“…Come at me, then.”

No one moved.

They just stood there, watching me, waiting—hesitating.

Well… that’s fine.

I’m not going to attack just yet.

Not until I measure their strength.

Once I do that, I can finally carry out Aestrea’s final wish.

I owe him that much.

Even though I’ve taken full control of this body, I can still feel his emotions.

His thoughts, his ideals.

And like I’ve mentioned many times, he has the so-called Hero Syndrome.

But, since I’m not like that, I’ll need to put his final wish into the trust of others.

And who’s a better target than Lucas?

The hero itself.

Aestrea’s final wish was quite simple actually.

Kill the Demon King.

That’s none other than the Hero’s job.

So, I need to test Lucas.

See if he’s strong enough.

If he is, I can leave without worry.

But if he’s not… then I’ll push him to the edge.

Break him.

Put him in a life-or-death situation.

Because only when people are faced with true despair do they awaken their hidden power.

Especially the Hero itself.

His potential is overflowing through his body, yet he cannot fully release it.

And once that’s done…

I can finally let go of Aestrea’s personality.

No more of his foolish sense of justice.

No more holding back.

No more sparing my enemies.

None of that.

Just me.

The real me.

Someone who only cares about myself and the people I love.

I won’t throw my life away for others anymore.

I won’t act on impulse, trying to save people who aren’t even worth it.

Never again.

So…

I’ll give them a scare.

Make sure they understand the weight of what’s at stake.

Because if Lucas isn’t strong enough, then Aestrea’s final wish will be wasted.

Normally, I would just do it myself.

But I can’t.

Only the Hero can kill the Demon King.

Only Excalibur has the authority to harm that monster.

So, it’s simple.

Lucas needs to prove himself.

And if he fails…

Then I’ll make sure he has no choice but to succeed.

This is my goodbye to Aestrea.

BAAAM!

They finally decided to move.

Maya was the first to reach me, her mana-coated fist rocketing toward my face.

I tilted my head at the last second—

SWOOSH!

Her punch barely grazed my cheek, the force of it splitting the air.

I grabbed her wrist before she could pull away—

CRACK!

“GHHHAAAAA—!”

I twisted her arm at a sickening angle. She screamed, her body jerking violently as I slammed my knee into her stomach.

BAM!

Her body lurched forward, spit flying from her mouth as her breath left her lungs.

But before I could follow up—

『 Fire Series: Flame Spear! (✦ 3rd-Level Spell ✦)』

A roaring spear of fire came flying toward my head.

FWOOOOSH!

I let go of Maya and spun to the side—

BOOM!

The fire spear struck the ground where I had just been, scorching the floor, and leaving behind a trail of blackened stone.

I snapped my gaze toward Rose.

She had already prepared another spell, fire swirling wildly around her arms.

『 Fire Series: Flame Wave! (✦ 4th-Level Spell ✦)』

A massive wave of blazing fire rushed toward me, the heat warping the air.

I slammed my foot down—

『 Mixed Ice Series: Fortified Ice Wall! (✦ 4th-Level Spell ✦)』

CRACK!

A wall of solid ice burst from the ground, clashing against the fire.

SSSSSSSSHHH—!

Steam exploded everywhere, filling the room with a thick white fog.

But I could still hear them.

Lucas’s footsteps—fast.

Ella and Leon’s movements—closing in.

Telmo’s wind magic—stirring the mist.

I tightened my grip on my scythe.

Here they come.

FWIP!

Through the mist, Lucas struck first.

『 Demon Slaying Sword Art – First Form: Corrupted Sword! 』

SWISH!

His sword flashed, black flames engulfing it.

A swift, deadly arc aimed straight at my neck.

Oh?

I raised an eyebrow.

He was finally using the full form of his sword art.

I twisted my body—

CLANG!

I blocked the blade with the handle of my scythe, sparks exploding from the impact.

The scythe quickly caught on fire.

‘Lumi.’

{Yesh!}

The black flames were swallowed by Lumi.

And then, his blade went straight against the ground.

BOOM!

The sheer force of his swing cracked the ground beneath us.

He was strong.

But not enough.

Before he could retract his blade, I moved.

BAM!

I drove my elbow into his ribs.

