Chapter 298

Chapter 298 – Yes, Damian. I’ll Do My Best

A powerful gust of wind swept across the harbor area.

Energy, which had been drifting unhindered through the environment, surged heavily toward Aster and compressed into a dense, solid weight.

Even without drawing upon Transcendence, the four circles he had recently unlocked gave him more than enough presence to take complete control of the area.

“…Hmm, you are moving quite quickly. Personally, I believe we still have an opportunity to settle this through a simple conversation.”

“Go ahead then, speak.”

“Is it possible that the compensation does not satisfy you? I must ask for your understanding on that matter. If either you or Damian had been born a female, we could have secured your loyalty through a matrimonial bond, but that option is unavailable. Furthermore, I do not possess a daughter of my own.”

Leodis spoke with absolute sincerity.

Aster had already stepped into the realm of Transcendence.

Because he was a vagrant originating from the Black-White Slums, his precise age remained a mystery, yet his innate capability was entirely unmatched in the annals of history.

If the Blandoga Family could claim a prodigy of that caliber, Leodis was fully prepared to relinquish his own title as Patriarch to him.

Naturally, the youth would need to adopt the Blandoga surname.

Regrettably, Damian was male, and so was Aster.

For that precise reason, he had suggested establishing a Vassal Family instead…

“Ah, what about this approach? If the position of Patriarch is what you desire, I can formally adopt you as my son. Furthermore… indeed, you could be wed to Lana. Lana von Gilrox—surely you recall meeting her previously? She is my niece. She inherits the Blandoga bloodline through her lineage, making it a highly suitable arrangement.”

It was an incredibly unusual proposition.

A nameless vagabond from the Black-White Slums ascending to lead the Blandoga lineage, paired with a matriarch bearing the Gilrox name.

The offspring resulting from a nameless father and a mother from the Gilrox house would ultimately carry on the Blandoga legacy.

Such an arrangement would cause the elitist traditionalists of noble bloodlines to turn away in absolute horror, yet Leodis was entirely earnest in his proposal.

“It seems you have completely ignored how Damian might feel about this.”

“That boy possesses absolutely no desire to inherit the Patriarch’s seat. In fact, he would likely be overjoyed if you assumed the responsibility in his place. As for me… my sole wish is for him to live a life of complete liberty, unburdened by obligations.”

“…”

Aster paused, remaining silent for a brief moment.

Leodis was entirely impossible to predict.

One moment he presented himself as an execution target due to the immense threat he posed, and the next, he was volunteering to elevate that very target above himself as the leader of his house—even displacing his own flesh and blood.

It was a mindset that defied standard rationality. However, Aster felt no desire to unravel his thought process.

He merely readied himself for what was to come.

Right at that second, Leodis snapped his fingers, his face lighting up with sudden realization.

“Ah! This truly is an exceptional concept. Yes, placing you in the position of Patriarch is far superior to taking your life. You would gain ownership of Blandoga, Damian would achieve total independence, and the house of Blandoga would benefit significantly as well. Lana possesses great intellect, meaning any offspring the two of you produce would be well-equipped to guide the subsequent generation. If that fails to materialize, Damian’s future child could take up the mantle of Young Patriarch later on. To provide the necessary motivation for Damian… Chebi ought to serve that purpose perfectly.”

The eyes of Leodis beamed with intense gratification as he evaluated his own strategy.

There was every reason for him to feel pleased.

The plan simultaneously accommodated his deep affection for Damian and fulfilled his obligations as Patriarch to advance the prosperity of his lineage.

Regardless of how twisted the resulting structure appeared.

A typical individual would likely have agreed with that reasoning.

Even Aster found himself weighing the offer.

The prospect involved seizing authority over an elite and influential institution like the Blandoga Family.

Compared to the proposal from the Decullans to reduce him to a subordinate leading a mere Vassal Family, this arrangement offered him the chance to become the genuine ruler of an illustrious house.

However.

“It holds no real appeal for me.”

Aster gave a firm refusal.

Leodis, who had been passionately describing his vision, tilted his head in complete bewilderment.

“For what reason? Is the house of Blandoga not prestigious enough for your tastes?”

“No, that is not the issue.”

