...
{3rd Pov}
Astreo smiled as he confirmed the result, having successfully completed one of his major goals just a week before the scheduled duel.
After continuous effort and careful planning, he had finally elevated his Undead Element to the Forbidden Tier.
With that breakthrough, the potential of his future undead forces expanded dramatically.
At present, he commanded an undead army numbering in the tens of thousands.
Around ninety percent of these undead were equivalent to General-level monsters, while the remaining ten percent consisted of Commander-level entities.
Even though none of them had reached the Monarch level, the sheer quantity and coordination of the army already made it a terrifying force to face.
Of course, there was a clear reason for the absence of Monarch-level undead.
Raising undead of that caliber was far more difficult and time-consuming than simply accumulating lower-tier numbers.
Astreo had deliberately invested very little time into refining his undead army beyond a certain point.
Most of his efforts were focused on upgrading the stars of his elements, stabilizing his cultivation foundation, and handling other priorities that demanded his attention.
Between advancing multiple elements, optimizing star levels, and managing his broader plans, there simply hadn't been enough time to dedicate himself fully to raising Monarch-level undead.
After all, there were only so many hours in a day, and he had chosen where to invest them.
Even so, Astreo was more than satisfied with the results.
Even if Astreo had devoted his full attention to developing his undead forces, at best he would have managed to raise only a dozen or so Small Monarch–level undead by this point.
While that might sound impressive on paper, in reality it meant very little in the face of the truly peak beings of this world.
Against such existences, those undead would amount to nothing more than disposable pawns.
A single Supreme Monarch would be enough to wipe them out in one attack.
Because of that, Astreo had long since decided that investing heavily into building an undead army was inefficient.
He would much rather focus on strengthening himself than rely on an army that could be erased so easily.
An unreliable force, no matter how large, was never a substitute for absolute personal power.
Fortunately, that decision had paid off.
By prioritizing Xyra's growth, he now had a Mid-Emperor–level existence standing firmly at his side.
At the same time, his own strength had risen to the Low–Mid Emperor range, primarily due to his continued focus on developing his other elements—especially the Astral Element and the Psychic Element.
Together, that gave him far more security than a handful of fragile Monarch-level undead ever could.
In truth, Astreo's real intention was never to raise undead creatures one by one through painstaking effort.
What he actually wanted was to raise the cultivation level of his Undead Element itself.
Once that foundation was strong enough, acquiring powerful undead would become far easier.
After all, compared to slowly training undead on his own, it would be far simpler to take them directly from China's Underworld once he eventually usurped it.
At that point, the undead would already exist in massive numbers, and he would only need to dominate and claim them rather than waste time nurturing them from scratch.
From Astreo's perspective, that was the far more efficient path.
Those undead were thousands of years old, yet even among them, only a handful had reached the Monarch realm—ranging from Great Monarchs to Supreme Monarchs.
That fact alone spoke volumes about how difficult it truly was to raise undead to such a level. It wasn't a matter of time or patience; it was a matter of resources, compatibility, and sheer limitation.
Realistically speaking, in the early stages of cultivation, the Undead Element completely overshadowed the Summoning Element.
The reason was simple.
Undead were easy to raise early on, could be amassed in absurd numbers, and did not require the same level of compatibility checks or upkeep as summons.
An undead mage could flood the battlefield with sheer numbers and overwhelm opponents long before summoners could properly develop their strongest summons.
However, that advantage did not last forever.
Once cultivation reached higher realms—such as Super Tier or Forbidden Tier—the situation flipped.
When a summoner successfully raised a summon to the Great Monarch or Supreme Monarch level, that summon alone could easily contend with undead mages.
At that stage, undead cultivators began facing a serious bottleneck.
The problem was resources.
To raise undead beyond a certain point, one needed materials sourced directly from the Underworld, which were far rarer and more difficult to obtain than the resources required to strengthen living beasts under the Summoning Element.
While summoners could still hunt, trade, or contract powerful creatures, undead mages were often stuck waiting, scavenging, or fighting over extremely limited underworld materials.
Every element had its strengths and weaknesses.
For the current stage, the Summoning Element was undeniably superior.
At least, it would remain superior until Astreo eventually robbed—
Ahem.
Recruited all the subordinates of Qin Shi Huang and turned them into Emperors under his command.
…Wait.
Why did that suddenly make him sound like a grave robber?
Ahem.
Anyway.
For now, Astreo set those long-term plans aside.
The immediate priority was the upcoming duel with Mu Ningxue. More specifically, he needed to decide one very important thing.
How much strength did he actually want to reveal?
…
It was finally the day of the duel, and Mo Fan was doing exactly one thing with absolute dedication—eating.
He was feasting as if there were no tomorrow.
As a certified beggar—
Ahem.
As a genuinely poor person, Mo Fan had never seen even half of the dishes being served at Yu Ang's coming-of-age ceremony in his entire life.
The long tables were filled with delicacies he couldn't even name, let alone afford under normal circumstances.
Exotic meats, refined magical ingredients, desserts glowing faintly with mana—everything screamed luxury.
Faced with such an overwhelming spread, Mo Fan completely lost all restraint.
He wasn't just eating—
Ahem.
He was tasting everything.
One plate after another disappeared into his hands as he sampled every dish that caught his eye.
He didn't care about manners, appearances, or the stares from other guests.
Opportunities like this didn't come twice, and he had no intention of wasting it.
In short, Mo Fan ate like there was no tomorrow.
Because for someone like him, a free feast of this level was practically a once-in-a-lifetime event—and he was determined to make full use of it.
Meanwhile, Astreo arrived at the ceremony alone.
There was no entourage following him, no attendants serving him, and most notably, Lisa was not by his side.
That wasn't because of any issue or conflict—he had personally assigned her an important task that was far more meaningful than standing around cheering while he casually crushed an Intermediate Mage.
