Kim Lee refused to back down.
Gritting his teeth, he gathered mana from the air, forcing it into his body. A surge of power coursed through him, and with a final push, he shattered the invisible grip holding him in place. His breath was ragged, sweat dripped down his face, and a wave of nausea threatened to consume him—but he remained standing.
This... was nothing.
His brother had only been toying with him.
Compared to the true strength Kris possessed, this was merely a taste—a warning.
"Sit."
A single word. Calm. Commanding. Absolute.
Kris Virell was unlike the rest of their family. His crimson-red hair burned like fire, his golden eyes gleamed with untamed power. He was the only one who had inherited the pure bloodline—the true heir of the Virell name.
And despite being only thirteen, he carried the blessing of the Dragon God.
Born to rule. Born to dominate.
Lee swallowed hard.
This was the difference between them.
So... brother, what brings you here?
As Lee took his seat at the table with the rest of the family, his gaze flickered toward the Countess—Donna von Virell.
She was a striking woman, her crimson hair cascading down her shoulders like flowing embers. But it was her eyes—piercing blue, sharp as a blade—that truly unsettled even the most composed warriors.
Beside her sat his younger sister, barely nine years old. Despite her age, she was already an exceptional swordsman, a prodigy in her own right.
A child of talent. A mother of power.
And Lee, the bastard son, was the outlier among them all.
Lee knew he stood no chance—not yet. His lack of general knowledge about magic made him powerless in this household of monstrous talents.
But there was a place where he could change that. The Academy—a place where he could study, grow, and truly understand the power he now possessed.
Yet, to even step foot inside, he needed a letter of recommendation. And in this family, such a thing would never be granted through mere words.
His gaze shifted toward his younger sister before settling on Kris. Taking a deep breath, he made his move.
"If I were to defeat Ron in a duel," Lee said, his voice steady, "would you write me a letter of recommendation, Kris?"
The room fell silent for a heartbeat. Then—
Laughter.
Loud, unrestrained, merciless laughter.
Kris clutched his stomach, tears forming in the corners of his golden eyes, as if Lee had just told the greatest joke in the world.
"IF YOU EVEN MANAGE TO SCRATCH HIM, I'LL GIVE YOU WHATEVER YOU WANT, BIG BROTHER!" Kris howled.
Lee seized the opportunity without hesitation.
"I accept," he declared, his voice unwavering.
Kris's laughter faded, replaced by an amused smirk. Leaning forward, his golden eyes gleamed with sadistic delight.
"Then let me make this more interesting," Kris said, his voice dripping with cruelty. "If you lose…"
The air grew heavy, suffocating.
"I won't just be disappointed in this 'new Kaelen' you're trying so hard to be." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "I'll personally crush your heart… and laugh while you die."
A chill ran down Lee's spine.
Kris wasn't joking.
Standing up from his seat, Kris shot Lee one last look, a grin playing on his lips.
"Don't disappoint me, big brother," he said, his tone laced with mocking amusement.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode away, his crimson hair swaying with each step.
The Countess, Donna von Virell, rose as well, her piercing blue eyes lingering on Lee for a moment before she followed her son.
Their little sister, barely nine years old yet already a formidable swordsman, hesitated for just a second. Then, without a word, she too trailed behind them, leaving Lee alone in the heavy silence of the dining hall.
Alone in the dining hall, Lee smirked to himself.
Finally, a chance.
A chance to prove himself. A chance to get stronger. A chance… for revenge.
Two weeks passed since the duel was declared.
The anticipation had only grown stronger with each passing day.
And now, the day had arrived.
From a distance, four figures stood watching the duel grounds—three pairs of crimson-red eyes and one pair of gleaming gold. Their gazes locked onto the field where the battle was about to unfold.
Ron stood on the field, seething with rage.
How dare this weakling challenge him?
His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword as he channeled his aura into the blade. A shimmering force enveloped it—a manifestation of sheer power, one that only those who had attained the Fourth Circle could wield. To become one with the sword itself.
Lee, standing across from him, was nowhere near that level.
Two weeks of training had barely allowed him to step into the First Circle—the very foundation of magic. By all logic, this duel should have been impossible for him to win.
But Kaelen's body… was different.
A prodigy. A vessel of untapped potential. One that could refine mana to its purest form—if only Lee could unlock it.