The secret system of the Gallant Heir

Suddenly, a demon-like figure began emerging from the magic circle. Its presence sent chills down my spine, and even Ignis, usually composed, looked alarmed.

"I don't know what that thing is, but it's incredibly powerful! We have to stop this before it completes!" she shouted.

"Yeah, but how? Should we destroy the magic circle? There's no other choice—let's do it!" I responded.

We locked eyes, both of us understanding that hesitation wasn't an option.

Without wasting another second, I began chanting a third-circle fire spell, hoping to disrupt the summoning. But before I could finish, the two mages conducting the ritual noticed us. One of them pressed his hands onto the circle, reinforcing it, while the other turned toward me, his eyes burning with hostility.

Ignis reacted instantly. With a burst of flames, she shifted into her dragon form. A massive fireball erupted from her mouth, roaring toward the approaching mage. He barely dodged, twisting through the air with surprising agility, but Ignis didn't let up. She kept relentlessly attacking, raining destruction down on him.

Meanwhile, my spell was complete. I locked onto the mage guarding the circle and unleashed my magic.

"Hellfire!" I roared.

A surge of searing flames tore through the air, swallowing him in an inferno.

But it was too late.

The summoning had already finished.

A dark, ominous figure stepped out from the circle—a humanoid demon, its presence suffocating. The sheer aura it radiated sent a primal fear through me. I could feel it.

It was strong.

Easily as powerful as a fourth-circle magician.

Before I could react, a piercing scream echoed in the distance.

"AHHHHHH!"

I turned my head just in time to see Ignis' opponent collapse.

His body was split in half.

Blood splattered across the ground as his lifeless form fell.

I swallowed hard. He had been using wind magic to evade, but Ignis had finally landed a direct hit—a deadly, laser-like beam of pure destruction.

Even though I had seen Ignis fight before, this was different. This was brutal.

Now, only the first mage and the demon remained.

The mage smirked, his gaze locking onto me.

"Oh? I guess we don't have to go looking for you now."

A shiver ran down my spine.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice guarded.

"The moment you three entered the jungle, the formation was already in place."

I froze.

Three?

"What are you talking about? There's only two of us," I said, my brows furrowing. "And why are you looking for me? I'm just a seven-year-old kid from a poor town. Why would someone like you care about me?"

The mage chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Do you take me for a fool, kid? I already know who you are, so don't bother lying. Someone special has requested your elimination. At first, I wondered what made you so important… but now I understand."

His smirk widened.

"A seven-year-old third-circle magician… That's extremely rare. Killing you will be fun. And when you're dead, I'll turn you into my minion. You'll be the strongest among them all."

My fists clenched.

I didn't know who he was or how he knew about me. But one thing was certain—

This fight wasn't over.

As I stood there, lost in thought, a sudden chill ran down my spine.

The demon-like figure slowly raised a clawed hand and pointed directly at me.

His voice was a low, guttural growl, layered with an unnatural echo.

"Who are you, kid?"

The words sent a jolt through my body.

"There is something… wrong about you. It feels like you don't belong here. Or perhaps… you are not even here at all."

A bead of sweat rolled down my forehead.

Nobody—not even a ninth-circle magician—had ever suspected anything before.

So how…?

How did he know?

My pulse quickened as I immediately reached out to Lili in my mind.

"Lili! Who is he? How does he know about me?!"

The system's voice echoed in my head, cold and calm.

**"Host, he is a Grim Reaper from the Demon Realm. He is on par with a fourth-circle magician. Grim Reapers deal with the souls of this world, meaning they can see into your very essence. That's how he sensed something... unusual.

But don't panic. He isn't sure—he only suspects. If you keep up the act, you should be fine."**

I took a slow breath and steadied my thoughts.

If he wasn't certain, then I could still turn this in my favour.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and forced a confident smirk, stepping forward.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. But I do know one thing—" My magic flared beneath my skin. "You will be defeated here today. By me."

For a brief second, there was silence.

Then, the Grim Reaper laughed.

It wasn't a normal laugh.

It was deep, haunting—like a death knell ringing through the battlefield.

"Defeat? Me?" His hollow eyes gleamed with amusement. **"You are but a third-circle magician. A mere child. Do you truly think you can challenge me? Even that little dragon of yours stands no chance.

You will regret your arrogance."**

His voice dropped into something colder.

"Let me put an end to this foolishness."

In an instant, the air shifted.

A wave of dark energy rushed forward, thick and suffocating.

Then, he vanished.

My breath hitched—where did he go?

Before I could process it, he reappeared inches away from me, floating with unnatural speed. His shadowed blade gleamed as he raised it for a fatal strike.

I reacted instantly.

"Ignis! Deal with the mage! I'll handle this!"

Ignis hesitated, her gaze flickering toward me. "Are you sure? This guy is no joke. If you need my help—"

I cut her off, stepping forward, my magic crackling in response.

"You have to believe in me. Don't forget—we're companions."

For a second, there was silence. Then—

Ignis grinned.

"Fine. Don't die."

With a powerful flap of her wings, she launched herself toward the mage.

And I turned to face the Grim Reaper.

Alone.

This battle had truly begun.