"I can go with him, Father-in-law." Diana interrupted. She felt great fear when Kyros challenged the Patriarch.

Despite the many things that the Steele family did and how poor their standing was because of their brash behavior, no one would try to abuse them and touch their bottom line. This was because of the monster known as Mezal Steele, the Three-Blade Fort.

"With me, that should assure our strength, right? We already have heard of the might of Martha Bowheart. With her and an orc, this would be possible for us to survive."

"Patriarch. We are also vampires now. We are faster and stronger than before." Hunter added.

"And don't underestimate these young nobles. They are strong as well." Hemsey pointed to the three.

"My presence alone would assure his safety," Diana assured.

Mezal turned to Diana and gave her a strange look.

"I see that you are taking motherhood quite seriously." He chuckled.

"I-I am bound by honor. What use is being a Knight if I can't protect my son? Even if this is a sworn son, it's the same." Diana defended.

"It's not enough. You will be in an orc territory. Besides, Fate will try to use that to kill him and you since you are married to my son. I've kept it from you because I feared you would leave if you knew such a curse had affected my family. Now you are my daughter-in-law and will be a target. With the mystery of the Temple, we can't act recklessly."

"You underestimate me, grandfather. And besides, I understand Fate. It's is not going to kill me! At least, not right now. You must have felt it too. Fate's clutches have loosened!"

"It's the eye before the storm. It may be safe now, but nevertheless, I will not allow you."

"Then test me! You said that strength is necessary, then test me in that area!"

"Oh? So if you fail my test, you agree to follow my words?"

"Yes." Kyros answered confidently.

"Then let's test it, shall we? It's been a while since I had a good exercise. Kyros. Have you and your Coven fight me. Diana, you can join in as well." Mezal smiled.

Mezal removed a certain bracelet in his hand, and all of a sudden, an immense pressure fell on everyone.

Martha was startled. She has not sensed such potent energy even from Viscounts. Only Earl's had this power!

"Level forty?!" Diana cursed as she felt it. She instinctively drew her sword and retreated as the power that Mezal released was threatening.

"Impossible! If you wield such power, why did you remain a Baron and not an Earl?!"

"If I did, it will paint a target over my head. Fate will chase me with greater trials."

"He isn't level forty. He's actually on his middle thirties. By all accounts, his strength should be that of a Viscount. But Grandfather seemed to have some interesting surprises. Like my father and uncle Aron, grandfather also can challenge people who are a stage higher than he is. He could probably challenge someone at mid-forties." Kyros gauged.

"Is this confidence or foolhardy? You didn't even break a sweat at my pressure. Even skilled and experienced warriors drawback when I release my Force."

"That's because I'm confident that I can evade your attacks. But of course, I'm quite surprised at your skills, Grandfather." Kyros smiled.

"Let's see if your confidence remains. Then fight me, you and your Coven. Diana, you can even join if you want. If you can't defeat me, then you have to follow my orders!" Mezal held out his hand, and two of his servants approached and brought him a large sword with three handles. 

"Trinity!" Diana was stunned. She had seen that sword at the Steele household. But never did she expect that someone wielded it.

Mezal held on the large sword and lifted it. Trinity was a dark blue blade that consisted of three large swords that could be attached and become one. What was frightening was the fact that Mezal held all three swords combined in one hand!

"Come at me. All of you!" He declared with a laugh.

"Wait. Let me face him alone for now." Kyros raised his hands and ordered the Coven to retreat.

"What?! This is a mid-level thirty!" Martha exclaimed. Although she had seen Kyros kill Viscounts, it was all paired with ambushes, traps, and tricks. Never before has Kyros faced someone of this level alone.

"Do as I command, Martha."

"Ha Ha Ha Ha! Do you think you can defeat me? Boy, my buffs alone can already resist your punches. You won't even be able to move me!"

"Shall we wager on that then? If I punch you and you react or move in the slightest, will that prove my strength?"

"You wish to challenge me? What level are you? Even a level 10 warrior can't make me move with my force defense! Even if I don't use my stone defense, your attack won't phase me! Go ahead!" Mezal laughed.

"Don't mind if I do!" Kyros smiled as he gauged his grandfather's defense.

"A defense of more than 150 without any buffs... Interesting." Kyros gauged the defense of his grandfather.

