”

I had sent Alexis a signal before Ragon attacked the mother Void and brought it down.

He was my last hidden card, kept in reserve just in case.

He had been waiting quite a distance away from the battlefield, and it would take him about ten minutes to arrive.

“Well, I have to admit you’re impatient—”

The Void spawn that Alexis was holding opened its cross-shaped mouth wide, struggling fiercely.

“Alexis, hurry! That one’s the core clone!”

I clearly saw it in the comments.

If only the core clone is taken downㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Erilotㅠㅠㅠ The one with black eyes is the core cloneㅠㅠㅠㅠ

If the core clone is destroyed, all the spawn Void clones stop their biological activity.

‘I heard that in the first life, Lismond took down the core clone and completely eradicated the Void.’

Look.

That’s definitely the core clone.

When the core clone got into danger, other spawn Voids started swarming toward it!

The Void clone clinging to Luka rushed at Alexis.

“Kyaaaak—!”

Alexis twisted his body slightly to dodge the Void clone.

At that moment, the core clone writhed violently and finally broke free from Alexis’s grasp.

Landing on the ground, the core clone started to flee rapidly.

But it wasn’t long before it was blocked.

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

The mercenaries and Milán and Selene who blocked the core clone’s path widened their eyes in disbelief.

I smirked.

‘Do they know if we can also replicate the Void?’

Replication isn’t just something they can do.

‘With a “Gaho” to boot.’

The chains of light stretching from Alexis’s hand tightly bound the core clone.

It was Milán’s Gaho, “Dominion over Flesh.”

This was the first Gaho of Alexis, the male protagonist of Ice.Black.Hand.

A Gaho inherited by Alexis, the founding emperor of the Kalsoie Empire and prince of the era, called Dominion’s Majesty.

It allowed him to copy another’s Gaho for over three minutes.

“Huh... What kind of monster is that?”

Milán, whose Gaho was copied, chuckled dryly.

But he soon had to dodge attacks from other spawn Voids and couldn’t focus on Alexis.

Milán threw a stone at the spawn Voids.

Then, Milán’s second Gaho, , transformed the stone into a boulder and crushed the spawn Void’s head with a thud.

“I don’t know what it is, but if it’s a Gaho like mine, better not use it too long!”

Milán shouted, and Alexis glanced at him.

Milán frowned.

“If you use it on monsters, your body gets monsterized. It’s Gaho damage.”

“Why don’t you mind your own business.”

“What?”

“My Gaho’s on a different level.”

Alexis’s Dominion’s Majesty wasn’t just about copying.

It copied and enhanced.

If Milán had level-1 , Alexis could use it at level-2.

‘Yeah, male protagonists have to be strong!’

In the future without my father, Alexis was called the strongest.

Even the royal family dared not touch him because of his powerful ability.

Over ten spawn Voids rushed at him, but they couldn’t harm Alexis.

He perfectly defended by replicating Kali’s .

Rather, the spawn Voids attacked were shredded by his sword.

The core clone, realizing it couldn’t match Alexis, tried to escape.

“Kieek─!!”

The core clone screamed.

Then, the spawn Voids around it melted like sludge.

That sludge swarmed the core clone and began to absorb it.

The core clone swelled.

When it grew to about three meters, the chain of light shattered with a snap!

“Krk... Krrrkk...”

The core clone’s body was covered with eyeballs like the mother Void.

I approached Alexis.

“Alexis, that eye in line with its mouth is the ‘core.’”

Among the red eyes, the single black one.

I asked,

“Need backup?”

“Waiting calmly.”

Alexis, gripping his sword, gazed steadily at the core clone.

“I’ll give you the core of an ancient monster no one has ever gotten before.”

He kicked the ground hard and charged at the core clone.

Not only the 3rd generation of Astra but even the 2nd generation watched the magical scope with stunned faces.

“My goodness...”

In the silence, someone muttered.

Who exactly is that boy?

That monstrous being who toyed with an ancient top predator monster as if it were a plaything...!

Marquis Debussy inhaled sharply.

“Lismond’s level, indeed.”

Then Duke Astra twisted his mouth.

“Is that so?”

“Yes?”

“In my view, he’ll catch up to Daymond in just a few years.”