After all, this duel was already absurd.
From Astreo's perspective, the entire situation felt ridiculous.
He was a Forbidden Curse Tier mage, about to fight someone who hadn't even fully stepped into the Peak Intermediate realm.
If there really was some higher being or god watching from above, then this scene was honestly embarrassing.
It was the equivalent of a Level 100 player bullying Level 1 NPCs.
There was no glory in that.
So, to preserve whatever dignity he still had, Astreo decided it was better not to have Lisa accompanying him.
Her presence would only make the imbalance even more obvious.
Instead of wasting time on a foregone conclusion, he had ordered her to prepare for something that actually mattered—the upcoming Bo City disaster.
That was where their real plans lay.
They didn't intend to prevent the disaster outright.
They wanted it to unfold just enough to create destruction, fear, and despair—not total annihilation, but sufficient chaos.
Only then would their intervention feel meaningful.
Only then would the people truly understand who had saved them.
Because Astreo understood a simple truth about humanity.
People trapped in despair will worship their savior.
People saved too early will only complain and curse.
So instead of standing beside him while he humiliated a weaker opponent, Lisa was far better off laying the groundwork so that when Bo City fell into crisis, they could step in exactly when they wanted—and control the narrative completely.
That was far more important than applause at a party.
As Astreo entered the hall, his eyes briefly swept across the room.
He immediately spotted Mu Zhouyun engaged in conversation with several important figures from Bo City, including the school principal and the president of the Bo City branch of the Hunter Union.
Their expressions were polite, formal, and filled with the kind of forced smiles that came with politics and status.
Astreo had no interest in joining that group.
Instead, he quietly moved to the side and let his gaze drift elsewhere.
That was when he saw Mo Fan.
Or rather—he saw Mo Fan devouring food like a man possessed.
Plates were stacked in front of him, and his hands moved at an alarming speed.
From the way he ate, one might have thought he had been starving for years.
Food disappeared into his mouth nonstop, as if he were afraid someone might snatch it away if he slowed down even a little.
Astreo walked over and stopped beside him, watching the scene with mild amusement.
"Bro, are you alright?" Astreo asked casually.
"Are you sure you won't end up constipated while fighting later?"
Mo Fan froze mid-bite.
He slowly turned his head toward Astreo, his cheeks puffed out with food.
A moment later, realization dawned on his face.
He swallowed with difficulty, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and stared at Astreo with slightly teary eyes.
"Yang Master Aster," Mo Fan said, his words coming out slurred and barely understandable, "youh might be richhy… but I am pooor."
Even as he spoke, he continued chewing, his speech devolving into near gibberish as bits of food threatened to spill out.
His tone carried no shame—only pure, unfiltered sincerity.
Astreo stared at him for a second.
Then he sighed.
There really was no saving this guy.
Astreo's eyebrows twitched slightly as Mo Fan hurriedly gulped down a mouthful of water, finally managing to swallow all the food crammed into his mouth.
After licking his lips, Mo Fan looked at him with a serious expression and said, "Best of luck in your fight. You're going to need it when you fight Ningxue."
Hearing that, Astreo paused.
He reached out, grabbed Mo Fan by the shoulder, and smiled at him with an expression filled with deep, unmistakable pity.
It was the kind of look one gave to someone who had just told an unbelievably bad joke without realizing it.
In Astreo's mind, the situation was almost surreal.
Only Mo Fan—only him—had the audacity to wish good luck to a literal Emperor who was about to fight an Intermediate Mage.
Even more absurd was the fact that Mo Fan had said it completely sincerely, without knowing even a fraction of the truth behind Astreo's real strength.
"???"
Mo Fan suddenly felt a chill crawl up his spine.
For reasons he couldn't explain, Astreo's smile made him extremely uncomfortable.
His instincts screamed danger—not physical danger, but something far worse.
He immediately slapped Astreo's hand away, took two steps back, and raised both his hands defensively.
"I don't swing that way!" Mo Fan blurted out. "Please find someone else!"
"…"
Astreo stared at him in silence.
For a brief moment, he seriously considered whether letting Mo Fan get beaten a little later might actually be good for his mental development.
Before he could even process the absurdity of what he had just heard, Mo Fan decided that clarifying the situation was a good idea.
"I heard there are a lot of gay people among foreigners," Mo Fan added seriously, "especially Greeks."
At that moment, Astreo felt an overwhelming urge to punch him—not just punch, but punch him so hard that every single atom in Mo Fan's body would be vaporized on the spot, along with at least a quarter of Bo City as collateral damage.
It took every ounce of self-control he had not to act on that impulse.
In his mind, Astreo was screaming.
This was it. This was exactly what Mo Fan was doing right now.
What every Chinese protagonist was historically best at.
Courting death.
Aggressively.
Repeatedly.
With enthusiasm.
Astreo clenched his jaw, resisting the temptation to explain, educate, or erase Mo Fan from existence entirely.
In the end, he decided that none of it was worth the effort.
Without sparing Mo Fan another glance, he turned his head away, his expression cold and tired.
That was when he noticed Mu Zhouyun walking toward them, his posture stiff and his face carrying the faint displeasure of someone who had overheard something—or was about to start trouble regardless.
"Isn't it funny?" Mu Zhouyun said loudly, his voice filled with arrogance and not a trace of shame.
"The two stars of today's event—Mo Fan and Young Master Astreo—have both dared to challenge my adopted son and my daughter."
There was no attempt to hide his disdain.
To Mu Zhouyun, Mo Fan was nothing more than a commoner, someone not even worth sparing a second glance.
As for Astreo, the situation wasn't much better.
He was a foreigner, an enemy of every one of Mu Zhouyun's allies, and worst of all, he had arrived alone.
