NOVGO.NET Chapter 343: Another Challenge
Chapter 343: Another Challenge
King Julius went silent.
Not the heavy, theatrical silence he often used when addressing the masses, not the calculated pause of a ruler weighing words for effect. This was different. This was the kind of silence that crept in when a man’s expectations shattered too quickly for his mind to catch up.
Razeal stood there, the Trident of the Sea resting in his hand as if it belonged there, as if it had always been waiting for him. Not trembling. Not resisting. Not rejecting at all. The sacred weapon that had crushed the dreams of countless Atlantians.. royals, nobles, warriors, emperors.. now rested quietly in the grasp of a human. And worse than that, the human was calm about it. No awe. No reverence. No trembling excitement. Just… acceptance.
King Julius stared at the trident first, then at Razeal’s hand, then finally at Razeal’s face. The audacity of it all sat heavy in his chest. The boy had not only raised the trident, he had done it casually.. then followed it with a question so simple, so direct, that it felt like mockery.
Can I marry the princess now, or should I ask for the throne instead?
For the first time in decades, King Julius felt something dangerously close to being cornered.
He inhaled slowly, crossed his arms over his chest, and straightened his posture. When he spoke, his voice was calm, controlled, and edged with something sharp beneath it.
“Well,” he said at last, eyes fixed on Razeal, “you can be king. Since the trident has acknowledged you, you are qualified. But there is a condition.” His lips curved faintly, not quite a smile. “I am still chosen by it as well. If you want the throne, you will have to fight me. A battle of life and death. Winner takes the crown.”
The words rang through the arena, heavy and absolute. A challenge or a trap obviously..
King Julius waited, watching closely, already calculating. If the boy wanted the throne, this would settle everything. Either Razeal died.. at worst.. which he guessed hell give up.. scared and all or he proved himself beyond any remaining doubt. Either way, the problem would end.
But Razeal didn’t react the way he expected.
Instead of tensing, excitement or even ambition flaring in his eyes, Razeal simply raised one hand.
“No need for that,” he said casually, as if declining a drink. “Not interested.”.. Obviously he isn’t that dumb to fell in this clear and obious.. Trap.
The words landed harder than any insult.
King Julius blinked.
Razeal continued, completely unbothered. “Let’s leave that aside. I don’t want the throne. I came here for the marriage. And at this point, I think you should stop embarissing yourself.. I mean you have no reason left to hold me back.”
There it was.
Clear and direct.
King Julius stared at him in silence again, but this time it was different. Not shock.. but evaluation.
He looked at Razeal properly now. Not as a threat. Not as a complication. As a man standing before him, asking for his daughter.
Handsome? yes.. Strong? very… Unnaturally so. Talented to the point of absurdity. background? Obviously very powerful he’s son of Virelans.. undeniably powerful. The only flaw.. the only flaw had been that he was human.
But again… what right did that objection still hold?
The trident had accepted him.. So now he’s more worthy then any Atlantian their is even.
More than that, the boy had stood his ground. He hadn’t lunged at power. He hadn’t seized opportunity greedily. He hadn’t challenged the throne just because it was within reach. He had rejected it outright… Clearly not stupid atleast.
King Julius narrowed his eyes slightly.
And he wants my daughter badly enough to refuse the crown.
That alone said more than a hundred vows.
He thought back to moments ago.. the absurd pregnancy joke. Shameless, yes, but quick, bold, fearless. The boy hadn’t hesitated to stand against him publicly, to embarrass himself if needed, just to force the issue forward. There was care in that recklessness. Intention. Resolve.
And Sofia was standing beside him too.. He seems to caring for her also.
That mattered more than anything.
“Father,” Sofia said softly, breaking the silence.
King Julius turned his gaze toward her.
“I don’t think you have any say left in this matter,” she continued, voice steady but quiet. “It’s my destiny. Out of all impossible odds, it happened anyway. I think… I should accept it. And you should too. And this is what Mother said as well.”
She hesitated, then her hand moved gently, guiding Razeal’s hand away from her waist. The small gesture betrayed her embarrassment.. this was too fast, too public, too overwhelming for ber but she didn’t step away from him at most she could do for him at this point atleast as.. She stayed.
King Julius felt the final resistance drain from his chest.
He closed his eyes tightly, jaw clenched, breath held for a moment longer than necessary. When he opened them again, the fight was gone.