“Are you concerned about the Magic Tower? There is absolutely no cause for anxiety. Numerous historical leaders of our house maintained positions within external groups. I myself act as a consultant and respected associate for several learning institutions. Furthermore, if you assumed control of Blandoga, would that not immensely assist the Magic Tower as well…?”

On the surface, the logic appeared sound.

The Magic Tower backed by the full might of Blandoga.

They would no longer have to live in fear of the Decullans or constantly try to read the shifting intentions of the Second Prince.

Their alliance with Lortel would grow considerably stronger, allowing them to elevate the Third Princess and systematically dismantle the influence of the Second Prince.

However.

“Well.”

Though it was an incredibly alluring path, Aster maintained his doubts.

Leodis showed clear confusion regarding the youth’s hesitant stance.

“I simply cannot comprehend your hesitation. There could not possibly be more advantageous conditions than these.”

“I cannot quite explain it myself…”

Aster shared a similar sentiment.

The prospects Leodis put forward were practically flawless.

Yet something deep within his being strongly rejected the idea.

He was unable to define the exact source of his reluctance, but the mere image of himself ruling as the Patriarch of Blandoga caused the inner foundations of his spirit to vibrate violently.

“In any case.”

“Speak your mind.”

“Shall we bring this discussion to an end now?”

“Hmm…”

Leodis narrowed his gaze slightly, appearing to reflect deeply on the situation.

Yet his hesitation was short-lived.

“Very well, our remaining time is quite limited. It is best to conclude this matter. Still, is there truly no chance you might change your mind?”

“It seems highly improbable.”

Observing Aster’s tranquil response, Leodis gave a slow nod of understanding.

“Before we proceed, allow me to express my regrets. Had you possessed a family line, I might have found it easier to place my confidence in you, but you stand alone. Lacking any anchoring ties, I am left with no alternative. Ah, would you prefer I extract an eye rather than severing your tongue? Conversing with you has actually been quite pleasant.”

“Why would you target the tongue in the first place?”

“No method silences an individual quite as effectively. Stripping away the capacity for speech automatically complicates every endeavor. I happen to know this from personal history.”

“Personal history…?”

“Restoring a tongue is not an overly complex task, after all.”

It was pure insanity.

He was casually revealing that he had previously severed his own flesh.

“What about the eyes, then…?”

“The suffering is far less severe than losing a limb. Eliminating sight requires only two distinct actions, whereas limbs demand four.”

“Hmm.”

It followed a grim sort of logic.

If rendering the target mute was off the table, preventing their flight by discarding their vision was certainly the less agonizing path.

“That is quite considerate of you.”

“I knew you would understand. Therefore, shall we agree on disabling your core and your eyes?”

“Do as you wish.”

Aster gave an indifferent nod of assent.

A heavy, grinding sound resonated as the environmental energy tightened further, solidifying into a rigid state. In moments, a suffocating aura of hostility swirled intensely between the two opponents.

The ocean roared, sending massive waves crashing violently against the structure of the harbor.

“I will ensure he is well provided for. And I will remain a steadfast companion to Damian.”

Aster chose not to offer a verbal reply.

Instead.

The grinding pressure intensified.

He forced the resonance of his circles to their absolute maximum, compressing the raw energy around him. He consciously held back from unleashing Transcendence. Leodis was a master of the highest tier of sorcery and a wielder of a Grimoire; Transcendence was the final option reserved to end his life.

In that exact moment.

Sigh, damn it all.

Aster suppressed a bitter thought.

Why is it that absolutely nothing alters? Nothing at all.

Despite having ascended to the ultimate pinnacle of Transcendence, he felt just as restricted and vulnerable as he had during his previous existence.

He could not fathom what greater heights he needed to scale to obtain genuine independence.

Regardless, the time for reflection had passed.

Aster solidified his resolve.

• I don’t have a dad.

Yes, Damian. I will give this everything I have.

“Should I initiate the encounter?”

“Yes, proceed…”

“My thanks.”

Aster launched his fist with absolute, shattering force directly toward the face of Leodis.

An immense detonation erupted.

Across the completely isolated harbor.

A deafening, thunderous echo shattered the silence.

An encounter between two beings who had achieved Transcendence.

A confrontation involving spellcasters who had attained the absolute peak of their respective disciplines resembled nothing less than a catastrophic cataclysm.

The sky groaned and distorted violently, as unnatural, erratic lightning began to manifest across the cloud layer.