“Gaahgk…”

He coughed, but he still held on.

His blade twisted, aiming for my throat.

『 Demon Slaying Sword Art – Second Form: Crescent Judgement 』

SHIIING!

A curved slash of black flames tore through the fog, racing toward me.

I didn’t dodge.

Instead, I swung my scythe—

CRASH!

A violet aura burst outward, shattering the attack like glass.

But that’s when Ella and Leon struck.

『 Royal Swordsmanship – Divine Punishment! 』

Two huge golden slashes—one from each side.

I barely had time to react.

CLANG!

CLANG!

I blocked Ella’s sword with my scythe, but Leon’s blade sliced across my shoulder.

SHHHK!

Blood splattered.

I clicked my tongue.

『 Ice Series: Frozen Space! (✦ 5th-Level Spell ✦) 』

FWOOOOOM!

A wave of violet-tinged ice exploded from my body, freezing everything in its path.

SNAP! CRACK!

The air turned frigid.

Leon and Ella’s swords froze mid-swing, a thick layer of frost climbing up their arms.

“Ngh—!” Ella gritted her teeth, struggling against the ice.

Leon shivered, his breath turning white.

But I wasn’t done.

I kicked off the ground—

CRACK!

The ice beneath my feet shattered as I lunged forward, aiming straight for Rose.

Her eyes widened—

『 Fire Series: Flame Guard! (✦4th-Level Spell✦)』

A barrier of fire erupted around her.

I scoffed.

Like that would help.

I spun my scythe, violet aura surging—

FWOOOSH!

I sliced straight through the flames.

Her defense collapsed.

She barely had time to react before my fist drove into her stomach.

BAM!

“AGH—!”

She crashed into the wall, blood splattering from her mouth.

『 Crystal Lance! (✦ 5th-Level Spell ✦) 』

SHING!

SHING!

SHING!

Dozens of razor-sharp crystal lances came flying toward me.

Violet.

Even after all that, she was still standing.

Her arm hung limply at her side, blood dripping from her wounds, her breathing ragged—

Yet her eyes were still full of defiance.

I sighed.

Then, I ducked.

The first crystal lance barely missed my head.

I spun, dodging the next.

And then—

SLASH!

I sliced through the rest like they were nothing.

Violet’s pupils shrank.

She tried to cast another spell—

But I was already in front of her.

BAM!

I drove my knee into her stomach.

“GAH—!!”

Her body jerked.

I grabbed her by the collar before she could collapse—

And slammed her into the ground.

CRASH!

Blood pooled around her.

She twitched.

But she couldn’t move anymore.

I stepped back.

That was one down.

I turned to the others.

Lucas gripped his sword tighter, his breathing ragged. His knuckles were white, his stance uneven.

His body was shaking—not from fear, but anger.

He wasn’t the only one.

Maya wiped the blood off her lips with the back of her hand. Her arm was still twisted from earlier, but her mana flared up around her fists.

She wasn’t giving up.

Prince Leon, Ella, and Telmo steadied themselves, their auras burning brighter. The cold air of my ice magic hadn’t stopped them completely.

And Rose…

She was leaning against the wall, her flames dim, her body trembling. But I could still see it—the fire in her eyes.

They were beyond pissed.

Good.

So, I decided to provoke them even further.

I smirked.

“What? Is that all?” I lifted my scythe and rested it on my shoulder.

“I thought you all came to stop me. But you can’t even touch me.”

Lucas gritted his teeth.

And then—

He moved.

『 Demon Slaying Sword Art – Third Form: Abyssal Strike! 』

Phew…

That’s something I’ve never seen.

BOOM!

He vanished.

And before I could blink—

SLASH!

I barely twisted my body in time.

His blade scraped against my ribs, cutting deep.

Blood splattered.

I hissed.

“Tsk!”

But I didn’t have time to recover.

『 Royal Swordsmanship – Divine Judgement! 』

FWOOOSH!

Leon and Ella struck at the same time.

Two swords—one from the left, one from the right.

I planted my foot down—

『 Ice Series: Ice Shield! (✦ 3rd-Level Spell ✦)』

CRACK!

A layer of thick ice formed around my arms, blocking both blades.

