Two groups of people sat on their seats against each other inside one of the Claus household’s meetings rooms. Baron Claus Stein was on one side, while Andrey Claus. The tense atmosphere was between them while the room was silent. Only veins twitched on Andrey’s face and he could barely hold his anger while Baron and his people threw disdainful glances at the so-called relative.

“Why? Don’t you understand the household will fall without an heir?” asked Andrey, an angered glance at the calm man in front of him.

His words only made the Baron smirk while Stein threw a mocking glance at the person in front of them. Though this person’s demands were excessive, he was still the distant relative of their Lord. Hence, he said nothing and just looked at him with contempt. This so-called “relative” dared to ask for the position of the heir and even dared to put conditions to the man in front of him. A glance was enough for him to see through this man and his nature. This man failed in every aspect possible and even made a grave mistake by revealing his close relations with the Melor household.

“That’s right. An heir is a must for the household. But, you aren’t worthy, my younger cousin,” said Baron Claus as he calmly replied and looked right into the eyes of the man in front of him.

Andrey already wanted to say something when Baron raised his hand, forcing Andrey to shut up with his force before turning at Stein.

“Let’s look at the son of this dog’s master. I am quite curious to see what type of person the small Brunne has become,” said Baron, nodding to Stein who left the room and returned with two more people moments later. It was a muscular man who looked familiar because of the certain cunning aura around him and the beauty of long black hair.

“Greetings, Baron Claus,” said Brunne Melor as he approached the Andrey and saluted while the woman blushed and bowed before following the young man who sat next to her husband.

Baron Claus spent a moment looking at these guests before releasing a bitter sigh moments later. Of course, such an experienced man saw through the true nature of the woman and realized how pathetic his distant relative was. Even his wife disregarded him. He could only take pity for another Claus household at the north. No wonder, once close and strong family, tied to his father and grandfather became so weak. Degeneration of the decedents was one of the biggest problems of all ancient noble households. But, he as the Lord knew the real situation his family was in, and just couldn’t waste his time pitying the past glory of his ancestors. Hence, he moved his glance right at the smiling Brunne Melor.

“Why are you here?” asked Baron, moving right to the core. His old opponent, fox, Count Melor, wanted to tell him something. Hence, he closely looked at the son of that fox.

“To negotiate, Baron Claus,” said Brunne Melor as he widened his smile before taking a letter from his artifact and giving it to the servant.

Baron Claus spent several moments reading through the letter the servant gave him. As soon as he finished, he shook his head and tore the letter to pieces, using his inner energy before looking at the smirking young man in front of him.

“Impossible. I don’t consider my situation disastrous. Your demands are too much,” said Baron with a calm voice while Brunne only widened his smirk.

“Are you sure, Baron? Right now, my father gives you a chance, but after this moment, your fate will become inevitable,” said the young man while Baron only kept looking at him with no reaction on his face.

“It’s a family matter. Melor household has no rights to interfere,” said Baron.

“I see,” said Brunne, before standing from his seat and throwing a glance at his opponent. “It’s a pity, Baron.”

As soon as the young man said those words, both Andrey and Sylvana stood up. The man threw an angered glance at the old man in front of him.

“Stubborn old man,” said Andrey while Sylvana only made a half-bow as she followed them.

Several moments later, only Stein and Baron Claus were left in that meeting room. Baron furrowed his brows while Stein continued to wait with the same slight smile on his lips.

“Looks like they are confident in themselves. What were the conditions?” asked Stein, returning Baron from his thoughts.

“They wanted my abdication and to give that man my place,” said Baron with a calm expression on his face.

“What else?” asked Stein, as if he was sure it wasn’t the full list of their conditions.

“Transfer of all-sky lizards and their taming manuals and secrets,” said Baron in a stern voice.

“I see. Now the war is inevitable,” said Stein as he released a sigh.

“Yes,” said Baron as he stood up from his seat. “But, we also have means to answer them.”

...

..

.

While the dark clouds have already started gathering above the Claus household, there was a boy with blue eyes who was now gasping for air. Once again, he threw several basic alchemy pills he bought in the Small Treasury before raising his wooden sword. A moment later, a thin layer of inner energy appeared on the blade before Nero made a thrust and fell to the ground.

‘Doggone! Another failure.’

It was already his fifth hour since the start of the training. Both his body and inner energy depleted their resources. Pain, fatigue, and agony were all over his body. But each time, he wanted to give up, a certain scene of the elder boy who easily sliced the boulder in half flashed through his eyes and he stood up, throwing a few more basic alchemy pills into his mouth.

‘Again.’