With no attendants, no visible backing, and no Lisa by his side, Mu Zhouyun felt no need to show even the bare minimum of respect.
In his mind, Mu Zhouyun sneered.
'Did he come alone just to save face? Afraid that his so-called mother would watch him lose in public? Of course. How could anyone possibly defeat my Ningxue?'
He had already heard everything from his servants, who had carefully reported Astreo's arrival and noted that he truly was alone.
Then Astreo replied casually, his tone flat and unbothered.
"Nah. I just spared her the trouble of watching an Emperor plummet an Intermediate Mage into the ground while cheering like a lunatic."
"???"
Mu Zhouyun almost stumbled backward on the spot.
His heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat instantly formed on his back.
'Can he hear my thoughts?!'
Before Mu Zhouyun could even fully process that terrifying idea, Astreo added calmly, as if answering an unspoken question.
"Of course not," he said.
"You're just that easy to read."
Mu Zhouyun's eyes widened in disbelief.
His hand shot forward, finger pointing at Astreo as his mind spiraled.
His breathing became erratic, and his thoughts raced wildly.
'No… no… calm down.'
He took a deep breath.
'One… two… three… Can you hear me?'
Mu Zhouyun stared directly at Astreo, searching desperately for any reaction.
However, Astreo's expression didn't change in the slightest.
His face remained calm, indifferent, and completely unreadable.
Seeing no response, Mu Zhouyun finally exhaled, forcing himself to calm down.
'Good. Just coincidence. Just coincidence.'
Still, an inexplicable sense of unease lingered in his chest.
'Am I really that easy to read?'
Mu Zhouyun couldn't help but question himself as doubt crept into his mind.
He briefly wondered whether his expressions were truly that transparent, before forcefully pushing the thought aside.
Now wasn't the time to dwell on such things.
He straightened his posture and looked back at the two of them, his expression hardening.
"Whatever!" Mu Zhouyun said sharply.
"The duel is about to begin. And the first match will be between Yu Ang and—yes, you—Mo Fan."
As he spoke, his gaze locked onto Mo Fan with clear hostility.
This was the boy who had not only dared to kiss his daughter when they were younger but had also nearly run away with her afterward.
Every memory of that incident still made Mu Zhouyun's blood boil.
Mo Fan, on the other hand, showed absolutely no concern.
He let out a loud burp and waved his hand casually.
"Sure, sure. Let's just get it over with already. It'll help me digest what I just ate."
"…"
Mu Zhouyun felt his blood pressure spike instantly.
At that moment, he realized something with painful clarity.
If one of them was a stone, the other was a brick.
Both were equally infuriating.
And annoyingly enough, it seemed to be a trait shared by all protagonists.
After that, Mu Zhouyun stepped forward and positioned himself in front of all the gathered guests.
Raising his voice, he began loudly announcing the significance of the day, emphasizing that it was his adopted son Yu Ang's coming-of-age ceremony.
He proudly declared that, to commemorate the occasion, a duel—Correction—two duels would be held today.
As his words spread through the venue, the reactions among the guests were exactly as expected.
Most of the attention was focused on the upcoming fight between Astreo and Mu Ningxue. T
hat duel alone was enough to spark discussion, speculation, and heated debates.
While many believed Ningxue held the advantage, there were still a few who wondered whether Astreo might surprise everyone.
After all, both fighters came from powerful factions, and either outcome could be justified.
However, when it came to the first duel—Mo Fan versus Yu Ang—almost no one gave it a second thought.
In the eyes of the crowd, the result was already decided.
Yu Ang was a member of the Mu Family, a clan backed by resources, influence, and generations of accumulated power.
Mo Fan, on the other hand, was just a commoner mage with no visible background or support.
In the current era, that difference meant everything.
Since the Great Depletion, the gap between commoners and those backed by powerful factions had grown larger than the distance between Heaven and Earth.
Talent alone was rarely enough anymore.
Without resources, connections, and proper backing, a commoner was expected to remain insignificant.
Because of that, no one truly expected Mo Fan to win.
And that was precisely what made the situation perfect.
After all, there was nothing better than a faceslapping moment that came from crushing expectations no one ever had.
Mo Fan's father, Mo Jiaxing, was present among the guests.
Many people couldn't help but glance in his direction, some with expressions filled with pity, others with thinly veiled mockery.
In their eyes, today was nothing more than a spectacle where a commoner's son was about to be humiliated by a member of the Mu Family.
Mo Jiaxing, however, paid none of that any attention.
His face was tense as he watched the scene unfold, his hands clenched unconsciously.
He didn't care whether he himself would be embarrassed or shamed today.
Reputation, pride, and status meant nothing to him at this moment.
The only thing that mattered was whether his son would come out of this duel safe and unharmed.
Everything else was irrelevant.
Nearby, Tang Yue watched as Mo Fan and Yu Ang stepped onto the ground, positioning themselves for the duel.
She couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh.
Her gaze then shifted toward Astreo, whom she had been observing ever since she arrived in Bo City for her mission.
She had tried—more than once—to get closer to him.
Whether it was through casual conversation, professional interaction, or even using the excuse of special classes, she had attempted to build some form of connection.
Yet every single attempt had been met with blunt rejection.
Astreo never entertained her words, never showed interest, and never bothered to hide his disinterest.
What irritated her even more was how direct he was.
He had outright told her that he preferred spending time with Lisa and other women, women whose identities she didn't even know, rather than with her.
According to him, those women "spoiled him," and that was exactly how he liked it.
That alone had been enough to completely shut her down.
As a self-respecting woman, Tang Yue absolutely refused to degrade herself into acting like some sort of sugar mommy just to get closer to him.
She wasn't going to pamper Astreo or flatter him endlessly just to extract information.
If that was what it took, then she would rather fail.
Besides, her priorities were clear.
