Published at 27th of August 2026 7:17 pm

Chapter 1045: Holding Back

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For those who skipped the previous Chapter, go back to it. It has been corrected. Read it before reading this Chapter.

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At Zarek’s words, Azaron slowed his steps before he spoke, "I can’t really say," he answered, his tone turning suspicious, "and more importantly, I felt like he was... holding back," he stated as his eyes narrowed.

The moment those words reached Zarek’s ears, he nearly tripped forward. Holding back? He couldn’t believe the words that had come out of Azaron’s mouth. He had just asked Azaron how long it would take Malrik to reach his level, as the man had always said Malrik would reach him in a decade or so, and that was just an estimate, as the man had never fought or sparred with Malrik since the boy’s awakening.

But now Azaron had fought Malrik. Zarek had been expecting Azaron to give a definitive timeline, only for Azaron himself to be confused.

"Why do you say so?" he asked, trying not to sound too shocked.

Azaron stayed silent for a moment before he replied, "I don’t really know... from his attacks and everything, I could tell he was trying his best and everything, but I can’t shake the feeling that he is stronger than he lets on," he answered, not hiding his thoughts and guesses.

Zarek fell silent. He couldn’t help but remember the boy who had grown and become a Crownstar Life Ranker by the age of twenty-nine, reached the Radiant sub-Life Rank at thirty-one, and was currently thirty-three years of age.

Hearing that Malrik seemed to be holding back made Zarek doubt these records, as he wondered if Malrik had reached the Crownstar Life Rank at a much earlier age or something like that, but he wasn’t sure. It was just his speculation.

Although Azaron’s words were a guess and perhaps merely speculation, he, who had served Azaron for over a century and a half, knew just how accurate Azaron’s senses and feelings were when it came to these things. If Azaron said that he sensed or felt something, even if other people couldn’t see it, it was definitely there. It was the reason he, Zarek, believed that Malrik might have reached the Crownstar Life Rank before the age of twenty-nine.

"If that’s true, why would he hide it from you?" he couldn’t help but ask.

Azaron stayed silent for a moment, then sighed as he shook his head. "I don’t know, I didn’t ask him. If he doesn’t want to say, then I won’t force any information from him," he stated, his steps calm. "Although we are close, almost nobody in this world tells anyone everything in this life. Even I have things that I’m hiding from Malrik," he stated.

Zarek nodded his head in agreement. Everyone had their own secrets. Even he, Zarek, had his own personal life issues that Azaron didn’t know about. And even Azaron had and knew some things that he didn’t tell Zarek, like Asher’s Star Core Fragment, for example. It wasn’t that they didn’t trust each other, but some things weren’t meant to be said to a third party.

’Found out about the Star Core Fragment earlier, and now Malrik’s secret about holding back and hiding his true power, all in one day, and a couple of days ago, the youngest’s maid came back with a new level of power,’ Azaron thought to himself as he walked. ’What is happening...’ he asked no one in particular.

Just like how he didn’t confront Asher about Lyra, he wasn’t going to confront Malrik. His son had the right to his secrets.

’I wonder if Malrik has grown enough to match me?’ he couldn’t help but consider the possibility. ’Or maybe even stronger,’ he mused to himself.

As for why Malrik was holding back, he didn’t bother thinking about the reason, as he couldn’t exactly be bothered to overthink something he had no answer to. He wasn’t going to have sleepless nights over it.

’I wonder if he would show his true combat abilities when it’s finally time for him and Asher to fight?’ he mused silently.

Personally, the real reason he had wanted to spar with his children was because he was leaving tomorrow to go fight an End-class Monster for the blood he had promised Asher. He had just wanted to have one last spar before he left.

Getting to his room, Azaron motioned for Zarek to follow him in this time instead of the man retiring to his own quarters.

Entering and sitting on a couch within his room, a pitch-black force pulsed from Azaron’s body. Zarek arched an eyebrow as he wondered why Azaron was covering the room with his void, but before he could think too far, Azaron brought his butler up to speed about visiting the Cursed Lands.

Azaron didn’t inform Zarek about Asher’s Star Core Fragment. It was his son’s secret, one the boy could have chosen to keep hidden, so Azaron simply decided to keep it to himself and let the secret stay just within the family.

"Why are you exploring the Cursed Lands again?" Zarek couldn’t help but ask. "You explored it over a century ago, but you didn’t stay there for long." He couldn’t understand why Azaron was suddenly making such a move, and with the Great Elders and Malrik at that.

"I have intel that there is something at the Cursed Lands," Azaron replied.

Zarek arched an eyebrow as he wondered just how reliable such intel really was.

"Intel from who?" he asked.

Azaron shook his head as he spoke, "I can’t say, and I would prefer not to lie to you."

Zarek stayed silent for a moment, then nodded. He wasn’t offended that Azaron didn’t tell him who. He understood that some things were best left unsaid, and besides, it could be that the other party, the one who had brought the information, didn’t want anyone knowing.

"When do we move?" he asked, as he was ready to start making plans and preparations.

Azaron tapped his armrest for a moment as he hummed in thought. "I don’t know, we will put a pin on the date until I return from the borders," he stated calmly. "I will also have to inform the Great Elders about this, and we will pick a date together."

Zarek nodded, accepting Azaron’s decision.

"I guess the Elders would be disappointed as they won’t be among the force heading there," Zarek stated with a smile as he remained standing before Azaron.

Azaron shook his head as he spoke, "Although we have four Crownstar Life Rank Knights, I need my siblings here too, to protect everyone while I’m away with my uncles and aunt. I will explain everything to them," he stated in finality.

Zarek nodded as he raised his hand, a bowl containing various sliced fruits appearing in his palm. Placing it on the small table before Azaron, he spoke.

"What time do you leave tomorrow?"

Azaron took a slice of an apple as he answered, "Since the youngest’s friends are coming tomorrow, I will depart after their arrival and be back before they leave for school," he stated, as he needed to give Asher the blood before he returned to the Star Academy.

Personally, Zarek was uncomfortable with Azaron going to the borders alone to fight an End-class Monster. Yes, he knew Azaron was a monster on his own, but he didn’t want the man to be alone. Besides, the man wasn’t just going to the borders but greatly beyond them. After all, if he found an End-class Monster near the borders, the devastation and earthquakes would reach the Empire.

And the End-class Monster would certainly issue an Empire-wide invasion. So the man needed to move a couple of million kilometers away from the Empire.

Although Zarek didn’t say anything, Azaron, who had known this old man for over a century and a half, spoke.

"You worry over nothing, Zarek," Azaron spoke.

Zarek let out a sigh as he spoke, "Just don’t get carried away and decide to take on another End-class Monster after your battle with the first one," he stated.

With that, he turned and walked towards the door. Azaron looked at Zarek’s departing figure as he spoke.

"I can’t make such promises," his tone amused as the void covering the entire room vanished.

Zarek shook his head as he opened the door and stepped out with a tired expression. He was already used to Azaron’s antics at this point.

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