Ellinor.

A world of magic, famous for its diverse races.

A utopia for the strongest and a nightmare for the weak.

It is a world where only the strong thrive.

A cursed place from which no one can escape.

In this world, talented magicians and brave fighters showcase their strength to become rulers of their tribes.

As the first rule states, anyone with talent and ambition can become the sole king by defeating the existing ruler.

Various rules are in place to encourage people to strive for power. The sole reason behind this: only the strong survive and are respected in this competitive world.

And today is no different.

Glumund, the capital of Lora, a country ruled by the strongest person in all of Ellinor.

An elf, alive for hundreds of years.

A demi-god level magician who has created his own realm with his famous magic: Creation!

Today is a special day, as the ruler of this world will engage in his 500th battle to defend his position.

The challenger is a heartless young demon from the Barren Continent, who has defeated, or rather half-killed, every opponent until now. He cannot conjure a single low-tier spell and has been abandoned by his kind and forsaken by magic itself. Yet, he grew up alone in unfamiliar lands, and after years of struggle, he has acquired formidable strength. Now, he stands his ground against the strongest person in the world, by all rights!

Dragons, demons, humans, dwarfs, beasts, and many other races have come to represent their tribes. However, the real reason is to witness the impeding epic fight firsthand. Not only these representatives but every single person in the world will be able to witness this battle through the use of magic screens. Created by dwarves, these screens are employed to broadcast tournaments and top-class battles throughout the entire world.

Glumund, while known as the capital, is actually a spell cast by Seffire Highborn, the ruler of Ellinor.

The entire capital is a massive world tree, reaching hundreds of kilometers in height. Its millions of enormous branches dangle and spread across dozens of kilometers both in the air and on the ground. The tree seems as though it belongs to another realm, appearing more as a creation of imagination. A thick stream of magic flows naturally within the affected area, and various mana-born creatures thrive inside this unique habitat.

This is why, among all the past rulers, Seffire is considered the greatest and most capable Magician ever born.

And to witness a genius of such caliber in battle, everyone in Ellinor has been waiting patiently for a long time.

DonG! DonGG!!

As the afternoon begins, the time for the main battle has finally arrived.

The stage has been set.

It is right above the world tree, surrounded by infinite clouds.

The only other people present besides the challenger and the ruler are the representatives, seated at a considerable distance from the stage but still able to observe the battle. These representatives are chosen fighters and powerhouses who serve the ruler. This moment of anticipation will determine whether they will witness the birth of a new liege.

On the stage, two figures stand facing each other, both radiating pride.

One of them wears a simple black robe, tied loosely, with long, unkempt silver hair. He carries no weapon. His face is pale and dark, with crimson-hued eyes. The most striking feature, however, is the two massive black antlers protruding from his head, each sharp and mesmerizing in appearance.

This man is the challenger, hailing from the demon race: Xypharos Nyxiel.

The elegant man facing Xypharos is dressed in royal clothing adorned with gold and platinum linings. He wears a magnificent crown atop his head and holds a simple yet intricate wand. His emerald hair and golden eyes, along with long, pointed ears, make him easily recognizable.

There is no doubt about his identity: he is Seffire Highborn, the current ruler and the strongest magician in Ellinor's history.

As Seffire gazes at his opponent, he smiles genuinely and suggests, "There is no need to stretch this battle. How about this: we'll decide the winner in a single move. The one who survives will be the ruler," he adds playfully, blinking his eye, "Don't you agree?"

Xypharos remains silent, nodding in response. He has defeated every opponent in a single move, so there is no need for further discussion—he intends to do the same from the start.

For the strong, a prolonged battle isn't necessary; one move is enough to determine who is superior.

Seeing Xypharos' response, Seffire chuckles and remarks, "Not much of a talker, are we?" He grips his wand tightly, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Despite his confidence, he's been feeling a sense of unease about his opponent, something he's never experienced before. There is something different about this person—his aura, his state of mind, his lack of interest, and, most of all, his calm demeanor in such a high-stakes situation. This unusual presence makes Seffire cautious, realizing that this battle may not be as straightforward as he initially thought.

