Testing Me?
"You're going to test me?"
I crossed my arms and looked at Ariel.
"Yep. Is that a problem?"
"No. Doesn't matter."
It was a process I'd inevitably have to go through to become a Lord anyway. The timing felt a bit premature, but that was no concern of mine.
"You're serious?"
"Still, a human is pushing it a little, no?"
To the Lords' murmuring, Ariel answered firmly.
"Yup. He said he'd take responsibility for himself. So we should give him the chance."
"Grand Lord! Are you jesting? We'd have to tear the bastard apart just to feel satisfied, and you're talking about a test?"
The Lord of the Black Sea shot to his feet, his face twisted with displeasure.
Ariel gave a faint smile before speaking.
"The Lords are strictly meritocratic. Human or demon, if you're strong, you're okay. Or could it be... you're worried Gerard might actually pass the test?"
"Don't spout nonsense. How could that uncivilized human possibly pass?"
"That's exactly why we give him the chance, isn't it?"
When Ariel flashed a beaming smile, the Lord of the Black Sea had no choice but to sink back into his seat.
"This should be entertaining. Good timing, too—I was getting bored."
The Lord of the Iron Fortress stroked his beard as he spoke. At that, the 1st Lord and 3rd Lord joined in as well.
"Well, if he's strong, human or monkey hardly matters. Giving him a chance isn't the worst idea."
"Fight! Fight!"
I spoke up as if I'd been waiting for this.
But something crucial was missing.
"What kind of test are we talking about here?"
"Nothing complicated. How about something simple—you take on one of the guys here?"
"And I get to choose my opponent?"
"Sure, that works. Got some Lord in mind already?"
"Hmm."
I stroked my chin, sweeping my gaze across the faces of the Lords gathered around.
Most of them wore expressions practically begging me to pick them. Fighting-crazed demons through and through.
'But really, there's only one choice.'
The truth was, my answer had been decided from the start.
For someone whose only stat was defense, the outcome would be the same no matter who I chose. So if I was going to choose anyway...
Without a shred of hesitation, I pointed at someone.
"Grand Lord."
"...Huh?"
"I'd like to fight you."
"?!"
Every single person in the room wore an expression of sheer disbelief.
And understandably so. It took all the Lords combined just to stand on even footing against her. For a mere uncivilized human to make such a declaration while staring at the heavens—it wasn't even presumptuous. It was madness.
"Wow... you really do exceed expectations, Gerard. I never thought you'd say the same thing the 7th Lord said."
Ariel looked at me like an excited child.
Then, with apparent regret, she bit her lip.
"I'm grateful you chose me, but still, I can't. I'm the judge here, remember?"
'You're lying.'
I knew exactly why she was refusing.
Her power was far too immense for her to control. That's why she held back like this—out of fear that the Postia Archipelago would be wiped off the map.
'A shame.'
Truthfully, I didn't want that either. The archipelago was a place I'd need in the future, after all.
"Well, this works out. I'll test the wretch personally."
At that moment, the Lord of the Black Sea jumped into the conversation like he'd been waiting for it.
"...You? Are you confident you won't kill him?"
"No."
"There you have it. Gerard? What do you think?"
I clicked my tongue and spoke.
"I don't like it."
"Why? Something wrong with him?"
"Hah, wrong is right. He's scared. He doesn't have the guts to face me himself."
The Lord of the Black Sea snarled at me like he wanted to devour me whole. I downed a glass of wine before replying.
"Having my test be against a guy like him? That's practically cheating."
"So you're saying the Lord of the Black Sea isn't satisfying enough for you?"
I nodded.
"What—?!"
The guy approached me with bloodshot eyes and thrust his face right up into mine.
"Don't get cocky, human. Can you not grasp the position you're in?"
"Get your revolting face out of mine."
At my attitude, the man broke into a smile full of madness. Then he turned to the other Lords and declared, like a herald making an announcement:
"I'll take this one. Anyone who interferes—I'll tear them to shreds, Lord or not!"
My provocation had clearly enraged him.
"You know, I'm starting to like this human."
"Pfft—! You too? Honestly, me as well. First time I've ever seen someone needle the Black Sea Lord like that."
"Shut your mouth?!"
The Lord of the Black Sea roared at the Lords' whispering.
Ariel smirked and opened her mouth.
"Everyone seems to agree. Looks like you have no choice, Gerard."
"If it's the Grand Lord's will, so be it. But know this—I'll only block."
One of Ariel's eyebrows arched.
"Can't have that. This is a test. You need to go all out."
I let out a sigh.
"Then am I allowed to kill him?"
"Huh?"
"I don't know how to fight delicately."
I pointed at the demon corpse lying a short distance away.
Ariel flinched.
"Hmm... that would be a bit of a problem."
"Then it goes my way. We can't afford to leave another Lord's seat empty."
Ariel made a show of pondering, then finally spoke.
"Fine. I suppose there's no helping it."
**
The Lords watched from a distance, faces full of intrigue.
A wide garden. Two figures standing at its center.
It was a primitive method, but nothing was more entertaining than this.
"Rosaria, who do you think will win?"
The 6th Lord twirled the edge of her hood as she asked.
"Gerard, obviously. He'll win."
"Calling him by name already? That's not like you."
"I just have a feeling we'll be getting close soon."
"You? Who used to hunt humans as a hobby? Puhaha!"
"Shut it."
Just as Rosaria and the 6th Lord were trading barbs—
"Alright, you may begin!"
Having spread every defensive spell she could, Ariel transmitted her voice directly to the two men.
"Finally. Time to tear you limb from limb."