“What exactly is his identity?”

“Isn’t he the one wearing a red armband?”

That means he’s a mercenary under Erilot.

A soldier boy of that level?

‘To think the central corps leader during the Late Emperor era, Kali, has a soldier boy with that strength.’

How did Lady Erilot acquire such a mercenary group!

The 7-rank 3rd generations’ faces stiffened.

Balzac, Joshua, and Loreina—strong individuals of similar age—showed expressions full of intimidation.

Especially Lismond, the strongest in combat power among the 7-rank, radiated a cold aura.

“Brother.”

Joshua called, and Lismond finally calmed the magic power he had been radiating tensely.

Then someone pointed at the magical scope and shouted.

“He’s fallen!”

All eyes focused quickly on the magical scope, watching Lismond.

Thud─!

The core clone finally collapsed at the boy’s feet.

The boy reached for the fallen core clone.

His nails sharpened like beasts’, and with a snap! he grabbed and bit the core clone’s eyeball.

The 3rd generations, who had been watching intently, started talking.

“What’s that Gaho?”

“Wasn’t the chain a Gaho just now?”

“Does he have multiple Gahos?”

“Could it be replication?”

“No way. The ability to replicate and instantly use Gahos!”

“Yes, that’s a power only the founding emperor Alexdroswood I had. Dominion’s Majesty!”

Just then—

[Kkiieeeek─!!!!]

A chilling scream burst out from the magical scope. The core clone was howling.

[Kyaaak─!]

[Kiiek!]

The same agonizing screams came from the other spawn Voids.

Soon...

“Look! The spawn Voids are turning to dust!”

As someone said, the spawn Voids stiffened like stones and then crumbled to dust.

Liantin blinked.

“What’s going on?”

“Huh?”

“Erilot didn’t seem fazed at all. As if she expected this.”

“What?”

People glanced at the arrogant Erilot inside the magical scope.

The boy held the removed eyeball and slowly walked toward Erilot.

The eyeball hardened into a perfect stone by the time he stood in front of her.

Kneeling on one knee, the boy offered the stone eyeball to Erilot.

“I offer the core of the ancient monster.”

“Core?!”

“That’s the core of the Void?”

“You knew that?!”

As the commotion ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) grew, the boy in the magical scope calmly continued.

“...My lord.”

At once, the men of the Igritz mercenary group all knelt.

“This Kali Muso offers a thousand years of loyalty to my lord!”

“A thousand years of loyalty to my lord!”

“Loyalty!”

The expressions of those watching the magical scope stiffened.

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

‘My lord.’

He said ‘my lord,’ definitely.

‘That means they’re no longer contracted mercenaries.’

They declared themselves Erilot’s army.

Marquis Debussy slumped in his chair, letting out a dry chuckle.

“How much does this girl plan to shock the old folks?”

“...”

“Clever. She’s incredibly clever.”

This was a place filled not only with Astra’s direct descendants but also collateral branches and invited nobles.

Since this was a match focusing on Astra’s interests, many intercepted the transmission to watch the match.

She had shown her strength in front of all these people.

A powerful army led by none other than Kali Muso!

Bastina screamed.

“Th-This is cheating! This match was supposed to be mercenaries only! Bringing in non-mercenary troops...!”

“The match did start with mercenaries, didn’t it?”

Vasilema clicked her tongue and said, and Bastina shouted back.

“How do we know if they were mercenaries or original troops? If original troops were deployed, this goes against the purpose of the match!”

She glared at Duke Astra.

“This is a match to see how far you can command troops you haven’t practiced with, Father!”

“If that’s the case, Selene should have been eliminated long ago.”

“...What?”

“You underestimate me, Bastina.”

“What...?”

“I’m aware that Eilin’s Ideal mercenary group is secretly run by your city.”

“...!”

“I also know Selene once helped with requests Eilin’s Ideal received at your city’s request.”

“T-That’s... that’s—”

“And you received money from the city as a reward.”

Astra strictly forbids minors in direct lineage from colluding with other clans.

‘Oh, so you knew?’

Bastina turned pale.

Her husband Mistro tried to restrain her.

In a hushed voice, Mistro tried to calm his wife.

“Don’t interfere unnecessarily. Stay calm.”