“…Alright,” he said at last, the word heavy with surrender. “You’re right.”
The arena held its breath.
“You can marry,” he continued, voice firm but tired. “I allow it.”
For a heartbeat, nothing moved.
Then Sofia grinned, bright and genuine, nodding immediately. Relief and happiness crossed her face without restraint.
Razeal’s lips curled upward as well.. not a triumphant smile, not arrogance, but quiet satisfaction.
Seems like it worked, he thought.
While on other side..
“FUUUUUUUCK NOOOOOOOO”
Arthur collapsed.
Literally.
He dropped flat onto the arena floor, arms splayed, staring straight up at the sky as if the heavens themselves had betrayed him. Tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes, soaking his face without dignity.
“This is wrong.. this is very very very WRONG ” he wailed, clutching his chest dramatically. “They’re married.. THEY’RE MARRIED.. Noooooo”
His voice cracked as the realization settled fully.
Before, this marriage had been acceptable. Useful, even. A political tool. A temporary inconvenience. Something he could maneuver around. Something that still left him room to breathe.
But now?
Now the human had raised the Trident.
That single act sealed everything for him.
There was no future left for him now.
No alliances to form. No nobles to sway. No factions to manipulate. No slow climb toward power. His sister wasn’t just the strongest anymore.. her husband was now chosen by the Sea itself too.
The throne was gone.
Forever.
Arthur curled slightly on the ground, sobbing openly now, fists clenched against his chest. “My future… my beautiful future… it’s over…”
Big, dramatic tears rolled down his face as he stared blankly upward. “Ooooh beautiful angels… come take me… I’m cominggggg…”
Maria though didn’t spare the collapsed prince a second glance.
Arthur could lie there crying about his shattered future, clutching his chest like the world had ended, but she didn’t care. Not even a flicker of pity crossed her face. Whatever tragic harem-filled life he was already planning for himself could rot quietly on the stone floor for all she cared. Her attention had narrowed sharply, focused entirely on the three figures standing at the center of everything.. Razeal, Sofia, and King Julius.
They had done it.
Against reason, against tradition, against logic, they had cornered the King of Atlantis himself into allowing the marriage. Maria watched closely, eyes cold and sharp, studying every shift in posture, every pause in breath, every look exchanged between them. This wasn’t just a decision.. it was a fracture. Something fundamental had cracked, and she could feel it.. Very inside herself..
King Julius hadn’t moved yet.
He was still looking at Sofia and Razeal, his gaze heavy, lingering, as if trying to memorize the moment before it slipped out of his control entirely. When he finally spoke, his voice carried authority.. but beneath it was restraint, the kind used when a man knows he’s already lost ground.
“Yes.. You can marry,” he said.
There it was.
But then his eyes shifted.. slowly, deliberately to Razeal.
“But,” he continued, and the single word dragged like an anchor, “she will not be going anywhere with you.”
The temperature around them subtly changed.
“You will live here,” King Julius said flatly. “In Atlantis. I cannot allow you to take her to the land. I know that is what you want. And this is not negotiable.”
Razeal lips twitched.
“But.. I have important things to do on land,” he replied, irritation bleeding through despite his effort to keep his tone steady. “I can’t stay here.”
The words were blunt. Honest. And for the first time since this mess had begun, frustration cracked openly through his calm.. This king is just too much now..
King Julius chuckled.
Not loudly or mockingly. Just enough to sting.
“Then you will have to wait, boy,” he said lightly. “You always have that option.. Just don’t marry her. No one is forcing you.” He spread his hands casually, the picture of indulgent patience. “After all, this too is our tradition.”
Razeal narrowed his eyes.
“A man cannot take a daughter from her father unless he proves himself wealthier than her family,” King Julius continued smoothly. “And you… you still have a very long way to go.”
The smirk was unmistakable now.
Razeal turned his head slowly toward Sofia.
She nodded.
As if confirming something she had always known.
Who even makes these rules? Razeal thought, pinching the bridge of his nose as irritation pulsed behind his eyes. This is so fucking stupid.
Still.. he exhaled and let it go.
Wealth. That was all.
Compared to everything else he’d faced, this wasn’t even an obstacle. Just another stupid condition.
“Alright,” he said finally, lifting his head to meet the King’s gaze again. “Let’s do this.”
King Julius blinked.
