"Father, isn’t the opponent just an ordinary person? Is this really appropriate?" After glancing at me, Aifei turned toward Aide on the throne with a trace of confusion.

"You may test him. This young man shows courage—give him a slight lesson."

"I understand." Aifei stepped before me, drew her golden-hilted longsword, and a fiercely radiant golden light began swirling above the blade. The surrounding space trembled incessantly.

Not bad at all.

Watching her, I felt a flicker of admiration. In this era where magic was relatively undeveloped, talents like Aifei were rare—nearly on par with junior members of my elite Long Squad.

"Hey, interested in becoming my sword attendant?" Struck by her potential, I asked the girl before me without hesitation.

"Not interested. But don’t worry—I’ll use only one ten-thousandth of my power. It’s for your sake. If you become the prince’s escort guard, you’d die on the road." Aifei barely registered my words; she thought I was bluffing.

"You’re right. I haven’t shown strength yet—you must think I’m joking. Fine." I raised a hand and slowly began recalling all the magic I’d dispersed across the entire Sradon Kingdom.

My magic hadn’t vanished. I’d scattered it to every corner of Sradon Kingdom, completely enveloping the land—I feared ordinary humans couldn’t withstand it.

Plainly put: the whole Sradon Kingdom lay beneath my magical domain. They lacked the capacity to perceive my true power. They simply weren’t strong enough.

But now was different. After finally meeting someone with such talent, I was determined to claim her. I’ve always valued gifted souls—a habit carried since that era: turning promising individuals into utterly loyal followers who answer only to me.

"Good heavens, what *is* this?!"

Panic erupted through the palace the moment they saw the change in my hands. A crushing, overwhelming magical force coalesced in this youth’s palms—and every person across Sradon Kingdom witnessed it. Merely seeing it brought a suffocating sensation; touching it was unimaginable. Even the kingdom’s strongest warriors grew flustered. This power dwarfed theirs beyond measure.

"Who *are* you? How do you wield such power?" Aide’s face paled. *Was this guy really playing dumb to catch the tiger? He had zero magic moments ago.*

"Thousand Flash Slashes!!!"

Aifei showed no panic. Ignoring her earlier claim of using one ten-thousandth power, she unleashed her full strength.

Shing! Shing! Shing~~

White slashes shot from her hands, streaking straight for my face.

Impressive nerve—not flinching at all. This girl is mine.

I smiled warmly, regarding Aifei like a daughter. In that moment, I’d already claimed her.

"Strong attack—but it won’t reach me." I raised my other hand directly into the slashes’ path.

Crack!!

With a light yet firm squeeze, the white slashes shattered into countless tiny magic particles, floating upward.

"Blade Waltz of Light."

Aifei halted, lightly touching a finger to her golden-hilted sword. Potent golden energy slowly coiled around the blade.

Shing! Shing! Shing!!!

She vanished. Golden afterimages streaked through the air, her speed tearing crisp sonic cracks from the atmosphere. Onlookers were utterly dazzled—no one could catch Aifei’s breathtaking figure.

Known as the "Sword Maiden of Light," she held the fastest speed in all of Sradon Kingdom.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Multiple afterimages of Aifei surrounded me, swords slashing relentlessly. One golden cut after another hurtled toward my body.