Getting information on Astreo himself had already become secondary.
Her main objective was still to gather intelligence on Black Vatican's movements.
Honestly speaking, Tang Yue had nothing to show for her investigation.
After three full years of work in Bo City, she was practically blank.
No solid breakthroughs, no meaningful leads, and no real progress regarding the Black Vatican.
If she were being completely honest with herself, she had to admit that she was terrible at being an investigator.
Really terrible.
In the end, even her uncle had simply concluded her mission in Bo City and pushed her promotion through anyway, citing her "efforts" rather than her results.
It was a polite way of ending things without making her look too incompetent.
After that, there was no real reason for her to remain in the city.
And yet, she stayed.
The only reason she was still here was to watch the duel between her two students.
On one side was Mo Fan, a commoner with surprising talent, a rapidly growing Stardust Magic Tool, and a Fire Element that showed clear signs of potential.
Despite his background, he had grit, resilience, and an unyielding will to grow stronger.
On the other side was Astreo.
A so-called Young Master from a foreign power, born Chinese yet raised and molded by a powerful clan like a weapon.
Someone whose strength, background, and mystery made him both impressive and unsettling.
For reasons she fully misunderstands herself, Tang Yue secretly felt a deep sense of pity for him.
Whatever path he was walking, it was clear that it wasn't one chosen freely.
With those thoughts lingering in her mind, Tang Yue walked closer to Astreo.
Her expression was casual, almost indifferent, as if she were just making idle conversation.
"Aster," she asked lightly, "who do you think will win between Mo Fan and Yu Ang?"
Her tone was relaxed, but her eyes carefully watched his reaction, curious to see what kind of answer he would give.
Astreo replied without the slightest hesitation, his tone filled with absolute confidence.
"Is that even a question? Mo Fan is going to completely abolish Yu Ang."
Tang Yue raised an eyebrow at his response.
Even she wasn't that certain about the outcome of the duel.
While she acknowledged Mo Fan's talent and growth, she didn't have particularly high expectations of him winning so decisively.
Astreo's confidence felt excessive, almost unreasonable, and that alone made her curious.
"Oh? Really?" she said, a faint smile forming on her lips.
"Then why don't you explain to your teacher how you came to that conclusion?"
Astreo nodded calmly, as if he had been expecting the question.
He lifted his hand and pointed toward Mo Fan, who was currently standing on the arena grounds, stretching casually and looking far too relaxed for someone about to fight a Mu Family member.
"Teacher Tang Yue," Astreo said seriously, "do you see that?"
She followed his finger.
"That," he continued, "is a Protagonist."
Then his finger shifted, pointing directly at Yu Ang, who stood proudly across the arena, his posture stiff, his expression arrogant, and his equipment clearly superior.
"And that," Astreo said flatly, "is a third-rate Young Master."
He turned back to Tang Yue, his expression completely serious as he delivered his final verdict.
"Since the birth of the heavens, it has been an unchanging law of reality. Protagonists exist to faceslap Young Masters. And while they're at it, they also tend to cuckold them."
"…"
Tang Yue stared at him in silence, her brain visibly struggling to process what she had just heard.
For the first time since arriving in Bo City, she wondered if Astreo's mind operated on a completely different plane of existence.
Tang Yue's eyebrows twitched uncontrollably.
Never—even in her wildest imagination—had she expected that kind of answer.
She had fully assumed Astreo would give some sort of logical explanation, perhaps talking about Mo Fan's talent, his combat experience, or maybe even something as simple as trust in a classmate or friend.
But instead, he had spoken like someone suffering from late-stage chuunibyou.
Protagonist?
Young Master?
Heavens' law?
What kind of nonsense was this?
What kind of stories even operated on that logic?!
Her brain rejected it outright.
Bah!
Bullshit!
"Student Aster," Tang Yue said, her tone tight with frustration, "your teacher truly did not expect such an explanation. Can you please take this seriously for once?"
She crossed her arms, clearly annoyed, her patience wearing dangerously thin.
Astreo, however, looked at her in response—and not with embarrassment, nor with defiance.
He looked at her with pity.
The kind of pity one reserved for someone who simply didn't understand something obvious.
As if she were looking at the world through a tragically limited perspective.
It was the worst possible reaction.
Tang Yue's fists clenched instantly at her sides, her irritation spiking sharply.
For a brief moment, she seriously questioned whether restraining herself was worth it, because if this brat wasn't her student, she would have already smacked him.
Hard.
Very hard.
The duel hadn't even started yet, and Astreo was already driving her insane.
"Student Aster," Tang Yue said again, her lips twitching as if they were on the verge of cramping.
Veins nearly popped on her forehead from how hard she was restraining herself.
Astreo, on the other hand, didn't give a single fuck about her anger.
Still, after a brief pause, he remembered Grandma Yu's teachings about patience.
Letting out a slow sigh, he decided to tone things down—slightly.
"Okay, teacher," he said calmly, "I'll explain it to you in easier terms."
Tang Yue instantly relaxed, her tense expression disappearing in a second as she returned to a professional smile.
Watching this emotional whiplash, Astreo rolled his eyes internally.
Women.
"I am the strongest," Astreo stated plainly, as if he were talking about the weather.
"Huh?" Tang Yue blinked, genuine confusion flashing across her face.
Astreo raised a finger, pointed upward, and slowly rolled it in a casual, explanatory gesture.
"I am the strongest person present in this room," he said matter-of-factly.
"I am an Emperor. Because of that, I can clearly see how weak everyone else is compared to me."
He paused briefly, then continued.
"Mo Fan?" Astreo said, nodding toward the arena.
"He is weak."
Then he shifted his gaze slightly.
"But Yu Ang?" he added calmly.
"He is weaker."
He looked back at Tang Yue, his expression completely serious.
