Why is Background Character the Strongest Now?-Chapter 36

One night ago...

The streets of Blackridge were silent, lit only by the pale glow of moonlight. Shadows danced gently across the stone paths, and beyond the thick glass windows, the stars blinked like watchful eyes in the sky.

Inside a quiet room at the Continental Inn, everyone was fast asleep — or so it seemed.

Kael Arkzen stood by the window, arms crossed, a half-empty glass in hand. He took a slow sip of the lukewarm wine, his gaze not on the stars, but distant — focused elsewhere.

He gently set the cup down on the window ledge, careful not to make a sound.

With a quiet sigh, Kael slipped on his coat, the dark fabric swirling softly around his ankles."They’re all asleep," he murmured to himself, his voice low and unreadable. "Time for a little... entertainment."

He turned away from the window, raising one hand with a fluid gesture. A shimmer of magic rippled in the air as invisible barriers sealed the rooms of both the boys and the girls — silent wards meant to keep them undisturbed and unaware.

Then, with a flick of his finger, Kael vanished — teleporting away into the night.

————

"Damn it! I lost again!" a fat, sweating man groaned, slamming his cards onto the table.

Across from him, Kael smirked, twirling a golden coin between his fingers.

"Maybe you’re just unlucky," Kael said casually, his voice dripping with amusement. "Or maybe..." He leaned forward slightly. "...You’re playing the wrong opponent."

The fat man stared, baffled. "Bro, you’ve won twenty-six games straight. Are you cheating?"

Kael gave a half-laugh, half-snort. "Cheating? Me? Come on." He flicked his fingers under the table — the faint shimmer of illusion magic flickered for less than a second. No one noticed.

He leaned back, stretching. "I’ll be taking the gold now."

A pile of shimmering gold coins sat before him. Over 50,000 gold — all won in two hours, while using subtle wind manipulation and foresight spells to influence the dice and cards.

As Kael scooped the coins toward himself, the fat man leaned in with childlike curiosity. "Big bro, you’re amazing! I’ve never seen you in this casino before. Are you new here?"

Kael shrugged. "Doesn’t matter. Just passing through."

He stood up, coins vanishing into his spatial pouch with a small flick of his hand.

But before he could turn, a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

A guard.

Polite, firm, dressed in clean black uniform lined with red trim. "Sir," the man said in a neutral tone. "The boss would like a word."

Kael turned his head slightly, his golden eyes locking onto the guard’s.

The air changed for a moment — just for a heartbeat.

The guard stiffened, sweat appearing on his brow. The pressure that rolled off Kael wasn’t violent... just cold. Controlled. Heavy enough to remind him this wasn’t just some ordinary gambler.

Kael’s smirk returned. "Lead the way."

————

The back of the casino was quieter — darker, elegant, filled with smoke and soft music. The guard led him through two enchanted doors and into a wide lounge. Crystal lights floated overhead, casting warm glows over plush red seating.

A man stood by the window, swirling dark liquor in a silver glass. Tall, lean, neatly dressed in a dark velvet coat. His face held the smooth handsomeness of someone who lived off charm — and knew how to kill without raising his voice.

"Welcome," the man said without turning. "I’m Viktor Sokolov. I manage this little den of temptation."

Kael walked in, letting his coat fall behind him as he sank into one of the high-backed chairs without invitation."And I’m the guy who just cleaned out half your tables."

Viktor chuckled and turned, his smile sharp."Indeed. That’s why I invited you. Talent should never go unnoticed."

A drink floated toward Kael, summoned by a casual wave of Viktor’s hand.

Kael caught it mid-air and took a sip."Brandy? Hm. Rich man’s taste."

"You’re good," Viktor said. "Not just with games. I couldn’t sense your energy. Which means either you’re hiding something..."He tilted his head slightly."...or you’re very, very good at pretending."

Kael smirked."Maybe both."

Viktor’s smile widened."Ever consider working for someone like me? I could use someone with your... subtlety."

