"I know what I am doesn't make much sense," Rowan said calmly once the examinations ended. "Honestly, I don't fully understand it myself."
He took a small step forward.
"Since I was born, I've been… different. Language, writing, memory. I learn almost instantly. And my body has always been abnormally strong."
A brief pause.
"I became a Sequence Seven Magician after killing a Mystic Order magician and absorbing what he left behind."
The second half was true.
The first half was a carefully polished lie.
Both High Executors frowned.
"Killed a Sequence Seven Magician using only physical strength?" Radall asked flatly.
That claim strained credibility.
Sequence Seven Magicians wielded numerous spell-like abilities. Even veteran fighters struggled against them. Overpowering one barehanded should have been impossible.
Unless the attacker came from a warrior-oriented path.
But Rowan had clearly stated he only became supernatural after that encounter.
Rowan met their gazes.
"If you don't believe me, we can spar. I really am just… built differently. You'll understand once you see it."
There were several reasons behind the offer.
First, he wanted the Churches to understand that he was cooperative by choice, not because he was afraid.
Second, he needed a proper "performance."
Magicians advanced by embracing spectacle, audacity, and impossible feats.
Fighting above his apparent weight class fit perfectly.
Third…
He wanted to see how strong this world's upper-tier combatants truly were.
Radall gestured toward Dunn and Gherman.
"Start with them."
To Radall, a Sequence Seven challenging High Executors was laughable.
But letting Rowan test himself against two seasoned captains made sense.
Dunn and Gherman exchanged no words.
They simply moved.
Dunn touched his temple.
His eyes closed.
The nightmare ability activated.
At the same moment, Gherman's muscles swelled, and he launched forward like a charging beast.
A classic combination.
Control.
Then impact.
Rowan did not allow the dream to take hold.
His soul pushed outward.
The invading influence collapsed.
His body swayed once.
Just once.
Then—
Two dull thuds.
Dunn and Gherman collapsed simultaneously.
Unconscious.
Silence fell over the docks.
Most operatives hadn't even seen Rowan move.
To them, he had simply… twitched.
The High Executors, however, had seen everything.
Rowan had stepped behind Dunn.
Chopped the back of his head.
Pivoted.
Appeared behind Gherman.
Struck again.
Returned to his original position.
All within a fraction of a second.
No supernatural energy.
No rituals.
Pure physical speed and force.
Radall's expression tightened.
Crestet's grip on the sword shifted slightly.
"So," Rowan said mildly, "does that answer your question?"
No one replied.
At that moment, there was no longer any doubt.
Rowan hadn't exaggerated.
The Mystic Order magician never stood a chance.
And if Rowan chose to rely solely on his body…
Even seasoned supernatural operatives were fragile in front of him.
Some people were born extraordinary.
Tonight proved that Rowan Mercer was one of them.
...
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