Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Return (4)
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“What nonsense...”
Stefan couldn’t finish his sentence.
Martin’s figure had vanished from in front of his eyes once more.
Stefan didn’t panic. He activated space compression and began moving at ultra-high speed. He was already fast, but his speed increased even further with every step he took against the ground.
He moved so quickly that afterimages trailed in his wake.
‘Spatial movement isn’t omnipotent.’
Stefan’s space compression had reached the level of the 2nd Circle.
That allowed him to use spatial movement, but he chose not to. At his current level, he couldn’t chain them together.
‘The same goes for that guy.’
All he needed was to figure out where Martin had teleported to first.
The aftereffects of using spatial movement would leave the opponent with restricted mobility. In that case, he—who could move freely—would have the advantage.
Stefan moved swiftly while calmly waiting for Martin to reappear.
A moment later.
Woooong.
The space ten meters above the ground warped.
Martin emerged from the rift, plummeting toward the earth in accordance with gravity’s law.
“You put some thought into it, but you made a mistake!”
Stefan shouted with a beaming smile.
In midair without footing, anyone’s movements would be restricted.
Moreover, Martin couldn’t chain spatial movements. That meant he couldn’t dodge no matter what. It was as good as the opponent walking to his own doom.
‘The moment you hit the ground, it’s your defeat!’
Confident of victory, Stefan stepped forward.
Now there was only one thing left to do: attack in time with Martin landing.
That would let him settle not just the score from moments ago, but all the resentment built up from his accumulated defeats.
“A mistake? I’d never do something like that, Stefan.”
A smirk curled at Martin’s lips.
It was unmistakably a sneer to anyone watching.
As he did, he extended his left hand—the one not holding his sword—and activated Distortion of All Things.
But this time, the target he manipulated wasn’t space, but gravity.
Kwaaakwaakwa!
The gravity enhancement he had once unleashed on assassins now targeted Stefan.
Immense pressure crushed down on him.
“Urk!”
Stefan let out an involuntary groan.
But the real problem was something else.
The pressure pinned his body, rendering him immobile.
Naturally, he could only watch as Martin fell, unable to attack.
‘Damn it! Move! Move, damn you!’
He tried desperately to move, but his feet remained glued to the ground.
Even pouring all his mana into it changed nothing.
“This is why you’ve still got a long way to go, Stefan. You thought you could beat me—a man afflicted by the Dragon’s Curse—in a battle of mana?”
Martin’s mana reserves had long surpassed his own circle level. In sheer quantity, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say they exceeded those of the branch family heads or even the elders.
In other words, resistance with Stefan’s mana was impossible.
Pabat!
Martin sneered at his foe and kicked off the ground.
He cleverly manipulated gravity around himself alone to nullify the gravity enhancement’s effects.
Thus, he approached Stefan without issue.
“Fuu.”
The distance between them shrank in an instant.
Watching the approaching opponent, Martin clenched his right fist tightly.
Woooong.
Following the breathing technique of Rotaer Martial Arts, mana flowed from the mana core in his abdomen to his right hand.
If he struck with full force now and injected mana into Stefan’s body, the man would die. No matter where the hit landed, it would explode.
‘Can’t kill him yet.’
This was still just a spar.
He couldn’t kill a branch family heir for no reason during a spar.
So he would spare him this time.
But he would punish him properly for his rude attitude earlier.
“Bite down hard, Stefan.”
Martin warned him in a kind tone.
Stefan instinctively clamped his jaw shut.
Almost simultaneously, Martin’s fist slammed into his face.
Kwaduduk.
The blow, powered by Rotaer Martial Arts, was devastating.
Even with Martin’s body—still weaker than a typical knight’s—it delivered a solid hit to Stefan.
“Kehek!”
Stefan let out a short scream as he tumbled across the ground.
Blood streamed from his mouth and nose, staining his face red, and dirt and dust clung to it, making it filthy.
But Stefan didn’t even think to wipe it off. He couldn’t even stand.
Thud!
Martin stomped down on Stefan’s chest with his right foot.
While maintaining the pressure from the gravity enhancement.
“You still wanna keep going, Stefan?”
“I... I surrender.”
Stefan closed his eyes and declared his defeat.
There was no path to victory in continuing the fight.
Dragging it out would only earn him scorn.
He was already facing ridicule for losing; he couldn’t afford to leave a bad impression on the others too.
“......”
Those watching the spar were too shocked to speak.
They could only stare blankly at Martin.
It had been just two and a half months since Martin finished the funeral rites and entered the dungeon.
