I looked at the Patriarch.
---
Confusion flickered across my face—
Then—
Annoyance.
---
"…Authority?"
---
My expression shifted.
---
Not respectful.
---
Not cautious.
---
But irritated.
---
As if I was looking at something beneath my concern.
---
That—
---
Was a mistake.
---
---
A faint ripple moved through the elders.
---
Subtle.
---
But noticeable.
---
And the Patriarch saw it.
---
---
A blue screen appeared before me.
---
> [Grand Elder Information]
Name: Vaelor
Age: 10 Cycles
Divine Realm: 9th Stage — Universal Sovereign (Beyond Peak)
Path: Mind & Spirit — Law Comprehender
Path: Soul — Realm Unifier
Laws: Inferno Domain (Lightning, Flame, Storm, Beast, Spirit, Soul) [Peak God-Tier]
Title: Patriarch
Bloodline Purity: 25%
---
My thoughts paused.
---
…This was supposed to be for enemies.
---
System?
---
> This function was always for you, Master.
You were simply too weak to use it properly before.
---
"…Hmph."
---
I ignored it.
---
And looked back up.
---
---
The Patriarch stepped forward.
---
Slow.
---
Measured.
---
But every step—
---
Felt like the ground itself was bowing.
---
His expression hardened.
---
Not anger alone—
---
But disappointment.
---
This child…
---
Too fast.
---
Too sharp.
---
Too early.
---
He had seen geniuses.
---
Monsters.
---
Prodigies.
---
But this—
---
Was different.
---
"Three cycles…"
He thought.
---
"That's how long it took us."
---
"My son… one and a half."
---
"And you…"
---
His eyes sharpened.
---
"…not even a fraction."
---
That kind of growth—
---
Was dangerous.
---
Not to others.
---
But to yourself.
---
Arrogance, unchecked—
---
Would destroy everything.
---
And as Patriarch—
---
He would not allow it.
---
---
He stopped in front of me.
---
Close.
---
Too close.
---
Our eyes met.
---
Blue—
---
Against black.
---
Lightning—
---
Against silence.
---
---
I didn't move.
---
Didn't bow.
---
Didn't flinch.
---
---
I don't like being looked down on.
---
That was the only thought in my mind.
---
---
The air grew heavy.
---
The elders watched.
---
Silent.
---
Conflicted.
---
If they intervened—
---
They would nurture my arrogance.
---
If they didn't—
---
I would be crushed.
---
---
Both outcomes were dangerous.
---
---
Only one elder smiled.
---
Solryn.
---
Watching.
---
Amused.
---
"…Interesting."
---
---
The Patriarch's aura ignited.
---
Blue lightning surged outward—
---
Like a storm unleashed.
---
The pressure exploded.
---
Spectators were thrown back.
---
Some slammed into walls.
---
Others collapsed instantly.
---
Even Caelion—
---
Slid backward—
---
Forced to release his own aura just to remain standing.
---
The elders?
---
Unmoved.
---
Like mountains.
---
---
And me—
---
At the center of it all—
---
Stood still.
---
Unaffected.
---
---
"…Why am I not reacting?"
---
My thoughts sharpened.
---
System.
---
---
> Bloodline influence.
---
> You are not forcing this.
This is your nature surfacing.
---
"…This isn't me."
---
> It is you.
Just not the version you recognize yet.
---
---
The Patriarch's aura intensified.
---
He focused it.
---
Compressed it.
---
Directed—
---
At me.
---
Alone.
---
---
The pressure multiplied.
---
Crushing.
---
Relentless.
---
---
Still—
---
I didn't move.
---
---
That was when—
---
His patience broke.
---
---
"ROOOAAARRRR—!!!"
---
A tiger's roar erupted—
---
Not sound—
---
But authority.
---
The ground trembled.
---
Lightning wrapped around him—
---
Forming armor.
---
His eyes burned completely blue.
---
Divinity—
---
Unleashed.
---
---
The entire arena shook.
---
Even space seemed unstable.
---
---
And yet—
---
I stepped forward.
---
---
One step.
---
---
Closing the distance.
---
---
Now—
---
Only centimeters separated us.
---
---
Gasps echoed from behind.
---
---
Even the elders' expressions shifted.
---
---
This child…
---
---
My gaze remained steady.
---
Cold.
---
Indifferent.
---
---
Like a beast—
---
That didn't recognize a predator.
---
---
The Patriarch's expression changed.
---
From anger—
---
To something darker.
---
---
"…You truly don't understand."
---
---
His power rose again.
---
Deeper.
---
More dangerous.
---
---
He was about to show me—
---
The difference between us.
---
---
Between sky—
---
And ground.
---
---
Between law—
---
And authority.
---
---
But before he could move—
---
A voice cut through everything.
---
---
"…Enough."
---
---
It wasn't loud.
---
It didn't need to be.
---
---
But the moment it sounded—
---
Everything stopped.
---
---
The lightning.
---
The pressure.
---
Even the air.
---
---
The Patriarch froze.
---
---
The elders turned.
---
---
Solryn stepped forward.
---
Still smiling.
---
---
"…That's far enough, Vaelor."
---
---
His eyes glinted.
---
Ancient.
---
Knowing.
---
---
"You're about to make a mistake."
---
---
Silence.
---
Heavy.
---
Absolute.
---
---
"For even among Sovereigns…"
---
He said softly—
---
"…hierarchy still exists."
---
---
His gaze shifted slightly—
---
From the Patriarch—
---
To me.
---
---
"…And this one…"
---
A faint pause.
---
---
"…is not as simple as you think."