“…Now?” he asked, clearly not taking him seriously. His brows rose slightly, amusement flickering across his face. “Wait. You mean you think you’re wealthier than me? Really?? Woow.. Just woow.”
A ripple of restrained laughter passed through the nobles.
“Kid,” King Julius continued, shaking his head as if indulging a child, “take some time. Fifty years. A hundred, maybe. Start gathering artifacts. Build trade routes. Hoard resources and whatver.” He chuckled again. “Do you even know who I am? I am the wealthiest being in all of Atlantis. You can’t even approach my wealth.”
Razeal didn’t answer.
He just looked at him.
Not defiantly or arrogantly.
Just… quietly.
That silence unsettled King Julius far more than shouting ever could.
Before Razeal could say anything further, Sofia stepped closer to him, lowering her voice as she leaned in. Her shoulder brushed his arm, close enough that he could feel the warmth through fabric.
“Hey,” she whispered, tone light but firm. “This is too much now. You can’t beat my father in wealth.. not ever.”
Her lips curved into a playful smile as she continued, softer, teasing. “Let’s not embarrass you on the day you marry me, hm? Give me a week. Two at most. I’ll convince him.”
She winked.
“The whole colosseum is watching,” she added quietly. “I don’t want my husband losing face.”
Husband? Again?
Razeal froze for half a second.. just long enough to notice the strange weird sensation curling inside him… Like just weird.
He swallowed.
“Trust your h..u..sband,” he said, the word catching awkwardly on his tongue.
The moment it left his mouth, he regretted it.
He turned his head sharply away from her, fixing his gaze on King Julius again, expression locking back into place as if nothing had happened. Inside, however, he was cursing viciously.
This is fucking dumb, he thought. How does she say it so easily?
No heat rose to his face. No visible embarrassment.
But Sofia noticed anyway.
She caught the hesitation. The stutter. The way his voice shifted for just that one word.
Her lips twitched.
Then she laughed softly, biting her lower lip as she leaned back just enough to look at him properly.
“Yes, yes,” she said brightly. “Husband. I trust you.”
A suppressed giggle escaped her. “Kyaa..”
She turned away before she laughed outright, shoulders shaking slightly.
Razeal stood there, expression perfectly neutral, jaw tight.
Inside, however he sighed feeling little weird.. and he hated that it had.
The moment King Julius caught the look in Razeal’s eyes.. steady, unyielding, and far too calm for a boy who had just been challenged his lips slowly curved upward.
A smirk.
Not the amused kind. Not the indulgent one either. This was the expression of a king who had finally found an opening, a crack in the wall where he could push back without openly breaking his word.
“So,” King Julius said, his voice carrying a hint of restrained laughter, “you really want to go that far.”
He straightened his posture, rolling his shoulders once as though settling into something familiar.. something comfortable. “I would indeed feel bad,” he continued, tone almost playful, “showing my future son-in-law the reality of the world so bluntly.”
“But since you asked for it,” he added, “this is something I must do. Don’t take it the hard way boy.. Ohk BOY.”
Before Razeal could even process the shift, King Julius reached forward and snatched the trident from his hands.
The motion was abrupt.. sharp enough to draw attention but not violent. It was the effortless movement of someone who had held authority for centuries, someone for whom taking back a sacred weapon was as natural as breathing.
“—”
Razeal blinked.
He looked down at his now-empty hand, then back up at the King, but said nothing. No protest. No resistance. Not even surprise showed on his face, though his eyes briefly narrowed as he recalibrated what was happening.
What a weirdo.. Razeal thought, watching silently.
King Julius didn’t look back at him.
Instead, he shifted the trident into his left hand and lifted his right.
The air in front of him rippled.
Not violently.. no explosion of power, no destructive force but with a deep, heavy distortion, as if the space itself were being parted. A faint golden glow bled outward, thick and rich, saturated with the weight of history and wealth.
Then something appeared.
A massive structure materialized between them.. at least eight feet tall solid, ornate, unmistakable.
Razeal’s eyes flicked over it instantly.
A balance scale.
But not an ordinary one.
A horizontal golden bar rested on a perfectly centered axis, its craftsmanship so precise it looked impossible. From each end hung a broad, circular pan, suspended by intricate golden chains etched with ancient symbols. The entire structure was forged of pure gold.. no, more than gold? something refined beyond mortal metallurgy, glowing softly as if wealth itself radiated from its surface.
The light it emitted wasn’t blinding. It was rich.
Heavy.
Oppressive in its own way.
A weight measuring scale? He thought
King Julius noticed his gaze and allowed himself a small nod.
“These,” he said calmly, “are the Scales of Veridion.”
A murmur rippled faintly through the spectators.
“A legendary rank relica,” the King continued, his voice steady, proud. “This relica does not measure measures true worth.”
He gestured toward the balanced pans. “Depending on expense, rarity, history, usefulness, influence, symbolic meaning.. importance and almost everything that gives an object true value is judged here.”
His eyes flicked back to Razeal. “When two objects are placed upon these scales, the one with greater true value will descend. The lesser will rise.”
The scales stood perfectly level.
“Simple,” King Julius said. “And absolute.”
He didn’t wait for a response.
Instead, he raised his right hand again.
This time, the space above his palm shimmered briefly before solidifying into form.
A crown appeared.
Gold.. deep, ancient gold its surface engraved with flowing Atlantean patterns that seemed to shift like water when viewed from different angles. Aquatic gemstones gleamed along its rim, each one cut with impossible precision, reflecting hues of blue, green, and violet. Diamonds and rare marine crystals were embedded throughout, radiating both majesty and terrifying worth.
It wasn’t just jewelry.
It was authority.
Without ceremony, King Julius placed the crown onto one of the pans.
The moment it touched
The scales shifted violently.
The pan bearing the crown sank downward with decisive force, the chains tightening as if pulled by an unseen hand, while the opposite pan shot upward, empty and light, tilting sharply.
The balance didn’t hesitate.
It declared.
King Julius folded his arms, clearly satisfied.
“Go on,” he said, eyes burning with challenge. “Let’s compare wealth.”
His gaze locked onto Razeal. “You’re not going to win against your father-in-law, boy. You still have a very long road ahead of you.”
A sharp grin spread across his face. “Did you really think getting my daughter would be easy?”
Neptunia inhaled sharply.
“…You’re really going all out, Father,” she muttered, lips twitching as she stared at the crown.
That wasn’t just any relica afterall.
The Crown of the King of Atlantis.. a legendary artifact worn by king Julius himself, saturated with history, power, and symbolic dominance. Its worth was beyond calculation. Entire normal kingdoms couldn’t rival its value. Even placing a nation on the opposing pan wouldn’t have been enough to shake it.
The crown was Atlantis.
Razeal listened to her words but didn’t react.
Instead, he studied the scale, the crown, and then the King.. slowly, thoughtfully.
“A crown, huh,” he murmured under his breath.
No tension showed on his face.
No hesitation.
He simply shrugged.
“Well,” he said lightly, as if deciding what to eat for dinner, “whatever.”
His hand slipped into his system inventory.
A second later, he withdrew something small.
Very small.
Barely larger than a marble.
Resting between his fingers was a deep-blue object, perfectly round, its surface smooth and flawless. It shimmered faintly, not with reflected light but with something deeper.. like a distant star compressed into physical form.
It wasn’t flashy or screaming any power.
But the moment it appeared, the air around Razeal subtly tightened.
He stared at it for a second, eyes unreadable, then nodded once.
“…Yeah,” he said quietly, lips curling into something dark and satisfied. “This’ll do.”
The sadistic edge in his smile wasn’t lost on anyone.
Especially not the King.
Razeal lifted his gaze, already imagining the expression that would soon appear on the old man’s face.. and for the first time since stepping into areana, genuine excitement stirred in his chest.. He wanted to see this mffr lost face expressions.
While Sofia jyst stood slightly to the side, her attention fixed on Razeal’s hand.
Too small.
That was the first thought that crossed her mind.
Between his fingers rested a tiny, perfectly round object.. no bigger than a marble. It glowed faintly with a deep, quiet blue light, like a distant star reflected on calm water. It wasn’t loud, wasn’t aggressive. It didn’t scream any divinity or power .. Like nothing.. special.
Is he really… going to compete with that?
Her brows slowly drew together as she narrowed her eyes, instinctively trying to sense it. Mana, divinity, blessing of the sea, ancient will..? she searched for anything familiar.
Nothing.
No overwhelming pressure.
No sacred resonance.
No violent authority..
Just a soft glow.
Sofia blinked once, then again, genuine confusion settling into her expression. By all logic she knew, by all instincts sharpened through years of training and royal education, that object should have been insignificant.. worthless even standing against the Crown of Atlantis?
And yet…
Her gaze shifted to Razeal’s face.
He looked extremely confident.
Not arrogant confidence. Not the reckless bravado of someone gambling everything on blind faith. It was calm.. dangerously calm as if the outcome had already been decided in his mind.
Is there something I can’t see? she wondered, her lips pressing together.
Razeal, meanwhile, wasn’t thinking about the crowd, the King, or the scale.
He lifted his hand slightly, already intending to place the small star-like marble onto the empty pan and end this childish contest in a single motion.
But then
He paused.
His hand remained suspended in midair.
From the corner of his eye, he caught Sofia’s expression.. not disbelief exactly, but hesitation. A faint uncertainty. The kind that didn’t come from doubt in him, but from not understanding what she was seeing.. or maybe just not impressed at all.
Hmm.
He exhaled softly through his nose.
Well… whatever. It won’t cost me anything.
A subtle decision was made.
Without warning, a thin line of blood seeped from the tips of his fingers.
Sofia’s eyes raised a little.
The blood didn’t drip or anything.
It just moved.
Razeal controlled it effortlessly, guiding it as it flowed around the blue star in his grasp. The crimson liquid spiraled with unnatural precision, circling the marble like a living thing, wrapping around it in delicate arcs.
The air around his hand changed.
Not violently.. but distinctly.
The blood began to thicken, its color deepening, darkening, until it no longer looked like liquid at all. It hardened, crystallized, transforming mid-motion as if forged by an unseen hand.
In seconds, the shape took form.
A ring.
A slender band of deep crimson metal, smooth and flawless, as though it had been refined for centuries rather than formed in an instant. At its center, held firmly at the crown of the ring, was the blue star.. now no longer just a marble, but a gemstone like core, radiating quiet brilliance.
The blood had become metal.
The star had become a jewel.
Sofia looked at it her eyes suddenly brightening up..
Confusion replaced instantly by fascination.
Her eyes brightened as she stared at the ring now resting between Razeal’s fingers. It was no longer something small and unimpressive or simple as just a gemstone or whatever. It looked… complete now.
While.. King Julius, watching closely, frowned.
“…Interesting,” he murmured, his sharp eyes following every movement. “That just now?was that blood?”
His gaze lingered on the ring.
What was that…? Magic? but he had never heard about blood controlling magic? and that too hardening uo blood?
The gemstone caught the light, its blue glow steady and deep. Julius assessed it instantly, his mind running through possibilities.
And a diamond or maybe.. A condensed mana crystal? he wondered
Whatever it was, it didn’t look ancient. It didn’t carry the overwhelming presence of a legendary relic.
No matter, he thought confidently. No gem.. no matter how rare can it rival the Crown of Atlantis in true worth.
The crown wasn’t just gold and jewels. It was history. Authority. The embodiment of a kingdom that had stood for millennia.
Still, Julius’ thoughts stalled when Razeal finally moved.
With no ceremony, no dramatic pause, Razeal stepped forward and placed the crimson ring gently onto the empty pan of the Scales of Veridion.
The moment the ring touched the pan
The world seemed to hesitate.
For a fraction of a second, nothing happened.
Then..
The scales slammed downward.
The pan bearing the ring dropped so violently that the chains rattled, the golden frame shuddering under the sudden shift. At the same time, the pan holding the Crown of Atlantis shot upward, as if the weight it carried had become meaningless.. insignificant.
The balance didn’t merely tilt.
It submitted.
A low, strained creak echoed from the relic itself, the Scales of Veridion groaning as if protesting the verdict it had just been forced to deliver.
Silence crashed over the arena.
King Julius’ eyes bulged.
“…What?”
The word slipped out before he could stop it.
His breath caught in his throat as he stared at the impossible sight before him.. the crown, symbol of his rule, lifted high and light, while that ring… that single ring… dragged the opposite pan down with undeniable authority.
Sofia raised her eyebrows.. as her eyes shone, reflecting the blue glow of the gem as realization settled deep in her chest.
The Scales of Veridion.. an artifact that judged true worth.. had declared the ring far more valuable than the Crown of Atlantis.
Not by a margin.
By a landslide.
What the?
—-