Before Kael could respond, the doors opened again.

A sharply dressed man entered and whispered something in Viktor’s ear. The smile on Viktor’s face thinned.

"Apologies," he said, rising to his feet. "An important deal. Won’t take long. Stay as long as you like."

Kael lifted his drink slightly."Cheers."

But just as Viktor turned to leave, Kael’s voice cut in — calm, deliberate.

"Need a hand?"

Viktor paused. His gaze swept back over Kael — weighing, calculating.

"You don’t seem the type."

"I’m not," Kael replied. "But I’m curious. And I’m quite capable."

Viktor considered it for a moment. Then, a slow nod.

"Fine. Come, then."

————

Outside the back entrance, a sleek mana-powered car awaited them, its obsidian surface glinting under the moonlight. The door slid open without a sound.

They climbed in. The vehicle hummed softly as it pulled away from the casino, speeding toward the outer edge of Blackridge.

They arrived minutes later at a low, nondescript warehouse — but the security detail told another story. Two Rank-2 enforcers stood at the gates, armed, armored, and alert. They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to.

Inside, the air was heavy — a blend of cold metal, incense, and barely restrained magic. Crates were stacked high along the walls, some sealed with powerful arcane sigils, others branded with the symbols of factions from across the region.

This wasn’t a simple deal.

It was a summit.

Kael’s eyes narrowed as he followed Viktor inside. At the massive central table sat figures cloaked in power — leaders of rogue clans, elite operatives, assassins, and smugglers. The unmistakable insignias of the Hunter’s Guild, Crimson Guild, and various outlaw factions adorned their robes and armor.

Kael muttered under his breath, "Hmph... all the big players in one room."

Viktor caught it and chuckled dryly. "You know why it’s important. The new leader of Blackridge’s black market... they’re choosing tonight. And whoever it is, they’ll divide the region."

Kael frowned, glancing toward the head of the table. "A new leader? Who is he?"

Viktor shrugged. "No one knows. Just whispers. But they say he’s from the southern provinces past the Human Federation borders."

Kael leaned against a support beam, silent.

Then the doors opened again.

A ripple passed through the room. Every head turned — even the confident ones.

A man stepped in.

He wasn’t particularly large or imposing at first glance. Black hair. Black eyes. Calm stride. He wore a fitted coat with no guild insignia, only an elegant obsidian clasp at his throat.

But Kael froze.

That face.

No. Not just the face.

The soul.

He knew him.

Varien Throne.

The boy he once mentored. His most gifted disciple. The one who had betrayed the Academy. The one who had turned to demon worship. The one who had—

Kael’s jaw clenched.

The one who had murdered his wife.

All at once, the temperature in the room dropped. Wind howled from nowhere. The mana in the air warped.

The room twisted.

Kael’s aura flared, like a collapsing star.

Wood cracked. Glass shivered. The long central table split down the middle.

"What the hell—?!" one of the seated member leapt up, wand drawn.

Kael didn’t move. But his presence flooded the room like a tidal wave.

viktor turned to him, wide-eyed, mouth dry.

who the fuck i have bring here

"Is he—?" Lucien stammered.

Before he could finish, one of the Hunters gasped, pointing at Kael. "The mana... it’s kneeling to him."

Indeed, the ambient mana shimmered around Kael like it was bowing. Flowing into him. Embracing him.

Another whispered, almost reverently, "Mana Lord...?"

A rank five mage who had been standing by the crates stumbled backward. "That’s not just mastery. That’s resonance—he’s one with mana itself!"

Kael’s body began to lift slowly off the ground, his eyes glowing with ethereal blue light. Mana cloaked him like a mantle. Every breath from him distorted the space around.

Then came the voice — cold, wrathful, and ancient.

"You have no right to be here, Varien."

The entire room froze.

Varien, who had until now remained composed, flinched — just for a heartbeat. His eyes found Kael’s hovering form. Recognition burned in them.

And then...

He smiled.