"That is how I know Mo Fan will win."
There was no arrogance in his voice, no attempt to boast.
It was simply a statement of fact, delivered with absolute certainty.
Tang Yue stood there in silence, trying—and failing—to decide whether she should scold him, doubt him, or seriously reconsider everything she thought she knew about strength.
Then Astreo smiled and looked directly at her.
"Do you understand now, Teacher Tang Yue?" he asked, tilting his head slightly in a way that looked almost cute.
This time, it was Tang Yue's turn to stare at Astreo as if she were looking at someone mentally challenged.
She quickly turned her head to the side and stifled a laugh, pressing her lips together to keep it from escaping.
She genuinely couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Astreo seriously believed himself to be something like an Emperor.
In her mind, it was just the exaggerated confidence of a talented youth who had tasted success too early.
Of course, she had absolutely no idea that when Astreo referred to himself as an "Emperor," he meant it literally—as in an Emperor-tier being, not some metaphorical title or delusion of grandeur.
Seeing how absurd the conversation was becoming, Tang Yue decided it was better to change the topic before it derailed even further.
"Also," she asked casually, "what level of strength are you at right now?"
"Me?" Astreo replied, thinking for a moment.
"I just had a major breakthrough not long ago. About a week ago, to be precise."
He was referring to his Undead Element breaking through to the Forbidden Curse Tier, but Tang Yue had no context for that whatsoever.
Naturally, she assumed he was talking about something far more reasonable.
'Intermediate Tier,' at most.
"I see, I see," Tang Yue nodded with an understanding expression, clearly satisfied with her own conclusion.
"That's good. In that case, good luck in your match."
Astreo didn't bother correcting her.
He simply smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.
From her perspective, it was the encouragement of a confident student.
From his perspective, it was more like acknowledging a well-meaning misunderstanding.
While Astreo and Tang Yue were still speaking, the match between Mo Fan and Yu Ang had already begun.
The two quickly exchanged attacks—not through fists, but through magic.
Flames and ice clashed repeatedly as both magicians hurled spell after spell at one another.
Fire magic roared forward in bursts, while ice magic countered with chilling waves, creating a sharp contrast that kept the audience's attention fixed on the arena.
As the duel progressed, the spectators gradually grew shocked.
Mo Fan's Primary Tier 3 Fire Magic was far stronger than most had expected.
He was a commoner with no powerful family backing him, no clan resources, and no noble bloodline—yet he had managed to cultivate his Fire Element all the way to Primary Tier 3 in just three years.
That alone was enough to make many people reevaluate their initial judgment of him.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
Some were impressed.
Some were envious.
Some were simply confused.
However, just as Mo Fan began gaining momentum, something happened that completely shifted the atmosphere of the duel.
Yu Ang activated a Magic Shield.
The moment the translucent barrier appeared, blocking Mo Fan's attacks effortlessly, the mood among the spectators changed instantly.
Many people couldn't help but click their tongues and shake their heads with wry expressions.
So that was how it was.
They had already acknowledged that Mo Fan was a genius.
That much was undeniable.
But now, the harsh reality became painfully clear to everyone watching.
This was the difference between a commoner mage and a clan mage.
It wasn't talent.
It wasn't effort.
It was resources.
Magic tools, defensive artifacts, and expensive equipment—things Mo Fan simply didn't have access to—were now making their presence felt on the battlefield.
And just like that, the gap between the two fighters was laid bare for everyone to see.
"Having a background is also a type of talent!" Mu Zhouyun declared proudly, his voice loud and confident as if he had just stated an irrefutable truth.
Astreo, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel that Mu Zhouyun's face was extremely slappable at that very moment.
Because almost immediately after those words left Mu Zhouyun's mouth, lightning suddenly crackled around Mo Fan's fists.
The change was instantaneous.
Not only Mu Zhouyun, but every single guest present was struck dumb by the sight.
Shock rippled through the audience like a wave, and many people literally stood up from their seats, their expressions filled with disbelief and confusion.
"What?!"
"Lightning?!"
"An Intermediate Mage?!"
Someone shouted aloud, their voice trembling as if their brain couldn't process what their eyes were seeing.
After all, how could Mo Fan possibly be an Intermediate Mage at such a young age?
And more importantly—
He was a commoner.
No clan backing.
No noble bloodline.
No massive resource pool handed to him from birth.
Yet there it was, undeniable and flashing violently before everyone's eyes.
Mo Fan's lightning surged forward without hesitation, piercing straight through Yu Ang's Magic Shield tool as if it barely existed.
The defensive artifact, which had moments ago been the symbol of the gap between a clan mage and a commoner, was rendered useless in an instant.
Yu Ang screamed as the lightning struck him directly, his body convulsing violently as he was literally electrocuted on the spot.
The arena fell into chaos.
Faces were frozen in shock.
Mouths hung open.
And Mu Zhouyun's proud expression shattered completely.
The moment he had just bragged about background and resources, reality had slapped him across the face—hard.
While many people continued staring in disbelief, others began to notice something strange.
After carefully observing Mo Fan, they realized that his aura was still that of a Primary Mage, not an Intermediate one.
That realization caused the initial shock to shift into a more rational conclusion.
"He's a Dual Awakener!" someone suddenly shouted.
"He has the innate talent of awakening two elements!"
The words spread quickly through the crowd, and soon everyone understood what had really happened.
Mo Fan hadn't broken through to the Intermediate Tier at all—he had simply awakened both Fire and Lightning elements.
That revelation was still astonishing, but it made far more sense than a commoner becoming an Intermediate Mage at such a young age.
By then, Mo Fan had already stopped shocking Yu Ang.
The latter collapsed onto the ground, twitching, and healers were immediately rushed in to tend to him.
The duel was clearly over.
