Resurrection System: Become the Strongest

Chapter 04

A well-built, middle-aged man stepped closer with sharp facial features and an immensely suffocating magical aura—Duke Harrison von Drag, the head of the family and Richard's biological father. Walking beside him was a young girl with beautiful silver hair named Selena, a child genius touted as another prospective successor to the family.

Leonardo immediately lowered his hand and bowed respectfully. "Good morning, Elder. Good morning, Sister Selena."

Richard merely stood tall. He gazed at the man who was his father in this world. However, when Duke Harrison's eyes met Richard's, there was not a single trace of warmth or affection. There was only a cold, hollow, and indifferent glare—as if Richard were not a human being, but a pile of trash blocking his view.

"Why are you outside your room, Richard?" Duke Harrison's voice sounded heavy and bitterly cold, enough to freeze the surrounding air. "Your health is poor, and you don't possess a fingernail's worth of mana. Standing in the main corridor will only bring shame upon the Drag name if any guests see you."

"I merely wanted to get some fresh air, Father," Richard replied slowly, testing just how deep this family's hatred ran.

"Do not call me Father in public," Duke Harrison cut him off without the slightest hesitation. "Your only duty in this family is to remain alive without causing trouble until you reach adulthood, then leave this mansion. Never expect anything more."

Selena, standing beside her father, did not even bother to glance in Richard's direction. She was engrossed in the thick grimoire in her hands, as though her younger brother's existence were less valuable than the dust on her leather boots.

"His Grace is right, Richard," Selena chimed in without taking her eyes off her book. "Your presence here only disrupts my concentration during magic practice. You had better return to that dark room of yours."

Richard clenched his fists by his sides. The rage belonging to the original owner of this body welled up violently in his chest once more. This feeling of abandonment and being treated as invisible was thoroughly sickening.

Suddenly, a golden translucent screen floated right before Richard's eyes once again, unseen by anyone other than himself.

Ding!

[Main Quest Accepted!]

[Quest Title: Seize the Drag Throne]

[Description: The Drag family exalts magical power above all else and discarded you for being deemed a 'failed product.' Force the Duke to kneel and admit his wrongdoings, and subdue all the siblings who have ever insulted you.]

[First Target: Prove the existence of your Mana Core in public at the 'Aptitude Assessment Ritual' in 3 days.]

[Clear Rewards: Body Detoxification (+30%), Unlock Special Skill: 'Dragon Tongue Magic', Title: 'Unforgiven Heir'.]

Richard curled a faint smile that went unnoticed by everyone. The pain and suffering from his past life, combined with the dark memories of this body, fused into a burning resolve.

"Very well, if that is your wish, Duke Harrison," Richard said, laying a cold emphasis on the word 'Duke.' He bowed formally, yet his movements were remarkably graceful and full of confidence, completely different from the cowardly, ever-cowering Richard of the past. "I shall return to my room."

Duke Harrison's eyes narrowed slightly at the sudden composure and courage in Richard's demeanor, but he shook his head and dismissed it. "Let us go, Selena. We have no time to waste on a crippled child."

The two of them walked away, leaving Richard standing alone in the cold corridor.

Richard turned around and walked back toward his room. Every step he took now felt firm and decisive.

The grandest mage family? Richard thought to himself as he stared at the System status panel newly opened in his field of vision. You exalt power above all else, don't you? Three days from now... I will make sure you all see just how terrifying the dragon you have been stepping on truly is.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye for Richard. During those three days, he confined himself inside his cold room, utilizing his Level 1 Mana Core and the residual neutralized poison to restore his physical stamina. His body was no longer as weak as before. The stabbing aches in his joints were gone, replaced by a faint warmth of mana flowing slowly through his blood vessels.

Today was the day of the Empire's "Aptitude Assessment Ritual," a day when all noble offspring had their mana capacity and magical talent tested in the presence of the family elders. For the Drag family, today was a grand display of power. But for Richard, today was the inaugural stage of his vengeance.

Just as Richard stepped out of his room toward the Main Hall, a tall figure blocked his path in the central hallway.

It was Sean, the senior head butler trusted by Duke Harrison, accompanied by two guards in light armor. In his hand, Sean held a silver chalice filled with a pungent black liquid.

"Young Master Richard," Sean called out in a raspy, deeply condescending tone. He did not bow in the slightest. "His Grace commands you to drink this calming potion before entering the Main Hall."

Richard halted his steps, narrowing his eyes at the silver chalice. "A calming potion? What for?"

Sean smirked maliciously, revealing a row of yellowish teeth. "You know very well why you were summoned to today's ritual, Young Master. You were only brought here so the public can see that the Drag Family does not hide their 'failed product.' This potion will suppress your emotions and physical condition so you don't suddenly faint or cause a scene that would embarrass His Grace before the elders."

Richard clenched his fists. Knowledge of the plot from the novel Arcane Legend suddenly flashed sharply across his mind.

This potion... this isn't a calming potion, Richard thought, his eyes glinting coldly. In the novel, Sean was a henchman sent by an elder to ensure the original Richard could never awaken his mana. This black liquid was the Black Root Solution—a mana-channel-eroding poison that gradually destroyed one's internal organs!

"What if I refuse, Sean?" Richard asked, his voice calm yet laced with an unusual pressure.

Sean let out a chuckle, stepping closer with confidence. "Refuse? Young Master, you don't have the right to refuse. If you won't drink it voluntarily, I'm afraid I'll have to ask the guards to 'oblige' you to drink it. Besides, who would believe the words of a manaless, crippled child like you?"

At that exact moment, a dark golden translucent screen flared up in the corner of Richard's vision.

Ding!

[Emergency Quest Detected!]