The move this demon used in his previous battles has never been fully understood by others. He simply stands in place, and his opponents are suddenly torn apart, as if attacked by sharp wind blades. This happens every time, with some opponents miraculously surviving but most perishing on the spot.

This earned him the nickname: Malicious Demon.

Even Seffire feels a bit nervous facing him.

I'll use my most lethal magic in an instant...

I can't give him a chance to attack. Who knows what other tricks he has up his sleeve, he thinks.

The uncertainty surrounding Xypharos's abilities adds to Seffire's tension, knowing that underestimating his opponent could be a fatal mistake.

The next moment, as both participants are ready, a huge crystal appears in the sky.

"The official battle for the position of ruler starts in 10... 9... 8..." a deep, monotonous voice echoes.

This crystal is another useful magic item created by the dwarves, known for its commentary feature.

Xypharos calmly looks at the crystal but doesn't find it appealing. He simply stands in his usual fearless stance, waiting for the countdown to finish.

On the other hand, Seffire grips his wand even more tightly, channeling his intense focus in preparation for the impending battle.

"3...

2..."

With just one second remaining, everyone in Ellinor watching this moment holds their breath, forgetting to blink.

Even the representatives feel a thrill unlike any they've experienced before, heightened by the mounting anticipation.

"1..."

As the countdown reaches its final moment, Seffire closes his eyes and exhales deeply, steeling himself for what is to come.

"Fight!!!!"

The moment arrives.

As soon as Seffire hears the voice, "Fight!" he instantly channels his abundant magic power to cast his strongest and most lethal spell. "Void Extinction!" he cries, as a massive black orb of nothingness manifests in front of his wand and, in the next moment, charges toward Xypharos at an absurdly fast pace.

This spell is the epitome of his Creation!

Unlike creation, which brings things into existence, this spell negates existence itself. Whether animate or inanimate, it will erase or destroy the fate of anything it touches, removing it from the surface of Ellinor.

Seeing this spell, everyone inhales sharply, preparing to witness something extraordinary. Indeed, a fight between the world's strongest should baffle and amaze the viewers.

Yet, what happens next is shrouded in mystery.

To everyone's astonishment, Xypharos casually points his finger forward, and Seffire's so-called strongest spell suddenly disappears. "How weak," a sigh resonates in Seffire's ears. Shocked, he tilts his head slightly to gaze at his opponent. What he sees causes him to shudder like a mouse under the gaze of a hunting cat.

The demon, Xypharos, stares back at him with crimson eyes, an obvious look of disappointment plastered on his pale face. His hand still points in Seffire's direction as he utters a few words, "What a letdown..."

"..."

Silence.

The entire realm of Ellinor falls into stunned silence. No one can fathom how this demon openly disrespected the ruler of Ellinor in front of everyone!

Nonetheless, the fight hasn't ended yet, or so everyone believes.

Both combatants are still alive and uninjured, so the spectators expect Xypharos to face consequences for his insolence.

Or so they thought.

In the next moment, they find Xypharos standing alone on the stage. There is no sign of Seffire whatsoever. However, one particular thing does not go unnoticed: a crimson paste remains on the stage where Seffire once stood.

Seffire Highborn, the 368th ruler of Ellinor, is dead.

Everyone has the same thought at that moment.

It is the birth of a new King! One much more powerful and completely opposite to Seffire.

Yet, before the representatives of various tribes can congratulate the new ruler, Xypharos points his sword-like fingers to his head, and in the next instant, his head is gone.

"Wh-what!!!?"

No one can believe what has just happened!

The new ruler, the 369th king of Ellinor, Xypharos Nyxiel, famous for his nickname Malicious Demon, has killed himself???