Latour stopped and looked at his palm again.

This time, his focus was sharper.

He could clearly "feel" the sluggish, flowing, dark gold Power beneath his skin.

He tried to "push" it, concentrating it toward the surface of his palm.

At first, the process was clumsy. The Power felt like heavy mercury, flowing slowly.

But relying on his supreme control over his body and the intuitive "sensory ability" granted by his bloodline, he gritted his teeth and guided it.

His entire palm, including the tips of his five fingers, was coated in a layer of dark gold stone.

Though it was just a thin layer, it gave off an indestructible feel!

"Petrification Skin! Localized enhancement!"

Latour let out a low growl, his voice trembling with irrepressible ecstasy.

This wasn’t a Wizard’s Shield, but an Extraordinary Power born from his own flesh and blood after a fundamental change in his very essence.

The hardened skin hadn’t lost its sense of touch. In fact, it gave him an even keener judgment of the "hardness" of anything he touched.

"And... this!"

With a sudden shift in his thoughts, he "transformed" the nature of a small portion of the Power concentrated at his fingertips.

The tip of the thin stone layer on his finger suddenly became sharper and harder than a needle’s point, glinting with a dangerous, cold light!

[Penetration Spike].

This was a preliminary application of "Rock Transformation"—concentrating Power to a single point to pierce through a surface!

His gaze swept over a protruding stone ridge next to the fist print he had made earlier.

He bent his finger and gave it a light flick.

"SHHFFT!"

With a soft sound, the hard, protruding stone ridge snapped as if cut by the sharpest chisel, leaving a severed surface as smooth as a mirror.

"Did you see that, Ian?!"

Latour whirled around to face his son, who had been watching silently from outside the Array.

His breathing was heavy, his chest heaved violently, and a raging fire burned in his eyes.

It was the ecstasy of being released from more than fifty years of suppression.

It was the absolute confidence of wielding Power, and more than that, the ambition of a future without limits!

"This is true Power! The kind that flows in your veins and is carved into your very bones!"

This physical might and these strange abilities were far beyond what a High Level Apprentice could achieve with Witchcraft.

This was the unique Talent exclusive to Bloodline Mages, brought about by a leap in one’s very essence of life!

’I could blast a piece of trash like Holden to smithereens, armor and all, with a single punch now!’

’My lifespan has increased dramatically! I have enough time to watch the family grow strong!’

’I am now... an Extraordinary Being!’

Ambition, like weeds, grew wildly when watered by strength.

’A mere Count? A single Miniature Magic Stone Ore?’

’No, it’s not enough. Not nearly enough!’

’What was a mortal Kingdom in the face of a Level One Wizard?’

’Even though my son said I’m just a "weakened version" for now, I’ve still crossed the threshold into the Extraordinary realm.’

’Why can’t the Marcus Clan have a larger territory? Why can’t we possess more resources?’

’Why can’t we... become one of those lofty Wizard Clans that stand above the mortal world?’

The look in Latour’s eyes changed, becoming blazing and full of aggression.

Before, his son’s return had resolved the family’s crisis.

But now, the ambition befitting an old noble family had been thoroughly ignited by Extraordinary Power.

Ian walked over and carefully swept his Spiritual Power over his father’s body again, confirming that the bloodline transformation was a complete success and his foundation was exceptionally stable.

"Very good, Father." Ian’s face broke into a genuine smile.

"You are now a genuine Bloodline Mage. This is only the beginning. You will need time to familiarize yourself with and explore this Power.

"For the next few days, don’t push your limits. Focus on stabilization and sensation."

"I understand." Latour nodded heavily.

「Three days later.」

His mother, Ainoya, and his older brother, Vincent, also completed their transformations peacefully.

They only took the controlled version of the [Rock Bear Potion] and the accompanying [Water of Serenity].

Under Ian’s watch, the process was painful but far less perilous than Latour’s.

Ainoya’s complexion became rosy, and the worry lines on her face smoothed out considerably, making her look as if she were twenty again.