With his victory secured, Mo Fan walked straight toward Mu Zhouyun, his gaze firm and unwavering.
Standing right in front of him, Mo Fan demanded that Mu Zhouyun kneel before his father, honoring the terms of their bet.
Mu Zhouyun's face darkened as his teeth clenched tightly in humiliation.
For a moment, it looked like he might refuse outright.
However, after a long, tense pause, he finally decided to honor the bet and began lowering himself, his movements stiff and filled with resentment.
Before his knee could touch the ground, Mo Jiaxing stepped forward and stopped him.
Mo Jiaxing calmly refused to let Mu Zhouyun kneel, choosing instead to preserve the man's dignity.
His actions diffused the situation, preventing the scene from escalating further.
Though Mu Zhouyun's pride had taken a massive blow, at least he wasn't publicly humiliated to the point of kneeling.
With the first duel concluded, all attention shifted to the next match.
Astreo versus Mu Ningxue.
Mu Ningxue was still recovering from the shock of witnessing Mo Fan's victory—a victory that had nearly destroyed her father's dignity in front of everyone.
Her emotions surged as anger, frustration, and determination mixed together.
She made a silent decision.
In the next match, she would reclaim her father's lost dignity.
Even though Astreo wasn't Mo Fan.
Even though he had nothing to do with the previous duel.
It didn't matter.
Astreo had insulted her father as well.
And as the proud daughter of heaven, she would restore Mu Zhouyun's honor with her own hands.
Ahem.
"Damn, I was actually waiting for our fight," Astreo said casually, his tone relaxed and almost dismissive.
"Now let's just get this over with."
Those words instantly ignited Mu Ningxue's anger.
She already hated this foreign bastard who had tried to meddle in her affairs before, and now he was speaking as if she were nothing more than an easy opponent he wanted to deal with quickly.
To her, that attitude was far more insulting than open mockery.
"You will regret this!" she shouted coldly.
Without wasting a single second, Mu Ningxue immediately began forming an Ice Star Path.
Her movements were sharp and precise as she unleashed a Novice Tier 3 spell, enhanced by the power of a Spiritual Grade Element.
The temperature in the arena dropped drastically in an instant.
Ice exploded outward.
The entire arena was frozen over once again as thick layers of ice surged from the ground, sharp crystalline spikes racing directly toward Astreo.
The attack was fast, aggressive, and clearly meant to end the fight before it even properly began.
Astreo reacted immediately, stepping aside with quick, controlled movements and narrowly avoiding the incoming ice formations.
As he turned to look back at the frozen spikes, his eyes narrowed.
The positioning.
The angle.
The height.
He understood instantly.
She hadn't just tried to hit him.
She had aimed very specifically.
She had literally tried to freeze his balls and destroy them.
Astreo stared at the ice in silence for a brief moment.
"…That's dirty," he muttered.
The duel had barely started, and she had already chosen violence of the highest order.
She immediately launched another attack, this time forming sharp icicles that shot toward Astreo with clear intent to pierce his body.
The icy projectiles tore through the air at high speed, each one aimed to wound rather than merely restrain.
However, once again, Astreo reacted instantly.
He moved while running, narrowly dodging the main trajectory, and the remaining icicles slammed into a magic shield, shattering harmlessly upon impact.
'I'll show this bastard his place!', she thought fiercely, her anger burning hotter with every failed strike.
What Mu Ningxue did not realize—what she never even considered—was how badly she had already crossed a line.
When she had deliberately aimed her previous attack at his groin, she had done so with full intent.
She knew very well that while healing magic was powerful, completely destroyed organs, especially something as fragile as a human man's balls, were not guaranteed to be recoverable.
That was not an accident.
That was a conscious choice.
To her, it was simple.
This was about preserving her father's dignity.
This was about teaching Astreo a lesson he would never forget.
If that lesson had to permanently cripple him, then so be it.
But to Astreo, that single moment of malicious intent changed everything.
It was no longer just a duel.
It was no longer about pride, words, or insults.
The moment she chose to aim there, with that intent, her fate was sealed.
While everyone was still wondering why Astreo hadn't fought back yet, a sudden wave of powerful—but not immediately devastating—Psychic Magic slammed into Mu Ningxue.
The effect was instant.
The star path she was in the middle of forming shattered completely, dispersing into nothing as if it had never existed.
Mu Ningxue cried out and instinctively grabbed her head, her expression twisting in pain as her thoughts turned chaotic and disordered.
Even though she was wearing a Psychic Pendant that blocked the majority of the attack, the remaining Psychic force was still more than enough to disorient her severely.
Her balance faltered, her vision blurred, and her concentration collapsed.
"Impossible!" Mu Zhouyun suddenly shouted, his voice filled with disbelief and panic.
"I gave Mu Ningxue a Nebula-level Mind Protection magical pendant!"
His words sent another wave of shock through the crowd.
That pendant meant that all Psychic magic below the Intermediate Tier—hell, even Psychic magic below Intermediate Tier 3—should have been completely negated.
That was exactly how much Mu Zhouyun had paid for her protection.
He had equipped her with that pendant specifically so she could overwhelm Astreo without worrying about mental interference.
And yet, here she was.
Staggering.
Meanwhile, as Mu Ningxue struggled to stay upright, Astreo moved.
He ran straight toward her.
As she barely managed to recover and attempted to form her star path again, another burst of Psychic Magic struck her mind.
Her casting collapsed for the second time in an instant, her thoughts scattering before she could even stabilize herself.
Astreo didn't slow down as he closed the distance between them.
From the outside, the situation looked clear.
The spectators sighed inwardly.
Mu Ningxue had lost.
Now, Astreo would simply reach her, restrain her, and end the match cleanly.
That was what everyone believed.
Oh.
How wrong they were.