“But...!”

“If Selene becomes the Origin, it’s something you can accept. Look, Erilot’s troops are exhausted dealing with the spawn Voids.”

“...”

“If Selene manages to escape well, who knows how the match will end.”

“If it ends in a draw...”

“Yes. Then they’ll decide the winner by analyzing the match’s content. Daymond hasn’t managed to recruit retainers as well as we have.”

“Yes. If it ends in a draw, it’s our victory.”

Bastina stared intently at the magical scope.

But then...

Selene slowly started walking toward Erilot inside the magical scope.

Erilot’s gaze shifted to Selene, covered in dust.

“Huh?”

“A duel between commanders? Are they going to fight it out?”

At that moment, with everyone’s eyes fixed on them,

Selene knelt down and bowed deeply.

“I admit defeat.”

“...”

Bastina, Balderic, Silvain, Hernan, and others who had hoped for Selene’s victory gasped.

“What? What’s going on! Why all of a sudden...!”

“Milán? Did Milán manipulate Selene?”

“Or that boy—!”

Selene’s tenacity was famous.

She was not a girl to give up easily.

Now that the opponent was weakened by the Voids and Selene strengthened her mercenaries with her Gaho, she would have had a chance...!

“Are you sure about conceding?”

Erilot asked, and Selene replied,

“There’s no way I can beat you if we continue fighting. If I manage a draw, it’ll be the greatest shame of my life.”

“...”

“In content, in command skill, and in judgment of people, you surpassed me in every way.”

“...”

“It’s a complete defeat, Erilot.”

“Selene—!”

Bastina screamed, but no one sided with her.

Even the 3rd generation exchanged knowing looks.

‘Yeah, this match is Erilot’s victory.’

‘Selene made a wise decision.’

Even if Bastina rallied retainers to have Selene participate in the preliminaries, no one would acknowledge her.

Erilot had flawlessly dominated the match.

She had completely crushed Selene so that she couldn’t even argue.

Then, the highest platform erupted in laughter.

It was Duke Astra.

“Ha...”

Ha, haha.

The small laugh turned into a roar of laughter.

“Uahahahaha!”

He banged his knee and laughed heartily.

“Amazing, Daymond. Your daughter truly is incredible! How on earth did you raise her? When it comes to raising children, you’re better than me!”

The 2nd generation flinched and stared at the duke.

“What... What is this?”

“No way...”

“Is this really what came from Father’s mouth?”

Such high praise was unprecedented.

Not even when eldest Grimier crushed a whole marquis family did anyone praise him so.

After all, an important ability for a head of the family is building the family itself.

The first is ‘how well they raise a capable heir for the family’s future.’

That’s why the 2nd generation watches closely and pours effort into their children’s education.

This was why the 3rd generation’s exams were taken so seriously.

The duke smirked at Daymond.

Even when conquering many countries, Daymond had never been praised like this.

Daymond looked stunned, and the duke said,

“Let’s see if your talents extend beyond raising children.”

“What do you mean?”

“Debussy.”

At the duke’s command, Marquis Debussy bowed.

“Understood, Duke.”

“Give half of Grimier’s affairs to Daymond.”

Balderic’s face turned pale.

Take the eldest’s duties and give half to Daymond?

‘They’re telling him to prove his worth as an heir.’

It meant support.

The Astra succession structure was drastically changing.

Thus ended the preliminaries match.

Erilot’s victory─!

After the match ended, I entered the palace.

“Hm?”

The way people looked at me was unusual.

Even the 3rd generation, who had been ready to devour me, approached with smiles.

“Hello, Erilot.”

“...Hello, Brother Elman.”

“That was really impressive. You handled the match well.”

Why were they like that?

I gave my cousins a reluctant look.

Then Conrad approached.

“Milady, the Duke is waiting for you.”

“Okay.”

Walking with Conrad, I asked,

“What’s the matter?”

“The Duke is very pleased with your victory. And...”

“And?”

“You received an invitation immediately after the match ended.”

“What...?”

“An invitation to the Solar Assembly.”

I flinched, stiffening.

The Solar Assembly was where princes and heirs from various countries gathered.

‘They invited me there and caused all that fuss.’

Take me with you!