Chapter 52

FANSiA Originals and KakaoPage

I Became the Genius Bastard of a Noble Dark Clan

[Author/Original: Yuin]

[TL: Dekor]

[PR: Spades]

Episode 52

—————————

One small mercy: the beasts' agility was relatively low.

Beast grades considered overall ability. These were strong but sluggish compared to other 4th-grade beasts, making evasion feasible if deliberate.

Barely dodging, though—one mistake meant a fatal wound.

'He's dodging well.'

Christian's movements appeared in the crystal orb.

Nimble, barely evading.

[His talent shines. His movements are unlike others.]

Nordian's voice held slight admiration.

[But too clever. He predicts the beasts' moves perfectly. He needs to be pushed to the brink to feel the Dark Mana Essence's essence.]

Nordian's goal was singular.

Before formal teaching, he wanted Christian to experience the Dark Mana Essence's essence in extreme conditions.

Feeling it before mastering the Dark Mana Arts was a treasure.

'Dark Mana Essence is immense. Fully grasping and wielding its essence could defeat those beasts.'

A high-level technique.

Most clan members never grasped it.

Nordian set this task to lay the foundation for that path.

'But like this, he won't feel the essence…'

As he thought disapprovingly, the unthinkable happened.

Boom!

A Twin-Head Bear collapsed.

"!!"

[?!]

Merian and Nordian's eyes widened.

Sudden.

"Did you intervene, Patriarch?"

[No.]

"Then why?"

Nordian couldn't answer.

He stared at the orb, disbelieving.

'Just now…? No, impossible.'

Before collapsing, Christian's hand lightly touched the bear's back.

Not an attack, a mere touch.

Yet it fell.

Nordian knew one technique causing such an effect.

Absurd.

A novice, not yet versed in the Dark Mana Arts, couldn't do that.

But then.

Boom!

Another roar.

The second bear fell.

Silence.

Merian recognized it.

"Patriarch… was that?"

[....]

Silent, Nordian didn't answer. Simon, quiet till now, smiled.

"Like the Patriarch's favored technique, 'Dark Oblivion,' wasn't it?"

"…"

Impossible.

But Nordian saw it—Christian used 'Dark Oblivion.'

Told to feel the essence, Christian skipped dozens of steps, wielding a high-level technique!

The shock didn't end.

Merian, forgetting Nordian's presence, blurted out.

"…Insane?"

---

'As expected of the Patriarch. A masterful lesson.'

Christian marveled inwardly.

Initially, facing formidable beasts, he was puzzled.

Why this task?

It seemed only dangerous.

But no.

Nordian, the clan's mightiest, set the perfect task.

'Use Dark Mana Essence to defeat them!'

Not the task's intent.

But Christian misunderstood.

It seemed possible.

'I have one advantage: Dark Mana Essence.'

He had to weaponize it.

That was the task's answer.

…Not at all, but Christian, misinterpreting, found his own solution.

'Dark Mana Essence's nature is perfect darkness and domination.'

Nordian didn't know Christian already fully grasped the essence.

Not intellectually.

Absorbing 100% Sacred Darkness ingrained it instinctively.

'Darkness and domination. How to weaponize it?'

The answer came quickly.

Beasts held darkness too.

He had to subdue it.

'Not easy. But possible against these.'

He admired Nordian's 'consideration.'

The beasts had immense strength and defense but low agility and mana resistance.

Meant to physically push Christian, they were ideal for testing Dark Mana Essence.

At first, it didn't work.

He couldn't grasp how to dominate their mana.

No one taught him.

But he found a thread alone.

'Release the Dark Mana Essence momentarily. Let it run wild.'

Dark Mana Essence naturally sought to dominate other mana.

Controlling that domination artificially failed.

So?

Release control briefly.

Let it rampage.

But not unchecked.

If too wild, the target's mana resisted, disrupting domination.

The moment it dominated, he had to regain control, directing the target's mana.

A tightrope act.

After tries, he got the knack.

'No need to dominate their entire core. Just the mana to vital organs.'

Like the heart. Or brain.

Briefly halting an organ's function.

A small amount could fell them.

As predicted, the bear lost consciousness and collapsed.

'Perfect Dark Mana Essence training!'

Christian was impressed.

Hard to use on mages, who wouldn't stand still.

But against sluggish, low-resistance beasts, it was potent.

Above all, ideal for training.

'As expected, the Patriarch designed this to train Dark Mana Essence. Next, the Rock Lizard.'

Its stone skin was near impervious to physical or magical attacks.

'Defeat it with Dark Mana Essence. How?'

Controlling vital mana wouldn't work.

Unlike the bear, its organs differed.

Three stone hearts, hard to stop.

'Then.'

His eyes gleamed.

He slipped into the lizard's blind spot.

An unbelievable scene unfolded.

---

"...."

[....]

Merian and Nordian were silent.

'Am I seeing this right?'

Merian thought, incredulous.

Nordian was speechless, but his thoughts were clear.

The impossible was happening.

Simon, shrugging, spoke gleefully.

"Ho? An advanced version? Not just halting an organ but disrupting mana flow for widespread damage."

Christian did this:

He 'stopped' the mana in the lizard's blood channels.

How?

Even Dark Mana Essence couldn't dominate all mana flow.

Christian briefly dominated segments, 'cutting' the flow.

Like stopping random carriages in a convoy.

Few stopped.

But he cleverly disrupted the sequence.

The front's chaos spread to the rear.

The entire mana flow shut down.

"…Merian, did you teach him?"

"No."

"Of course. That's not learned."

Fresh Dark Mana Essence was hard to wield.

Hence the Dark Mana Arts.

What was this?

'Like moving his limbs.'

Merian swallowed.

Christian's madness evolved.

More beasts appeared, as Nordian planned, but Christian gleefully felled them, practicing.

Faster, more efficient each time.

"Does he even need the Dark Mana Arts?"

The arts aided wielding Dark Mana Essence.

Simon grinned.

"He's already better."

"…"

Silence.

Christian's beast-felling glee filled the orb.

After a long pause, Nordian spoke slowly.

[The task is over.]

Darkness enveloped Christian, summoning him back.

Dazed, he bowed to Nordian.

"Thank you for the excellent task, Patriarch. I gained a small achievement."

Nordian's expression was… odd.

Like seeing something bizarre.

Merian understood.

Her face was likely similar.

A clan heir's brilliance should delight, but… too brilliant? It was bewildering.

'I nearly died in that task.'

Christian tilted his head at their reactions. Only Simon stifled laughter.

"Patriarch?"

[Yes. I saw. You… did better than expected.]

"Your task made it possible."

Nordian fell silent.

Told to face extremes, his grandson toyed with beasts. What to say?

Even young Nordian couldn't replicate it.

'A true genius.'

Nordian accepted it.

His reckless grandson's talent exceeded expectations.

His heart raced.

How long had he awaited such blood?

His children, grandchildren—all fell short.

He'd given up hope.

But this talent might fulfill his 'lifelong wish.'

Yet.

He hardened his face.

'Just the first step.'