Twisting his body just enough, he narrowly dodged the sword and pressed forward.

“Chiiiik.”

The sound of fabric tearing rang out, but it didn’t matter. The result of the opponent’s strike amounted to no more than that. In contrast, his sword stopped just in front of the opponent’s throat.

“A-ah…”

The knight who had crossed blades with him looked utterly devastated, his face drained of color. Though not a single speck of mana had been used in the duel, and despite him not giving his best out of consideration for his status as a prince, this result followed.

Another loss, right after Andre. As a knight of the imperial order, it was disgraceful.And yet, even more than shame,astonishment lingered. No matter how much leniency had been granted, the prince had never even been known to wield a sword before. Fury surged in the knight’s chest, but reason held firm, calmly analyzing the prince’s earlier movements.

That sword…it had burned, wild and dangerous.

Ordinary temperaments would never even attempt such swordplay, too afraid of harming their own bodies. But it had suited the prince too well. A sword that lashed out as though life itself was meaningless, yet flew straight toward vital points with graceful lethality. A boldness that didn’t shrink away from the opponent’s blade, even smiling in its face. A decisiveness that, upon sensing a single opening, ignited with blazing force as though to consume the enemy entirely.It was tempting to call it talent, a misunderstanding was only natural.

After all, who could possibly account for variables like reincarnation or mystical forces?

In truth, all who had been watching the duel between the prince and the knight with mild interest were now struck dumb with shock. Especially Alfred, who had just returned to the prince’s palace. His eyes looked like they might pop out of his skull. Andre, too, rubbed his eyes over and over.

“I lost.”

At last, the knight acknowledged his defeat.

“Yes, I won.”

The prince calmly lowered his sword as though it were of no consequence.

“It was my first time, but it was usable.”

“Was it truly your first time, Your Highness?”

“It was. First time holding a sword. First time fighting.”

“…Is that so.”

“Yes. It was the first time. The very first.”

“I understand.”

“To think I could win with a sword I picked up for the first time. Incredible. And it was really my first time.”

“…My congratulations, Your Highness.”

After toying with the knight a little, he turned to wrap up the afternoon training.

[You have devoured the subordinate fate: Crushing Defeat. Gained Destiny Alteration Points.]

[A new destiny is stirring.]

[Ahead lies the subordinate fate: Crushing Defeat, Ridicule, and Contempt.]

Fate made it clear, satisfaction had no place here. The demand for more was pressing in.

The Emperor of the Ironia Empire, a title impossible to summarize in a single line.Some called him the master of the continent. Others called him the ruler of everything under heaven, a noble and resplendent position.

The father of the empire, and its supreme leader, who oversaw all. The place where he resided lay at the very center of Iron Fortress,

The Imperial Palace, “Iron”.

A physical embodiment of the truth that the world revolved around the Emperor, majestic and towering, the palace stood unshaken in the center of the fortress at all times. If the Emperor ruled the world, then the one who stayed closest to the world’s center, the Emperor was the Empress.

The other absolute being, who held full authority over the Imperial Palace. She alone was granted the privilege of remaining within its walls, her quarters, within the heart of the palace.

“Hm…, so you’re saying that insolent child killed Serinne’s attendant?”

On the Empress’s wide throne, clad in a dress of absolute black and with hair the color of water spread around her like a veil, she smiled deeply, intrigued. Every movement of her long fingers caused her long, blue hair to ripple like flowing water across the throne.

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“And? You simply stood there and watched?”

“It happened too suddenly. They say there was no time to stop it.”

“So the brat got bitten by a mad dog, thanks to a nasty prank.”

“Who could possibly fathom Princess Serinne’s heart?”

At the end of the man’s statement, his face ghost-white beneath a jet-black uniform; 

an undercurrent of killing intent flickered, had the Empress merely nodded, the prince’s life would have been forfeit.

But…

“No. That insolent wretch deserved to die. A filthy dog cleaning up another, if anything, it turned out well.”

“Your words are absolutely just, Your Majesty.”

“Which means we must reward the child born to that lowborn wench who doesn’t know her place.”

The Empress curled into a brittle smile, as if struck by inspiration.

“A reward, Your Majesty?”

“Recently, Aziel, that boy, he’s changed, hasn’t he?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“I intend to speak to His Majesty and ask that he grant the boy a small opportunity.”

“Such boundless mercy, Your Majesty.”

Their words spoke of mercy and reward, but their faces were devoid of warmth, there was no point in killing someone quietly, it was far more enjoyable to push them into a deep pit and watch them hang themselves. Hasn’t it always been this way?

Whenever prey dared try to crawl back out of her clutches, she shoved them back into the abyss. This time, it would be the 11th Prince, Aziel, who would become her plaything.

That was the Empress’s pleasure.

“I’m going to see my husband. Children, prepare me.”

At her voice, dozens of maids emerged from hidden corners and began brushing and arranging her long hair in unison.

*Shhhh, shhhh.*

Like deep, undulating waves, the Empress’s malice surged toward the 11th Prince’s palace.

The 11th Prince’s newly arranged bedchamber.The ring of fire resting within his chest moved according to his will, ever since obtaining the first heart of the “Flame Emperor’s Secret Art” from the library, he had not missed a single day. Late at night, and again in the early dawn, he practiced summoning and controlling the flame…It had not been easy, his talent had been pitifully meager.

Simple physical enhancement could be achieved through steady training, but heart-refinement techniques required something else…natural talent.

Even so, he did not give up.

[You have devoured the subordinate fat]

[Pathetic Talent. Gained Destiny Alteration Points.]

Because devouring even that fate was the way to survive.Still, the flame formed into a ring raged wildly, refusing to move freely, as if it would not yield so easily.It tried to break free from his control…Even that, he consumed, he ate the fire, again and again.

Time passed, soaked in pain.

Destiny Alteration Points continued to rise endlessly, and yet the fire demon within his body refused to obey. It would have been understandable to give up. And yet, today, something felt different. He focused, not even knowing how much time passed. Eventually, light brushed against his eyes, and he slowly opened them.

Morning had come.

The red light that spilled across the sky,and in that moment, he understood, he had realized the method to control the first heart of the Flame Emperor’s Secret Art “Crimson Flame.”

An inspiration, sudden and vivid.

[From the subordinate fate: Fortunate Result, you have gained powerful inspiration. Using the power of Elemental Body Synchronization, you comprehend the method.]

It was the culmination of all his effort, now sealed by divine insight.

“Fwoosh.’

A small red flame floated above his index finger.

“Rumble!”

Dark forest shot up, encircling the 11th Prince’s palace with a thunderous roar, a sudden, ominous shift, foreboding seeped into the prince’s domain like creeping mist.

[By fortunate result at a crucial moment, you have obtained a clue to counter another fate: Crushing Defeat.]

[By luck within misfortune, you have encountered the place you desired.]

[A new destiny of Flame has been born!]

He laughed…

The flame on his fingertip burned away the shadows that filled the chamber, this was a chance to grow stronger, and he knew, behind crisis, there always lay opportunity.

His heartbeat rang clear and loud…