"Oh? You can estimate my strength? You've been trained well. Then you should know unless you have a strength of nearly a hundred, you won't be able even to tickle me!"

Kyros held his arm.

"So I more, huh? My current strength is just 60."

The Coven was surprised to hear that. A strength of 60 at level ten was a huge sign of Kyros's future potential. As cultivation improved, the human kingdom made a chart to determine whether a person's strength would match their level. Some people level up and have very little stat boosts. But with a 60 stat point, Kyros was practically someone who could challenge an inferior level twenty-person!

"Sixty? Not bad for someone reaching level ten. The average state range is at 30, and you've doubled it. If you maintained the same stat increase, then perhaps you could hurt me by the time you are level 20." Mezal laughed.

Kyros gripped his fist and harnessed all his Soul Force, and made it his stats. This was an ability he mastered to become a Celestial Paladin. And half of his Soul Force was being added on to his strength stat. His 60 stat point shot up to 75. But it wasn't enough.

Then Kyros continued by harnessing his Magic power and use his Ancient Source and Fallen Source. He was able to harness his energy and increase his strength all the more. This increase could only be done through preparation, and he needed a lot of time. And since he cannot control the energy and contain, he can only harness and wield the energy for a time.

Kyros depleted most of his Ancient Source and Fallen Source and channeled it. When convert these Sources into magic, Kyros now needed only a single point of Ancient or Fallen Source to become Mana point. But since Kyros converted it from his Sources and turned it into Force, he needed to consume five times the energy.

Kyros had 119 Ancient Source points and 121 Fallen Source Points. And Kyros began the long process of converting it.

"Oh? It looks like you have a decent attack." Mezal laughed as he watched Kyros channel more and more energy.

Then Mezcal's expression slowly faded. He could sense that the increase in power was not stopping.

"Gauge!" Mezal activated a spell that he acquired from the shamans, which became very handy for his battle. 

The [Gauge] spell was absent in the Lowlands' spell lists, yet Mezal had it.

He could see the Strength of Kyros's right arm climb.

75...85...95...105! The Strength of Kyros could already injure a level 30 warrior.

"It looks like I have to rely on Stone Skin..." Mezal thought as he frowned.

But the strength kept climbing.

Kyros could increase his strength by more than 20 points for each Source. Kyros decided to leave only some 15 points for his Sources and added a resounding 42 points to his strength, bringing it up from 75 to 115!

"Hey, wait... That's illegal!" Mezal confirmed. If he stood by and watched Kyros continue to add energy to that arm, the punch would definitely hurt! It would breach through his defenses!

Then suddenly, Kyros raised his right hand, which now had 115 points, and an orb appeared. Wielding elements was a very advanced thing that only master mages can do. Most mages are focused on creating the element. But since Kyros had an Earth Core, he was just diverting the energy of the Earth and practically didn't need to do the difficult process of wielding it.

From 115, his fist had thick Earth Energy and increased the power by another 20 points!

Finally, a Shadow Familiar was sacrificed and became dark energy that enveloped his fist. 

The darkness was wielded and reshaped, making Kyros's fist pitch black.

The smiling and arrogant look of Mazel turned ugly as he sensed a terrifying power in Kyros's fists.

"Its... its over 130!" Mezal had a horrified expression. It was close to his base stat. If he took an attack like that head-on, it could even critically injure him!

"I still have Stone Skin and my other buffs! If I use it and forcibly grit my teeth, I may just fool him! But I might need to cast my high-tier magic!" Mezal thought.

The energy kept climbing! The Earth Energy and the Dark Energy were turning the attack into something deadly. The more it rose, the more nervous Mezal was.

Earth added great weight to Kyros's fist, and the Dark Energy somehow contained all the magic inside and compressing the energy. But the increase finally stopped. Kyros had 153 points on his arm.

The deadly energy was just barely enough for Mezal to withstand the blow.

"Good. I can still resist that!" Mezal sighed in relief.

Kyros suddenly stored the Earth Core and brought out the True Entropy Core.

Unlike the Earth Core, Mazel immediately felt a threat at this orb that harnessed True Enthorpy. There were no artifacts or magical stones of this level within the Lowlands.

Kyros turned to Mezal with a taunting expression and began to harness the energy from this core.