Chapter 71: I object!

Yes... I decided to throw everything I had, including Commandment of Sloth, into my Beast Form skill. This was to stop the rumors that my Legacy skill was flawed, making me more than qualified to be an heir.

Additionally, there is no way the council members could prove that the Commandment of Sloth is a martial art and not part of my Beast Form skill.

Since I couldn't directly disclose having a legendary martial art due to the oaths of Jor, this was the best way for me to use the Commandment of Sloth in this succession war without exposing myself to unnecessary troubles.

Seeing how the aura around the council members changed, whether they were on my side or not, I smiled confidently. It seemed things were going in my favor.

But it appeared there were still more questions, bringing me back to reality.

"Explain in detail," Alexander spoke this time.

I closed my eyes and activated the Commandment of Sloth without using the sword. This reduced the overall effect to only 10%, but I had a good excuse for that.

"Is that all?" Alexander asked as he felt the drowsiness in his mind, as did the other council members.

They were all able to resist the effect easily, but they exposed themselves to it deliberately.

"This is just 10%, more would require a complete transformation, along with additional skills attached." I threw all my excuses at them at once.

"Mental resistance, the ability to mentally influence, plus other active skills assumed to be of the same quality. This seems like a perfectly healthy Beast Form to me." Alexander looked at Loana with disdain and disgust while speaking. Milena did the same, though less noticeably.

This was exactly what I wanted, internal conflict in Darian's faction!

Loana frowned as she faced Alexander's gaze but did not try to explain herself. There would be time for that later.

He ignored her afterward and continued questioning me.

***

=+=

Time passed quickly, and Milena removed the isolating barrier after a short while, allowing the rest of the family members to hear my story.

"So, you survived in the Mountain of Fog for two months, then got involved with the Puppets Society. You contributed to the liberation mission with a witness present. Then you traveled west with this person behind you?" Alexander spoke loudly, confirming my story.

"Yes!" I nodded immediately.

"It seems to me that his delay wasn't out of carelessness," Lionel spoke with a smile, his face showing signs of shock.

"I agree," Alios said, his face looking much the same, clearly surprised by my story.

Milena looked at Loana for a moment, then at me. "I see you deserve another chance." Loana's grip on the armrest of her chair tightened when she heard what Milena said.

'Internal conflict in the rival faction... what a sight.' I smiled inwardly.

The reasons for Milena joining Darian's faction were many:

First, the incomplete state of my Beast Form, which they just now believed to be false. This made Milena think Loana was lying.

Second, my lack of mana, indicating my weakness. But my survival for two months in the Mountain of Fog and four months in the Puppets Society proved otherwise.

Third, my isolation and lack of experience. This problem was solved as soon as I left the palace.

She no longer had any reason to be against me; her opinion of Loana might even have worsened.

"For whatever reason, the delay still signifies weakness and irresponsibility!" Some remained on Darian's side for personal reasons... They wouldn't change their side just because I proved myself.

"You still lack mana; how will you reach the SS- rank in the future when you can't even form binding contracts?" The arguments continued.

The result: 3 in my favor, 3 against me.

One person was neutral, Alexander!

"Since the result is a tie..." Alexander suddenly stood up and stopped suppressing his mana.

"Darian StarHold will remain king. No need for anymore meetings. Any objections?" His voice spread throughout the hall, causing everyone to lower their heads.

Even Milena and Lionel near him didn't dare to look at him.

Alios, who had been critical of Milena a moment ago, lowered his head as if tamed.

As for Loana, she looked as if she had seen paradise, a broad smile she couldn't resist. My anger grew with every second I watched her.

In that moment, memories of the past seven months and all I had suffered flashed through my mind, and I heard the sound of imaginary glass shattering. I didn't know if it was an illusion or due to the shock I felt now, but I didn't care.

"I object!" I gritted my teeth and raised my head, meeting Alexander's gaze directly.

His aura intensified around me, growing hundreds of times stronger, causing me immense pain. I gritted my teeth as I bled from my nose and eyes, but it was nothing compared to...

I remembered the pain when my muscles were reshaped.

When I abstained from sleep for two months, when my mind was broken, the humiliation of becoming a slave, the pain of lightning strikes on my body...

The pains of falling and being beaten, broken bones, burns on my skin, illogical conditions...

I was just an ordinary person who had never experienced true pain in his life and had forced myself to endure a lot in a short period just to get a chance at inheriting this family.

And with one word from one man, it all became worthless.

"What did you say?" Alexander asked as if he couldn't believe my objection.

"I object! In these neutral cases, we must hold a fair trial free from personal biases!" I gritted my teeth and took a step forward.

Only five meters had separated us from the start. With each step I took, the pressure and pain doubled.

The gazes of the people around me intensified, and I could hear some of their disbelieving words, but I didn't care about them at all, complete nonsense!

"For many years, you denied me all opportunities to develop, yet I continued to grow, continued to make a difference in the world..." I stepped onto the platform.

The frustration I felt was beyond this world, everything I had done, the pain, the rush that ruined a lot... All the pains and sufferings I endured to get here on time, all for nothing!

And without the support of this family, how would I defeat that demon... and return to my family?

Only three meters now separated me from Alexander's seat. The skin on my face began to peel from the intense pressure.

Although he wasn't directly targeting me with his pressure, it was extremely painful, and resisting it made me want to give up every moment.

"You isolated me from society, refused to send me to learn and improve myself... You denied treating me as the rightful heir for foolish and purely personal reasons, and when I didn't become what you wanted, you cast me aside. And when I made a change myself..."

I felt my eyes turn red with anger, or maybe it was from the intense pressure on them. Everything in my body hurt, but it was incomparable to what I felt.

"You cast me aside again!"

'Return to destroy the Puppets Society, becoming a Prodigy, heal Elara, win the war, return home...' I began to think about the things I would do after claiming the family's throne.

Suddenly, I started to grow taller, and my short hair grew long.

A pair of horns emerged, and my eyes turned yellow. My nails grew longer and harder, resembling claws. I used my Legacy skill unconsciously due to the pressure, and it helped me a little.

Since it allows me to use 100% of my strength, it made it easier for me to advance.

I placed my hand on the table and lowered my head to meet Alexander's seated gaze. His calm expression had changed significantly. "I demand a trial of succession, based on laws that go back hundreds of years. This is my right." My appearance now, with my face peeling and my clothes dirty, certainly didn't look as noble as I wanted.

I could see the bloody cracks beneath my skin on my hand, burning continuously. But something strange happened... When Alexander looked at my horns, or rather between them, his expression changed dramatically.

He stood up immediately and, with a laugh, said, "Very well then!!"

'F*ck you!'