High Priest Malcan lightly leaped down from the towering bell tower, landing gracefully in the plaza.

As the dark mages who had been marking the perimeter stepped back to create space for the duel, Baek Yu-Seol entered the cleared area.

’A duel in front of an audience... it’s been a while.’

However, the expectations from the surrounding crowd felt a bit different this time.

Most of the Narang tribe gazed at him with resentment and despair.

If Baek Yu-Seol were to lose here, the Narang tribe would not only lose their last shred of honor and pride but also be completely subjugated to the Dark Mage Cult.

"Is that your weapon? That’s quite unusual for a Narang," Malcan scoffed, eyeing the sword in Baek Yu-Seol’s hand.

In this era, swords and other cold weapons were nothing more than accessories for self-defense among ordinary people.

It was a world ruled by magic.

Even the Narang tribe, who prided themselves on their warrior heritage, relied on magic in battle rather than weapons like swords.

’Does this seem strange to them?’

Still, Baek Yu-Seol knew there was no chance of defeating a risk level 8 dark mage without relying on his sword.

"Fine! Let’s see how confident you really are!"

Baek Yu-Seol pointed his sword at Malcan and took a deep breath.

He knew the moment he used his Flash ability, his true identity would be exposed.

But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had secured a one-on-one duel with Malcan.

’If I can kill Malcan, the rest will fall into place.’

The reason the Narang warriors had been unable to rebel wasn’t because they lacked strength but because Malcan was simply too powerful.

Over the past few days, Baek Yu-Seol had observed the city and learned that the Narang warriors had been quietly enduring their shame and humiliation, biding their time.

They were waiting for the right moment to bare their sharp fangs once again.

And now, Baek Yu-Seol had stepped forward to provoke the situation, so it was only natural that the Narang warriors looked at him with frustration and resentment.

’Just wait a little longer.’ 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Maintaining his distance, Baek Yu-Seol moved sideways in quick steps, gauging Malcan’s movements.

The tense standoff continued until Malcan, unable to hold back any longer, charged at him first.

Boom!

Despite Malcan’s massive build, he moved with terrifying speed, breaking the sound barrier in an instant.

It was a straightforward and brutish charge, lacking any finesse or technique. But if someone were hit by it, it would feel like being struck by a freight train, shattering their body to pieces.

’Malcan, huh.’

The name rang a bell. Baek Yu-Seol recalled hearing about him recently among the magic warriors, Malcan, the so-called ’bishop killer.’

Bishops, who relied on slower but immensely powerful ranged magic with their staffs, were particularly vulnerable to high-speed assaults like Malcan’s.

Malcan was infamous for his relentless, brute-force charges, using his massive frame to decimate his enemies.

Naturally, the frailer bishops stood no chance and were often being torn apart by his savage attacks.

When Malcan had suddenly disappeared from the scene, many magic warriors had expressed relief. No one would have guessed he had been building a power base in a place like this.

’How unfortunate.’

Had his opponent been a bishop - or even an ordinary magic warrior - they would have struggled to deal with Malcan’s high-speed assaults.

But Baek Yu-Seol was no ordinary magic warrior.

From the start, he had relied on his Flash magic to make up for his weak physical body.

If he could cut down magic traveling several times the speed of sound with his sword, avoiding an attack like this was no challenge at all.

It was slow enough to enjoy watching.

With a graceful pivot, Baek Yu-Seol spun lightly on his left ankle, shifting his body to the opposite side.

Malcan’s massive body barely missed him, brushing past his face.

Baek Yu-Seol observed every movement of Malcan, from start to finish, as if time had slowed down. Every detail of his charge was captured with perfect clarity.

But Malcan saw nothing.

To him, Baek Yu-Seol’s form seemed to scatter like an afterimage, only to reappear half a step away in an instant.

The speed of Baek Yu-Seol’s footwork was so blindingly fast that it created the illusion of a disappearing mirage.

In reality, Malcan was completely incapable of tracking Baek Yu-Seol’s movements.

’Huh?’

Malcan turned his head, only to realize Baek Yu-Seol had already moved. By the time he saw him again, Baek Yu-Seol was in position, sword raised and ready to strike down.

’Damn it!’

Swish!

A silver arc slashed toward Malcan’s neck, but he twisted his massive body just in time to block it.