Because at that exact moment, while Mu Ningxue was clutching her head in pain and struggling to stabilize her thoughts, Astreo suddenly leaped forward.
He did not hesitate.
He did not hold back.
He swung his fist with full OF strength.
The sound of flesh being struck echoed loudly throughout the entire venue, sharp and unmistakable.
For a split second, the world seemed to freeze as everyone watched in pure disbelief.
Astreo's fist connected squarely with Mu Ningxue's face, the impact so violent that her head snapped to the side instantly.
Her face twisted unnaturally as her body was lifted off the ground, forming a clear arc in mid-air from the sheer force behind the punch.
She crashed down hard, her cheek slamming against the frozen ground.
Blood splattered across the ice.
Two of her teeth were sent flying, skidding across the arena as her body finally came to a stop.
"STOP!" Mu Zhouyun roared, his voice filled with panic and fury as he surged forward instinctively.
The entire audience was stunned into silence.
Even Mo Fan stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock and horror.
Tang Yue felt her heart drop as she stared at the scene, unable to process what she had just witnessed.
Teachers, guests, and spectators alike were completely unprepared for what had just happened.
This was a bare-handed punch, delivered without mercy—and it shattered every expectation they had about how this duel was supposed to end.
But Astreo did not stop.
As Mu Ningxue coughed violently, blood spilling from her mouth along with fragments of her broken teeth, Astreo grabbed her by the leg without hesitation.
With raw force, he swung her body across the icy ground, dragging her helplessly before smashing her straight into an ice wall she herself had created earlier.
The impact made her cry out in agony as her body slammed hard against the frozen surface.
Even then, Astreo showed no sign of stopping.
He followed up immediately, delivering a brutal kick directly to her lower body.
The blow knocked the breath out of her, forcing another pained groan from her throat as saliva and blood spilled from her mouth once more.
Her body trembled uncontrollably as she collapsed against the ice.
Astreo then crouched down beside her.
He grabbed her by the scalp, his fingers tightening painfully as he yanked her head upward with force.
Without giving her a single moment to recover, he drove his fist into her face.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each punch landed with sickening impact, her head snapping back repeatedly as her body went limp under the relentless assault.
He did not stop until the shouts behind him grew deafening.
"STOP!"
Mu Zhouyun and several others finally rushed forward, roaring in panic and fury as they tried to intervene.
Mo Fan, acting on instinct, attempted to cast a lightning spell toward Astreo—but before the magic could fully form, a sudden Psychic strike slammed into him, disrupting his concentration and forcing him to stumble back.
Astreo had released it casually, without even turning around, as he finally stopped his assault.
Mu Ningxue lay motionless on the ice.
Her face was completely unrecognizable—eyes swollen shut, nose twisted and broken, teeth shattered, blood slowly leaking from the corner of her mouth.
The arena was silent except for heavy breathing and distant shouts, the brutality of the scene sinking in for everyone who had just witnessed it.
The duel had gone far beyond anything anyone had imagined.
And there was no taking it back.
"Why did you beat her?! Why did you do this?!" Tang Yue roared in fury as she stepped forward, her anger completely overtaking her composure.
She immediately began forming a Shadow Binding spell, her star path flashing into existence—
Only for it to be instantly shattered.
A surge of Psychic Magic struck her mind mid-chant, violently disrupting her concentration and destroying the spell before it could even take shape.
Tang Yue staggered back, her eyes widening as a sharp pain shot through her head.
At the same time, Mu Zhouyun and the healers completely ignored Astreo for the moment and rushed toward Mu Ningxue.
As they examined her condition, their expressions quickly turned pale.
Her face was swollen beyond recognition, blood staining the ice beneath her, her injuries far more severe than anyone had anticipated.
Mu Zhouyun straightened abruptly, rage burning in his eyes. He raised his hand and charged toward Astreo, intending to slap him—
Only to be struck by another wave of Psychic Magic.
Mu Zhouyun cried out as he clutched his head in agony, collapsing to one knee as the mental assault overwhelmed him.
"How can his Psychic Magic be this strong?!" someone shouted in disbelief, their voice shaking.
"Is he a peak Intermediate Mage?!"
Astreo stood calmly amidst the chaos, his expression cold and unbothered.
"Novice Tier Five Psychic Spell," he said evenly.
"Spirit Ripples: Confusion."
His words alone stunned the crowd into silence.
Then, slowly, Astreo's lips curled into an angry smile.
"What?" he said, his tone sharp and mocking.
"Did you already forget what Sir Mu said earlier?"
He took a step forward, his gaze sweeping across Mu Zhouyun and the others.
"Having a background is also a kind of talent," Astreo continued coldly.
"And mine just happens to be very strong."
The words hung heavily in the air.
No one dared to speak.
This was the result of power.
And Astreo had it in overwhelming excess.
Astreo then turned his gaze toward Mu Ningxue, who lay battered on the frozen ground.
Tears streamed down from her swollen eyes, cutting paths through the blood and bruises on her face as her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Oh?" Astreo said coldly, tilting his head slightly.
"Are you crying right now?"
His voice carried clear mockery.
"Now that I've won, and now that you've tasted your own medicine, you're crying?"
The entire crowd stared at him in disbelief.
No one had expected him to say something like that so openly, so cruelly, after what had just happened.
"Why did you have to beat her like that?!" Mu Zhouyun demanded, his voice shaking with rage and helplessness.
It was the question everyone present wanted answered, the accusation hanging heavy in the air.
Astreo looked at him calmly and tilted his head again, as if genuinely confused.
"Oh?" he replied indifferently.
"Did you forget that this was a duel? Injuries were always a possibility."
"Yes, injuries were possible," Tang Yue said sharply, her brows deeply furrowed as she stepped forward.
"But you didn't need to brutally beat her after defeating her. What you did was wrong."
