The Ancient Imperial Calendar, Year 1820
When Ricardo entered the throne room, all eyes instantly turned toward him.
Ignoring the piercing gazes that felt as if they would slice through his body like knives, Ricardo advanced.
A few steps from the throne where his father sat, he bent one knee and knelt.
He bowed his head, offering his respects.
"As the Heir of the Kislavein House, Ricardo Kislavein, I offer my respects to the 65th Lord of the Kislavein House, Orsman Kislavein IV."
Orsman raised a hand. Seeing the signal, Ricardo stood up and looked directly into his father's eyes.
"For your intense work and achievements in the reconstruction of the Eastern Lands, you have been deemed worthy of a great reward, my son. Now, tell me what you desire."
Ricardo took one last mental review of what he was about to do and say, then took a deep breath.
Gathering all his courage, he spoke without a trace of fear or trembling in his voice.
"House Lord Orsman Kislavein IV, I, your son and Heir, Ricardo Kislavein, hereby challenge you to a duel for the throne."
The hall froze as if turned to ice. No one could move, not even blink.
Everyone waited in fear and curiosity for the reaction of Orsman, seated on the Blood Throne.
Some thought Ricardo would be killed immediately, while others believed he would face the severest punishments. However, Orsman's reaction was different than expected.
Orsman asked with a cold expression.
"Are you certain, my son?"
Ricardo answered confidently and without hesitation.
"Yes."
Orsman furrowed his brows and spoke in an angry voice.
"You could die."
Ricardo answered with a mocking laugh and tone.
"That applies to you as well."
Orsman stood up and descended the steps while continuing his questions.
"Was this necessary? After I die, this throne will be yours anyway."
Ricardo furrowed his brows and spoke in an angry voice.
"I know. But I am not in a state to wait for your death. I want this Throne and this House. Either you abdicate, or I will kill you and take that throne with blood—just as you took it, House Lord."
Orsman grew angry. He unleashed his killing intent and all his power.
The intensity of the pressure he released forced everyone except Ricardo to their knees.
Ricardo felt the pressure, but he had become strong enough not to be crushed under it.
"Allow me, dear father, to show you how much I have strengthened."
Ricardo unleashed his own power and killing intent, creating pressure equal to Orsman's.
"Hahahaha! Your power is equal to mine, my son. So your claim to the throne and your threats aren't baseless. Very well, I accept your duel challenge."
When father and son withdrew the pressure they had released, half the hall had fainted, and the remaining half were struggling not to faint.
"I have a question for you, my son. Why now? Why didn't you wait a few more years? With your growth rate, if you had challenged me a few years later, you would have become stronger than me and could have easily overthrown me. Why such haste? Is there a reason?"
Ricardo answered.
"First, there is no longer a suitable environment for my growth. All the Ancient Houses have been weakened as a result of consecutive wars. It's impossible for a new war to occur within the next ten years, which will negatively affect my development. Second, you will also grow stronger."
Orsman interrupted Ricardo.
"Even if I grow stronger, I am considered to have reached my full potential. You, however, have a long way to go to reach your full potential. You possess a potential so vast it's almost limitless."
The reason Ricardo had limitless potential was because he was descended from the Soul King, Runanheimr. But no one except Ricardo would ever know this truth.
"True, but that reason isn't as important as the first one. The third and main reason is that the battle I will have with you will be so difficult that it will bring me to the brink of death and force me to expend all my power. This battle will make me several times stronger than I am now. It will transform me into someone so powerful that I could single-handedly destroy massive armies of hundreds of thousands—no one in the world could match me."
"Now you have become a true Kislavein. To live and kill for power is our way. Very well, my son. I, Orsman Kislavein IV, the 65th House Lord of the Kislavein House, accept your duel challenge."
And at that moment, the duel between father and son for the throne began.
This duel would be so spectacular and epic that future generations and historians would give it this name:
The Battle of the Titans