Chapter 83

As the darkness fell away, a robed figure appeared, blue eyes glowing beneath a deep hood, their face obscured.

『I am Abraxas, Grand Duke of Cunning and Knowledge. Tell me—do you not crave greater magic? The power to bend reality with mere words? The strength to make entire armies kneel before you with a simple gesture? That is the magic you need!』

The Grand Duke of Schemes—Abraxas.

His offer was one of pure magical enhancement. Every spell would receive a permanent boost akin to dual-casting, and his mana reserves would expand to allow for endless devastation. For a pure mage, no other path could rival this.

『Violence, war, bloodshed… these fools know nothing beyond brute force. Why dirty your own hands when others can do your bidding?』

The purple shadow stepped forward next.

When her form was revealed, she appeared as a woman of transcendent beauty—an elegance that seemed almost otherworldly. Her fingers delicately played with strands of shimmering gemstone-like hair.

『I am Astarothe, mistress of temptation and desire. Would you not enjoy seeing all bow before you willingly? To have others tremble at your praise and willingly offer their lives with joy? That is the power I offer.』

The Grand Duchess of Desire—Astarothe.

Her gift was subtle but deadly: illusions and seduction magic. Though her spells lacked raw attack power, a skilled user could dismantle foes many times stronger through manipulation and deception. Outside of battle, her magic would also prove invaluable in governance and diplomacy.

『Fools. In the end, all power is meaningless if it does not bring victory.』

The final voice echoed coldly from the green shadow.

The darkness peeled away to reveal a skeletal figure, hollow eyes burning with emerald flames. A bony hand extended forward, as if offering death itself.

『I am Kereis, Grand Duke of Death and Decay. Are you not tired of tossing dice and hoping for favorable outcomes? Does the gamble of every battle not wear on your soul? I offer power that ensures absolute destruction—an inevitable end for your enemies.』

The Grand Duke of Curses—Kereis.

His power revolved around curses—complex conditions that, when triggered correctly, would annihilate any opponent with terrifying finality. Though difficult to use, a single successful curse could turn the tide of any battle.

『Now, choose! Whose blessing will you receive? Whose power do you desire?』

All four Grand Dukes stared at him with gleaming eyes, their earlier anger forgotten. Each was eager to be the one chosen.

Every offer had its strengths and weaknesses, but none were weak. Each would lead to overwhelming power in its own right.

Justin paused, pretending to consider his options. Then he grinned.

“All of them.”

『…What?』

“I want all of them,” he declared, staring at the stunned archdukes.

“I’ll accept every single one of your blessings—no exceptions. Give me everything you’ve got!”

『…You’re completely insane!』

A beat too late, Kargaron, the Grand Duke of Blood, exploded in a furious roar. Though the other Grand Dukes remained silent, their reactions suggested they shared his outrage.

『Do you truly believe that’s possible? That you can make such a ridiculous demand of us?!』

“I think it is,” Justin replied, calm and unflinching.

『What!?』

“I’m pretty sure there’s a title for someone blessed by all four of you—the Apostle of Eternity, isn’t it?”

At those words, Kargaron faltered, his rage silenced by shock.

It was Abraxas, the Grand Duke of Cunning, who recovered first, his voice cutting like a blade.

『How do you know about that?』

“Does it matter how I know?” Justin countered. “What matters is that the title exists.”

『No, it doesn’t matter if the title exists—what matters is that it’s impossible to obtain!』

Abraxas pointed a slender, accusing finger at him, though the gesture felt less like an accusation and more like a spear poised at his throat.

『If you know about the Apostle of Eternity, then you must also know the trials required to become one. Am I wrong?』

“Of course I know,” Justin said with a smirk. “Whoever seeks the title must pass the trials set by all three Dukes they didn’t initially choose.”

In the game World Breaker, some hidden classes only appeared after completing specific events—events so difficult that success was nearly impossible without perfect planning and, most importantly, luck.

Two infamous examples stood out: the Emissary of Heaven, an upper-tier Paladin class, and the Dragonslayer, a legendary Barbarian path. If an opposing player managed to complete those events, the match was effectively over before the battle even began.

But achieving those classes wasn’t easy. The in-game challenges were designed to be nearly insurmountable.

The Emissary of Heaven required finding seven divine relics scattered across the world, Justin recalled. And the Dragonslayer? You had to defeat a dragon solo.

Likewise, the Apostle of Eternity—the highest evolution of the Black Mage class—was locked behind trials set by each of the Four Grand Dukes. To earn their blessings, one would have to pass each Duke’s individual challenge.

The problem? Each trial was pure insanity.

Even Astarothe, the Grand Duchess of Temptation, required completing a task that would be nightmarish in reality: Unite three rival territories without using violence.

And, of course, the trials offered nothing to aid the challenger—they had to succeed on their own merits.

In the game’s world, succeeding was nearly impossible, even with data to predict every possible outcome. Here, in reality? It would be even harder.

But things are different this time, Justin thought.

He had one major advantage now—direct negotiation. Unlike the scripted NPCs in the game, these were living beings who could be persuaded, manipulated, or even intimidated.

Judging by their reactions so far, it wouldn’t be easy, but it was possible.

『You would demand the blessings of all four without offering anything in return? Such arrogance could make even demons tremble!』

The air itself quivered with Abraxas’ fury, the sheer intensity of his rage warping the space around him.

『You must have some reason for such insolence. What lies and sweet words have you prepared? Speak, then. We’ll hear your offer.』

Astarothe narrowed her eyes, sharp and predatory.

Justin rolled his shoulders and shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s simple. I’m the only Black Mage here.”