In that short time, he had awakened his unique ability and reached a level where he could wield it effortlessly in real combat.
That alone was astonishing, but even his lifelong physical weakness had improved.
He had only thrown two strikes, but everyone grasped it immediately.
Martin’s martial arts prowess was exceptional.
The proof was how he had overwhelmingly crushed Stefan Rustal, who was seen as promising even among his peers.
“Urk!”
Stefan clenched his fists in frustration.
Martin looked down at him and then lifted his foot.
He appeared fine on the outside, but his condition wasn’t great either.
‘Using my unique ability and martial arts at the same time is still too much.’
Activating his unique ability while employing Rotaer Martial Arts had worked well enough. However, it caused far more internal damage than focusing on one alone.
He still had a long way to go.
“Hahaha! Truly impressive, Young Master! If the late family head could see this, he’d be overjoyed!”
“Given your talent, Young Master, the 5th Circle will come in no time.”
Elder Aren and Elder Marius broke the silence with words of praise.
“Thank you for the kind words.”
Contrary to his response, Martin inwardly sneered at them.
‘Exposing their emotions so easily... they must be really shocked.’
Their mouths smiled, but their eyes held no emotion. Elder Oriana didn’t even smile.
And it wasn’t just the elders.
Even the branch family heads and those aligned with them showed awkward reactions.
Even the ever-composed Karrain wore a grave expression.
The only ones genuinely smiling in delight were Cien and a few others.
“We’ve seen you use your unique ability now, so let’s head inside, Young Master. If we push you further out here, the late family head wouldn’t forgive us.”
“Very well, Elder Oriana.”
Martin barely suppressed a scoff.
It was absurd that this person of all people would invoke his father.
Still, he kept a smile on his face and moved his feet.
‘The day you spout your nonsense is fast approaching.’
They had no idea.
The truly shocking events hadn’t even begun yet.
Thump thump.
Thinking of what lay ahead, Martin felt his chest swell with anticipation.
* * *
Step step.
Martin pressed on.
The corridor was filled with lavish decorations: gems meticulously crafted by renowned artisans and paintings lavishly rendered by great masters.
Martin took it all in as he slowly made his way to his destination.
Soon, a massive and ornate door appeared before him.
“We greet the Young Master!”
“Forgive us for not being at the main gate.”
The two members of the White Dragon Knights guarding the door dropped to one knee and called out.
Martin offered warm words.
“Guarding the White Dragon’s Chamber is one of the most important duties here. You were just doing your job—there’s nothing to forgive. Enough of that nonsense; stand up.”
“Thank you!”
The knights replied loudly, rose promptly, and parted to either side so Martin could pass easily.
He stepped through between them.
The moment he entered, the room’s interior came into full view.
Finely crafted tables and chairs of premium hardwood were arranged neatly. There were over a hundred tables, and even more chairs.
The White Dragon’s Chamber.
Where all matters of the Adalbert family were decided, it occupied the entire second floor of the Adalbert estate.
Historically significant, this was the place where Martin had been told he lacked the qualifications to become the Adalbert family head.
By the very branch family heads and elders who were supposed to serve the main family faithfully.
‘That’s in the past now.’
It hadn’t happened yet.
Now that he had awakened his unique ability, no one could wag their tongues carelessly. A misstep could see them punished for insubordination.
As Martin looked around, he turned his head.
His eyes fell on the dais five steps up, and the throne placed upon it.
The throne was made of platinum, engraved with the motif of a pure white dragon.
The White Dragon Throne.
Only the official head of the Adalbert family could sit there.
Even Martin, the sole direct descendant, lacked the authority.
That was why a provisional seat had been placed at the base of the steps for him.
Step step.
Martin headed for that seat, and those qualified to attend followed behind him to their own places.
But soon, they could only gape in shock.
“Y-Young Master?”
“P-Please wait a moment! What are you doing right now, Young Master?”
The elders and others cried out in alarm.
Martin hadn’t sat in his seat. Instead, he extended his right hand—while channeling mana.
Those who grasped his intent urgently tried to stop him.
Of course, Martin ignored them cleanly.
“No need for this anymore.”
“You can’t, Young Master!”
“Stop this!”
Elders Aren and Marius approached as if to physically restrain him.
But Martin moved faster, seizing the chair.
Then, he activated Distortion of All Things.
‘This is the true power of Distortion of All Things.’
Twisting and destroying everything it touched. That was the essence of Distortion of All Things.
Manipulating space or gravity was merely a secondary effect.
Kwaaaang!
A deafening roar echoed as the provisional seat shattered, fragments scattering in all directions.