Thud...

Malcan staggered backward several steps, clutching his left forearm, which had been deeply cut. He glared at Baek Yu-Seol.

"That almost landed."

"...You’re no ordinary opponent, are you?"

"Of course not. Why else would I challenge you to a duel? You underestimated me, didn’t you?"

"I’ve heard the Narang tribe is known for being swift and agile, but this is on another level."

Gritting his teeth, Malcan seethed with anger.

To be wounded by a mere Narang child, in front of countless dark mages watching, it was a blow to his pride.

And behind him, the Dark Mage Cult Leader Hui-Ryeon was observing everything.

The humiliation in his heart stung far worse than the wound on his arm.

"Now that I’ve seen your skill, I won’t hold back."

Boom!

As soon as the words left his mouth, Malcan charged again, this time faster than before.

But Baek Yu-Seol deliberately dodged in the exact same manner as before.

He had plenty of ways to avoid the attack, but he chose this method on purpose, to test Malcan’s learning ability.

Whoosh!

’Oh...’

Though Baek Yu-Seol dodged the same way, this time the outcome was different.

Mid-charge, Malcan altered his trajectory in mid-air, swinging his massive arm in an attempt to strike Baek Yu-Seol’s upper body.

At the tip of his hand, claws extended nearly two meters, slashing toward Baek Yu-Seol.

But with a simple tilt of his head, Baek Yu-Seol evaded the attack effortlessly.

Baek Yu-Seol swung his sword upward from below, but Malcan was already somersaulting in midair, preparing for his next attack.

’This guy is more agile than I thought.’

He initially assumed Malcan relied solely on brute strength and speed, but that wasn’t the case.

After all, not just anyone could earn the title of a risk level 8 dark mage. However...

’Unfortunately for him, it seems like I’m a completely superior version in terms of abilities.’

Malcan’s strengths were his high-speed acrobatics and immense destructive power, but they were no match for Baek Yu-Seol’s Flash Movement empowered by Harmony of Heavenly Qi.

By teleporting precisely, from as short as 50 centimeters to as far as 2 meters, Baek Yu-Seol continued evading Malcan’s rapid charges, gradually shifting the tide of the fight.

Though it appeared Malcan was relentlessly pursuing and attacking, his extended claws were easily parried by Baek Yu-Seol’s blade, and no matter how fast he moved, he couldn’t catch up to him.

Moreover, while Malcan dashed wildly over distances of 10 to 20 meters, Baek Yu-Seol only needed to move a few steps at a time, conserving his stamina significantly.

Boom!

Eventually, Malcan lost control of his speed and crashed into a wall. Baek Yu-Seol lowered his sword and looked at him with pity.

"Are you trying to show off fancy moves when you can’t even control your own speed?"

Crack!

But Malcan emerged from the rubble of the collapsed wall, seemingly unscathed despite the impact.

’Ah... I’m kind of jealous of that.’

If a human body couldn’t handle the force of Flash Magic, it would end up completely crushed. That’s why it was considered a forbidden magic.

But such risks were irrelevant to the dark mages. Their bodies were inherently durable. Even if they couldn’t perfectly control their speed, it wasn’t a critical issue.

"We dark mages... are the perfect superior beings to humans. While you worry about shattering yourself against walls with your magic, it’s nothing to us!"

"Is that so? Then it seems like your so-called superior species has taken quite a beating."

Malcan’s entire body was drenched in blood, so much so that it was surprising he could still stand.

"This much... won’t bring me down!"

As if to prove his words, Malcan stomped the ground with all his might.

Dark mana erupted from his entire body, surging upward and concentrating on his horns. The energy began to radiate a massive crimson aura.

’I figured this wasn’t over yet.’

The crimson energy gradually began to swirl and take shape, enveloping Malcan like a protective armor.

His figure now resembled a single crimson vortex, brimming with destructive force. Observing this, Baek Yu-Seol lowered his stance, preparing for the next attack.

"ROARRRR!"

With just a roar, Malcan unleashed a wave of destruction, obliterating every building within a 30-meter radius.

Fortunately, the Narang tribespeople were unharmed. However, to everyone’s astonishment, several dark mages were caught in the blast and killed.

’Hah... so this is a rampage of dark mana.’