"Oh, really, Tang Yue?" Astreo said flatly.
He didn't even bother calling her teacher this time, and she visibly bristled at the disrespect.
"You—!"
"What, you?!" Astreo suddenly roared, his voice exploding outward and silencing her instantly.
"She tried to attack my balls!" he continued furiously.
"She tried to permanently cripple me or leave lifelong scars! For what? For her father's dignity? For her own pride?!"
His gaze swept across the crowd, daring anyone to contradict him.
"Then tell me," he went on coldly, "why is it wrong for me to retaliate?"
He scoffed.
"Did you all forget what kind of mage I am? I am a Psychic Mage. Against human opponents, the most effective methods are simple—either cripple their mind or beat them physically."
His words were blunt, raw, and unapologetic.
"I chose the second option."
His words silenced the entire venue, yet the dissatisfaction in the air did not disappear.
Before anyone else could react, Mo Fan suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Astreo by the collar, and roared in anger, his voice shaking with emotion.
"She's a woman!" Mo Fan shouted.
"How could you do something like that to her?!"
Astreo lowered his gaze and looked calmly at Mo Fan's hand gripping his collar.
He did not struggle.
He did not retaliate.
Instead, he spoke in an even, controlled voice that cut through the chaos.
"When a person chooses to become a mage," Astreo said slowly, "they must be prepared to face whatever kind of opponent stands in front of them."
His eyes lifted, locking onto Mo Fan's.
"It doesn't matter whether that opponent is a monster cub, a full-grown monster, or a human. It doesn't matter if they are male or female. Once someone walks the path of a mage, they accept the reality of this world."
He continued, his tone calm but heavy.
"A mage's duty is to fight—to fight for their own survival and for the lives of the people they care about."
The words struck hard.
Many people present felt something stir in their chests as they were forced to remember the most basic truth of their profession.
In this brutal world, magic was not a game, nor was it a stage for morality plays.
It was a tool for survival.
Astreo did not stop.
"I do not care whether you are human or monster," he said coldly.
"I do not care whether you are a child or an adult, a man or a woman. If you dare to stand against me as my opponent, then you should already be prepared to face the consequences."
His gaze swept across everyone present.
"I did not step forward to initiate this duel," Astreo continued.
"And I did not choose to make it brutal. Remember that."
He finished speaking and stood still, his presence heavy and oppressive.
The silence that followed was absolute.
No one spoke.
Because whether they liked it or not, every word he had said reflected the cruel reality of the world they lived in—and none of them could deny it.
Some people still wanted to argue.
Their mouths opened as if to protest, to debate, or to justify what had just happened.
However, before anyone could say another word, Astreo coldly turned his gaze toward Mo Fan, who was still standing there in shock.
Mo Fan's hand was still gripping Astreo's collar.
Astreo looked down at it, his expression utterly emotionless.
"Let go of my collar," he said calmly, his voice flat and devoid of warmth.
"Before you regret it."
The words were not shouted.
They weren't even threatening in tone.
And yet, Mo Fan felt a chill shoot down his spine.
His instincts screamed danger louder than they ever had before.
Mo Fan flinched.
Without another word, he instantly released Astreo's collar and stepped back, his face pale.
At the same time, the oppressive psychic waves that had been filling the area slowly dissipated.
The pressure weighing on everyone's minds eased as Astreo turned away from Mo Fan and looked back toward Mu Ningxue, who was still lying on the ice.
"I've stopped my magic," Astreo said indifferently.
"You can heal her now."
Everyone froze.
Then he added, as if commenting on something trivial, "Her injuries aren't permanent. Just get a better healer. They won't leave any scars, and her teeth can be regenerated by an Advanced Healer."
His words shocked everyone yet again.
After all that brutality… after everything they had just witnessed… he was saying this as if it had never been in doubt.
Without waiting for a response, Astreo turned around and began walking forward.
The crowd instinctively parted.
People stepped aside, making way for him without even realizing they were doing it.
No one tried to stop him.
No one dared to speak.
All eyes followed his back as he walked away, his figure receding while the venue remained trapped in stunned silence.
No one truly understood what had just happened.
But as they looked back at Mu Ningxue—broken, bloodied, and defeated—they couldn't help but feel a deep sense of fear and horror settle in their hearts.
What they didn't know…
What none of them realized…
Was that if Mo Fan had not let go of Astreo's collar when he did, every single person present would have been dead.
Astreo was an Emperor.
And he wouldn't have cared if there was one less protagonist, one less female lead, or even one less Bo City left on the map of this planet.
To be continued...
(A/N: There is a important notice I want to give in advance, a week later for about two to three weeks I will go on a vacation to my village and countryside, during that period don't expect chapters at all. I will notify it from when it starts on my discord, if any chap I write during that period(Which i would like one chap of any fic daily or in two days) I will upload it on Patreon.
Also if you wanna join Patreon for this fic you can wait for a bit, This fic has like only 4 advance chaps ahead compared to the 12 we started due to my rapid update schedule and the fact I have other fanfics, I have two other re zero fanfics on Ao3, and started a third one on the request of a friend who has been begging me for months.
So that makes four of my re zero fanfics.
Now because i will be going on vacation so I decided to give u guys this chap earlier since you will be dehydrated for like a month at worse.
Also you can join my discord and see the lates announcement of Rl craft if you are interested, also please read the server rules. I don't want anyone to step over any boundaries.
Xb47VnFUpQ (Here is infinite invitation code)
taaCsGPcu (Here is the temporary invitation code, should expire in two weeks)
Also I hope you liked the chapter!
PS: Don't curse me later on if you don't get a slot on Patreon and ask me for more slots. Because if I try to make people remember their financial responsibilities and then limit my slots(For my benefits) it makes look like I am deliberately hurting your chances to get chapters, and then people bug me for slots.)