The Lord of the Black Sea stretched out his right hand, as if he'd been waiting for this very moment.
"Answer my call, ye beasts of the dark."
A massive gate materialized in midair, wreathed in blinding violet light. Moments later, the gate swung open, and thousands of demonic beasts came surging out like water bursting through a dam.
"You idiot. You said you'd only block me? You couldn't even reach me to begin with."
The Lord of the Black Sea smiled at the scene about to unfold. The human would beg for his life and retreat in pathetic, stumbling hops. No human had ever survived the tsunami of monstrous beasts.
"?"
But Gerard began walking forward.
He was walking—of his own free will—straight into the gaping maws of ravenous beasts baring their colossal fangs.
"If you're in such a hurry to die, I won't bother stopping you."
A four-eyed wolf savagely tore at his flesh.
And yet—
*Yipe!*
The wolf suddenly yelped and fled.
"?"
Before his confusion could even settle, a demon whose scythe could slice through steel like paper swung for Gerard's neck. But finding the blow wouldn't land, the demons flung their scythes to the ground in what could only be described as irritation.
"What the hell are you worthless things doing?"
The Lord of the Black Sea's eyebrow rose. The beasts that were bound to obey his every command were acting strangely.
"You pathetic idiots! Kill him!"
His massive body came down, a boulder-sized fist slamming toward the man. He reached out his hand, and the blow was swatted away with almost insulting ease. Immediately after, a colossal centipede twisted its body into an attack—the man didn't even bother blocking it, simply taking the hit with his bare skin. The centipede's body promptly burst apart.
"...What is this?"
The Lord of the Black Sea's pupils began to tremble.
He really was doing exactly what he'd said—not attacking at all. He was merely blocking, with theatrical nonchalance, inching ever closer toward him.
"You barbaric human!"
His pride thoroughly wounded, the Lord of the Black Sea bit down hard on his thumb and let a single drop of blue blood fall to the ground.
"Rise, Colossus!"
The earth began to quake, and the ground beneath the Lord of the Black Sea's feet split open. Horrific screams and wails echoed out from below as something slowly rose from the earth.
*Kuaaaa!*
The Lord of the Black Sea's body rose higher and higher into the sky. Before anyone realized it, a giant in human form stood beneath his feet, drawing a bow.
"Oh, that's not going to work."
Ariel, watching from the sidelines, murmured under her breath. A single strike from the Colossus carried enough force to erase an entire kingdom. Even with defensive magic spread around the castle grounds, the damage would be considerable.
"Well. His loss."
She shrugged her shoulders and turned her gaze back to the two.
"Kill him."
The giant began to draw its bowstring taut. A colossal storm erupted. The daylight sky darkened in an instant, and only the Colossus's arrow shone like a bolt of lightning.
"If you can block even this, I'll shower you with praise!"
At the Lord of the Black Sea's gesture, the giant released the string. With a scream of tearing air, the Colossus's gleaming white arrow shot forth. It pulverized the thousands of monsters in its path, gouged craters into the surrounding terrain, and came hurtling down on Gerard.
*Fweeeeeek!*
And when the arrow struck his body—
A tremendous roar split the air, and a thick cloud of mist billowed up.
.
.
.
"Brutal."
"Is the human unharmed?"
"He's dead, surely. No one could block that."
None of the Lords believed he was still alive. Blocking a tsunami of monsters was one thing. But an attack from the Colossus—one capable of erasing the Black Sea entire? Impossible.
Time passed, and little by little, the mist began to clear.
"L-Look over there."
"That's impossible!"
And then, the Lords saw it.
Gerard—having taken the Colossus's attack dead center—standing there with an arrogant expression, as if absolutely nothing had happened.
"He... he took that head-on and lived?"
"A mere human?"
The Lords stared at him in stunned disbelief. Something beyond admiration flickered in their eyes—a strange, grudging respect.
Even they could not have taken that arrow with their bare bodies. And yet a lowly human had endured the Colossus's shot.
"...That one isn't human. No way he's that strong otherwise."
"Where in the world did he crawl out from? And why has he been hiding until now?"
The world had its share of strong humans. Swordmasters, archmages of the highest circles—the list went on.
But no matter how hard they flew or how far they crawled, none of them could best even a single Lord.
And yet this human—what was he?
The Lords gaped, their minds utterly blank.
**
'Whoa. I nearly died there.'
That last attack had been genuinely terrifying—enough to send a chill down my spine. I knew my defense stat applied, but I honestly wondered for a second whether I could really tank that. It was a visceral reminder, once again, of just how powerful a Lord truly was.
"Is that the best you've got?"
But the words out of my mouth were the exact opposite. Feigning perfect composure, I approached him slowly.
"...You're lying."
The Colossus unsummoned, and the Lord of the Black Sea, back on the ground, was muttering to himself with a hollow stare.
"You've been dying to eat me this whole time, haven't you?"
Before I knew it, the distance between us was less than five meters.
"...You insolent human."
"Shut up."
I activated Maximization and accelerated. Then, clenching my fist tight, I smashed it into his face.
His head snapped slightly to the side.
"...You hit me gently on purpose? Trying to trample my pride along with everything else?"
The man laughed hollowly as he spoke. I answered by driving my fist into his face once more.
*THUD!*
"Stop."
The Lord of the Black Sea ground his molars together as he spoke.
Paying him no mind, I swung my fist again.
"STOP!"
He shouted and caught my fist.
'!'
I froze for an instant. I hadn't expected him to grab it.
"I yield...."
"...Then stop this humiliation already."
I glared at him with murder in my eyes.
And with good reason.
'...That one hurt like hell.'
I'd hit him at full power.