Malcan’s eyes rolled back, his rationality completely replaced by a feral instinct. The intelligence he barely retained moments ago was now completely gone.

’Yes, that’s what it means to be a dark mage.’

A race that abandoned reason and intellect in pursuit of power.

Baek Yu-Seol placed a hand over his chest and closed his eyes for a moment.

’Perfect timing. I needed a punching bag to try this technique on.’

Around him, a silvery energy began to swirl, distinctly different from the blue mana typically used by humans, Narang, or elves.

In fact, it seemed almost improper to call it mana.

"What is... that?"

Hui-Ryeon, who had been silently observing the fight, suddenly rose to his feet in shock.

"What’s wrong, Cult Leader?"

But Hui-Ryeon couldn’t tear his gaze away from Baek Yu-Seol and his eyes widened with disbelief.

That silvery energy... it’s unmistakable.

It was the aura of Silver Autumn Moon.

However... this was no mere manifestation of a bestowed blessing.

Hui-Ryeon, who had already received the blessing of Fawn Prevernal Moon and was actively using his powers, knew this better than anyone.

When using a borrowed authority through a blessing, it didn’t appear in this form.

This... was different.

"Baek Yu-Seol seems to be controlling the energy of Silver Autumn Moon itself..."

A mere human, yet capable of stepping into the realm of greatness, wielding the energy of one of the Twelve Divine Moons.

Not just any, but Silver Autumn Moon, the most intricate and challenging of them all.

Flash!

Unlike Malcan, there was no flashy transformation surrounding Baek Yu-Seol’s body.

There was no violent vortex tearing through a 30-meter radius, no catastrophic display of raw power.

Instead, everything grew calm.

An eerie, deafening silence enveloped the surroundings.

Baek Yu-Seol, his eyes now glowing with a silvery hue, turned his gaze to Malcan.

But then, without warning, he sharply turned his head upward, toward the top of the bell tower.

No, more precisely... toward Hui-Ryeon, who had been secretly watching from above.

Their eyes met for the briefest moment.

"Ah..."

In that fleeting moment, Hui-Ryeon felt an overwhelming pressure from Baek Yu-Seol’s presence alone. His legs gave out beneath him, leaving him to collapse on the spot.

This was the same Hui-Ryeon who could stand unfazed in front of the Black Demon King himself, even mocking him. Yet, now, he felt fear, fear of a mere human boy.

But why?

When their eyes met, Hui-Ryeon couldn’t simply regard Baek Yu-Seol as just a human.

Instead, it felt as though he was facing Fawn Prevernal Moon... or even one of the Twelve Divine Moons.

Fear. Awe. Overwhelming power.

Swallowing hard, Hui-Ryeon covered his face with his trembling hands.

’How could I... show such weakness...?’

The other dark mages nearby hurriedly rushed to help him up, but Hui-Ryeon, pressing against the wall, forced himself to rise.

Boom!

The clash between Baek Yu-Seol and Malcan had already begun.

Why was it, then, that Malcan’s limbs were so easily torn apart and scattered, as if it were the most natural outcome?

Why did Hui-Ryeon’s mind instinctively expect this result, almost as if it had been preordained?

Baek Yu-Seol stood tall, his foot pressing down on Malcan’s severed head. Raising his sword high, he brought it down with finality.

Cheers erupted from the Narang warriors as they leapt to their feet, the tides of the battle shifting in an instant.

"C-Cult Leader! The Narang warriors are rebelling! With Malcan dead, there’s no one to keep them in check. What should we do?"

The dark mages panicked, clung to Hui-Ryeon, and their voices trembled with fear and desperation.

Should they execute the plan to eliminate Baek Yu-Seol?

Could the remaining corrupted forces even hope to suppress the Narang tribe’s rebellion?

All the decisions lay solely in Hui-Ryeon’s hands.

Yet, he gave no orders.

’I see now... Baek Yu-Seol. So, this is the kind of being you are.’

Hui-Ryeon covered his face with both hands and let out a hollow laugh.

’You... Baek Yu-Seol... You are just like my father.’

Realization dawned upon Hui-Ryeon like a crashing wave, overwhelming him in an instant.

Even as the dark mages cried out in despair around him, Hui-Ryeon could do nothing but laugh.

He laughed non-stop for a long time.