Vincent clearly felt the leap in his body’s strength. He tried throwing a punch, and the force of the blow actually left a faint mark on the stone wall.

This Power was far beyond that of any Great Knight he knew.

With this, all the core members of the family had stepped into the realm of the Extraordinary Physique.

It was also on this day that the envoy from the Royal Capital finally arrived, trembling with fear.

It was an old, white-haired chamberlain, accompanied by a squad of Guards. He carried the King’s decree of "condolence" and "commendation," his posture extremely humble.

The castle gates were wide open, but the old chamberlain walked with cautious steps, sweat beading on his forehead.

Marquis Holden and the Minister of Finance, along with their trusted subordinates, had vanished overnight.

They didn’t even leave a speck of dust behind, and the entire Royal Capital was scared out of its wits.

Latour met them in the reception hall.

He wasn’t wearing the formal attire of a Count, but a simple combat outfit that allowed for easy movement as he sat in the main seat.

He didn’t intentionally release his aura, but the intangible pressure from his higher level of existence still made the old chamberlain’s legs go soft and his voice tremble.

"...His Majesty’s intention is that the mining rights for Black Stone Canyon will forever belong to the Marcus Clan...

"Furthermore, the tax revenue from the Three Towns of the South may also be... administered by Your Lordship the Count..."

The old chamberlain held the decree, practically reading it as if it were a pardon.

After listening, Latour’s expression remained neutral. He simply nodded.

"Understood. The Marcus Family appreciates His Majesty’s goodwill. Leave the items. You may go."

His voice was calm, yet carried an air of unquestionable authority.

As if granted a grand amnesty, the old chamberlain hastily set down the King’s rewards and the symbolic documents, practically fleeing the castle.

Watching the envoy’s hasty retreat, Vincent, who was sitting to the side, felt a mix of complex emotions.

’A few months ago, these people were high and mighty figures who could decide the life and death of his family, but now...’

Latour caressed the armrest of his chair, his gaze drifting out the window toward the vast territory, but his thoughts were on even more distant horizons.

’The Kingdom’s titles and rewards? They no longer concerned him.’

This newfound Power and lifespan, along with the foundation his son had left him, allowed him to see the scenery from a much higher vantage point.

A small county was no longer enough to contain his rekindled ambition.

「Two days later, all arrangements were in place.」

Ian left behind a specially made Communication Talisman and some emergency healing Potions as tokens.

「Early in the morning, on the open ground in front of the castle’s main tower.」

Ian stood there, with a shrunken Gaga perched on his shoulder.

Latour, Ainoya, Vincent, Lillian, as well as Andrei, Sofia, and a few trusted Stewards and Knights, had all come out to see him off.

Ainoya’s eyes were red again. She held Ian’s hand tightly, repeatedly telling him to take care of himself and to come back to visit when he had time.

Latour gently patted his son’s shoulder. Everything was understood without words.

Ian could clearly see the fanatical ambition in his eyes.

Vincent looked at his younger brother, his lips moving. In the end, he only managed to say, "Take care."

Lillian was clutching a beautiful feather that Gaga had given her a few days ago. She said in a small voice,

"Brother, next time, can you let Gaga take me flying?"

Gaga let out a proud "Gaga!"

Ian nodded to his family, then lingered no longer.

He turned and took a single step, his figure reappearing dozens of meters away. With another step, he was in mid-air.

Gaga gave a clear cry and leaped from his shoulder.

Its body swelled rapidly in the wind, transforming into a massive black bird with a wingspan of over fifteen meters.

"I’m off," he said, waving to those below.

Gaga beat its wings once, and a fierce wind kicked up, swirling dust into the air.

The enormous body shot toward the sky at an incredible speed, shrinking to a small black dot on the horizon in the blink of an eye.

On the ground, Ainoya’s tears finally fell as she leaned on Latour’s shoulder.

Latour put his arm around his wife, his gaze deep as he looked in the direction his son had disappeared.

Vincent puffed out his chest, feeling a newfound sense of confidence.

Lillian stood on her tiptoes, watching until she could no longer see the figures of her brother and Gaga.