"Well, well. So the old ghost finally comes out of his little cave," Varien said, voice laced with mocking warmth. "I was wondering when you’d stop hiding behind students and libraries."

Kael’s hand lifted.

A massive fireball ignited in his palm — roaring and swirling like a mini sun. Its heat cracked the floor beneath him. Without hesitation, he hurled it toward Varien with a scream:

"YOU WILL DIE HERE!"

The fireball exploded toward its target.

But Varien didn’t flinch.

Instead, his hands flicked up in a precise pattern, casting an advanced nullification rune mid-air. A disc of obsidian energy bloomed in front of him — and the fireball vanished against it, scattered into flickers of dying embers.

The force was so intense that half the warehouse buckled, knocking crates into the walls.

The others didn’t wait. Dozens of onlookers scattered. Some ran. Some teleported. Others cowered behind magical barriers.

Lucien didn’t move.

He simply stared — terrified.

This is no disagreement.

This is a battle between titans.

Kael landed back on the floor with a thud, his fists clenched.

Varien spread his arms. "I came here for a deal, not a duel. But it seems fate’s decided otherwise."

"You murdered my wife," Kael said, his voice barely a whisper — but heard by all. "You betrayed our people. You worship filth."

Varien’s smirk vanished. "You took everything from me," he spat. "You kept me caged. Made me bury my feelings. Denied me her!"

Kael’s aura erupted again — a violent burst that shattered the rest of the central table into splinters.

Around them, the magical defense barriers hummed to life.

Then Varien’s hand moved — fingers dancing in a familiar rhythm.

A glyph expanded beneath them.

Kael’s eyes widened. "Teleportation circle?"

Varien grinned. "Let’s not ruin the city. I want to break your bones somewhere more... private."

Before anyone could interfere, the spell triggered.

A vortex swallowed them both.

And then they were gone.

Somewhere in the Dusk Reaches...

Wind howled across a barren plateau of jagged stone and lightning-lit sky. The stars above twisted unnaturally. This was a dead zone miles from civilization, soaked in raw mana and scarred from ancient battles.

Two figures stood at opposite ends of a shattered cliff.

Kael.

Varien.

Silence.

Then — both moved at once.

Kael launched forward, fists cloaked in molten flame. Varien’s body shimmered with shadow-enhanced speed, countering with jagged bolts of demonic lightning.

Flame met shadow. Sky split open.

Kael twisted mid-air, sending a spiral of wind blades crashing toward Varien. He responded with a summoned barrier of obsidian wolves, each snapping with cursed teeth.

Explosions rained across the cliffside, turning stone to ash.

Kael spun, hands raised — "Inferno Reign!"

Dozens of burning meteors fell from above.

Varien lifted his hands, summoning a black vortex that devoured half of them — but the rest hit hard. He flew back, skidding across the ground, leaving a crater where he landed.

He coughed blood... then laughed.

"You’ve gotten stronger."

Kael’s gaze never wavered. "You’re still weak. Still selfish."

Varien’s smile twisted. "I’ve touched power that you fear."

He slammed both palms into the earth. The ground beneath them cracked, revealing a massive, blood-red rune.

A demonic sigil.

Kael’s eyes narrowed. "You’ve lost your soul."

"And you’ll lose your life."

The sigil flared, summoning a serpentine demon made of shadow and molten chains. It screeched toward Kael, maw wide.

Kael didn’t move.

He simply raised a hand and whispered, "Ash to ash."

A beam of compressed white flame — pure soulfire — erupted from his palm, tearing through the demon and searing the sky.

Varien barely dodged.

Kael appeared behind him in a blink.

Varien blocked the punch, but the force sent him spiraling through three mountain ridges before he slammed into the fourth and vanished in rubble.

Kael exhaled. "End this, Varien. Or I will."

From the dust, Varien emerged again — slower, bloodied... but smiling.

"This isn’t over."

A dark glyph lit beneath his feet.

A final teleport.

Kael surged forward, but the spell triggered — and Varien vanished into black mist.

Only silence remained.