But—

『 Wind Series: Wind Razor! (✦ 3rd-Level Spell ✦) 』

FWIP!

A blade of wind shot from behind.

Telmo.

I barely managed to dodge, but—

『 Fire Series: Flame Blitz! (✦ 4th-Level Spell ✦)』

FWOOOOOSH!

Rose’s flames erupted beneath my feet, exploding.

BOOM!

Heat scorched my skin.

A burning pain crawled up my legs.

They were getting better.

But unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough.

I swung my scythe violently, sending a wave of violet aura outward—

BAM!

The shockwave knocked them back, forcing them to retreat.

I exhaled.

Pain spread through my ribs, my arms, my legs.

Blood dripped from my wounds.

They actually managed to injure me.

But…

They were worse.

Lucas was clutching his side, blood seeping through his uniform.

His stance was weaker.

Ella and Leon were panting, their swords trembling in their grips.

Rose could barely stand.

Maya was still hunched over, holding her broken arm.

Telmo was the only one who hadn’t been seriously injured, but I could see it—his breathing was ragged. He had used up too much mana.

They were reaching their limits.

But they wouldn’t stop.

I tightened my grip on my scythe.

“Alright,” I muttered, stepping forward.

The floor cracked beneath my feet.

Their bodies tensed.

It was time to use something I never dared to use before…

I raised my free hand—

『 Minor Domain 』

FWOOOOOM!

A storm of ice erupted outward.

The entire room froze over, the temperature dropping to below freezing.

The walls were coated in frost.

The ground turned to ice.

Their breath turned white.

Lucas shivered. Maya’s teeth chattered.

Rose collapsed to one knee, the flames around her weakening.

Even Telmo’s wind magic flickered, struggling against the cold.

This was a minor version of my domain.

It was very weak for now, but for them, it was more than enough.

I dashed forward.

BOOM!

I reached Maya first.

She threw a punch—but she was too slow.

I ducked under it.

And—

BAM!

I drove my knee into her chin.

Her head snapped back—

Her body flew across the room, crashing into the ice-covered wall.

“GUH—!!”

Blood splattered from her mouth.

She collapsed, twitching.

I didn’t stop.

Next.

I turned to Telmo.

『 Wind Series: Wind Barrier! (✦ 4th-Level Spell ✦)』

A cyclone erupted around him, trying to block me—

I scoffed.

『 Ice Series: Ice Lance! (✦ 3rd-Level Spell ✦)』

SHIIING!

A spear of pure ice shot from my fingertips—

PIERCE!

It stabbed straight through his shoulder.

“AAAGHH—!!”

He stumbled, blood pouring from the wound.

I appeared behind him—

And swung my scythe.

SLASH!

The blunt side of my blade crashed into his ribs, sending him flying.

BOOM!

He hit the ground hard, coughing up blood.

Two down.

I turned to Rose.

She could barely move.

“Don’t you dare!”

Lucas charged at me.

『 Demon Slaying Sword Art – Fourth Form! 』

His sword glowed.

He swung—

A holy blade of light instead of black flames came slicing down.

That surprised.

I lifted my scythe—

CLAAANG!

The impact rattled my bones.

The force sent a shockwave through the room, the ice beneath us shattering.

Lucas pressed forward, his blade burning with energy—

I could feel it.

He was desperate.

I grinned.

“You’re wide open.”

『 Ice Series: Ice Spike! (✦ 3rd-Level Spell ✦) 』

SHUNK!

A pillar of sharp ice erupted from the ground—

Impaling Lucas through the side.

“GHHHAA—!”

Blood gushed from the wound.

His sword fell from his hands—

His body trembled violently.

I yanked the ice spike out.

SPLURT!

Blood splattered across the floor.

Lucas collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.

His hands clutched at the wound, blood pooling beneath him.

He wouldn’t be fighting anymore.

Three down.

Only Ella and Leon were left.

They were shaking.

But they still raised their swords.

I tilted my head.

“Still going?”

Leon spat blood onto the ice.

“You’re a fucking monster, you damn commoner,” he whispered coldly.

It was funny how he kept calling me a commoner even though now I was a noble.

I smiled.

“Thanks for the compliment.”

I vanished.

Fwoop!

I disappeared into thin air.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep