Jin Ashbluff

Jin's life was one of routine.

Train, study, eat, sleep.

Pleasure was a foreign concept, indulged in only to alleviate stress. His entire existence revolved around one purpose—to grow stronger.

More than anyone, Jin felt that pressure. It weighed on him even more than it did on Ren.

While Ren bore the weight of living up to an ancient legacy, Jin's challenge was ever-present, tangible. His goal wasn't just a memory of a past hero—it was right in front of him.

He paused mid-swing, his swords hanging in the air as his brows furrowed. Memories began to flood his mind, pulling him back to a time ten years ago.

The Ashbluff estate had been attacked by an overwhelming force of ogres and orcs. It was an unprecedented assault, striking when Valen Ashbluff, their King and protector, was away. Chaos reigned as monsters of terrifying power—some of them even Immortal-ranked—stormed through the estate, led by a Radiant-rank Ogre King.

Jin's mother, an eight-circle wind mage of great prowess, commanded the air with masterful precision, doing everything in her power to shield their people. But it wasn't enough.

Against creatures of such power, even her magic was failing. The estate, their home, teetered on the edge of destruction.

Jin remembered it all so vividly.

The laughter of the beasts, mocking and cruel, as they relished their victory.

The way their triumph was crushed into silence.

The sound of footsteps cutting through the noise of battle, louder than the war machines, louder than the spells and clashing blades. The moment Valen Ashbluff arrived on the battlefield, everything shifted.

Jin's father stood still, his gaze cold and unfeeling as he surveyed the chaos.

And then, with a voice as cold as ice, he spoke a single word.

"Rise."

With that command, the tide of battle turned.

Valen Ashbluff was a force of nature, a living monster.

The only thing holding him back from realizing his full potential was the powerful spell he had cast to seal away his young daughter, Rin, whose Gift of Duality was as terrifying as it was dangerous. That spell drained a significant portion of his mana, preventing him from reaching the elusive 9-circle rank.

Jin knew, without a doubt, that if it weren't for that burden, his father would be able to stand toe-to-toe with the Martial King himself.

That realization had become even clearer after Jin met Magnus Draykar at Cecilia's birthday party. Magnus, a man of immense power, was clearly stronger than Valen, but the gap wasn't insurmountable. Without the limitations of the sealing spell, his father could have been on equal footing with the likes of Magnus.

Still, Jin knew that Valen would eventually reach 9-circle. It was only a matter of time.

The weight of expectation that came with being Valen Ashbluff's son was immense. His father wasn't just a powerful warrior—he was a living legend and the hero of the Western Continent.

While the Martial King had greater accomplishments overall, Valen wasn't far behind. He had slain more black mana beasts than anyone else, including several high-ranked black mana creatures. The only reason he hadn't surpassed the Martial King was that Valen had yet to face a Radiant-rank black mana individual, something the Martial King had already done.

It was a heavy legacy, and Jin felt its weight every single day.

Especially given how the Western Continent was structured.

The Ashbluff family wasn't just a powerful clan—they were a near-sovereign kingdom in all but name. Every family in the West was their vassal, making the Ashbluffs the most unified and centralized force on the continent. It was a stark contrast to the Viserions, Windwards, Creightons, or even the Mount Hua sect, where power was more diffused.

The Ashbluffs stood as the second greatest power, right after the Slatemark Empire.

That was the burden Jin carried—the expectation to one day stand on par with his father, a genius destined to become the most powerful Ashbluff in history. A man who, even with his limitations, was already a living legend.

But that wasn't the only weight pressing on Jin's shoulders.

There was also Rin.

His twin sister, more talented than he could ever be, but with a mind too fragile to handle her terrifying Gift. Rin, sealed away for her own safety, was the Ashbluff family's deepest secret. Only a few knew the truth—Valen, Jin, and a handful of trusted retainers. And now, Arthur.

Jin had always wanted to protect her. Unlike him, Rin didn't need to carry the burden of the Ashbluff name. He wanted her to live a normal life, free from the weight of expectations. If she ever became stronger, it would be because she wanted to, not because she was the Ashbluff princess destined for greatness.

That, more than anything, was what Jin wanted for his sister.

A life of her own choosing.

'I never thought I'd enter a mana oath because of her,' Jin thought wryly, his mind wandering to Arthur Nightingale.

Arthur.

Even now, after using every resource at his disposal, Jin still couldn't figure out how Arthur had discovered Rin's secret. He'd dug through every corner of his information network, as much as he could without alerting his family, but the answer remained elusive. It was supposed to be impossible.

The Ashbluff family kept few living retainers—most were undead, raised and controlled by his father. And his parents had gone to great lengths to ensure that no information about Rin ever left the family. Yet, somehow, Arthur had found out.

Jin didn't like Arthur. But it wasn't the intense hatred he'd felt during the mock war last year. Back then, Arthur had been an enemy in every sense of the word. But now... Jin couldn't say he hated him.

Now, their relationship felt more neutral. Because, in a way, Jin saw Arthur as a mirror of himself. Both of them were desperate to grow stronger, to live up to impossible expectations.

But the difference? Arthur was ahead of him. Far ahead.

Arthur had completely surpassed Jin in just one year, leaving him in the dust. The current version of Arthur was someone Jin couldn't even touch. And he hated that.

Ping!

The sound of a notification from his smartwatch snapped him from his thoughts. Jin wiped the sweat off his chin, glancing at the screen. It was a message from Arthur.

"I can make you reach White-rank by December," the message read.

Jin's stoic expression cracked, a small mutter escaping his lips. "Crazy bastard."