The previously peaceful waters transformed into a churning vortex, casting a strange luminescent glow across the surface.

This ominous display culminated in an instantaneous detonation.

The water split apart violently under the sheer pressure of the destructive force. The resulting shockwaves generated massive swells that rushed over the concrete of the dock.

Yet Leodis, who had absorbed the absolute brunt of the explosion, merely stared at Aster with neutral, unblinking eyes, watching him as if evaluating a piece of merchandise.

“Remarkable.”

The praise was entirely genuine.

Though his expression remained unbothered, Leodis felt a deeper sense of shock than he had ever experienced before.

He was aware that Aster had ascended to Transcendence, but he had dismissed it as a product of sheer raw potential.

Yet the adversary standing before him now was entirely different.

The rhythm of drawing and expelling breath.

Instinctively identifying his own breathing patterns and those of his rival, seamlessly exploiting the slightest vulnerabilities.

The offensive incantations and unfamiliar energy manipulations functioned as smoothly as extensions of his own physical form, with every single technique executed flawlessly without a shred of wasted effort.

To an outside observer, it might look like a frantic storm of devastating powers, but every single strike possessed an underlying intent.

Even at this very instant…

A barrage of countless physical strikes battered against the defensive barrier. By focusing his assault entirely on a single coordinate, fractures began to spread like webs across the reinforced shield.

In short order—

The protective wall shattered into countless shimmering fragments.

Leodis organized his strategy and extended his arm.

A sharp crimson radiance erupted from the tips of his fingers, discharging as a focused beam of light a mere fraction of a second before Aster’s fist could connect with his face.

“…!”

Aster snapped his head to the side to evade the incoming energy beam while simultaneously conjuring blazing heat within his palm.

Leodis had already shifted his position to the absolute center of the sea, and Aster closed his hand the exact moment he verified his rival’s new location.

The tiny sparks sputtered and seemed to fade away.

Yet they had not disappeared.

In the blink of an eye.

“…!”

A terrifying column of fire erupted directly beneath the feet of Leodis.

The blazing inferno manifested without a single warning sign—resembling a smaller version of the massive conflagration Aster had utilized as his anchor when he originally reached Transcendence.

Though it lacked the absolute potency it possessed when channelled at the zenith of Transcendence, it still held the conceptual force required to reduce anything to ash.

Yet rather than letting down his guard, Aster immediately formulated a secondary offensive action. It was questionable whether it could even be classified as standard sorcery.

The ambient energy ground together once more. Vibrating in perfect alignment with his internal core, the compressed power reached its absolute limit, coalescing directly within Aster’s grasp.

Unlike the moments preceding the conflict, where he had condensed the surrounding mana to neutralize the spells of Leodis in the same manner Aevilon had previously used against him… this action was intended solely for total eradication.

The incredibly dense energy soon began to intertwine with the unique power radiating from Aster’s hand.

As was typical, the merging of these comparable yet inherently conflicting forces produced a violent rejection, and that fundamental discord generated an immense, explosive momentum.

With the local environmental energy completely drained and the very atmosphere beginning to distort, Aster locked his gaze onto the raging inferno—relying entirely on his physical sight rather than his energetic awareness—to verify that Leodis remained within.

No.

…Waiting for confirmation would take far too long.

A sudden, terrifying intuition flashed through his consciousness, prompting Aster to push off the empty air, propelling himself directly toward Leodis. A physical arm tore through the wall of fire immediately afterward.

“This brings discomfort.”

“…!”

Leodis stepped out from the midst of the flames, his features heavily marred by severe burns, yet the tissue began reconstructing itself instantaneously. Aster found himself flinching back slightly at the horrifying sight.

“Willful youths require proper correction.”

Leodis firmly seized Aster by his clothing.

Aster desperately attempted to trigger the destructive explosion gathering within his palm, but the incantation Leodis unleashed moved with superior velocity.

The upper atmosphere shook violently.

Dozens of devastating lightning strikes cascaded downward from above, targeting the two Transcendents suspended over the open ocean.

It was an agonizing sensation capable of fracturing the sanity of any ordinary mortal. Amidst that overwhelming suffering, Aster focused his thoughts entirely on a single objective.

The precise method to…

• I don’t have a dad.

Grant the singular desire of Damian.