A short time later, he once again started training and sending his energy buds into his arms and sword. A thin line of blue energy appeared moments later, as Nero continued to send more and more energy towards his goal. Though his source cried in agony and he felt huge fatigue, Nero bitted his lips and continued. He knew there will be no result without blood and sweat. Hence, he gathered all his will and continued training.

‘Failure.’

‘Again.’

‘More.’

In such a manner, Nero spent the next three hours gathering his energy buds on his wooden sword and making a thrust. He was like a puppet, moving and repeating, paying no attention to anything else. Only during his third hour, after he swallowed hundreds of basic pills and depleted most of his pills reserves. He finally made it. A thin line of blue energy covered his sword and didn’t disperse when he made a thrust.

Nero could only smile, satisfied with his efforts before he felt how strength left his body and how his legs were wobbling. A moment later, Nero fell to the ground as his world blackened. The huge strain on his body, fatigue, and energy depletion finally affected him.

But, while Nero fell unconscious, he didn’t feel that huge pain appeared in his source and certain reactions started happening inside his source. It was his breakthrough, the breakthrough to the third rank.

...

..

.

Clara and lady Elora walked through the manor. It was an ordinary day, nothing unusual, and now the maid and an instructor were looking for Nero to remind him about the dinner. It was the first time Nero missed it, which was unusual for the boy who always came beforehand. Hence, she and lady Elora hurried to the training ground when they checked all places in the manor.

As soon as they stepped into the training ground, their faces paled when they saw Nero’s body, laying on the snow. Without wasting a moment, both Clara and Elora circulated their inner energy and jumped in Nero’s direction.

Soon, and the boy was already in Clara’s hands who was checking his condition with her inner energy. Both Clara and Elora furrowed their brows a moment later when they realized what happened and sensed a strong smell of basic alchemy pills coming from the Nero.

Of course, they could tell what happened thanks to their vast experience on the martial arts path. Nero overextended both his body and energy source mercilessly. He trained like a madman and swallowed so many pills which couldn’t harm him but could increase his fatigue, which resulted in this bad situation right now when he started his breakthrough unconscious.

Though there were few risks in such breakthroughs at the beginning of the martial arts path, both women exchanged glances with worry because there was always a chance of an accident.

“We should bring him to the meditation room. No accidents will happen with our, Young Master there,” said Clara as she took Nero into her hands while Elora nodded.

“Alright. You bring him there, while I will go prepare his chambers. He will be very exhausted when he wakes up and will need care,” said lady Elora.

Soon, after Clara and lady Elora nodded to each other, both women rushed in different directions.

...

..

.

While a certain scene happened at the training ground when Clara and lady Elora found Nero and brought him to the meditation room, nothing happened inside the dark void. The mysterious figure just continued to look upward with a big smirk on his face.

This dark figure knew, felt, and heard everything that was happening with Nero right now. Of course, he knew about his breakthrough and the potential spoils the boy could miss right now. Though he saw everything that happened to him and his hard training, there was no pity in his black eyes. Only a contempt was there.

“Weakling,” said the dark figure before he raised his arm from the throne. A moment and a laying figure of the boy appeared inside that dark void. It wasn’t physical and looked ethereal. The dark figure only narrowed his black eyes and looked at Nero.

“Though you are so pathetic. You still deserve to get the spoils of your hard work,” said the dark figure as he pointed at Nero.

“Wake up, weakling!” said the voice, and moments later something strong hit his body.

...

..

.

As soon as Nero opened his eyes, he coughed a portion of his blood right into the green grass on which he sat. It took only a moment for Nero to realize where he was and what was happening with him when he felt a familiar pain and agony coming from his energy source. He was in the middle of the breakthrough to the third rank, and there were only moments left before when he could strengthen his veins.

Though he still felt pain, fatigue, and agony, Nero gritted his teeth, and focused his attention on his source, waiting for the start of the procedure when it will be possible to continue his Strengthening of Veins.

Soon, when a plethora of energy buds stormed through his source, Nero started controlling one bud after another before sending them into different directions. Everywhere his inner energy passed, his body became slightly stronger. Though, he still couldn’t control the whole tide of the energy buds. He could control more energy than before and focused on his right arm. When he finished his breakthrough and finally became a third rank squire, his arm, which he used for his sword, became stronger than before. His energy reserves increased, his body got stronger, and he made another small step towards his goal.

Satisfied, Nero opened his eyes when he finally realized his condition. There was a certain liquid all over his body. Nero only noticed something red below him on the grass when he felt something coming to his throat before the world once again darkened and he coughed another portion of his blood.

While he slowly lost his consciousness, he felt how someone caught and called him. Nero could only look at how his world darkened while the woman quickly took a certain pill from her artifact and made Nero swallow it.